CycloneFanatic.com: Recent Episodes
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Iowa State defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit goes in-depth on the Cyclone defense in fall camp. Where is each position group at after three days of pads? Bobbit also explains how they’ve implemented the nickel look and how it changes the role of the linebackers. Iowa State’s DC shares the goals for his unit and how to play complimentary football with the offense.
Iowa State sophomore linebacker Sullivan Schlimgen talks about his history with Iowa State as a South Dakota native, why he followed Jimmy Rogers to Ames, how he’s progressed as the MIKE linebacker, the differences from freshman to sophomore year and a lot more in his Aug. 10 availability.
Iowa State senior defensive lineman Bryson Lamb talks about the line’s progression as a whole, how the young guys on the interior have developed, the competition against the offensive line and a lot more at his Aug. 10 fall camp availability.
The post WATCH DC Jesse Bobbit, LB Sullivan Schlimgen and DL Bryson Lamb at Monday’s availability appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Aug. 4, 2026 — Ames, Iowa: Iowa State quarterback Jaylen Raynor (1) and the Cyclones take part in practice at the Johnny Majors Practice Fields. (Photo by Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic)
You’ve heard the line about a football coach being defined by the results of his fourth-down decisions, right?
Nor have I, but if that ever becomes a thing, then new Iowa State coach Jimmy Rogers just might rank up there among the most successful.
Picture this: Fourth-and-1 at the Iowa State 40-yard line. First possession. Sept. 5 against Southeast Missouri. Debut game of Rogers coaching the Cyclones. First big strategic decision. Large crowd (maybe even a sellout) at Jack Trice Stadium. That first-impression opportunity everyone says has forever significance.
I repeat: Fourth down, one yard to go, and the opening Cyclones possession of Rogers’ first Iowa State game. In front of a bunch of fans who weathered an offseason like none other.
(I mean, it’s not every school that loses its best-ever football coach, most of his stars and staff, gains a new (athletic-minded) president, and, did I mention, its long-serving athletics director says he’s retiring — during a span of roughly six months?)
Back to the premise: Punt or go for it?
We knew, as well as we knew the players on the roster, what decision would be made the past 10 or so seasons, but in this new age of Iowa State football?
Fourth-and-1 at Iowa State’s 40-yard line.
Go for it, or don’t go for it?
You better believe Rogers will keep the offense on the field (barring an extreme situation). Football According to Jimmy includes chains moving, which usually involves turning fourth-and-something into:
First down.
That looks to be his positive-thinking DNA, and I’m not just referring to him picking his brand-new (literally) team to win the Big 12.
During his only season at Washington State in 2025, the Cougs were eighth nationally in fourth-down conversions — at 71.4%. (Iowa State was 16th in 2025, in case you’re wondering.)
His team was 2-for-2 on fourth-down conversion attempts during a season-opening 13-10 victory against Idaho — Rogers’ first game at Washington State. Both conversions came from the quarterback — one resulting in a touchdown pass, and the other a 2-yard rush on fourth-and-1 that started at Washington State’s 49-yard line.
Again, that was his first game at his new school.
Thus, history sez:
- ** The Cyclones will continue to be an offense that, within reason, rolls the fourth-down dice.
Expect large doses of Fourth-and-Raynor — within distance and location reason, of course.
Quarterback Jaylen Raynor’s run-pass versatility could make the Arkansas State transfer a fourth-down threat. Last season, for instance, Raynor either rushed or completed passes on 11 of the Red Wolves’ 16 fourth-down conversions. For the season, he passed for 3,361 yards and 19 touchdowns, while rushing a team-high 154 times for 423 more yards and seven touchdowns.
Remember what former Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said a few days before the Cyclones won 24-16 last season at Arkansas State?
“This will be the best quarterback, in my opinion, from a mobility, and playmaking ability standpoint, that we’re going to play.”
Coachspeak?
Sure.
With doses of Fourth-and-Raynor reality.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
The post PETERSON: Iowa State needs QB Jaylen Raynor in all situations appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers addresses his team at an early fall camp practice. Photo courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
This offseason has been a loud one. The noise from outside the building felt impossible to tune out, and the new staff and personnel made some loud statements of their own in a good way. There is something about this team’s focus and dog mentality that brewed the perfect spell for a fun few months.
Now, though, it feels as if the football world has stopped spinning. There is less than a month before the season opener, and not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse. Throughout each press conference, the only things you hear are that the team is confident and that they are working extremely hard. Take Rob Gray’s article, for instance, where tight end Tyler Fortenberry said his likely starting quarterback Jaylen Raynor is spending a minimum of 12 hours a day at the facility, even on days where the team is only working out for a couple of hours. He also mentioned Raynor has been watching film on season-opening opponent Southeast Missouri State for months.
This may be the most I have anticipated a season since 2021 coming off of the Fiesta Bowl win. The lack of expectations is almost freeing in a way. A massive group of players are coming in that most Cyclone fans have watched little of. Anything between four wins and eight really would not be all that surprising come the end of the year. Despite it being a team full of newcomers, the Cyclones’ key contributors on both sides of the ball have played a lot of college football.
I am by no means saying it should be the expectation, nor anything close to it, but with the expanded playoff format, any team with the perfect mix of talent and chemistry has a shot.
There are some wins for the taking on this schedule; however, they will not come easy. Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Utah are the three schools in the conference that joined Iowa State in hiring a new head coach. All three of those teams are on the 2026 schedule, so it will be a bit of a “let the best man win” scenario for each of the coaches that were tasked with building a winner in a matter of months. Each coach is taking over their team with different expectations and foundations to build around, it is Rogers’ job to set the strongest foundation of the four. Additionally, West Virginia, Baylor and UCF each finished 3-6 or worse in the conference a year ago with the same coaches sticking around. It is college football, of course. Teams will rise and teams will fall, but Rogers has the chance to instill more than just hope for the future in 2026. Rogers has the chance to make a name for the team on a larger scale.
Fans should be excited for the new-look roster. Fans should be excited to see the new systems in action. Fans should be excited to see the new strengths and weaknesses of the program after witnessing the same ones for over a decade. Most importantly, fans should always expect their team to win.
Big 12 Season Predictions
It is rare that I will dive into season predictions, mostly because I am usually wrong, but also because I do not like judging a team before I can even see them on the field. Consider this your lucky day, because you are getting a Big 12 preseason power rankings hot off the presses.
- BYU
- Texas Tech
- Oklahoma State
- Arizona
- Houston
- TCU
- Cincinnati
- Utah
- Kansas State
- Iowa State
- Kansas
- Arizona State
- UCF
- Baylor
- West Virginia
- Colorado
Some of these takes will absolutely age poorly. I am much higher than most on a new-look Oklahoma State that will bring in quarterback Drew Mestemaker of North Texas, who I believe is a generational quarterback prospect. Not generational in the way that ESPN calls the top five players in every draft, but generational as in the best quarterback prospect out of college that we have seen in a long time.
The 7-16 slots will be the Wild West that it always is. Two teams lost Brendan Sorsby this offseason, and they still may be in the right half of the standings when all is said and done. Texas Tech lost Sorsby with no time to replace him, and they still will likely be among the top teams in the conference. With Sorsby, the Red Raiders would have been my favorite to win it.
The post Monday Musings: Calm before the Storm appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
New Iowa State quarterback Jaylen Raynor throws early in fall camp. Photo courtesy Iowa State Athletics.
AMES — Jaylen Raynor ended his Arkansas State career with 36 consecutive starts at quarterback.
That’s 13 more starts than all of his new team, Iowa State’s, short list of returning players have combined for — and it’s that unrivaled experience the talented dual-threat play caller is leaning upon as he adapts to an entirely new system.
“All of the reps since January meetings and things like that just continue to help me build confidence,” said Raynor, who will verbalize each of his offensive teammates duties before every play for the first time in his long-spanning career. “It can be a lot, but it’s something you sign up for, something you want as a quarterback, challenging yourself. It comes down to being able to study (and) retain information. It’s kind of fun to do it once you say all of those words and everybody just goes out and does exactly what they’re supposed to do. It’s an amazing feeling.”
That’s not all that’s changed for the 6-1, 208-pound Winston-Salem, N.C. native who gave ISU’s defense fits in a narrow 24-16 loss last season in Jonesboro, Ark. Raynor thrived in Arkansas State’s power spread offense and plans to do the same in Cyclone offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl’s pro-style system. That means lining up under center a lot more after operating mostly out of the shotgun formation, and that shift in scheme has been accompanied by the aforementioned and welcomed learning curve.
Just ask fellow Arkansas State transfer Tyler Fortenberry.
“Jaylen’s in the facility at least 12 hours a day even if we just had workouts for two hours a day,” said Fortenberry, a 6-5, 245-pound tight end who caught two touchdown passes from Raynor last season. “So everything’s pretty smooth for him. He (was) in here watching (season-opening foe Southeast Missouri State) film two months ago, so I think it’s pretty easy for Jaylen just because of the work that he puts in.”
That work commingles with a natural and commanding leadership style that, as Roehl said, makes his teammates want to follow him. But when did Raynor — who accounted for 67 total touchdowns in the last three seasons — know he possessed the leadership qualities on full display now?
“Maybe high school?” Raynor said rhetorically. “Being able to lead a junior varsity team, I guess is kind of the same way. Middle school basketball — I’ve just kind of always been that type of guy to want everything a certain way. Like, things done the right way, and, obviously, most importantly, I like to win. So I’m gonna do whatever it takes to put my team in the best position to win at the end of the day.”
Whether Raynor helps the Cyclones buck the long odds the face to win at a high clip in year one of head coach Jimmy Rogers’ tenure is anyone’s guess, but he’s both preparing for and expecting to do so. That’s because Raynor’s unshakable belief in himself rivals his dogged commitment to his new team. And it’s spreading despite of the low external expectations.
“Confidence is contagious,” Roehl said. “And his belief, work, aptitude, ability to help, lead, bring along players — it’s huge. As a player, you want extra coaches one the field. Player-led programs are championship-level programs, and when you have guys (who) are all-in without waver, every day, that’s when you know you’ve got something special. And his continued growth, leadership — I mean, that’s from day one. His energy was contagious and we can’t have enough of those guys.”
Most of those guys, regardless of confidence level, are entirely new to ISU — not just Roehl’s system. So Raynor’s not alone in facing a learning challenge. But he’s relishing the opportunity to prove himself as a Power Four conference player.
“The more and more I do it, the more and more I see it, it just becomes more natural,” he said.
The post New ISU QB Jaylen Raynor’s “contagious confidence” is helping him thrive in the Cyclones’ pro-style offense appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
With media days in the rear view, we can now start shifting our focus to the season itself. We are less than three weeks away from kickoff in the Big 12 when TCU faces the fighting Bill Belichicks who seemingly can’t get out of their own way when it comes to off the field drama.
It seems like every week, North Carolina has someone on their way out, but don’t you go anywhere because here are some headlines that caught my attention in the Big 12 this week.
Jimmy Means Business
Even though we haven’t played a down of football yet, it’s hard to not like new Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers. Ever since he’s been hired, he’s been about as honest a coach can be. He hasn’t shied away from anything and has said what’s on his mind.
That’s why I wasn’t too surprised when he picked his team to win the Big 12. When asked about his vote, Jimmy kept it real. “What would you think if I didn’t vote on us? You’d wonder why I’m the head coach at Iowa State,” Rogers said. “I was brought in to win. Very self-aware. They didn’t hire me to come here and not be competitive. I wasn’t hired for my disposition. I was hired to create a program that competes and wins and that’s the goal. We’re not signing up for second place.
“So I know that’s a bold statement, and they’ll print it everywhere. But the reality is this: the players have to believe in what you say, and you have to act on how you believe. I believe that we can win.”
Anyone else ready to run through a brick wall? When I listen to Rogers talk, it’s refreshing. No offense to Matt Campbell, but he was never going to give you much on the mic. However, he let his work on the field do the talking.
Pretty soon, Jimmy is going to have to prove that he is just as good on the field as he is on the mic. At the end of the day, it’s great winning a press conference but it’s even better to win on the field.
How Small is Colorado?
If a 3-9 record wasn’t bad enough last season, it appears that people are already poking fun at Deion’s boys during fall camp. After a recent video posted by Colorado football, many are calling Colorado out saying that they are small.
shooo @JulianLewis10 x @Qfor6ix pic.twitter.com/Fncmo5P290
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) August 4, 2026
I will admit that it looks more like your local high school team than it does a power four college football team. The play itself was great but at first glance, it’s hard to not think about how small some of the players in that video look. The receiver, Quinton Gibson stands 5′ 9″ and weighs just 155 pounds. He is one of 18 roster members listed at 170 pounds or less.
When asked about being called small, Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion wasn’t worried about it. “I have zero reaction,” Marion said. “As the kids would say, pull up. So we’re small. We’re this. We’re that. Whatever. I mean, at some point you’ve got to spot the ball and see. So that’s my mindset.”
The Big 12 Race Car
I am one of those people who questioned the Monster Energy deal that Brett Yormark made a few weeks ago. For a someone who calls themselves a businessman, it sure seems like one-sided deal for Monster.
For all the real estate they got, on top of putting Monster Energy before Big 12 football, it just seems like they got free advertising for pennies when we could have got a lot more money.
However, I must admit that when I saw the new Monster Energy Big 12 race car, I thought it was pretty cool.
fresh paint for this weekend @rileyherbst // @23XIRacing // @Big12Conference pic.twitter.com/HzA9HeF7lO
— Monster Energy (@MonsterEnergy) August 6, 2026
The car will be driven by Riley Herbst and will make its debut on Saturday at the HyVee Perks 250 in Newton, Iowa. I am not one to watch cars turn left for hours, and I don’t know how many new fans the conference will actually gain from this, but I don’t hate the advertising here at all.
Does this make the deal better? Not really, but the car itself it does look pretty sweet.
The post Big 12 Buzz: Fall Camp Time appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
**Iowa State offensive coordinate Tyler Roehl talks to media during a media opportunity at Stark Performance center on Feb. 11, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. (Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune)****
AMES — It’s easy to exude toughness when running around, sans shoulder pads, making plays without the threat of contact.
But once the hitting starts? That’s when Iowa State offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl begins to ascertain which of his players are “about it” within his both mentally and physically demanding approach to success on the offensive side of the ball — and that time will finally come on Friday.
“Right now, for a lot of these guys, this is a different system,” said Roehl, who is back with the Cyclones after a one-season stint as the Detroit Lions’ tight ends coach. “And different can scare people, right? But this is an unbelievable challenge that they’ve grasped, attacked and it’s been fun to see their growth. You can’t run and hide in this system. You’re either about it or you’re not, and repetitions right now, it is what it is. Based on the rules and how we need to practice — we’re not in full pads yet, right. It’s just a pajama party out there and for us to accomplish what we want to accomplish, it starts (Friday) with real football.”
That’s when the hitting and hurting starts. That’s when hard-earned confidence meets humble self-sacrifice. That’s when ISU’s offensive players can begin proving they’re “about it” in Roehl’s toughness-based scheme, then back that commitment up throughout the remainder of fall camp.
“The film’s not gonna lie,” said transfer tight end Tyler Fortenberry, who along with quarterback Jaylen Raynor joined first-year Cyclones head coach Jimmy Rogers’ program after a stint at Arkansas State. “You can tell who’s afraid of contact and who’s not.”
So where does Fortenberry — who started his Division I career at Vanderbilt — fall on that pad-popping spectrum?
“Film’s not gonna lie,” the 6-4, 245-pound Brookhaven, Miss., native reiterated. “Y’all are gonna see.”
At least on Saturday morning, when the first hour of practice will be open to the media. But Roehl will already be compiling his who’s in, who’s out list immediately after contact enters the practice equation. And that goes for all the position groups — from offensive line to quarterback.
“I think you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable,” Raynor said of adapting to an entirely new offense and his leadership style. “You’re in a game wth big people, little people, and they’re all coming to get you as a quarterback.”
Roehl said going to work for Lions head coach Dan Campbell and others forced him to thrive outside of his comfort zone and fueled immense personal growth. He frequently draws on examples gleaned from his one season in the NFL, which helped highlight how thin the margin is between winning and losing.
“Every day I was there there was something new, whether it was from a coach, a player, someone in the front office,” said Roehl, who served as North Dakota State’s offensive coordinator during two of its FCS national championship seasons before helping ISU notch a program-record 11 wins in 2024 under then-head coach Matt Campbell. “I mean, you were learning so much as a rapid rate. It was unbelievable for my growth. Not just offensively, but how to establish your roster. Personnel moves. There’s just so much that was learned.”
Want an example? Roehl furnished one.
“It was Monday Night Football, fourth and one,” Roehl said. “We ran a play, something that’s not in our playbook here, but ran a play to (wide receiver Amon-Ra) St. Brown. He then pitched it to (running back) Jahmyr Gibbs. It’s fourth and one, and the effort, finish, execution that they had to convert that first down to help us win that game was unbelievable.”
In other words, St. Brown, Gibbs and everyone blocking on that play was “about it.” Fully bought in. Not hiding, but hitting — just as his players will start doing on Friday as he watches them closely.
“Who’s gonna buckle up the chin strap, bite down on the mouthguard, and come off the ball with velocity?” Roehl said. “And I’m excited to see who responds, because there can be a lot of hooting and hollering without pads on, but who’s gonna be about it (Friday) at 10 o’clock?”
The post ISU OC Tyler Roehl will find out “who’s about it” when pads start popping on Friday appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl meets the media for the first time during fall camp to update where each position group is at, share some lessons he learned in the NFL, talk about the importance of Jaylen Raynor’s leadership and what his long relationship is with Jimmy Rogers.
Iowa State senior quarterback Jaylen Raynor shares all of the adjustments it takes to be a quarterback in a pro style offense. How does huddling every play help him command the team? Plus, Raynor talks about how his leadership skills have developed over the course of his sports career. Watch all of that and more in Raynor’s Aug. 6 fall camp interview.
Iowa State fifth-year senior tight end Tyler Fortenberry talks about adjusting to Tyler Roehl’s pro style offense, the skillset he brings at tight end, his relationship with QB Jaylen Raynor and a lot more in his Aug. 6 fall camp interview.
The post WATCH OC Tyler Roehl, QB Jaylen Raynor, TE Tyler Fortenberry at Thursday’s availability appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Sept. 2025 — Ames, Iowa: Iowa State players carry the Cy-Hawk trophy to their sideline after defeating in-state rival Iowa at Jack Trice Stadium. (Photo by Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic)
Three weeks after exploring Iowa State’s five (allegedly) easiest football opponents for 2026, it’s time for another predictable prediction:
Who are Iowa State’s five toughest opponents?
I hear you loud and clear: All 12 regular-season Cyclones games will be tough, considering 80-some newcomers dominate first-time Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers’ roster.
You’re right.
New quarterback. New running backs. New receivers. New line. Mostly new defense. New coaches. New plays. Freshmen possibly playing significant roles just months after starting college.
New this. New that.
Good thing for the Cyclones that the Big 12 isn’t exactly a great football conference. Eh?
So, with that setup — and with Southeast Missouri, Bowling Green, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Cincinnati already identified as the five easiest a few weeks ago — here’s another question that might be on Cyclones fans’ minds:
Where does Iowa sit among Iowa State’s five toughest games?
And remember, the Cyclones have won three of the past four Cy-Hawks, including two in a row at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
**
WHO’S FIRST: BYU
WHEN/WHERE: Oct. 9 (Friday), in Provo, Utah
THIS MADE THE LIST BECAUSE: This will be every Big 12 team’s toughest opponent. After winning 23 of its past 27 games, this could be coach Kalani Sitake’s finest team. That starts with quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who completed 65% of his passes for 3,033 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, while also rushing for 527 yards and 11 scores.
Furthermore, the game is on a Friday in Provo — six days after the Cyclones host West Virginia. That Saturday-to-Friday turnaround is quick, especially with a 1,100-mile trip.
**
WHO’S SECOND: Iowa
WHEN/WHERE: Sept. 12, in Iowa City
THIS MADE THE LIST BECAUSE: One of the better Hawkeye teams in recent years will await Rogers’ first Cy-Hawk. And this just in: Kirk Ferentz’s team won’t need reminding about losing back-to-back home Cy-Hawks — one on Kyle Konrardy’s 54-yard field goal with :06 left, and another in which Iowa State scored the game-winning touchdown in a 10-7 victory on that fourth-quarter, 21-play, 99-yard drive fans still talk about.
**
WHO’S THIRD: Utah
WHEN/WHERE: Sept. 26, at Jack Trice Stadium
THIS MADE THE LIST BECAUSE: New Utes coach (Morgan Scalley). Same quarterback star (Devon Dampier). Talented receivers. Mostly veteran defense.
Iowa State’s Big 12 opener — which this game happens to be — would only be tougher if the opponent had the initials B-Y-U.
**
WHO’S FOURTH: Arizona
WHEN/WHERE: Oct. 24, in Tucson, Ariz.
THIS MADE THE LIST BECAUSE: At least Iowa State has a Saturday off after playing at BYU. That’s the positive. Among the negatives: facing Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (3,228 yards and 29 touchdowns last season), and making a second straight long road trip — this time to Tucson.
**
WHO’S FIFTH: Kansas State
WHEN/WHERE: Nov. 28, at Jack Trice Stadium
THIS MADE THE LIST BECAUSE: I’m crazy for listing this game, you say, but hang with me. How will the Cyclones look health-wise heading into the 12th and final regular-season game?
And remember, Rogers has mentioned freshmen could be key depth pieces late in the season. This opponent also features another high-end quarterback in Avery Johnson, playing under first-year head coach Collin Klein, a former standout Wildcats quarterback.
**
Again, they’re all tough. Iowa State may not even be favored against anyone not named Southeast Missouri, Bowling Green, West Virginia or Cincinnati.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
The post PETERSON: Where Iowa ranks among Iowa State’s toughest opponents appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Jimmy Rogers is introduced as Iowa State’s next head football coach by Jamie Pollard in December, 2025. Photo by Jacqueline Cordova
AMES — Exuberant cries erupted from the mouths of several Iowa State football players after the conclusion of Wednesday morning’s practice.
And their first-year head coach, Jimmy Rogers, smiled at the impromptu outburst of enthusiasm while he addressed the media at the podium.
“You can see how excited they are after practice,” Rogers said.
Maybe that’s because the first practice of fall camp was over. Maybe it’s because the in-season process of building toward the Sept. 5 season opener against Southeast Missouri State was just beginning. Either way, hoots and hollers beat silence any day for Rogers, who took over the program in December and said the Cyclones are “light years ahead” of the Washington State team he coached last season in terms of cohesion and knowledge entering fall camp.
“Depth is being created every day,” added Rogers, who guided the Cougars to a 6-6 regular season mark in his one season leading the program. “Just by them (going through) practice and being able to double rep and trying to push our freshmen to get to the point of (being) an experience player mentally, and then giving him physically those reps to go out and execute those things. There are 126 players on the roster. Two of those guys (who are injured) technically can’t participate. My goal is to try to get everyone of those kids close to as ready as possible. If they’re not ready, they’re not ready, but I don’t know where they’re gonna be at game three, game, five, game seven. I think it’s about giving people opportunities to separate themselves.”
Rogers famously — or infamously, depending on one’s perspective — was the lone Big 12 coach to pick ISU to win the league title this season. Las Vegas oddsmakers are far less bullish about the dawn of the Rogers era with the Cyclones, as their over-under prediction for wins has fallen from 5.5 to 4.5. But ISU’s leader doesn’t give one rip about those outside expectations. Nor should he. No coach does, especially when instilling confidence is paramount to success in the nascent stages of a new regime.
“I wasn’t hired for my disposition,” Rogers said. “I was hired to create a program that competes and wins, and that’s the goal. We’re not signing up for second place. So I know that’s a bold statement, you know, printed everywhere, but the reality is the players have to believe in what you say, and you have to act on how you believe. I believe that we can win. So they need to feel that. They need to experience that. They need to see it every day in order to become it.”
That’s true the first day of fall camp. It’s true week one, week three, week seven and week 12, as well. Rogers has repeatedly said he’s not rebuilding ISU’s program even though most of the roster is entirely new. Instead, he’s remolding it with a lot of fresh pieces, concepts and sky-high internal expectations. So being “light years ahead” of a similar situation last season in Pullman is as important as his players’ early enthusiasm, as vocalized at around noon on Wednesday — a full month before the 2026 campaign starts.
Few expect the Cyclones to have more than sporadic success. Rogers’ job is to puncture those understandably low external expectations and turn year one at the helm into a memorable and remarkable ride.
“I don’t buy into every year is a new year, every team is a new team,” he said. “There’s new personnel, there’s new emotions that come with everything. Football’s an emotional game. You have to manage that — the competitive maturity — every single year. And you have to push your players to get out of their own comfort zone. …. They are extremely excited about day one of practice. Every team in the country is, and every team says the same thing. Who are they gonna be the third and fourth week of camp is what separates the great teams.”
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Jimmy Rogers held his first press conference of fall camp on day one of practice. Rogers shares how different day one at Iowa State feels compared to Washington State, what position groups have the most work to be done, where the freshman class stands, what his message is for his team over the month of August and so much more at the link below.
The post WATCH Jimmy Rogers’ Fall Camp Opening Press Conference appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger holds his final availability of the summer as the Cyclones finish up summer practice. Otzelberger talks extensively about playing Dominykas Pleta and Blake Buchanan together. How will it work? More importantly, what’s the importance of size in modern college basketball? Otzelberger also shares his thoughts on the recent court ruling regarding the class of 2022 trying to get a fifth year. How will Iowa State go about it? Watch the full interview on Aug. 4.
Iowa State sophomore forward Domiykas Pleta shares his experience of playing the 4 next to Blake Buchanan. How has he expanded his game heading into his second year to make that a possibility? Plus, Pleta shares where he’s at right now compared to where he was at this time last year. Watch it in the full interview on Aug. 4.
Iowa State senior forward Taj Manning explains his decision to transfer from Kansas State to Iowa State. After playing against the T.J. Otzelberger coached defense, what’s his experience being apart of it? Manning shares one surprise about his time in Ames and a lot more in his end of Summer media availability on Aug. 4.
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Feb 16, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Killyan Toure (27) celebrates after making a three pointer against the Houston Cougars during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — Killyan Toure always chooses his English words carefully. That’s because the defense-driven Iowa State guard wants to ensure his thoughts are properly translated from his native French. No nonsense. No twists. All truth.
So when the skilled sophomore was asked about Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s expectation for him to be the nation’s best on-ball defender this season, Toure didn’t blink, nor skip a beat.
“I mean, as everybody knows, I’m one of the best defenders in the country,” said the Pamiers, France, native, who along with fellow returning guard Jamarion Batemon forms a strong ISU backcourt augmented by transfer additions such as Leon Bond III, Jaquan Johnson and Ryan Prather Jr.. “It will be teamwork at first, then if I do good stuff on the court, of course, everybody will know.”
And everybody who follows college basketball closely already knows that the Cyclones’ identity is based on stern defensive pressure and the turnovers that stem from it. ISU led all Power 5 schools in turnovers forced per game last season (15.46) and have ranked among the top 15 nationally in defensive turnover percentage in each of Otzelberger’s five seasons, according to KenPom.
So “of course” are the operative two words that Toure employed above to talk about his commitment to defense. It’s a demand, not a suggestion. And it’s one the long-limbed and athletic Toure has fully taken to heart as he now looks to become a more consistent scorer and facilitator on the offensive end, as well.
“I think it starts by leaning into your greatness, your strengths, the things you’ve already proven (you can) do, and knowing that you can count on those things, but not taking them for granted,” Otzelberger said of Toure, who averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists as a freshman last season. “Knowing how important it is to be literally the best on-ball defender in the country this year, that’s the goal, that’s the mission, and that’s gotta be the mental buy-in.”
Toure embraces that demand with no questions asked — and with no translation required.
“I’m still doing my job,” said Toure, who also notched 1.5 steals per game last season. “So all the things I did last year, I keep doing those and just improving my game. Just take (on) this leadership and do my things better.”
That starts with defense, of course, where Toure helped set an immediate tone for the Cyclones as a freshman. The swift and dynamic 6-3 guard ranked second on the team in dunks last season, and both of the times he scored ISU’s first points, he slammed the ball through the hoop. So he’s already adept at playing above the rim, but seeks to improve upon his streaky 31.3 % 3-point accuracy.
“I do think it’s that ability for him to consistently make the right play very and over again, it’s gonna be important, and he’s gonna have more opportunities to demonstrate and prove that,” Otzelberger said. “And I also think the catch and shoot 3 is gonna be a big things for him. He’s put the work in. Its a shot he makes at a high level and we have tremendous belief in him t0o make, so now it’s about hunting and taking the right ones.”
That and being the most elite on-ball defender in the country. The operative word here is “domination” — a word that reads the same in both English and French. So no translation’s necessary as Toure enters year two in Otzelberger’s program stronger, wiser, and even more sure of himself on both ends of the floor.
“I’m just shooting a lot and being confident,” he said. “So, yeah, no pressure.”
PRATHER ON THE MEND Otzelberger said Prather — who averaged 15.7 points for Robert Morris last season — has been dealing with hip issues, but it’s hoped he can be healthy when the season starts.
“We don’t want to rush him back,” Otzelberger added. “We don’t want to be in a hurry. So he hasn’t really had opportunities to show what we know he can do, which is make plays with the basketball, be a great decision maker, be a great shot maker, bring tremendous skill to our offense, and (be) a competitor defensively. So those are things that, again, we’re on a timeline. We’re gonna operate more in his best interests from a health and wellness standpoint.”
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Sept. 6, 2025 — Ames, Iowa: Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy kicks a field goal during the Cy-Hawk game against Iowa at Jack Trice Stadium. (Photo by Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic)
Are we nearing the end of our grand ol’ Cy-Hawk football game?
If this game does, indeed, end when the final horn sounds on Sept. 6, 2031 at Jack Trice Stadium, then it’s further evidence that college football is a business being run by non-football people whose bottom line is financial — and to hell with everything else.
I mean, no room for Iowa State against Iowa each season? Gimme a break. It’s the Iowa State Fair and RAGBRAI breaking out simultaneously each September in Iowa City and Ames. It’s the football version of our beloved Field of Dreams. It’s freakin’ bragging rights, for gosh sakes. It’s our distraction from a political world that just might be more convoluted than the college football industry.
Simply put: It’s a bunch of BS if Cy-Hawk football someday stops being an annual State of Iowa celebration.
And if it is, let’s enjoy it while we’ve still got it. Don’t take the next Cy-Hawk, on Sept. 12 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, for granted.
This Game’s for You.
Cheers!
We’ve suspected for years that Cy-Hawk football could be vulnerable, despite the best efforts by our athletics directors to keep it going. Dan McCarney, the Cy-Hawk definition, has done his darndest, too, to promote the game.
Still, I wonder: When major conferences expand to 19 teams or more, will there be room for Iowa State vs. Iowa scheduling?
Again, I wonder.
Interesting, to me, that the recent Cy-Hawk agreement runs through the 2031 game. Week Two. Like almost always. Home-and-home. Cool.
And interesting.
Extended through 2031?
The Big 12’s TV contract with ESPN and FOX expires after the 2030-31 school year. The Big Ten’s TV deal is through 2029-30. The College Football Playoff’s six-year, $7.8 billion contract with ESPN runs through the 2031-32 season.
Interesting.
Iowa State football coach Jimmy Rogers is signed through 2031. Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz is signed through the 2029 season. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark’s contract runs through 2030. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti is signed through 2029-30.
The new Cy-Hawk contract ends after the 2031 game.
Interesting.
Beyond that?
Would Iowa governor candidates Rob Sand and Zach Lahn advocate for this series never ending while pushing their political agendas? And would it do any good?
Likely no and no.
If conferences have gotten so massive and complicated by then — to the extent there’s no room for our annual state rivalry game — that’s another black eye on a college sports business that already has more blemishes than a badly beaten boxer.
But if 2031, for some reason beyond the control of local opinion and communities that thrive financially on this game’s huge, money-spending crowds, is the end…
Let’s make the last one something to remember.
Fireworks. Flyover. The absolute best — Simon Estes — singing the National Anthem. Des Moines-based Slipknot providing run-out sound for the home team (and doing it live). McCarney flipping the pregame coin. And a halftime performance that includes BOTH the home and visiting bands.
And then cap it off with one whale of a memorable game.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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With the Cy-Hawk football game likely being extended until 2031, fans on both sides embraced debate on whether or not the game is still worth playing. Every game on the schedule is crucial in football, unlike basketball. There are only a handful of non-conference games each year, so fans rightfully want their teams to optimize the schedule to give their team the best shot at the playoffs.
The real reason the game matters is not for strength of schedule, not for national eyes on both teams early in the year and not because it is a fun in-state rivalry. The reason this game needs to be played annually is because both schools would benefit greatly from athletics funding from the state. Other states are funding athletics programs. Heck, even Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss got some help from the state court system to appeal to the NCAA for another year of eligibility. If Iowa State and Iowa ever want to be consistent title contenders, the state will have to step in to keep pace with the dynasty-level programs.
If the rivalry game is cancelled, what do you think the first thing the state is going to say to the schools is? My guess would be something along the lines of, ‘Well, why did you cancel a massive stream of revenue for our state that would have helped recover some of those funds?’
If the bridge with the state is ever one that the athletic department wants to cross, it is probably a bad idea to start lighting matches under it.
Now, let’s step outside of the reason the game should stay and into the reason fans should want it to stay: it’s fun. Do you really need another reason to want to keep the Cy-Hawk game? It’s fun. If you think it is not fun, you do not like football and you do not like the Cyclones or the Hawkeyes.
The games have come down to the wire recently, get national attention and bring out the best and worst of both fanbases. That is what football is about at the end of the day. I have gotten on Iowa State men’s basketball for soft scheduling outside of a handful of non-conference games in the past. The first months of the season feel unimportant when you do that and fans will not be as committed to the team later on. The Cy-Hawk is the first real test for both teams and prepares the fans for the rollercoaster conference schedule ahead.
What is the point of college football when you start taking away the biggest rivalries? Remember how many complaints there were when it was announced that Farmeggeddon would not be a protected rivalry? No one mentioned that dropping that rivalry could lead to a better optimized schedule. That is because that rivalry is fun.
Campbell and Becht
Every week that goes by, a smile crosses my face when I think that writing about Campbell’s departure is over with, at least for a while. Then, he and Rocco Becht start saying things that get the fanbase rightfully riled up again.
On this week’s episode of former Cyclone drama, Campbell and Becht have now both made mention of how they believed Taylor Mouser would be Iowa State’s next head coach after Campbell. Becht even noted that it would have been much tougher for him to transfer out if Mouser took the throne.
Rocco Becht didn’t plan on leaving Iowa State.
But when the Cyclones hired from the outside instead of promoting from within after Matt Campbell left, everything changed.
With Campbell landing at Penn State, the decision became easy. Becht looked at other schools, but Penn… pic.twitter.com/ugpYR9PVWQ
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) August 1, 2026
Maybe I am just as bad as Campbell and Becht for dragging this storyline out for months; however, it frustrates me how the two still think they just have a say in what goes on in the program. Campbell left, that’s fine, do what’s best for you. Just because you were an important piece to building a program, though, does not mean you are the only piece. The fan support has been there, the Cyclones have got creative to keep up in the NIL space and the work of hundreds of players on and off the field have made the program relevant.
Another frustrating narrative from fans is that Mouser should have been hired simply to avoid roster turnover. If you think Mouser is a better coach, fine, you will not hear an argument from me. Making a decision of that magnitude based on keeping a couple solid players for a year or two is horrendous logic.
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Last week, the SEC made themselves look like fools in Tampa for four full days at media days. From Greg Sankey to Eli Drinkwitz and others, there was no shortage of stupidity on the Florida coast.
This week, we look back at Big Ten Media Days which took place in Chicago and much like their brothers from down south, they simply couldn’t get out of their own way.
Jedd Fisch
Washington head coach Jedd Fisch didn’t hold back when it came to speculation about how much his school has spent on their football roster. “I’ve certainly seen the speculation about what is spent on our roster, and I can tell you that’s not even close,” Fisch said. “This team was not bought; this team was built.”
Built by what Jedd? Giving out scholarships? Offering free education? Or was it by handing out millions of dollars? It doesn’t take a genius to figure out how his team was built.
To act like his team was built by his hard work on the recruiting trail and by out recruiting other coaches by offering anything but money is flat out stupid. I also find it funny that not long after saying that he literally was talking about how Washington needs more money.
But if his team wasn’t bought, then why does he need more money? Well, it’s probably because his way of getting better players is by paying them more money. So go ahead Jedd, tell me more about how your team is better than others because you built it and didn’t buy it.
Bob Chesney
I never thought anyone would top Deshaun Foster’s opening statements a couple of years ago when he rambled about absolutely nothing as he looked completely clueless as to why he was even there. But it appears that UCLA found themselves a new fool to run their program that hasn’t done anything in the last ten years.
When discussing the idea of playoff expansion on the Cover 3 Podcast, Chesney said “45 to 50% of professional teams get into the playoffs, 8% of college football teams get into the playoffs. That’s a little off to me.”
You know what’s a little off to me Bob? When people in college football try so hard to become the NFL. THIS ISN’T THE NFL. THIS IS COLLEGE FOOTBALL! I don’t know why we have leaders in this sport who continuously try to copy and paste what the NFL does.
The reality is that no matter how hard they try, it will never be the NFL. In fact, college football doesn’t even hold the NFL’s jockstrap. They make more money than college football could ever dream of and their ratings will always dominate.
That’s the problem with so many people within our sport. What makes college football special is because it’s not the NFL. We have our own traditions, unique stadiums and regional rivalries. Yet there are some people who have let money get in their way instead of using common sense.
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April 25, 2026 — Ames, Iowa: Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers addresses his team in a huddle following the Cyclones’ spring showcase at Jack Trice Stadium. (Photo by Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic)
Thank goodness, there’s no more time for “what-if” hypothetical conversation nonsense regarding Matt Campbell and his 10 Iowa State football seasons.
Conference media days are over. The Cyclones’ annual summer get-together with reporters and players is Aug. 13. The 2026 season starts in about a month.
Memorize names and numbers of a roster full of unknown Cyclones who will run into Jack Trice Stadium before the Sept. 5 opener against Southeast Missouri. Get to know the coaches and what their sideline body language might mean. Pay attention to what plays are called on third-and-short, when Jimmy Rogers’ team goes for it on fourth down, and how often the Cyclones’ defense chooses to heat up the quarterback.
Give extra praise to players who stayed. Remember their contributions when the seniors — the loyalists — are recognized for the final time on Nov. 28 before the Kansas State game. Cheer a little louder for redshirt senior linebacker Carson Willich, a Cyclones football warrior if there ever was one, who has played through one injury after another.
Rogers is the coach. Jaylen Raynor is the No. 1 quarterback. Their team is mostly new.
Living in the past isn’t healthy, nor is it fair to the players who will entertain and consume fans’ attention throughout the fall. There’s more than enough new Cyclones and Big 12 material for talk shows, podcasters and others to dissect, praise and analyze without leaning on cliché what-if this, and what-if that.
We all know who’s gone. All the wondering about whether things would have been different had a Campbell staffer been promoted to head coach — that’s the definition of wasting brain cells. Would that roster have been good enough to win the Big 12 and reach the College Football Playoff?
Moving on …
If you’re still seeking negatives, there’s plenty to comment on during these transformational days of college athletics:
** Expansion of NCAA basketball tournaments to 76 teams — or wherever the number lands.
** The open-door transfer portal without rules.
** Texas Tech.
** Conferences that stretch across all four continental U.S. time zones.
** Football games played in foreign countries.
** WNBA refs.
** The SEC.
** Streaming platforms that make major games hard to find.
** Major television networks influencing conference and NCAA policies.
** Both the home and visiting bands not playing at Cy-Hawk games (it’s time for that to change).
** CyTown — although opinions may change if it becomes the cash cow some expect.
** A salary cap (yes, in college sports).
** Major financial power brokers who think they can run college athletics.
** Texas Tech.
And for those ready to move forward?
You’ve got a roster full of new Iowa State players that need your immediate attention.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2026
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State athletics department has announced alterations to future football schedules, including dates for an anticipated extension of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series to 2031 and the addition of a seventh home game to the 2027 schedule.
ISU’s September 18, 2027 game which was originally scheduled to be played at Bowling Green will now be played in Ames at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium after the parties mutually agreed to play the second game of their current two game series in Ames. Bowling Green University will also play in Ames this season on September 19th.
Additionally, Iowa State’s 2028 home game and 2029 road game against Tulane will be moved to the first week of the season given the recent changes in the football playing season calendar that allows schools to start their seasons one week earlier. The 2028 season will open against the Green Wave on August 26 at Jack Trice Stadium, while the 2029 season will kick off August 25 at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans.
Iowa State and Iowa have also verbally agreed to extend the Cy-Hawk football series to 2031. The games in the series will be played as follows:
Sept. 9, 2028 at Iowa City
Sept. 8, 2029 at Ames
Sept. 7, 2030 at Iowa City
Sept. 6, 2031 at Ames
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ISU transfer guard Jaquan Johnson — a.k.a. “Bully” — speaks to the media Tuesday, July 26, at the Sukup Basketball Complex. Photo courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications.
AMES — They call Iowa State transfer guard Jaquan Johnson “bully,” but he’s not mean-spirited, nor does he punch down.
It’s simply a hard-earned nickname based win on his stifling defensive demeanor. A badge of honor bestowed upon the former Bradley star and reigning Missouri Valley Conference defensive player of the year. And perhaps a harbinger of things to come as the 5-11 junior seeks to level up for the Cyclones in the rugged Big 12.
“My coaches came up with it out of nowhere,” Johnson said of his nickname after a recent practice at the Sukup Basketball Complex. “We just ran with it because of my playing style. I mean, getting into the ball (and) being a dog-type player.”
Johnson — who also averaged 16.9 points while shooting 38.3 % from 3-point range last season — blankets opposing guards with unremitting pressure. He can’t stop, won’t stop. And he fits right in for ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose first five Cyclone defenses have ranked as high as first nationally according to KenPom, and no worse than 13th.
“He’s got a physical demeanor, a look in his eye and a way of going about things,” said Otzelberger, who also returns an elite front court defender in sophomore guard Killyan Toure. “As much as he competes, what’s really impressed me about him is his intelligence and his ability to pick things up quickly, because he’s a guy that doesn’t make the same mistake twice. Then he always gets to the next play. So he’s really stood out.”
So has the 6-3 Toure, who Otzelberger expects to be the best on-ball defender in the country this season. And Toure’s similarly impressed with Johnson, who likely shares that lofty goal.
“Obviously, he’s a great defender so it’s nice playing against him (in practice), (and) playing with him,” Toure said. “He’s a good playmaker, as well, so he’s really fun.”
He’s also a “bully” in the most positive way and when he’s paired with Toure, look out.
“When they’ve been out there together, some great things have happened for us,” Otzelberger said.
Those things — collisions, deflections, steals — are what ISU’s defense is built to conjure up. Offense then flows from that disruption, leading to fast breaks and transitions 3s. Johnson thrives in such a system, which is why he made the move to Ames and aims to bully his way to significant playing time behind returning stars such as Toure and slick shooting fellow guard Jamarion Batemon.
“They play exactly how I want to play,” said Johnson, who averaged 2.5 steals per game last season — slightly more than ISU’s recently-graduated all-time steals leader Tamin Lipsey. “Getting into guys, turning guys over, getting in transition, play(ing) fast.”
It takes a certain type of player to completely buy in to that grunt work-based style of play. It’s what Otzelberger and his staff look for during the recruiting process — whether for recent high schoolers or high-level transfers.
“You’re looking for guys (who) have that edge,” Otzelberger said. “(Who) have that chip. They don’t see defense as something I’m doing to occupy my time until we get to play offense again. They understand the mentality and the mindset and how the best defensive teams are able to turn their defense into offense. They’re able to play more in transition. They’re able to attack the rim and the paint even more.”
So Johnson’s a bully among bullies. Not mean, simply determined. Ready not just to strike, but to stick with his team’s principles. Minute by minute, game by game; whether in late October, or deep into March.
“We’ve got a lot of great guys (who) want to do exactly what I want to do — get into the ball, create turnovers,” Johnson said. “So it makes it a lot easier for me.”
The post “BULLY” BALL: How transfer guard Jaquan Johnson perfectly fits in ISU’s defense-driven system appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Nate Heise (0) celebrates with fans after winning 70-69 over Houston in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 16, 2026, in Ames, Iowa (Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune/USA Today Network)
Iowa State guard Nate Heise will begin his professional career with the Nuremberg Falcons BC in the German ProA League.
Brandt Chatfield played for the organization last season and Gabe Kalscheur played for the club in the 2024-25 season.
Heise will move to Germany at the end of August, the season will get underway at the end of September.
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Iowa State offensive lineman hold up the Cy-Hawk trophy following a 16-13 win over Iowa in 2025. Photo by Jacqueline Cordova.
Iowa State and Iowa are currently working on an agreement to play the Cy-Hawk Football game through 2031, per Ben Hutchens of the Quad City Times.
As of now, the series is currently scheduled to be played through 2027. The extension would be a four year agreement, keeping the game in week two of the season while alternating between Iowa City and Ames.
Iowa Athletics Director Beth Goetz confirmed with Hutchens on Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days that her and Jamie Pollard have spoken and are working through the deal.
Read Hutchens’ full story at this link.
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Iowa State men’s basketball held their third media availability of the summer on Tuesday morning. Watch everything head coach T.J. Otzelberger, sophomore guard Killyan Toure and junior guard Jaquan Johnson said at the links below.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger spends a lot of his July 28 availability talking about his two point guards, Killyan Toure and Jaquan Johnson. What does Toure have to do to be the best defensive player in America? What has made Johnson a perfect fit into Iowa State’s culture? Otzelberger talks about Cyclone basketball for 16 minutes, courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
Iowa State sophomore guard Killyan Toure shares why he can be the best on-ball defender in all of college basketball. He expresses his confidence as to why he’s one of the best, but shares how he can get to the next level. Plus, Toure shares the strides he’s taking as the point guard and leader of Iowa State’s offense. Watch Toure’s full interview on July 28, courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
Iowa State junior guard Jaquan Johnson talks about his “bully” nickname. How did it come about and how does it fuel him to be a bully on the court? Plus, Johnson shares his adjustment at Iowa State, playing alongside Killyan Toure and what former Bradley assistant coach Allan Hanson brings to Iowa State. Watch Johnson’s full interview on July 28, courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
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Transfer guard Leon Bond III in action at a summer practice. Photo courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications.
AMES — He’s athletic. He’s an elite defender. And he delights in putting in the unglamorous work on the court.
Suffice it to say, then, that transfer guard Leon Bond III checks all the boxes for Iowa State men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who expects the former Northern Iowa standout to make a big impact on the Cyclones’ 2026-27 season.
“He’s got unbelievable spirit, he’s got a big smile on his face, he brings energy to the floor every single day, and enthusiasm, passion for the game, a gratitude to be here,” Otzelberger said of the 6-5 Bond, who averaged 11.9 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 36.2 % from 3-point range last season. “There’s really nothing in this game that Leon Bond isn’t capable of doing.”
The confident and experienced Bond’s well aware of all that — and eager to unlock his high-end potential. Want proof? Here’s how the soon-to-be senior describes himself as a player:
“I feel like I bring athleticism, of course,” Bond said. “I feel like I bring defensive versatility. I would say offensively I bring a little bit of everything — a little Swiss Army knife.”
Bond, like teammate Blake Buchanan, started his college career playing for Tony Bennett at Virginia, but then chose to transfer to UNI, where he served as a vital cog for then-head coach Ben Jacobson in each of the past two seasons. He became a consistent double-digit scorer and didn’t need a lot of volume to get there. He also shot 75 or better from the line in the past two seasons, so efficiency serves as another element in his wide-ranging game.
But it’s his defensive tenacity that sets him apart. Bond earned a spot on the all-MIssouri Valley Conference defensive team last season, as did fellow transfer Jaquan Johnson (Bradley) — who earned defensive player of the year honors. Bond said all of ISU’s transfers share Swiss Army knife-esque attributes, which should excite fans eager to see the team remain among the Big 12’s top title contenders.
“We’ve got a bunch of dudes who do a little bit of everything and play hard,” Bond said while also referencing returning guards Jamarion Batemon and Killyan Toure, among others. “Maybe its’s not like a 30-point game (for anyone), but everybody’s just got 12, or everybody’s got 15. Like, it’s just anybody can kill you any given night.”
Bond plans to kill it for the Cyclones from all angles, turning live ball steals into transition scoring opportunities for both he and his teammates. His game — like Otzelberger’s program — begins with and is based upon stern ball pressure. And that’s why he fits perfectly as its latest Swiss Army knife.
“I do really feel confident that his spirit is gonna unlock his entire game,” said Otzelberger, who’s led the Cyclones to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first five seasons, along with three Sweet 16 appearances in that span. “And what we’re gonna see is the harder he plays on defense, the more deflections, collisions, steals, blocks — I feel like the greater aggression he’ll play with on the offensive end, because that will get him out in transition and finishing on the glass. But I’ve been really pleased with his effort his energy. Excited to work with him every day. He’s a special young man.”
Bond smiles as he hears those words. Then he grins again and gets back to work. It’s his actions that matter and he’s planning to “leave it all on the table.”
“Hearing (Otzelberger) say that, I mean, all you can do is bet on yourself,” Bond said. “And with coach believing in me, my teammates believing in me, I mean, all we can do is succeed.”
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Iowa State football coach Jimmy Rogers speaks during a timeout in the first half in the Iowa State and Iowa men’s basketball Cy-Hawk series at Hilton coliseum on Dec. 11, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. (Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Matt Campbell did a lot for Iowa State football. He launched the program into relevancy, paving the way for Jimmy Rogers to come in with an opportunity to ride momentum to some winning seasons. Offseasons under Campbell were about as dry as the Sahara. The best you would get is a 10-minute press conference here and there where you would hear that they are building a culture. That was true, Campbell was a great culture coach. During the season, there was a lot of entertainment from the games themselves, yet even after some of the greatest finishes you have ever seen, it was the same repeated messages over and over again. If it is not broken, certainly do not fix it, but Jimmy Rogers has already run circles around Campbell in how entertaining the team is to spectate outside of game time.
This truth first showed up to me at the spring showcase in April. The “Midnight Alley” drill, which defensive lineman Zaimir Hawk said comes down to which player has “the biggest nuts,” was a glimpse into the endless well of excitement to come.
Rogers and Iowa State SAM/Nickels/Passing Game Coordinator Ross Watson hopped on a two-hour long podcast with inquisitive experts Jake Brend and Levi Stevenson. I will leave the link below for what I can only describe as insightful content.
PRESEASON CYCLONE FOOTBALL SPECIAL: Jimmy Rogers & Ross Watson join Jake Brend & Levi Stevenson – Cyclone Fanatic
The whole podcast is a look at things that we never got to see previously. The Big 12 coaches’ predictions came out recently. After unwrapping the results, one coach selected Iowa State to win the Big 12. That vote was Rogers.
"If I'm going to say that we're gonna win, I have to fully believe that we're gonna win. I have to speak it into existence."
Jimmy Rogers explains his rationale for picking his Iowa State Cyclones to win the Big 12 this season. pic.twitter.com/1vcukoOktL
— Cyclone Fanatic (@cyclonefanatic) July 24, 2026
Why should he lead the Cyclones into battle if he does not believe they can and will win? The first thing that should have crossed everyone’s minds when it was announced that Rogers voted for the Cyclones is why did all of the coaches not select their own teams? Surely they believe they are cut out for it, and if not, does that not concern their fanbases?
Rogers is here to win. He knows that is all that matters at the end of the day, and so do the fans. If Rogers’ teams do not win, no one will be having fun. That does not mean the team cannot win if they have fun, though. Rogers rarely smiles when talking about football. That is not because he is unhappy, it is because he is focused on the work ahead at all times.
He spoke about the tough decisions he had to make when constructing the roster. Some fan favorites had to clean out their locker due to the circumstances, and Rogers was given a few weeks to bring a roster that could fit in a minivan to a full team. He never let his nor the fanbases’ emotions get in the way of putting together the best roster possible.
Jimmy Rogers had some tough decisions to make when he was putting together a roster.
Not every single player left for Penn State was offered the same opportunities by the current Iowa State staff.
An authentic Rogers explains how he doesn't let emotions influence decisions. pic.twitter.com/QJtM6m6CQp
— Jake Brend (@JakeBrendTV) July 24, 2026
Maybe the team will never lose again, maybe they will never win again. Either way, the man running the show has made a good first impression.
Another unconventional defensive scheme?
The 3-3-5 defense was wildly successful in Jon Heacock’s time as defensive coordinator for the Cyclones. The final couple years were a slight step back, but overall it was an undeniable success story.
It did cause a lot of headaches, though. There are parts of the 3-3-5 defense that no other scheme can replicate. When the defensive line is struggling to pressure the quarterback, there were some times where it was a tough watch. Also, stopping the run against any running back that could break a tackle felt like an impossible task.
Defensive Coordinator Jesse Bobbit spoke on the Williams and Blum podcast about exactly that.
"What we will do is stop the run. Based off of that, (we will get after) the quarterback with a four-down rush, we will blitz, we will pressure, we will bring five, we will bring six. At the end of the day, our D line has to get home."
Iowa State defensive coordinator Jesse… pic.twitter.com/hcorrbRZVE
— Cyclone Fanatic (@cyclonefanatic) July 22, 2026
Led by Washington State transfer Isaac Terrell, a seven sack man a year ago, the line is probably the one position group where there are no question marks. Regardless, four defensive lineman will be a breath of fresh air come week one.
The post Monday Musings: Rogers is the right amount of fun appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
April 25, 2026 — Ames, Iowa: Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers looks on during a team scrimmage at the Cyclones’ spring showcase at Jack Trice Stadium. (Photo by Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic)
Often at this juncture of college football’s long offseason, it’s stylish to look at each team’s toughest opponents. Arizona, for example, has a killer Big 12 schedule that includes games at BYU, at Kansas State, and at Kansas. Houston has road games against Texas Tech, Kansas State and Utah.
Those aren’t gimme opponents, regardless of who you are.
In Iowa State’s case — and for a plethora of reasons that include the new-look Cyclones being picked to finish 16th out of the Big 12’s 16 teams — let’s try something different.
Who are Iowa State’s five most beatable opponents?
Don’t confuse this with teams Jimmy Rogers’ first Iowa State team should beat. When you’ve got a roster full of free agents, as Rogers does, nothing is a given — and that includes success against opponents most likely to occupy the lower five rungs of the Big 12 standings.
Translated: If the Cyclones are to surprise the Big 12 football world with a handful of wins, here are the five best ways to do it.
**
WHO: Southeast Missouri
WHEN/WHERE: Sept. 5, noon, at Jack Trice Stadium
WHY IOWA STATE CAN WIN: This should be the easiest pick of Iowa State’s (allegedly) easiest five opponents. Forget that SEMO went 4-8 last season; in this game, that’s a non-factor. The Cyclones win because Jack Trice Stadium will be rockin’. First game for the new coach. First game in which fans of legal age can purchase beer. First Iowa State game for nearly everyone on the roster. This was a cinch choice.
Cheers!
**
WHO: Bowling Green
WHEN/WHERE: Sept. 19, 11 a.m., at Jack Trice Stadium
WHY IOWA STATE CAN WIN: The Falcons have had eight losing seasons in the past 10 years. Another is likely in Eddie George’s second season as head coach. He’s a legendary former player who is still building a roster capable of competing in the MAC. A 2-1 record heading into Big 12 play is the most likely Cyclones scenario.
I’ll drink to that.
**
WHO: West Virginia
WHEN/WHERE: Oct. 3, at Jack Trice Stadium
WHY IOWA STATE CAN WIN: This matchup, as strange as it sounds, could favor Iowa State. The Mountaineers will push the offensive tempo against a Cyclones defense that’s moving away from the three-man front used the past few seasons. The unknown factor on that side of the ball, plus the home crowd, could play nicely into Iowa State’s hands.
**
WHO: Oklahoma State
WHEN/WHERE: Oct. 31, at Jack Trice Stadium
WHY IOWA STATE CAN WIN: This stat still amazes me — how a once-respected program can lose 20 of its past 21 games. You think Iowa State has a lot of transfers? So do the Cowboys under new coach Eric Morris. He ran a quick, offense-heavy system at North Texas, where his team passed for 4,841 yards and 36 touchdowns while averaging a nation’s-best 45.1 points per game. The game is in Ames, where late-October weather isn’t always conducive to high scoring.
**
WHO: Cincinnati
WHEN/WHERE: Nov. 14, at Jack Trice Stadium
WHY IOWA STATE CAN WIN: In the Bearcats, Iowa State meets its match — new coordinators, new quarterback, no expectations. Cincinnati enters this game after facing Houston, Utah and Texas Tech. In the Big 12, that’s about as tough as it gets. It’s a home game for the Cyclones, and that could be the difference.
**
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
The post PETERSON: Iowa State’s path to a five-win season appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Even though we are in the dog days of summer and kickoff is still weeks away, that doesn’t mean that we can’t talk about college football. In fact, this is the time where people make fools of themselves by putting their foot in their mouth.
Perhaps no better example of that took place this past week in Tampa with SEC Media Days. It was four days of ass kissing from the media and it gave us some of the dumbest things I have ever heard. Let’s go over some of the highlights, shall we?
Greg Sankey
We start with the evil emperor himself, Greg Sankey. Some may call him Greg, but I call him the devil. Either way, the guy loves to hear himself talk and has no shortage of yes man behind trying to find every data point known to man as to why the SEC didn’t get every team in the playoff.
Greg decided to kick things off with a bang and suggested that the SEC was considering breaking away from the rest of college football. Even Georgia, head coach Kirby Smart and his bad haircut said the same thing.
Well, what are you waiting for Greg? Do you not already have enough power? Are you mad about not getting enough teams in the playoff? I just don’t get it. Greg is the type of guy who smells his own farts and tells everyone they don’t stink when the truth is the stuff coming out of his mouth is actually worse than what comes out of his rear.
He just can’t help himself and when he doesn’t get his way, he whines and makes empty threats like this. It’s funny because as the week went on, he back tracked a little bit after taking so much heat nationally. If the SEC wants to take their ball and go home, I sure as hell don’t want to get in their way. In fact, I dare them to.
Eli Drinkwitz
If you thought Sankey was bad, try listening to Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz talk for more than 20 seconds. Within minutes of being on the podium, Drinkwitz turned his press conference into a stand-up comedy routine that seemed worse than the taco bell parasite which I would rather have than listen to his awful jokes and jabs.
When asked about the Big Ten winning three straight national titles, he mentioned that part of the reason is that the Big Ten is not required to play a non-conference game against a Power Four school. I guess when Indiana beat Alabama by 35 in the playoffs, it was because of their non-conference schedule?
Then he decided to take shots at the state of Kansas saying “What’s the best thing that comes out of the state of Kansas? I-70. What do you call a good looking girl in Kansas? A tourist.”
But the real reason why he loves to do this is because it takes away from anyone looking into what he’s accomplished at Missouri which is absolutely nothing.
Outside of two seasons (2023 and 2024), Drinkwitz is 25-24 overall and 15-19 in SEC play. So, it’s been two good seasons and four below-average years at best. And if you look closer at 2023 and 2024, he didn’t beat a single team with a winning record in conference play.
So even during those “magical” two seasons, Missouri beat nobody worth a damn. Every time they played someone with a pulse, they folded up faster than you can spell M-I-Z-Z-O-U.
Yet, the people of Missouri didn’t see it that way, and they ended up giving him a six-year, $64.5 million contract extension late in the 2025 season when he was 2-4 in conference play.
And to nobody’s surprise, his four conference wins came against teams that had a combined SEC record of 3-29. So who is laughing now?
Lane Kiffin
Finally, is the golden boy himself, Joe Freshwater, I mean Lane Kiffin. He started talking about the way the playoff committee should be looking at teams from different conferences. Kiffin said, “Until we can get into a world where people can actually look at teams and say, that team that is 9-3 with their schedule is a better team than that 11-1 in a different conference, which now I think we aren’t even close to doing that, I think it causes problems.”
Should a 9-3 SEC team get in over a 11-1 Big 12 team or ACC team? Hell no. Especially, when stats like ESPN’s FPI exist that reward SEC teams for playing a cellar dweller in their own conference more than if they were to play a top tier team from the Big 12 or ACC.
Strength of schedule should only carry so much weight. If two teams have identical records from different power conferences, then sure that can be used as a legitimate point but between an 11-1 and a 9-3 team, there shouldn’t even be a comparison to be had.
The post Big 12 Buzz: Surprise! More SEC nonsense appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Are Cyclone fans ready for some football?! Jake Brend and Levi Stevenson host a Cyclone Fanatic///CF After Dark collab at the Cyclone Football Gridiron Golf Outing.
Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers joins the program to share his football philosophies, why he picked Iowa State to win the Big 12, how he adapts year-by-year, how his staff handled their first recruiting cycle, how he dealt with players leaving for Penn State and a lot more.
Iowa State SAM/Nickels/Passing Game Coordinator Ross Watson joins in on the fun to explain what his job is, why he loves coaching, the dynamic as an “outsider” on the defensive staff, relives his Mt Union days and a lot more.
Gridiron Club president Jay Chapman sits down to share their mission, how the club has changed in his time and what the current needs of the organization are.
The post PRESEASON CYCLONE FOOTBALL SPECIAL: Jimmy Rogers & Ross Watson join Jake Brend & Levi Stevenson appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
April 25, 2026 — Ames, Iowa: Iowa State football players break down a team huddle during the Cyclones’ spring showcase at Jack Trice Stadium. (Photo by Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic)
So, Iowa State football is finishing last in the 16-team Big 12 Conference, say offseason prediction markets.
Shocker.
When a veteran roster loaded with College Football Playoff expectations suddenly becomes full of players fans don’t even know, what else do you expect?
Did you anticipate a “Cyclones picked to finish first” headline?
Iowa State hasn’t won a Big 12 championship football game with good teams, but all may not necessarily be lost for 2026.
Remember not long ago — 2024, to be exact — when Arizona State was picked last?
The Sun Devils shared first place in the final regular-season standings with Iowa State, BYU and Colorado. They beat Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game, then lost to Texas in the College Football Playoff.
Again, after being picked to finish last.
See, stuff can happen. History says so.
Here are five Big 12-related (and Iowa State-related) predictions for a 2026 season that cannot get here soon enough:
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THE CYCLONES WON’T BE THAT BAD
Don’t hold me to this, but I’ve got to believe quarterback Jaylen Raynor has enough broken-play maneuverability to beat Southeast Missouri, Bowling Green, West Virginia and Cincinnati.
Iowa State’s most recent last-place finish, in 2022, included just one Big 12 win — at home against West Virginia. This season, however, coach Jimmy Rogers’ team can win at least two conference games, which isn’t great, but one more than in 2022.
And don’t forget, it’s not like the Big 12 is the greatest football conference on the planet. If that’s a backhanded way to say that even with a new roster, Iowa State has a shot to win more than the so-called experts think — then so be it.
Bottom line: Iowa State beats two conference opponents — and maybe three if Oklahoma State isn’t any good for a second straight season.
**
BYU WILL CARRY THE BIG 12 LOAD
…but how far will the Cougars carry it?
Not far enough for the conference to erase its mediocre stigma.
These days, a conference is only as good as how its members fare in the College Football Playoff. In that regard, current Big 12 members’ CFP records since 2014:
TCU: 1-1
Cincinnati: 0-1
Arizona State: 0-1
Texas Tech: 0-1
How badly did Texas Tech need quarterback Brendon Sorsby to follow the rules? Very badly. With him, the Red Raiders might have won a CFP game or two. Without him?
That’s where BYU comes in. The Cougars, with quarterback Bear Bachmeier returning, are the only other Big 12 team capable of making even minimal national-level noise.
Here’s the deal: The Big 12 gets one CFP team. Again.
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SEC’S BREAKAWAY?
I interrupt my Big 12 prediction list with this:
The Southeastern Conference taking its ball and going home?
Good riddance.
**
A BIG 12 COACH IS FIRED AFTER THE SEASON
Think Baylor. Think Dave Aranda.
A loyal fan base can only take so much before frustration turns into fewer fans at McLane Stadium. Going 22-28 the past four seasons isn’t cutting it.
The defense has been atrocious. If Florida transfer quarterback D.J. Lagway doesn’t turn things around quickly, Aranda could even be a midseason firing.
New athletics director Doug McNamee could be making a defining decision just months into the job.
Baylor’s first five games are against Auburn, Prairie View A&M, Louisiana Tech, Colorado and Arizona State. Anything less than a 5-0 start and the fans become restless.
What about Colorado’s Deion Sanders, you wonder?
The Buffs could be in coach-hiring mode, too — but not because Coach Prime becomes Coach Fired. Sanders could decide to step away due to ongoing health issues.
That’d be the less dramatic outcome if a split is coming. Despite a 16-23 record in three seasons, Sanders has done a lot for the program’s branding. That matters.
See ya, Coach Aranda.
**
BEST BIG 12 QUARTERBACK NOT NAMED BEAR
That’d be Kansas State’s Avery Johnson, not just because he passed for 2,385 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, and not just because he’s started 26 games.
But also because new head coach Collin Klein specializes in quarterbacks. He’s been the Wildcats’ quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, and was Texas A&M’s OC the past two seasons.
Oh, by the way, Klein led Kansas State to 21 wins as the starting quarterback in 2011 and 2012.
With an emphasis on offensive football under Klein, Johnson could be in for a breakout season.
**
LONGSHOT BIG 12 REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPION
While on the subject of Kansas State and its veteran quarterback…
Yeah, the Wildcats can be a longshot pick to finish atop the Big 12 standings.
Impossible, you say, with a new coach?
No. Klein isn’t exactly new to Manhattan.
Moreover, his team doesn’t face BYU or Texas Tech in 2026.
That’s the real reason Kansas State is a legitimate team to watch.
**
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
The post PETERSON: Iowa State football won’t be as bad as predicted, plus Big 12 outlook for 2026 appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
There isn’t a whole lot of Big 12 news this week and with Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard announcing his decision to call it quits in 2027, I thought this would be a good time for me to talk about that. I know it’s old news and some of you out there are probably tired of talking about it, but I only get to do this once a week here so bear with me.
First off, lasting over 20 years at anything is incredible in itself. I couldn’t even imagine doing what I do now for 20 years but sometimes when you do something you love, you hardly ever check the clock.
When Pollard took over in 2005, things were very different at Iowa State as many of you already know. Then again, I don’t remember a ton back then because I was just some snot-nosed 12-yeard old kid who didn’t know his ass from his elbow.
Fundraising was nearly non-existent and Jamie helped get Iowa State with the times. Then came the first set of hires. Greg McDermott and Gene Chizik who at the time were very big gets for Iowa State despite neither one truly working out.
Two more hires came along with Fred Hoiberg and Paul Rhoads. Not long after that, he dealt with two rounds of realignment back in the early 2010’s. And while the Rhoads hire ended up going downhill towards the end, the Hoiberg hire turned into the exact opposite as Iowa State’s basketball team made the tournament four out of his five years along with a sweet 16 appearance.
Eventually, the mayor left to coach in the NBA and Steve Prohm was brought in and despite success in year one, it didn’t end well. But when the football team needed a new head coach, he brought in Matt Campbell. Then came T.J. Otzelberger for basketball and one could argue that those were the two greatest hires in Iowa State history. Who did that? Jamie Pollard.
Of course, COVID came along as well as NIL. Throw in more realignment and it felt like we were in the wild west of college athletics. It was absolute madness and yet, Iowa State still had a seat at the big boy table and managed to persevere.
Sure, it wasn’t always pretty and you can say what you want about money but guess what? Everyone in college athletics has a money problem including teams in the Big Ten who make a hell of a lot more money.
I understand that not everyone agreed with Jamie Pollard every step of the way and that’s fine. I felt like over the last few years I disagreed with him more often times than not.
There are comments he has made that people will never let go of whether it’s regarding paying players or selling alcohol at sporting events. And yes, I was one of the slobs who wanted to drink a beer inside Jack Trice stadium and Hilton Coliseum.
Even though I didn’t always agree with Jamie, I respected him for not being afraid to speak his mind. In today’s world, that’s refreshing, especially coming from an athletic director.
While I don’t know for certain, it felt like Jamie got a bit tired of the everyday grind of being an athletic director over the last few years. If not for COVID and everything else, who knows, maybe he would have called it quits earlier but he didn’t. But with a new president coming in, he probably felt like it was the right time to move on.
We will see how Cy-Town works out and what the Jimmy Rogers era looks like at Iowa State when Pollard is gone. We can leave that to the next guy who will have much different problems than Jamie had when he took over 20 plus years ago. But even still, his resume at Iowa State speaks for itself. If anyone deserves one more lap around it’s Jamie Pollard because he’s earned it.
What Jamie Pollard has done for Iowa State will never be forgotten. In fact, you couldn’t tell the story of Iowa State athletics and not mention his name. Love him or hate him, Iowa State would not be where they are at today without him. And to that, I say thank you Jamie Pollard and I wish you nothing but the best moving forward.
The post Big 12 Buzz: Remembering Pollard’s legacy appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Mar 22, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Blake Buchanan (23) dunks during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images
AMES — Blake Buchanan clutched two heavy dumbbells, took a deep breath, then plunged into the pool.
Iowa State’s typically high-flying 6-10 senior forward then quickly and safely hit rock bottom in the best possible way — and that was just part of his recent unconventional, fun and taxing workout with Dr. Cameron Chestnut.
“It’s all just about breathing,” said Buchanan, who worked with Chestnut last month and plans to do so again in August. “It was a lot of, like, holding your breath underwater. I think it’s different when you can be explosive underwater. It’s not as hard on your body. So I thought that was kind of cool.”
Buchanan’s typical and arduous summer workouts led by head coach T.J. Otzelberger are also cool, in a sense. They establish the baseline toughness and commitment required to forge one of the nation’s top defenses. They serve as the engine to turn live ball turnovers into transition opportunities once the season finally hits. And now Buchanan’s going through this critical two-month training period for the second straight summer — and helping newcomers adjust to its unyielding demands.
“Obviously last year was a lot harder, a lot more draining,” said Buchanan, who averaged a career-high 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds while shooting 63.6 % from the field last season. “Obviously, you understand what it takes, what you need to do every day. So it’s been a lot easier (and) teaching the new guys has been fun. It’s been difficult at times. Maybe a little frustrating at times, but that’s part of it, just learning, especially with the way we play.”
Buchanan hopes his typical and unique workouts alike will help him put together a breakout season. He’s already proven to be an explosive post player, soaring for a team-best 59 dunks last season. He also steadily improved as a rim protector and interior defender, but Buchanan’s next developmental step entails extending his strong contributions beyond the post.
“Just trying to maybe facilitate a little bit more (and provide more) scoring,” he said.
The same holds true for fellow big man Dominykas Pleta, who shined on the offensive glass in particular as a true freshman last season. Buchanan said the Cyclones have been practicing with two big men on the court at the same time more frequently in practice this summer, so he and his front court cohorts will need to be more versatile to fuel an offense that’s rapidly improved in Otzelberger’s five-plus seasons at the helm.
“I think last year in the (NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16) against Tennessee we kind of learned that sometimes we need to have two bigs on the floor to match that physicality,” Buchanan said. “I think I’ve gotta figure out how to play more on the perimeter instead of just playing down low.”
Time will tell how much of that added development will occur, but until then Buchanan and fellow veterans in ISU’s program will draw on all their workouts and experiences — both conventional and unconventional — to help first-time Cyclones keep their heads above water.
And that’s been a so far, so good proposition, Otzelberger said recently.
“I feel like we’re at a place even ahead of where we’ve maybe been in some other years because I think guys are — you can just feel the buy in,” Otzelberger said. “You can feel that they want to lock in, to spend the time together. And when we’ve had team activities, team events, team meals, the level of investment in one another’s been really cool.”
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April 25, 2026 — Ames, Iowa: Iowa State quarterback Jaylen Raynor looks to pass during the Cyclones’ spring showcase at Jack Trice Stadium. (Photo by Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic)
When Jaylen Raynor starts on Sept. 5 against Southeast Missouri, he will be Iowa State’s 14th different opening-game starting quarterback since Sage Rosenfels beat Indiana State in 1999.
He’ll join a select group that includes three current or former NFL quarterbacks, a first-round draft choice, and a quarterback who also played wide receiver after reaching the NFL.
Furthermore, he’ll replace one of Iowa State’s all-time bests, who essentially replaced arguably the all-time best.
Pressure? Only if you allow it. It’s more like an opportunity — to be known as the team leader, to be Jimmy Rogers’ first Iowa State starting quarterback, and to play a position so many before him played very well.
From Rosenfels in a 33-7 victory against the Sycamores in 1999, to Rocco Becht against Northern Iowa in 2023.
From wonderful first-time opening-season games, to the forgettable.
From quarterbacks that specialize in throwing, to the more versatile.
Iowa State football fans have seen almost everything from first-time Cyclones starters — and in 2026, that includes a quarterback that’s not afraid to tuck and run.
Given the uncertain running back situation, Cyclones success this season could rest on how well Becht’s successor performs — both through the air and on the ground.
Receivers are new. There aren’t many holdover offensive linemen. Running back likely will be a first-time Iowa State starter — and possibly even a transfer.
Given that the new quarterback will be one of a plethora of newcomer starters, here are the 13 different quarterbacks that started season-opening games since 2000:
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ROCCO BECHT (2023-25): 3-0 in season-opening games against UNI, North Dakota, Kansas State.
HUNTER DEKKERS (2022): 1-0 in season-opening game against Southeast Missouri.
BROCK PURDY (2019-21): 2-1 in season-opening games against UNI (W), Louisiana (L) and UNI (W).
KYLE KEMPT (2018): 0-1 in season-opening game against Iowa.
JACOB PARK (2017): 1-0 in season-opening game against UNI.
JOEL LANNING (2016): 0-1 in season-opening game against UNI.
SAM RICHARDSON (2013-15): 1-2 in season-opening games against UNI (L), North Dakota State (L) and UNI (W).
STEELE JANTZ (2011-12): 2-0 in season-opening games against UNI and Tulsa.
AUSTEN ARNAUD (2008-10): 3-0 in season-opening games against South Dakota State, North Dakota State and Northern Illinois.
BRET MEYER (2004-07): 3-1 in season-opening starts against UNI (W), Illinois State (W), Toledo (W) and Kent State (L).
AUSTIN FLYNN (2003): 1-0 in season-opening game against UNI.
SENECA WALLACE (2001-02): 1-1 in season-opening games against UNI (W) and Florida State (L).
SAGE ROSENFELS (1999-00): 2-0 in season-opening games against Indiana State and Ohio.
**
Raynor will be the 14th addition to this list. That much we know.
But will he have a better Opening Day by passing, by running — or both?
Dekkers, for what it’s worth, completed 25 of 31 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns during his only season-opening start in 2022 — coincidentally against the same opponent Iowa State faces on Sept. 5.
That much we know.
The rest?
Stay tuned.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
The post PETERSON: Iowa State starting QB history includes a few pros, a few runners, and many passers appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Spain poses for a photo after winning the World Cup after the FIFA World Cup Final game at MetLife Stadium, Jul 19, 2026, East Rutherford, NJ, USA.
With the World Cup wrapped up, we got a close up look at the massive differences in sports culture in North America compared to the rest of the world. There were so many great things that opened my eyes to flaws in our viewing experience, but there were also a few things that reminded me of why I love American sports so much.
Broadcast Differences
This has not been a secret to anyone that watches sports in America, but the sheer amount of advertisements and game breaks are unreal. Obviously the league needs to turn a profit. That said, the last two minutes of gameplay in a close NBA or college basketball game can run for a half hour with all of the stoppages. That is not enough for the leagues. They additionally need to project advertisements onto the courts, print them onto the jerseys and run ads that take up half of the screen even when it is not a commercial break.
There are always going to be commercials; however, it was refreshing to only step away for halftime and a couple hydration breaks.
The pregame festivities including the walkouts and the anthems were also fantastic. To be honest, I am not entirely sure why stations decided we do not want to see that kind of stuff, but it is starting to come back due to the warm reception of NBC’s pregame NBA broadcasts.
Emotions
It is beyond past time to end the non-chalant gimmick that athletes and fans have taken on. If you hop on social media and celebrate a win, the other fanbase will just say it is because you cared more about the game than they did. Since when is wanting to win more than the other team a bad thing?
There is no better feeling than a team you feel connected to picking up a win. The World Cup naturally brings that feeling out of people. Watching professional or college sports, you show up to work the next day and half of the coworkers were cheering for the other team. Although soccer is not a wildly popular sport in America, everywhere I went I knew the people I was talking to were on the same team as me, even if for just a month.
Seeing athletes sing their signature songs with their fanbase after a win, even if it was a fairly meaningless group stage matchup, was amazing. Even after teams were eliminated, they still took in the scenes postgame and interacted with the fans.
If we cannot get crying in baseball, I will settle for any type of emotion.
Flopping
As big of an issue as flopping is in basketball, and less so but still prevalent in hockey and football, soccer still has a massive flopping problem. Probably the biggest reason for the stark difference is how powerful the reward is for being fouled. In basketball, you would never pass up a fastbreak layup in favor of a flop, because the layup has higher odds of going in. In soccer, penalty kicks and free kicks are responsible for a massive chunk of goals.
Basketball still does need to solve the flopping issue. Nobody wants to sit through a dozen reviews for potential flop punishments every game. A potential alternative would be reviewing flops after games are completed with suspensions slapped down onto the table when deemed necessary. It might be harsh, yet players would probably stop flopping.
It’s all rigged?
Fans saying every sporting event is rigged or scripted has always got on my nerves. It becomes hard to enjoy sports when someone is in your ear the whole time telling you the best game you have ever witnessed sucked actually.
That tradition is apparently one that transfers to sports around the world. Everything Argentina accomplished over the entire tournament was called rigged.
The star players are so heavily marketed in the World Cup that it gives people rooting interests outside of their own nation. That on its own is a great thing. When it was mixed with people that did not want to see their least favorite players succeed, it took away from the storylines that could have been.
Feel free to chime in, I would love to hear what other people thought after experiencing different sports cultures.
Monday Musings: What American sports should take away from the World Cup
With the World Cup wrapped up, we got a close up look at the massive differences in sports culture in North America compared to the rest of the world. There were so many great things that opened my eyes to flaws in our viewing experience, but there were also a few things that reminded me of why I love American sports so much.
Broadcast Differences
This has not been a secret to anyone that watches sports in America, but the sheer amount of advertisements and game breaks are unreal. Obviously the league needs to turn a profit. That said, the last two minutes of gameplay in a close NBA or college basketball game can run for a half hour with all of the stoppages. That is not enough for the leagues. They additionally need to project advertisements onto the courts, print them onto the jerseys and run ads that take up half of the screen even when it is not a commercial break.
There are always going to be commercials; however, it was refreshing to only step away for halftime and a couple hydration breaks.
The pregame festivities including the walkouts and the anthems were also fantastic. To be honest, I am not entirely sure why stations decided we do not want to see that kind of stuff, but it is starting to come back due to the warm reception of NBC’s pregame NBA broadcasts.
Emotions
It is beyond past time to end the non-chalant gimmick that athletes and fans have taken on. If you hop on social media and celebrate a win, the other fanbase will just say it is because you cared more about the game than they did. Since when is wanting to win more than the other team a bad thing?
There is no better feeling than a team you feel connected to picking up a win. The World Cup naturally brings that feeling out of people. Watching professional or college sports, you show up to work the next day and half of the coworkers were cheering for the other team. Although soccer is not a wildly popular sport in America, everywhere I went I knew the people I was talking to were on the same team as me, even if for just a month.
Seeing athletes sing their signature songs with their fanbase after a win, even if it was a fairly meaningless group stage matchup, was amazing. Even after teams were eliminated, they still took in the scenes postgame and interacted with the fans.
If we cannot get crying in baseball, I will settle for any type of emotion.
Flopping
As big of an issue as flopping is in basketball, and less so but still prevalent in hockey and football, soccer still has a massive flopping problem. Probably the biggest reason for the stark difference is how powerful the reward is for being fouled. In basketball, you would never pass up a fastbreak layup in favor of a flop, because the layup has higher odds of going in. In soccer, penalty kicks and free kicks are responsible for a massive chunk of goals.
Basketball still does need to solve the flopping issue. Nobody wants to sit through a dozen reviews for potential flop punishments every game. A potential alternative would be reviewing flops after games are completed with suspensions slapped down onto the table when deemed necessary. It might be harsh, yet players would probably stop flopping.
It’s all rigged?
Fans saying every sporting event is rigged or scripted has always got on my nerves. It becomes hard to enjoy sports when someone is in your ear the whole time telling you the best game you have ever witnessed sucked actually.
That tradition is apparently one that transfers to sports around the world. Everything Argentina accomplished over the entire tournament was called rigged.
The star players are so heavily marketed in the World Cup that it gives people rooting interests outside of their own nation. That on its own is a great thing. When it was mixed with people that did not want to see their least favorite players succeed, it took away from the storylines that could have been.
Feel free to chime in, I would love to hear what other people thought after experiencing different sports cultures.
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Former Iowa State coach Dan McCarney waves hand after used siren before Iowa State and South Dakota football at Jack Trice Stadium on August 30, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Moving on from the current news of the month. Sort of.
Remember the controversy and re-do of what has now become the annual Cy-Hawk Trophy, awarded each year to the state rivalry football game winner? ESPN’s College GameDay even did a segment on it during a show outside Jack Trice Stadium.
Throughout it all — throughout the mostly good-natured trash talk among fans of both Cy and Hawk — we’ve not recognized the game’s most obvious omission. And I’m not referring to the visiting team’s marching band not attending the game.
Why hasn’t the game’s top player been given an MVP award?
Maybe something like that wasn’t even feasible when the series restarted in 1977. But in this new world of paying big bucks to rent players for a season or two, it seems we’re now in an anything-goes mindset.
So why not have the media, fans or whomever decide who the game’s top performer is? You’d rather fans use their cell phones for something like that than for placing in-game bets.
Ideally, it would be an award that becomes the property of the player or the school. Make the presentation as soon as possible after the game — before fans have vacated the stadium.
And announce the winner ASAP after the celebratory team has secured the Cy-Hawk Trophy.
Of course, it’s something the schools’ athletics directors — Iowa’s Beth Goetz and Iowa State’s (for now) unknown — will have to agree on.
We’ve seen the recent dismantling of the state’s most famous water tower. We’ve heard about goings and comings at Iowa State. Now it’s time for something upbeat — something fans of both teams can get behind.
It’s time for the MVP of the annual Cy-Hawk football game to receive the Dan McCarney Trophy.
You heard me correctly. Dan McCarney doesn’t get enough credit for the college football role he still performs — even in retirement. If there’s a better-qualified ambassador for all things State of Iowa, please enlighten me.
McCarney knows this game better than anyone. He played at Iowa in the early 1970s. He’s a former Iowa assistant coach. He was Iowa State’s very popular head coach from 1995 to 2006.
For some reason, ESPN looked past McCarney and went with country singer-songwriter Eric Church as the guest picker before the 2019 show in Ames. What a mistake.
About the only thing McCarney didn’t do was play in a Cy-Hawk game; he was a Hawkeye during the years the series was interrupted.
Mac is still so revered on both sides of the state that you’d think some corporation would gladly sponsor the trophy each year. If only Dick Jacobson were still around.
One of the most notable Iowa advocates and philanthropists, Jake would have done it — or at least pointed supporters in the right direction.
What about Hy-Vee or Fareway?
It’s probably too late for this season’s Sept. 12 game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, but it’s certainly not too late to initiate the obvious:
To establish the long-overdue Dan McCarney Award.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Mar 7, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Northwestern Wildcats forward Tre Singleton (8) dunks the ball as Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Grayson Grove (2) defends during the second half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
AMES — It’s natural to compare Iowa State transfer forward Tre Singleton to recently-graduated Joshua Jefferson.
Both stand 6-feet 8-inches tall. Both showcase versatility on both ends of the floor. And both fit Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s defense-driven system perfectly, but they’re not exactly the same player — nor does anyone want them to be.
“J-Jeff’s a really good player, Tre Singleton’s a really good player, they both have a lot of versatility as a bigger forward — all those things are true,” Otzelberger said after Tuesday’s early morning practice at the Sukup Basketball Complex.
But …
“I think Tre needs to focus on Tre being the best version of Tre he can be,” Otzelberger added.
That may be coach-speak, but it abuts a larger truth. Natural comparisons can and will be made, but it’s vitally important that each player retains his unique identity. And Singleton’s board array of skills are exclusive to him, even as he’s flattered to be compared to Jefferson, who attained All-American status as a senior and is now a drafted rookie for the Brooklyn Nets.
“Yeah, no, there (are) a lot of similarities in our game,” said Singleton, who averaged 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists as a freshman for Northwestern last season. “I think one thing I can say we both do really well is rebound and pass the ball. So just really trying to do that — grab those rebounds, push the break, get your teammates involved.”
Jefferson shined in that role for ISU last season until a severe ankle injury suffered in the first round cut his season short. The Las Vegas native averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals in about 31 minutes a game as a senior. He also shot a career-best 34.5 percent from 3-point range — an area Singleton’s aiming to greatly improve in his first season as a Cyclone.
“You’ve gotta be able to shoot to play in today’s game,” said Singleton, who made just 16.7 percent of his 3-point tries for the Wildcats last season. “Everybody knows that. If you can’t shoot, it’s gonna be pretty rough. So I’m just really keying on on my mechanics and trying to fix some bad habits I built over time.”
Naturally, a look at Jefferson’s college career provides a blueprint for growth for Singleton, as well. Jefferson averaged 10.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists his sophomore season at Saint Mary’s — numbers roughly similar to Singleton’s in his one season with Northwestern. Jefferson immediately earned the trust of his teammates as a junior with the Cyclones, then took another step up as a senior, which catapulted him to the late first round of the NBA Draft.
“Joshua certainly had a remarkable couple of years for us,” Otzelberger said.
And Singleton’s well-situated to mirror that ascent as his minutes rise and he showcases his wide-ranging skills in pivotal situations. But he’ll shoot for that Jefferson-esque climb by being himself, not trying to be somebody else. That’s because as much as Singleton shares with Jefferson stylistically, he’s not the same player — nor does anyone want him to be.
“These guys instill confidence in me every day,” Singleton said. “They tell you how good you are, just keeping you confident in everything you do. At the end of the day, it just boils down to the work that you do. If you’re putting in the work, you’re gonna be confident in your game.”
So Singleton’s poised to make a big jump, even as he charts his own distinct path.
“He takes a lot of pride in making the right play,” Otzelberger said. “So I think that versatility shows up on both sides and we’re gonna continue to expand his games that it shows up every possession, offensively and defensively.”
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After 22 years leading the Iowa State athletics department, Jamie Pollard announced he will retire in June 2027. While the news was not out of the blue, as there had been plenty of hints pointing toward Pollard’s retirement in recent years, losing the longest-tenured Power Four athletic director is still a tough pill to swallow.
Pollard did a lot of things right, but his finest work was his track record of hiring coaches. He brought in Matt Campbell, who many consider to be the greatest football coach in program history, and T.J. Otzelberger, who could wind up being the same for the men’s basketball program. Sure, there were some other hires over the years that fell flat. However, overall, it is tough to argue with his track record.
Jimmy Rogers was perhaps Pollard’s swiftest hire, and there is reason to believe Pollard saw something in him that he also saw in his other successful hires.
He has caught some flak in recent years. While the criticism was warranted at times, it caused some fans to lose track of how far Pollard has brought Iowa State athletics over his 22 years. People have said Pollard’s achievements can all be attributed to the coaches around him, which I think is silly. He was the one who hired those coaches at the end of the day. I clearly remember hundreds of fans being harsh critics of the Otzelberger hire, and that has worked out about as well as it could have.
Off the playing surface, Pollard pushed to improve the fan experience. Say what you want about CYTown, but it is a costly pursuit with the primary goal of giving fans a place to have fun. Whether it pans out in the end is another story.
Pollard was a harsh critic of allowing alcohol sales in the stadium. Many, including me, thought that was a silly hill to die on. That said, one reason he always gave was protecting fellow fans and people on the field from disorderly behavior. As much as I would love to believe Iowa State fans would never cause problems, I have been to enough sporting events to know a drunk person causing issues is the free space on the BINGO card. I disagree with the idea that selling alcohol in the stadium is not an overall positive, but I also believe some of the reasons given were not all that terrible.
My biggest critique of Pollard was his need to respond to his critics. Whether it was on social media, in interviews or during Q&As, it seemed he really took negative comments to heart. We all fall victim to this at times, yet sometimes when @User459234684 on Twitter has something rude to say, you just need to put the phone down and go about your day.
It was his passion for the job that got him riled up, but it was also that same passion that made him such an impactful figure in Iowa State’s history. He never took the job for granted, he never took a decision lightly and he never wanted to disappoint the fan base.
Although it came about due to an extremely unfortunate situation with the gymnastics team, one of his final major decisions was to get involved in women’s wrestling ahead of the curve. That sport is destined to rapidly grow, and having a years-long head start over other programs that will soon enter the sport gives Iowa State a chance to build one of the nation’s premier programs.
As Pollard stated in his departure letter, it was the perfect time to step away. The school has a year to seek out the right candidate, and I imagine Pollard will play some role in selecting the next athletic director.
This will also be a test for new President David Cook. Getting the athletic department back in the black, or at least much closer to it, is probably the top focus right now. Cook’s job will be to find someone who can replace Pollard while keeping Iowa State’s teams relevant and helping clean up the books. Pollard will be a tough act to follow, even if we did not always agree.
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Iowa State athletics director Jamie Pollard talks to fans during Cyclones Tailgate Tour kickoff at Toast on May 19, 2025, in Ankeny, Iowa © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
We’re acting like Jamie Pollard has already packed his bags and headed out to pasture. Folks, the lake home and the desert — or wherever his destination becomes — will be there when he walks out of the Iowa State athletics director’s office for the final time.
For now, there’s still work to do, and I’m sure the school’s longest-tenured AD and Iowa State’s second-most important employee (behind only the university president) knows it.
It’s been a while since I’ve been in his office, but it would not be surprising if, on his immaculate desktop (as I recall it always being), rests a piece of paper on which he’s scribbled down his final to-do list. Lengthy? Possibly, considering there’s always stuff going on these days in college athletics.
In no order, Pollard’s checklist may include overseeing such hot topics as:
CYTOWNWord on the street is that sometime within the next couple of months, a groundbreaking (literally?) announcement is coming that pertains to CyTown’s next phase. In other words, McFarland Clinic could be having some company.
The Iowa Board of Regents approved last December “various development lease proposals for Iowa State’s CyTown site,” according to published minutes of the Dec. 3, 2025 meeting. “These included building plans, financing structures and further financial information.”
Translated: Building — or at least digging — could finally begin even before the football season starts.
The entertainment district, which some people affectionately (and with respect) have called “Pollard & Light,” won’t be finished by the time (sports-minded) university president David Cook announces the new AD, but at least it sounds like construction could be starting sooner rather than later.
FOOTBALL, HOOPS AND … BEERYou’ve heard that Cyclones athletics is entering the brave new world of selling beer to anyone of age at athletic events staged inside Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum. Pollard finally surrendered, you recall, to the folks who wanted to legally hoist a cold one when Jimmy Rogers’ football team scores, when women’s and men’s basketball players splash deep 3-point shots, and when a wrestler gets a quick pin.
It’s a money generator. Every little bit helps, even if it is just a million bucks or so.
Cheers.
This — along with no more halftime outs-and-ins — was Iowa State’s biggest offseason news until last week, when Pollard announced his retirement timetable.
KEEP T.J. HAPPYT.J. Otzelberger has become the coaching face of Iowa State athletics. The men’s basketball team he coaches so well is the school’s best shot at a major sports championship, and everyone knows it. If T.J. wants something — and this also pertains to the new AD — T.J. should get it.
Sure, his new contract runs through 2032, but the buyout is just $4 million. That’s pocket change to blue-blood, coach-seeking schools.
BUY A FOOTBALL ROSTEREveryone, for that matter, will need a football program this season. Even the person in charge of athletics will need one. From the head coach to the final walk-on, everything is new when Iowa State starts the season Sept. 5 against Southeast Missouri at Jack Trice Stadium.
This year’s starting quarterback, Jaylen Raynor, for example, will be wearing No. 1. And the player wearing No. 3 is no longer the one breaking multiple school passing records. Nope. No. 3 this season will be cornerback Seth Johnson and running back Arnold Barnes III. No. 26 is Tyrone Cotton III, not Caleb Bacon and Carson Hansen.
As for this season’s entrance song? Stay tuned.
BUSINESS AS USUALOversee the athletic department budget. Ensure longevity of major coaches (oops, already done that). Continue fundraising. Pollard, it seems, has always been working on his next project, so we’ll see. He can be a little spontaneous sometimes.
BILLBOARD?Remember “It’s a Cyclone State”? Similar to the billboard he masterminded in eastern Iowa shortly after getting the position, will Pollard do something similar upon leaving for the final time, but somewhere in central Iowa? Maybe one that reads: Thanks for the memories.
I wouldn’t put anything past this creative thinker — and doer.
TAILGATE TOURThe annual Cyclones Tailgate Tour, usually each May, could become a Jamie Pollard farewell tour if his replacement hasn’t yet been found.
Whether he likes it or not.
There’s no way Pollard will coast out during his retirement countdown. Sit back in his chair, hands behind his head, feet on the desk and watch reruns of Gunsmoke, Roseanne or Friends. I doubt he’ll even start cleaning out his desk until the clock strikes 5 p.m. on his final day in the office.
Iowa State fans should be rest assured that whatever happens between now and when he’s finished …
Until it doesn’t — the buck stops with Jamie Pollard.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Cyclones fans greet as Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard walks to the stage during Cyclones Tailgate Tour at MidAmerican Energy RecPlex on Thursday, May 9, 2024, in West Des Moines, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
You knew this day was coming sooner rather than later — that Jamie Pollard, the best and longest-tenured athletics director in Iowa State history, would say farewell to a place that’s in much better shape than it was when he took the job 21 years ago.
Insiders saw it coming. They weren’t shocked by Friday morning’s announcement that he plans to leave sometime before next June.
I mean, really, how much more can an AD take of today’s college athletics money-hungry mindset that now resonates as much with the athletes as it always has with the people who coach them?
How much more can a person take of all the bickering among conference commissioners, the infighting within your own group of schools, the open and nonregulated transfer portal, governmental interference, the financial mess tied to trying to compete in the NIL era, and major media companies making conference alignment and scheduling decisions?
Throughout it all, Iowa State athletics became a better place under Pollard’s sometimes-creative leadership.
The football program became nationally competitive behind the guidance of Pollard hire Matt Campbell. The basketball program is one of the nation’s finest under T.J. Otzelberger, also hired by Pollard. Cyclones wrestling is moving into a new world with the addition of a women’s program.
According to an Iowa State press release, athletics fundraising rose from just more than $9 million the year before Pollard arrived to a record $53 million during the 2025-26 school year. More than $400 million has been invested in athletics facilities.
And don’t @ me about the unfinished CyTown entertainment district between Hilton Coliseum and Jack Trice Stadium. Yes, that was a Pollard vision, too, and if what I’m hearing is accurate, building construction could start sometime in August.
Maybe.
Finally.
Now what?
Who becomes Iowa State’s next athletics director? Who replaces the leader who helped guide not only Iowa State, but also the Big 12 Conference, through so many structural changes?
Pollard was perfect for what Cyclones athletics needed. He helped make the Cy-Hawk rivalry an actual rivalry. He was outspoken. In 2006, he showed creativity and an outside-the-box mindset when he commissioned a billboard in Hawkeye-rich eastern Iowa that proclaimed: “It’s a Cyclone State.”
Cyclones fans can be thankful that new president David Cook has a strong mind and passion for athletics. Iowa State needs that type of leader right now more than ever. When it comes to the college athletics big picture, Cook knows his stuff. He gets it.
It’s obvious that the college AD résumé has changed since Pollard was hired on Sept. 19, 2005. Instead of mainly having a keen eye for coaches (which Pollard had), the job has become part lawyer, part fundraiser, part business wizard and part politician. It’s a world in which nearly every major college faces financial pressure.
Yes, it’s a different college sports environment since the last time Iowa State hired an athletics director. I’m not even sure it’s as attractive a job as it was when Pollard was hired to change Cyclones athletics for the better.
Which he did.
The ball is now in new president David Cook’s court.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard talks to media during Cyclone Tailgate Tour at Curate on may 18, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
The following is a press release from Iowa State AthleticsJamie Pollard, the longest tenured Director of Athletics in Iowa State history, announced today that he will retire after a transformative and innovative 22-year career leading the Cyclones’ 18-sport intercollegiate athletics program. The nation’s longest tenured active Power 4 Athletics Director plans to retire effective June 30, 2027, or when a new athletics director is in place.
“My wife, Ellen, and I look forward to the next chapter in our life’s journey,” said Pollard, “and it is important to us that we transition now, while we are both healthy and young, so we can fully enjoy our retirement years. I am grateful to President Cook for allowing me to share this news now and hopefully it will allow the university plenty of time to properly transition new leadership to our department during a transformational time in college athletics.
“When we moved to Ames in 2005, we did not anticipate the impact being a Cyclone would have on our family,” he added. “The personal and professional opportunities our family has experienced during the past 21 years have been truly amazing.”
Pollard’s visionary leadership and relentless commitment to academic and athletic excellence have guided the Iowa State Athletics Department to unprecedented heights over the past two decades.
Academic & Athletic Excellence Under Pollard
Iowa State student-athletes have thrived academically under Pollard’s direction, and they continued their record-breaking classroom achievements during the 2025-26 academic year. Based upon the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) most recent academic metrics, ISU’s 95 percent 2025 institutional Graduation Success Rate (GSR) equaled the school record of the previous three years and marked the 11th-consecutive year it set a new school record, while its most-recent multi-year 992 institutional Academic Progress Rate (APR) was also a school-record. ISU has earned 27 all-time academic NCAA Public Recognition Awards in 11 different sports during his tenure.
The Cyclones have won 24 Big 12 team titles in eight different sports, played in 11 bowl games (including winning the 2021 Fiesta Bowl), 12 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournaments, 17 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournaments, registered all-time program-best finishes in nine different sports and crowned 24 NCAA individual champions on his watch. ISU has won four of the last five Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series (and 11 titles overall), including this past year when it swept volleyball, football, wrestling, men’s basketball and women’s basketball matchups in the same year for the first time ever, and has finished among the nation’s Top 50 in the Learfield Directors’ Cup nine times, including a program-best 34th-place finish in 2009-10.
“Jamie Pollard’s bold vision has produced the most sustained period of academic and athletic excellence in Iowa State’s Athletics history, and Cyclones everywhere are incredibly grateful for his leadership, passion and dedication to our university,” said ISU President David Cook. “His leadership has established a culture that has elevated our athletics program academically and athletically to incredible heights while continuing to be a loyal advocate for our student-athletes, coaches and staff.
“Although our time working together was short, I have a keen understanding of what Jamie has meant to our university and community,” he added. “He leaves behind a tremendous foundation, culture and track-record of success. On behalf of all Iowa Staters, I want to thank Jamie for doing an exceptional job.”
Off the playing field, the Cyclones Serve program earned national accolades. In 2023, the program won the Fiesta Bowl’s Community Service Award, designed to recognize NACDA member institutions that make volunteerism and community service a way of life.
Foundational Support
Since the 2011-12 academic year, ISU is the nation’s only institution to average at least 50,000 fans at home football games (13-straight seasons), 12,000 fans at home men’s basketball games (15-straight years), and 9,000 fans at home women’s basketball games (17-straight seasons), excluding the COVID-impacted 2020-21 academic year.
Athletics fundraising has skyrocketed from just over $9M the year prior to Pollard’s arrival to $53M during the 2025-26 academic year, the most-ever raised by ISU Athletics in one year. He also helped secure a $25 million gift from the Reiman Family in 2013, the largest ever received by ISU Athletics.
Pollard’s administration has invested more than $400 million in new construction and facility renovations, impacting every Cyclone sport. One of the most impactful projects for all student-athletes was the $98 million Stark Performance Center, which opened in 2021, to house academic and student services as well as a dining and sports nutrition center.
To recognize the Pollards commitment to ISU Athletics, an anonymous alumni family committed $5 million last December to establish the Jamie and Ellen Pollard Endowed Director of Athletics. The endowment recognized the couple’s service, vision and enduring impact on Cyclone Athletics.
“The establishment of the Endowed Director of Athletics position is the most thoughtful, kind, and generous gesture anyone has ever done for me, and I can honestly say it made me cry – especially knowing the donors wanted Ellen’s name included,” Pollard said. “To think we have had that type of impact on anyone in the Cyclone Community is pretty overwhelming.”
A National Leader
National observers took notice of the athletics revival in Ames, as Pollard was honored as the Football Subdivision (FBS) Athletics Director of the Year by NACDA in both 2019 and 2023.
As a representative for Iowa State, Pollard served on several national committees and boards, including the prestigious NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee (2020-24). He is the only individual to serve as President of NACDA, the I-A Athletics Director’s Association, and the College Athletics Business Manager’s Association (CABMA).
“You cannot fulfill the obligations of being an effective athletics director without talented and dedicated coaches and staff, and incredible donors and fans,” said Pollard. “It also took the unwavering support of family. My wife, Ellen, has been the ultimate co-pilot on this amazing journey.
“I will forever be grateful to President Gregory Geoffroy, who first believed in me back in 2005, President Leath, President Wintersteen, and now President Cook,” he added. “Finally, I am indebted to Pat Richter and Barry Alvarez, the two Athletics Directors that I worked for at the University of Wisconsin, and Debbie Yow, my boss and mentor at Saint Louis University and the University of Maryland, as she modeled outstanding leadership, strategic decision making, outside of the box thinking, and a relentless pursuit of doing the right thing.”
It was Pollard’s vision to build CyTown, a 40-acre mixed-use entertainment district between Jack Trice Stadium and the Iowa State Center. Patterned after Titletown in Green Bay and the Power & Light District in Kansas City, CyTown will be the first-ever entertainment district built in the heart of a college athletics campus that will benefit the ISU community for decades to come.
A certified public accountant, Pollard is recognized as one of the college sports industry’s leaders in the financial arena. Earlier this year, he was invited by the Trump Administration to participate in a White House Roundtable on saving college sports.
Prior to his arrival at Iowa State, he served in various athletics administrative capacities at the University of Wisconsin, University of Maryland and Saint Louis University. He received a 2003 Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal “Top Forty Under 40” award, the first college administrator so honored.
Pollard was a NCAA national champion long-distance runner at UW-Oshkosh (and a member of the school’s Hall of Fame) and he channeled his competitive drive into an unrivaled athletics administrative career.
“It has been my privilege to engage with thousands of Cyclone fans over the years and develop life-long friendships with so many of them,” Pollard said. “There is nothing better than celebrating and enjoying the victories and championships with our fans. Although I’ll be leaving my office in the Jacobson Building, I will always be a loyal Cyclone for the rest of my life. Once a Cyclone, always a Cyclone.”
Jamie and his wife, Ellen, have four children: Thomas (wife Kami), Annie (husband Greg), Maggie (husband Jon) and James, and one grandson, Shepherd James.
At the direction of President Cook, a national search for Pollard’s successor will begin after listening sessions with representative stakeholders from across the ISU Athletics community are conducted. Further details about the search process will be released at a later date.
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Jul 7, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark speaks to reporters during Big 12 Conference Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
If Texas Tech feels so picked on by the rest of the Big 12 — to the point there’s no way out of the hole it dug in college football’s once-hallowed ground — then here’s a solution:
Just leave. Repair a damaged reputation elsewhere.
I didn’t have to be at the conference’s annual Media Days this week to know that Texas Tech in the Big 12 is wearing thin. I mentioned that in earlier columns when the Red Raiders went out of their way defending their rules-breaking quarterback of the future. Watching the proceedings from afar this week only emphasized what I wrote a few months ago.
If Texas Tech can’t get along with others and feels like everyone is out to get it, then think about seeking a conference divorce.
Sooner rather than later.
Legalities that may prevent that action aside, the Big 12 could eventually replace Texas Tech with Tulane or Memphis. Preferably Tulane. Anyhow, road-tripping to New Orleans beats spending a weekend in West Texas any day.
No one likes you right now, Red Raiders. You’ve gotten too big for your saddle. You think that just because you have access to more oil and gas money than any superstar football or basketball player would ever want, you can call the shots. That the rules don’t apply to you. At least, right or wrong, that’s how you’re being viewed these days.
Well, this just in: Take your tortillas and water bottles and high-salaried players somewhere else if getting along in the Big 12 isn’t possible. Assuming someone will take you, of course.
We don’t need any more of the Brendan Sorsby “woe is me” mantra.
If it looks like the college football world has ganged up on you, you’re probably right. Spearheaded by Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, college football did indeed take offense to Texas Tech initially thinking it could get away with playing Sorsby, who not only admitted to illegally wagering on college football games, but also (thankfully) admitted himself into a gambling rehab clinic.
It’s true that Texas Tech didn’t break a rule. Was the football program headed in that direction? Yes. Would it have played the better-than-average quarterback after serving his “punishment”? You can bet the multimillion dollars Sorsby was set to be paid that he would have played.
Because of the Big 12’s action, which included punishment if he played even one down, the Sorsby situation didn’t get that far. Sorsby isn’t playing competitive football for anyone this season.
Nonetheless, the fact that Texas Tech was headed in that direction is like getting caught before having an extramarital affair. Or something like that.
Oftentimes, there’s no coming back. There’s rumor and innuendo. There’s behind-the-back whispering and backstabbing. There’s photos (sorry, I got my summer soap operas confused). There’s whining. Whatever you call it, Brendan Sorsby-Texas Tech was college athletics’ biggest offseason drama in a long time.
If Texas Tech officials think they can’t handle the fallout that will follow the program everywhere during the upcoming season, then …
Split. See if someone else will take you. There are plenty of replacements the Big 12 can consider.
Again, like Tulane.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Brett Yormark’s Media Days Performance
First off, way too much filler. Too much wasted time up there between awards and just stuff nobody really cares about. At times it felt like I was watching a commercial instead of our conference commissioner up there.
To not jump ahead of the Brendan Sorsby thing and not address the elephant in the room was not the right decision to me. And then the first question he gets asked is about Sorsby, he just says thanks for the question but now is not the right time to address that issue.
Well, Brett, when is the time? Middle of the season? Big 12 title game when Tech is there? Tell me because you only host media days once a year and every school is there so why not?
Then we must get to the question of all questions, maybe the best and worst question I have ever seen at media days from Texas Tech media personality Sean Dillon.
Dillon’s question began with a reminder of tortilla ban. He then noted that Oklahoma State had a tradition of paddling the stadium walls that hasn’t been banned.
Then brought up Sorsby and how the conference sued the school but hasn’t taken legal action against Big 12 member Cincinnati, where Sorsby previously played and may have known about his gambling. He then asked Yormark what Texas Tech fans should think of previous comments about the league being “greater than 12” while promoting the league’s 16 teams, even as he sued one of its members.
We got to start with how the question was asked because it was awful. It felt like he tried and put Yormark in a corner and have that gotcha moment and it was poorly worded, felt like he was reading just thoughts on a piece of paper and never turned it into a good question.
As a fellow Texan, the way he said tortillas was the worst part but then it just kept getting worse. Comparing the Oklahoma State paddles to tortillas was apples and oranges to me. Last time I checked, paddles aren’t being thrown onto the field in Stillwater.
Now I do think if he had asked the Cincinnati part of that question correctly, it would have felt a whole lot better and looked a lot better. But he didn’t. and the way Yormark handled it wasn’t great. And I know he said he wouldn’t talk about Sorsby so brining him up again was certainly a choice but when Yormark walked over to him and told him to stand up and ask the question again made It seem like a “what did you just say to me?” type of feel to it.
And then to make him stand up and repeat that awful question just to not even bother to answer it was a bad look. It was a bad look for Texas Tech, media days and Brett Yormark which is odd because I have seen him over the years and he usually is great at these things and it just seemed like he lacked that confidence on Tuesday morning and was just giving corporate answers all day long.
Monster Deal
Some people are going to love this and that’s fine, if you like Monster, great. But the traditionalist in me says that this is all wrong but at some point, we all just have to accept the fact that this is where we are in college athletics today. It’s all money driven and we are at mercy of the almighty dollar.
If Big Ten teams can do it then so can the Big 12 for extra cash and before long the jerseys and fields may look like a car in NASCAR with sponsor logos from top to bottom. But for getting monster, I am not in love with the deal.
So, you are telling me that Monster paid just 20 million, for every Big 12 football, men’s, and women’s basketball teams, that they get a space on the jersey? And on the field and on the courts themselves. that’s a total of 48 different jerseys between the three groups.
Each school gets around 800k after the Big 12 gets their cut? That’s a little over 265k for the football, men’s, and women’s basketball team each. To me, that seems cheap. There are sponsors out there that would pay 5-10 million for just one school for that kind of real estate.
For that cheap, could a guy like Cody Campbell just throw 25 million or 30 to the Big 12 and say put my name or business on it? It just seems like if you were going to do this and whore yourself out then at least get more money than what they got. This is a great deal for Monster, not so much for the Big 12.
And to be honest, Brett Yormark hasn’t exactly had a great 2026 so far. The whole global takeover, trying to have games in Mexico was a bust, and the glass court, and the Tech thing, and then his performance at Media Days including the Monster Deal for pennies.
I am not saying he’s a bad commissioner, I think he’s still the right man for the job, but these last few months haven’t been all sunshine and rainbows. And I get it, it’s a tough job in today’s climate of college athletics but damn, things haven’t gone all that smoothly for him this year.
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In his first Big 12 Media Day, head coach Jimmy Rogers brought five players down to Frisco ahead of the 2026 season. Watch everything Rogers, quarterback Jaylen Raynor, running back Aiden Flora, defensive end Isaac Terrell, cornerback David Coffey and kicker Kyle Konrardy said on Wednesday morning.
Rogers discusses being picked dead last by the USA Today, how he uses it as motivation, how the 5-in-5 rule impacts Iowa State, his philosophy on size vs speed and a lot more.
Raynor shares how he’s translating to the Big 12, his experience playing at Jack Trice Stadium, the work left to do in the summer and a lot more.
Flora talks about his memorable punt return against TCU, the pride he has staying in his home state to represent the Cyclones, how he’s changed his body to take on a bigger workload at running back and more.
Terrell shares why he followed Jimmy Rogers to Ames, his playing style, where the nickname Bobby started and more.
Coffey talks about everything he learned last year, and why he is itching to play for Jimmy Rogers’ defense in 2026. Why did David stay when so many of his former teammates transferred?
Konrardy discusses being selected to go to media day, what he worked on this offseason, his mindset in big moments and more.
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Feb 16, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger watches his team play the Houston Cougars during the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. (Reese Strickland-Imagn Images)
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
Iowa State has announced its men’s basketball non-conference schedule for the 2026-27 season.
The schedule features eight regular season home games and one exhibition at Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State will play a pair of exhibition games this season, starting Oct. 18 in Hilton Coliseum against Creighton, followed by an Oct. 25 exhibition at Northwestern.
The regular season opener is slated for Nov. 2 against Memphis at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. It will be the first time the Cyclones have opened the season away from Hilton Coliseum since 2017. The home opener is slated for Nov. 6 against Southern Miss, while Iowa State will also host Southern (Nov. 10) and Niagara (Nov. 15) in a nine-day stretch at Hilton Coliseum.
Feast Week sends the Cyclones back to Las Vegas for the Players Era Championship Nov. 24-28. The Cyclones will open the tournament Nov. 24 against San Diego State. Iowa State will also play on Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 in Las Vegas. Should the Cyclones go 3-0 in the first three games, they would advance to the Players Era Championship Game on Nov. 28. The winner’s side of the tournament will be a bracketed event, with Tennessee, Maryland, St. John’s, Oregon, Louisville and Texas Tech joining Iowa State and San Diego State on the left half of the bracket. Gonzaga, Kansas State, Baylor, Alabama, Michigan, Creighton, TCU and Miami make up the other side of the bracket.
Iowa State will open December against Alcorn State at Hilton Coliseum (Dec. 2) before facing back-to-back Big Ten opponents. The Cyclones will face Purdue on Dec. 6 at Hilton Coliseum, marking the first trip to Ames for the Boilermakers. The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series renews in Iowa City on Dec. 10. The Cyclones will look to make history with their fourth-straight victory over the Hawkeyes, something that has never been done in program history.
The Cyclones return to Hilton Coliseum to face North Carolina Central on Dec. 13 before heading to Kansas City on Dec. 18 to face Missouri State in the NABC Hall of Fame Classic at the T-Mobile Center. Iowa State will close the non-conference season at Hilton Coliseum with games against Northern Arizona (Dec. 21) and New Hampshire (Dec. 29).
Times and television selections will be announced at a later date.
Oct. 18 – Creighton (Exhibition) – Hilton Coliseum
Oct. 25 – at Northwestern (Exhibition) – Evanston, Ill.
Nov. 2 – vs. Memphis – Sioux Falls, S.D.
Nov. 6 – Southern Miss – Hilton Coliseum
Nov. 10 – Southern – Hilton Coliseum
Nov. 15 – Niagara – Hilton Coliseum
Nov. 24 – vs. San Diego State – Las Vegas, Nev.
Nov. 26-28 – Players Era Festival – Las Vegas, Nev.
Dec. 2 – Alcorn State – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 6 – Purdue – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 10 – at Iowa (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series) – Iowa City, Iowa
Dec. 13 – North Carolina Central – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 18 – vs. Missouri State – Kansas City, Mo.
Dec. 21 – Northern Arizona – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 29 – New Hampshire – Hilton Coliseum
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Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger watches the game from the bench during the second half in the Big-12 conference men’s basketball against Texas Tech on Feb. 28, 2026, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. *(Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)*
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2026
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State Men’s Basketball Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger has finalized his staff for the 2026-27 season.
Chuck Ruffing has been named an assistant coach, while Richardson Maitre and Fletcher McGarvey have been added as graduate assistants. In addition to the three latest newcomers to the staff, Thomas Pollard has been moved to the Director of Recruiting, while Diante Garrett is now the Director of Player Development.
Ruffing spent the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach at Western Illinois. The two previous seasons, Ruffing was the head coach at Bryant & Stratton College in Wisconsin, leading the Bobcats to two of the most successful seasons in program history. His 2023-24 team went 23-10 and played in the regional championship game. The next season, the Bobcats made history with a 29-7 overall record and 21-1 record in regional play. After winning the NJCAA Region 4 Championship, Bryant & Stratton advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time in program history. The Bobcats beat Orange County C.C. in the consolation round for their first national tournament win in program history.
Prior to his two years leading the Bobcats, Ruffing served as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III programs Marian, Wisconsin Lutheran and Rockford. While at Marian, he helped the Sabres to their second NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. Ruffing also spent one season as the head coach of the West Bend East High School boys’ basketball team.
The De Pere, Wisconsin native played collegiately at Marian and Concordia Chicago. He appeared in 50 games for Marian, while he was a NACC Scholar-Athlete in his time at Concordia Chicago.
Maitre joins the staff as a graduate assistant for the 2026-27 season. Maitre spent two seasons at Indian Hills C.C. before transferring to Florida Atlantic. In two seasons with the Owls, Maitre appeared in 63 games with 46 starts. He averaged 9.7 points per game in 2019-20. Maitre spent his final two collegiate seasons at Samford, where he appeared in 45 games with 15 starts. Maitre has also played professionally in Spain and Portugal, while he coached at the 2025 Canada Senior Men’s National Training Camp.
McGarvey joins the staff as a graduate assistant after spending the last three seasons as a manager for the team. During his time as a manager, McGarvey assisted with player development, skill training, and organizing practice plans and scouting reports. He also worked with Sportscode, Synergy and other film software to aid in practice prep and scouting. McGarvey spent the 2025-26 season coding live games and practices, while contributing to the in-game replay system at the bench.
2026-27 Iowa State Men’s Basketball Staff
Head Coach: T.J. Otzelberger (UW-Whitewater, ’01, Sixth Year)
Assistant Coach: Tim Buckley (Bemidji State, ’86, First Year)
Assistant Coach: Erik Crawford (Northern Iowa, ’06, Fifth Year)
Assistant Coach: Allan Hanson (Milwaukee, ’15, First Year)
Assistant Coach: Chuck Ruffing (Concordia-Chicago, ’15, First Year)
Assistant Coach: Nate Schmidt (Denison, ’14, Sixth Year)
Director of Basketball Operations: Micah Byars (West Florida, ’06, 16th Year)
Director of Recruiting: Thomas Pollard (Iowa State, ’22, Fifth Year)
Director of Strength & Conditioning: Pete Link (Iowa State, ’07, Sixth Year)
Director of Player Development: Diante Garrett (Iowa State, ’11, Third Year)
Graduate Assistant: Richardson Maitre (Samford, ’22, First Year)
Graduate Assistant: Fletcher McGarvey (Iowa State, ’26, First Year)
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AMES, IA – OCTOBER 25: Running back LJ Martin #4 of the BYU Cougars celebates with teammates Ikinasio Tupou #71 and Preston Rex #12 of the BYU Cougars after scoring a touchdown in the first half of play against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium on October 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
For the first time since 2015, Iowa State has zero players represented on the preseason All-Big 12 team.
Quarterback: Noah Fifita, QB, Arizona, RS-Sr.
Running Back: Cam Cook, RB, West Virginia, Sr.
Running Back: LJ Martin, RB, BYU, Sr.
Fullback: Kayden Luke, FB, West Virginia, Jr.
Wide Receiver: Omarion Miller, WR, Arizona State, Sr.
Wide Receiver: Amare Thomas, WR, Houston, Sr.
Wide Receiver: Wyatt Young, WR, Oklahoma State, Jr.
Tight End: Terrance Carter Jr., TE, Texas Tech, Sr.
Offensive Line: Joe Cotton, OL, Cincinnati, RS-Sr.
Offensive Line: Shadre Hurst, OL, Houston, Sr.
Offensive Line: Bruce Mitchell, OL, BYU, RS-Sr.
Offensive Line: John Pastore, OL, Kansas State, Sr.
Offensive Line: Evan Tengesdahl, OL, Cincinnati, RS-Jr.
Kicker: Stone Harrington, PK, Texas Tech, Sr.
Punt/Kick Returner: Mana Carvalho, PR/KR, Utah, So.
Defensive Line: C.J. Fite, DL, Arizona State, Sr.
Defensive Line: Wendell Gregory, DL, Kansas State, So.
Defensive Line: A.J. Holmes Jr., DL, Texas Tech, Sr.
Defensive Line: Keanu Tanuvasa, DL, BYU, RS-Sr.
Defensive Line: Adam Trick, DL, Texas Tech, Sr.
Linebacker: Ben Roberts, LB, Texas Tech, Sr.
Linebacker: Austin Romaine, LB, Texas Tech, Sr.
Linebacker: Cade Uluave, LB, BYU, Sr.
Defensive Back: Will James, DB, Houston, Jr.
Defensive Back: Evan Johnson, DB, BYU, RS-Sr.
Defensive Back: Jamel Johnson, DB, TCU, Sr.
Defensive Back: Brice Pollock, DB, Texas Tech, Sr.
Defensive Back: Faletau Satuala, DB, BYU, Jr.
Punter: Palmer Williams, P, Baylor, Sr.
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Big 12 Media Days
It’s that time of year again as Big 12 Media Days is set to kick off next week in Frisco. While it’s no Jerry World, it’s still nice of Jerry to host the conference, especially since he’s an SEC guy,
Jake and Chris will be boots on the ground from the Star and there will be no shortage of storylines to go around. Of course, Texas Tech will be the talk of the town without Brendan Sorsby as Joey McGuire will have plenty of questions to answer about his football team.
Also, there are rumors swirling about Utah potentially going to the Big Ten. True? Or just something people have made up Beauce they get bored during the offseason. Either way, it’s something to keep an eye on.
With so many coaches and players in attendance, every team has something to prove and questions to answer. And as always, it’s facilitating to hear from our leader, Brett Yormark.
Recording Setting Draft
I didn’t get a chance to talk much about the NBA draft last week but the Big 12 had a total of 13 players selected in the first two rounds. It was the most from any conference and was actually a record for the Big 12 in more ways than one.
First off, the Big 12 had players taken with the first two picks thanks to AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. That’s never happened before in the conference, and on top of that the Big 12 had nine first round picks, which was also a record.
It was the most Big 12 players taken in an NBA draft since 2010 and don’t expect the train to lose any momentum going forward. If you take a look at the 2027 mock drafts coming out, Kansas’ Tyran Stokes is projected to be the number one pick in next year’s draft.
Happy 250th America
One of my favorite holidays is the fourth of July. Between the fireworks, the food, friends and family, it is truly one of a kind. Plus, it’s my anniversary so it has to be my favorite holiday of the year.
But to be alive when America is celebrating its 250th year of Freedom is pretty cool. I don’t know if I will be alive for 300 so why not go all out this year? I am actually taking my family to a baseball game this year (Go Stros) but no matter where you are, enjoy yourself and be safe. We truly live in the greatest country in the world and every day is blessing. Happy fourth everyone!
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Jul 9, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Big 12 Conference commissioner Brett Yormark speaks to the media during the Big 12 Media Days at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
I recall the last time a rookie Iowa State football coach — let’s call him Matt Campbell — addressed the Big 12 Media Days masses for the first time.
- Date: July 18, 2016.
- Site: Omni Dallas Hotel.
- Hottest Matt topic: his youth.
Oh my, how times have changed between then and now, as another young Cyclones rookie head football coach — let’s call him Jimmy Rogers — will meet those same media masses this week at The Star in Frisco, Texas (the Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters, for what it’s worth).
The Big 12 was a manageable 10 teams back when Campbell was asked multiple times if a 36-year-old coach could immediately win in a conference that included veterans like Kansas State’s Bill Snyder, Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy and TCU’s Gary Patterson. Everyone played everyone. It was the perfect round-robin scheduling no other major conference enjoyed. Travel was convenient — even the trip to Morgantown, West Virginia.
The Big 12 was fun and accessible back then — not the 10-state, four-time zone, 16-team league it is today.
Sports lifer Bob Bowlsby was the commissioner.
Name, image and likeness money wasn’t available (at least legally). Heck, the term “NIL” wasn’t even a thing back then.
The transfer portal wasn’t the transfer portal we’ve come to know and dislike.
Kamari Cotton-Moya, Joel Lanning and Allen Lazard were part of Iowa State’s contingent during Campbell’s rookie Media Days appearance. Patrick Mahomes represented Texas Tech. Baker Mayfield attended for Oklahoma. Gundy debuted what became known as the “Gundy mullet.”
Oh, and by the way — and here’s the clincher:
None of the 10 head coaches from when Campbell was being introduced are among the Big 12 head coaches Rogers will join at this week’s annual exercise of more sizzle than Texas-sized steaks.But if you want the most visible difference between then and now, look no further than the 10 coaches who comprised Big 12 football back in 2016:
- Campbell, Iowa State: Resigned to become Penn State coach.
- Snyder, Kansas State: Retired.
- Gundy, Oklahoma State: Fired.
- Charley Strong, Texas: Fired.
- Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia: Resigned to become Houston coach.
- Jim Grobe, Baylor: Retired (temporarily).
- Bob Stoops, Oklahoma: Retired (temporarily).
- Patterson, TCU: Resigned.
- David Beaty, Kansas: Fired.
- Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech: Fired.
Firings. Retirement. More money someplace else.
Coaches (and now players) have happier feet. Athletics directors have quicker triggers. Fans’ patience has grown thin.
That’s massive, head-spinning 10-season turnover for just one conference since Campbell was asked what first-time Big 12 head coaches are usually asked:
Here’s a question…How much of an adjustment will it be, scheming to handle Big 12 offenses and defenses, and is that the biggest adjustment for your staff?
In Rogers’ instance, non-local reporters will be curious about Iowa State’s transition from a team that could have been one of the Big 12’s best to a team loaded with players and coaches who weren’t even at Iowa State last season.
From an Iowa State standpoint, that’s what non-local reporters will be asking this week.
Here’s another question…College administrators don’t seem to be afraid anymore to hire coaches under 40, which is good for people like yourself and the profession. With age on your side as a positive factor that you probably sell to recruits, how do you balance trying to be hip and cool and relate to them versus putting the hammer down?
That was one of the first questions a 36-year-old Campbell was asked during his first Big 12 Media Days podium experience.
At 39, Rogers can expect something similar.
Some things, I guess, never change.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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**Iowa State Cyclones tight end Chase Allen (11) carries the American Flag on to the field before their game with the Texas Longhorns at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones beat the Longhorns 23-21. (Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports)****
When the United States declared its independence due to taxation without representation, the nation had the chance to make its own set of rules to dictate the future. It took a few attempts to get to the Constitution, but they got there eventually.
Colleges need to follow in the footsteps of the founding fathers to create an athletics world that promotes justice for all. These are some of the grievances fans should and do hold with the system:
Conference Favoritism
There will always be better conferences and worse conferences. The way they are treated by the NCAA, selection committees and the national media is what crosses the line. When the NCAA and ESPN refuse to let conferences like the SEC take even an ounce of a hit to their reputation, it devalues the conference, the league and the media outlet in the eyes of some fans.
Nobody is arguing that these top conferences are not consistently the best, but when the NCAA runs with a narrative that a 6-6 SEC team is better than a 10-win team elsewhere in a power conference, it does nothing other than makes them look like idiots. Go back to letting these conferences duke it out on the field. They keep pushing for postseason expansion in every sport, and then they water it down with teams that have no business being in contention for a title.
NIL and eligibility
Every writer in the world has given their take on NIL and eligibility flaws. At times I grow sick of the conversations, but if the system was good no one would talk about it. Adding the COVID extra year of eligibility made sense at the time; however, it opened a flood gate to allowing student-athletes to compete for nearly a decade in some instances. Things have gone way too far. This new five-year eligibility window system is a solid answer to the many questions. It is difficult to judge the new system before seeing it in action. It does feel like it could be the answer, though. The question is which school will find the first loophole, and how long will it take to be found?
The primary issue with NIL is that when it was introduced, the NCAA just said go for it and we will see what happens in a few years. Well, they saw what happened… chaos. The intention was solely to avoid a “pay for play” model. While student-athletes are not being directly paid for each game they compete in, the current model is essentially directly the pay for play model they sought to avoid.
This decision will never be made, yet I think the only way to go forward at this point is to go backwards. If the athletes want to make money through their likeness, they have to seek out their own opportunities with businesses or do so through an agency. The athletics departments should be completely separate from NIL and the collective system should be done away with.
Buy games
Non-conference season in both football and basketball stinks these days. Teams are stacking the deck with games that would take a massive collapse to even finish remotely close. Schools have no choice because the selection system promotes a fear of losing over a pursuit of winning.
I will always watch Iowa State basketball step into the ring 10 times a year against schools that have never spent an NIL dollar in their lives, but there is no chance that is the best possible way to bring more eyes to the game. The silliest part to me is that surely it is more profitable for the NCAA to broadcast as many top-25 and top-10 matchups as possible rather than blowout stinkers.
Unfortunately, the only two groups with the power to change the landscape of college sports are the fans and the schools. If the fans were going to boycott, it would have started already, so most hope is lost for the fans being the difference. The schools from conferences outside of the SEC and Big 10 sent a few vague threats to the NCAA, asking to be treated fairly. Will there be any bite to go with that bark? I doubt it.
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Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers‘ 2027 recruiting class received a big boost Friday afternoon, as Allen Trieu of On3 and Rivals announced four-star wide receiver Chuck Alexander Jr. has flipped him commitment from Louisville to the Cyclones.
Alexander, a 6-2, 188-pound playmaker from Cincinnati, has a long offer list that also includes Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky and his hometown Bearcats, among many others.
He’s the 34th-ranked wide receiver in the class, according to 247 Sports.
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Mar 22, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Killyan Toure (27) and Iowa State Cyclones forward Blake Buchanan (23) help Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) off the floor during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
AMES — “Former Cyclone.”
Those two words just sound wrong to four-year starter Tamin Lipsey — Iowa State’s all-time steals leader and all-around floor burn champion.
But the words “current Indiana Pacer” sound great to the Ames native, who inked an Exhibit 10 deal with the Pacers after the 2026 NBA Draft concluded about a week ago.
So the future beckons as pride in the past endures.
“It feels weird for sure,” said Lipsey, who begins NBA Summer League play on July 10 when Indiana faces Cleveland in Las Vegas. “Just getting out there and competing a little bit with the (current Cyclones) was fun — to feel like I’m back on the team, but ultimately that’s not the case. Just trying to stay in shape and get up and down and compete. Just get ready for this next opportunity.”
Another former Cyclone great, Tyrese Haliburton, is the face of the Pacers’ franchise, of course, but he missed all of last season after tearing his Achilles tendon in game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals. He’s fully healthy now, but as an established star in the league, won’t be on the summer league roster with Lipsey and other younger players for Indiana.
“Just looking forward to building that relationship with him and seeing what he has to say (about) what I can improve on to earn a spot, or continue to find my way,” said Lipsey, the Big 12’s scholar-athlete of the year last season.
That’s what the new-look Cyclones look to do this summer via head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s grueling and regimented workouts and practice sessions. ISU’s roster recently took a hit, however, as promising freshman guard Christian Wiggins tore his Achilles on Friday, underwent surgery on Monday, and will be out for the season.
“He was playing extremely well with a lot of confidence, so it is a hit for our program, for our team, but I also know that Christian has resiliency and unbelievable character,” said Otzelberger, who added that outside the usual bumps, bruises and strains, the rest of the Cyclones are healthy after two weeks of practice. “He’s so well prepared and we have so much confidence in him that he’s gonna be back next year better than ever.”
ISU plucked three productive guards from the transfer portal and also features emerging sophomore stars Jamarion Batemon and Killyan Toure in its backcourt, so quality depth remains despite the loss of Wiggins.
“Now, being like the top returners along with (forward) Dom (Pleta) and (forward) Blake (Buchanan), we know how much we’re needed to take on that leadership role, as we lost leaders,” said Batemon, who shot 37% from 3-point range last season. “So just knowing how important it is, just knowing how much we’re needed, it was important to do.”
No one served in a leadership role better than Lipsey in four of the first five seasons of the Otzelberger era. He adroitly (and painfully) embodied what it means to be a Cyclone within his head coach’s habit-based and uncompromising system, and will look to do the same as he climbs the ranks with the Pacers.
“With the Pacers’ organization, I feel like there (are) a lot of common themes between how I play and things that they like to do,” Lipsey said. “So that’s why it was a place I wanted to go to and I’m excited for the opportunity.”
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Iowa State men’s basketball had their first availability of the summer on Tuesday morning. Watch everything head coach T.J. Otzelberger, senior Leon Bond, sophomore Jamarion Batemon had to say, as well as a cameo by Indiana Pacers guard Tamin Lipsey.
Otzelberger starts by sharing the news of Christian Wiggins’ season-ending Achilles injury, talking about how the team looks several weeks into practice, who is stepping up leadership wise and a lot more.
Iowa State senior guard Leon Bond and sophomore guard Jamarion Batemon talk about leadership roles, why Bond is fitting in Ames and the steps that Batemon is taking into year two.
Former Cyclone and current Indiana Pacer Tamin Lipsey talks about why he signed with Indiana, how he fits into their organization and previews what’s ahead at the NBA Summer League.
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Wayzata’s Christian Wiggins (2) shoots from the line against West Allis Central in the Rick Majerus WBY Shootout on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin. West Allis Central won the game, 67-64. (Scott Ash/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
T.J. Otzelberger announces that freshman guard Christian Wiggins will miss the 2026-27 season with a torn achilles that he suffered in practice last Friday.
Otzelberger adds that he had a successful surgery and will be back at this time next year.
The post Christian Wiggins out for the 2026-27 season with a torn achilles appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Jake Brend sits down 1-on-1 with the 2026-27 Iowa State Men’s Basketball team. Watch what the returners said about their offseason emphasis’ and why all of the newcomers chose Iowa State.
The following players sat down at the Talons of Tuscany, with timestamps attached:
•Killyan Toure (00:54)
•Jamarion Batemon (11:27)
•Blake Buchanan (17:45)
•Dominykas Pleta (28:28)
•Leon Bond III (37:33)
•Tre Singleton (43:27)
•Jaquan Johnson (54:41)
•Ryan Prather Jr. (1:02:35)
•Taj Manning (1:10:49)
•Xzavion Mitchell (1:17:28)
•Christian Wiggins (1:24:58)
•Yusef Gray Jr. (1:29:59)
•Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan (1:36:15)
•Anthony Rise (1:45:02)
The post 100+ Minutes of 1-on-1 Interviews with the Entire 2026-27 Cyclone MBB Team appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State fans enjoy tailgating before Iowa State and Kansas Football on Nov. 22, 2025, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa (Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
It may not have been Christmas, but it was my birthday, and the Athletic Department decided to give the best gift of all, selling alcohol in Jack Trice Stadium.
For years the topic has been at the top of Jamie Pollard’s inbox, and the wishes of many finally came true. Yes, it was fairly obvious that the department may not have had full say in the matter, as the decision was likely made for revenue reasons. Yes, there have been some previous comments from higher-ups about selling alcohol that struck a chord with fans. What’s done is done, though. Does it really matter who made a good decision as long as the good decision was made?
I will spare you the boring revenue projections and bring you to the segment you were all waiting for. As a Wisconsinite, I know what the people want: themed drinks. It was already announced that beer, wine and pre-packaged cocktails would be the sole offerings; however, I am choosing to ignore that for this exercise. Here are my picks for themed drinks at each of Iowa State’s home games in 2026:
Sept. 5, Southeast Missouri: Screwdriver
The season opener is at noon this year. While that does not sound too early, you will not be saying that when you hit the bars on a Friday night and then get up to tailgate at the crack of dawn.
It will likely be piping hot, so getting some tropical fruit involved in the action will help, not to mention the vitamins. With it being the first look at the new era of the football team, why not start off with something strong.
Sept. 19, Bowling Green: Beer with a lime
Coming off what may be yet another bloodbath of a Cy-Hawk game, it may be time to stick to the classics. Bowling Green’s team colors are brown and orange, but their team name is green, what’s the deal with that? Maybe they were inspired by ice cold lime beers.
It is time to (responsibly) bowl a strike and come right down the middle with beer and limes.
Sept. 26, Utah: Red wine
With the Utah game being a white out game for the fans, it may seem like an interesting choice to drink red wine. It is an interesting choice, but there is a method to the madness.
Imagine this scene if you will: Jimmy Rogers and co. just secured their first conference win on a game-winning touchdown. Red wine is raining down from the fans going wild. Everyone returns home with wine covered white shirts.
The scenes would be unreal, and the shirt you were wearing would head straight for a picture frame so you could remember it forever.
Oct. 3, West Virginia: Whiskey
October is where a season can really be flipped on its head. Will your team be fighting for a spot in the conference title game or simply punching to stay out of the cellar?
Time will tell, but I would pour a tall glass of whiskey on the rocks. The Mountaineers seem to always make things interesting, and I am sure this year will be no different.
Oct. 31, Oklahoma State: Shots
After a rough season for the Cowboys, they completely overhauled the program. Perhaps most notably, highly-regarded quarterback Drew Mestemaker joined the mix. This Oklahoma State team has a chance to return to form as a Big 12 contender.
Iowa State has a great history against contending Oklahoma State teams, but if things get ugly, Drew won’t be the only mess maker in the stadium thanks to the shots.
Nov. 14, Cincinnati: Rum punch
In my mind, rum punch is the official drink of a vacation. Former Cincinnati, and briefly Texas Tech, quarterback Brendan Sorsby will now be on a year-long vacation before he can enter into the NFL Draft. Sorsby got into some trouble for gambling, something Cyclone fans can remember quite well.
Sorsby was not so kind to Iowa State last fall on the field, so fans can celebrate his absence with a rum punch.
Nov. 28, Kansas State: Egg nog
Egg nog on Thanksgiving weekend may not even be legal in some states. Luckily, I just checked and it is legal in the great state of Iowa.
That game is going to be doggone cold, there’s no way around it. It may not be a Christmas game, but it will feel like one. Plus, you know what else felt like a Christmas game? When Abu Sama ran for a zillion touchdowns during a blizzard at Kansas State a few years back.
Jefferson headed to Brooklyn
Joshua Jefferson is headed to the Brooklyn Nets after being selected with the 28th pick in the NBA Draft. Jefferson is as deserving as it gets to be selected in the first round. There is definitely a world where the spacing of NBA play suits Jefferson’s all-around abilities.
I know NBA All-Star Julius Randle takes a lot of flak on social media these days, yet I believe he could be a great role model to help develop Jefferson as new teammates.
The two are both back-to-the-basket power forwards that can score at three levels and distribute the ball. Some people will not agree with that take, that said Randle is the NBA All-Star, not you or I.
Another reason the Nets are a great landing spot for Jefferson is that they are practically hunting for young guys that are ready to step into real roles. Brooklyn has been rebuilding since the departures of Durant, Harden and Irving, and they are looking to do whatever it takes to put an end to the extended suffering.
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Jun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver greets the twenty eighth pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson after he was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
AMES — Ninety-five days separated former Iowa State star forward Joshua Jefferson from being “devastated” to feeling “fortunate.”
The former unwelcome emotion stemmed from a severe ankle injury suffered in in the NCAA Tournament, which forced him to watch as the Cyclones’ season was cut short in the Sweet 16 by Tennessee.
The latter emotion enveloped Jefferson late Tuesday night when the Minnesota Timberwolves — on behalf of the Brooklyn Nets, via a trade — called his name with the 28th pick of the first round of the NBA Draft.
So it’s been a whirlwind three-month journey for the versatile 6-8 All-American who chose to be on site for the draft at the Barclay’s Center, which conjured a mixed bag of anxiety and excitement.
“Going to the draft was just a non-negotiable for me, because even if got a green room invite or not, I was confident I’d be called in the first round,” Jefferson said Saturday during a Zoom call. “So it really ended in a great night, (but) that night has a lot of nerves in it because you don’t know where you can end up. There (are) a lot of things that can happen, but I was fortunate to get picked on the first night.”
Jefferson’s accustomed to meeting uncertainty with decisiveness. He couldn’t practice most of the summer when he joined ISU two seasons ago because of a knee injury sustained late in the previous season with St. Mary’s. Then Jefferson broke through as a senior last season, averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists to position himself as a potential first-round pick before the ankle injury struck mere minutes into the Cyclones’ NCAA Tournament run in March.
“When I made the move (to ISU), that was always the goal, to get to the NBA,” Jefferson said. “If it happened the first year at Iowa State, prefect, but realistically it will probably take two years. And they just put me in a position to succeed right out of the gate, with body composition and the on-court training. They just did everything right within those two years to help me become an NBA prospect.”
Jefferson could carve out significant minutes as a rookie if his playmaking ability translates to the next level as expected. But for now he’s limited to individual workouts, as he can’t practice with the Nets until the trade with the Timberwolves is formalized early next month — mere days before summer league play begins in Jefferson’s hometown of Las Vegas.
“Right now it’s just staying in shape on my own and then mentally preparing myself for that first game (in the pre-summer league California Classic in Sacramento),” he said. “Kind of sucks that I won’t have some of the reps that the guys are getting right now within the system, but I’m trying to get as many mental reps as I can, learning the terminology. So Vegas is just try to go in there and compete and win as many games as we can.”
Brooklyn will enter the 2026-27 season in rebuilding mode after winning just 20 games last season. Frontcourt stars Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle — who was acquired in the trade with Minnesota — give the nets centerpieces to build around, so Jefferson will look to capably contribute amid a wide-ranging competition for rotational minutes.
“Overall, they’re really high on me,” said Jefferson, who added that Brooklyn’s front office made it clear they want the ball to still be in his hands frequently at the next level. “They think I’m a great fit within their team (and) I think that’s why they traded up to pick me. So a lot of gratefulness for them believing in me so much.”
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Brendan Sorsby
I swore on my mother that I would quit talking about Brendan Sorsby and here I am bringing him up. Now I am starting to feel like an addict because no matter how much I try and shake this topic, it just keeps coming back.
Sorsby applied to the supplemental draft, and it turns out that the NFL didn’t want to hold one. They even wrote a letter to Brendan declining his petition to enter. You can say what you want about Brendan and his situation, but when the NFL says no, then you know something is seriously wrong. After all, that is a league that has no shortage of players with a rap sheet longer than a roll of toilet paper.
Of course, Sorsby is going to do what he does best and sue somebody to get his way. Whether he waits until next year, becomes a free agent, or possibly try to come back to college football, who knows but what I do know is that his lawyer is making a killing.
At this point, if anyone needs rehab, it’s me because I am going to drive myself crazy with this entire Brendan Sorsby saga. This feels like bad cut that won’t heal. No matter how much I try and wrap it up, it just starts bleeding again.
Cheers to Beers
When the news broke that Iowa State would be selling alcohol inside Jack Trice and Hilton Coliseum, nobody was happier than me. Ok, maybe some of you were but I was happier than a pig in shit.
One of my favorite things to do at football games is tailgate which includes drinking beer with friends. Now I can do that inside the stadium? Sign me up please. It’s a shame it took this long but it’s better late than never.
Obviously, the money left on the table was too much to ignore. In today’s world of college athletics money is everything and for schools in the Big 12, we need all the help we can get.
What I also like is that EVERYONE can purchase an alcoholic beverage. It doesn’t matter how much you donate; you can now buy a beer if you want to even if you don’t donate a penny. But think about it, a person spends their hard-earned money buying tickets, parking, food, why not give them an opportunity to buy a cold beer? Hell, they earned it by just being there and not sitting at home.
On top of that, I like the no re-entry. It stops those people from leaving at halftime to go get their beers in the tailgate lot. The stands won’t look as empty for the third quarter and that alone will help Iowa State.
As great as this is, it also is hard for me to let go of certain things. I can remember less than a year ago, when a certain someone kept saying there was no chance of this happening and that they were worried about safety.
It’s already been shown that less incidents occur when stadiums sell booze because when you pay stadium prices, you aren’t going to slam drink after drink like you would in the parking lot. Of course, that doesn’t apply to everyone either.
For the slobs like me, we may have lost a few battles here and there but at the end of the day, we won the war. And thanks to that, I can finally crack a cold one open with 60 plus thousand of my closest friends and cheer on the Cyclones. Cheers!
The post Big 12 Buzz: Fans Buzzin’ in Ames appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey signs an Exhibit 10 deal with the Indiana Pacers, he tells Cyclone Fanatic.
The Ames native went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft but immediately finds a home with a few familiar faces, including NBA All-Star Tyrese Haliburton and Iowa native GM Chad Buchanan.
On an Exhibit 10 deal, Lipsey isn’t fully guaranteed throughout the 2026-27 season but he’ll have the opportunity to earn a Two-Way or full-time NBA contract with his performance at the 2026 Summer League. The Exhibit 10 deal also gives him a potential landing spot within the organization’s G-League team.
Just last year, Curtis Jones and Keshon Gilbert went from Exhibit 10 deals to two-way deals within their organizations. Jones signed his deal with the Denver Nuggets following the Summer League, Gilbert signed deals with Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks during the season.
Lipsey leaves Iowa State as the all-time steals leader, fourth in career assists and tied for second in career wins, among many other accolades.
The 2026 NBA Summer League starts in Las Vegas on July 9.
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Former Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (5) celebrates after win 87-57 over UCF in the Big-12 conference men’s basketball on Jan. 20, 2026, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Former Iowa State star forward Joshua Jefferson’s versatility and so-called “feel for the game” squarely put him in position to be the program’s first NBA Draft pick since Tyrese Haliburton heard his name called early in the first round in 2020.
So Jefferson entered Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s two-night draft event broadcast on ABC and ESPN with a wide range of possible landing spots in his sights — but ultimately ended up as the No. 28 overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves, which ultimately landed him in Brooklyn with the Nets via a trade.
The sturdy 6-8, 246-pounder from Las Vegas is a ready-made contributor, given his powerful presence on both ends of the floor. Jefferson averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in a breakthrough senior season and was broadly expected to be a late first round or early second round pick before the draft began.
ESPN’s mock draft had him going to the revamped, but long suffering Brooklyn Nets with the 28th pick, per the previous trade terms. So that was spot on. A consensus mock draft compiled by NBADraft.net pegged Jefferson as the first pick of the second round (31st overall) by the NBA champion New York Knicks. But Jefferson landed with the Nets instead and will look to find a way to contribute immediately as a canny role player.
His court vision and passing ability immediately translate to the next level, but his outside shooting (a career-best 34.5% from 3-point range last season) obviously needs work, and finishing through contact at the rim will be decidedly more difficult against NBA bigs.
Still, Jefferson’s game translates nicely to the league, and as long as he stays healthy, he could carve out a long and prosperous career. Jefferson plays with an edge that’s overshadowed by his stoic demeanor and he’s the consummate teammate, which should serve him well while playing alongside recently acquired Julius Randle and others.
The post J-JEFF ASCENDS: He’s ISU’s first first-round NBA Draft pick since Tyrese Haliburton in 2020 — and heading to Brooklyn via trade appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Jan. 9, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Robert Jones reacts after a basket during the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State won 85-84 in overtime. (Photo by Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic)
There are two categories that go into a team’s greatness: talent and culture.
Iowa State fans are probably sick of being thought of as a culture-only school by now, as Matt Campbell and T.J. Otzelberger’s great teams put the programs back on the map.
The real fans know the talent was right there with the culture the whole way, but that may never be the way the national eye sees things. Bringing in five transfers and a solid freshman class, there will naturally be questions about how the team culture will be rebuilt prior to the season.
So, who did the Cyclones bring in during the first stretch of practices to bring the new squad together?
Well, it was none other than Robert “Big Rob Energy” Jones.
Energy Went UP!
Great to have Big Rob back in the Building!#Cyclones | #C5C | @robbyj1415 pic.twitter.com/ff2QbQKmqY
— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) June 19, 2026
“The teaching that you did, we value at a really high level. The example that you set is really important to us, and we can all learn from that,” Otzelberger said in the video.
Jones really embodies the Cyclone team since Otzelberger took over. He worked extremely hard, and instead of moping when he or the team had a tough stretch, he let the work do the talking.
When it looked like his role could decrease with the addition of Osun Osunniyi, he did not skip town. He worked on his touch and finesse around the rim that kept him as a major contributor. During his third and final year as a Cyclone, he made a statistical leap and started nearly every game for Iowa State.
Otzelberger could have brought in a former star of the show or a legend from the 1900s, but he knew this team could learn something from Jones. If that message that hard work is what gets you where you need to be in the program sticks, fans could be in for a fun season.
The football and women’s basketball teams have a similar opportunity. Both of them have a ton of turnover from last year.
It may be tougher for Rogers since he does not have the connection to former players like the other coaches, but I imagine there are plenty of guys that would be willing to come in and speak. Someone like Chase Allen, who fought for positioning in a loaded tight end room over six years as a Cyclone, would be a great person to look up to.
For the women’s basketball team, Morgan Kane, who embodied what it meant to be a Cyclone on and off the court, is as good as it gets to lean on, and would probably love to come back and speak to the team.
No one can become an all-time great on their own, and one person speaking at a June practice is not going to instantly make them great.
Planting that seed of how far they can get if they do not take shortcuts is the start, though, and if they see that for themselves, there is no telling how far they can go.
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Was Iowa State athletics director Jamie Pollard listening to the Cyclones’ ultra-loyal fan base when announcing Monday morning the sale of beer to anyone of age within Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum?
Or was it a nod out of necessity to confront college sports’ most urgent need?
Iowa State’s longtime and best-ever AD accomplished both — with one tug of the Bud Light tapper.
They’re betting the sale of beer adds significantly to the school’s athlete financial pot — and I’m betting they’re going to be right.
Cheers to the Cyclones.
And cheers to the decision to not allow halftime stadium re-entry.
Those who have been reading between Pollard’s lines recently figured the decision to sell beer at Jack Trice and Hilton was coming. The fact that one of the biggest decisions of his 22-year (and counting) tenure at Iowa State came a few months after a change of university presidents would be overthinking a decision we all knew would eventually come. We know the new president, David Cook, sees the big picture when it comes to college athletics. He gets it.
To suggest this announcement is part of his vision — it really doesn’t matter. What’s important is that Cook recognizes the need to tap as many new revenue streams as possible — even if it’s hawking a Bud Light to of-age customers between the first and third quarters of football games.
“We are living in one of the most transformational periods in the history of college athletics,” Pollard wrote in a statement released shortly after the announcement. “University athletic departments across the country are facing uncertainty and significant financial pressures from rapidly increasing costs.”
You bet they are. Milan Momcilovic is reported to be getting around $6 million at Kentucky. Audi Crooks is around $1.4 million, reports say, at Oklahoma State.
Iowa State isn’t exactly poor, but there’s no way the Cyclones can keep up with salaries like that while making sure others on rosters also are well-compensated.
For years, support for beer sales at the school’s two biggest sports venues has been louder than the voices wanting to keep Iowa State dry. For years, Pollard said it wasn’t happening. A year or so ago, he was even quoted as saying “people are flat-out slobs.”
But during the recently completed Cyclone Tailgate Tour swing, Pollard told The Des Moines Register’s Travis Hines that the sale of beer at athletic events “is something we’re considering.”
Boom.
Monday, the keg was tapped.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Iowa State fans cheer as the Cyclones take the field before a White Out game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames during the 2025 season. Photo Credit: Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LETTER FROM JAMIE POLLARD
Dear Cyclone Fans,
As many of you know, we are living in one of the most transformational periods in the history of college athletics. University athletic departments across the country are facing uncertainty and significant financial pressures from rapidly increasing costs.
Iowa State is not immune to the challenges or to the financial strain. Over the past year, we have worked closely with university leadership to identify new cost containment measures and increased revenue streams through ticket sales and donations, sponsorship and licensing, and new opportunities to host events in our athletic facilities (concerts, state high school championships, etc.).
Additionally, we have studied and analyzed the prospect of alcohol sales at Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum during athletic events. Many of our peers have successfully taken this step. We are confident that we can initiate the sale of alcohol throughout our facilities and ensure a positive and safe environment for all of our guests.
We will begin offering alcohol sales at Jack Trice Stadium this fall, and Hilton Coliseum this winter. This decision will require changes to some of our current gameday policies:
- Guests will no longer be allowed to leave and re-enter Jack Trice Stadium at any point during the game.
- Guests must be 21 years of age or older to purchase alcoholic beverages and must provide legal identification at the time of purchase.
- Sales will be limited to two (2) alcoholic beverages, per person, per sale.
- Beer, wine, and pre-packaged ready-to-drink cocktails will be offered.
- Alcoholic beverages will be sold in the north and south expanded gate areas, and the north and south concourses. They will not be sold at the permanent concession stands located on the east and west concourses to prevent additional pedestrian congestion in these areas. However, there will be a limited number of portable concession locations on the east and west concourses.
- Alcohol will not be allowed on the grass hillsides (Jr. Cyclone Club areas).
- Alcohol will not be sold by vendors within the seating areas.
- There will be designated stop times for the sale of alcohol during games (e.g., end of the third quarter in football).
- Current alcohol policies within the Jack Trice Club, Sukup Endzone Club, suites, Johnny’s, Champion’s Club, and other official hospitality areas will remain unchanged.
- A portion of the net proceeds from the sale of all alcoholic beverages will support alcohol education, student wellness programming, and public safety enhancements, to support a safe and welcoming community.
In conjunction with these changes, the university will continue to invest in game day safety initiatives designed to protect fans, student-athletes and visitors. This includes enhanced event staffing, continued evaluation of venue security practices and investments in technology to detect weapons as fans pass through the stadium gates.
We recognize that this decision and the associated policy changes will impact Cyclone fans differently. It is our hope that we can all work together to ensure a smooth rollout. We ask for your cooperation to ensure a positive atmosphere for everyone and to protect the safety of all guests, participants and staff. A positive game day experience is mission critical to our athletics program.
Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and support.
Go Cyclones!
Jamie Pollard
Endowed Cyclone Director of Athletics
Iowa State University
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After weeks of me bitching and complaining about Brendan Sorsby, it appears that we can finally put his story behind us. I am not kidding when I say that I felt like a prisoner of his because for the last month, he is all I talked about here, my podcast, and other places that I contribute to as well. In fact, I was having nightmares about him too. Ok, well, maybe not but you get my point.
We saw weeks of a billionaire going on every national show defending Texas Tech’s position to try and play him, a full on 20 plus minute roundtable of school representatives and a judge in Texas to rule over the NCAA’s decision. Am I missing anything else?
But all that is over now with him heading to the NFL Supplemental draft. It doesn’t matter whether it was Tech’s decision or his to move on because all that matters is that he’s not suiting up to play in college football games.
This whole situation was cut and dry, but Texas Tech didn’t see it that way. Instead, they played the victim card time and time again without giving any logical reason to answer why Brendan Sorsby should be playing college football.
Despite betting on his own school’s games hundreds of times for tens of thousands of dollars, Texas Tech was willing to die on the Brendan Sorsby hill. Is Brendan a good quarterback? Yes. Is a great one? I don’t think so. I mean the guy has never won a game in the month of November as a starter for crying out loud.
But that didn’t matter to Texas Tech because all they saw was dollar signs and wins at the end of the day. With Brendan Sorsby they felt like they weren’t just a playoff team but a legitimate national championship contender. Would they have gone the lengths they went to for a backup linebacker or a starting offensive lineman? I seriously doubt it.
A year ago, Texas Tech felt like a feisty underdog program that was easy to root for. They were a school that hadn’t had a ton of success when it came to football and were by no means a blueblood of the sport. Hell, they weren’t even in the top three or four in the state of Texas up until now.
When Cody Campbell came on the scene, it showed that Texas Tech had an ace up their sleeve and that ace was money. Because in today’s world of college football, if you have the dollars, you can compete with anyone. And make no mistake about it, a lot of people weren’t happy that Tech was shaking things up.
They weren’t supposed to be competing with the big boys and they were. People said they bought a Big 12 championship but the did the same things other schools in the SEC and Big Ten were doing but the only difference is that they did it in front of everyone.
However, that was last year, and this is a new one. Things change and change fast. One minute you are loved and the next you are hated. And Texas Tech is going to have to get used to that after all this. They were willing to go to war with their own conference and potentially play a quarterback that would have questioned the integrity of the sport.
It’s going to be tough to look at Texas Tech the same now. They are going to be vilified and labeled as the bad guy, even without Brendan Sorsby playing for them. Are they ready for that? Who knows but if there’s one thing that can shut everyone up, it’s by winning football games. And that’s something Texas Tech was good at last year and they still have the talent to run the Big 12 once again this year.
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C.E. King High School (Houston, Texas) wide receiver Braylon Lane has flipped his commitment from Houston to Iowa State. The talented pass catcher announced the move Thursday night on Instagram.
Lane, a 6-2, 185-pound three-star recruit reportedly held offers from Texas A&M, Arkansas, Texas Tech, Arizona State, and Auburn, among many others.
He’s the 136th-ranked wide receiver in the class, according to 247 Sports.
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Oct 21, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark speaks to media during Big 12 Womenís Basketball Media Day at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Sophia Scheller-Imagn Images
Brett Yormark deserves an award. Whatever is college football’s equivalent of a Nobel Peace Prize might even be appropriate. What, under his leadership, the Big 12 did in standing up to Texas Tech’s money-bags bullies and their threats just may have saved college athletics.
Yormark and the conference he runs made it legally and explicitly clear that it would impose severe sanctions if quarterback Brendan Sorsby played even one down for the Red Raiders this season. A stiff fine. Big 12 Conference championship game ineligibility. You name it, the Big 12 was ready to throw the book at one of its own if the admitted gambler on his own team (Indiana) got into a game.
Thankfully, it never came to that. Monday night, amid the backdrop of the Big 12’s potential actions, Sorsby declared he’s entering the NFL’s supplemental draft.
Chalk one up for the good guys. Three cheers for Yormark, whose conference (and legal staff) didn’t flinch when Texas Tech’s billionaire backers threatened lawsuit after lawsuit to get their rules-breaking quarterback on the field.
Cheer. Cheer. Cheer.
You know the story. Texas Tech boosters cobbled together $5 million or so to bring in Sorsby, because, you know, great football starts with a (supposedly) great quarterback.
The West Texans so needed a marquee player that either someone forgot to do a background check, or they figured no one would care that their new superstar had a gambling problem.
With Sorsby, Texas Tech was a legitimate contender to play in the Big 12’s first College Football Playoff championship game since TCU lost to Georgia in 2022. And don’t forget, the Big 12 hasn’t had a national champion since Texas won the 2005 BCS national title. Furthermore, the Big 12 has no CFP national titles, compared to the SEC’s six, the Big Ten’s four and the ACC’s two.
But about the time you think the Big 12 can finally get some national respect, Sorsby happens. The NCAA ruled him ineligible to play. A Texas judge disagreed.
Major college sports leaders became so incensed when it became clear that Sorsby was likely to play (after serving a two-game suspension) that they even threatened to no longer schedule the Red Raiders. The tone-deaf folks in West Texas cried collusion. They threatened lawsuits.
Yormark’s conference didn’t flinch, and in a way, the Big 12’s reaction may have unified a sport that had been rife with controversy. A transfer portal without rules. Rosters with NIL totals in the $50 million range. Enormous spending not only on players, but also on coaches.
In a very important way, the Big 12 saved college athletics, but did Sorsby save Texas Tech from being the villains of college football?
That’s still to be seen. Considerable inciteful rhetoric came out of Lubbock the past four months. It’s not like the Red Raiders were everyone’s favorite, anyway.
I covered the Iowa State-Texas Tech game in Lubbock a while back that was paused as taco-throwing, water bottle-hurling students had to be moved from sitting near the Cyclones’ bench.
Even shortly after Sorsby’s Monday night decision, Red Raiders mega booster Cody Campbell issued this statement, reprinted in The Dallas Morning News and other outlets:
“He will be stripped of the opportunity to continue to develop as a better and stronger man, stripped of his last opportunity to compete at the highest level of college sports, and I pray that he can stay on his path to recovery,” the statement said in part. “Brendan, while he made many mistakes that he openly admits, has also been a part of a much larger broken and predatory system, and we believe that all people deserve a second chance. It is gut-wrenching that there is no viable path to providing him with redemption at the collegiate level.”
“Predatory system” is an interesting term to describe a sport that finally allows huge payments for athletes. A system that was willing to pay Sorsby upwards of $5 million. A system that allows college players to change schools whenever they want.
A system that could have been run by the athletes, had the Big 12 not stuck up for itself and college athletics.
“It’s been a challenging week for both our Conference and the college athletics landscape,” Yormark said in a Tuesday morning statement. “The Big 12 looks forward to moving ahead as 16 strong. We wish Brendan Sorsby success in his future endeavors.”
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Jimmy Rogers and Iowa State Football continue to roll on the 2027 recruiting trail, this time picking up a commitment from 2027 3-star EDGE DJ Williams.
Committed!!! #agtg #home #committed @CoachL__ @coachfloyd33 @Coach_McCal @CycloneFB @CycloneATH @HallTechSports1 @D1RecruitNation @sixstarfootball @247Sports @On3 @One11Recruiting @RecruitBigClay @Rivals pic.twitter.com/xAIJOlU8gQ
— De'Marion Williams (@DJWilliams08) June 16, 2026
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Clay-Chalkville High School prep just returned from a weekend official visit to Ames.
Williams bumps Iowa State up to the No. 32-ranked recruiting class for 2027 per 247Sports. He ranks as Iowa State’s No. 5 prospect in the 2027 class.
He held offers from Mississippi State, Wake Forest, Arkansas State, Marshall, Memphis, South Alabama, South Florida, Southern Miss, Troy, Charlotte, Jacksonville State, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, Tulane, UAB, Western Kentucky, Lafayette, Mercer, North Alabama, and Samford.
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The busy week on the recruiting trail continues for Jimmy Rogers and his staff with the commitment of three-star cornerback Ke’Sean Williams.
AGTG Locked in!! @JonesHSFootball @1NEStep_SP @Rivals @On3 @247Sports @Dwight_XOS @adamgorney @ISURogers3 @Coach_MBanks24 @CoachGriffith3 @JohnGarcia_Jr @ZBlostein247 pic.twitter.com/aBvmRVID9o
— Ke’Sean Williams (@1of1WilliamsDB) June 15, 2026
The Orlando native is rated as the No. 121 cornerback nationally and the No. 138 player in Florida by 247Sports. The 6-foot-1, 170 pound corner has 22 offers, including Arkansas, Louisville, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Wisconsin, among others.
Williams is the 3rd cornerback commit and 21st overall of the Iowa State’s 38th ranked 2027 class.
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Iowa State earned another commitment to its 2027 recruiting class in Fort Wayne, Indiana, EDGE rusher Leslie Woodson.
I’m a cyclone #committed @CycloneFB @ISURogers3 @CoachBibbs52 @PrestonnnG99 @CoachJohnsonJr @CoachJavinLowe @thejaylonsmith @FW_NorthSideFB @AllenTrieu @SWiltfong_ @TomLoy247 pic.twitter.com/uexUpxNrNP
— Leslie Woodson (@LeslieWoodson9_) June 15, 2026
The 6-foot-4, 228-pound North Side High School prep visited the Cyclones from June 8-10 and committed a week later. He becomes the 20th commit in Jimmy Rogers’ 2027 class, which ranks No. 39 nationally.
Woodson held offers from Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan, Austin Peay, and Western Illinois.
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Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger watches his team play the Houston Cougars during the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
The men’s and women’s basketball Big 12 opponents were released, and while we do not know the order quite yet, the Cyclones came away fairly fortunate.
The Iowa State men will play Kansas, Oklahoma State and West Virginia at home and on the road, Arizona State, Colorado, Houston, Central Florida, Texas Tech and Baylor on the road and Arizona, BYU, Utah, Kansas State, TCU and Cincinnati at home.
On paper the schedule looks difficult, but you are not going to create an 18-game Big 12 schedule that doesn’t look daunting. Unless you are allowed to schedule Utah 18 times.
Kansas is not a fun team to play in their house; however, it’s a game that truly should be played in both buildings every year. It is two teams with some of the most passionate fanbases, best atmospheres and consistently solid teams. As for Oklahoma State and West Virginia, they are two teams I would expect in the middle of the pack at the end of the year. Iowa State is fully capable of storming into their homes and taking a win. The Cyclones should not lose to either of them in Hilton if they play solid basketball.
The road and home games were fairly balanced. Houston, Texas Tech and Baylor are formidable on the road, and drawing Arizona and BYU at home was something out of a dream.
The women’s team drew the world’s longest straw. The home and away games will be against Kansas, Kansas State and Oklahoma State, the road games against Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Cincinnati, Central Florida and West Virginia and the home games will be against BYU, Colorado, Houston, TCU, Texas Tech and Utah.
Oklahoma State is the team that jumps off the page. The Cowgirls were a good team a year ago and added former Cyclone Audi Crooks. Even though those games will be anything but easy, come on the Cyclones had to get two chances at Crooks. The other two home and away opponents out of the State of Kansas both finished below .500 in the Big 12 last season. Four of the six road opponents finished .500 or below in conference during the previous season, with West Virginia and Baylor finishing second and third in conference. Five of the six home opponents finished .500 or above in the Big 12 during that season.
With a team largely made up of newcomers, playing the weaker opponents on the road will be massively beneficial.
Commitment
In other men’s basketball news, six-foot-six four star 2027 recruit Jack Kohnen is committed to Iowa State. Kohnen is the No. 31 recruit on Rivals nationally and No. 81 on 247. He is from Slinger, Wisconsin, pairing with Donovan Davis, another four-star out of Wisconsin and Iowa four-star Josiah Harrington.
The Class of 2027 is looking unreal for Iowa State. Obviously, it is hard to tell just how good they can be when these student-athletes have not even played their senior years of high school yet, but it is hard to swing and miss on three four-star players.
During the day and age of NIL, keeping the trio together for four years is near impossible. Fans can still spend this offseason dreaming of what the team could be like down the road.
As the knowledgeable Jackson Pence mentioned in his article on Kohnen’s commitment, six of the top 15 Wisconsin recruits since T.J. Otzelberger took over in 2021 have committed to Iowa State.
With Otzelberger’s Wisconsin ties and the Wisconsin Badgers struggling to keep Wisconsin kids at home, it is no secret why Wisconsin and the Twin Cities have become Otzelberger’s main recruiting hubs. Until the Badgers get better at in-state recruiting, Otzelberger is not going to stop sending the house for the top guys.
The post Monday Musings: Simulate the offseason appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State’s busy week on the recruiting trail continues with the commitment of 2027 cornerback Shahariam Thurston, first reported by Parker Titus.
BREAKING: 3 2027 CB Shahariam Thurston (@ShahariamT) has flipped his Commitment to Iowa State!
The 6’2 180 CB from Arlington, TX had been committed to Colorado State. He chose the Cyclones over Texas Tech, Baylor, Louisville, and others.
“Roll clones ” pic.twitter.com/11KtGqFfrI
— Parker Titus (@ptgraphics0) June 14, 2026
Just one week after committing to Colorado State, the Arlington native flips to Iowa State following his official visit to Ames.
Thurston is a rated as a three-star by On3Sports as the No. 183 ranked player in the state of Texas. The 6-foot-2, 180 pound product has 25 offers, including Baylor, Kansas State, Louisville, TCU and Texas Tech, among others.
Thurston is the 19th commit of Iowa State’s 2027 class that ranks 37th nationally by 247Sports.
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Iowa State lands their first specialist of the 2027 class with the commitment of five-star kicker William Bowers.
100% Committed!!!
I want to thank my family for all of the guidance and support through this recruitment process. I also want to thank all of the Coaches that have helped me through this process. I am so blessed by the lord and savior Jesus Christ to earn this opportunity.… pic.twitter.com/yTOnmcmoNB
— William Bowers (@WilliamBowers25) June 14, 2026
The Elizabethton, Tennessee native is rated the No. 12 kicker in the 2027 class by Kohl’s kicking, making him a five-star by their evaluation.
Below is the full scout of the 6-foot-0, 202 pound product by Kohl’s.
“Bowers is continuing to develop into one of the best ball strikers in his class and he had another excellent showing at the 2026 Kohl’s National Underclassman Challenge. He scored 20 points in the field goal charting and was excellent in the competition portions of camp. He has consistent steps in his approach and he excellent command of his ball/foot contact. He scored 108.35 points in the kickoff charting and produced a big ball of 74 yards with 3.65 seconds of hang time. William Bowers was a consistent performer throughout the 2025 Kohl’s Eastern Winter Showcase in Pittsburgh, demonstrating control and rhythm. He won the kickoff competition, scoring 102.8 points during kickoff charting with a best hit of 67 yards and a hang time of 3.8 seconds. During his charting session, he also scored 13 points on field goals. Bowers previously showcased his skills at Kohl’s National Scholarship Camp in July 2025, where he earned 106.9 points on kickoffs and 29 points on field goals across three charting sessions. His 5-star rating at the initial ranking camp reflects his potential as a top-tier kicker. With this impressive performance, he is expected to attract significant college interest in the upcoming year. Dependable mechanics were evident throughout the event, proving he can hold his own against high-level peers.”
Bowers is the 19th commit of Iowa State’s 2027 class that ranks 37th nationally by 247Sports.
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Iowa State earned its third commitment of the 2027 class in 4-star small forward Jack Kohnen (first reported by Joe Tipton of On3).
He picked the Cyclones after also considering Nebraska and Iowa.
NEWS: 4 Jack Kohnen, the No. 31 overall recruit in the 2027 class, has committed to Iowa State, he tells @Rivals.
The 6-6 small forward ultimately picked the Cyclones after also considering Nebraska and Iowa.
Read: https://t.co/FGZ58QPhDe pic.twitter.com/1vWybao1PE
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) June 13, 2026
The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Slinger, Wisconsin native, is the No. 81 overall recruit in the 2027 class and joins 4-star forward Donovan Davis, another committed Cyclone out of the state of Wisconsin, and in-state 4-star guard Josiah Harrington in T.J. Otzelberger’s 2027 recruiting class, which ranks No. 1 in the country for 2027.
Kohnen becomes Iowa State’s third top-100 commitment in the class, according to 247Sports.
With Kohnen’s commitment, 6 of the top 15 players in the state of Wisconsin have committed to T.J. Otzelberger since he took over at Iowa State in 2021.
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Patrick Baldwin Jr. (Milwaukee, 2021)
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Kon Knueppel (Duke, 2024)
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Dooney Johnson (Gonzaga, 2027)
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Donovan Davis (Iowa State, 2027)
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Seth Trimble (North Carolina, 2022)
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Tyrese Hunter (Iowa State, 2021)
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Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State, 2023)
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Jack Kohnen (Uncommitted, 2027)
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Jamarion Batemon (Iowa State, 2025)
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Jalen Brown (Wisconsin, 2027)
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Leon Bond III (Virginia, 2022)
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Kager Knueppel (Uncommitted, 2027)
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Xzavion Mitchell (Iowa State, 2025)
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Amari Allen (Alabama, 2025)
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Zach Kinziger (Wisconsin, 2025)
The post Iowa State earns commitment from 4-star forward Jack Kohnen appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
The 2026-27 Big 12 men’s basketball opponents are officially released with an 18 game schedule. Below is Iowa State’s schedule:
Home-and-away: Kansas, Oklahoma State and West Virginia
Home-only: Arizona, BYU, Cincinnati, Kansas State, TCU, Utah
Away-only: Arizona State, Baylor, Colorado, Houston, Texas Tech, UCF
Dates and TV channels will be released at a later time.
The post Iowa State MBB 2026-27 Big 12 opponents released appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
The Latest on Sorsby
Is it me or is anyone else getting tired of talking about Brendan Sorsby? It’s exhausting but when he’s making headlines every week, I don’t really have a choice, and it feels like I am being held hostage by Brendan Sorsby. Maybe I should sue him. I am kidding of course. Well, maybe.
The NCAA denied him originally and then denied his appeal, which looking back means absolutely nothing. All Sorsby did this week was go in front of a Texas judge and got what he wanted. It was as simple as that.
One of the things I found odd during the ruling said that Sorsby “demonstrated that he will suffer a probable, imminent, and irreparable injury if this Court does not issue this temporary injunction because he will be unable to participate as a member of Texas Tech University’s 2026 Football season.”
They made it sound like he was in a bad car accident, and he needs to play college football for his mental health. I mean, what are we even doing anymore? Brendan Sorsby bet on his own team, even in games he played in for thousands and thousands of dollars, got caught, got help, got banned and let back in faster than you can say the word lawsuit.
This situation tells me all you need to know about how powerless the NCAA truly is. It shows that you can literally do anything you want and still be eligible. Want to gamble on your own games? Sure, go ahead, want to do drugs? Sure, go ahead, oh you commit a felony? Sure, come back and play. You can do whatever you want without any consequence.
The only rule is that there are no rules. This is the wild west out here and until the NCAA steps up and grows a pair, or we get politicians involved, nothing is going to change. If you don’t like what the NCAA tells you, go to your local judge and get it fixed.
College football is a broken system. As much as I enjoy it, I also hate what it’s turned into. It’s no longer about getting an education, playing for the school you love, the logo, the traditions, none of that crap. It’s about money. How much can I get paid, how many wins can we buy. It’s not a sport; it’s a business and the only thing that matters is the bottom line. And if we continue on this path, this house of cards will fall.
College World Series
As the only collegiate sport being played right now, it’s mid-June and that can only mean one thing. It’s time for Omaha baby and if you are a baseball junkie like me then this is the closest thing to Heaven and Iowa for that matter.
West Virginia is the lone Big 12 team left in the College World Series, and they will be joined by Troy, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, and Alabama. The Mountaineers will face Troy in game one on Friday afternoon, which is about the best draw one can ask for.
Is West Virginia the most talented team in the field? Probably not but they are red-hot right now and that’s all that matters. I expect Mountaineer fans to pack Omaha, drink a ton of beer and Rocco’s Jello Shots, and make a run. The Big 12 has your back West Virginia, make us proud.
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Iowa State’s busy week on the recruiting trail continues with the commitment of Texas linebacker Special Henry.
100% COMMITTED #GoCyclones @CycloneFB @CoachBobbit pic.twitter.com/AgAFQRbHGO
— Special Henry (@Henry2Special) June 10, 2026
The 6-foot-3, 195 pound athlete is unrated by 247Sports and holds 19 offers, including Tulane, SMU, Memphis and North Texas, among others.
Henry is the 16th commit of the 2027 class and the second at the linebacker position.
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Iowa State football continued its recent recruiting momentum on Monday, landing commitments from Illinois defensive back Dontrell Young and Missouri athlete Jaxen Proden.
Young announced his decision while on an official visit to Ames after earning an offer following a standout camp performance at Iowa State.
The Cyclones also secured a commitment from Proden, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect from Liberty North High School in Missouri. Proden has lined up at both wide receiver and safety during his prep career and received an offer after impressing coaches at camp earlier this month.
Both prospects earned opportunities after getting in front of Iowa State’s coaching staff during the program’s summer camp circuit, which continues to pay dividends on the recruiting trail.
Young brings athleticism and defensive back experience to the class, while Proden adds a versatile athlete capable of impacting the game in multiple ways.
After a great conversation with @ISURogers3, I’m blessed to receive a division 1 offer to Iowa State University @LNEagleFootball @CoachALierman @CoachMalone816 @PeteMenage @CoachLenti5 pic.twitter.com/RPI2T1dlPm
— Jaxen Proden (@Jaxenproden1) June 5, 2026
AGTG After a great official visit, I am proud to announce that I am committed to IOWA STATE!! @Coach_MBanks24 @CycloneFB @CooneyPanthers @AllenTrieu @EDGYTIM @OJW_Scouting @CoachLenti5 pic.twitter.com/MAUOatVKKF
— Dontrell Young (@DontrellYoung9) June 9, 2026
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Iowa State reserve tight end Ben Haulmark is leaving the program, first reported by Bill Seals of Cyclone Report.
The 6-foot-3, 245 pound tight end transferred from Central Arkansas where he had three catches for 67 yards as a sophomore in 2025.
Haulmark wasn’t listed on our CycloneFanatic estimated two-deep that was put together after the spring showcase.
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Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby goes through warmups before the spring football game, Friday, April 17, 2026, at Jones AT&T Stadium. Photo credit: Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
If, indeed, Brendan Sorsby is allowed to play for Texas Tech this season, then college football isn’t just broken — it will be wrecked beyond traditional recognition. I mean, returning eligibility to someone who placed multiple bets on his own team? Really?
Pete Rose got a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball. All Sorsby gets is a paltry two-game suspension during a season his Big 12-favorite team could now make a long College Football Playoff run.
Unless Monday’s Lubbock County judge’s decision is reversed, then, unfortunately:
The legal system essentially is saying it’s all right for college athletes to bet on games in which they’re involved — as long as they have a valid excuse.
If the ruling isn’t overturned between now and the season’s start, this will prove that nothing, absolutely nothing, is sacred anymore in what once was something called amateur college athletics. It proves, too, that the NCAA can’t even enforce its own rules.
How else can you explain Sorsby and Co. successfully gaming the system into a temporary injunction that returns eligibility to the Red Raiders’ star — despite knowing full well that Sorsby bet on Indiana games when he was redshirting on the Hoosiers roster?
And you thought the players were the only money-hungry figures in college football. In a world in which terms like amateur and student-athlete are becoming as laughable as the rules they’re supposed to follow, sports betting companies are making money, too. So are outlets in which they advertise. Betting kiosks are in some stadiums and arenas in states where sports wagering is legal.
Blame. There’s plenty to go around.
Moreover, a pro-Sorsby ruling would be just another negative during this college sports revolution that’s continuing to turn off once-loyal fans.
Annual free agency.
Indecision on the size of once-popular and manageable postseason events.
Stars choosing money at another school over celebrating with family and fans the hanging of their jerseys in arenas.
Conferences talking about breaking away from everyone else.
Schools opting out of bowl games.
Players opting not to play in bowl games.
Didn’t former Iowa State starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers lose his NCAA eligibility after a (faulty?) gambling investigation found he wagered on Cyclones games — in which he didn’t even participate?
Yep.
Wasn’t former Iowa defensive lineman Noah Shannon suspended for a season for placing “illegal” bets?
Yep again.
Did they have the same name recognition as Sorsby, who many alleged experts call a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate?
Nope.
Lawsuit, anyone?
Don’t think for a moment that Sorsby’s return wouldn’t be a financial infusion into the deep-pocketed Texas Tech program. With him, the Red Raiders can follow up a Big 12 Conference championship with a nice College Football Playoff run.
Without him?
Not so much.
With him, Red Raiders games — and whatever network or streaming app they’re on — will have more viewers. More viewers translate to more money, and don’t forget the merchandise factor.
The NCAA could appeal the ruling, but just how many major court cases does the NCAA actually win? Sorsby still has until June 22 to opt for the NFL’s supplemental draft, but really, he might make just as much money at Texas Tech this season as he could next season in the NFL.
So right now, the safe bet (for entertainment purposes only) just might be on Brendan Sorsby returning to Texas Tech college football …
Unless the NCAA pulls off a successful Hail Mary longshot appeal.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Iowa State football coach Jimmy Rogers speaks during a timeout in the first half in the Iowa State and Iowa men’s basketball Cy-Hawk series at Hilton coliseum on Dec. 11, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Comparison is said to be the thief of joy. That may be true, but expectations cannot be far behind in the standings.
An 8-4 season is a great time when you are expecting 4-8, such as the early Matt Campbell days. On the other hand, when expectations are through the roof, like the 2021 season led by senior Brock Purdy and a cast of returners from the then winningest team in school history, 7-5 is not a good time.
As are comparisons, expectations are going to be around for the rest of my lifetime. That said, with Jimmy Rogers stepping in, maybe it is time to enjoy the ride a little bit.
If I told you I expected the Cyclones to go 6-6, 7-5, 4-8, 8-4, that would just be a wild guess. That would be the case for anyone that throws down a season long prediction. Trust me, I enjoy preseason predictions just as much as the next guy, but we have not even seen this coaching staff and combination of players compete against anyone other than each other in the spring showcase.
Maybe, even if just for a season, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the ride.
It has been a decade since Iowa State has gotten a new football coach. A part of the fun of Campbell’s early years with the Cyclones was that there were no expectations. He went 3-9 during his first year as a Cyclone, but some fans felt the turnaround coming. A year later, when they went 8-5, there was a citywide rejoicing in Ames, because there was little expectation for good football at Iowa State due to its history.
Now that Iowa State has been relevant in recent years, Rogers is given expectations that Campbell did not have when he first started. Yes, those expectations are probably warranted, given the work on and off the field that has put Iowa State on the radar of recruits.
No honest person can pinpoint where this team will finish, so why not just take it in. If you expect 8-4 and get 8-4, you will be satisfied. If you have no expectations and get 8-4, it would make for a magical year.
The reason I am certain expectations are built into human philosophy is that it has been a struggle to write this column without throwing down a prediction of my own. That prediction will never see the light of day. When fall rolls around, every moment of Rogers’ first season will come without expectations. The good, the bad and the ugly, will be like riding a roller coaster for the first time.
No expectations does not mean no criticism or no analysis, it means seeing the bigger picture. If the team is putting a bad product on the field, readers will hear from me. The difference is quantifying first year success simply by wins and losses rather than setting the standard for years to come. That is what makes the greats great. They get the train on the tracks right away and then they start driving.
In year two, the Harrington hammer will come down with its mighty expectations for Rogers. Until then, it is important to take the good with the bad as the Cyclones find the shoes that fit.
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Iowa State’s momentum on the recruiting trail continues with the commitment of 2027 three-star wide receiver Blake Moser.
The 6-foot-0, 180 pound dual-threat quarterback from Lake Stevens, Washington was offered as a wide receiver, a position that he’s played sparingly in high school. According to The Journal425, Moser worked out as a quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back during his visit to Ames.
As a junior in 2025, Moser led Lake Stevens to the 4A state title game as a quarterback, compiling 2,612 passing yards and 39 touchdowns while rushing for 850 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Moser’s is rated as the No. 19 player in Washington by On3Sports. His other offers prior to his Iowa State visit earlier visit are from Idaho, Montana, Portland State and Northern Arizona.
Jimmy Rogers now has 14 commits in the class of 2027.
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Iowa State earns its second commitment in 24 hours, this time in Farmington, Missouri, LB Josh McCarthy.
First and foremost I want to thank God, my MOM and DAD for helping me with everything in life. Coaches, teammates, and everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. After a talk with my parents I am blessed to announce that I am committing to continue my academic and… pic.twitter.com/V6lSvuI4Ph
— Josh McCarthy (@joshmccarthy_40) June 5, 2026
The 6-foot-1, 217-pound McCarthy picked up his Iowa State offer during Iowa State’s prospect camp on June 4th.
During his junior season at Farmington Sr. High School, McCarthy earned Missouri All State LB honors, 1st Team All District LB honors, 1st Team All Conference LB honors, and 1st Team All Region LB.
Stats on defense: 119 TOT – 91 Solo – 33TFL – 9.5 Sacks – 5 PBU – 3 FR – 1 Defensive TD
McCarthy held other offers from Missouri State, Illinois State, Army, and South Dakota. He becomes the 12th commitment to Jimmy Rogers’ 2027 recruiting class.
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Brendan Sorsby Update
After weeks of waiting, the NCAA has finally made their decision regarding Texas Tech Brendan Sorsby. On Wednesday, the NCAA grew a set of balls and denied Sorsby’s request for eligibility in 2026.
Of course, than denial will be appealed by Sorsby and Texas Tech, so it appears that this thing is not officially over just yet. I am not shocked at all that Sorsby wants to come back and I am not shocked that Texas Tech will denial the appeal either. However, I was a bit taken back by university president Lawrence Schovanec’s statement that he posted on Wednesday.
“Over the past month, we have given careful and deliberate thought to what is right – not only for Brendan’s recovery, but for his future as a student-athlete and a member of this community,” Schovanec wrote. “Recently, the NCAA issued an initial ruling that Brendan is permanently ineligible to compete. Texas Tech will be appealing against that decision. We believe that given the facts and the context of Brendan’s case, the NCAA’s ruling should be reversed or modified. As a generation of college athletes face the legalization and rapid proliferation of sports betting in our country, gambling addiction is rising to the point of epidemic among college aged men in particular. The NCAA’s stated mission includes “fostering [student-athletes’] lifelong well-being”, and they have claimed their goal is to promote a “culture of care” for student athletes’ mental health. Gambling addiction is a clinically recognized behavioral disorder, as defined in the DSM-5.
I know that’s a lot to take in but I wanted you to see the entire post. While I agree that gambling addiction is an issue just like alcohol or drugs would be but that doesn’t change the fact that Brendan crossed a line that you simply can’t come back from. He bet on his own team’s games and one he played in. What he did was wrong and he knew that, yet he did it anyway.
The NCAA wants to get as far away as humanly possible when it comes to players betting on their own games. It’s a bad look for the sport and unfortunately, it has happened before across college athletics. While I am glad Brendan got help, he shouldn’t be playing college football this year. In fact, he should have been caught earlier if anything. Don’t get me wrong, it sucks for Texas Tech and for the Big 12 but I agree with the NCAA’s decision.
Milan to Kentucky
This is Cyclone Fanatic after all, so it feels right to announce that Milan Momcilovic is withdrew his name to come back to school. While that seemed like great news at the time, there is a better chance for me to hit the Iowa Lottery than Milan coming back to Iowa State. Keep in mind that I live in Texas so I can’t even win the lottery there, so you get my point.
Milan is going to get paid big time at Kentucky. You can’t blame T.J. Otzelberger for not waiting for Milan because you can’t take that risk as a head coach. Plus, think about how much it would have cost Iowa State to get him to come back now.
Momcilovic is about to be paid more than what the entire 2026-2027 Iowa State team will make as a whole. Between that and waiting on a decision, it’s a dangerous game to play and T.J. didn’t want to play it. Instead, he took the safe bet and hit the transfer portal. Of course, I will thank Milan for what he has done in Ames but at the same time, if he is on another team playing Iowa State, I will not cheer him on. I wish him nothing but the best moving forward.
Baseball/Softball Update
If you are like me and enjoy college baseball then this is the perfect weekend for you to kick back, relax, grab a beer and soak in all the action. The Big 12 has two teams playing in the Super Regionals with Kansas and West Virginia. Not only are they playing but both schools will be hosting, which is exciting.
Kansas is facing Oklahoma starting on Saturday night while the Mountaineers take on Cal Poly on Friday afternoon. Both series are a best of three and the winners punch their ticket to Omaha for the College World Series.
As for softball, it’s officially over as Texas Tech lost two Texas for the second year in a row. The Longhorns have now won back-to-back national championships which disgust me more than a coworker who heats up their fish in the break room. Please for the love of all things holy, don’t be that person.
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Iowa State and Jimmy Rogers landed their 11th commitment to the 2027 recruiting class in Utah native Cash Hollingshead.
Blessed to be committed to Iowa State University.
Grateful for my family, all my coaches and teammates, and above all, thank you to my Heavenly Father!
Can’t wait to get to work!@ISURogers3 @Coach_Roehl @CoachHeck_ @CycloneFB
#goCyclones pic.twitter.com/U1hRS29xG3— Cash Hollingshead (@DC_Hollingshead) June 5, 2026
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound quarterback was invited to the Los Angeles Elite 11 Regionals this past February and held only one other offer from Northern Arizona.
“I really enjoyed my time in Ames on my visit,” said Hollingshead in an interview with Cyclone Fanatic. “I love the campus, area, and atmosphere of Ames as well as the coaching staff and how they want to compete to win championships and develop us as a team to be our best on and off the field.”
Hollingshead has been able to build relationships with the Iowa State coaches really quickly during his recruitment, including Iowa State Quarterbacks Coach Keith Heckendorf, Offensive Coordinator Tyler Roehl, and Head Coach Jimmy Rogers.
“Coach Heckendorf has already taught me a lot, and I’m excited to learn more from him. Coach Roehl and Coach Rogers have both been super helpful through this process and very supportive. What stands out is how honest and genuine they are while being willing to push me in all phases to be my best.”
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Mar 27, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) reacts in the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. (Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)
The best shooter in college basketball will play his senior season in Lexington. Milan Momcilovic announces his commitment to Kentucky on social media.
BBN! pic.twitter.com/2MB1iYREk8
— Milan Momcilovic (@MilanMomcilovi5) June 2, 2026
Per Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, Momcliovic’s NIL deal from Kentucky will be in the ballpark of $6 million.
As of now, Momcilovic will have one year of eligibility remaining, but he’s likely to have two years remaining if the five-in-five rule passes.
Kentucky isn’t on Iowa State’s schedule currently and they also aren’t in the Players Era Tournament, so the only possibility of Milan facing his old team would be a potential postseason matchup.
When Momcilovic made his decision to test the NBA Draft waters and enter the transfer portal, T.J. Otzelberger was fully aware that one of his favorite players could end up at another school. In his eyes, nobody’s a loser in this situation.
“(I) really respect how he went through and made his decisions, Otzelberger said on May 18. “There’s not anybody that’s a loser in this situation, right? We had great experience with him for three seasons, he’s put himself in great position to go get drafted. If that’s not able to happen for him, it’s important that he’s able to find a landing spot at a college that you know fits what he’s looking for.”
Momcilovic chooses Kentucky over Louisville and Arizona.
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Mar 22, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) and Kentucky Wildcats forward Mouhamed Dioubate (23) chase a loose ball during the first half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images
No player in Iowa State men’s basketball history has started more games than Tamin Lipsey.
The former Iowa State star’s as driven and determined as anyone, and tougher than most.
Lipsey battled through myriad injuries to start in 137 memorable games for the Cyclones, and it’s his resilience — along with a simple, yet powerful internal message — that’s serving as his guiding light as he wends his way through several pre-NBA Draft team workouts.
“Definitely trying not to put too much pressure on myself on each of these workouts,” ISU’s all-time steals leaders said Monday on a Zoom call after working out for the Golden State Warriors. “Because when you go to them and take to teams, they don’t (solely) view you on how you do on that workout. They’ve got a lot of film on you and they’ve watched you and know who you are as a person and a player.”
So who is Lipsey? You know the answer.
“Who I’ve been over my whole basketball career, especially at Iowa State,” the standout point guard said. “I’m a winner.”
NBA teams see that. And even though he might not hear his name called during first the draft, which spans June 23-24, Lipsey’s so-called “Tamin plays” translate to the next level. Maybe not immediately. Maybe starting in the G League. But the 6-1 Ames native’s elite defensive attributes and end-to-end intangibles make him an intriguing prospect for several franchises.
“Just giving it my all,” Lipsey said after his fifth of what he expects to be 10 or more workouts for NBA teams. “Coming out to every workout and competing as hard as I can. Trying to win every drill or her my team win in any way I can. But for me, it’s about playing defense and taking care of the ball.”
Lipsey’s lofty dreams hinge on staying relatively healthy and finding the right fit with a team. That might not happen immediately as a late second-round pick or undrafted player, but he took note of how former teammates Curtis Jones and Keshon Gilbert managed to scrounge up some NBA minutes as rookies this season.
“Everyone’s journey is different or unique in some type of way, but for most players in our position it’s gonna be a grind,” Lipsey said. “You’re gonna (be) in the G League to compete for a two-way or NBA spot. … Curt had a two-way pretty early, but Keshon went through most of the G League season without one and was able to get a call up. So just understanding it’s gonna be a grind, nothing’s gonna be given to you, and you’re gonna have to go through the development stages.”
The “grind” is nothing new to Lipsey. If anything, he embodies the grit-based term. He’ll continue to navigate the uncertain waters of a potential pro career with that in mind — and staying true to who he is.
“It’s just staying consistent and not trying to get too high or too low,” Lipsey said. “Because that can impact you in a negative way. So just having that viewpoint and that foundation of just being who I am, and if I do bad, it’s not the end of the world. And if I do great, it’s not a (cause for) celebration.”
That’s Lipsey: Even-keel and battle-tested. In the world of dreams, it’s important to personify those traits, because illusion can blur reality. Lipsey’s clear-eyed about that — and toughness comes with the territory.
“When I was a little kid, I remember saying when they ask you what do you want to be when you grow up, I said an NBA player,” Lipsey said. “So just to get these opportunities to work out for teams and talk to teams, it’s been a blessing, and I don’t take it for granted.”
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Iowa State football picked up a trio of three-star commitments over the weekend from defensive lineman Drew Aagesen, safety Jordan Crider and wide receiver Jason Wooden.
Drew Aagesen becomes the second defensive line commitment of the class of 2027. Standing at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, he’s rated as the No. 20 player in Michigan and the No. 137 defensive lineman nationally by 247Sports. The Goodrich native has offers from Boston College, Michigan State, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Virginia and Wisconsin, among others.
Jordan Crider is Jimmy Rogers’ first defensive back commit of the 2027 class. Standing at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Crider is rated as the No. 53 player in Ohio and the No. 129 safety nationally by 247Sports. The Middletown native holds offers from Kentucky, Temple and James Madison, among others.
Jason Wooden becomes the second wide receiver commit of the class. Standing at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Wooden is No. 164 player in Texas and the No. 166 receiver nationally by 247Sports. The McKinney native holds offers from Air Force, Western Michigan and UTEP, among others.
Rogers and his staff are up to 10 commits in the class of 2027, ranking No. 38 nationally by 247Sports.
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Jan 17, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones fans throw fake money into the air when Cyclone transfer and current Texas Longhorns guard Tyrese Hunter (4) is introduced before the game at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Everyone talks about the “death of college sports” these days. However true or untrue you find it, I for one am over it. The death of the hate watch, though, I will never be over.
I remember my days as a child, bundled up in my pajamas as LeBron James and his Miami Heat crew ruined my night time and time again. LeBron and I then made amends, as the new public enemy No. 1 became the Golden State Warriors, with Kevin Durant joining a 73-9 roster. These days, I still find myself hating teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets.
In college sports that hate is fading away. When I was in college, the massive story was Tyrese Hunter’s transfer to Texas. Hilton was as hateful as it had ever been, booing Hunter relentlessly in his return. When Kyle Feuerbach transferred to the Hawkeyes from Iowa State, it was much of the same.
Welcome back to Hilton Coliseum, Tyrese Hunter pic.twitter.com/1dus8e9WYY
— Jake Brend (@JakeBrendTV) January 17, 2023
Now, with Milan Momcilovic departing, that sentiment is gone. Momcilovic was a great Cyclone, and the circumstances of his departure are certainly different, but if he returned to Hilton, many would give him a warm ovation. It is fine to cheer for Momcilovic on another team from home or to feel indifferent, but if Momcilovic ever plays against the Cyclones on the Hilton floor, why not boo? The goal for Iowa State is to win, not be the friendliest team in the Big 12.
If Momcilovic returns to Hilton after college, give him a round of applause for all I care, but can we not be mean for one day.
The system is at fault here. Fans have become so numb to the portal that they allow players to leave without even getting a little bit of a hard time.
Perhaps a better example, as Momcilovic was put in a tough situation, would be a Matt Campbell Penn State team entering Jack Trice Stadium. Yes, Campbell did a lot for the Cyclones, but he chose to leave. If the Cyclones were to ever play Penn State for whatever reason, I would hope Campbell would not even have the opportunity to crack a smile.
Time heals all, though. When Hunter transferred again, myself and many others no longer held that same hate. The Feuerbach boos lessened by the year. While hating Momcilovic and Campbell is too far in my opinion, there should at least be a one year period where Cyclone fans pretend not to like them. The one leg-up Iowa State has over other schools is the game environment. If fans cannot even find it in them to be mean for a couple of hours because old friends are in town, then it just feels like supporting the system for quitters that people claim to hate.
Maybe I am out of touch. Maybe I missed the memo and we now love former Cyclones that transferred out despite being built in Ames. Booing Campbell, and especially Momcilovic, would probably be uncalled for, yet that is the art of a hate watch.
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You’re leaving for a while — taking the month of June to recalibrate after the craziest college sports season you’ve ever endured.
You need a break — to recharge brain cells lost while wondering just how our college athletics leaders will continue to ruin what used to be a darn good thing.
By the Fourth of July, don’t be shocked if:** The ridiculous talk about increasing the College Football Playoff
Someone finally becomes the adult in the oceanfront cabana where meetings these days are held. Someone suggests returning to the four-team playoff that fans embraced between 2014-23. So long, mediocrity.
** The SEC and the Big Ten
Will have finalized plans for their breakaway from the rest of the college football world. And you won’t really care. Good riddance.
Somehow, Iowa State and Iowa
Will have found a way to continue the Cy-Hawk football series. The current contract runs through 2027. Athletics directors Jamie Pollard and Beth Goetz** will have discovered a scheduling solution that’s workable for both schools, their fans and the merchants in their respective communities who depend on this game. Visiting team bands will be welcomed again.
** The U.S. vs. whomever war (or conflict) is over
Gas prices hover around a buck a gallon. Major airlines roll back prices. Grocery stores are crowded again. Restaurant business is booming.
Former Iowa State basketball star Milan Momcilovic**
Is back in college. And Cyclones fans don’t really care.
Furthermore, don’t be surprised if: Drake graduate and Iowa native Zach Johnson**
Has added The Principal Charity Classic title to his Hall of Fame resume.
** The transfer portal still has no rules
You think NIL is ruining college sports? You’re wrong. Annual roster turnover is causing problems.
** Flo suddenly starts streaming college football
What the heck — Flo already carries wrestling and racing. What’s one more for-pay streaming service? Didn’t watching college football used to be free? Flo has to be better than ESPN+. Maybe not.
The NBA and NHL playoffs finally will be over
The Knicks will have the basketball trophy, while Vegas will have won the hockey title. The Cubs have a new manager. Shohei Ohtani continues to be the best (ever?) player in Major League Baseball. Former Cyclone Bridget Carleton** continues to be a major star in the W.
** Big-budget football continues to impact lesser-budget sports
Translated: More colleges look toward cutting Olympic sports while the football quarterback becomes a gazillionaire.
And don’t be surprised if:** There’s finally a rule
That mandates college athletes must actually perform off-field duties for their NIL salaries.
Something happens that makes low-level bowl games
Even more meaningless than they already are. And Brendan Sorsby** is still trying to play college football someplace.
** The CyTown construction site
Becomes a temporary home for tailgating and a huge TV screen for the Sept. 12 Cy-Hawk game in Iowa City. Why? Because the game starts at 6:30 p.m. — not exactly the most favorable start or finish time for Cy and Hawk fans living in central Iowa.
Do I really expect any of this to actually happen? Maybe some of it, by the time we start hearing annual conference media days boasts about how great everyone is.
Maybe.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Mar 13, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) reacts at the end of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Center. (William Purnell-Imagn Images)
Iowa State guard Milan Momcilovic is withdrawing his name from the 2026 NBA Draft, per Jeff Borzello.
Momcilovic kept his name in the draft up until the deadline after going through the combine and working out for several organizations but instead will be returning to college for his senior season.
While a return to Iowa State is possible with an open roster spot, it’s not likely due to the timeline of his decision. Per multiple outlets, Momcilovic’s camp has had Zoom calls with Kentucky, Louisville and St. John’s. However, other schools could emerge as potential landing spots.
T.J. Otzelberger knew Momcilovic playing at a different school in 2026-27 was a possibility when they met after the season, he told the media last week at the Tailgate Tour.
“I love Milan, he’s my guy,” Otzelberger said. “I had a couple year relationship prior to him even coming to Iowa State and I think what you want for everybody in your program is for their dreams to become a reality. Obviously with the season he had and how he’s continued to develop, he put himself in a great position for the draft. Yet, at the same time, in the climate and the landscape of college athletics, it’s important to keep your options open and leave that available at the end if it doesn’t go your way.”
From Otzelberger’s perspective, nobody is losing because of Momcilovic’s decision.
“(I) really respect how he went through and made his decisions, Otzelberger said on May 18. “There’s not anybody that’s a loser in this situation, right? We had great experience with him for three seasons, he’s put himself in great position to go get drafted. If that’s not able to happen for him, it’s important that he’s able to find a landing spot at a college that you know fits what he’s looking for.”
Momcilovic told reporters at the NBA Draft Combine that if he returned to college, that he expected to make a quick decision.
As rules stand right now, Momcilovic has one year of eligibility remaining. However, if the NCAA follows through with their “five in five” rule, he could have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
The post Milan Momcilovic withdraws from the 2026 NBA Draft appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State wide receiver Dominic Overby (11) is tackled by Iowa defenders during the third quarter of the Cy-Hawk game at Jack Trice Stadium on Sept. 6, 2025, in Ames. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The following is a news release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES – The Big 12 Conference has announced television broadcast assignments and start times for Iowa State’s three 2026 non-conference games and two Friday conference road games.
The Cyclones will kick off the Jimmy Rogers era against Southeast Missouri on Sept. 5 in the home opener at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones and Redhawks start at Noon (CT) on ESPN+.
The following weekend, Iowa State heads to Iowa for the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series as it looks to win its third-straight game in the series. The game will be televised by NBC with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff time. Officially, it will be the fifth night game in Cy-Hawk Series history.
ISU’s final non-conference game is Sept. 19 against Bowling Green of the Mid-American Conference. The Cyclones and Falcons meet at Jack Trice Stadium at 11 a.m. on ESPNU.
Iowa State will travel west for a Friday matchup against BYU on Oct. 9 in Provo, Utah. The game will be televised by ESPN at 9:15 p.m.
The Cyclones’ second Friday game of the season at UCF on Nov. 20 in Orlando, Florida will start at 5 p.m. on FS1.
2026 Iowa State Football Schedule
Sept. 5 // SOUTHEAST MISSOURI (ESPN+) — Noon
Sept. 12 // %at Iowa (NBC) — 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 19 // BOWLING GREEN (ESPNU) — 11 a.m.
Sept. 26 // *UTAH — TBA
Oct. 3 // *WEST VIRGINIA (Homecoming) — TBA
Oct. 9 // *at BYU (ESPN) — 9:15 p.m.
Oct. 24 // *at Arizona — TBA
Oct. 31 // *OKLAHOMA STATE — TBA
Nov. 7 // *at Baylor — TBA
Nov. 14 // *CINCINNATI — TBA
Nov. 20 // *at UCF (FS1) — 5 p.m.
Nov. 28 // *KANSAS STATE — TBA
All Times Central
%Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series
*Big 12 Conference Game
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Photo Courtesy of William Penn Wrestling
AMES — Iowa State women’s wrestling continues to build out its inaugural coaching staff.
Former William Penn assistant coach Cash Wilcke will join Alli St. John’s staff as Director of Operations and Assistant Coach, the program announced Tuesday morning.
Wilcke arrives in Ames after three seasons as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams at William Penn. Alongside current Iowa State assistant Jake Kadel, he helped elevate the Statesmen women’s team into one of the top programs in the NAIA, highlighted by three straight top-five national finishes and a national runner-up finish in 2025-26.
Before William Penn, Wilcke spent a season at Iowa Wesleyan, where he helped guide the women’s team to a seventh-place finish at the NAIA National Championships.
A Battle Creek, Iowa native, Wilcke becomes the second announced addition to St. John’s staff as Iowa State continues preparing for its first women’s wrestling season. In addition to assisting on the coaching side, Wilcke is expected to help oversee day-to-day operations, travel coordination and other logistical responsibilities as Director of Operations.
According to a news release from Iowa State women’s wrestling, St. John is expected to add one more assistant coach by January 2027.
Quick hits on Wilcke:
• Three-time NCAA qualifier at Iowa from 2015-20
• Reached as high as No. 10 nationally at 184 pounds
• Advanced to the Round of 12 at the 2017 NCAA Championships
• Helped coach 23 NAIA All-Americans and 10 national champions
• Part of three straight top-five NAIA national finishes at William Penn
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Iowa State women’s basketball head coach Bill Fennelly talks to media during Cyclone Tailgate Tour at Curate on May 18, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune/USA Today Network)
Bill Fennelly has gone on record saying the women’s basketball team is going to see a significant playstyle change, and there is reason to believe T.J. Otzelberger’s squad may be right there with them. Jamie Pollard also made some strong statements about the Big 10 and SEC, marking an eventful Tailgate Tour.
With Audi Crooks being the center of the offense for the last three years, Iowa State had turned into an inside-focused team. For decades prior, the Cyclones were known as the team that could and would knock down 10-plus threes at will.
“We had a great three years with Audi,” Fennelly said per Rob Gray’s article about the topic. “I mean, we played completely different than we used to play. She was one of the best, if not the best, post players in the country, and we tried to utilize her in that regard, but in the 27 years before that, we spread the court more. We had more stretch-five, pick-and-pop, open up the court a little bit more (players). So we tried to identify that in the portal as best we could.”
Playstyle matters to a team’s culture. Despite having maybe the most talented roster in his 30-plus years as Iowa State’s coach, the roster construction fell outside of the bounds of what Fennelly is used to. That absolutely matters to the success of a team. If McDonald’s started cooking ribeyes, you would not expect them to be better than the steakhouse across the street; however, McDonald’s knows fries better than just about anyone. This is Fennelly refocusing on the fries. Expect a lot of drive and kick and perimeter screens to get the shooters open. Guard play will once again be the Cyclone offense’s backbone.
The men’s team will also see an abrupt shift in playstyle. This change will be less of an intentional change and more due to losing players like Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and, barring a miracle, Milan Momcilovic. No matter how intentional you are about keeping the process the same, those three guys dictated how Iowa State flowed over the last few years. Leaning back on the McDonald’s example, that group made some really good fries, but if you run out of that type of potato, maybe the recipe needs to be tweaked.
It is difficult to theorize what the playstyle will look like just yet, but I imagine there will be noticeable differences when November rolls around.
Massive Pollard Statement
It is hard not to talk about this week’s news without mentioning Pollard’s comments from the Tailgate Tour.
Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard on SEC/Big Ten threatening to break away to form its own league:
“Let them break away. We should break away from them. Let them go, but they have to go in all their sports & see how fun it is to play baseball, softball & track when it’s just the 20 of…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 19, 2026
Whether you agree or disagree with the statement, it is nice to see Pollard get hot and defend his school, his conference and college athletics.
My attempt to sum up Jamie Pollard’s recent comments on the Big Ten / SEC in two minutes, with the help of @brentblum. @cyclonefanatic pic.twitter.com/LKDhsPIneB
— Chris Williams (@ChrisMWilliams) May 20, 2026
To me, it does not seem like Pollard is actually saying the conferences should split right at this moment. He is trying to say that splitting off into two leagues is a better option than the Big 10 and SEC having the final say over every decision that is made.
Obviously, the two conferences are going to do whatever they can to have a leg up over the rest. They may not stop until all other conferences are squished and smeared like a bug on the sidewalk. That may not be the end either. When all other conferences are destroyed, there would be no one left to fight except each other. A World War would spark between the Big 10 and SEC, and will not stop until only one is left standing.
Guess what happens when only one conference exists in the collegiate athletics world, they lose a lot of money because they just cut off a massive portion of the viewer base. There would be no one left to fight for college sports because everyone willing to fight for its prosperity was already defeated.
The bright side is that the Big 10 and SEC leaders are probably smarter than me. They know what is coming down the road. Their plan will be to stretch things as far to their advantage as they possibly can without tearing a seam. Yes, that is a plan that sucks for everyone else, but until a seam is torn, the fabric of college sports can be saved.
The post Monday Musings: 365 days to determine the future of Big 12, ISU basketball appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Photo: Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic
Emily Ryan received a standing ovation last week during the Okoboji stop of the Cyclone Tailgate Tour — and she wasn’t even there.
How’s that for respect and a well-deserved positive amid college sports’ negative headlines?
** Big Ten and the SEC threaten to take their ball and go elsewhere.
Good riddance.
Illinois football coach Bret Bielema** throws out the idea of expanding the College Football Playoff to 62.
Why stop there?
A former college head basketball coach (let’s call him Jerome) accusing Iowa State of bugging his team’s timeout huddle.
T.J. Otzelberger should have sued for character defamation.
Bill Fennelly** promoting to full-time coach one of the greatest players he’s ever coached in 31 (and counting) seasons in charge of Iowa State women’s basketball?
Cheers!
By now, you know Emily Ryan’s story — and what she means to the Cyclones program.
A role model on the court and off. Steady-as-she-goes calm when things get choppy. The definition of loyalty. Teammate glue who elevates the abilities of players around her.
A never-give-up mindset with which she thrilled 14,000 fans one night at Hilton Coliseum — after the Cyclones trailed Top 25 West Virginia by 19 points.
Her all-around, refuse-to-lose second-half outburst of 13 points and seven rebounds included four free throws within the final 3 minutes. No way does Iowa State win this game without her.
“She’s kind of become the point-guard coach,” Fennelly once said. “You can tell when she’s playing that there’s a calming effect she provides. She understands what we want to do, what we need to do, and how to put everyone in the right places to do it. She puts other people in better positions.
“Someday, she’ll be a coach — and a good one.”
And now, one of the most talented and most loyal Cyclones ever is taking another step toward someday running her own team — and hopefully seeing her number hanging among other greats in Hilton Coliseum’s rafters.
Ryan’s value to Fennelly’s new roster lies beyond the on-court headlines — and yes, there were many during a career from 2020-25: a school-record 993 assists, seventh-best in Division I, and being just one of three NCAA players with at least 1,500 points, 900 assists and 600 rebounds during a career.
Ryan’s coaching value right now is that she’s experienced — and has mastered darn near everything next season’s Cyclones Big 12 newcomers will experience. The good. The bad. The unforeseen.
And if you don’t think that has merit for a 2026-27 roster that includes seven players who played elsewhere last season, then you need a doctor.
It’s not that long ago that Ryan was one of them — a successful college player who knows the ins and outs of the game — and defines loyalty that’s disappearing with every opening of the transfer portal.
Oh, by the way — tutoring the guards is Ryan’s specialty. Especially the point guards. And that’s a big deal right now, as Fennelly’s team returns to more of a guard-centric system.
That’s her thing. I’m sure Ryan helped refine star Arianna Jackson’s game while serving last season as a graduate assistant. She’ll do the same with the new ball-handling and deep-shooting players next season, as Iowa State returns to four-out, sometimes five-out offense.
Translated: The more three-point baskets, the better.
Bombs away.
That’s what Ryan grew up with as a Cyclone. She knows that game as well as any.
Good hire? Nope.
Great hire.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Jamie Pollard’s Comments
I will be the first to admit, I am not always on the same side as Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard, maybe it’s because I’m a slob. But, I’ll let bygones be bygones because his comments this week put a big smile on my face more than a cold beer and a big ass tenderloin sandwich could ever. Well, depending on where it comes from, but you get my point.
Earlier this week, Pollard told reporters, including our own Jake Brend, that he doesn’t care if the Big Ten and the SEC break away. He basically told them to quit threatening the idea of it and just do it.
Bravo, Jamie, Bravo and I couldn’t agree more. It’s bad enough the Big Ten and SEC have more power than Thanos when it comes to the college football playoff but for those two conferences to continuously bitch and whine about everything is getting exhausting.
And like Jamie, I am getting to my breaking point. Stop talking about it and be about it. If you are going to run your mouth and make threats, then you better deliver. If the Big Ten and the SEC want to take their ball and go home, then why should any of us get in their way? I say goodbye and good riddance.
Big 12 Baseball
I just wanted to mention to those folks who are looking for some college sports to watch that baseball and softball are both in full swing right now. The men’s conference tournament is currently in day four right now with the semifinals on Friday and the championship game on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. central time.
Meanwhile, we have a few Big 12 softball teams playing in the Super Regionals. And those games also start Friday for three game sets. It’s a busy time right now and don’t be afraid to take a break from the the MLB, NBA, or even hockey to give it a try. Or if you are like me, have multiple screens up at once.
Iowa Hospitality
For those who may not know, I am currently on vacation as I am typing this. So thank you to Cyclone Fanatic for making me work when I am trying to relax. I am kidding of course and honestly, doing this helps keep me sane in my busy life.
Anyways, my wife and I flew into Chicago last week and headed up to Milwaukee and Madison for a few days before rounding out our trip this weekend in the Windy City. After experiencing Wisconsin for a few days, I can honestly say that I had a great time in the Badger state.
We had some great beer (Lakefront Brewery, New Glarus, cheap Hamm’s, you name it) excellent scenery and some good eats between brats, cheese curds, and fresh fish. As great as that all was, one thing that was noticeably different in Wisconsin from Iowa, other than the old fashioned’s was the hospitality.
Having been to Iowa several times, I have never had bad service, and I always feel welcome anywhere I go whether it’s in Des Moines, Ames, or anywhere else in the state. I can’t say the same about Wisconsin. Now I have heard that northern Wisconsin is better than the southern part but still, it made me realize just how lucky I am to get to go back to the great state of Iowa and be welcomed with open arms.
The post Big 12 Buzz: Pollard speaks his mind appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Graphic via ESPN
The bracket for the 2026 Players Era Tournament in Las Vegas is set.
It’s a new format from last season, there will be an official champion crowned based off of a tournament setting. Iowa State will participate in Thanksgiving week tournament in a 16 team bracket.
The Cyclones open up the Tournament against San Diego State on Nov. 24 and will play either Tennessee or Maryland on Thanksgiving. Regardless of results in the first two games, Iowa State will play one of Oregon, St. John’s, Louisville or Texas Tech on Friday.
If Iowa State goes 3-0 on their side of the bracket, they will play for an additional $1 million in the championship game on Saturday, Nov. 28 at Michelob Ultra Arena.
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Iowa State Cyclones’ graduate assistant Emily Ryan poses during the university’s women’s basketball media day at Sukup Basketball Complex on Oct. 16, 2025, in Ames, Iowa (Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune/USA Today Network)
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
Iowa State women’s basketball head coach Bill Fennelly announced the promotion of Emily Ryan to assistant coach ahead of the 2026-27 season. Ryan spent the 2025-26 season on the bench as a graduate assistant following a historic five-year career on the hardwood as the Cyclones’ point guard (2020-25).
“I am excited to announce that Emily Ryan will be elevated to the position of full-time assistant coach,” said Fennelly. “Emily made a tremendous impact on our program as a player and that will continue as a coach. Emily’s loyalty and commitment to Iowa State women’s basketball has been truly special. Our players will be learning the Iowa State Way from one of the best Cyclones ever!”
Ryan mentored Cyclone point guards last season after spending five years running Fennelly’s system on the court. She finished her playing career as one of the best point guards in Iowa State history, recording top five all-time marks in assists, steals and blocks. The Claflin, Kansas native set the program record for assists by over 200 dimes and ranked seventh all-time in NCAA women’s basketball history with 993 assists at the time of her graduation. Her 1,632 points rank 12th all-time at ISU and she was just the third NCAA women’s basketball player to record at least 1,500 points, 900 assists and 600 rebounds in a career.
Ryan helped Iowa State to five NCAA Tournaments as a player, including the most recent Sweet 16 appearance in 2022, and one during her graduate assistantship. In Iowa State’s run to the 2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship, Ryan passed out a team-high 15 assists through three games while averaging 9.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
In five seasons running point for the Cyclones, Ryan was a three-time All-Big 12 honoree, a 2024 Big 12 All-Tournament Team member, a three-time Naismith Trophy watch list member, 2025 Wooden Award watch list member and a two-time Nancy Lieberman Award watch list member. For her excellence both on the court and in the classroom, she was voted a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Third Team Academic All-American in 2024-25. Ryan received her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Iowa State University.
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Iowa State women basketball head coach Bill Fennelly talks to children as signing autograph during Cyclone Tailgate Tour at Curate on may 18, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
DES MOINES — Bill Fennelly’s a man of many emotions.
Iowa State’s longtime head women’s basketball coach is quick with a joke and occasionally moved to tears, but when former Cyclone stars Addy Brown, Audi Crooks and Jada Williams — along with several role players — entered the transfer portal early this spring, he refused to wallow in one specific emotional state: Disappointment.
“I’ve learned a long time ago, you control what you can,” Fennelly said Monday as ISU kicked off its annual Tailgate Tour in the East Village. “And this is the environment we’re in. Everyone can do what they need for themselves and I respect that. I appreciate the effort that those people gave us. I hope they appreciate the effort Iowa State gave them, but I’ve always been someone (who’s) 100 percent focused on the people who play for Iowa State, I know that sounds cliché, but I’ve always been that way since I’ve been here, and that’s our focus now.”
Crooks signed a lucrative deal with Big 12 rival Oklahoma State. Brown landed at defending national champion UCLA. Williams — who spent one season at ISU after transferring from Arizona — is now an LSU Tiger. Other former Cyclones are now scattered across the country, as well, but Fennelly’s convinced he and his staff have rebuilt a roster that can play a style of basketball ISU’s fans are familiar with.
“We had a great three years with Audi,” Fennelly said of Crooks, who is the program’s second all-time leading scorer. “I mean, we played completely different than we used to play. She was one of the best, if not the best, post players in the country, and we tried to utilize her in that regard, but in the 27 years before that, we spread the court more. We had more stretch-five, pick-and-pop, open up the court a little bit more (players). So we tried to identify that in the portal as best we could.”
Fennelly and his staff signed players from various levels to augment his remaining roster of guards Arianna Jackson, Freya Jensen and Evangelia Paulk, as well as the Cyclones’ lone incoming freshman, Macy Comito of Carlisle.
All-conference guards Mya Babbitt of Kent State and Ashleigh Connor of LaSalle fit Fennelly’s throwback backcourt-fueled mold, as did fellow guards Reggi Spotts (North Iowa Area Community College), Sienna Harvey (Washington) and Emilija “Mills” Dakic (Florida). ISU also added forwards Alex-Anne Bessette (Loyola Chicago), Gift Ezekiel (Florida) and Tjaša Turnšek (Slovenia).
“Big guys are the hardest people to get in the portal,” Fennelly said. “It’s like trying to find a great offensive tackle, or defensive lineman (in football). Those people are really hard (to get), but we like big guards. We like skilled guards, so that’s kind of the way we went, and hopefully that group will come together.”
“Hope” is the operative word here as Fennelly is starting over in his 32nd season at the helm. While Crooks, Brown and Williams found lucrative paydays elsewhere, his two longest-tenured assistants, Jodi Steyer and Latoja Schaben have moved on, as well. Steyer retired and Schaben took a job closer to family at Texas State.
So “change” is the other operative word — and Fennelly said he embraces it.
That’s because one thing remains the same. No excuses. No exceptions.
“We want to be a team that represents Iowa State the right way, that our fans love, and that is playing in the NCAA Tournament,” said Fennelly, who has guided the Cyclones to 27 NCAA Tournament appearances. “Every single kid we’ve talked to, that’s exactly what we’ve said. The foundation of our program has not changed. What we believe in has not changed. Some of the names — a lot of the names — have changed, but we’re still gonna do things, hopefully, the Iowa State way.”
The post Bill Fennelly’s new-look ISU women’s basketball team will adopt familiar style of play appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard talks to media during Cyclone Tailgate Tour at Curate on may 18, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Once again, what the Cyclone Tailgate Tour giveth, the national sports world taketh. Remember wrestling coach Kevin Dresser’s no-holds verbal takedown regarding the college athlete gambling investigation a while back at an event in Paton, Iowa?
The most recent gem on this annual statewide tour of Iowa State coaches and administrators taking their message directly to the public came during Monday afternoon’s stop in Des Moines.
The gaggle that surrounded athletics director Jamie Pollard.
The conversation about the Big Ten and SEC disregarding College Sports Commission rules.
The Pollard comments that went viral.
“The four commissioners spent a lot of money creating the CSC,” he told reporters. “To have two of the conferences not want to adhere to it is perplexing. If you didn’t want rules, then why did you create this entity? That’s what’s frustrating. The same people that say they want rules only want rules if they don’t apply to them.”
“Let them break away … But if you’re going to do it, you don’t get to just do it in football and then keep all your other sports with us. Take them all. See how fun it is.”
The outspoken veteran AD also said this: “I would turn it around and say, we should break away from them.”
And to that, I say it’s about time someone with clout publicly stood up to the bad guys of college sports. Someone had to do it, and for someone with the national credentials Jamie Pollard has, people might this time be listening.
You don’t have to agree with what he told reporters Monday in Des Moines. You may even disagree vehemently. But at least someone publicly took the initiative to say what many others have been thinking — that it’s high time someone calls out the conferences that want to rule a college sports world once governed by the NCAA.
Bring it on. Don’t let your gold-plated door hit you in your big fat wads of cash on the way out.
Just because the same conference won men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments, and the past three College Football Playoffs, their trophies say nothing about winning the right to make their own rules. But really, does anyone expect humbleness from the Big Ten-SEC Power Two?
Absolutely not.
Pollard adding his respected voice to this national narrative isn’t surprising. Of the five Iowa State ADs I’ve known and covered, he’s easily the most forthright. Agree with him or not, you’re going to get an opinion (and sometimes maybe even an earful).
And that’s not always a bad thing.
If his words can spark constructive discussion and then change, he deserves a medal.
The Big Ten and SEC threatening a split from the others?
That’s likely not happening. They need the rest of college sports as much as the others need the Big Two.
Can you imagine calling yourself a national champion when you’re only competing against yourselves?
Laughable.
Would schools really break away from the Big Ten and the SEC?
Hopefully there’s some middle ground. There are TV contracts to consider.
Could we be near the end of what’s been a great Cy-Hawk series?
Geez, I hope not.
Agree or disagree with what Pollard said. That’s your prerogative. Hopefully it sparks not just national-level conversation, but also some national-level action.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Jan 4, 2025; Gilbert, AZ, USA; Utah Prep Academy forward Jackson Kiss (4) against Faith Family Academy (TX) during the Hoophall West High School Invitational at Highland High School. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
Incoming freshman Jackson Kiss decommits from Iowa State and is flipping to UNLV, he announces on Instagram.
The four-star forward was one of four signees in the 2026 class. The 6-foot-8, 230 pounder from New Zealand is the No. 127 player on 247Sports’ composite rating.
Without Kiss, still has three incoming freshmen with Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan, Christian Wiggins and Yusef Gray Jr.
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Jimmy Rogers is getting reinforcements on the offensive side of the ball with the the commitment of Tulane transfer running back Arnold Barnes III, per Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.
In three seasons at Tulane, The 5-foot-10, 216 pound back ran for 757 yards and scored seven touchdowns. As a junior in 2025, Barnes ran for 217 yards as a primarily a short-yardage back.
With the season-ending injury to Oregon State transfer *Salahadin Allah and the recent departure of depth piece Jayden Jackson, Barnes becomes the eighth available running back available for the 2026 season. Here’s a list of the available backs in John Johnson’s* room:
- Aiden Flora (RS So.)
- Cameron Pettaway (RS So.)
- Arnold Barnes III (SR.)
- Easton Miller (Jr.)
- Caleb Francois (3-Star Fr.)
- Ryver Peppers (RS Fr.)
- Wyatt Archer (Jr.)
- Gabriel Wilson (3-Star Fr.)
Barnes is the second Tulane transfer to join Iowa State, along with wide receiver Omari Hayes.
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Iowa State Men’s Basketball players Tamin Lipsey, Milan Momcilovic, and Joshua Jefferson stand for a photo during media day at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Oct. 8, 2025. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA Today Network)
The NBA Draft is just over one month away as three Cyclones have the potential for their names to be called. Below is a running list of where major media outlets have Joshua Jefferson, Milan Momcilovic and Tamin Lipsey selected in various mock drafts.
ESPN – Jeremy Woo – updated May 19 – two rounds
– Joshua Jefferson at No. 30 to the Dallas Mavericks
– Milan Momcilovic at No. 38 to the San Antonio Spurs
BleacherReport – Jonathan Wasserman – updated May 19 – two rounds
– Milan Momcilovic No. 40 to the Boston Celtics
– Joshua Jefferson No. 41 to the Miami Heat
Yahoo – Kevin O’Connor – updated May 19 – two rounds
– Joshua Jefferson No. 36 to the Los Angeles Clippers
– Milan Momcilovic No. 43 to the Brooklyn Nets
USA Today – Mark Giannotto – update May 15 – one round
– None in first round
Tankathon – updated May 13 – two rounds
– Joshua Jefferson No. 27 to the Boston Celtics
– Milan Momcilovic No. 43 to the Brooklyn Nets
The Athletic – Sam Vecenie – updated May 10 – two rounds
– Joshua Jefferson No. 33 to the Brooklyn Nets
– Tamin Lipsey No. 51 to the Washington Wizards
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The 2026 Tailgate Tour kicked off Monday with a lunch stop in Des Moines before heading to Eastern Iowa. Watch everything Jamie Pollard, Jimmy Rogers, T.J. Otzelberger and Bill Fennelly said in their media scrums prior to the event.
Pollard shares his thoughts on CFP expansion, gives updates on CyTown, and talks about big picture college athletics issues while expressing his frustration with the Big Ten and SEC.
Rogers gives an update on the injuries in the running backs room, shares his opinion on CFP expansion, and previews the next few weeks for the football program.
Otzelberger goes in-depth on the five transfer portal additions, shares his intel on Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic at the NBA Draft Combine, and more at the 2026 Tailgate Tour.
Fennelly explains the process of rebuilding his roster, shares the outlook for his future, and discusses how much the sport has changed.
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Sep 6, 2025; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers running back Salahadin Allah (26) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Reser Stadium. (Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images)
Oregon State transfer running back Salahadin Allah is out for the 2026 season with a torn achilles, head coach Jimmy Rogers announced at the Tailgate Tour on Monday.
As a sophomore at Oregon State in 2025, Allah rushed for 258 yards and one touchdown. Based off of our post-spring depth chart, Allah was projected to be No. 3 running back on the depth chart.
With the injury to Allah and the recent departure of Jayden Jackson, that leaves Iowa State with seven running backs: redshirt sophomore Aiden Flora, redshirt sophomore Cameron Pettaway, redshirt freshman Ryver Peppers, junior Wyatt Archer, junior Easton Miller and a pair of three-star freshmen in Caleb Francois and Gabriel Wilson.
Rogers confirmed Monday that the staff will look to bring in a running back via the transfer portal.
A potential fit would be Tulane transfer Arnold Barnes. Cyclone Fanatic can confirm that he is visiting Iowa State on Monday. In three seasons at Tulane, Barnes ran for 757 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
Also worth noting is that Rogers says that Ryver Peppers is “a guy we’re counting on.” Rogers is hopeful that he will be good to go for fall camp after suffering an achilles injury in October.
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Mar 26, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger speaks ahead of the Midwest regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
DES MOINES — Six.
That’s the total number of former Iowa State men’s basketball players who’ve been selected in the first round of the NBA Draft since 2000.
But next month that number could climb to seven — and there’s an outside chance it rises to eight.
Versatile forward Joshua Jefferson is broadly considered to be a late first-round pick, though some draft analysts predict he’ll be selected early in the second round. And sharpshooting fellow forward Milan Momcilovic is pegged by most as a second-round pick, though this 3-point shooting prowess could make him an attractive late first-round addition.
So what will happen? No one knows, of course, but count Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger as understandably bullish on both of his former players’ prospects of producing at the next level.
“Obviously, both guys won us a lot of games and did a lot for us,” Otzelberger said Monday as ISU’s athletics programs kicked off the Tailgate Tour in the East Village. “It would be great to see them both be first-round picks. I think there (are) variables that can happen.”
That’s because Jefferson’s wide-ranging abilities and Momcilovic’s standout shooting statistics could help certain teams fill pinpointed needs. Most franchises making picks at the tail end of the first round already boast well-rounded winning rosters, which allows them to elevate overall fit above all else.
“I think the thing with Joshua that’s so intriguing is he can play and guard multiple positions,” Otzelberger said of Jefferson, who averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists last season before a severe ankle injury sidelined him after the first round of the NCAA Tournament. “So when you’re somebody who can ultimately fit in with a lot of teams, there (are) a lot of teams that express interest because he can slide in as a three, as a four, (and) he can guard multiple positions. When you get a lot of assists and rebounds, that also gives you great benefit on teams where you’re playing with a superstar, potentially a couple superstars.”
Momcilovic — who also entered the transfer portal as a backup plan — shot an NCAA-best 48.7 percent from 3-point range last season. At 6-8 in bare feet, his combination of length and skill makes him an alluring prospect at both the professional and collegiate levels, though he’s repeatedly said he’s focused entirely on ascending to the NBA next season.
“I think what you want for everybody in your program is for their dreams to become a reality,” Otzelberger said. “And obviously with the season he had, and how he’s continued to develop, he’s put himself in a great position for the draft. Yet, at the same time, in the climate and the landscape of college athletics, it’s important to keep your options open and leave that available at the end if it isn’t to go your way. So all our conversations were great. I really respect how he went through and made his decisions, and I don’t there’s anybody that’s a loser in this situation.”
Regardless of where Jefferson and Momcilovic go in the draft, Otzelberger certainly plans to continue to keep his program on a winning trajectory. The Cyclones have advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 in three of his first five seasons, and quickly added five transfer players to next season’s roster that already includes returners such as Jamarion Batemon, Blake Buchanan and Killyan Toure.
“All five (transfers) will be guys (who are) part of our rotation,” Otzelberger said. “We believe in guys that if they have something they do really well and they want to expand their game, our program has been a proven place for guys to grow their game.”
Jefferson did that the past two seasons as a Cyclone after transferring from St. Mary’s. Momcilovic did so the past three after joining the program as a freshman. Now they’re either moving up or moving on as the NBA Draft beckons on June 23-24.
“It will be exciting to see how it plays out for both guys,” Otzelberger said.
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With the NBA Draft coming up June 23-24, three Cyclones’ statuses are up in the air. There is a world where Joshua Jefferson, Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic each get drafted, and there is a world where only Jefferson has his name called.
Momcilovic is by far the most interesting case. He is rapidly running out of time to decide if he wants to keep his name entered in the draft or return to college. Many expect Momcilovic to land in the early second round of the draft if he stays in the draft beyond the May 27 deadline. He has gone on record saying the NBA is where he wants to be, so it will be interesting to see if being picked in the 30s or 40s is good enough for him to make the jump.
Many fans have brushed off Momcilovic’s decision since his days as a Cyclone are almost certainly over, even if he returns to college, but sending three players to the NBA in one season would be a massive box checked by the staff. There are so many talented recruits that are looking for a school that can help them grow from a talented high school ball player into a true professional.
If Momcilovic does return to school for another year, Iowa State fans may remember him as a Cyclone; however, the national narrative will not. For Momcilovic, he is one of the most unique players in the draft class. He is a lights out shooter that can do it on the move, spotting up, from the corner, from the top, from 30 feet or off a screen. That alone makes him worthy of a shot, but he also has holes to his game, including lateral movement speed. If Momcilovic turns out to be an average NBA defender, he could legitimately become a household name in the league, but that is a big if.
Lipsey is projected by most to go undrafted, likely signing a deal to compete in the G-League or overseas if he is interested. There is a world where he is drafted right around the very end of the draft if a team sees the perfect fit, but it is looking unlikely according to most projections.
Lipsey will always go down as a hometown hero, starring as the team’s point guard for four years, committing to Iowa State after growing up in Ames and repeatedly saying he would love to play in Hilton Coliseum forever if it was allowed. He deserves all the praise and more, truly becoming the face of the Otzelberger-era thus far.
He is being overlooked by many due to his size as well as not having an automatic three-point shot. I could see Lipsey developing into a backup point guard in the NBA that plays with a high motor, initiates the offense and makes the right decisions after a few years of G-League development.
I saved Jefferson for last because his future is the most stable. It is difficult to see him going much higher or lower than the 40th pick. He has performed well at the combine, has an NBA frame and does a little bit of everything. A key for him in the league will be learning to maximize his production off of the ball, as he most likely will not be the guy teams run their offense through.
He could fight for an NBA roster spot right away on some teams, and with his ability to pass, score and defend, he could even blossom into a player that sees significant minutes.
The post Monday Musings: Who’s getting drafted? appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Apr. 19, 2026; Ames, Iowa; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Jimmy Rogers looks on during the spring showcase at Jack Trice Stadium. (Photo by Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic)
This is Jimmy Rogers’ turn to win his first game as Iowa State’s football coach.
History says so, so remember that if/when contemplating placing a friendly wager on the Sept. 5 game against Southeast Missouri at Jack Trice Stadium.
This isn’t about advocating sports wagering, although $2 on the favorite to show is as safe a bet as it gets. This is about giving you necessary data — should you decide to partake while sitting at your home, during your pregame tailgate, at the bar, while harvesting your crops, or lounging in your boat on a large lake in northwest Iowa.
These days, you can wager on almost anything. Especially college football. Over-under on how many seconds the national anthem lasts, and then who wins the coin flip, followed by who scores the first touchdown, and ultimately who wins the game and by how much.
Look hard enough. Someplace, you’ll find an outlet where you can satisfy your hankering for taking financial risks.
With that in mind — and for entertainment purposes only:
Rogers’ Iowa State debut is a success, which sets him up to become the Cyclones’ first coach since Clay Stapleton in 1958 to win his first two Iowa State games. The first play in the opener will be something with little risk. A running back will score the first touchdown.
Why?
Again, history says.
Welcome to Iowa State’s Rogers regime.
The last five Iowa State coaches went 2-3 in their first games as Cyclones, but the last four — Dan McCarney, Gene Chizik, Paul Rhoads and Matt Campbell — went win, lose, win and lose in their ISU debuts.
Thus, in the interest of positive trends, it’s a Cyclone rookie football coach’s turn to debut with a winning first impression.
History says.
Overall, Iowa State coaches had a 21-6-2 record in first games as Cyclones, which also points to a Rogers opening-game success. (How’s that for more trivia you’ll never use or need?)
So, if you plop down an occasional wager, and if trends are part of your betting strategy, let’s look at the past five (again, for entertainment purposes only):
JIM WALDEN (1987)
Outcome: Lost against Tulane
First play: Joe Henderson 7-yard rush
First touchdown: Henderson rush
Season note: Henderson rushed 262 times for 1,232 yards, as Walden went 3-8 in his Cyclones debut season.
DAN McCARNEY (1995)
Outcome: Beat Ohio University
First play: Troy Davis 6-yard rush
First touchdown: Davis rush
Season note: Davis rushed 40 times for 291 yards and three touchdowns in McCarney’s first game as Iowa State’s coach. He rushed 345 times for 2,010 yards and 15 touchdowns during the season.
GENE CHIZIK (2007)
Outcome: Lost against Kent State
First play: Quarterback Bret Meyer rushed 8 yards
First touchdown: J.J. Bass rush
Season note: Chizik’s first win during a 3-9 season was the famous 15-13 victory against Iowa, in which Bret Culbertson made five field goals.
PAUL RHOADS (2009)
Outcome: Beat North Dakota State
First play: Alexander Robinson 8-yard rush
First touchdown: Robinson rush
Season note: Despite the loss of its regular starting quarterback and running back, Iowa State still won 9-7 at Nebraska for the first time since 1977. The Cornhuskers fumbled eight times, including twice at the goal line.
MATT CAMPBELL (2016)
Outcome: Lost against Northern Iowa
First play: Quarterback Joel Lanning rushed 3 yards
First touchdown: Pass from Lanning to Dondre Daley
Season note: Iowa State lost eight of its first nine games during Campbell’s first season.
**
Translated: Proceed with caution, especially when wagering on the first game of a coach whose roster (including starters) could include more transfers than players who began their careers as Cyclones.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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*Tournament Expansion***
There are some people out there who wanted the NCAA basketball tournament to include more teams. I was not one of those people. It would be one thing if expansion gave a better opportunity for smaller schools to get in but I know that’s not the case. While expansion will increase the size of the bubble, it will just include more power four teams.
Do we really need a tenth-place team from the Big Ten in the tournament instead of a smaller school who finished second in a respectable mid-major conference? Not really. But I know that’s exactly what’s going to happen. This move won’t give the smaller schools a better chance, it will only benefit the big ones. I am at the point where this tournament is feeling more like a corporate cup than the NCAA tournament we all know and love.
The fact that there is so much great basketball played at the mid-major level and only one team per conference can get in is insane. It comes down to winning a conference tournament just to even get an opportunity to get in for those teams. You can go undefeated in conference play and if you get bounced in the conference tournament you can kiss your tournament hopes goodbye.
Expansion would be a great idea if it gave smaller schools a chance to get in. The days of Cinderella making a run in March are ending and this tournament expansion will only help continue that trend. The reason why so many of us love March Madness is because we want to see David beat Goliath. But if David isn’t even given the opportunity to face Goliath, then what in the hell are we even doing?
*Big 12 Baseball***
It’s the final weekend of the regular season and unbelievably, Kansas isn’t going to run away from this thing like we all thought because last weekend West Virginia swept Kansas and pulled themselves within a game of the Jayhawks.
West Virginia is the only team that can catch Kansas at this point, and they play TCU while Kansas gets BYU. In all likelihood, I don’t see Kansas losing a series to BYU but if they do drop a game, and West Virginia sweeps, TCU then they will be your regular season champ for the second season in a row.
But again, I think Kansas wins that series and it comes down to the final day, which is Saturday, but I still believe Kansas walks out of this weekend as your Big 12 champion.
And that West Virginia/TCU series is also very important for the Frogs, they were a projected three seed and their RPI is in the 50’s which isn’t a great place to feel comfortable, but they do have a 16-11 record in conference action which is fine, but that RPI is not good. So, if they can get a series win, they should be in but if they get swept, that makes things a bit dicey for TCU.
*Playoff Expansion***
Earlier this week Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark commented on the idea of expanding the college football playoff by saying “We like 24, we want 24. There are too many teams getting left out and 24 teams provides the type of access that is warranted. That being said, we need to do the work around the economics around a 24-team format and make sure we address any unintended consequences.”
It should also be noted that ACC commissioner Jim Phillips agreed with Yormark when it came to playoff expansion. Now if this happens, we can likely kiss the Big 12 championship game goodbye. Traditionalists won’t like that but if the playoff expands, they will either need to move the start of the season up a week or take away the conference title game so they can have that first weekend of December for the opening round.
In the current 12 team format, the Big 12 is pretty much stuck with one bid. Maybe there could be a year where two teams get in but there’s a better chance of you winning the lottery if we are being honest. If the playoff does expand, obviously it would provide more opportunities for Big 12 teams.
Think about how many teams from the Big 12 are always in that 15 to 25 range and always on the outside looking in. Well, this fixes that and we could see anywhere from three to five teams make it in depending on the year.
Of course, no matter what the number is, the Big 12 also needs to take care of business on the field. We need someone to step up and win some games that matter. Whether it’s Texas Tech, BYU, Iowa State or whoever, it’s time for the Big 12 to silence the critics and it starts in the playoff.
Keep in mind that this whole idea of expansion it just that. It’s an idea for now at least. But the fact that three out of the four power conferences are in favor of this, is very interesting to say the least. However, the SEC, at least for now, is the only one who hasn’t supported moving to 24. And as we all know they typically get what they want.
The post Big 12 Buzz: No Thanks on Expansion appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Random thoughts about Iowa State-related stuff during this annual sports action hiatus.How about this for a men’s nonconference basketball doubleheader?
Iowa State against Drake.
University of San Diego against UNI.
T.J. Otzelberger. Eric Henderson. J.R. Blount. Kyle Green.
Iowa State’s Otzelberger — and three former assistants.
The Family Reunion.
Boom.
Play it at Hilton Coliseum one year, then Drake’s Knapp Center, then the UNI-Dome, and then San Diego’s Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Or what the heck, play it at The Pentagon in Sioux Falls, although capacity in that very cozy, cheek-to-cheek arena is only around 3,500. Yeah, I know, that’s extremely small for an event like this, but throw a bunch of NIL money at the teams and/or players — and maybe it works.
Crazy?
Sure. It’ll never happen.
Friends don’t especially like to play against friends, a wise, basketball-savvy friend once told me. Otzelberger and Creighton’s Greg McDermott would rather have played someone else than each other in last season’s Players Era event in Las Vegas. But when you’re getting upwards of a million bucks just to show up, you suck it up and play who the organizer says you’re playing.
These days, money talks more than ever.
Even among friends.
**
Is Otzelberger’s new salary ranking a big deal?
Yes and yes.
Yes, in that Iowa State has so much respect for its men’s basketball coach that his most recent raise made him just the second state of Iowa head coach to reach $6 million annually, according to the state government’s salary website. Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz has been between $6.8 million and $7.4 million annually the past five seasons.
Yes again, in that Otzelberger’s hefty salary boost came around the time he turned down overtures to discuss becoming the next North Carolina head coach. Furthermore, the 10-year extension shows the Cyclones mean business when it comes to solidifying their spot as one of the nation’s top 15 or so programs.
Absolutely, all this is significant, which leads to the next question:
**
Is Iowa State a basketball school?
For years, that’s been the narrative at Kansas, where Bill Self’s program has overshadowed anything the football program has accomplished. The same (arguably) can be said for Cyclones basketball the past few seasons under Otzelberger.
In just the past three seasons, Otzelberger has coached Iowa State to the 2024 Big 12 Conference tournament championship. His teams have been seeded No. 2 twice (and third once). They’ve reached three Sweet 16s during his five overall seasons as the Cyclones’ head coach.
And know this: His team is headed toward continued success during the 2026-27 season.
**
Moving on from Hilton Coliseum to Jack Trice Stadium
Following the spring fling, or whatever the spring’s final practice was called, new coach Jimmy Rogers was asked about redshirt freshman running back Jayden Jackson, who had a nice run.
When asked something about where the guy who never played last season might fit on the Cyclones’ 2026 depth chart, Rogers didn’t hold back.
“He did a solid job,” Rogers told reporters on the field after the workout. “I mean, he hasn’t done much. He’s got to consistently grow and do things off the field that are right, and follow through with things and grow mentally in order to continue to get reps.”
A few days later, Jackson, who didn’t play last season, announced on social media that he’s leaving Iowa State.
Whether he was forced out, or left because he didn’t like Rogers’ comment, or didn’t think he’d get many carries, I don’t know.
I do know, though, that Rogers surprised me, in a good way, with his comment. Usually, coaches speak glowingly about players, but Rogers (as we’ve learned) tends to be frank.
That’s refreshing, what he said at the spring function that was open to the public. At preseason events like that, and the annual media days, comments are as milquetoast as they can get. If that’s a preview of the Rogers reporters will hear during the season, that’s revitalizing.
**
Parting shot:
It’s not Iowa State-related, but what the heck. Did you catch what Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said to USA Today about academics at SEC rival Ole Miss?
“All you have to do is take basket-weaving, and you can get an Ole Miss degree,” he said.
Shots fired.
Maybe this isn’t going to be such a dull offseason after all.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic spoke with reporters at the NBA Combine, addressing whether he would remain in the NBA Draft or return to college basketball.
Here is a transcript of the recent interview he did with CBS Sports National College Basketball Writer Issac Trotter:
Milan Momcilovic: I’m still focused on the draft. I haven’t even talked to any colleges yet, so I’m sure if I have to go back, there’s a spot open for me somewhere. But you know, I’m just still going through this process. The deadline is May 27th, so I still have a couple weeks. I’m going to obviously finish this week and go work out for some teams that I have lined up to work out for the next couple weeks.
Issac Trotter: What do you need to hear from the NBA to stay?
Milan Momcilovic: I just think, you know, very high interest. You know, obviously some promises, but I don’t think teams promise that early. So, I think if there’s obviously guaranteed contracts that would be good. If it’s the late second round, those are usually two-way contracts. So, then I’d probably go back.
Issac Trotter: How much does the new eligibility rule of five and five kind of play into your decision. There’s just another extra potential year to cash in, in college.
Milan Momcilovic: That doesn’t affect me at all. I want to go to the NBA, that’s the goal. So, I’m trying to go this year. I’m not really trying to spend another two years in college.
Issac Trotter: What are you looking for if you return to college? From a role perspective?
Milan Momcilovic: If I return to college, you know, just kind of a fit that I can play well in and hopefully help my chances to go (to the) NBA the year after that. And hopefully I’m on a good team, that we can go far in the tournament.
End
Here is the full interview that Issac Trotter did with Milan Momcilovic:
Iowa State sniper transfer Milan Momcilovic dishes on his stay-or-go decision, what he’s looking for in college and what he needs to hear from NBA decision-makers to stay ahead of the May 27 deadline.
Kentucky, St. John’s and Louisville are in the mix here. pic.twitter.com/x7Iqw2xYnh
— Isaac Trotter (@Isaac__Trotter) May 13, 2026
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Photo Credit: Little Rock Wrestling/Photographer: Larry Slater
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
AMES, Iowa – Former Little Rock associate head coach Javier Maldonado has been added to the Iowa State men’s wrestling staff as an assistant coach, head coach Brent Metcalf announced Tuesday. Maldonado, Little Rock’s first assistant coach after the program’s creation in 2019, joins the Cyclones after seven successful seasons building the Trojan wrestling program.
“My primary goal when building out this coaching staff was to find good people who will develop well-rounded young men, and I believe Javier fits that mold perfectly,” Metcalf said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience at multiple levels of wrestling and his ability to recruit and develop athletes is top notch. I’m excited for him to get to Ames and help us reach the next level.”
Maldonado helped head coach Neil Erisman start the Little Rock wrestling program from scratch in 2019 as an assistant coach before being promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2022. It took just six seasons for Little Rock, the lone NCAA Division I wrestling program in Arkansas, to win its first Pac-12 team title in 2025. During his time in Little Rock, Maldonado helped 14 Trojans qualify for the NCAA Championships, five of which achieved All-American status.
“I am honored to be named an assistant coach at Iowa State University,” Maldonado said. “I look forward to serving such a storied wrestling program and supporting coach Brent Metcalf in any way I can.
“My family and I are excited to join the Iowa State family and continue building on the foundation Kevin Dresser established,” he added. “I believe strongly in the vision Coach Metcalf and Coach St. John have for this program, and I am confident we will help take Cyclone Wrestling to the next level.”
Maldonado has helped Little Rock crown an All-American in three-consecutive seasons, including multiple All-Americans in two of the last three seasons, and has mentored 11 individual Pac-12 champions.
Much of Little Rock’s recent success was based on strong early recruiting classes. Maldonado spearheaded the recruiting efforts for Little Rock’s back-to-back top-25 recruiting classes in 2021 and 2022. The 2021 recruiting class ranked No. 23 nationally while the 2022 class was rated No. 18 by MatScouts.
In 2025-26, Brock Herman, Jaivon Jones, and Stephen Little each captured Pac-12 titles, while Matty Bianchi also qualified for the NCAA Championships. Jones was named Pac-12 Co-Newcomer of the Year and Little was tabbed Pac-12 Wrestler of the Year. Little would go on to place third at 197 pounds at the 2026 NCAA Championships, the highest placement ever by a Trojan and his third All-America honor.
Little Rock won the 2025 Pac-12 title and qualified five for the NCAA Championships where Little and Bianchi would reach the podium. The Trojans would finish with a 17-3 dual record and ranked No. 15 in the NWCA Coaches Poll in their sixth season of competition.
The 2024 season saw Little Rock crown its first All-Americans in program history when Little and Nasir Baily reached the podium at the NCAA Championships. Five Trojans qualified for the national tournament that season and Little Rock were the Pac-12 runner-up.
Off the mat, the Trojans consistently excelled in the classroom with 21 NWCA Scholar All-Americans in the last three seasons. In 2025, Little Rock was third nationally in the NWCA’s team academic standings.
Prior to Little Rock
Maldonado spent four seasons (2015-19) as the head coach at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida where he started the program from scratch and posted a 41-31 dual meet record.
During his tenure at Southeastern, Maldonado mentored 18 national qualifiers with six wrestlers earning NAIA All-America honors. His teams posted a winning dual record in three of his four seasons, winning 12 dual meets in both 2015-16 and 2018-19.
Prior to Southeastern
Prior to his time at Southeastern, Maldonado worked for five seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater Osceola High School [Fla.] where he coached seven individual state champions, 22 state placewinners and nine All-Americans. As a team, Osceola finished in the top five in the state 3A rankings four times.
He also previously served as an assistant coach at Las Cruces High School in New Mexico and as a graduate assistant at Chattanooga.
Wrestling Career
Maldonado was a three-time NCAA qualifier and three-time Southern Conference champion at 125 pounds during his collegiate career at Chattanooga. He captured his conference titles in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Maldonado posted a 79-31 record during his career with the Mocs and was a three-time NCWA Scholar All-American and All-Southern Conference Academic Team member.
Maldonado was a two-time Florida state champion at Osceola High School.
Personal
A Kissimmee, Florida native, Maldonado completed his Bachelor of Science (Chattanooga; 2008) and Master of Business Administration (Southeastern; 2018).
Coaching Timeline
Iowa State – Assistant Coach, 2026-pres.
Little Rock – Associate Head Coach, 2022-26
Little Rock – Assistant Coach, 2019-22
Southeastern – Head Coach, 2015-19
Osceola HS – Assistant Coach, 2010-15
Las Cruces HS – Assistant Coach, 2009-10
Chattanooga – Graduate Assistant, 2008-09
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Nov 24, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger stands on the sidelines during the first half against the St. John’s Red Storm in a 2025 Players Era Festival group play game at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
What makes some coaches better recruiters than others? With T.J. Otzelberger bringing in one of the program’s best commits in school history in Donovan Davisout of Wisconsin, it raises the question of why he has been such a successful recruiter.
It is not just Davis, Otzelberger has already secured the top-five recruits in school history in his tenure, according to 247Sports, in Omaha Biliew, Davis, Tyrese Hunter, Milan Momcilovic and Josiah Harrington. He also brought in each of the five priority transfer portal targets the Cyclones were gunning for this offseason.
Everyone on the internet seems to think the only thing that matters in terms of recruiting is how much money the school has. Well, I do not think anyone will make the argument that Iowa State has the most money, so what is it?
Otzelberger is definitely known for finding “his guys,” there is no doubt about that. He does not often blow up the budget for someone that he does not believe can have success under his system. Perhaps the draw of coming to Iowa State is the belief that the coaching staff has in the student-athletes they go after.
Obviously, there are factors like the great crowds on gamedays and the healthy program that has been a lock for the NCAA Tournament in recent years, but those are two things that a lot of schools can offer.
Let me take you to the world of football for a moment. Iowa State has had less recruiting success in recent years than they have on the basketball floor. The Cyclones can offer a team that has been competitive in recent years and solid crowds, even if they do not live up to that of Hilton Coliseum. Compared to where the team has landed in the Big 12 standings at the end of the seasons, the top end recruiting has not followed.
It is too early to judge the recruiting of Jimmy Rogers, but Campbell was known for a lot of things in Ames, and collecting top Midwest recruits was not on that list.
In my eyes, the reason for the difference all stems from the approach. Otzelberger’s staff wins the time game. They plant seeds with the recruits in high school, tend to them over time by watching them play in-person and those seeds flourish into commitments.
Sure, Campbell’s staff did that as well, but it never felt like they lived up to other teams in that department. Their focus was heavily on turning what they had into a winning team, which also resulted in great seasons, but recruiting results did not stack up.
In my opinion, Rogers seems like a coach that will put more of a focus onto recruiting, so it will be interesting to see if he can change the narrative of significant recruits coming to Ames.
Ultimately, no one will care if you win games as the world’s greatest recruiter or the world’s worst; however, it is interesting to see how different two programs’ recruiting results have been despite being located a parking lot away. What is Iowa’s favorite saying after all? There’s more than one way to smoke a hog.
The post Monday Musings: The Great Divide in recruiting appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Well, unfortunately, it must be true.
I figured after a few days of thought and taking the pulse of the public that our sports leaders would retract last week’s decision that will change, for the worse, college sports’ most popular national tournament.
Wrong.
They’re sticking with their decision to expand the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments. Instead of doing something about $50 million football rosters and upwards of $20 million (and beyond) in men’s basketball, they’re expanding what’s been a very manageable tournament to 100, or 110, or 90, or 76, or whatever the number is.
Other than money, I don’t really know why they’re doing it. Someone obviously has a weird obsession to confuse the process of filling out a bracket, one of our grandest pastimes. What’s next? A 48-team College Football Playoff?
Bring it on.
The will of the people?
No way.
I didn’t hear a public outcry. Did you?
If it’s broken, fix it. If it’s not broken, leave it the hell alone.
I was hoping common sense would have prevailed in the days following the announcement. I was hoping that, over the Mother’s Day weekend, the reaction would have been so overwhelmingly negative that our trusted leaders would have said, “Oops, just kidding.”
Thursday?
Crickets.
Friday?
Silence.
Saturday?
I’m not sure they’re changing their minds.
Sunday?
Ain’t happening.
The NCAA, or whomever made this bad decision, has dug in.
“We’re out here trying to generate more interest in the regular season, and expansion doesn’t help,” Gonzaga’s Mark Few told CBS. “That’s where we’ve been struggling. Don’t screw with something when you already know it’s great. The tournament is great, as is.”
Yes it is.
Or was.
NCAA Tournament suits went the wrong way. Instead of rewarding more mediocrity than the tournament already rewards, they could have gone the other way. What was wrong with the 64-team, no-play-in tournament that we celebrated between 1985 and 2000?
Selection Sunday is (used to be) appointment television viewing, pencils and brackets as mandatory as chips and salsa, beverages, and live look-ins as teams react on CBS or ESPN to their NCAA assignments.
Wake me when it’s time for the Round of 64. Those meaningless play-in games are nothing more than barely .500 teams being able to say they made an NCAA Tournament.
This isn’t progress. It’s further dumbification of college sports that were just fine before conference expansion, before the no-rules transfer portal, and before our NCAA leaders essentially flipped off ticket-buying fans whose loyalty made college sports what they are.
The last dozen teams selected aren’t in the NCAA Tournament; they’re trying to play their way into it. Will people waste time watching if they’re not emotionally or financially invested in one of the wannabes trying to make the official tournament 64?
Maybe. Probably not.
Once reaching Thursday of the tournament’s opening week, that’s when teams can claim that they’re part of the Dance. That’s when the real viewership begins.
More evidence, I guess, of what we get when big money is involved.
Beyond that, I’m curious to see which prominent coach gets the first new contract with one of the bonuses explicitly being for making the Round of 64 — for being one of the selected teams not competing in Tuesday-Wednesday play-in games.
Howard, Maryland-Baltimore County, North Carolina State, Texas, Lehigh, Prairie View A&M, SMU, and Miami (Ohio) comprised the play-in round during last season’s tournament. Remember Miami (Ohio)? Despite being 31-1 going into 2026 Selection Sunday, Miami had to play its way into the NCAA Tournament, so is this the RedHawks Rule, the unwieldy Field of 76?
Possibly.
Is it too late to reverse this decision?
Unfortunately, yes.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Sorsby Lawyers Up
By now everyone and their mother knows about the Brendan Sorsby situation at Texas Tech. The five-million-dollar quarterback was caught betting on games back at his days at Indiana. Some call it crazy; I call it stupid because you have to be a moron to bet on your own games.
While he is under investigation by the NCAA, he has hired a lawyer. The same lawyer who represented Tom Brady during deflategate. But this ain’t about some flat footballs, this is about a guy who bet on games at school he played for.
Whether this works or not depends on the NCAA. And if you know anything about the NCAA, they are about as reliable as dead car battery, they simply don’t work. While the investigation is still ongoing, it’s hard to say what’s going to happen to Sorsby. He’s either going to be the starter week one or not play at all in 2026. I don’t feel like there is an in-between here.
Either way, it feels like Texas Tech should have done some research on him. I understand that a guy like Cody Campbell wipes his ass with $100 dollar bills but maybe they should have done their homework before giving someone millions of dollars.
Tyran Stokes to Kansas
What a win for Bill Self here and a much needed one because it feels like that program needs a bit of fresh air after the Darryn Peterson crap and speaking of Peterson, you hope to avoid another situation like that altogether.
To go out and get the number one player in the country, the consensus number one player in the country, was a huge get for Kansas. He could end up as the Big 12 player of the year or maybe the national player of the year if everything goes right.
I think Stokes is a generational talent, and for him to pick Kansas over Kentucky, first off, was a kick in the balls right to Mark Pope, which I found funny but for him to pick Kansas over Kentucky, where Stokes is originally from his hilarious.
Some are calling this the best get for Bill Self because of the era we are in today. You can’t just go out and out recruit everyone anymore just because you walk in with a Kansas logo. You have to stay on them, work, and sure, money is involved but I know there were other schools out there backing up the money truck to get him too.
He could be that piece that Self needs to build around, and who knows maybe the guy that takes them back to a final four and helps Bill ride off into the sunset. But it is also going to come down building around him as well for them to achieve their ultimate goal.
Welcome Back Jerome Tang
I am not going to lie, I forgot just how long he was at Baylor before he got the coaching job at Kansas State. He was in Waco for nearly 20 years, which is more than enough time for someone to go insane there. So, kudos to him for staying in Waco that long because I couldn’t do it.
But to me, I guess it makes sense for him to go back to the place, albeit a shitty place, but the place where he made his bones and made a name for himself. I just wonder for Scott Drew, who is under a bit of pressure to get that program back on track, it is an interesting move to bring back a coach who did such a poor job over the last few years.
But maybe Tang is just better as an assistant coach than a head coach, nothing wrong with that but it’s certainly not a sexy move by Scott Drew here. But I guess, working at Baylor is better than being a floor cleaner so he’s got that going for him.
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Donovan Davis poses with Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger during his official visit to Ames. (Photo via Instagram/@_donovandavis24)
Of course, Donovan Davis committed to play ball at Iowa State. It’s what all high-level basketball players from Wisconsin do. If they’re not born to be Cyclones, they early in life learn the whereabouts of Ames, Iowa, and the university that has been known to break the hearts of their home-state teams.
Davis’ midweek announcement rekindled thoughts about all the recruits who have discovered what’s become the well-traveled (and maybe a smidge mythical) Cyclone Expressway linking Wisconsin and Ames. Davis becomes the 25th since Mike Taylor in 2006 to either get a Cyclones scholarship or walk on, proving again that T.J. Otzelberger backs up what he says.
Hanging out in Ames on the same day Otzelberger’s 10-year extension was announced last week, yeah, that could have been the icing on Davis’ cardinal-and-gold cake, although the decision probably was made way before — like maybe around the time he started dribbling with accuracy and authority from one end to the other.
Being offered and then accepting an Iowa State basketball scholarship is as common in Wisconsin as devouring cheese and brats. Including the six on next season’s roster, and Davis’ 2027 commitment Wednesday, Iowa State’s extensive list of Wisconsin recruits is getting almost too lengthy to accurately count.
In just the past 20 seasons since Taylor accepted then-coach Greg McDermott’s 2006 offer, the state of Wisconsin has been an Iowa State recruiting hotbed. That includes 10 going into Otzelberger’s sixth season as head coach — and many more during his eight Cyclones recruiting seasons as an assistant to McDermott, Fred Hoiberg and Steve Prohm.
“I feel like, if you’re from Wisconsin, you’d rather go to Iowa State than Wisconsin,” former Iowa State star Tyrese Haliburton told the 247Sports website last March. “That’s just how the cookie crumbles these days.”
On his Day One of Making Iowa State Basketball Relevant Again, Otzelberger vowed to recruit the heck out of the Upper Midwest. He also made it clear that footprint would include his Milwaukee roots. That meant aggressive head-to-head recruiting battles with the Badgers and Marquette.
So now, you wonder during this lull (ha!) in the college sports calendar, just who is the second-best Iowa State recruit from Wisconsin?
First, obviously, is NBA lottery pick Haliburton (from Oshkosh), a Prohm recruit in 2018 who not only has an Olympic gold medal, but also a multimillion-dollar bank account.
Second, you wonder?
Let’s go with the pride of Pewaukee, aka Milan Momcilovic.
And then?
Diante Garrett of Milwaukee.
After that?
Onalaska’s Matt Thomas.
And finally?
That’d be Deonte Burton, another former Milwaukee high school star.
That’s four who currently or formerly played in the NBA — plus one (Momcilovic) who is headed there shortly — who traveled the Cyclone Expressway.
A second five, which might be just as good as the Cyclones’ All-Wisconsin first team, could be:
Scott Christopherson, Donovan Jackson, Korie Lucious, Jameel McKay — and a tossup between Tyrese Hunter and Taylor.
And Davis?
For now, let’s just call him the 25th recruit from the 10th Wisconsin town over the past 20 seasons to either accept a scholarship or walk on the Iowa State basketball team. Beyond that?
Stay tuned.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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T.J. Otzelberger has landed the second-highest rated recruit in Iowa State history with the commitment of four-star power forward Donovan Davis.
The 6-foot-7, 200 pound forward chose Iowa State over Iowa, Marquette, Nebraska and Wisconsin on Wednesday evening.
According to 247Sports’ composite score, Davis is rated at a .9868 out of 100, making him the 38th ranked player nationally in the Class of 2027. The Kaukauna native is the second-highest rated player in Wisconsin.
As a junior at Freedom High School, Davis posted 21.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting splits of 70.3/38.3/76.9 (FG/3Pt/FT).
Davis joins fellow four-star Josiah Harrington in Otzelberger’s class of 2027 which is now rated No. 1 in the country on May 6.
In the 247Sports era, the five highest-rated commits have been during Otzelberger’s tenure.
- Omaha Biliew (2023)
- Donovan Davis (2027)
- Tyrese Hunter (2021)
- Milan Momcilovic (2023)
- Josiah Harrington (2027)
With Davis’ commitment, 5 of the top 15 players in the state of Wisconsin have committed to Otzelberger since he took over at Iowa State in 2021.
- Patrick Baldwin Jr. (Milwaukee, 2021)
- Kon Knueppel (Duke, 2024)
- Dooney Johnson (Gonzaga, 2027)
- Donovan Davis (Iowa State, 2027)
- Seth Trimble (North Carolina, 2022)
- Tyrese Hunter (Iowa State, 2021)
- Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State, 2023)
- Jack Kohnen (Uncommitted, 2027)
- Jamarion Batemon (Iowa State, 2025)
- Jalen Brown (Uncommitted, 2027)
- Leon Bond III (Virginia, 2022)
- Kager Knueppel (Uncommitted, 2027)
- Xzavion Mitchell (Iowa State, 2025)
- Amari Allen (Alabama, 2025)
- Zach Kinziger (Wisconsin, 2025)
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Drake Ayala gets his hand raised after a 7-2 win over Kysen Terukina during the Cy-Hawk dual at Hilton Coliseum on Nov. 26, 2023. Photo: Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic
AMES – Brent Metcalf has made a key addition to his staff.
Iowa State is bringing in former Iowa Hawkeye Drake Ayala as an assistant coach, adding one of the most accomplished lightweight wrestlers in the country from the last few seasons.
A two-time NCAA finalist, three-time All-American and four-time qualifier, Ayala consistently put himself in position to compete for titles at the highest level. He finished his career with an 83-26 record, with more than half of those wins (52) coming by bonus points.
The upper weights have had strong representation and development tools in the Cyclone wrestling room overtime. The lighter weights, while not a weakness, haven’t had that same level of proven, high-end training presence. Ayala is a natural fit to help bridge that gap — both as a coach and as someone who can immediately impact the room day-to-day.
Stepping into this role right after his collegiate career, which brings a different kind of value. He’s current, he’s relatable and he understands exactly what it takes to compete in March at the highest level. That matters when you’re working with younger wrestlers trying to make that jump.
There’s also a level of familiarity here that fits what Metcalf is building.
With Metcalf placing an emphasis on developing young talent, having someone who can connect with high school recruits and understands the landscape in Iowa should be a valuable piece moving forward.
Ayala quick hits:
- Two-time NCAA runner-up at two different weights (125, 133)
- Three-time All American across two weight classes
- His career record includes: 52 bonus-point wins including 31 tech falls, 16 major decisions and five pins.
- Third true freshman to compete at the NCAA Championships under coach Tom Brands
- NWCA Scholar All American, Academic All-Big Ten
- Earned the John and Dorothy Sill Most Dedicated Wrestler team award twice and the Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestler team award.
- Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (2023)
- Two-time Soldier Salute Champion
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William Penn head women’s wrestling coach Jake Kadel poses for a portrait on Oct. 15, 2025, at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. © Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES – Alli St. John made her first move in building out the Iowa State’s women’s wrestling staff.
The Cyclones announced on Monday the addition of Jake Kadel as an assistant coach, bringing in a name that has quietly built one of the more successful NAIA programs over the last few seasons.
Kadel comes to Ames after three seasons as the head women’s wrestling coach at William Penn, where he turned the program into a national contender in a short amount of time. After inheriting a team that finished 33rd nationally, Kadel led the Statesmen to back-to-back fourth-place finishes before closing his tenure with a national runner-up finish this past season.
In three seasons, Kadel coached nine national champions, 18 All-Americans and helped 33 wrestlers qualify for the national tournament. His teams also found success in the classroom, something St. John has emphasized as she begins building this program from the ground up.
Before William Penn, Kadel spent time at Iowa Wesleyan, working with both the men’s and women’s programs and eventually serving as head coach for both during the 2022-23 season. That year, the women’s team placed seventh nationally with five All-Americans and a national champion.
There’s a clear trend across his stops: build quickly, develop talent and produce results.
Kadel’s Iowa roots matter here, too.
A native of New London and a former University of Iowa wrestler, he brings built-in Iowa ties. That familiarity with the landscape, along with his track record of developing talent, should translate well on the recruiting trail as Iowa State continues to build.
For Iowa State, this feels like a strong and intentional first addition to the staff.
St. John didn’t just need someone who understands wrestling. She needed someone who has already done the work of building a program, managing a roster and developing athletes over multiple years. Kadel checks those boxes.
Pairing St. John’s vision and wrestling experience with Kadel’s track record gives the Cyclones a solid starting point as they continue to shape the roster and identity of the program.
In news release from Iowa State women’s wrestling, St. John had to say this about his Kadel:
“I am excited to have Jake join our program as an assistant coach,” St. John said. “He brings a wealth of wrestling knowledge, experience building a women’s program and recruiting acumen with him to Ames, and he was one of the first people I had in mind when I started to build out my staff. What he was able to build at William Penn was amazing and his athletes saw great success on the mat and in the classroom.”
Kadel quick hits:
- Led William Penn to three straight NAIA top-five finishes, including a national runner-up finish in 2025-26
- Coached nine national champions and 18 All-Americans in three seasons
- Guided 33 national qualifiers and 13 conference champions
- Helped produce 24 NAIA Scholar-Athletes
- Iowa Hawkeye wrestler (four-time letterwinner, 2011-16), 28-20 career record
- His Iowa high school wrestling career record, 189-13 at New London High School. His high school campaign includes: four-time state placer, four-time conference, sectional, and district champion. Ranked sixth in the state of Iowa in career wins.
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**Head coach T.J. Otzelberger of the Iowa State Cyclones instructs his team against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in second half during the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament at T-Mobile Center on March 12, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)****
There was major coaching news on campus this week, the most notable being T.J. Otzelberger signing a 10-year extension through 2036. The deal included a raise to $6 million annually and, the talk of the town, a $4 million buyout.
In this day and age, contract extensions mean a heck of a lot less than they used to. Extending a contract simply means you are at least getting one more season out of your favorite coach. For some, seeing that $4 million buyout number felt like Otzelberger setting himself up with a simple exit clause in case he sees a better opportunity elsewhere.
As the talented and intelligent Jake Brend said during his Daily Clone episode, things are not as done for as they seem.
DAILY CLONE: @JakeBrendTV says to take a page out of Aaron Rodgers' book and "R-E-L-A-X" when it comes to T.J. Otzelberger's $4 million buyout. pic.twitter.com/UJ8Xojl6BS
— Cyclone Fanatic (@cyclonefanatic) April 30, 2026
“It’s awesome, it’s a great day for Iowa State. He’s the most important figure at the institution going forward, and now he’s locked up. He’s committed that he wants to be at Iowa State, and that’s the important thing” Brend said. “His buyout remains the same, $4 million, which is relatively well. But at the end of the day, Otzelberger had all of the leverage.”
Brend went on to say Otzelberger having the leverage is a good thing, as to retain him, the department needs to give him anything he wants and needs to keep the program moving forward or he could move on. Given that he got all five of his priority targets in the transfer portal this season, maybe he sees a future of symbiosis with the department.
With that being said, I still believe there is more to worry about that Brend let on. If an opportunity comes along that is impossible to deny, a $4 million buyout is not going to stop them, but quite frankly, neither would a $10 million buyout or even $20 million if they wanted him badly enough.
Otzelberger has publicly denied rumors of himself being in talks with other historic and financially-stacked schools, but if Iowa State wants that denial to be permanent, it will have to hold up its own end of the bargain and then some.
Ultimately, the extension does not mean Otzelberger is a Cyclone for life, but it also does not mean he is actively looking for the emergency exit.
Steyer and Schaben move on
Jodi Steyer (24 seasons) and Latoja Schaben (29 seasons) had both been assistants for Iowa State women’s basketball longer than I have been alive, no exaggeration. Now, the two will depart from the program, with Steyer announcing retirement and Schaben electing to seek out other opportunities.
After losing the vast majority of the roster to the transfer portal, two coaches that have helped shape Iowa State’s culture for decades also depart. Next season will be vital for establishing a new Iowa State culture. Times have changed for college sports in recent years, that is no secret. At this point Bill Fennelly is tasked with establishing a new culture.
Ideally, that tone will be set this season. While it has been tough to see so many great Cyclones leave in a one month span, next season will still be an exciting one. The expectations will be as low as they have been in years, there are a lot of incoming players from smaller schools that are starving to carve out major roles at a power conference program and a lot of onlookers looking to see what Fennelly and the team can do in Ames moving forward.
Yes, questions need to be asked about what happened this offseason. With that being said, the only way to quiet the masses is by proving them wrong on the court.
They did bring in Caroline McCombs to be the associate head coach, who was the head coach at George Washington for four years. Fennelly said in a press release that he has known McCombs for years, so he knows better than most what kind of culture she brings to the table.
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Sep 2, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Sonny Styles (6) tackles Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Brendan Sorsby (15) during the first half of the NCAA football game at Indiana University Memorial Stadium. Credit: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Has the Big 12 been eliminated, even before another round of bickering consumes the annual College Football Playoff chase?
With quarterback Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech looked to be a serious contender to represent the Big 12 conference in its first championship game since TCU lost by 58 points to Georgia in 2023 — and possibly even the conference’s first national champion since Texas won the 2005 BCS national title.
Without him, the Red Raiders look like another high-salaried championship wannabe that lost its way, proving once again that money alone cannot buy a national title, but it darn sure can ruin a golden opportunity to win one.
Sorsby, you know, has checked himself into a center for gambling addiction. Good for him, not only for recognizing a problem, but also for taking action to correct it. He messed up — especially if he wagered on his own (Indiana) team. He knows he did something he shouldn’t have done. He’s doing something about it. Eventually, he might even end up being a superstar someplace, but probably not at a school sanctioned by the NCAA.
What a rub, though, for the Big 12, which has zero national CFP titles, compared to the SEC’s six, the Big Ten’s four and the ACC’s two.
Just when you think there’s an opportunity for the Big 12 to get some national respect and make a serious run to end the Big Ten’s title domination at three in a row, the current national headline is about the best team’s Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback admitting himself into rehab.
Bummer — not only for Sorsby, but also for a conference that hasn’t really been much of a major player in college football circles since Texas and Oklahoma fled to the once-almighty SEC.
Big 12 teams have a 1-8 College Football Playoff record, thanks to TCU’s 51-45 victory against Michigan in the 2023 semifinal round. Otherwise, the conference would be in the same winless boat as the American, Mountain West and Sun Belt conferences.
With Mr. Crumbl Cookie Guy helping bankroll BYU, the Cougars look to be the Big 12’s next-best CFP hope for the upcoming season. And with quarterback Bear Bachmeier (he’s the dude who wears uniform No. 47) returning, there’s a shot. And with an extremely soft regular-season schedule that’s highlighted by only two big games — at home against Notre Dame and at Utah — anything is possible.
So, the odds now shift to BYU, and if that sounds duplicitous, you’re right.
Hypocritical, that stories about Sorsby’s gambling situation are more about how his entering a rehab center affects the Red Raiders’ betting odds?
Maybe — yet not totally out of line. Sports gambling is part of our entertainment these days. If you don’t want to partake, then don’t. If you’re making illegal wagers, then don’t risk getting caught.
We see it everywhere we look. We hear it each time we turn on our go-to podcasts. Over-unders. Point spreads. Odds on everything from how long it takes someone to sing the pregame national anthem to who wins the Heisman Trophy.
It’s inescapable — and we’re surprised when a star athlete is accused of betting on something the NCAA says they’re not supposed to be betting on?
Hell no.
Sports betting was going on long before podcasts were invented. Long before newspapers and websites were paid to publicize point spreads, people found bookies and smoke-filled backrooms of prominent restaurants to satisfy their urge to bet on games.
It was happening long before states began legalizing sports wagering, so don’t think this is just a recent phenomenon that you can choose to do — or not to do.
Kudos to Sorsby for being proactive — regardless of what it means to his team, his career and his Heisman Trophy hopes.
He’s taking care of what could become a problem way bigger than what it means to the Big 12 Conference.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Iowa State earned another commitment to its 2027 recruiting class in Waukee Northwest 3-star TE Joe Vinyard.
Committed! Go Cyclones! pic.twitter.com/GyyBZhTazZ
— Joe Vinyard (@joevinyard11) May 2, 2026
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Waukee, Iowa native is the seventh commitment to Jimmy Rogers’ 2027 class and the third commitment out of the state of Iowa, joining OL Will Slagle (4-star) and RB Isaiah Hansen (3-star).
Vinyard held offers from Baylor, Washington State, Air Force, Army, Liberty, Navy, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, UConn, Western Michigan, Dartmouth, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Princeton, and Yale.
Vinyard has locked in an official visit to Iowa State from May 28-30.
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Welcome to the Big 12 Buzz! Things are going to look a little different during the offseason but that doesn’t mean I can’t share what’s on my mind this week in the Big 12.
Tech’s Big Gamble
By now, you have most likely heard about the whole Brendan Sorsby situation at Tech. For us Iowa State fans, we are all too familiar with a quarterback placing bets (looking at you Hunter Dekkers).
First of all, what a quitter. A real gambler doesn’t stop. He makes an even bigger bet to try and cover his losses. Of course, I am just kidding so for the folks out there, don’t get your panties into a wad.
This is really just unfortunate for both sides here. Tech came into the offseason, knowing they needed to upgrade to quarterback position, especially after watching that playoff game against Oregon, where they offense did next to nothing, they had to go out and get a quarterback and to their credit, they got one of the top two or three out of the transfer portal with Brendan Sorsby.
But little did they know or maybe anyone else know for that matter, that he was dealing with this. It sucks for Tech because they paid millions of dollars to bring Sorsby to Lubbock and I know that Cody Campbell wipes his ass with $100 dollar bills but now they could be left scrambling.
The reports do say that he made bets back in 2022 when he was at Indiana, and he bet on Indiana to win but one of those games, he did play in which to me makes things a lot more dicey.
Now you got the NCAA involved and when it comes to them, they are either going to drop the hammer or drop the ball. It’s one thing to bet on different sports but to bet on the sport you play in and bet in a game you are involved in kind of changes things.
It was in small amounts over time, and this was four years ago where he was just a backup but still, you got to be smarter than that. I get it, he was young and dumb but you got to smarten up. it’s not worth all the bullshit that can come back to get you and it may come back to haunt him here depending on how this plays out.
At some point we need to address the fact that everywhere you look there is a gambling advertisement. A few years ago, that was unheard of and now I can’t even take a dump in my house without seeing a gambling ad on my phone or television.
I am surprised that there isn’t a promo code including Sorbsy’s name to get cash back on your next bet. Am I surprised that college football players are out there placing bets? No, because when you are constantly are getting gambling ads, it’s hard to blame a 21-yeard old kid not to place a bet.
Twining in Miami
First of all, I had no idea Brett Yormark even had a brother, let alone a twin brother. To me that was shocking enough but now you have Miami interested in potentially making his brother, Michael, their new athletic director and if you are Jim Phillips, the ACC commissioner, you may be sweating more than a whore church right now.
Obviously, there’s going to be a lot of speculation if Michael gets the job at Miami. Now, I am not ready to go all in and say, Miami is a lock to the Big 12 or anything like that, but I am sure other outlets will say that and talk about how their friend’s cousin’s uncle, has a source who says Miami is going to the Big 12. And hey, if you want to throw shit against a wall and hope it sticks, be my guest but why throw shit against a clean wall? Not me.
Now if Michael does get the job, and Miami is interested in making a move, I don’t know if it would be to the Big 12, but I would say that obviously, the Big 12 would have the edge due to the fact that his twin brother is the commissioner of the Big 12. But we will see how things play out.
The post Big 12 Buzz: Trouble in Lubbock appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
When a university president, and a new-to-his-position president at that, mentions the men’s basketball coach during one of his first meetings with reporters, that can’t be a bad thing.
You know right from the jump that David Cook, the newbie in the big office inside Beardshear Hall, isn’t shy about bringing up what hopefully will be a priority for however long he’s Iowa State’s president.
From the moment someone on the Iowa State Daily reporting staff brought up the T.J. Otzelberger-to-North Carolina narrative during one of Cook’s first public interviews just more than a month ago, it didn’t take much reading between the lines to figure out the rest.
We knew immediately just where things athletically stood in the Cook regime.
When Cook told the student newspaper that “Everything’s good … he’s staying … so there you go … I’ll leave it at that” …
You knew everything was good. You knew what behind-the-scenes wheels were turning — and toward whom.
And when Otzelberger shortly afterward told reporters, while standing in a large Chicago hotel lobby at the NCAA Tournament, that:
“As we move forward together, the alignment on our campus with (new president David Cook) and (athletics director Jamie Pollard) is amazing, and we’re thrilled and excited about our future together. There’s no questions about it. There’s nothing to talk about. There’s nothing else to answer. That’s the truth.”
You knew everything was beyond good between Iowa State’s new campus leader and the most successful coach, regardless of sport, the Cyclones have seen in a long, long time — and possibly ever.
And by late Wednesday morning, you knew the previous T.J. Is Iowa State’s Coach for Life headline wasn’t just reactive a month and a half ago. It’s now as real as anything in today’s college athletics world can be:
Otzelberger, a miracle worker during his five seasons after inheriting a program that had crashed through the Hilton Coliseum basement, and Iowa State agreed to a 10-year extension through June 30, 2036, at $6 million per year.
A message was sent — a strong statement to Cyclones fans of what the David Cook presidential regime could mean for Iowa State athletics.
According to the USA Today men’s college basketball coaches salary database, Otzelberger’s salary is within the top 10 nationally.
Contracts can be broken, we know that. We also know that Cook and longtime Cy athletics director Jamie Pollard are putting resources into a program that someday may bring a national championship trophy back to Ames.
“Coach Otzelberger’s commitment to Iowa State University and our men’s basketball program is a true reflection of his character and values,” Cook said in Wednesday’s press release announcing the new contract. “He has reshaped the culture of our men’s basketball program in a way that fosters success and the development of our student-athletes as players and young men.
“I am proud of the way he represents Iowa State, and thrilled that he will continue leading the team as our head coach for the next 10 years.”
Rarely are the words “coach for life” true, but in this instance, that just might be the case. As long as Otzelberger keeps winning, speculation will continue that he’s going here, there and everywhere. That’s part of having one of the top coaches in the business.
Take financial care of the assistant coaches and the players. Allow big-buck donors to give money directly to men’s basketball, if it’s not already allowed.
Coach for life?
I wrote this about a month ago — that Tom Izzo has been at Michigan State for 31 seasons, and Mark Few has been at Gonzaga for 27. Scott Drew has been at Baylor for 23 seasons, and Bill Self has been at Kansas for 23. Matt Painter has been at Purdue for 21 seasons.
Otzelberger has been at Iowa State for five years — and counting.
“Coach Otzelberger has elevated our men’s basketball program into a perennial NCAA Tournament and Top 25 team,” Pollard said in a press release. “This contract extension demonstrates Iowa State University’s commitment to him by making him one of the highest-paid basketball coaches in the country.
“We are excited to reward him for the success we have enjoyed during his first five years leading the Cyclones, and we look forward to continued success under his leadership.”
Iowa State fans share that vision.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Jan 2, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger watches his team play the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. (Reese Strickland-Imagn Images)
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger agrees to a 10-year contract extension through 2036 with a pay increase to $6 million annually, Jamie Pollard announces on Wednesday.
Otzelberger owns a record of 124-53 through his first five years, which is the best five-year stretch in program history.
In a release via Iowa State Athletics, Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard explains why Otzelberger deserves the lengthy extension.
“Coach Otzelberger has elevated our men’s basketball program into a perennial NCAA Tournament and Top 25 team. This contract extension demonstrates Iowa State University’s commitment to him by making him one of the highest paid basketball coaches in the country. We are excited to reward him for the success we have enjoyed during his first five years leading the Cyclones and we look forward to continued success under his leadership.”
Cyclone Fanatic’s Rob Gray obtained a copy of Otzelberger’s new contract, per an open records request. Otzelberger’s buyout will remain at $4 million, according to the contract, with the usual incentives attached, such as $250,000 for being the number one seed at the end of the Big 12 regular season, and $50,000 per NCAA Tournament win.
Per USA Today, Otzelberger is the ninth-highest paid coach in the country. The only coaches ahead of him are Bill Self, Dan Hurley, John Calapari, Tom Izzo, Tommy Lloyd, Nate Oats, Todd Golden and Rick Barnes.
Otzelberger was previously signed through 2032, which was agreed upon in December of 2024. You can view the full contract below:
Otzelberger Contract 4.2026DownloadThe post T.J. Otzelberger agrees to a 10-year contract extension through 2036 appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
AMES — It was one of those days that reminds you football isn’t that far off.
Warm, a little breeze, fresh grass at Jack Trice Stadium and a lively crowd. Not a game, but it didn’t feel far from one either. Shoutout to whoever made the playlist.
It was also my first time seeing Jimmy Rogers and the new staff in action.
My favorite part of shooting football has always been being up close. Not just because of the action, but everything around it. The sideline moments, how guys interact, how coaches coach. It felt light at times, guys talking, joking, but it flipped quick once reps started.
And if you had trouble spotting Rogers, you weren’t alone. He stayed right up near the action most of the day, about as close as he could get. Even I lost track of him a couple times.
Not bad for a spring day.
Scroll through the gallery for a look at what it felt like being in Ames on Saturday.
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Iowa State’s players compete hard at the football program’s “Spring Showcase” on April 25, 2026 at Jack Trice Stadium. Photo by Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic.
AMES — Iowa State’s top transfer quarterback Jaylen Raynor made an array of impressive throws.
Cyclone receivers Cody Jackson, Dominic Overby and Trevor Fortenberry shined in yards after the catch.
And ISU’s defense looked the part of a potentially stingy unit during Saturday’s “Spring Showcase” at Jack Trice Stadium.
“I think the (defensive) line from the jump (did well),” said ISU’s first-year defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit, who fielded a top-15 unit in terms of yards allowed per game at Washington State last season. “(Defensive tackles) Bryson Lamb and Zaimir Hawk, the guys getting off the rocks, resetting the line of scrimmage — I mean, on play one, I think it was Maryland I-power and I think we held them for a gain of one or two (yards), just kind of getting off the rock. That’s kind of how it’s been all spring.”
The battles in the trenches attract edthe Cyclones’ coaches most keen eyeballs in the spring, and for good reason. Entirely rebuilt offensive and defensive lines need to form that baseline competitiveness and toughness and that’s occurred on both sides of the ball — but there’s still plenty of room for necessary growth.
“I know I said this about two or three weeks ago, (I’m) happy, bust not satisfied,” first-year offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl said. “Here’s what I appreciate: The effort. It’s one thing that’s just demanded. Effort. Physicality. And just attention to detail — and I appreciate the fact that they bought in (and) there’s high-level intent to what we’re doing.”
That’s true both for headliners such as Raynor, and the many lesser known transfers, holdovers and freshmen working to appear on the coaches’ radar for potential playing time in the fall.
I think you can look at Vince Benetti, someone who when I was here (before) was playing D-line,” said Roehl, who served on former head coach Matt Campbell’s staff in the 2024 season before a one-season stint coaching the Detroit Lions’ tight ends. “He has transitioned to playing tight end and in how versatile he can be with the personnel grouping that I’m gonna want to utilize at that position group, really happy with his growth.”
Jackson — who caught six touchdown passes while averaging 15.1 yards per catch last season at Tarleton State — scored two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in the scrimmage.
“I think you see his ability to create separation on some of your deeper play-action, even incorporating the run game,” Roehl said.
Roehl also gave “a shoutout” to returning backup running back Easton Miller, a big body (6-1, 225) who can help the offense in multiple ways.
“(He was) getting the dirty (work done) — and he would have had another big gain if we didn’t have (a) holding penalty,” Roehl added.
As for the defense, a handful of projected starters, including edge rusher Isaac “Bobby” Terrell, were held out because of various “tweaks,” but Bobbitt’s unit didn’t skip a beat. Whether in its base defense or coming on various blitzes, several players flashed beyond the aforementioned interior spots.
One, however, stood out the most.
“A guy who showed out today was (linebacker) Tristan Exline,” Bobbitt said. “Someone (who) his tape from (Division II UT Permian Basin) has been extremely fast and explosive, but the mental side of the game needs to be there, too, before you are able to do that, and the last couple of practices that has really shown up in terms of him understanding it better and flying around.”
But soon ISU’s players will fast forward to the end of the semester, and the all-important summer workouts to follow. Spring’s a wrap, and fall’s not very far away.
“It’s very important that we’re still working out, still going over the playbook,” Raynor said. “So then when we get back this summer on May 31, we hit the ground rolling.”
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The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics, photo courtesy of George Washington Athletics
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball head coach Bill Fennelly has named Caroline McCombs as associate head coach. McCombs will begin her duties with the Cyclones immediately.
“I am very excited to add Caroline McCombs to our staff,” said Fennelly. “I have known Caroline for years and have the utmost respect for what she has done throughout her career. She is known as one of the hardest workers in the profession and one of the best recruiters in the game. I have always been impressed with how Caroline is able to develop relationships with players and those she works with on a daily basis. This is a major addition to Cyclone Women’s Basketball!”
McCombs spent the 2025-26 season at Auburn as an assistant coach, helping the Tigers to a win over No. 21 Alabama and an SEC Tournament victory over Texas A&M.
McCombs spent four seasons as the head coach at George Washington, where she led her teams to 55 wins, rebuilding a program that had not had a winning season in the three seasons prior to her arrival. McCombs’ leadership helped produce historic numbers for Mayowa Taiwo, who finished with 1,037 career rebounds, the third-most in program history for a single player. Taiwo was also named to the Atlantic 10’s Preseason All-Conference All-Defensive Team, while sophomore guard Nya Robertson was named to the league’s All-Conference Third Team.
McCombs’ first two seasons at GW resulted in a run to the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Championship. During her first year in Foggy Bottom, McCombs helped lead a team that ranked first in program history in points allowed in a season (55.2) and upset No. 5 La Salle to reach the Quarterfinals of the 2022 A-10 Women’s Basketball Championship.
Her team set an all-time school record for made three-pointers in a single season in 2022-23 and saw three players decorated with All-Conference honors, including first-year Nya Robertson, a former top 50 recruit, who was named the league’s Sixth Woman of the Year.
A proven winner at every stop during her coaching career, McCombs arrived at GW after seven years as the head coach at Stony Brook where she led the Seawolves to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021.
The 2020 America East Coach of the Year, McCombs won 130 games in seven years at Stony Brook. In 2021, she led the Seawolves to a 15-6 mark, winning the America East Tournament Championship and earning a No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
McCombs had the Seawolves on the precipice of an NCAA Tournament berth in 2020, winning the program’s first-ever America East regular season championship and advancing to the America East Championship game with a 28-3 record before the remainder of the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
The Seawolves won 22 consecutive games in 2019-20, garnering votes in the national polls for the first time in program history. McCombs left Stony Brook as the program’s winningest Division I coach and second-winningest overall, having coached 19 all-conference selections.
Prior to becoming a head coach, McCombs gained a wealth of experience as an assistant coach for 15 years at the Division I level. She assisted four different programs and appeared in five NCAA tournaments, including two Sweet 16 appearances. She has also developed a pair of AP All-Americans and three WNBA players.
McCombs spent two years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Auburn, assisting the Tigers to 19 wins in each of her two seasons, including a WNIT quarterfinal appearance in 2013 and a third-round showing in 2014. She was influential in signing a recruiting class that ranked 16th nationally in 2012.
McCombs came to Auburn the first time from Northwestern where she was an assistant under former GW head coach and Hall of Famer Joe McKeown from 2010-12. Under her tutelage, Amy Jaeschke was an AP All-American and made history as the program’s first WNBA draft pick. McCombs helped lead the team to a WNIT berth in her first season and assisted in bringing in a top-25 recruiting class.
Prior to Northwestern, McCombs spent five seasons as an assistant at Pittsburgh from 2005-10, aiding the program to five straight postseason appearances that included three NCAA Tournaments and a pair of Sweet 16 berths. With the Panthers, she coached Shavonte Zellous, who earned All-America honors and was a 2009 WNBA Draft pick.
McCombs started her coaching career as an assistant coach at Valparaiso in 1999, holding the title for five years before being elevated to associate head coach in 2004-05. The Crusaders won two conference championships and advanced to consecutive NCAA Tournaments under her watch. She also coached Marlous Nieuwveen, who became the first player in school and conference history to reach the WNBA.
McCombs, a native of Medina, Ohio, graduated from Youngstown State in 1998 with a degree in dietetics. While attending Youngstown State, McCombs earned an impressive list of accomplishments for the Penguins’ basketball team, including places on the Mid-Continent Conference Second Team in 1996 and 1998, and on the Mid-Continent All-Tournament Team three consecutive years from 1996-98.
She also left her mark in the record books at Youngstown State. At guard, she started 112-of-115 career games and scored 1,577 career points, finishing her career as the school’s sixth-leading scorer. McCombs is also among the school leaders with 146 career three-pointers, 493 assists, and 236 steals.
After McCombs graduated from Youngstown State, she played European professional women’s basketball, competing in the Czech Basketball Federation and European Cup in 1998. She continued her education, receiving her master’s degree from Valparaiso in 2001.
In April 2011, McCombs was inducted into the Medina County Sports Hall of Fame in Ohio. It was an honor she is familiar with, having been enshrined into the Youngstown State Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2008.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics, photo courtesy of George Washington Athletics
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball head coach Bill Fennelly has named Caroline McCombs as associate head coach. McCombs will begin her duties with the Cyclones immediately.
“I am very excited to add Caroline McCombs to our staff,” said Fennelly. “I have known Caroline for years and have the utmost respect for what she has done throughout her career. She is known as one of the hardest workers in the profession and one of the best recruiters in the game. I have always been impressed with how Caroline is able to develop relationships with players and those she works with on a daily basis. This is a major addition to Cyclone Women’s Basketball!”
McCombs spent the 2025-26 season at Auburn as an assistant coach, helping the Tigers to a win over No. 21 Alabama and an SEC Tournament victory over Texas A&M.
McCombs spent four seasons as the head coach at George Washington, where she led her teams to 55 wins, rebuilding a program that had not had a winning season in the three seasons prior to her arrival. McCombs’ leadership helped produce historic numbers for Mayowa Taiwo, who finished with 1,037 career rebounds, the third-most in program history for a single player. Taiwo was also named to the Atlantic 10’s Preseason All-Conference All-Defensive Team, while sophomore guard Nya Robertson was named to the league’s All-Conference Third Team.
McCombs’ first two seasons at GW resulted in a run to the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Championship. During her first year in Foggy Bottom, McCombs helped lead a team that ranked first in program history in points allowed in a season (55.2) and upset No. 5 La Salle to reach the Quarterfinals of the 2022 A-10 Women’s Basketball Championship.
Her team set an all-time school record for made three-pointers in a single season in 2022-23 and saw three players decorated with All-Conference honors, including first-year Nya Robertson, a former top 50 recruit, who was named the league’s Sixth Woman of the Year.
A proven winner at every stop during her coaching career, McCombs arrived at GW after seven years as the head coach at Stony Brook where she led the Seawolves to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021.
The 2020 America East Coach of the Year, McCombs won 130 games in seven years at Stony Brook. In 2021, she led the Seawolves to a 15-6 mark, winning the America East Tournament Championship and earning a No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
McCombs had the Seawolves on the precipice of an NCAA Tournament berth in 2020, winning the program’s first-ever America East regular season championship and advancing to the America East Championship game with a 28-3 record before the remainder of the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
The Seawolves won 22 consecutive games in 2019-20, garnering votes in the national polls for the first time in program history. McCombs left Stony Brook as the program’s winningest Division I coach and second-winningest overall, having coached 19 all-conference selections.
Prior to becoming a head coach, McCombs gained a wealth of experience as an assistant coach for 15 years at the Division I level. She assisted four different programs and appeared in five NCAA tournaments, including two Sweet 16 appearances. She has also developed a pair of AP All-Americans and three WNBA players.
McCombs spent two years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Auburn, assisting the Tigers to 19 wins in each of her two seasons, including a WNIT quarterfinal appearance in 2013 and a third-round showing in 2014. She was influential in signing a recruiting class that ranked 16th nationally in 2012.
McCombs came to Auburn the first time from Northwestern where she was an assistant under former GW head coach and Hall of Famer Joe McKeown from 2010-12. Under her tutelage, Amy Jaeschke was an AP All-American and made history as the program’s first WNBA draft pick. McCombs helped lead the team to a WNIT berth in her first season and assisted in bringing in a top-25 recruiting class.
Prior to Northwestern, McCombs spent five seasons as an assistant at Pittsburgh from 2005-10, aiding the program to five straight postseason appearances that included three NCAA Tournaments and a pair of Sweet 16 berths. With the Panthers, she coached Shavonte Zellous, who earned All-America honors and was a 2009 WNBA Draft pick.
McCombs started her coaching career as an assistant coach at Valparaiso in 1999, holding the title for five years before being elevated to associate head coach in 2004-05. The Crusaders won two conference championships and advanced to consecutive NCAA Tournaments under her watch. She also coached Marlous Nieuwveen, who became the first player in school and conference history to reach the WNBA.
McCombs, a native of Medina, Ohio, graduated from Youngstown State in 1998 with a degree in dietetics. While attending Youngstown State, McCombs earned an impressive list of accomplishments for the Penguins’ basketball team, including places on the Mid-Continent Conference Second Team in 1996 and 1998, and on the Mid-Continent All-Tournament Team three consecutive years from 1996-98.
She also left her mark in the record books at Youngstown State. At guard, she started 112-of-115 career games and scored 1,577 career points, finishing her career as the school’s sixth-leading scorer. McCombs is also among the school leaders with 146 career three-pointers, 493 assists, and 236 steals.
After McCombs graduated from Youngstown State, she played European professional women’s basketball, competing in the Czech Basketball Federation and European Cup in 1998. She continued her education, receiving her master’s degree from Valparaiso in 2001.
In April 2011, McCombs was inducted into the Medina County Sports Hall of Fame in Ohio. It was an honor she is familiar with, having been enshrined into the Youngstown State Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2008.
The post Iowa state hires Caroline McCombs as associate head coach appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
The 20th annual Cyclone Tailgate Tour, powered by MidAmerican Energy, returns next month to a location near you! This ever-popular tour brings together Cyclone fans all throughout the state of Iowa in celebration of Iowa State Athletics. This year’s 10-stop tour will take place May 18-22, 2026.
Each Cyclone Tailgate Tour stop is free and open to fans of all ages. These family-friendly events provide fans the unique opportunity to interact with and hear updates from Iowa State head coaches and Endowed Cyclone Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard. Cy and members of the spirit squad will also be in attendance. Enjoy giveaways, photo opportunities, food and beverage available for purchase, and a chance to connect with fellow Cyclone fans. All children in attendance will also receive a gift courtesy of the Cyclone Club.
While tour event lineups may vary, this year’s tour will feature Endowed Cyclone Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard, football coach Jimmy Rogers, men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger, women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly, volleyball coach Christy Johnson-Lynch, Director of Men’s and Women’s Wrestling Kevin Dresser, men’s wrestling coach Brent Metcalf, women’s wrestling coach Alli St. John, the “Voice of the Cyclones” John Walters and, of course, Cy.
“This is a great opportunity for our staff to engage with loyal Cyclone fans across the state and is always a highlight of our year,” said Pollard. “I’m sure that our fans will be excited to meet and hear from our three newest head coaches in Jimmy Rogers, Brent Metcalf and Alli St. John for the first time as well as the tour veterans T.J. Otzelberger, Christy Johnson-Lynch, Bill Fennelly and Kevin Dresser. We are incredibly grateful for our loyal fans who travel to Ames for all of our contests, and the Tailgate Tour is a great way for us as a department to return that favor and meet them on their home turf.”
Doors open 30 minutes prior to the listed event start times. The evening stops include a program which begins at 6:30 p.m. for all locations excluding Davenport and Council Bluffs, which will begin at 7 p.m. Official Iowa State merchandise from Cy’s Locker Room will be available for purchase at all evening stops.
Make sure to follow Iowa State Athletics on social media platforms throughout the tour for more coverage.
2026 Cyclone Tailgate Tour
May 18 // Des Moines, Curate | Noon-1 p.m.
May 18 // Davenport, Rhythm City Casino Resort | 6-8 p.m.
May 19 // Dubuque, Grand River Center | Noon-1:00 p.m.
May 19 // Cedar Rapids, DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids – Exhibit Hall A | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
May 20 // Waterloo, SingleSpeed Brewing Co. | Noon-1 p.m.
May 20 // Clear Lake, Surf Ballroom | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
May 21 // Fort Dodge, Opera House at Fort Museum | Noon-1 p.m.
May 21 // Okoboji, The Roof Garden Ballroom at Arnolds Park | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
May 22 // Sioux City, Sioux City Convention Center | Noon-1 p.m.
May 22 // Council Bluffs, Mid-America Center – Convention Center | 6-8 p.m.
The post 2026 Cyclone Tailgate Tour Schedule Announced appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Spring showcases are always difficult to get a read on. Some people take way too much away from the showcase and some people take nothing at all. When the offense scores a touchdown is it because “This is the year,” or because the defense is Swiss cheese?
What can be seen is the culture of the team and the early shaping of position battles.
An early combination that is worth noting is quarterback Jaylen Raynor and returning receiver Dominic Overby.
Jaylen Raynor find Dominic Overby over the middle for a touchdown during the 1-on-1 battle between the WRs and the DBs.
— Cyclone Fanatic (@cyclonefanatic) April 25, 2026
Overby will be tasked with some heavy lifting in the receiver room, and any sparks he can show with Raynor are a wonderful sight. The six-foot-five receiver had 87 yards and two touchdowns in his freshman season, but had a few big chances where he created enough space but just could not bring in the difficult contested catches. If he can take a couple steps forward into a certified, reliable top-two receiver this year, it would be a massive weight off of Raynor’s shoulders.
The talk of the town was the “Midnight Alley” drill. Iowa State certainly did not invent the drill, but the excitement stems because the previous staff treated open practices much differently.
In the words of defensive lineman Zaimir Hawk, “Midnight Alley is who’s got the biggest nuts.” The drill is a three-on-three battle with a lineman, a lead blocker and a ball-carrier against three tacklers on a thin runway.
Iowa State does their “Midnight Alley” drill. pic.twitter.com/YR7ZGeelW8
— Cyclone Fanatic (@cyclonefanatic) April 25, 2026
I’ll leave the player and coach discussions of the drill to the unmatched Rob Gray’s article. The question is why has a simple drill become the unanimous takeaway from the showcase?
I think that boils down to the drastically different culture from this roster and staff and the previous. Two things about Matt Campbell’s teams were they did not say too much in the press conferences and they did not do many fun drills when the fans and press were there. I think, between Midnight Alley and Hawk saying nuts, it’s safe to say this team has a different feel. Winning seasons are winning seasons, but if fans had a choice between 10 wins and a fun feel or 10 wins and strictly business, I think I know who would win.
Big 12 Champs
Iowa State women’s golf won its first conference title in school history over the weekend. The Cyclones beat Houston by six strokes to get the win.
Nichakorn Pinprayoon also became the school’s fifth individual champion, scoring a 71-71-67 to tie for the win.
NICHAKORN PINPRAYOON HOW DO YOU DO THIS!!#cyclonitas | pic.twitter.com/vU0ZUXKh2p
— Iowa State Women's Golf (@CycloneWGOLF) April 25, 2026
NCAA Regionals are May 11-13, where Iowa State will look to continue the historic season. Placements are announced Wednesday.
Big Citrus highlights NFL Draft
Domonique Orange was picked in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings. The addition of Orange was an interesting one, as Minnesota also selected interior defensive lineman Caleb Banks out of Florida with the 18th pick.
The two could turn out to be an unstoppable force inside, as the two are a couple of big fellas with freakish talent.
Five Cyclones signed with teams after going undrafted. Offensive linemen Dylan Barrett (Green Bay), Jim Bonifas (Miami), Tyler Miller (Denver) and James Neal (Houston) joined tight end Tyler Moore (Carolina) in singing deals directly after the weekend draft.
The post Monday Musings: May contain nuts appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Photo: Jacqueline Cordova
True or false?
Iowa State has one of those quarterback conundrums that some people prefer calling a quarterback controversy, or a quarterback dilemma, or a situation, or a quandary.
False.
Probably false.
Although coach Jimmy Rogers said zero depth chart spots were determined after Saturday’s spring showcase at Jack Trice Stadium, he sure sounded like transfer quarterback Jaylen Raynor has an edge over transfer Zane Flores and redshirt sophomore Connor Moberly.
“The separation between (Moberly) and (Flores) has really closed,” Rogers said during a postworkout gaggle on the field. “Mobes has talent.”
So, the battle is for QB2 — sorting out just who becomes Raynor’s backup?
Sounds like it, but you never know.
So, who starts on Sept. 5 against Southeast Missouri at Jack Trice Stadium — Arkansas State transfer Raynor, or Oklahoma State transfer Flores?
Hmm.
Whether it’s Raynor or Flores or even Moberly, it’s been a while since there’s been Cyclones QB1 competition. Rocco Becht was entrenched as starter from 2023-25. Brock Purdy was No. 1 from 2018-21.
Combined, they started 86 of 98 games, and for those keeping score, Hunter Dekkers started the other 12.
Even if the decision leans Raynor’s way, there’s still time for Flores (a seven-game starter last season before leaving Oklahoma State) and Moberly (who had a strong spring) to maybe make the No. 1 decision at least interesting. It’s a long summer, you know. A lot can happen between May and August.
“Raynor has a grip on the team as far as the leadership standpoint,” Rogers told reporters Saturday. “He’s got moxie; he’s got charisma in how he leads the locker room.
“He’s had a really good spring.”
Rotating players at the team’s most important position?
No need, especially if Raynor progresses during the summer like he has during his first Iowa State spring. You’d rather know who’s starting than go into fall ball with a quandary.
With around 60 new players, there’s already enough indecision without worrying about who goes into the opener as the starting quarterback.
Which brings up the question: Just when was the last time Iowa State went into a summer with an uncertain starting quarterback situation? Here are some of the past offseason battles for Cy QB1:
Austen Arnaud and Jerome Tiller (2009)
Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett (2011)
Grant Rohach and Sam Richardson (2013)
Richardson and Lanning (2015)
Jacob Park and Joel Lanning (2016)
And now Raynor and Flores and Moberly?
Nah.
Bottom line: The competition for backup might be more interesting than watching if anyone can knock Raynor off the top depth chart rung.
Prediction: Iowa State has had 13 different season-opening starting quarterbacks during the 2000s. Raynor will be the 14th.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Sep 6, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones offensive lineman Tyler Miller (66) and Iowa State Cyclones offensive lineman Dylan Barrett (61) celebrate after their win against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
The following is a news release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
FIVE CYCLONES AGREE TO DEALS WITH NFL TEAMS
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange was drafted Friday evening in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings and following the draft’s conclusion on Saturday five of his teammates agreed to deals with NFL teams.
The group of Cyclones signing played significant roles in the success of the team in recent years, starting 135 games in their Iowa State careers.
Dylan Barrett – OL – Green Bay Packers
Barrett, a St. Charles, Illinois native, started his career at Wisconsin before spending the last two seasons with the Cyclones … he played in 20 games as a Cyclone and made 16 starts, 14 of which came at left guard … he helped kickstart a Cyclone offense that saw its top two rushers average better than 5.0 yards per carry in 2025.
Jim Bonifas – OL – Miami Dolphins
Bonifas, a Dubuque, Iowa native, is a great story of sticking it out … he started all 13 games at center for the Cyclones in 2023 before serving as a reserve in 2024 … in 2025 he earned the starting spot again at center, starting all 12 games and earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades … the Cyclones averaged 174.7 yards on the ground in 2025, its best team average since 2020 … Bonifas finished his career playing in 37 games while making 25 starts.
Tyler Miller – OL – Denver Broncos
Miller, an All-Big 12 Third Team selection as a senior, played in 55 games and made 50 starts in his six seasons as a Cyclone … the Scranton, Iowa native started the final 39 games, ending his career with the longest active streak among Big 12 offensive linemen … team won 46 games during his career, reaching five bowl games and two Big 12 Championship games.
Tyler Moore – TE – Carolina Panthers
Moore, a Des Moines native who graduated from Johnston, spent five seasons at Iowa State and following the draft agreed to a camp invite with the Panthers … for the Cyclones, Moore played in 44 games and made 12 starts … he finished his career with 21 receptions for 245 yards and two touchdowns while being a part of four bowl teams and two Big 12 Championship games.
James Neal – OL – Houston Texans
Neal, a Grayson, Georgia native who started playing football late in his high school, made 32 career starts for the Cyclones at left tackle … he helped the Cyclones rush for 150 yards in the season’s final seven games, the longest streak for the program since the 2008-09 season.
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Freshman tight end (84) Drew Byrd runs with the ball in the “Midnight Alley” drill during Iowa State’s 2026 Spring Showcase on April 25. Photo by Jacqueline Cordova.
The defense won the day, despite some explosive plays by the offense.
But it was “Midnight Alley” that stole the show. It was a display of what the Jimmy Rogers era can be about.
Jake Brend reports from Jack Trice Stadium.
The post Spring Showcase Recap with Jake Brend appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers leads his team during Saturday’s “Spring Showcase” at Jack Trice Stadium. Photo by Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic.
AMES — Iowa State’s football players don’t simply stroll down “Midnight Alley.”
The evocative term describes a grueling, maximum-effort, pad-popping drill designed to breed extreme physicality — and its what Cyclones head coach Jimmy Rogers and his staff chose to kick off Saturday’s “Spring Showcase” with at Jack Trice Stadium.
“‘Midnight Alley’ is who’s got the biggest (will),” ISU defensive tackle Zaimir Hawk said. “That’s what that means. So, basically, (it’s) just a drill where we want to see who’s got it today. Who wants to try today and who wants to do their best. Because the drill ain’t nothing but hitting each other — and that’s what everyone wants to see.”
It’s certainly what the Cyclones’ first-year coaching staff needs their team to embody. Rogers, offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl and defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit use toughness and grit to establish a competitive baseline for their players. It’s a demand, not a request, and the meek need not apply.
“Those are the types of drills that we need,” said Roehl, who previously installed his own version of ‘Midnight Alley’ at ISU when he was on former head coach Matt Campbell’s staff in 2024. “That truly embodies what we’re about. We’re gonna play with a high level of physicality and if you’re going to play that way, we,, you need to practice that way, and that drill embodies what both sides of the ball (need), but the entire team. I’ll bet if (kicker Kyle) Konrardy wanted to get in that drill, he probably would have.”
Konrardy was not available for comment, but dual-threat quarterback Jaylen Raynor opined on the topic.
“I think they were scared of putting me in there,” said the 6-0, 202-pound senior who accounted for 67 total touchdowns in three seasons at Arkansas State. “I would have hurt somebody.”
Joking aside, “Midnight Alley” set a tone for the first public spring practice/scrimmage of the Rogers’ era. A throng of Cyclone fans filled most of the lower bowl on one side of the field to see standard drills morph into a scrimmage where players such as Raynor, wide receivers Cody Jackson and Dominic Overby, and several other players showed glimpses of their big-play capabilities.
Overby scored a long touchdown, Jackson reached the end zone twice — on a 32-yard catch and an end around run — and backup running back Jayden Jackson rambled in for a score. Konrardy was perfect on field goals and extra points in the scrimmage portion of the showcase and Rogers left the field largely pleased by how far his team has come.
“There were a couple penalties in there today and we’ve gotta continue to improve,” Rogers said. “We’re kind of a fraction of what we’re gonna be later. Hopefully these next three months are impactful.”
That’s true for everyone on Rogers’ overhauled roster, of course, but especially for the quarterbacks. Raynor took No. 1 reps on Saturday and fellow transfer Zane Flores took the No. 2 snaps, but holdover Connor Moberly’s come on late in spring ball and is challenging to be a big factor in the room.
“I think Raynor has just a grip on the team as far as the leadership standpoint. He’s got moxie and he’s got charisma in how he leads the locker room,” Rogers said. “He’s had a really good spring, learning the playbook, being under center more than he’s ever been. I think Zane has really done a good job and, honestly, the last two weeks, seeing the growth of Connor — the separation between Connor and Zane has really closed, so that’s always good to see, because ‘Mobes’ has talent. No question about it.”
Few, if any, position battles are ever decided in spring. But the baseline bouts that emerge in “Midnight Alley” drill will continue to help define who these new-look Cyclones are, and what they will ultimately become collectively.
“When we were even just lining up and structuring how we were gonna do it, the guys were screaming and hooting and hollering in the indoor (facility),” Bobbit said. “It’s a tone-setter and it’s a battle. At the end of the day, it’s a one-on-one battle, and the excitement of competing all spring, that kind of just sums it up, right? The name is cool, though, too — ‘Midnight Alley.’”
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Iowa State officially wrapped up spring ball with the Spring Showcase on Saturday morning. Watch everything head coach Jimmy Rogers, offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl, defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit, quarterback Jaylen Raynor and defensive lineman Zaimir Hawk said after the showcase.
Rogers puts a bow on spring football, evaluates his team’s performance, how the safeties have adjusted without Braden Awls and more.
Roehl evaluates the offense, shares standout players, talks about the three quarterbacks and more.
Bobbit evaluates the defense, shares standout players and a puts on a bow on spring ball.
Raynor discusses his day, the best offensive play and the growth the team made during spring ball.
Hawk discusses the versatility of the defensive line, how he’s seen the program come together and the adjustment of playing in a four man front.
The post WATCH: Rogers, Rohel, Bobbit, Raynor and Hawk following Spring Showcase appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
T.J. Otzelberger has filled out his staff for the 2026-27 season with the hiring of Bradley assistant coach Allan Hanson, the program announces.
Hanson comes to Ames after one season at Bradley, where he was a part of a second place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Prior to his one season at Bradley, Hanson spent four years as an assistant at Southern Utah, where they won 69 games in that timespan. He followed head coach Rob Jeter from Western Illinois to Southern Utah.
Before getting his start as an assistant in the college ranks, Hanson led Nicolet High School to a Wisconsin State Championship in 2019.
Otzelberger and Hanson have never been on the same staff but a native of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin and a player at UW-Milwaukee, there’s another Wisconsin tie in Ames.
Hanson joins Tim Buckley as the second assistant coach hired this offseason, filling the spots left by JR Blount and Kyle Green as they take over as the head coach at San Diego and UNI.
The post Iowa State hires Allan Hanson for final assistant coach opening appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Welcome to the Big 12 Buzz! Things are going to look a little different during the offseason but that doesn’t mean I can’t share what’s on my mind this week in the Big 12.
Audi’s Big Pay Day In case you didn’t know or live under a rock, which would seem rather uncomfortable, former Iowa State All-American Audi Crooks is now at Oklahoma State. Of course, it didn’t just happen out of nowhere. Oklahoma State backed up the money truck to get here to Stillwater.
The cost? Reports have indicated that Crooks will make $1.4 million next season. For that kind of money they could send me to Antarctica for a year and I would say yes. Hell, make it two and I’d still say yes. As crazy as it may sound, the amount of money Audi is set to make next season is more than what 99% of WNBA players will make next year.
Don’t get me wrong, Audi Crooks is an elite offensive player, but her defense is like 7/11 because the basket is always open to anyone. Good for Audi for getting her bag but it just seems like a lot of money for one player on a team. It’s hard for me to see the value for someone that is only elite offensively and a complete liability defensively.
$100 Million Dollar RostersSpeaking of getting paid, there has been talk of $100 million dollar college football teams coming soon. In fact, there’s some people out there that think that some schools are paying as much as $60 million this upcoming season.
Not that long ago, the thought of $20 million dollar rosters was crazy, and he we are two years later and that number has nearly tripled. I just can’t imagine spending that kind of money on a football team and they underachieve.
Imagine a coach telling the school and boosters, “Hey, I know we fell short last year, but can you guys help me get another $100 million this year to try again?’ Are there people shitting out $100 dollar bills and I don’t know about it?
What is the price of a national championship these days? Don’t get me wrong, I’d give my left nut for the Cyclones to win it all, but I can’t fork up that kind of cash. At some point, this whole thing has to come crashing down like the market back in 2008.
There’s no way athletic departments can keep up without making drastic changes across the board. And if the price to compete for a national championship continues to climb, I do wonder how most Big 12 teams will be able to keep up.
Big 12 Six PackWith the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft in the books, we saw a total of six players from the Big 12 hear their name called on Thursday night.
No. 2 – New York Jets: Edge David Bailey (Texas Tech)
No. 8 – New Orleans Saints: WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)
No. 9 – Cleveland Browns: OL Spencer Fano (Utah)
No. 21 – Pittsburgh Steelers: OL Max Iheanchor (Arizona State)
No. 23 – Dallas Cowboys: Edge Malachi Lawrence (UCF)
No. 28 – New England Patriots: OL Caleb Lomu (Utah)
While it has only been three years since the Big 12 had six first round picks, it is only the second time it’s happened since 2012. It’s crazy that three of the first ten picks came from the Big 12 and the fact that the conference had six players taken in the first round should help their reputation.
In previous years, it wasn’t uncommon for the Big 12 to have three players or less hear their name called in the first round. So for six to get drafted in the first round twice in the last few years is huge. Also, I wonder how much Dianna Russini had to do with the Patriots taking Caleb Lomu in the first round.
The post Big 12 Buzz: College sports money is out of control appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Iowa State is bringing the Magic to Hilton South, but this time in December rather than March. On Thursday, the NABC announced that Iowa State will be one of four teams participating in the 2026 Hall of Fame Classic at the T-Mobile Center in downtown Kansas City.
The Cyclones are slated to play Missouri State on Dec. 18. The game will be part of a doubleheader with Drake and Wichita State participating in the other game. The 2026 Hall of Fame Classic will mark the event’s 26th year of operation in Kansas City, and its second time to be structured as a neutral-site doubleheader. Specific game times, ticket details and broadcast assignments will be announced soon.
Iowa State and Missouri State will be playing for the first time in program history. The home of the Big 12 Tournament, Iowa State is 20-14 all-time at the T-Mobile Center. Iowa State also played in the 2014 Hall of Fame Classic, beating Alabama 84-74 before falling to Maryland, 72-63, in the championship game.
This will be the second of two neutral site single games for the Cyclones during the 2026-27 season. Iowa State will open the season on Nov. 2 against Memphis in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Cyclones are also slated to play in the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas the week of Thanksgiving.
Iowa State finished the 2025-26 season with a 29-8 record, tied for the second-most wins in school history. The Cyclones were ranked No. 8 in the final AP Top 25 Poll, the 52nd-straight week the Cyclones have been ranked. ISU’s AP Top 25 streak is the second-longest in school history and the fourth-longest active streak in the country. Playing in its 25th NCAA Tournament in program history, the Cyclones advanced to the Sweet 16 for the eighth time in program history.
The Hall of Fame Classic is operated by the Kansas City-based National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). More information on the event can be found at nabc.com/classic.
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I suspect Audi Crooks is getting more money to attend and play basketball at Oklahoma State than the star post player would have received for returning to Iowa State. I presume that’s the situation, although without seeing an actual contract, we’ll just have to accept what some (allegedly) in-the-know websites are saying is true.
Could that be a factor in lateral transfers for a senior season, leaving fans who adored you since enrolling as a freshman (like Iowa State)? Does money weigh down the plus side in leaving a place where, sometime in the future, you could have returned to see your jersey hanging in a fan-packed college arena (like Hilton Coliseum), alongside other former stars?
If I’m right, then so be it. Good for Crooks, one of the best under-the-basket scorers and most engaging fan favorites throughout women’s college basketball.
Go get your bank.
Fans who cheered the short, defenseless bank shot that always gently dropped through the net — they’d do it, too, if faced with that type of financial opportunity. A lot of them, at least.
And if I’m right, then this illustrates something we knew would happen. Above-average programs can become waaaaay above average if they’ve got donors willing and able to throw oodles of money to purchase winning rosters. Texas Tech proved it in football. And BYU, too.
Now this: It’s happening in women’s sports, as well. Texas Tech and Texas softball reportedly have high-dollar pitchers.
And in women’s basketball, don’t blink, because the financial windfall some programs are enjoying is evolving more and more every day.
Oklahoma State, whose 24-10 women’s team averaged a whopping 3,309 fans last season at 13,600-seat Gallagher-Iba Arena, looks to be riding that wave, with the addition of Crooks and a handful of long-range shooters from the portal.
The word “surreal” even topped a story in The Oklahoman, one of the nation’s finest daily newspapers, about Crooks’ transfer. The word came from a quote by Oklahoma State women’s coach Jacie Hoyt upon hearing the news.
Surreal, indeed, but get used to it. The more high-level women’s basketball players who enter the transfer portal, the more they’ll financially influence the sport.
Mlive.com reported that a University of Michigan athletics department administrative employee even sent an email to women’s basketball supporters that read:
“Our team urgently needs $100,000 in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) funding … to retain our elite talent at Michigan. Every contribution, no matter the amount, will significantly help us chip away at our funding gap.”
Right before our eyes, sometimes even in the black and white of an email plea for cash, serious NIL money is entering all levels of women’s college basketball. Not just the traditional powers.
Would Crooks have stayed if, let’s say, $1.4 million was on the table at Iowa State, whose home average of 9,985 was 4,000 a game better than anyone else in the Big 12?
No clue, but this much appears certain:
Someone appears to be throwing money at an Oklahoma State program whose total expenses were $3 million more than the program’s revenue during the 2024 fiscal year, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s Equity in Athletics Data Analysis.
No one’s saying it’s wrong for money to be a factor in transferring.
For a long time, athletes deserved compensation, but let’s not kid ourselves. The financially unlevel playing field in college football, and to a certain extent men’s basketball, is making its way to women’s basketball.
Again, that’s not necessarily a bad thing — especially if you’re the one going to the bank. If you’re a school without an ultra, major-type moneybags or multiple well-heeled people willing to help coaches purchase their rosters, winning must be accomplished in other ways.
Recruit the best players you can recruit. Roll up your sleeves. Coach the heck out of them. Stay injury-free …
And hope for the best.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
The post PETERSON: How much was money a factor in Crooks’ transfer to Oklahoma State? appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Long-time Iowa State associate head coach Jodi Steyer announces that’s retiring from coaching after 24 years in Ames.
Steyer was with Fennelly at Toledo and joined back up with him in Ames in 2002, helping lead the Cyclones to 19 NCAA Tournament appearences.
In a statement via social media, Steyer said “Cyclone Nation! 31 years. Seven as a fan, then 24 as a coach and for that I am so grateful. This time last year, I decided this past season would be my last so I could focus on family responsibilities. Since that time, my dad passed away which reinforced retirement was the right choice.”
You can read Steyer’s full statement below.
pic.twitter.com/K0TJxVU4qt
— Jodi Steyer (@isucyclone) April 22, 2026
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Sep 6, 2025; Little Rock, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Jaylen Raynor (1) rushes in the second quarter against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
AMES — Jaylen Raynor turned an unfamiliar and unsettled situation into a learning experience.
The former Arkansas State quarterback had recently signed with Iowa State, and once he arrived on campus, he embarked on a research project that began with the Cyclones’ overhauled roster.
Raynor — who started most of the past three seasons for the Red Wolves, including twice against ISU — matched faces to names, over and over, until his new teammates and coaches had been converted to memory. Strangers became friends, unknowns began to yield certainties. And the 6-0, 202-pound senior smiled as the process played out.
“Setting a base foundation of simply knowing each other’s names can go a long way, especially when we’re all new, coming from different places,” said Raynor, who accounted for 67 touchdowns (52 passing, 15 rushing) while starting the final 36 games of his Arkansas State career. “Being able to establish that early connection of just calling each other by name and knowing each other by face can go a long way — which it has.”
Raynor’s come a long way since starring at East Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem, N.C., and his quarterbacks coach, Keith Heckendorf, has been a constant companion on his winding journey to the Power Four level. It began with a seemingly chance connection and deepened when Heckendorf recruited Raynor to Arkansas State. The rest is history, even though there’s a random element to it.
“Funny story,” said Heckendorf, who officially joined first-year Cyclones head coach Jimmy Rogers’ staff on Jan. 1 — two days before Raynor committed from the transfer portal. “(Raynor’s high school coach, Todd Willert), he’s actually from Wisconsin, which is where I’m from. (East Forsyth) was the first high school I went into 16 years ago. I’m at Western Carolina and I stop in this high school and we just hit it off, and we started taking about beer and cheese curds, and he didn’t have any players that we recruited (at the time). We never took a player from that high school until (many years) later. He’s like, ‘Hey, I’ve got this quarterback for you.’”
Heckendorf liked what he saw from Raynor — and not just from a raw athletic standpoint. He saw a future leader. A guy who would eventually take it upon himself to know everyone’s name, just as he did in Ames.
“You can see the growth, the leadership, but the thing I’ve probably been most proud of with Jaylen is how he’s grown mentally within the position, and then just how he has been consistent,” Heckendorf said. “Through success, through failure, he’s the same guy every day. He comes in the door with a smile on his face excited to attack the process and I think that’s infectious to the people around him.”
That doesn’t mean Raynor’s guaranteed the Cyclones’ starting quarterback job, despite all the connections, both random and natural. He’s been sharing No. 1 reps this spring with Oklahoma State transfer Zane Flores, and talented holdover Connor Moberly remains in the mix, as well.
“These guys have done a good job of helping each other,” said Heckendorf, who oversaw a top-35 passing offense at Arkansas State last season. “You can see them back behind the plays talking, communicating with each other, pointing things out that maybe one guy did, the other guy didn’t do, and they’re all growing together. And that’s what we need to be the best football team we can be.”
Raynor resolved to work toward that by first becoming the best teammate he could be. Hence the memorization of names to match with faces. The eagerness to make fresh connections quickly, as competition begets collaboration, and iron-hewn bonds are formed on the field with firmly locked hands, not just an introductory handshake.
“We’ve been there for three months now and I’m almost sure everybody knows each other’s names (now), but that was a point of emphasis for me to go ahead and get those connections between me and my teammates kind of flowing,” Raynor said. “And then uphill from there.”
The post Iowa State QB Jaylen Raynor’s eager to make a name for himself — long after learning everybody else’s appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State is in the final week of spring football and kicked it off with some Monday availability. Watch everything quarterbacks coach Keith Heckendorf, tight ends coach Seth Hestness, senior quarterback Jaylen Raynor and redshirt sophomore tight end Keaton Roskop had to say.
Heckendorf talks about the quarterback battle, his experiences with Jaylen Raynor at Arkansas State, what stands out about Zane Flores, the film room process and more.
Hestness breaks down the progress of his group, the importance of Keaton Roskop’s loyalty and shares what he learned while coaching at Army.
Raynor talks about his decision to make the jump to Iowa State, his memory of playing at Jack Trice Stadium, the process of adjusting to the Big 12 and how he was able to memorize the entire roster in under two weeks.
Roskop discusses his decision to be the first player to stay at Iowa State, the dynamics of the tight end room and the intensity of playing for Seth Hestness.
The post WATCH: Keith Heckendorf, Seth Hestness, Jaylen Raynor and Keaton Roskop at Monday’s availability appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
The end of basketball season was supposed to signal the offseason. It was the chance to put the keyboard away and break out the Speedo and piña coladas. Well, that flight was delayed a week, as a massive wrestling announcement and major recruiting news for football and women’s basketball kept fans and writers busy.
When Iowa State Wrestling announced that there would be four major decisions shared during a Wednesday press conference, there was a lot of speculation as to what those changes would be. Ultimately, the announced changes, while massive, did not come as a wild surprise to many. The announcements were that women’s wrestling is coming to Iowa State, Kevin Dresser will lead both programs as director of wrestling, current Assistant Coach Brent Metcalf will take over the men’s wrestling team and Alli St. John will coach the women’s team.
While women’s flag football was an idea floated by some, women’s wrestling always felt like the natural replacement after the unfortunate removal of the gymnastics program. I may not be from Iowa, but I lived there for enough time to know how much wrestling means in the state. I have seen and reported first-hand on the introduction of high school girls wrestling in Wisconsin. Each school that got on board early had a substantial leg up on the schools that were a couple years late to the party.
Iowa State will have that same leg up, becoming just the seventh Division I school to add the sport. The team will begin competing in the 2027-28 season.
Iowa State adds women's wrestling, becoming the 7th D1 school to do so.
Others:
Delaware State
Iowa
Lehigh
Lindenwood
Presby
Sacred Heart https://t.co/UQ1sHnAbiM— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) April 16, 2026
There were also theories that Dresser would step out of the head coach role to allow Metcalf to be promoted. It may have come earlier than some expected, but there was a reason for that. Dresser’s promotion allowed him to step out and grant Metcalf the positions all while remaining in the program that he loves.
Metcalf is well-liked by Cyclone wrestlers and has been an assistant since 2017, so his commitment to the team was rewarded with a dream promotion. It is hard to see a world where the program will take any type of step back after the change.
St. John is a two-time silver medalist at the World Championships, has coached the Big Game Wrestling Club and was an assistant for Grand View’s women’s wrestling program in 2021-22. What makes the sport most exciting is that since it is just starting out, any school involved has a chance to be the first dynasty. Finding an inaugural roster that is successful and builds a culture can set the team up for decades.
Recruiting
The week started with some terrible news, as transfer safety Braden Awls went down with a torn ACL, leaving him out for the season. Awls was supposed to be the ball hawk of the defense this season, but the Cyclones did their best to keep the sour taste away.
Four-star 2027 offensive lineman Will Slagle, who committed to Matt Campbell’s Cyclones before reopening his recruitment after Campbell’s departure, re-committed to Iowa State. With offers from many top schools, including Campbell’s Penn State squad, it definitely meant something to see Jimmy Rogers win a battle like that.
Rogers now has a handful of four-star commits in 2026 and 2027. Rogers came into a tough situation with Campbell taking many with him out east, but he has done a lot in a short amount of time to keep the wheels turning in the right direction.
Elsewhere in the recruiting world, the women’s basketball team is continuing to assemble the pieces of a winning roster. La Salle guard Ashleigh Connor will be transferring to the Cyclones for her senior season. Last season, Connor averaged 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists. The guard unit of the Cyclones is currently looking pretty strong with Connor joining returner Arianna Jackson and another strong transfer in Maya Babbit. The forward and center play still has some work to do, with the lone addition being six-foot-one senior Gift Ezekiel. Ezekiel averaged 2.4 points and 1.9 rebounds this season. A bigger opportunity is essentially a guarantee this year, so Ezekiel will be someone to keep an eye on with a new role.
The post Monday Musings: Wrestling changes signal healthy future for program appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) reacts after a score around Oklahoma State Cowgirls guard Stailee Heard (32) during the fourth quarter in the senior day women basketball at Hilton Coliseum on February. 25, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. (Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
All-American center Audi Crooks will be staying the Big 12 Conference, per reports.
Talia Goodman of On3Sports reports that the three-time All-American is transferring to Oklahoma State for her final season of eligibility.
As a junior in 2025-26, Crooks was second nationally in scoring at 25.8 points per game. The Algona native is second in program history in total points at 2,256, which is 804 points behind Ashley Joens.
The Cyclones and Cowgirls played a home-and-home this season and only in Stillwater during 2024-25. If the Big 12’s scheduling pattern holds, Oklahoma State should play at Hilton Coliseum this upcoming year.
Crooks is one of nine players to transfer following the 2025-26 season.
The post Audi Crooks is transferring to Oklahoma State, per On3Sports appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
The first real move of the Brent Metcalf era is here.
Iowa State landed Oklahoma State transfer Brayden Thompson, who announced his commitment on Saturday, April 18 via his Instagram.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Brayden Thompson (@the.braydenthompson)
The Frankfort, Ill., native did not compete during the 2025-26 season and will bring three years of eligibility to Ames. He redshirted in 2024-25, going 9-0 in open tournaments at 184 pounds with six bonus-point wins. As a true freshman, Thompson qualified for the 2024 NCAA Championships, earning the No. 25 seed. His freshman campaign featured eight ranked wins and a 12-11 record. That year, he went 3-1 at the Big 12 Championships, including a win over Iowa State’s MJ Gaitan, now his teammate, in the third-place match.
Thompson was one of the top recruits in the country coming out of high school. He was ranked No. 3 pound-for-pound and the top 182-pounder in the 2023 class. His resume backs it up. He was a finalist at the U20 World Team Trials, placed third at the U.S. Open and won titles at both Powerade (2021) and Ironman (2022), two of the more prestigious high school tournaments in the country.
For Iowa State, the fit makes sense. The middle weights have been a bit of a moving target this offseason, and this gives the staff a guy who can fit right into 184 and compete right away while still having time left to grow.
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Cyclone Fanatic is your one-stop spot to find all of the happenings in the transfer portal this offseason.
Below, you’ll find departures and additions that have been publicized for this year’s cycle.
Additions:
Sienna Harvey – Washington transfer guard Sienna Harvey announces her commitment to Iowa State. As a freshman, the 5-foot-10 guard averaged 3.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per game. The Australia native will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Alex-Anne Bessette – Loyola-Chicago guard Alex-Anne Bessette announces her commitment to Iowa State. As a 6-foot-2 freshman, she averaged 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. The Canada native has three years of eligibility remaining.
Ashleigh Connor – La Salle junior guard Ashleigh Connor announces her commitment to Iowa State on social media. The 5-foot-11 junior guard averaged 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game on splits of 44/36/80 (FG/3PT/FT) during the 2025-26 season.
Maya Babbit – Kent State guard Maya Babbit becomes the first portal commit of the 2026 cycle. This season, the 5-foot-8 junior averaged 16.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game on 37/27/90 (FG/3PT/FT) shooting splits.
Gift Ezekiel – 6-foot-1 center Gift Ezekiel announces her commitment to Iowa State. As a junior at Florida, she averaged 2.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. She’s expected to have one season of eligilbility left.
Departures:
Audi Crooks – Committed to Oklahoma State, per On3Sports. As a junior in 2025-26, Crooks was second nationally in scoring at 25.8 points per game. She’s second in program history in total points at 2,256, which is 804 points behind Ashley Joens. Crooks will have one year of eligibility wherever she ends up.
Kenzie Hare – Committed to Indiana. In 2025-26, Hare appeared in all 32 games, scoring 6 points per game on 40% shooting from deep. She has one year of eligibility remaining.
Alisa Williams – Committed to Indiana. In 2025-26, the LSU transfer appeared in all 32 games, scoring 4.8 points and pulling down 3.3 rebounds in just under 12 minutes per game. She will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Jada Williams – Committed to LSU. As a junior in 2026, Williams averaged 15.3 points, 7.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game as an All-Big 12 selection.
Addy Brown – Iowa State junior Addy Brown announces that she’s entering the transfer portal. Brown was a star in Ames, averaging 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game over her career. The do-it-all forward has one year of eligibility left.
Reagan Wilson – Committed to Toledo. Wilson averaged 2.5 points per game in 2025-26 and shot 40.5% from three. She has two years of eligibility remaining.
Reece Beaty – Committed to Mississippi State. Beaty averaged 4.6 points, 3.3 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game in her lone season in Ames. Beaty has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Lilly Taulelei – Committed to Rice. Taulelei played 5.6 minutes in 21 games this season.
Aili Tanke – Iowa State guard Aili Tanke is hitting the transfer portal, per The Des Moines Register. Tanke, a former star at Johnston, played 44 games the last two seasons including six starts.
Returners:
Arianna Jackson
Evangelina Paulk
Freya Jensen
The post 2026 Iowa State Women’s Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Domonique Orange to the Packers.
Big Citrus fits what the Chiefs need.
Will Orange be the Vikings’ new purple?
Headlines like this showed up on various websites during the weekend. Draft speculation is rampant these days about the former Iowa State defensive tackle’s NFL destination.
Bears looking toward Iowa State defensive lineman.
Domonique Orange could be exactly what the Saints need.
Are Seahawks looking for some Big Citrus?
Dig deep enough into the interweb, and you find almost anything — accuracy be damned, but this is fact:
Domonique Orange will become the Cyclones’ 16th Matt Campbell-coached player selected in the NFL Draft.
From David Montgomery and Hakeem Butler in 2019 to wherever “Big Citrus” lands in the 2026 draft that starts Thursday, Iowa State will have had its best NFL Draft run in school history.
Already, Iowa State’s previous 15 picks in those seven drafts are as many Cyclones selections. Combined, that’s over the 17 drafts before Campbell and his staff impressively amped up recruiting and player development.
Brock Purdy. Breece Hall. Charlie Kolar. Will McDonald. Jaylin Noel. Darien Porter. T.J. Tampa. Jayden Higgins. Jalen Travis. Xavier Hutchinson. Anthony Johnson. Enyi Uwazurike. Kene Nwangwu.
You know who they are.
The 15 (and counting) Iowa State picks under Campbell are two more than the school’s entire total throughout the 1990s.
And Dom Orange, who turned down more money at multiple places to stay with the program and coach that recruited him, is a sure bet to be next.
The 6-foot-2, 322-pound Orange could have taken money that poaching would have brought at various SEC schools. Instead, he stayed loyal to Campbell, Iowa State, himself — and to the social media college announcement he made back in December 2021.
“Going to the next level … I just want to thank everyone, honestly,” Orange said during his announcement at Kansas City North High School. “With that being said, for the next four to five years, I’ll be taking my talents to (Iowa State).”
A social media promise is one thing. Following through on that pledge is completely another in today’s transfer portal openness.
I even wonder just how many more stars like Orange, like Tamin Lipsey and Arianna Jackson, will graduate after four or five years from the same school at which they started.
That’s not being judgey. That’s being factual. Loyalty to the school from which you received your first college scholarship — it’s not as much a thing in today’s open-portal, chase-the-money world as it once was.
**
Mock drafts are all over the place with Orange. While one predicts a late second-round selection, another forecasts the seventh and final round. There are as many fourth-round guesses as there are fifth-round ones.
Believe what suits your narrative, but also know this:
Former Iowa State star receiver Allen Lazard was a draft expert’s bet to be picked no lower than the mid-fourth round in the 2018 draft — and you know the rest:
He wasn’t picked.
“What ended up happening was something I never predicted and never contemplated,” Lazard told me in reflection a couple of years ago. “Maybe it was me being naïve. Maybe that was it, but to this day, I still don’t know what happened.”
In seven NFL seasons, Lazard has more than $30 million in career earnings, according to the reputable Spotrac website.
What’s ahead for Big Citrus?
Stay tuned.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
The post PETERSON: Domonique Orange — Iowa State loyal through and through appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
La Salle guard Ashleigh Connor commits to Iowa State, she announces on social media.
The 5-foot-11 junior guard averaged 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game on splits of 44/36/80 during the 2025-26 season.
Connor is the third portal commitment for Iowa State, bringing their roster to seven players. View the full roster at our portal tracker.
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Iowa State gets a recommitment from 4-star offensive linemen Will Slagle. Slagle committed to Iowa State last fall but decommitted after Matt Campbell left to be the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Loyal Sons Forever True pic.twitter.com/x3eT43J7or
— Will Slagle (@slagle_will) April 17, 2026
The 6-foot-4, 280-pound interior linemen held offers from multiple Power 5 schools including Penn State, Arkansas, Auburn, Duke, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Miami, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Northwestern, Stanford, and Wisconsin.
The Grinnell, Iowa native is the No. 4 rated prospect in the state of Iowa and the No. 22 rated interior offensive line in the country per 247Sports.
Iowa State made Slagle a priority target after Jimmy Rogers and his staff landed in Ames. Rogers along with new offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl and new offensive line coach Jake Thornton were crucial in landing the 4-star prospect.
The post Iowa State lands recommitment from 4-star OL Will Slagle appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
AMES — Iowa State wrestling took a major step forward Thursday morning, announcing a series of moves that reshape the future of the program in a big way.
The headline: women’s wrestling is officially coming to Ames.
Along with adding the sport as Iowa State’s 18th varsity program, Kevin Dresser will now oversee both programs as Director of Men’s and Women’s Wrestling. At the same time, Brent Metcalf takes over as head coach of the men’s program, while Alli St. John becomes the first head coach in Cyclone women’s wrestling history.
Below, you can watch the full press conference, plus our one-on-one interviews with both Metcalf and St. John discussing their new roles.
Full Interview with Jamie Pollard, Kevin Dresser, Brent Metcalf and Alli St. John
Interview with Brent Metcalf
Interview No. 1:
Interview No. 2:
Interview with Alli St. John
The post Iowa State Wrestling Enters a New Era: Four Major Moves Announced appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State new men’s wrestling head coach Brent Metcalf, speaks as new wrestling director Kevin Dresser and women’s wrestling head coach Alli St.John looks on during a press conference at Hilton Coliseum on April. 16, 2026, in Ames, Iowa
AMES — Four major announcements can be traced back to one fateful Friday night phone call.
Recently-named new men’s head wrestling coach at Iowa State Brent Metcalf and his wife, Kristen, had packed up all their belongings in Iowa City roughly nine years ago, setting their sights on a fresh start in Colorado Springs.
Ring, ring.
Metcalf answered his phone and paused. Kevin Dresser — the Cyclones’ recently-named new head coach back then — had a proposition to make. And the ensuing conversation changed the trajectory of Iowa State wrestling.
“To me, that’s kind of the surreal piece,” said Metcalf, whose new role was announced at a Thursday news conference alongside the news that ISU will add a women’s wrestling program that Alli St. John will lead, and Dresser will be the Cyclones’ director of men’s and women’s wrestling. “I remember coming here and kind of just getting my feet on the ground and then being, like, ‘Hey, I love this place.’ … I hope this is a real thing. I hope this isn’t something that I have to pack up one day and leave, you know?”
Thursday’s newsworthy event in the Pete Taylor Media Room at Hilton Coliseum ensured that won’t be happening. It felt like a full-circle moment for all involved, but particularly for Metcalf and St. John, whose husband, Derek, was also named the men’s program’s associate head coach.
“In 2013, 2014, and 2015 (Metcalf and I) were on the USA world team together,” said Alli St. John, whose program will start competing in the 2027-28 season. “But it is full circle just being able to give women that opportunity, and to be able to compete here at Iowa State is just unreal.”
ISU’s endowed director of athletics Jamie Pollard said adding a women’s wrestling program “fits Iowa State University like a glove.” It also will replace women’s gymnastics, which Pollard announced in a video message on March 3 would be discontinued.
“For whatever reason, whether it was administratively, coaching, student-athletes — it doesn’t matter,” Pollard said of the decision to drop the gymnastics program. “It wasn’t fitting at Iowa State the way the other 17 sports were and that’s unfortunate. It is unfortunate, but that’s what happened.”
Dresser’s nine seasons at the helm happened to revive a proud program that had fallen off the national map. The Cyclones won a team trophy for the first time in 15 years at the 2024 NCAA Championships and finished eighth at nationals this season.
“(Metcalf’s) gonna work his tail off to beat any record that I ever put up, and I love that,” said Dresser, whose contract with the university runs through June 30, 2029. “So you’re stuck with me for three more years. I went to Jamie last week and I said, ‘What the (heck) does a director of wrestling operations do? I don’t know exactly.’ And he said, ‘We’ll figure it out.’”
Dresser said Metcalf is ready to be a head coach — a job he’s dreamed of holding for a long time — and St. John possesses “a tireless work ethic.”
“She’s available 24/7 and that’s what this job’s about, really,” Dresser said. “When you’re a head coach at the Division I level, you’d better be ready 24/7 and both of these people are that, so I’m excited about it.”
St. John, a two-time world silver medalist who was the first women’s wrestler inducted into the Glen Brand National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2020, plans to add two to three assistant coaches to her staff and will have 10 scholarships to use on what’s expected to be a roster consisting of 30 student-athletes.
“Women’s wrestling, like (Pollard) mentioned, is the fastest-growing sport in America, and to be given the opportunity to (get) these girls to be able to come here (at) Iowa State and wrestle is incredible,” St. John said. “Ames is a special place. I’ve always said that. From the moment I moved here, I felt the difference, and our fans and the support system and passion they bring is truly unmatched.”
And a ring that Metcalf answered helped ensure that would be the case. His planned trip to Colorado didn’t happen, but his path moving forward became clear. Now the two-time NCAA champion is elevated — just as women’s wrestling will be under St. John at ISU — and both are just getting started.
“It is completely full circle,” Metcalf said. “And to me, I say a little bit ironic, right? In that she was a world-class wrestler the same time I was. She’s gonna do a phenomenal job. She really is.”
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I mean, really, adding women’s wrestling was the only decision Iowa State logically could make.
A state of Iowa college adding a popular state of Iowa sport makes so much sense. So much sense, in fact, that you wonder why some fans thought flag football might even be an option to replace the recently axed gymnastics program.
Women’s wrestling. Flag football.
No brainer.
From the rawness and uncertainty of the peewees to the choreographed and predetermined outcomes of WrestleMania — we love us some wrestling. Iowans set their clocks by it, and if you don’t believe it, check out downtown Des Moines each mid-February.
From the day Iowa State gymnastics went bye-bye, we knew women’s wrestling would serve as the Title IX equivalent. As hard as people tried to talk themselves into something else — like flag football — they always came back to the realization that women someday soon would be wrestling inside Hilton Coliseum.
The sport is growing, they tell us, so why not add to the growth — in a state with the second-most (behind Pennsylvania) women’s college wrestling programs in the nation.
Makes sense, and so does locking up Brent Metcalf to replace longtime men’s coach Kevin Dresser before another power men’s wrestling program can get him. And hiring Alli St. John to coach the women.
And Dresser to oversee it all?
Win. Win.
And win.
What happened Thursday was about Iowa State making women’s wrestling its 18th sanctioned sport. What happened could not have been done as smoothly as it did without Dresser, who can do everything from rolling out a mat to accepting a seven-figure check during a fundraising venture.
“He thinks unlike most wrestling coaches I’ve ever met,” Cyclones athletics director Jamie Pollard said Thursday. “Where we are today, compared to where we were nine years ago, is on the back of him. I call him P.T. Barnum. He can walk into a room and get you to donate to wrestling better than anybody I’ve ever met in my entire life.”
That proves again to me that Dresser hasn’t really gotten the credit he has deserved for putting Iowa State wrestling on the national and international map again.
I’ll leave explaining his high-level coaching prowess to college wrestling aficionados. Results during his nine seasons as the men’s coach speak for themselves:
• Fans regularly sat in the upper deck again while watching meets at Hilton Coliseum.
• The Cyclones’ Regional Training Center is thriving.
• Iowa State finally won a Cy-Hawk wrestling meet.
No one can argue that whenever Dresser puts into mothballs the sleeveless sweater he often wears, the overall Cyclones program will be in a much better place than when he inherited it.
So, what better person to oversee the Cyclones’ first new sports program since the addition of women’s soccer in the mid-1990s?
Dresser is a man of the people. He commands an audience with charisma, whether he’s addressing a crowd at the annual Cyclones Tailgate Tour on the Roof Garden stage in Arnolds Park, or holding court at one of the rooftop eateries that overlook West Lake Okoboji, or owning a room full of supporters in a building that’s the man cave of all man caves — Dresser is the man.
Whether it’s during the wrestling team’s annual summer camp at Spirit Lake High School or at the restaurant with a framed autographed Iowa State singlet among impressive sports memorabilia adorning the walls, Dresser is as at home as the locals.
He’s a tough-as-nails guy who learned under Dan Gable — not just the finer points of flipping a competitor to his back, but also in speaking his mind . . .
How about that Cyclone Tailgate Tour morning outside the popular Toolbar Restaurant in small-town Paton, Iowa, a few days after some of his wrestlers were investigated in an NCAA gambling probe into sports wagering among athletes at Iowa and Iowa State?
“To be quite honest, there’s a part of me that thinks — and I’m usually one to say what I think — part of me thinks there’s a little bit of a witch hunt,” Dresser said. “But at the same time, I also know there are rules, and if they didn’t follow the rules, there’s going to be penalties.”
Oh, he wasn’t finished:
“At the end of the day, will there be some who probably sit out a little bit? Yeah, there probably will be,” he said. “I also look at it in the big scheme of things. These guys didn’t assault anybody. These guys didn’t get a drunk driving offense. It’s another example that Division I athletes are held to a different standard than the average college student.
“It sure would be nice, sometimes, if our athletes could just be college students.”
Even during Thursday’s press conference, Dresser was Dresser.
“College sports is tough; we might as well call it pro sports,” he said. “Let’s just call it what it is.”
He followed with this:
“Everybody’s trying to teach this generation there’s a shinier new and better mousetrap out there.”
That honesty is part of his appeal — and among the qualities that make him an all-important, top-notch fundraiser and administrator for an overall wrestling program that, like at most places nationally, needs all the financial resources it can get.
In his own way, Dresser’s common-sense approach to today’s college sports scene has allowed this to happen. His versatility. His knowledge of how to start programs. His ability to raise money and to treat everybody like they’re besties.
That’s just Dresser being Dresser.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
AMES, Iowa – Two-time World Wrestling Championships silver medalist Alli St. John (Ragan) has been selected as the first head coach of the Iowa State women’s wrestling program, ISU Endowed Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today. The Cyclones will begin competing in the sport during the 2027-28 academic year; however, St. John’s program is open for business as it begins to build a roster for its debut season.
“Alli St. John is one of the United States’ most-decorated women’s wrestlers ever, and we are thrilled that she has agreed to lead the Iowa State women’s wrestling program as we launch an exciting new era in Cyclone Athletics,” Pollard said. “She enjoys an outstanding reputation in the wrestling community, and we look forward to watching her build a championship program on the mat at Iowa State.
“She has done an outstanding job cultivating and working with donors to the Cyclone Regional Training Center the last three years, and her engaging personality and competitive spirit, coupled with the success she has enjoyed in the sport competitively, make her the right candidate to lead this program,” he added.
In 2013, St. John represented the U.S. at the Summer Universiade and took silver in the women’s 59 kg event. She again won silver in the women’s freestyle 60 kg event at the 2016 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary and in the same event at the 2017 World Wrestling Championships in Paris, France. All-told, she represented Team USA on six Senior World Teams during her 10-year professional career for USA Wrestling.
“I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to be the first head coach of women’s wrestling at Iowa State University,” St. John said. “This is a historic moment not only for Iowa State University, but for the sport of wrestling, too. Iowa State has a rich wrestling tradition, and I’m excited to expand that legacy on the women’s side as we work to build a premier program in Ames that produces not only NCAA champions, but World and Olympic champions as well.”
As an undergraduate student at King (Tenn.) University, St. John was a two-time Women’s College national champion and a four-time finalist. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Kings in 2014.
She spent two years as women’s coach of the Big Game Wrestling Club (2021-23) and then served as an assistant coach of the Grand View College women’s wrestling program during the 2021-22 campaign. St. John earned her master’s degree in Sports Management from Grand View in 2022.
“Having had Alli work for me and the Cyclone Regional Training Center the past three years just reinforces Jamie’s decision to hire Alli as our new head women’s wrestling coach,” said ISU Director of Wrestling Kevin Dresser. “She has the resume, work ethic, name recognition and drive to successfully lead this program and build a team from scratch. Alli also knows the Cyclone fan base well and enjoys a strong relationship with it. I look forward to working with Alli and her staff to set this program up for success when it launches in in 2027-28.”
The first women’s wrestler inducted into the Glen Brand National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2020), St. John is also a member of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame (2024).
The Carbondale, Ill., native and her husband, Derek, an assistant coach on the ISU men’s wrestling staff, reside in Ames with their daughter, Stevie.
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The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
AMES, Iowa – Brent Metcalf, who has spent the past nine seasons helping Kevin Dresser methodically return the proud Cyclone program to national prominence, has been selected as the ninth head coach of the Iowa State men’s wrestling program, Endowed Cyclone Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today.
“Brent Metcalf has played a critical role in the rebirth of the Iowa State wrestling program over the last nine years, and we are thrilled to introduce him as the next head coach of the Cyclones,” Pollard said. “He is one of the fiercest and respected competitors that I know, and I believe that he is the right person to build upon our past success to carry our program to even greater heights in future years.”
Metcalf, who has spent the past eight seasons as a full-time assistant coach on the ISU staff after originally joining the program as a volunteer assistant prior to the 2017-18 campaign, has been instrumental in helping Dresser rebuild the Cyclone wrestling program from the ground up since 2017. Highlighted by two top 10 NCAA finishes, a 2024 NCAA team trophy and Big 12 title, his efforts have seen Iowa State re-enter the national conversation as one of the nation’s top wrestling programs.
“I am excited and honored to be the next Head Wrestling Coach at Iowa State University and would like to thank Jamie Pollard and President Cook for entrusting me with the legacy of such a storied program,” Metcalf said. “None of this would be possible without the vision and mentorship of Kevin Dresser, who for the previous nine seasons has continued to raise the standard of what it means to be a Cyclone wrestler.
“As we move to the next chapter we must continue to raise that bar,” he added. “We will challenge our team to pursue National, World and Olympic Titles, compete fearlessly, and to be outstanding representatives of Iowa State University- in the classroom, on the mat and in life.”
In 2026, 10 Cyclones qualified for the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2010. ISU’s 8th-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Championships was the second top 10 finish for the Cyclones since Metcalf arrived in Ames.
The ISU coaching staff inherited a program that scored one point and finished tied for 57th at the 2017 NCAA Championships. Since then, Iowa State has finished T-45th, 16th, T-13th, 17th, 11th, 4th, T-27th and 8th at the national tournament.
“Brent (Metcalf), along with Coach Derek St. John, have been by my side over the last nine years and have been instrumental in our program’s success,” Dresser said. “He brings passion, knowledge, dedication and a great work ethic to this opportunity.
“Brent loves Iowa State and has had opportunities to leave Ames the past couple of years as our program has grown in stature, but he wanted to be here in Ames,” he added. “I am excited for the future of Cyclone wrestling under Coach Metcalf’s leadership.”
Iowa State had no conference champions in 2017 and failed to have a wrestler reach All-American status. Since then, Metcalf has had a hand in developing 13 Big 12 Champions and 17 NCAA All-Americans.
Working closely with Cyclone blue-chipper David Carr, Metcalf helped Carr to four Big 12 titles, three national finals appearances and two national titles. Carr won his second national title by defeating four All-Americans and three past or future national champions. With Metcalf’s guidance, Carr reversed two consecutive losses to Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole in the national semifinals to reach the title match where he beat Penn State’s Mitchell Mesenbrink.
He also played a large role in developing All-American brothers and current Cyclones Evan and Jacob Frost. Both brothers were under-the-radar prospects out of high school, rated outside the top 200 nationally, but achieved All-American status after developing in Ames with Metcalf as their individual coach.
Metcalf served as the National Freestyle Developmental Coach prior to his arrival in Ames. He joined the USA Wrestling coaching staff in November of 2016 and was responsible for coaching the age-group men’s freestyle World Teams, directing the freestyle resident athletes at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and serving as an assistant coach on the Senior national team.
A legend in the sport, Metcalf is one of the most decorated wrestlers in Iowa wrestling history. He won two NCAA titles (2008, 2010) and was a three-time NCAA finalist (2008-10) in his three seasons wrestling for the Hawkeyes.
Metcalf won the 2008 Dan Hodge trophy, given annually to the nation’s best collegiate wrestler, and helped the Hawkeyes to three NCAA team titles (2008, 2009, 2010). He finished his college career with a 108-3 record, the second-best winning percentage in Iowa history (.973), a 69-match winning streak from 2008-09 and 47 career falls.
As a senior-level athlete, Metcalf was a staple in the United States’ lineup from 2010-2016. He was a part of four U.S. Freestyle World Teams (2010, 2013, 2014, 2015). He won a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in Canada and claimed World Cup gold medals in 2014 and 2015 in Los Angeles. Other major international events he won included the 2014 UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals in Azerbaijan and a silver medal at the 2013 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia.
Metcalf qualified for the U.S. Freestyle National Team for six-straight years from 2010-16, winning U.S. Open titles in 2014 and 2015. He was also a member of the 2006 Junior World Team.
A native of Davison, Michigan, Metcalf is one of the most highly touted prep wrestlers to come out of the state. While wrestling for Davison High School, he posted a record of 228-0 with 156 victories by fall. He was one of the best athletes to wrestle in USA Wrestling’s age-group program, winning six ASICS Junior National Titles, three each in freestyle and Greco-Roman.
Metcalf, who earned his bachelor’s degree from Iowa in 2010, and his wife, Kristen, have four children: Chase, Cole, Wyatt and Georgia. He was inducted to the Glen Brand National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame in September 2023.
The post Brent Metcalf named new head coach of Iowa State Men’s Wrestling appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
AMES, Iowa – After a storied 20-year collegiate coaching career that saw Iowa State and Virginia Tech return to national prominence, Kevin Dresser will transition into a new role within the Iowa State Athletics Department as Director of Men’s & Women’s Wrestling, Endowed Cyclone Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced Thursday. In his new position, Dresser will provide mentorship, leadership and fundraising acumen to both the ISU men’s and newly launched women’s wrestling programs.
“Iowa State University has been so good to me and my family, and I look forward to my new role and the fact that I’m not really going anywhere,” Dresser said. “I am honored for the opportunity Jamie Pollard gave me to coach the Cyclones nine years ago and believe we are handing off the program in great shape to one of the sport’s top young coaches in Brent Metcalf.
“My memories of Hilton and sitting in the corner during some of those crazy and packed dual meets will be something I always treasure,” he added. “We built something special and exciting over the last nine years, and I look forward to staying in Ames and contributing to these programs and this university in my new position. The future is so bright, and we are well positioned to continue to climb.”
As head coach of the Cyclones, Dresser brought Iowa State wrestling back into the national conversation, highlighted by a pair of top 10 NCAA finishes, a 2024 NCAA team trophy and a 2024 Big 12 title. He inherited a program that scored just one point and finished tied for 57th at the 2017 NCAA Championships. Since then, Iowa State has finished T-45th, 16th, T-13th, 17th, 11th, 4th, T-27th and 8th at the national tournament.
Dresser, who has coached the sport for 38 years at multiple levels, leaves behind a coaching legacy as one of wrestling’s greatest program builders. He is one of six NCAA Division I coaches all-time to lead two different schools to an NCAA Trophy finish.
“Kevin has enjoyed a very successful run as a Cyclone and Iowa State will forever be indebted to him for restoring the proud tradition of ISU wrestling,” Pollard said. “He and his staff have worked incredibly hard to return our program to national prominence, and we are grateful for his leadership and vision in making that a reality.
“Kevin will be a tremendous asset to Coach Metcalf and Coach St. John as they begin their head coaching careers at Iowa State,” he added. “His mentorship to them will be invaluable as they build their programs.”
Dresser compiled a 265-86 (.755) record as a head coach, including a 105-35 (.750) mark at Iowa State. His 105 dual wins as a Cyclone are the fourth-most by a head coach in program history.
After graduating from the University of Iowa in 1986, Dresser embarked upon a decorated 18-year high school coaching career in Virginia where he guided Grundy High School to eight-consecutive state titles from 1989 to 1996. He later coached at Christiansburg High School where his teams would capture five state titles. Dresser turned his programs into high school powerhouses, with four of his teams finishing in the top 10 nationally, with seven ranked in the top 25.
Dresser moved up to the college ranks in 2006 when he took over as head coach at Virginia Tech. He led the Hokies to ACC dual meet titles in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and league tournament championships in 2013 and 2014. Dresser concluded his time in Blacksburg with four-straight top 10 NCAA finishes, culminating in a team trophy in his final season, and his .758 winning percentage (160-51-0) at Virginia Tech ranks third all-time in ACC history.
He assumed the reins of the tradition-rich Iowa State wrestling program in February 2017. It was a methodical rebuild for Dresser based on fundraising, fan support, recruiting, development and creation of the Cyclone Regional Training Center where postgraduates could pursue their world-level and Olympic dreams. After having just one NCAA Qualifier in his first season, Dresser’s ISU squads have qualified eight or more wrestlers for the national tournament in every season since.
One of Dresser’s top priorities when arriving to campus in 2017 was bringing blue-chip recruit and Cyclone legacy David Carr to Ames. A catalyst in turning the program around, Carr won four individual Big 12 titles and a pair of NCAA titles in 2021 and 2024.
Fan support was critical to Dresser’s revival of the program and Cyclone fans are once again turning out in droves to watch wrestling in Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State is one of three schools in the country, and the only one in the Big 12, to average 5,000-plus fans per dual in each of the last four seasons. Iowa State’s top five average season attendance marks on record (since 1997) occurred during Dresser’s tenure.
On Nov. 30, 2025, Dresser led Iowa State to its first dual win over Iowa in 21 years. The No. 6 Cyclones took six of 10 bouts to defeat No. 3 Iowa, 20-14, for their first victory over the Hawkeyes since 2004. A crowd of 12,292, the 10th-largest wrestling crowd in program history, traveled through a foot of snow to see the Cyclones snap a 20-match losing streak to their in-state rivals.
In his 20-year collegiate coaching career, Dresser coached his wrestlers to two national titles, 37 All-America honors and 39 conference titles. He is a two-time Big 12 Coach of the Year (2019, ’24), five-time ACC Coach of the Year (2013, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17) and the 2019 NWCA National Coach of the Year.
Dresser is a member of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Wrestling Hall of Fame (2009), the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame (2014) and the Roanoke Valley Wrestling Hall of Fame (2015). He was also presented a Lifetime Service Award by the Virginia chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2013.
The Humboldt, Iowa native and his wife, Penny, have three children: Emma, Anna and Jack.
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The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
AMES, Iowa – Women’s wrestling will debut as Iowa State University’s 18th intercollegiate athletics program during the 2027-28 academic year, Endowed Cyclone Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today.
“Iowa State enjoys a rich wrestling tradition, and we believe the addition of women’s wrestling will afford tremendous opportunities for young women not only in Iowa, but around the country, to compete at the highest level in the sport,” Pollard said. “This is a great day for wrestling in the state of Iowa and at Iowa State University, and we look forward to growing a program under Coach Alli St. John that will build off the historic success of our men’s team.
“As we considered future opportunities for female athletes, it became clear that women’s wrestling offered Iowa State University the best combination of strategic fit, start-up efficiency and growth potential,” he added. “Women’s wrestling is recognized as one of the nation’s fastest growing sports at both the high school and collegiate level, and we are excited to help grow the sport for future generations of young women.”
Identified as an emerging sport in 2020 by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for all three divisions, the NCAA held its first national championship in the sport last month in Coralville, Iowa. Currently, there are 113 NCAA members that sponsor wrestling as a varsity sport, including six at the Division I level—Iowa, Lehigh, Delaware State, Lindenwood, Presbyterian and Sacred Heart with Kent State having announced plans to begin a program in 2027-28. Within the state of Iowa, there are 15 universities and colleges that currently sponsor the sport.
“Women’s wrestling has been an Olympic sport since 2004 and is the fastest-growing sport for young women in our nation,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director upon the announcement that the sport would become the NCAA’s 91st championship in 2026.
At the high school level, 218 Iowa high schools sponsor women’s wrestling and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union held its fourth state championship meet in February 2026 and will add a state dual meet championship next year. Every state that is contiguous to Iowa offers a state tournament in the sport at the high school level and nationally, 8,100 high schools sponsored the sport for 74,064 female student-athletes according to the 2024-25 National Federation of High Schools annual athletics participation summary.
“The addition of women’s wrestling is an exciting opportunity for Iowa State Athletics,” ISU Director of Wrestling Kevin Dresser said. “The fact that it is one of the fastest growing sports at the high school level coupled with the overall love of wrestling in the state of Iowa makes this a very good decision. I can envision the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk dual already and the excitement it will bring to the sport. I am excited to roll up my sleeves and help start another wrestling program.”
With the addition of women’s wrestling, the first sport added at ISU since women’s soccer in 1996, the Cyclones will sponsor 18 sports—11 women’s teams and seven men’s programs. ISU will offer 10 scholarships and have a roster of 30 positions on its inaugural team in 2027-28.
Women’s Wrestling Sport Sponsorship Timeline:
June 2020 — Women’s wrestling added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program, giving the sport formal recognition and a pathway toward future championship status.
October 2023 — The sport surpassed the threshold of 40 schools sponsoring varsity programs.
February 7, 2024 — The NCAA’s Committee on Women’s Athletics officially recommended that all three NCAA divisions sponsor legislation to elevate women’s wrestling from emerging sport to full championship status.
January 17, 2025 — Women’s wrestling officially became the NCAA’s 91st championship sport.
March 7, 2026 — McKendree wins first NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championship at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.
April 16, 2026—Iowa State University announces women’s wrestling as its 18th intercollegiate athletics program and names two-time World Wrestling Championship silver medalist Alli St. John (Ragan) as the program’s first head coach.
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Welcome to the Big 12 Buzz! Things are going to look a little different during the offseason but that doesn’t mean I can’t share what’s on my mind this week in the Big 12.
Iowa State is Reloading, Not Rebuilding
Despite losing All-Americans, two assistant coaches, and several other key players, Iowa State head basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger wasted zero time putting together a new team for next season. Before I could even finish a beer, the man already had five brand new players ready to roll.
It’s not like he just got some random players to come to Ames. Three out of the five players he brought in were four-star caliber with Ryan Prather Jr., Tre Singleton, and Jaquan Johnson.
Plus, Iowa State also added Leon Bond and Taj Manning from Kansas State. I almost feel sorry for Manning because he will soon find out what it’s like to play for a real head coach instead of a clown.
Now I am not saying Iowa State will win a national championship next season but don’t expect some drop off either. Under T.J, Iowa State has become a yearly Big 12 title contender and maybe more. Iowa State isn’t rebuilding; they are simply reloading.
Texas Tech Needs to Grow Up
It appears that all the whining and complaining didn’t work for Texas Tech because last week the Big 12 announced that Tech’s conference home opener against Houston will be played on Friday night instead of Saturday.
Like I said last week, Friday night is an opportunity for the Big 12 to have stand-alone games and draw a ton of attention. It’s a win for the conference and a win for the tv networks. With Texas Tech being the biggest brand in the Big 12 and the best playoff hope for the conference, having them play on Friday night isn’t a bad idea at all. And as someone who has had plenty of bad ideas, trust me.
Cody Campbell and all the other people crying need to get over it. I don’t need any of their crocodile tears in my beer. I haven’t seen this much complaining since Texas was in the Big 12 and the last thing the Big 12 or any of us need is another Texas. They are the SEC’s problem now.
Baseball or Softball Anyone?
I know it sucks that basketball is officially over and we are closer to me having a heat stroke in the middle of the summer than we are to kickoff. However, if you haven’t given college baseball or softball a try, then what are you waiting for? Christmas? My sobriety? Neither one of those are close.
I understand that baseball is a sore topic for Iowa State fans, I truly do. Trust me, there is nothing more I would love than to pound a zillion beers while watching a Cyclones baseball game. And there may be some of you out there that got to experience that back in the day and I am jealous.
But with football season a long way away, I would high recommend catching up on some baseball and softball to kill the time. Texas Tech has a national championship caliber team in softball and the Big 12 could be looking at five or six postseason teams this year in baseball. So go ahead, crack up a cold one in your garage out on the patio and give it a shot.
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By Rob Gray, correspondent
AMES — What kind of impact might former walk-on running back Aiden Flora have on Iowa State’s offense this season?
The Cyclones’ first-year cornerbacks coach Mike Banks provided a concise answer.
“He’s really fast,” Banks said.
And that’s just one off the most quantifiable positive traits the 6-0, 190-pound redshirt sophomore from Adel swiftly showcases as he seeks to carve out a more wide-ranging role under first-year offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl.
“He’s a machine,” said ISU’s first-year running backs coach John Johnson, whose unit will be leaned on heavily in Roehl’s physical and downhill scheme. “His work ethic, his mindset, his mental toughness — just that alone makes a difference. And when you add the work ethic to his athletic ability, his skillset, it just makes him really unique.”
Flora, along with Bowling Green transfer Cameron Pettaway, headline a running backs room that’s designed to be flexible and multiple. Flora and Pettaway are proven pass catchers as well as speedy and powerful runners. Oregon State transfer running back Salahadin Allah (5-10, 222) could serve as a short-yardage back, and redshirt freshmen Ryver Peppers — who suffered a season-ending injury on his first snap last season — remains a highly-talented prospect as he works his way back to full health.
So it’s a deep room, but one that lacks experience at the Power Four level.
“1000 percent — and they’re reminded of that all the time,” Johnson said. “Nobody in this room is proven. We don’t have Abu (Sama, who transferred to Wisconsin). We don’t have Carson (Hansen, who followed former ISU head coach Matt Campbell to Penn State). Sowho is the running back we’re gonna hand the rock off to? Who’s gonna be the guy to step up when the lights come on? … I always remind those guys, so they hear it from me, but those guys are hungry and they’re competitors. So 1000 percent I know these guys will step u pot the challenge ands really take advantage of the opportunity.”
Flora, a second team all-Big 12 selection as a punt returner, turned four carries into 58 rushing yards and a touchdown last season. He also caught two passers for 25 yards. Pettaway, the MAC’s offensive freshman of the year, turned 72 carries into 365 rushing yards for the Falcons, but he also caught eight passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. That duo at least for now appears to form the one-two element of the Cyclones’ punch-filled running game and they’ve already built a durable bond as backfield mates and friends.
“I love Cam Pettaway,” Flora said. “He’s very explosive, very quick, very fast, ands he pushes me every day, which I’m grateful for from him. He’s such a great guy on and off the field, as well, so that makes it really easy to cheer for him when he’s like a brother to me.”
Pettaway led the nation and set a Bowling Green record by averaging 33 yards per kick return last season — so he and Flora are fast friends in more ways than one.
“I would definitely want to play a role in kickoff return,” Pettaway said. “They have me back there right now, so yeah, I’m ready for that, too.”
Same goes for Flora, who led the Big 12 by averaging 26.2 yards in eight punt returns last season, including a 79-yard touchdown in a win at TCU.
“I just want to do what helps the team,” Flora said. “And if they decide to (keep him at punt returner), I’d love to do that.”
So Flora’s much more than simply fast, but it’s that quick-twitch ability that immediately impresses his teammates and coaches on both sides of the ball.
“If you turn on the cuts from last year, just the special teams stuff, you can see how explosive that kid is,” Johnson said. “So he’s gonna put (forth) his best effort and he’s gonna give this fan base something to be excited about.”
The post The term “fast” merely scratches the surface for ISU’s multi-talented running back Aiden Flora appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Local media spoke to the running backs and cornerbacks room on Wednesday afternoon. Watch everything RB coach John Johnson, CB coach Mike Banks, redshirt sophomore RB Aiden Flora and redshirt sophomore CB David Coffey said below.
Johnson discusses the running backs room, Aiden Flora’s ability, Cam Pettaway’s explosiveness, his use of the fullback, hunger of the group and more.
Banks discusses the versatility and depth in the cornerbacks room, what players have stood out in spring camp, David Coffey’s ability and more.
Flora talks about his decision to stay at Iowa State, his development at running back, his relationship with Cameron Pettaway and his “why.”
Coffey talks about the importance of watching film, what’s given the cornerbacks room success so far, receivers that have impressed him and a lot more.
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Cyclone Fanatic is your one-stop spot to find all of the happenings in the transfer portal this offseason.
Below, you’ll find departures and additions that have been publicized for this year’s cycle.
*COMMITS*
Tre Singleton – The Northwestern freshman forward announced his commitment to Iowa State on Saturday afternoon. Below is Jake Brend’s scout of Manning.
As a true freshman at Northwestern, he started 31 of 34 games, posting 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game on shooting splits of 47/16/73. The 6-foot-8, 215-pounder from Indiana posted 14 and 5 during a November exhibition at Hilton Coliseum. Diving into his KenPom advanced analytics, a pretty good defensive rebounding rate and free throw rate for a freshman in the Big Ten. The shooting clearly isn’t great, but he at least showed an ability to step out and hit a three (9 of 54) and is a capable free-throw shooter. That’s step one for big guys developing into a consistent shooter, even if his upper body mechanics could use some work. His marquee game came against Penn State, where he had a monster 17-point, 18-rebound day. I went back and watched this game and was impressed with his ability to be under control on the fast break at his size. His body control and touch immediately stood out. He’s clearly a physically strong player already, with a lot of room to grow into his frame. That’s an important trait to make up for some of his deficiencies in lateral quickness and his explosiveness vertically.
Leon Bond – The UNI junior guard announced his commitment to Iowa State on Friday afternoon. Below is Jake Brend’s scout of Bond.
Bond is a familiar face, spending the last two seasons at UNI under Ben Jacobson. Prior to his time in Cedar Falls, he played under T.J. Otzelberger’s close friend Tony Bennett at Virginia. That included one year alongside Blake Buchanan. Bond is a really good athlete with a good frame at 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds. In 2025-26, Bond tallied 11.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game on 46/37/75 splits. Eye test-wise, I thought he was clearly UNI’s second-best player during their MVC Championship run. From a fit standpoint, he has a very similar statistical profile to Nate Heise in his last year at UNI. I anticipate him to fit pretty seamlessly into Heise’s Cyclone role. From a numbers standpoint, it’s perfect… the intangibles are an area where you rely on T.J. Otzelberger and his scouting.
Jaquan Johnson – The Bradley guard announced his commitment to Iowa State on Saturday afternoon. Below is Jake Brend’s scout of Johnson.
Johnson is one of the best guards in the Missouri Valley. He broke out in a big way this season, averaging 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game on 42/38/78 shooting splits. He was named First Team All-MVC and Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. The question here is size. At 5-foot-11, he doesn’t exactly fit the typical Otzelberger mold. That said, he’s a microwave scorer and a legit defender. Talent like that always translates somewhere — even if the fit isn’t perfect on paper.
Taj Manning – The Kansas State forward announced his commitment to Iowa State on Saturday afternoon. Below is Jake Brend’s scout of Manning.
As a 6-foot-7 junior at K-State, Manning averaged 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 20 minutes per game on 48/18/69 splits. Here’s the case for Manning. Jerome Tang was clearly not a great coach, and we have no idea how many players he misused during his tenure. Manning didn’t play more than 20 minutes until mid-January; after that, he played 25+ in all but one of K-State’s remaining 16 games. After Tang got fired, Manning averaged 6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. KenPom tells me he’s a good offensive rebounder and above average around the rim. Could very well be serviceable as a backup big man.
Ryan Prather – The Robert Morris guard committed to Iowa State on Sunday afternoon. Below is Jake Brend’s scout of Prather:
The Second team All-Horizon player is in the portal as a grad transfer. The big-bodied guard standing at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds averaged 15.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 0.8 turnovers per game on 44/37/85 splits from the field. As the leading scorer for Robert Morris, he also led the country in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.44-1. KenPom loves him… 30th nationally in offensive rating, analytics show he’s smart with the ball and an efficient shooter at all levels. The main concern would be his fit as an average at best athlete. In my opinion, he would fit as a high-level catch-and-shoot guy who can initiate offense as an off-ball guard.
DeparturesMilan Momcilovic – The best three-point shooter in program history is entering the transfer portal while he goes through the NBA Draft process. As a junior, Momcilovic led America in three-point percentage and three-point makes.
Mason Williams – The junior guard missed this past season due to an injury. He averaged 13.9 points during the 2024–25 season at Eastern Washington. On3 first reported that Williams was entering the portal.
Cade Kelderman – Committed to South Dakota. As a junior, the Waukee native appeared in 19 games and scored 0.9 points per contest.
Dominick Nelson – The senior guard is in the transfer portal. The Utah Valley transfer played one year in Ames, averaging 3.7 points in 24 games. Nelson played two years of JUCO prior to Utah Valley, meaning he will need to file a waiver to potentially get more eligibility.
The post 2026 Iowa State Men’s Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
Iowa State head men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger has announced the addition of five transfers to the 2026-27 Iowa State roster. Leon Bond III (Northern Iowa), Jaquan Johnson (Bradley), Taj Manning (Kansas State), Ryan Prather Jr. (Robert Morris) and Tre Singleton (Northwestern) will all join the Cyclones this summer.
Bond is a 6-5 guard out of Wauwatosa, Wis., who played for the Panthers the last two seasons after spending his first two seasons, including a redshirt year, at Virginia. He played the 2023-24 season at Virginia with current Cyclone Blake Buchanan. Bond comes to Iowa State with one season of eligibility remaining.
He earned Missouri Valley All-Defensive Team honors, while also being named to the MVC All-Tournament Team following the Panthers run to the title. Starting all 36 games for UNI last season, Bond averaged 11.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.7 blocked shots per game. In 83 career games played, he has started 57 while scoring 746 points, good for 9.0 per game. He has also averaged 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in his career.
“Leon Bond constantly puts pressure on the defense with his ability to get into the paint, make plays for himself and his teammates, and knockdown shots on the perimeter,” Otzelberger said. “We’re excited for Leon defensively, as his length, instincts and competitive spirit will make him a menace on the defensive end of the floor. As much as we look at the physical things, his infectious personality and leadership style will be assets for our program.”
Johnson is a 5-11 guard out of Milwaukee, Wis., who played for the Braves the last two seasons. Johnson was named the MVC Defensive Player of the Year, while also earning a spot on the All-MVC First Team, the MVC All-Defensive Team and the MVC Most Improved Team. During his freshman year, he earned a spot on the MVC All-Freshman Team. Johnson comes to Iowa State with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
He had three games of 30-plus points this past season, becoming the first Brave to do so since 1991. He also tied the Bradley single-game steals record with nine against UT-Martin, while his 85 steals last season were the second-most in program history. During his freshman year, he appeared in 37 games, averaging 6.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Starting 34 games as a sophomore, he improved his numbers to 16.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
“An electric, downhill guard, Jaquan Johnson has the innate ability to bring speed and quickness to the game on both ends of the floor,” Otzelberger said. “His playmaking ability will allow us to get out in transition. Defensively, he provides outstanding ball pressure at the point of attack and has proven to be one of the highest steal rate players in the country. He leads with a quiet confidence, while his toughness and workmanlike status will help elevate our program.”
Manning is a 6-7 forward out of Grandview, Mo., who played for the Wildcats the last four seasons. He redshirted his freshman year at Kansas State. Manning comes to Iowa State with one season of eligibility remaining. Manning has appeared in a pair of games against the Cyclones in his career, grabbing four rebounds with a pair of blocked shots in the game last season in Manhattan.
He played 52 games for Kansas State, starting 18 of them. Last year, he averaged 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. In Big 12 play, Manning averaged 5.3 points and 6.1 rebounds to go along with 1.4 assists per game. He scored in double figures three times, with two of those games being at No. 3 Houston and at No. 13 Texas Tech. He also had a season-high 10 rebounds against TCU. He had multiple blocked shots in seven games, including a season-high three at No. 13 Texas Tech.
“Taj Manning’s physicality will control the paint on both ends,” Otzelberger said. “Offensively, his ability to chase down rebounds and finish around the basket will punish teams inside. He also has the ability to attack closeouts and knockdown open shots. Taj has tremendous defensive versatility and can guard the basketball one-through-five. His communication, maturity and leadership will impact every member of our program. We recruited Taj out of high school and are excited to reconnect with him on this journey.”
Prather is a 6-5 guard out of Clarksburg, Md., who played for the Colonials the last two seasons after spending his first two seasons, including a redshirt year, at Akron. Prather is set to be the first Cyclone ever from Maryland. Prather comes to Iowa State with one season of eligibility remaining.
He earned Second Team All-Horizon League honors this past season. Prather has appeared in 83 games in his career, including 45 starts over the last two seasons at Robert Morris. During his redshirt-junior season, he averaged 15.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 0.9 steals per game for the Colonials. He scored 20-plus points nine times last season, including a career-high 29 against Detroit. At 4.44, Prather led the country in assist-to-turnover ratio.
“A big guard, Ryan Prather has proven to be an excellent decision maker, evidence by leading the country in assist-to-turnover ratio,” Otzelberger said. “He’s somebody that takes tremendous pride in taking care of the basketball, while also proving himself as a knock-down 3-point shooter. Defensively, he uses his size and length to disrupt opposing offenses, and we look forward to him impacting the glass. Ryan is a natural leader and has a personality that will positively impact our team.”
Singleton is a 6-8 forward out of Jeffersonville, Ind., who played for the Wildcats last season. Singleton comes to Iowa State with three seasons of eligibility remaining. Singleton played for Northwestern in an exhibition game against the Cyclones in Hilton Coliseum this past season, scoring 14 points with five rebounds in the ISU victory.
He played in all 34 games for the Wildcats, starting 31 of them. He averaged 7.6 points per game, the most by a Northwestern freshman since 2015-16, while also adding 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He scored in double figures 10 times, while recording his first career double-double with 17 points and 18 rebounds against Penn State. He also had a 10 rebound game, with eight points, against Wisconsin. He averaged 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in eight games against ranked Big Ten opponents last season.
“Tre Singleton’s advantage creating ability presents a mismatch for opposing defenses,” Otzelberger said. “He’s a downhill playmaker that constantly puts pressure on the rim and will get us going in transition every time he grabs a rebound. Defensively, he takes great pride in being disruptive, getting stops, and finishing possessions. He is a fierce competitor who lays it on the line every time he steps on the court. He will make a massive impact on our program.”
The post Iowa State officially adds five transfers appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
ISU assistant coach Ross Watson helps coach up the team’s linebackers during a recent spring practice. Photo by Rob Gray.
AMES — Iowa State head football coach Jimmy Roberts talked about a quarterback competition and rising stars among his team’s position groups. The highs and lows of camp and the growth he’s seen from the team.
So Monday’s media availability served as a standard spring football update from the Cyclones’ first-year head coach — until he broke some very unfortunate news.
“(Safety) Braden Awls tore his ACL,” Rogers said of the prized transfer from Toledo who totaled 52 tackles and intercepted five passes last season. “That’s probably the biggest (injury).”
Rogers said the injury is season-ending for Awls, a 6-0,196-pound senior who earned first team All-MAC accolades last season.
“(It was) kind of in a routine hit/blocking situation,” Rogers added. ‘His leg got planted. Outside of that — and that one sucks — but overall we’ve been able to stay as healthy as we need to be with the physicality with which we’re playing right now ion practice.”
A handful of candidates could replace Awls as a likely starter at safety, including Montana transfer Micah Harper, who started his career at BYU.
“(He) has done a really good job,” Rogers said. “He’s a savvy player. For him it’s getting the mental reps inside of it to where he doesn’t get confused.”
Washington State transfers Duhron Goodman, Brody Miller and Damarius Russell could each carve out roles at safety, as well — as could holdovers players such as Drew Surges and Eddie Lemos, who played cornerback last season.
“I’ve been intrigued with Drew Surges, how he just kind of flies around and his ability to pick up the defense really well,” Rogers said. “(Lemos), I think, he gives us flexibility. I really like the way Eddie plays. He’s just a really intellectual kid that plays hard and is very instinctual, and he’s surely gonna have a role in this defense.”
So outside of the bad news about Awls — who presumably could be back if he receives a medical redshirt, Rogers is seeing nothing but positive signs from his team on both sides of the ball.
“If you were to (ask) who I tipped my hat to (last) Saturday, it would surely be the offense,” Rogers said. “Of how they played, the physicality in which they played with, the execution standpoint outside of a couple things here and there.”
Rogers also said transfer quarterbacks Jaylen Raynor and Zane Flores have stood out through the first half of spring camp. Raynor, a dual-threat senior from Arkansas State, threw for 19 touchdowns and ran for seven more last season. The 6-3, 215-pound Flores was thrust into a starting role as a freshman at Oklahoma State last season and threw three touchdown passes along with seven interceptions.
“They’re both learning a new system and, at times, one does better in a certain situation, and one does better in the other situation,” Rogers said. “So we’ve been kind of mixing and matching who goes with which group at the end of the day. It will sort itself out over the series of spring ball and where (they’re at) going into summer.”
Rogers has also been highly impressed with his running backs room. Holdover Aiden Flora and Bowling Green transfer Cameron Pettaway have both turned heads both running the ball and catching it out of the backfield.
“There have been some splash plays,” said Rogers, who added that outside of Awls’ season-ending injury, no one else is dealing with anything severe from a health standpoint. “I think Flora could be a difference maker, for sure, and Cam Pettaway is really hard to tackle in small space, so trying to utilize those’ guys’ skillset. Those two are somewhat similar, but they can both catch the ball. They can both get out in the slot and line up at wide receiver and make a linebacker or safety miss. So I think the sky’s the limit for the group.”
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Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers held a press conference on Monday afternoon as week three of spring football beings.
Watch what Rogers had to say about Braden Awls’ ACL injury, standout position groups, the recent recruiting success and more.
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Jimmy Rogers announced a tough break for his program on Monday afternoon, confirming that senior safety Braden Awls is out for the season with a torn ACL that he suffered in practice.
The Toledo transfer was one of the prized portal additions in January. As a junior in the MAC, Awls had 52 tackles and five interceptions.
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Mar 27, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger speaks with the referee during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
About 48 hours ago, my expectations were to write a men’s basketball column similar to the one I wrote for the women’s team a week ago. The plan was to outline some holes of the previous iteration of the Cyclones and share how the team could fill them during the offseason. Well, that plan was foiled in a hurry as T.J. Otzelberger went with his own plan before I could even publish mine (rude).
Since he does not want to listen to me, the best I have to offer is a breakdown of why next year’s squad has the blueprint to be just as good.
The most important factor in the team’s ceiling was always going to be whether or not sniper Milan Momcilovic returns. In the absence of Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson, Momcilovic was going to be tasked with being the roster’s consistent 20-point scorer if he decided to wait a year before heading to the NBA. Well, we got our answer Sunday, as Momcilovic announced he was focusing on the NBA Draft, and also entering his name in the transfer portal.
pic.twitter.com/W0AyJ69ITQ
— Milan Momcilovic (@MilanMomcilovi5) April 12, 2026
There does not seem to be some nefarious reason for Momcilovic hitting the portal. Seemingly, Momcilovic needs time to see if he has a spot in the NBA warmed up for him, and Otzelberger could not leave the millions of NIL dollars in an envelope in his mailbox waiting for him to come home.
In the meantime of Momcilovic’s pending decision, Otzelberger did his best to construct a team that can win without him. The Cyclones landed commitments from transfers Leon Bond (Northern Iowa), Taj Manning (Kansas State), Jaquan Johnson (Bradley), Tre Singleton (Northwestern) and Ryan Prather Jr. (Robert Morris).
Even after losing seniors Lipsey and Nate Heise, the backcourt group still filled out quite nicely. In addition to returning contributors Jamarion Batemon and Killyan Toure, Johnson, Prather and incoming freshmen Christian Wiggins and Yusef Gray Jr. make for a great cast.
Johnson is perhaps one of the most promising of the transfers in the 2026-27 season, averaging 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals in his sophomore season. He may be undersized at just 5-foot-11, but he plays with a lot of heart, similarly to Lipsey.
Prather is also a point guard, albeit a much different one with a six-foot-five frame. He averaged 15.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists while leading the nation in assist to turnover ratio.
It would also not be surprising to see at least one of Wiggins or Gray take on a spark-plug role off the bench similar to what Batemon played this season. Wiggins was Minnesota’s second highest ranked recruit on 247Sports, and Gray was Wisconsin’s top recruit. The two have a ton of talent and the opportunity to go out and grab minutes is there.
Forward depth was a weak point this year in all honesty. After Momcilovic and Jefferson, the only other minute-getters on the squad were guards and centers. Otzelberger made it work with effective minute spacing of Jefferson, Momcilovic and the centers, but life is a lot easier when you can throw different forward looks at teams. Every team has backup guards and bigs that can get it done; however, having forward depth gives you so many more strategic options as a coach.
Adding Leon Bond, who is almost a carbon copy of Heise both in terms of frame, statistics and former university, is massive for the Cyclones. Singleton will be a sophomore with years of eligibility to his name, so if the Cyclones did strike gold in getting him on board, they will reap the benefits for a long time. Manning is the one commitment that is tough to get a read on. At 6-foot-7, he has some solid tools including his rebounding ability, but he was not given a fair shake at Kansas State and his four-point and five-rebound average certainly does not jump off the page given the lack of talent on the Wildcat roster this year.
The center position is pretty cut and dry. With Blake Buchanan and Dom Pleta returning for another season, those will be the two names battling for the starting and backup jobs. Pleta’s progression is exciting, as he already took major strides in confidence and strength during the year, so the offseason presents an even longer opportunity to grow.
The one worry I do hold for next year’s roster is continued free throw struggles. Poor free throw shooting cost the Cyclones multiple games, and I am not fully confident the case will be significantly improved next year, especially in Momcilovic’s absence.
You can check out an in-depth look at each one of Iowa State’s transfer additions on the Cyclone Fanatic site from the great Jackson Pence. As everything was going perfectly in terms of weekend portal news, it became apparent that one storm cloud could still bring a gloomy day.
The post Monday Musings: Five steps forward, one step back appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Robert Morris guard Ryan Prather Jr. commits to Iowa State, he announces on social meida.
As a junior, the 6-foot-5 product averaged 15.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game on 44/37/85 splits while maintaining the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the country.
The Second Team All-Horizon League selection is the fifth portal commit of the 2026 class. He joins Leon Bond, Jaquan Johnson, Tre Singleton and Taj Manning as the five transfers to fill out the 15 man roster.
Below is Jake Brend’s full scout of Prather:
The big-bodied guard standing at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds averaged 15.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 0.8 turnovers per game on 44/37/85 splits from the field. As the leading scorer for Robert Morris, he also led the country in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.44-1. KenPom loves him… 30th nationally in offensive rating, analytics show he’s smart with the ball and an efficient shooter at all levels. In terms of being an athlete, he’s probably not at the level of the other guards on the roster but he still adds a lot of value as a smart shotmaker that can initiate the offense as an off-ball guard. That’ll be an important asset as Iowa State replaces Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson.
Stay up to date with all of Iowa State’s portal action at our 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker.
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Shocked about Milan Momcilovic’s decision to enter the NBA Draft, with the option of going to the highest transfer portal bidder? Hell no. More like surprised the (ex) Iowa State junior’s announcement didn’t come earlier than Sunday.
Everyone figured the long-range shot-maker would eventually make this decision. I even guess that last week’s conversation with coach T.J. Otzelberger tilted in that direction. No one was surprised.
So, if there’s such a thing as a life-goes-on situation when a team loses one of the best long-range shooters in college basketball history, then I suspect this is it.
Otzelberger can spread the $3 million (or so) that may have gone for Momcilovic’s senior season among three or so players. And if things don’t work out financially favorably for Momcilovic in the NBA Draft, then there’s certainly a major college program that will find more NIL resources than the Cyclones, right now, were willing to risk on just one player. Furthermore, Otzelberger and Iowa State recruiting could not wait around for the late-May NBA Draft withdrawal deadline.
Win.
Win.
I guess.
There are other Milan Momcilovics out there, and if not, there’s a combination of players that can compensate for his 16.9-point average and 48.8% three-point shooting — ready, willing and able to not go into a shell against intense defensive attention like he faced in the Sweet 16 against Tennessee.
These days, athletes move from school to school at a higher rate than their coaches. See better opportunity. Take better opportunity.
And for Momcilovic, that’s the NBA, with a senior college season somewhere as a fallback.
Still, Otzelberger and the program he leads so well had a pretty good weekend. We think.
On Saturday, four players transferred into the program that reached its fifth NCAA Tournament in Otzelberger’s fifth season of resurrecting a proud-again program:
• JaQuan Johnson, 5-11 guard from Bradley
• Taj Manning, 6-7 forward from Kansas State
• Leon Brand III, 6-5 forward from Northern Iowa
• Tre Singleton, 6-8 forward from Northwestern
Iowa State fans assume they’re good enough to get the Cyclones into a sixth NCAA Tournament in a row because, as we know:
Every recruit is good right now. Every single one of them is the player who takes his new team to postseason places it rarely goes. That buzz echoes throughout college basketball — and will continue reverberating until rosters are filled with players most fans have never even heard of. From coast to coast, expectations are high.
Otzelberger’s past indicates last weekend’s recruiting haul will be a good one; when it comes to player evaluation, the Cyclones’ coach rarely misses. How many of the new recent players will be the next Joshua Jefferson, or Nate Heise, or Curtis Jones, or Keshon Gilbert, or Robert Jones, or Gabe Kalscheur?
The weekend’s Iowa State additions have résumés that indicate they’ll fit nicely into the Otzelberger aggressive and defense-first DNA. We assume they’ll mix nicely with returnees Blake Buchanan, Dom Pleta, Jamarion Batemon, and Killyan Toure.
We’re pretty sure of all that because Otzelberger has been a transfer master, starting way back when he was assisting Cyclones teams coached by Greg McDermott and Fred Hoiberg. His transfer successes even before becoming Iowa State’s head coach have included Korie Lucious and Chris Allen from Michigan State; Abdel Nader from Northern Illinois; Deonte Burton from Marquette; and Chris Babb from Penn State.
Remember them?
“Looking for players that we know can play better than they played at their previous school” is Otzelberger’s mindset.
Examples include Heise (Northern Iowa), Jefferson (Saint Mary’s), Buchanan (Virginia), Jones (Buffalo), Gilbert (UNLV), Tre King (Eastern Kentucky), Jones (Denver), Kalscheur (Minnesota), and Izaiah Brockington (Penn State).
They’re proof that Otzelberger has been as good a trustworthy evaluator of talent as he has been a head coach.
They’re proof that when it comes to recruiting transfers, Otzelberger knows his stuff.
Which, for fans, should make losing a player like Milan Momcilovic more tolerable.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Mar 22, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) celebrates with Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) after a play during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images
AMES — The writing was on the wall when Iowa State quickly gained four commitments from the transfer portal in roughly a 30-hour period from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening.
Sharpshooting junior forward Milan Momcilovic had already declared for the NBA Draft — which surprised no one, but as the Cyclones’ roster filled up, his future plans came into sharper relief. The 6-8 shooting star who led the nation in 3-point accuracy at 48.8 percent last season then issued a statement at noon on Sunday.
It reads as follows:
“Cyclone Nation: Three-Straight NCAA Tournament Appearances. Two Sweet 16’s. The 2024 Big 12 Tournament Title. Countless Top 25 Victories.
The last three years have been the best of my life, and you have been a major part of that. The experience of playing in Hilton Coliseum in front of the best fans in the country is something I will always cherish and remember.
To My Coaches and Staff: Thank You for everything you have done for me. From the moment you started recruiting me, you have been the best support system away from home I could ask for. You have helped me develop as a player and a person in my time at Iowa State.
To My Teammates: What a run it’s been! I’ve enjoyed every minute of being together from the soccer field to the postseason, it’s been a pleasure.
It has always been a dream of mine to play in the NBA. At this time, I’m turning my full focus to the NBA Draft, while also entering my name in the Transfer Portal, with the goal of being in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Thank You For Everything, Cyclone Nation!”
ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger also issued a statement shortly after Momcilovic’s appeared on social media.
“Milan and I have had meaningful discussions about his future over the last couple of weeks,” Otzelberger said. “He needs to focus on what is best for him and his family. We can’t thank him enough for what he has done for our program. We look forward to following him as he pursues his dream of playing in the NBA.”
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Iowa State earns its fourth transfer portal commitment in the 2026 transfer portal cycle in Northwestern forward Tre Singleton.
Northwestern forward Tre Singleton commits to Iowa State, per On3
As a freshman in Evanston, the 6-foot-8 big man averaged 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game on splits of 48/17/74.
Singleton is the fourth commit of the 2026 portal class. pic.twitter.com/t8n8jDiVAO
— Cyclone Fanatic (@cyclonefanatic) April 12, 2026
As a freshman in Evanston, the 6-foot-8 big man averaged 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game on splits of 48/17/74.
Singleton joins the Missouri Valley Conference duo of Leon Bond III (Northern Iowa) and Jaquan Johnson (Bradley), along with Taj Manning (Kansas State), as Iowa State’s 2026 transfer portal commitments.
He will be a sophomore with 3 years of eligibility.
Here is Jake Brend’s scout of Singleton:
As a true freshman at Northwestern, he started 31 of 34 games, posting 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game on shooting splits of 47/16/73. The 6-foot-8, 215-pounder from Indiana posted 14 and 5 during a November exhibition at Hilton Coliseum. Diving into his KenPom advanced analytics, a pretty good defensive rebounding rate and free throw rate for a freshman in the Big Ten. The shooting clearly isn’t great, but he at least showed an ability to step out and hit a three (9 of 54) and is a capable free-throw shooter. That’s step one for big guys developing into a consistent shooter, even if his upper body mechanics could use some work. His marquee game came against Penn State, where he had a monster 17-point, 18-rebound day. I went back and watched this game and was impressed with his ability to be under control on the fast break at his size. His body control and touch immediately stood out. He’s clearly a physically strong player already, with a lot of room to grow into his frame. That’s an important trait to make up for some of his deficiencies in lateral quickness and his explosiveness vertically.
The post Iowa State earns a commitment from Northwestern transfer Tre Singleton appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State landed its second transfer portal commitment of the day and third of the 2026 cycle in Bradley guard Jaquan Johnson.
Bradley guard Jaquan Johnson has committed to Iowa State
As a sophomore, the MVC Defensive Player of the Year averaged 16.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
The First Team All-MVC player is the third commit of the 2026 portal cycle. pic.twitter.com/YufxicP5iD
— Cyclone Fanatic (@cyclonefanatic) April 11, 2026
As a sophomore, the MVC Defensive Player of the Year averaged 16.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.
For reference, Johnson’s 2.5 steals per game last season ranked ninth nationally. Tamin Lipsey’s 2.3 steals per game ranked 14th nationally.
The First Team All-MVC player is the third commit of the 2026 portal cycle. Johnson is the second Missouri Valley Conference player to commit to Iowa State out of the transfer portal, with the first being Northern Iowa’s Leon Bond. Both were named to the 1st Team All-Defense team this past season.
Here is Jake Brend’s scout of Johnson:
Johnson is one of the best guards in the Missouri Valley. He broke out in a big way this season, averaging 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game on 42/38/78 shooting splits. He was named First Team All-MVC and Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. The question here is size. At 5-foot-11, he doesn’t exactly fit the typical Otzelberger mold. That said, he’s a microwave scorer and a legit defender. Talent like that always translates somewhere — even if the fit isn’t perfect on paper.
The post Iowa State lands a commitment from Bradley transfer Jaquan Johnson appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
T.J. Otzelberger and the Iowa State Cyclones picked up their second transfer portal commitment of the 2026 cycle in Kansas State forward Taj Manning.
Kansas State forward Taj Manning has committed to Iowa State per 247Sports
As a 6-foot-7 junior at K-State, Manning averaged 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 20 minutes per game on 48/18/69 splits. pic.twitter.com/cOeUcVg9Wy
— Cyclone Fanatic (@cyclonefanatic) April 11, 2026
As a 6-foot-7 junior at K-State, Manning averaged 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 20 minutes per game on 48/18/69 splits.
Here is Jake Brend’s scout of Manning:
As a 6-foot-7 junior at K-State, Manning averaged 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 20 minutes per game on 48/18/69 splits. Here’s the case for Manning. Jerome Tang was clearly not a great coach, and we have no idea how many players he misused during his tenure. Manning didn’t play more than 20 minutes until mid-January; after that, he played 25+ in all but one of K-State’s remaining 16 games. After Tang got fired, Manning averaged 6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. KenPom tells me he’s a good offensive rebounder and above average around the rim. Could very well be serviceable as a backup big man.
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Iowa State recieved it’s first commitment of the 2026 transfer portal cycle in Northern Iowa transfer Leon Bond III.
UNI guard Leon Bond has committed to Iowa State
As a junior, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 11.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game and was on the MVC All-Defensive Team.
Iowa State’s first portal commit of the 2026 cycle. pic.twitter.com/Jb9BM3WjI6
— Cyclone Fanatic (@cyclonefanatic) April 10, 2026
As a junior, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 11.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game and was on the MVC All-Defensive Team.
Below is Jake Brend’s scout of Bond:
Bond is a familiar face, spending the last two seasons at UNI under Ben Jacobson. Prior to his time in Cedar Falls, he played under T.J. Otzelberger’s close friend Tony Bennett at Virginia. That included one year alongside Blake Buchanan. Bond is a really good athlete with a good frame at 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds. In 2025-26, Bond tallied 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game on 46/37/75 splits. Eye test-wise, I thought he was clearly UNI’s second-best player during their MVC Championship run. From a fit standpoint, he has a very similar statistical profile to Nate Heise in his last year at UNI. If he chose Iowa State, I’d anticipate him to fit pretty seamlessly into Heise’s Cyclone role. From a numbers standpoint, it’s perfect… the intangibles are an area where you rely on T.J. Otzelberger and his scouting.
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The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
Head coach Jimmy Rogers’ first season coaching Iowa State will feature a pair of conference road games on Friday nights under the lights, the Big 12 Conference announced today.
Iowa State will now face BYU in Provo, Utah on Friday, Oct. 9 and UCF in Orlando, Florida on Friday, Nov. 20.
Kickoff times and television networks will be announced at a later date.
Season tickets for the 2026 season are available now for renewal or for those looking to experience the excitement of gameday at Jack Trice Stadium for the first time. For more information, click here.
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Bill Fennelly and his staff have their first portal commit of the 2026 cycle with the commitment of Kent State guard Maya Babbit.
This season, the 5-foot-8 junior averaged 16.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game on 37/27/90 (FG/3PT/FT) shooting splits.
Babbit is the fifth Cyclone on the roster for the 2026-27 season, joining Arianna Jackson, Evangelina Paulk, Freya Jensen and Macy Comito. Follow along with the entire portal cycle on our tracker.
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Iowa State Cyclones’ women’s basketball head coach Bill Fennelly write in a board before Iowa State and Oklahoma State women basketball at Hilton Coliseum on February. 25, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. Credit: Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State fans, by now, are over their Audi Crooks-is-leaving meltdown. I presume.
You know the ones I’m referring to — the same vocal and mostly anonymous regulars who reacted as they did way back when, talking themselves into believing the Big 12 Conference was about to crash and burn.
That didn’t happen — and neither is the Iowa State women’s basketball program headed for ruins.
A couple of handfuls of players entering the transfer portal is more a sign of the times than an indication the program is on the verge of collapse.
Google up the Tennessee women’s program. Rocky Top didn’t only lose to North Carolina State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but also lost its entire roster either to graduation or the portal.
Among Big 12 women’s hoops portal entries, Oklahoma State has nine, UCF eight, and Arizona and Houston seven, according to the On3 website.
And you think Iowa State, with nine, has problems?
To your concern about a second-team All-American (an Iowan, no less) leaving the Cyclones? I wonder, too, but probably something altogether different than what has been the fan knee-jerk narrative.
What if Audi Crooks would have been the first to announce she’s leaving — would as many of her (former) teammates have followed?
Would Addy Brown, the best all-around Iowa State player the past three seasons (when healthy), have stayed?
Just curious.
Will a player who played a heck of a lot better on the offensive end than on the defensive side of the floor be missed as much as some people think?
Just curious.
Will Iowa State go back to averaging around 27 three-point shots — five or so more than it did over the past three seasons? And go back to averaging 10 three-point makes?
Just curious.
In case you missed it, the Iowa State women’s program has been through this before. Like when it underwent a remake after winning the 2023 Big 12 tournament, then losing to Toledo in the NCAA Tournament’s first game.
Ashley Joens ran out of eligibility. Stephanie Soares’ injury-related request to the NCAA for an additional year was denied. Lexi Donarski, Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw, Maggie Vick and Morgan Kane entered the portal.
I re-read social media comments after that season. The predictable and immediate sky-is-falling narrative cropped up, as it did a few weeks ago. Some fans were concerned about coach Bill Fennelly’s perceived guard-heavy recruiting. Others wondered how the Cyclones would do if a standout player hung out under the basket.
The next recruiting class included Jalynn Bristow, Brown, Arianna Jackson, Kelsey Joens, and the post player fans coveted — Audi Crooks.
Once the current transfer period is over, Jackson will be that recruiting class’s lone Iowa State mainstay.
Bottom line: When it comes to the transfer portal, think twice before going with your first impression.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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The Big Ten vs Big 12 Debate
I hate the fact that this even has been a topic of debate in the national media, but when the national media puts their heads up their asses, this is the kind of stuff that comes out.
Is the Big Ten a respectable conference? Yes. Did the Big Ten bring home the title? Yes. Do I drink too much sometimes? Yes. I get it, the Big Ten had the best team but are they the best conference? Hold your horses. First off, look at the injuries in the Big 12 this year. JT Toppin for Tech, Richie Saunders for BYU, Joshua Jefferson for Iowa State, all superstars in this conference that went down and didn’t play in the NCAA Tournament. We could be talking about two or maybe even three extra teams from the Big 12 making it further than what they did.
Houston and Arizona were probably the best chances for the Big 12 to bring home a title. But Houston shot a season low against Illinois and Michigan shot lights out against Arizona. It’s basketball, shit happens, that’s why it’s called March Madness.
When I look at both conferences from top to bottom, give me the Big 12. Michigan, Illinois, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Those were the teams who finished in the top five in the Big Ten, then look at the Big 12 top five with Arizona, Houston, Kansas, Texas Tech, and Iowa State, if all teams are healthy, it’s the Big 12.
And if you want to look at the bottom five of each conference which the Big Ten’s bottom is about as ugly as a pig’s ass. You will see Arizona State, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, and Utah compared to Rutgers, Northwestern, Oregon, Maryland, and Penn State, again, give me the Big 12. Top, middle, bottom, any anything else, it’s the Big 12 over the Big Ten.
Bill Self Stays Put
Glad to have you back Bill. But he needs to put a new team together because it seems like everyone and their mom went to the transfer portal. On top of that, Darryn Peterson took about a decade off of his life.
And let’s face it, this program isn’t what it once was. This isn’t 2022 anymore. They have been passed up by the Houston’s, Arizona’s, and Iowa State’s now in the last few years. And speaking of the last few years, it’s been four years since Kansas made it out of opening weekend in the tournament.
Bill Self is an Icon, no doubt, but things haven’t been just smooth sailing over the last few years. And I don’t think this is going to be a thing where he rides off into the sunset cutting down the nets like he may have been able to do years ago.
I still think he’s adjusting to how things work now and when it comes to that, you have to be one step ahead otherwise you are going to get passed up by these programs that you were once better than simply because you could recruit the best players over everyone else because it’s Kansas. It doesn’t work like that anymore, but I am glad to have him back for at least one more year, but I wonder if his health can stay good and he can finish this thing on his own terms.
Cody Campbell vs Brett Yormark
In case you have been living under a rock, or in Fort Dodge, Texas Tech chairman and big-time booster Cody Campbell is not happy with Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark. Ok, for you folks in Fort Dodge I am kidding and I love you and I will visit your beautiful city sometime.
But the reason Cody Campbell is not happy is because the Big 12 threw out the idea of Texas Tech’s home opener against Houston to be played on Friday night instead of Saturday. While that may not seem to be a big deal to some, it is to Campbell who says that Texas High School football is the only thing that belongs on Friday night.
As someone who is from the state of Texas and played Texas high school football, I understand the importance of it. But at the same time, Brett Yormark has a job to do. According to Yormark, Friday night Big 12 games delivered ratings 64% higher than the conference average in 2025. So why wouldn’t the Big 12 want to capitalize on that?
Cody Campbell can be mad all he wants but he doesn’t run the Big 12. Brett Yormark understands that Friday night is prime real estate and is where you don’t have to compete for people’s attention. If it were up to me, I would put at least one Big 12 game on every single Friday night during the season.
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The hot week on the recruiting trail continues for Iowa State with the commitment of three-star interior offensive lineman Koen Hinzman, he announces on Instagram.
Standing at 6-foot-7, 285 pounds, Hinzman is the 47th ranked interior offensive lineman in the 2027 class and 14th ranked player in the state of Michigan.
Along with Iowa State, Hinzman holds offers from Arkansas, Cincinnati, Houston and Kansas State, among others.
He’s the third commit of Jimmy Rogers’ 2027 class and first on the offensive line.
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Sep 6, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Dominic Overby (11) makes a catch against Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back TJ Hall (2) during the second half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — Forget the cookie jar.
Iowa State wide receiver Dominic Overby felt he saw a tableful of those tantalizing treats arrayed in front of him last season, but he decided to eat just one.
And that was a problem — in terms of this simile, anyway.
“I grabbed one and then I got content with just grabbing one when there (was) a whole row right there,” said the speedy 6-5, 200-pound sophomore from West Jordan, Utah. “So that definitely feeds me and drives me every day.”
Overby’s “cookie” was composed of bite-size packages. He skillfully snagged an over-the-shoulder touchdown catch in the Cyclones’ season-opening win over Kansas State in Ireland, then recorded his second touchdown grab in a week three win at Arkansas State. But Overby would make just three more catches the rest of the season — all in the Oct. 4 loss at Cincinnati — as his down-and-distance reps dwindled and he settled into a special teams role.
So that symbolic cookie served as a sign of his impact and his hunger on the field. And he’s been eagerly gobbling them down ever since, including this spring as one of several ISU players who chose to remain with the program after Matt Campbell left for Penn State, and new head coach Jimmy Rogers seized the reins.
“I was back home, it was the holidays, and there was this one day where I was thinking about it and it didn’t stress me,” said Overby, who finished with seven catches for 87 yards last season. “Like, obviously, that whole time was stressful, (but) the decision to stay didn’t stress me, so that’s definitely when I knew.”
Now Overby’s poised to shine in a deep, but largely unproven wide receivers room under the tutelage of his position coach, Derrick Sherman, who implores his players to avoid living and playing “in a box.”
“It’s gonna be hard, there’s gonna be some straining involved, but nobody has fun living inside a box doing the same thing over and over,” said Sherman, who spent last season coaching the wide receivers at Houston. “Guys want to evolve, they want to get better. They want to feel themselves get better. They want to be challenged. So a lot of that’s in everything we do, right? Not even football, just like life, right?”
Structure blends harmoniously with curiosity. Toughness links up with thoughtfulness. The mold is broken and suddenly those imaginary cookies serve as potential long-term nourishment for Overby and his fellow wide receivers, who early in spring ball have no defined roles. And that’s not a problem — in terms of building camaraderie, playing free and developing complementary skills.
“It really is nice, because if you just show up and do what you can do, the coaches will see that,” Overby said. “You don’t have any pressure of, like, ‘Oh, I’ve gotta do this for my role,’ you know?”
For now, at least. Spring camp is a time for fresh beginnings. Roles were emerge as players blossom into the system and it’s a natural process that can’t be forced nor manufactured.
But leadership is an entirely different matter, and Sherman feels he has some prime candidates in that area in his room, starting with 6-3, 208-pound junior transfer Evan Boyd.
“He was actually coached by a guy I’m really familiar with — my brother (B.T.) at Central Michigan,” Sherman said of the well-traveled Boyd, who played for Michigan State last season. “I had a lot of familiarity with his game and how he is, but even moreso who he is as a person, right? This dude, he comes in (and) he’s the same each and every day.”
Boyd, like Overby, made a splash with a handful of plays last season, catching three passes for 54 yards. So pass the cookie jar, right?
“(We’re) competitive,” Boyd said. “We have a lot of new guys in the room.”
And one “old” one in Overby, whose appetite has grown significantly from last season to this season.
“That second level of the game, I’m still diving into that right now,” he said.
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Wednesday at spring football was about the wide receivers and safeties rooms. Watch everything wide receivers coach Derrick Sherman, safeties coach Pete Menage, senior safety Duhron Goodman, redshirt sophomore receiver Dom Overby and redshirt junior receiver Evan Boyd said during the availability below.
Sherman goes in-depth on the wide receivers room, talks about Dom Overby’s progression, recruiting in Texas and more.
Menage talks about how their defensive scheme has evolved from South Dakota State to now, the importance of the safeties in their scheme, certain standouts at his position group and more.
Goodman goes in-depth on the importance of the safety position in Jesse Bobbit’s defense, competing for a spot on the two deep and what’s impressed him about facing Jaylen Raynor in practice.
Overby discusses why he stayed at Iowa State, what he has to prove in 2026 and what he learned last season.
Boyd talks about his decision to transfer to Iowa State from Michigan State, the type of player he is and what he has to prove.
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Nov 1, 2025; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers quarterback Maalik Murphy (6) gets sacked by Washington State Cougars defensive lineman Bryson Lamb (99) during the second half at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
AMES — Bryson Lamb’s seen it all. Iowa State’s senior defensive tackle has experienced everything the tumultuous and ever-changing world of college football can throw at a player — from conference realignment, to massive roster overhauls.
And now the 6-2, 301-pound transfer from Washington State is one of several former Cougars who chose to follow head coach Jimmy Rogers and his staff to the ISU campus.
“It’s definitely weird because last year I was the guy who stayed,” said Lamb, who was a holdover at Washington State last season when Rogers took over that program for a one-year stint. “So I (was) accepting all these people into a program that I (was) very familiar with. So being on the other side of that, coming into a program and asking people who have been here before kind of what’s the dynamic? What’s the culture and stuff? (It’s) definitely been a unique perspective for sure.”
Fortunately for Lamb, he has plenty of ex-Cougar brethren who also chose to transfer to the Cyclones’ program — and eleven of those 15 transfers reside on his side of the ball.
So what can ISU fans expect from the team’s new-look, four-man-front-based defense?
“You’re gonna see a lot of things flying in our colors, whether it’s the linebackers, safeties, corners, the D-line, you’re gonna see a lot of movement,” said Lamb, who notched 1.5 of the Cougars’ 31 sacks last season. “You’re gonna see a lot of action.”
Especially up front, where a handful of Washington State transfers such as Lamb and EDGE rusher Isaac “Bobby” Terrell are now meshing with ISU holdovers Zaimir Hawk and Jace Gilbert, among others.
“Those guys have been able to help some of the guys (who) are new within this defensive structure,” said the Cyclones’ first-year defensive line coach Jalon Bibbs, who worked with Rogers at both South Dakota State and Washington State. “I think that’s gonna pay off tenfold, and I think that is really being displayed right now in spring ball with how fast some of the other guys are picking the defensive structure up. So I think it’s more about the buy in and being able to build relationships and being able to get everybody on the same page that ultimately allows you to be able to have that trust and that continuity that you need.”
That multi-pronged bond is forming as each spring practice unfolds, creating a springboard to summer workouts and fall camp.
“We’re (going to be) super heavy on stuff, playing guys physical,” said South Dakota transfer defensive tackle Caden Crawford, who started his college career at Iowa. “And then running to the ball and gang tackling — that’s what we’re all about, is flying to the ball and making plays and being excited for each other, and then just feed off that energy.”
Washington State ranked 33rd in run defense, 13th in pass defense and 15th in total defense in Rogers’ first and only season at the helm, so all that energy and physicality should allow defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit’s group to thrive in the Big 12, as well.
“Last year we were playing ACC, SEC, we’re playing (against) these Power Four conferences that, really, you know, my first couple years of college that’s what I was experiencing in the (old) Pac-12,” Lamb said. “So the familiarity of the size and the speed and stuff, it’s not new to me.”
Nor is it new to most of ISU’s defensive line or the team in general. Yes, there are several lower-level transfers eager to prove themselves at the Power Four level, but they’re not the only ones playing with hunger and urgency.
Lamb didn’t have a single Division I offer out of high school, but accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Washington State. So he’s truly seen it all — and often been overlooked or underestimated.
“That chip on my shoulder of kind of proving (doubters) wrong has just always been something that’s been in the back of my mind,” the Bellingham, Wash., native said. “And being at this stage, for sure, I just can’t wait to put it on display.”
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Spring football season continues in Ames. On Tuesday, members of the offensive and defensive lines spoke to the media. Watch everything OL coach Jake Thornton and DL coach Jalon Bibbs said, as well as redshirt junior OL Caden Maas, redshirt senior OL Gabe Greenlee, redshirt senior DL Bryson Lamb and redshirt senior DL Caden Crawford.
Thornton talks about lineman principles, impressive players throughout spring ball so far, how to mesh players with very different backgrounds, his philosophy on changing positions and more.
Bibbs talks about early standouts on his unit, how he’s balancing the learning curve between players he knows and new guys, what fuels him and more.
Iowa State redshirt junior Caden Maas talks about the process of meshing an offensive line together with so many different background, his time at Sioux Falls and what led to his jump to the Big 12.
Greenlee talks about his journey from wrestling to football and how much his role changed back and forth under Matt Campbell. He explains why he’s more comfortable in his current role heading into his last year of college football.
Lamb talks about his time at Washington State, playing in the Pac 12, last season’s game against Ole Miss, how the defense will translate to the Big 12 and more.
Crawford shares about his journey from Iowa to South Dakota to Iowa State, what led to his decision to play for Jimmy Rogers and the opportunity he has to prove himself.
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Iowa State’s work on the class of 2027 continues with the commitment of San Antonio wide receiver Bryson Thompson.
AGTG https://t.co/4uDJlrlXtE
— Bryson Thompson (@Bryson_1208) April 7, 2026
The 5-foot-10 receiver is unranked on 247Sports.com but holds offers from Baylor, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech and Vanderbilt, among others.
As a junior at Claudia Taylor Johnson High School, he caught a school record 71 passes for 908 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Thompson is the second commit so far in the 2027 class, joining Newton running back Isaiah Hansen.
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Iowa State offensive coordinate Tyler Roehl talks to media during a media opportunity at Stark Performance center on Feb. 11, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — There are many types of hammers.
Some are built for demolition, designed to reduce bricks to dust and foundations into rubble.
Others are meant for more delicate duties — to work in tight spaces, or repair rather than destroy.
All are fashioned to turn sharp nails into vital connective tissue; to bridge a gap and keep things together.
But how does Iowa State offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl view the hammer/nail relationship?
“Get all those tools in line and demand one thing: And it’s to play with physicality,” said Roehl, who spent last season as the Detroit Lions’ tight ends coach, but returned to the Cyclones’ program to serve on head coach Jimmy Rogers’ first ISU staff. “We’ve got guys who are about it and want to play with physicality. Honestly, right now, if you’re not playing with that mentality and mindset, (you) don’t belong on the field right now, because 98 percent of the guys are playing with that.”
That philosophy connects hulking offensive tackles, to still-big, but smaller tight ends. It links guards with quarterbacks, and a center with wide receivers and running backs.
Hammers strike. Nails are driven. Roehl’s rule-the-trenches and run-first scheme enlists active participants, not passive observers.
“It’s pretty glaring if you don’t (play that way),” said Roehl, who has seen plenty of hammers battering their way through the early stages of spring camp. “And that’s the standard. That’s the expectation. Even if we have a really good run in the middle of practice, I don’t need every single player running down to the end zone. I don’t. Because to me, that’s the expectation. Let’s get back in the huddle. Let’s call another play. Let’s go.”
That’s returning offensive lineman Austin Barrett’s mentality. The 6-6, 320-pounder junior-to-be has yet to start a game in his career, but helped ISU’s offensive line block for two 700-plus-yard rushers (Carson Hansen, now at Penn State, and Abu Sama, now at Wisconsin) for the first time since 1982.
“We want the pressure of learning more positions, learning how to be more violent, stay in our gaps, and learn the schemes better and better,” said Barrett, who transferred to ISU last season after a stint with Indiana. “(Offensive line) coach (Jake) Thornton impresses that onto us. It’s not easy to play for these guys, and that’s how it should be.”
It’s also not always easy for the Cyclones to find sustained success in their ground game — even with NFL veteran backs David Montgomery and Breece Hall starring in the program within the last decade. Hence the need for hammers. Lots and lots of hammers from the point of attack to the backfield.
“It’s either get hit, or hit somebody,” said 5-10, 175-pound transfer running back Cameron Pettaway, who was the MAC Freshman of the Year last season. “You never want to be the nail. You always want to be the hammer, so (at) running back, you’re always trying to hit somebody. Don’t ever take (any) free hits, or run out of bounds. Just be physical. That’s what (Roehl) emphasizes.”
And, as noted, it’s also what he and his offensive staff demands. High intensity helps form that standard. As does elite conditioning — and Roehl’s track record has been impressive. He served as ISU’s assistant head coach and running backs coach in the team’s record-breaking 11-win season under Matt Campbell in 2024. Before that, he spent five years as North Dakota State’s offensive coordinator.
“I’m happy with where we’re at in practice,” Roehl said last week. “I’m not satisfied for a second. There’s a lot of good, but then (it’s about) how consistent can you be? How are you bale to practice with championship habits, the finish, the effort, the physicality, every single rep? That’s what’s demanded. There (are) glimpses of really good, but then there (are) glimpses of we have a long ways to go. So I’m happy, I’m just not satisfied.”
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Photo Credit: Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic
Concern about how today’s out-of-whack college sports is affecting its still-loyal (so far) fans was heightened recently during a conversation. Some people mentioned they’d think twice about purchasing a replica jersey or an autographed picture from a star athlete not in their final season at the school where they enrolled as a freshman.
That got to me. It made me think.
What have we come to?
Will fans continue spending good, hard-earned money honoring someone who might not even be on the roster by the time the expensive credit card purchase has run through its process?
Even if the President’s recent executive order that’s designed to limit free-for-all transferring, starting next August, makes athletes think twice about possibly having to sit out a redshirt season while continually moving from School A to School B and School Beyond — the thought is the same.
Will fans keep spending money for an athlete for whom they may cheer just one or two seasons?
That’s memorabilia. That’s NIL. That’s financially supporting campus building initiatives. It’s ticket sales and booster club memberships.
I worry for college sports, more so now than ever.
While allowing athletes to benefit financially on their name, image and likeness was the best thing to happen for them since the advent of Title IX, a transfer portal without rules was the worst.
Since conferences expanded from 10 to 110.
Since regular-season games moved from home-team stadiums to outside the United States.
Since fans have been smacked in the checkbook with higher ticket prices than some families of four can withstand.
Since games have been played on streaming networks that many people can’t even access from their television.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes — and yes to the plethora of other factors that I fear could turn fans off to the greatness of college athletics and the wholesome entertainment that athletes provide their loyal fans.
But unintended transfer portal consequences that leave people wondering just who is going to be on next season’s roster at colleges throughout the United States are especially pertinent now, as the transfer portal is opening again for business. Athletes might not be the only ones considering transferring allegiances.
Remember the days when athletes started and finished their careers at the same place? Back in the days when fans really got to know players for whom they cheer. Back when purchasing the autographed jersey of a star player actually meant something — when fans could actually put names to the famous faces they saw around town?
Nothing against the transfer portal. Occasional free movement for players was a long time coming. But turning this good-faith concept into the “here today, gone tomorrow” free-for-all that it became someday could mean fewer fans, less contributions to athletics departments, and reduced payments to athletes who might be around for only the few months of the season for which they’re being paid.
Of the 20 starters on teams playing in 2026 NCAA Tournament title games, 12 began college careers elsewhere. That includes all five at Michigan. Just saying.
The positive of winning usually overcomes the negative of not even knowing the athlete who scored the winning basket or the go-ahead touchdown. As long as home-game experiences are good, fans will continue getting behind teams that win, regardless of who’s on the roster.
At places like Iowa State, fans will still rally behind players they don’t know nearly as well as they know Arianna Jackson, and knew Tamin Lipsey, Georges Niang and a host of others who started and finished careers as Cyclones. From Ireland to downtown Kansas City, as long as they’re entertained and having good times at events, Iowa State fans’ loyalty is unquestioned. They will continue purchasing athlete-related merchandise, giving to athletic departments, and buying tickets. That’s who they are.
Hopefully for athletes, schools and the communities throughout the college landscape, similar support continues.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Photo from Cincinnati Athletics
T.J. Otzelberger officially is adding Cincinnati assistant coach Tim Buckley to his staff, the school announces on Monday morning. Buckley fills one of two openings on Iowa State’s staff.
At 62, Buckley is a seasoned veteran in the coaching world with nearly 40 years of experience, including two years on Otzelberger’s staff at UNLV from 2019-2021.
Once Otzelberger left for Ames in 2021, Buckley stayed on staff in Vegas under Kevin Kruger for one season. After UNLV, Buckley worked as an assistant for South Carolina before jumping to South Carolina for two seasons.
He’s most known for his time at Indiana, working under Tom Crean during his entire nine year tenure as the associate head coach. While in Bloomington, he earned the nickname “the Shot Doctor” for his work in developing the Hoosiers into one of the best shooting programs in the country.
Crean has publicly credited Buckley for recruiting Yogi Ferrell and Cody Zeller to Bloomington, as well as Dwayne Wade to Marquette.
In-between his time at Indiana and UNLV, Buckley spent two years as a scout for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He’s also spent 10 years as a head coach at Ball State and Rockford (D-III.)
Here’s Buckley’s full coaching journey:
- Bemidji State, 1986-1988 (assistant)
- Rockford, 1988-1989 (assistant)
- Rockford, 1989-1993 (head coach)
- Wisconsin, 1993-1994 (assistant)
- Ball State, 1994-1999 (assistant)
- Marquette, 1999-2000 (assistant)
- Ball State, 2000-2006 (head coach)
- Iowa, 2006-2007 (assistant)
- Marquette, 2007-2008 (assistant)
- Indiana, 2008-2017 (associate head coach)
- Timberwolves, 2017-2019 (scout)
- UNLV, 2019-2022 (assistant)
- South Carolina, 2022-2024 (assistant)
- Cincinnati, 2024-2026 (assistant)
The post Iowa State hires Tim Buckley as assistant coach appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Jan 31, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Bill Fennelly looks on during the second half against the UCF Knights at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
There is a popular saying that Rome was not built in a day. In this era of college athletics, you essentially have to find a way to do that. Some teams get to build Rome out of an already thriving roster, but others have to build Rome out of rubble.
The Iowa State women’s basketball team will have to do the latter, returning just three players from this season in Arianna Jackson, Evagelina Paulk and Freya Jensen. Obviously, amid a tragedy of losing so many talented players headlined by national superstar Audi Crooks, the three returnees are going to receive a lot of love over the next year. There have also been a lot of tough questions asked and left unanswered by the administration and coaching staff.
Truth is, the only real way to shut the unhappy fans up is by going out onto the Hilton floor next year and displaying a more successful basketball team than in the previous three years with the Crooks and Addy Brown led core. That feat is more than possible if the right pieces can be put together. While the past three years have had some major highs, the team has had gaps that were frequently exploited. This season specifically became painful at times, watching a team with more talent than their opponents in a large portion of games fall short time after time.
The transfer flood gates open two weeks after the season, and the Cyclones will already need to have names in mind when it does. Adding double-digit players to the team is no small feat, especially with how fast the talented players get gobbled up out of the portal these days. The freshman class, including Carlisle star Macy Comito, who recently reaffirmed her commitment, will need to grow up quickly. If the Cyclones do not welcome in a freshman contributor or two, the season might as well be cancelled.
No matter what, forever blessed to be a Cyclone https://t.co/Fepi0lPJu6
— Macy Comito (@MacyComito) April 2, 2026
So, why do I believe Iowa State can put together a winning roster despite everything stacked against the school? It boils down to the pitch they can offer. With just three returners, the Cyclones can offer levels of playing time that few other schools can offer. Sure, other NIL programs tower over that of the Cyclones, but the only way to harvest that money is to plant the seeds by going out and showing your best basketball for 30-ish games a year.
There were a lot of reasons these recent teams have not worked out, one of which was the fact that despite the talent, the play styles of the top players did not mesh whatsoever. Calling it a blessing in disguise would 100% be an overstatement; however, this is a great opportunity to reconstruct a roster that can actually click.
If it were up to me, the Cyclones should try to construct a roster that focuses much more on the drive and kicks than the dishes inside to post players. That is where the Ashley Joens teams found a little more success than the Cyclones have had in the last three years. Slide Jackson into somewhat of an Emily Ryan role as a defensive weapon and the initiator of the offense, find yourself an 18-ish point per game wing that gets to the hoop and protects the ball and fill out the roster with three-and-D rotational pieces. Close out the lineup with a big that can get it done inside and at least command an ounce of respect at the three-point line and next year could be a lot less of a funeral than some are expecting.
The men’s team always receives fan criticism for how the staff handles transfer portal additions. People say the players are not as talented as others the Cyclones could have brought in, but in the end the staff made the right additions more often than not. That team has its fair share of issues as well, yet they have shown the importance of chemistry.
You cannot win it all without a talented team, and you cannot win many games at all without chemistry.
All of that to say, yes, the coaches and administration deserve criticism for the handling of this offseason. Yes, the athletes transferring out stings and we may never fully know why. The coaching staff now has a duty to field a team worth watching next season, and if they do, the fanbase still has a duty to support that team given the coaching staff holds up their end of the bargain.
Loyal sons forever true is a two way street, and you cannot be upset with the players for transferring out if you are not willing to remain loyal during a tough time yourself.
In the wise words of Harvey Specter from hit television show “Suits”:
“Loyalty is a two-way street. If I’m asking for it from you, then you are getting it from me.”
The post Monday Musings: Building Rome in a Day appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State 125-pounder Christian Castillo entered the transfer portal on April 2, a move he confirmed with Cyclone Fanatic.
The Arizona native transferred to Ames High for his senior season and was widely expected to be the Cyclones’ starter at 125 pounds heading into the 2026 season.
His departure leaves a significant hole at the weight for Iowa State heading into next year.
With Castillo’s departure, along with Ethan Perryman also entering the portal, the Cyclones currently do not have a returning 125-pounder on its roster.
Castillo provided the following statement to Cyclone Fanatic:
I’m very grateful for the coaches and everything they’ve done for me. I just felt like it wasn’t the right fit for me going forward. I wish the program nothing but the best.
A Top-15 national recruit, Castillo was ranked No. 11 overall by FloWrestling and No. 14 by MatScouts, while also checking in as the No. 2 wrestler at 126 pounds by MatScouts. He went 43-0 during his senior season at Ames High and went on to win the 2025 Iowa Class 3A state title.
Castillo is also a two-time Super 32 champion and four-time placewinner, a 2022 U17 World silver medalist in freestyle and a Pan-American champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.
Iowa State does have incoming freshman Cale Vandermark (Ankeny Centennial), who projects at 125/133. Vandermark was a four-time Iowa state place-winner, finished as a state runner-up as a junior and compiled 160 career wins. He also earned All-American honors at the 2025 Fargo Junior Freestyle Championships.
Current Iowa State wrestlers in the transfer portal include:
– Adrian Meza (125 pounds)
– Ethan Perryman (125 pounds)
– Manny Rojas (165 pounds)
– Tate Naaktgeboren (184 pounds)
The post Iowa State 125-pounder, projected starter Christian Castillo enters transfer portal appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
We are heading into the final weekend of college basketball and I can’t believe it. The final four upon us and we are just days away from crowning a new champion but before we get there, here are some things I wanted to discuss in the Big 12.
Arizona is Our Last Hope
The boys from Tucson are now officially the Big 12’s only hope to win a national championship. In fact, they were the only team from the conference to even reach the elite eight due to Iowa State’s poor rebounding and free throw shooting and Houston’s piss poor shooting. I guess if there was one saving grace it’s that Illinois bounced Iowa because it was one of the few things that gave me joy last weekend. Well, that and having a few cold ones of course.
Now Arizona turns their attention to Michigan and no disrespect to Illinois and UConn but feels like this should be the final instead of the semifinal. Michigan and Arizona are by far the two most complete teams in the final four. Hell, they were the two most complete teams going into the tournament.
The Wolverines can match Arizona’s size, and they can rebound with the best of them. Yaxel Lendeborg, the Cyborg, is a matchup nightmare for anyone. But the thing Arizona is that they have faced top tier talent more times than I can count, which isn’t that high, but you get my point.
The thing with Michigan is that they are more of a hot and cold team than Arizona is. They have some sky high Cheech and Chong moments but also the lows of a bad hangover. Where Arizona is more like a long-distance runner from Kenya. They are just steady the whole time and stack up wins.
If Arizona plays their A game, they will not be beat. The trio of Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, and Jaden Bradley is about as consistent as it gets but what I love about this team is that even if one of them has an off night, someone else will step up. That’s what makes them so dangerous, it’s their depth. Plus, they can adapt to any style and don’t rely on making 10 to 15 three pointers to win games. They are as fundamentally as sound as it gets and that is why I believe they will be cutting down the net on Monday night.
Tommy Lloyd’s Comments
After Arizona’s win over Purdue last weekend, head coach Tommy Lloyd was asked about rumors of him being connected to the North Carolina job. And instead of denying it, he brought up that Arizona will “have another good coach after me.”
Not exactly the best choice of words there Tommy boy. Since then, he has commented about his statement the other day saying “It’s absolutely true. There’s going to be another coach. This is a great program. I didn’t say when. Nothing, nothing — I promise you, nothing — is knocking me off that path. And you guys might call them distractions because you’re distracted”
Well Tommy, we were only distracted because of your dumb ass comments. If you had taken care of it the first time around by saying you aren’t interested and that your focus is on the final four then we wouldn’t even be talking about this at all. It would have died right there on the spot. Instead, for some reason YOU decided to bring up the fact that Arizona would have great next coach after you are gone.
Otz Staying Put
Tommy Lloyd wasn’t the only Big 12 coach connected to the UNC job because so was our very own T.J. Otzelberger. Yes, I said our because I am one of you now and I couldn’t be more damn proud. In fact, I am not going to lie to you, I got a little emotional last Friday night after the loss to Tennessee. But I am a big boy and I can handle pain. I am a Houston Texans after all, so I am used to it.
Anyways, I just wanted to say how good it is for Iowa State and the Big 12 to have a coach like T.J. in the conference. Anytime your name gets brought up with a program like North Carolina, you have to feel honored because that is one of the bluebloods in the sport. That’s a dream job for a lot of coaches out there and for Otz, I think he’s at his dream job and it’s Iowa State.
Little ole Ames, Iowa is where he wants to be and I can’t blame him one bit. Hilton is a great home, the fan base is passionate, and he gets plenty of support. On top of that, his players love him there and love being there and that’s what brings interest. There’s a reason a lot of big-time players want to come to Iowa State.
In these times of the transfer portal, NIL, you name it, stability is crucial. Because at a lot of other schools, stability is not an option or just something that aren’t used to because of all the changes year in and year out.
T.J. was the perfect guy to take over after Steve Prohm, and when this program was down after Fred left, he picked it back up and in five years has made three sweet sixteens which no other coach in Iowa State history has done. I know he hasn’t made an elite eight yet but he’s going to get there sooner rather than later and if he isn’t already, he is going to go down as the greatest coach in Iowa State basketball history when he’s done in Ames.
The post Big 12 Buzz: A Championship Opportunity appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State women’s basketball associate head coach Jodi Steyer congratulates guard Arianna Jackson (2) during Iowa State and UCF women basketball at Hilton Coliseum on February. 15, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
I’m here to applaud Arianna Jackson for sticking with the Iowa State women’s basketball program, not to criticize those who left.
This is about adding the former Des Moines Roosevelt star’s name to a very short (and growing shorter by the minute, it seems) list of athletes who will play out the entirety of their careers at the college they entered as freshmen.
This is about putting Arianna Jackson in the same sentence as past well-known basketball stars who played their entire careers at Iowa State — like Georges Niang, Monte Morris, Matt Thomas, Naz Mitrou-Long, George Conditt and Tamin Lipsey, among others.
This is about Jackson doing what an Iowa State women’s basketball all-timer, Emily Ryan, did just a few seasons ago. Remember this: When some players from the Cyclones’ 2023 Big 12 Conference tournament title team were defecting left and right, Ryan stood solid — determined to finish what she started.
“I couldn’t imagine not being a Cyclone,” Ryan, a graduate assistant on the most recent Iowa State women’s staff, once told me. “Having an opportunity to play with this team is something I’ve been looking forward to for a while.”
The 5-foot-9 Jackson has started 85 of the 95 Iowa State games she has played during her first three seasons. She averaged 6.8 points on a team in which others dominated the scoring.
She was a deadeye from 3-point range, making 43.9% of her behind-the-arc shots. She averaged 28.7 minutes a game, third on a team that won 22 games before losing against Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament’s first round.
And she’s carrying on an Iowa State-Jackson family tradition — where her father, Hez, and brother Cory were Cyclones football players.
As for the ones who left, including superstar Audi Crooks — well, I’m sure they had their reasons. The two-time All-American from Algona has been so good since her first step on campus that someday she was destined to have her number hung in Hilton Coliseum’s rafters, alongside other former Cyclones greats — Tonya Burns, Megan Taylor, Jayme Olson and Angie Welle.
Her No. 55 would have been right there among them. Not now.
I’m not here to criticize Crooks’ Thursday announcement that she’s joining hundreds (maybe thousands) of others in the transfer portal. That’s her business, just like it’s the business of the other nine, or whatever it is, who have chosen to see if things are better elsewhere.
Iowa State women’s basketball life will go on without them. Coach Bill Fennelly and his staff will rebuild the roster, just like Jimmy Rogers and his staff restocked an Iowa State football roster after one of the most massive transfer exoduses since the transfer portal became a thing Oct. 18, 2018.
“Although disappointing, it’s really an unfortunate by-product of the state of our industry at this point in time,” athletics director Jamie Pollard said Thursday morning in a video that’s on the Iowa State website. “We are not the only school that’s going through this.
“In today’s world, student-athletes transfer for a lot of reasons. Some leave because they’re searching for more playing time, some leave because they’re homesick. Some leave because they’re disgruntled, and now, some leave because they just want the opportunity to maximize their ability to receive revenue from the school they’re at.”
He added that “I’m confident that, given our great crowd, our history and our great coaching staff, we will have no shortage of student-athletes who want to transfer to Iowa State. Our coaches will have more than enough revenue-share dollars to be able to attract some of the best student-athletes possible.”
Sure, this might not be the best PR for the Cyclones’ women’s basketball program. It’s never good PR when players leave.
Unfortunately, we live in an expect-the-unexpected college world, where the portal and NIL are talked about way more than that damn Trig final exam.
As good as many of the transfers are or have been, there are always others available. Rosters are always rebuilt — with transfers and with players like Arianna Jackson.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard took to social media to make a statement regarding the recent changes around the men’s and women’s basketball programs. You can watch the statement at this link or read the transcript below.
General thoughts:“Hello Cyclone fans. I wanted to provide several updates with our men’s and women’s basketball programs, but before I do that, I wanted to take this moment to simply say thank you. Thank you for your amazing continued support of both our programs, whether it’s in Hilton Coliseum or being down in Kansas City at the Big 12 Men’s or Women’s Basketball Tournaments. For the absolute amazing turnout we had in Chicago for the Sweet 16. Our fan support for men’s and women’s basketball is second to none, and I want you to know we will never, ever take that for granted.”
*Men’s basketball update:*“Now, some updates on our men’s basketball program. Although our run in the NCAA Tournament ended sooner than any of us would have liked, we still can take great pride in the fact that we won 29 games. We were in the top 10 the entire season and we got the number two seed in the NCAA Tournament. There is so much for us to be proud of. In addition, I’m very excited that coach Otzelberger reconfirmed his long term commitment to Iowa State University by deciding not to entertain any outside offers. Coach Otzelberger has led our team to the NCAA Tournament in every one of his first five years and three times has gone to the Sweet 16. No other men’s basketball coach in the history of our program can say that. I also want to congratulate JR Blount for getting the head coaching job at the University of San Diego, and for Kyle Green getting the head coaching job at the University of Northern Iowa. We want to congratulate them and also thank them for their time at Iowa State. I’ve spoken to Coach Otzelberger, and rest assured, he has a great plan for how he’s going to repopulate his staff in order to continue our success in men’s basketball.”
*Women’s basketball update:*“I also wanted to provide an update on our women’s basketball program, given the midseason injuries, it’s amazing that we still won 22 games this year and ended up being awarded an eight seed in the NCAA Tournament. Coach Fennelly has led us to the NCAA Tournament in 15 of the last 18 seasons. That’s a standard of success I hope we never, ever take for granted. I know this. There’s many schools in the Big 12 that have tried to replicate that success for years. Unfortunately, though, we have been notified that a significant number of our women’s basketball players will be entering the transfer portal next week. Although disappointing, it’s really an unfortunate byproduct of the state of our industry at this point in time. Rest assured, we aren’t the only school that is going through this. There’s another school in the Big 12 that finished ahead of us in the Big 12 women’s basketball standings that’s down to two players. There’s another school here in the Midwest that hosted a NCAA Tournament game that is likely down to six players. In today’s world, student-athletes transfer for a lot of reasons. Some leave because they are searching more playing time. Some leave because they’re homesick. Some leave because they’re disgruntled. And now some leave because they just want the opportunity to maximize their ability to receive revenue from the school they’re at. Know this, regardless of why a student-athlete leaves Iowa State, we’ll always wish them well and thank them for their time as a Cyclone.”
What does this mean for women’s basketball?“It reminds me of last December with our football program, we were down to 17 players, and I remember saying to all of you, I can’t guarantee you who will be on the team, but I can guarantee you that there will be 100 young men that are going to gladly wear cardinal and gold and play football for the Cyclones. I had the opportunity to attend football practice this week, and although I didn’t know many of the student-athletes running around on the field, I can assure you there was a full allotment of student-athletes that are going to make you proud as Cyclones. The women’s basketball transfer portal opens up on April 6, and it will be open until April 20. I’m confident that given our great crowds, our history and our coaching staff, that we will have no shortage of student-athletes that want to transfer to Iowa State. And know this, our coaches will have more than enough revenue share dollars to be able to attract some of the best student-athletes possible.”
What does this mean for Bill Fennelly?“The easy answer would be, coach, why are you putting yourself through this? Why don’t you just stop? Why don’t you just retire? One of the many traits I really appreciate about Coach Fennelly is his resiliency.
There’s a quote. ‘It’s not what happens to you, but it’s how you respond to what happens to you.’
Coach Fennelly has shown time after time that he can live that quote. Coach Fennelly, wants to be able to finish what he started, and to finish it the right way. He has been loyal to our program for the last 31 years. He could have entered the transfer portal at any time during that time period, and he chose to stay at Iowa State to the point he’s now the all time winningest coach in the history of Iowa State, and also the all time winningest coach in the history of the Big 12. We love winning at Iowa State, and we’ve been blessed to have won a lot of women’s basketball games. However, I continually hear from our donors, from our ticket holders and our fans, that although winning is important and winning is fun, it’s how we win and how we treat people that really matters. That’s why we’ve chosen to continue to support coach Fennelly’s desire to finish what he started the right way.
His loyalty and his success has earned him the opportunity to finish his career the right way. I encourage our fans, despite any disappointment any of us have over the transfer portal, to continue to show our support and our love for our women’s basketball program, for our coaching staff and for any student-athletes that are continue to wear the cardinal and gold in the future. In closing, I would simply want to say again, thank you for your continued support. Your loyalty and continued support of our program is a huge reason we’ve been able to have the success we have. Thank you for your time and go Cyclones.”
The post Read everything Jamie Pollard said in his statement regarding both basketball programs appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) drives to the basket around Arizona State Sun Devils center Martina Fantini (7) during the second quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 18, 2026, in Ames, Iowa (Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune)
Iowa State’s All-American Audi Crooks is entering the transfer portal, she announces on social media.
In a statement via Instagram, Crooks explained, “I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I’ve done that here. It’s why I want you to hear from me directly that I have decided to enter the portal and explore what it means to take root again in new ground.”
Crooks was the nation’s second-leading scorer as a junior at 25.8 points per game.
In just three years, Crooks was already the school’s second all-time leading scorer with 2,256 points, just about 800 points behind Ashley Joens.
She makes 10 Cyclones in the portal, leaving Arianna Jackson and Evangelina Paulk as the players from the 2025-26 team that will be on next year’s team. Addy Brown, Jada Williams and Kenzie Hare are among the other starters entering the portal when it opens on April 6.
With massive turnover for the second time in four years, what does that mean for longtime coach Bill Fennelly? Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard shares:
“One of the many traits I really appreciate about Coach Fennelly is his resiliency. There’s a quote. ‘It’s not what happens to you, but it’s how you respond to what happens to you.’ Coach Fennelly has shown time after time that he can live that quote. Coach, Fennelly, wants to be able to finish what he started, and to finish it the right way. He has been loyal to our program for the last 31 years. He could have entered the transfer portal at any time during that time period, and he chose to stay at Iowa State to the point he’s now the all time winningest coach in the history of Iowa State, and also the all time winningest coach in the history of the big 12. We love winning at Iowa State, and we’ve been blessed to have won a lot of women’s basketball games. However, I continually hear from our donors, from our ticket holders and our fans, that although winning is important and winning is fun, it’s how we win and how we treat people that really matters. That’s why we’ve chosen to continue to support coach Fennelly’s desire to finish what he started the right way. His loyalty and his success has earned him the opportunity to finish his career the right way. I encourage our fans, despite any disappointment any of us have over the transfer portal, to continue to show our support and our love for our women’s basketball program, for our coaching staff and for any student athletes that are continue to wear the cardinal and gold in the future.”
You can watch Pollard’s full six-minute statement here.
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Oct 25, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) is tackled by Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Carson Willich (14) at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — Every time Iowa State linebacker Carson Willich raises a question, first-year defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit’s eyes light up.
Willich — who chose to stay in the Cyclones’ program after Matt Campbell left for Penn State — has fully morphed into sponge mode, desperately seeking to grow both personally and collective in Bobbit’s aggressive four-man-front-based scheme.
Hence the senior’s many questions. And hence his status as one of the most “consistent” performers for Bobbit in the early stages of spring ball.
“Really good intellectual curiosity I would call it, where he’s always taking it one step farther,” said Bobbit, who along with head coach Jimmy Rogers and several other assistants joined ISU’s program in early December after spending one season at Washington State. “That makes the group better and that makes me better as a coach.”
That it does, but maybe Willich and some of his more inquisitive teammates can tone it down just a bit?
“They’re probably pretty mad at me sometimes for how many times I bother them (with) questions, but, honestly, to be your best you’ve gotta do what it takes to be the best,” joked Willich, one of nine Cyclones with between one and five career starts under the previous coaching staff. “I’ve learned that. I want to be the best on this defense. I want to be the best defense in the country, and with that, it takes time. You’ve gotta learn this stuff. Like, preparation, confidence — all that stuff comes with it.”
Bobbit welcomes all queries, so he’s not remotely “mad” when his eclectic mix of fresh and familiar faces on defense pipe up in an effort to fully grasp the scheme and their respective roles within it.
“Having a new roster, reinstalling everything like everyone’s a freshman, getting coaches on the same page, that is the fun (part), because of the challenge of trying to get everyone to the level of which we want to be — and coaching at that standard, and playing at that standard,” said Bobbit, who helmed the nation’s 15th-best unit in terms of total defense last season (299.5 yards allowed per game). “So it’s been a ton of fun and as you can tell by my voice, it’s a little hoarse just in terms of screaming and yelling and trying to be loud and getting in on the action to coach the guys up and get back out, so the voice is struggling a little bit, but it’s been fun.”
It’s certainly been a blast for Willich, a 6-1, 225-pounder from Blue Springs, Mo., who’s battled injuries much of his ISU career. Playing behind a four-man front allows him and the other linebackers to play with more freedom than in the past at the WILL spot.
“Our linebackers, in comparison to what he’s been playing in previously, are allowed to scrape more, play at depth more, and trigger on things,” Bobbit said. “Maybe (they’re) not as much ‘hole pluggers,’ as they maybe were last year and previously within that scheme. So I think he’s gonna have a lot of opportunities to make plays. It definitely fits him.”
So does Willich’s ability to be a willing questioner — but it wasn’t always that way. With maturity comes humility, and instead of thinking he knows the answers, now he’s constantly seeking them.
“My freshman year, I was probably a little bit more (hesitant) to ask questions,” he said. “I thought I kind of knew everything, and looking back on that now, I regret that, because I realize — and coach Campbell taught me this back when he was here: You’ve gotta be curious. It starts with curiosity and knowing your job, knowing your role, knowing how you want to be as a player. I’ve taken that with me with this new staff. Like, just be curious to know how you can get better, how you can improve.”
So question away. There’s no limit. Just opportunities for growth.
“Ask for questions, ask for help,” Willlich said. “Like, be yourself.”
The post ISU LB Carson Willich’s “intellectual curiosity” has impressed DC Jesse Bobbit early in spring ball appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State football held their first media availability of spring football on Wednesday. Watch everything offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl, defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit, linebacker Carson Willich and running back Cameron Pettaway had to say below.
Roehl discusses the quarterback room, standout players on the offense, the process of getting every player reps and a lot more.
Bobbit discusses stand out players, the process of teaching a new defense to a ton of newcomers and the competition level within practice so far.
Willich talks about his decision to stay at Iowa State, the process of learning the new 4-2-5 defense, the competition within the team, the differences in the new coaching staff and more.
Pettaway talks about his decision to come to Iowa State, how the running back room is coming together, his running style and the leadership of Aiden Flora.
The post WATCH: Tyler Roehl, Jesse Bobbit and players on April 1 at spring football availability appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Iowa State football team enter the field before the game against South Dakota at Jack Trice Stadium on August 30, 2025, in Ames, Iowa (Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune)
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
The Iowa State football program will hold its Cyclone Football Spring Showcase, the first under head coach Jimmy Rogers, on Saturday, April 25.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will take the form of a traditional practice and is slated to start at 10:30 a.m. at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium as the Cyclones kick off Rogers’ initial season in Ames.
Fans attending the event will be directed to park in the lots north of Jack Trice Stadium. S-lots are used for student parking and parking will likely be unavailable in those parking spaces.
For those in attendance, seating will be available on the east side of the stadium only (non-press box side). Northeast and southeast gates to the stadium will open at 10 a.m.
2026 Cyclone Football posters are expected to be available.
The showcase is part of a big day for Cyclone Athletics with Cy’s House of Trivia at Hilton Coliseum that evening.
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Photo courtesy of Iowa State Athletics
Kyle Green, one of the orchestrators of Iowa State’s defense, is off to Cedar Falls as the head coach of Northern Iowa.
GOT OUR GUY
We are proud to welcome Kyle Green as the 26th head coach in UNI men's basketball history!
https://t.co/vt5QabwzGA#EverLoyal | #LegacyEra | #Family | #UNIMBB125 pic.twitter.com/E3M5dk4IUZ
— UNI Basketball (@UNImbb) April 1, 2026
Green has been with T.J. Otzelberger since he took over at Iowa State, playing a key part in one of the best defenses in America. Prior to Iowa State, Green spent 16 years as an assistant under Ben Jacobson.
This means Iowa State loses two assistants in the offseason, as JR Blount recently took over as the head coach at San Diego. Otzelberger now has two coaching positions to fill.
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If you thought the opening of the college wrestling transfer portal would dominate the conversation, think again.
Realignment found its way back into the spotlight. And this time it’s the sport of wrestling.
The Pac-12 Conference announced Wednesday morning that Air Force, Northern Colorado, North Dakota State and South Dakota State are set to leave the Big 12 Conference and join the Pac-12 as wrestling affiliate members beginning with the 2026-27 season. With the addition, the Pac-12 will grow to nine programs, its largest wrestling membership since the 2008-09 season, while also securing the minimum needed to maintain an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Championships.
You can read the full release here.
All four programs joined the Big 12 Conference as affiliate members in July 2015 ahead of the 2015-16 season. Their departure brings the conference’s wrestling membership to nine programs.
What does it mean to be an affiliate member?
These programs are not leaving their primary conferences. They will compete in the Pac-12 for wrestling only, while the rest of their sports remain in their current leagues. As affiliates, they are fully eligible to compete for a conference title, participate in the postseason and earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. They follow the Pac-12 schedule and operate within the conference competitively, even if they have limited influence in broader league decisions.
Moves like this are often driven by necessity as much as opportunity.
Conferences need a minimum number of teams to maintain automatic qualification status, and programs need a stable, competitive home. The Pac-12 gets both with this addition. It strengthens its wrestling footprint overnight with four established programs and continues its rebuild in Olympic sports.
For the Big 12, the impact is more subtle but still notable.
The conference will drop to nine wrestling programs, continuing its identity as a league built heavily on affiliate membership.
Big 12 wrestling programs
Full-time members:
Arizona State
Iowa State
Oklahoma State
West Virginia
Affiliate members:
Missouri
Northern Iowa
Oklahoma
Utah Valley
Wyoming
The larger point is simple: staying competitive on the national stage, especially against the Big Ten Conference.
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Mar 13, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (5) rebounds during the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
The following is a news release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2026
Jefferson Named Wooden Award All-American
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Iowa State senior Joshua Jefferson has been named to the Wooden Award All-American Team.
Jefferson, the fifth consensus All-American in program history, was Mr. Do-It-All for the Cyclones. He was the first player in Big 12 history to turn in multiple triple-doubles in Big 12 play. He averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He’s the only Power Conference player in the country to average those numbers this season. Only seven players have done so in an entire season in the country going back to 1974-75, with no one in the Big 12 having accomplished it. Jefferson scored in double figures in 34 games this season, the third-most games in double figures in a season in school history. His streak of 40-straight games going back to last season ranked as the second-longest in the nation before going down with an injury in the opening minutes of the NCAA Tournament. His 167 assists this season were tied for the 19th-most in program history, while his 276 over the last two seasons were the 18th-most in program history for a career.
The Cyclones finished the season with a 29-8 record, tied for the second-most wins in school history. Playing in its 25th NCAA Tournament in program history, the Cyclones advanced to the Sweet 16 for the eighth time in program history.
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Photo: Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic
One final takeaway from Iowa State’s fifth NCAA Tournament in T.J. Otzelberger’s five seasons of making Cyclones men’s basketball relevant again — in turning the sport into what has become the campus’ athletic department showcase:
A throwaway line, we call it. A few off-the-cuff words, somewhere within a column, that sometimes can be just as pertinent as the nut graph every journalistic piece must include.
“T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State’s coach-for-life,” I typed somewhere not exactly prominently during the NCAA Tournament.
Rarely are the words “coach for life” true, but that was my immediate reaction when Otzelberger fired a shot across the bow at his name and North Carolina being mentioned in the same sentence.
“As we move forward together, the alignment on our campus with (new president David Cook) and (athletics director Jamie Pollard) is amazing, and we’re thrilled and excited about our future together,” Otzelberger said. “There’s no questions about it. There’s nothing to talk about. There’s nothing else to answer. That’s the truth.”
He made that comment in a Chicago hotel lobby, upon greeting reporters before the Cyclones’ opening-game victory against Tennessee State. He made it after talking to Cook, before departing for the Windy City.
He knew the Carolina-centered question was coming. He headed it off before it could even start.
As long as Otzelberger keeps winning, speculation will continue. It goes with having one of the top coaches in the business. If there’s a vacancy at a high-level program, there will be wondering. In his case, wondering might not be a productive pastime.
You can extend Otzelberger’s contract all you want, and for as many years as you want, but my belief won’t change:
T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State’s coach for life?
Keep the annual raises coming. Take financial care of the assistant coaches and the players. Allow big-buck donors to give money directly to men’s basketball, if it’s not already allowed.
Coach for life?
Connecting successful coaches like Otzelberger to high-end jobs is standard practice for media “experts” and social media attention-seekers. Sometimes they’re right. Sometimes they’re wrong.
As long as Iowa State wants him, T.J. wants Iowa State.
I wrote five years ago that Iowa State very well could be Otzelberger’s dream job. Although his comments during the Chicago media scrum didn’t 100% prove that, they didn’t disprove it, either.
Tom Izzo has been at Michigan State 31 seasons, and Mark Few has been at Gonzaga for 27. Scott Drew has been at Baylor for 23 seasons, and Bill Self has been at Kansas also for 23. Matt Painter has been at Purdue 21 seasons.
It happens.
Iowa State men’s basketball coach for life?
I wonder.
Meanwhile, for someone to mention Otzelberger and North Carolina in the same breath is paying ultimate respect to what T.J. and his staff have accomplished over the past five seasons.
Would anyone be surprised if Otzelberger stays with the Cyclones for a good, long time?
Not me.
Heck, unless something goes terribly haywire, I’d actually expect Otzelberger to be Iowa State’s men’s basketball coach deep into the 2030s, and maybe even into the 2040s.
He worked too hard to get this job, and to the point where it’s a regular NCAA Tournament participant, to chase someone else’s money.
His wife, Alison, is a former Iowa State basketball star. His family roots are just a state away. Iowa State fans like him. The feeling among the Otzelbergers is mutual.
He’s the current face of the Cyclones’ athletic department. His program is the school’s most successful.
Bump his salary annually. Do likewise for his assistants. And the players, too.
Find a few boosters to contribute enough above-the-cap money to keep significant players and obtain potential stars through the transfer portal.
Iowa State coach for life?
Would that really be surprising?
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 27: Tamin Lipsey #3 of the Iowa State Cyclones reacts to the 76-62 loss against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
There is going to be a ton to talk about during the offseason carousel for the men’s basketball team, and there already is a lot to talk about just a week into the women’s offseason. With that being said, there will be plenty of time this offseason to talk about that as answers start to take shape. For now, it is more important to reflect on Friday’s Sweet Sixteen game against Tennessee.
Given that All-American Joshua Jefferson was out with an ankle injury, the Cyclones were going to have to be at their best to win. That they were not.
Some of the things that have plagued Iowa State all year caused them to keel over to end the season. The Cyclones missed 10 free throws in the 76-62 loss, and even making five more would have provided a significantly shallower grave to climb out of when attempting to make a late surge.
Losing Jefferson was a massive problem for this team. They still had the potential for the same game-breaking 10-0, 15-0 and 20-0 runs without him, but he was the guy that slowed the game down for Iowa State when the team was struggling on either end of the court. While the big men were fine enough inside this tournament, having a second big body inside in Jefferson was a major reason Iowa State was a top-10 team this year. It became evident when the Volunteers got some easy buckets inside that the Cyclones were one body short in the forwards department.
With how strong the regular season was, a Sweet Sixteen trip came as a disappointment to many fans, but losing Jefferson was essentially a death sentence to any title hopes. Even if the Cyclones got by Tennessee, Michigan was going to show zero mercy.
Obviously, most had higher hopes than two NCAA Tournament wins going in; however, sometimes disaster strikes in ways that are outside the team’s control. There may be a word that comes up to describe how this promising season came to an end. In the meantime, a loss for words is the only way to describe the feeling.
It was a horrible way for Cyclone legends like Tamin Lipsey and Jefferson to go out, along with, potentially, Milan Momcilovic, who declared for the draft while reserving the right to return to Iowa State for his season if he so chooses.
In the current collegiate landscape, there is no time to sit back and reminisce on the season, as you have about a month to put together a roster for the coming season that can outperform the former season. Since some of the key gears that made this machine a well-oiled one will be moving on, the coaching staff will have their work cut out for them to make the dream a reality. Sweet Sixteen trips cannot be the dream destination, because if you keep aiming for pretty good, all the teams aiming for the best will pass you by.
A lot is at stake during the 2026-27 season, which I believe could shape the next decade of Iowa State basketball.
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Mar 27, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Nate Heise (0) shoots while defended by Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) in the first half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
AMES — Nate Heise played one of the best games of his Iowa State career Friday in the Sweet 16.
The selfless senior showcased aggressiveness, grit and shot-making ability on the United Center floor — and even though the second-seeded and Joshua Jefferson-less Cyclones lost, 76-62, to sixth-seeded Tennessee, the former Northern Iowa transfer left the court with no regrets.
“You always know it’s going to come to an end,” said Heise, who scored 18 points — four off his ISU career-high — against the Volunteers. “I can really just think back on how much I’ve learned since I’ve been here, the ups and downs, and at the end of both years playing my best ball is something I can be proud of. I’m just really thankful to be a part of this team, this culture. I think (Cyclones head coach) T.J. (Otzelberger) is the best coach and (I’m) just grateful to be able to play for him and (his assistants), and get to know the guys I have. It’s a really special group.”
And now Heise’s college career has concluded — as has Jefferson’s and hometown her Tamin Lipsey. Jefferson will hear his name called during the 2026 NBA Draft in May. Lipsey could also embark on a promising pro career, but it’s currently unclear if the nation’s most accurate 3-point shooter, Milan Momcilovic, will return to the Cyclones’ program. A report by 247 Sports noted the 6-8 junior from Pewaukee, Wis. is declaring for the NBA Draft, but his situation for next season remains up in the air.
“I do not know what’s next, currently,” Momcilovic said after ISU’s 76-62 Sweet 16 loss to Tennessee in Chicago. “I’ll obviously meet with T.J., my family and my agent and just see what’s the best decision for me going forward.”
Regardless of Momcilovic’s decision, Iowa State should return a solid core of freshmen in guards Killyan Toure and Jamarion Batemon, and center Dominykas Pleta. All three — to varying degrees — expressed a strong desire to remain Cyclones next season, as did junior big man Blake Buchanan. Otzelberger’s program also will gain highly-touted freshmen Yusef Gray, Jackson Kiss, Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan and Christian Wiggins in the Class of 2026.
Gray, a guard from West Allis, Wis., is the top-rated prospect in his state by 247 Sports. Kiss and Rinaldo-Komlan stand 6-8 and 6-10, respectively, and are four-star recruits. Wiggins, a guard from Plymouth, Minn., stands 6-4 and is graded as the second-best prospect in his state.
Sprinkle in a blend of transfers Otzelberger and his staff will identify as best fits for ISU’s pressure defense-based system, and with or without Momcilovic, the team should be well-stocked with talent.
“I just want to see the program continue to grow and rise and be on the come up,” said Lipsey, the Cyclones’ all-time leader in steals with 314 — 89 more than second-place Monte Morris, his childhood idol. “This program, (it’s) sort of the minimum to get to the tournament, so just knowing that’s a good place to be as a program, and to see how we improve, I’m excited to see (that).”
Heise’s not a four-year ISU player like Lipsey, but his two seasons as a Cyclone included five wins over top-10 teams. And on Friday, his sister, Taylor, was able to watch him play one of his best games in cardinal and gold in person. Taylor Heise helped the U.S. women’s hockey team win Gold in February’s Winter Olympics, so she hasn’t seen Nate play in person much.
“I’ve had a fun life, but the past few years have been really fun to be able to support Nate,” she said. “His (second-round game) I was on a plane and I was freaking out. I was, like, gripping the seat, so (I’m) just super-excited for him. … Obviously he’s earned his spot on this team and earned his way here, as well.”
So it’s been a good couple of years for the Heises. Great, even. One might even call it elite — even if Nate’s journey ended one win shy of the Elite Eight.
“She’s got a lot of things going on, but she made time to come and see me (play), and that means a lot to me,” Nate said.
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Mar 27, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger speaks with the referee during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Iowa State’s season ends in the Sweet 16. Rebounding, especially without Joshua Jefferson, ends up as the biggest difference. The Cyclones go out proud, but can’t help but think “what-if.”
Jake Brend reports from Chicago.
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Mar 27, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie (0) moves the ball while defended by Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) in the second half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
CHICAGO — Joshua Jefferson paused mid-sentence and sobbed.
The eruption of emotion embodied two seasons of soaring highs and gutting lows for Iowa State’s senior All-American forward, but it’s the fact that his severely injured left ankle prevented him from playing in Friday’s 76-62 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 loss to sixth-seeded Tennessee that caused physical pain to merge with mental anguish.
“Not being able to go out there and fight with them — it’s hard,” said the 6-9, 240-pound Jefferson, who watched his beloved teammates get outrebounded, 43-22, in their third Sweet 16 appearance in five seasons under head coach T.J. Otzelberger. “It’s something I’ve just gotta live with, always the what-if, for the rest of my life knowing how far we could have went. I really think we could have won it all if I was out there.”
It’s that what-if that will gnaw at not only Jefferson’s psyche, but that of a fan base that made up a vast portion of a crowd of 21,508. Cyclone fans bitterly remember former star Georges Niang breaking his foot in a first-round tournament win in 2014 — and the team responding with a win over tradition-rich North Carolina before falling to eventual national champion UConn in Madison Square Garden.
This version of the Cyclones (29-8) beat another blueblood in Kentucky in the second round before being overwhelmed by the Volunteers’ length and girth in the “House that Jordan Built.” Tennessee held a 36-to-13 edge in rebounding at the under-eight timeout and totaled seven blocked shots to ISU’s zero.
“At every position they probably had 20 pounds and five inches (on us),” said senior guard Nate Heise, who scored 18 points in his final game as a Cyclone. “It was just an unfortunate matchup without Joshua because he means so much to our team. Obviously, I think the result would have been different with him, but that’s nothing we can control. They’ve just got big, athletic guys and it was definitely a struggle in there.”
Record-setting senior point guard Tamin Lipsey also scored 18 points in his final game in cardinal and gold while also grabbing five rebounds and reeling off five assists. His layup with 14:46 left pulled the Cyclones within six, at 47-41, but the Volunteers responded with a 7-0 run and never let their lead dip below eight points after that.
“We missed (Jefferson) a ton,” Lipsey said. “His size would have helped a lot on the boards. They almost double our rebounds. We were out there competing, but when they’re 6-10, 6-11, seven-foot from three to five, and guys they brought in off the bench were crashing just as hard — it was a tough matchup for us.”
ISU did force 17 turnovers, but only scored 14 points off of them. The Cyclones also got the free throw line 25 times, but missed 10 of those. Couple all that with Tennessee’s ability to be physical with sharpshooting junior forward Milan Momcilovic off of ball screens — he scored just six points on nine field goal attempts — and ISU simply wore down in the second half.
“I saw that all year, so I’ve just gotta be better,” Momcilovic said. “I missed a couple shots early. I didn’t really get the cleanest of looks, but I’ve still gotta be aggressive, so that’s on me. A lot of guys played well today and I didn’t, so it just feels in the pit of my stomach that I kind of let the team down.”
He didn’t. Nor did Jefferson by any stretch of the imagination — even though he seemed to blame himself for a freak injury sustained early in the first round rout of Tennessee State. When he cried, freshman guard Jamarion Batemon tapped his hand on his shoulder in an effort to sooth the pain. And when Jefferson spoke again, that what-if anguish was replaced with what all of this most certainly was — a deeply connected team capable of making a run at a national title.
“It was the best decision of my life, coming to Iowa State,” he said, echoing words he spoke on senior day two weeks ago. “I truly mean it when I say we have the best fans, so much support. So grateful for them. Hopefully, I made everybody proud.”
He did. Now it’s time to pass the torch to the younger guys as they seek to make their own deep runs in March.
“We’ll be back,” Otzelberger said. “We’ll find solutions and we’ll have our breakthrough.”
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CHICAGO — That one stung.
Minus All-American big man Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State was out-rebounded a remarkable 43-22 and fell 76-62 to Tennessee in Friday night’s Sweet 16 at the United Center.
And what’s most jarring? After jumping out to a modest early lead, the Cyclones never truly threatened again. No signature run. No real push. Not like we are used to with this particular squad.
A big reason why: Tennessee completely took Milan Momcilovic out of rhythm. The Vols were physical, relentless, and never gave Iowa State’s best shooter room to breathe. Momcilovic finished 2-of-9 from the field, with eight of those attempts coming from three. Getting clean looks felt nearly impossible.
Then there’s the simple math.
You simply don’t survive a 43-22 rebounding deficit this deep in the tournament. You definitely don’t when you shoot 60 percent from the free throw line.
This was a season-long issue that ultimately caught up with the Cyclones, who went 15-of-25 at the stripe. And here’s the most frustrating part: even with that massive rebounding gap, Iowa State is right there if it shoots even average from the line and just a little better from deep (5-of-23).
That’s what makes this one linger.
Feel cursed as an Iowa State fan?
I get it.
Two of the best teams in program history over the last 20 years lose All-Americans to freak foot injuries in the Round of 64… only to see the season end in the Sweet 16. Brutal.
At the same time, perspective matters.
T.J. Otzelberger has taken Iowa State to three Sweet 16s in five years. That’s real, sustained success. It’s also fair for fans to want more – to push through that ceiling and eventually into a Final Four.
Both things can be true.
A few final thoughts.
First, Tamin Lipsey, whose emotion was spewing out of him after the game. One thing I’ve learned over two decades doing this: even in the disappointment, you have to recognize greatness. Lipsey is, in so many ways, an all-time Cyclone.
Nate Heise deserves his moment, too. He played the best basketball of his career when it mattered most, notably when his team needed it most.
And then there’s Joshua Jefferson.
As tough as this ending feels for fans, it’s impossible to truly grasp what he has been going through. Watching him on the bench Friday night, you couldn’t help but feel it. That’s a brutal way for a season – and a career – to end.
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Mar 27, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger reacts in the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
What if?
What if Joshua Jefferson could have played? Would Iowa State have beaten Tennessee in Friday’s Sweet 16, instead of losing 76-62 at the Bulls’ United Center?
We can only speculate, but this much we know:
Iowa State had a wonderful season. One of the school’s finest. With a bunch of players who played aggressive defense, had likable guys who could (usually) make shots, and entertained oh so many fans each time they turned on the lights at Hilton Coliseum.
It finally caught up with T.J. Otzelberger’s team, playing without its superstar, who sprained an ankle in the first three minutes of the NCAA opening win against Tennessee State. They won that game, then beat Kentucky, while the All-American watched from the sidelines, sprained left ankle in a boot.
Winning again against Rick Barnes-coached Tennessee in the Sweet 16? That’s asking a lot, even if Jefferson played. Barnes is a great coach. His teams play aggressively, as does Iowa State.
Would a healthy Jefferson have slowed down the Vols from scoring 23 of the second half’s first 35 points? Would a healthy Jefferson have been a difference-maker on the offensive end? Would a healthy Jefferson have had one of those 17-point, 12-assist, 10-rebound triple-doubles like he had against UCF? Would he have been good enough for Iowa State to win a Sweet 16 game?
What if?
Had the 16-point scorer played, I sure as heck know this — that the Vols wouldn’t have been able to sell out defensively against Milan Momcilovic.
Wherever the nation’s top 3-point shooter went on the floor, Tennessee followed, hands in face. His only open long-range looks were off the few transition opportunities the Cyclones got.
Would the Vols have had 16 offensive rebounds if Jefferson had been healthy? Or a dozen dunks?
Probably, because that’s their deal. They came into Friday night’s game averaging a nation’s-best 14.1 offensive rebounds. They dunk at every opportunity. They out-rebounded Iowa State by an eye-popping 43-22.
What if this. What if that.
We’ll never know, and really, it’s a moot point.
If this is the ceiling for Iowa State men’s basketball — routine Sweet 16s and occasional Elite Eights — really, those aren’t the worst outcomes in the world.
Cyclones fans know they have one of the finest coaches in college basketball. They know he’s the best men’s basketball leader the school has had, and they know that in T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State has a forever coach.
Absolutely, this team had Final Four potential, but sometimes stuff happens en route to an NCAA Tournament national title opportunity.
The injury to Jefferson. Not having the same financial resources as others in the Big 12 and nationally. Choose any excuse you want for another second-weekend exit, but don’t forget:
Iowa State had a wonderful season. The Cyclones maxed out. They gave their all. Every player — from Jefferson to the walk-ons — improved. Really, can you ask more than that?
Instead of overthinking and nitpicking the negative, though, be thankful Iowa State men’s basketball is relevant again. Five years after this program nose-dived to the lowest of all lows, Cyclones men’s basketball has become so good, and sometimes dominating, that you just know Otzelberger sometime will coach them through the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend and into the Final Four.
You know it. You just know it.
Sometime, the Cyclones’ Final Four day will come.
Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina have all those national championship trophies, but how many of them reached the Sweet 16? None — and North Carolina lost against 11-seed VCU in the tournament’s first round.
What if Joshua Jefferson would have been able to play Friday?
Let’s go with what we know . . .
That it was another successful Iowa State basketball season — one of the most successful in school history.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
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The clock hit zero inside Rocket Arena in Cleveland, and for a moment, everything felt still.
Not just because a national title had just been decided, but because something else had ended, too.
Yonger Bastida sat at the center of it, the final seconds of his match behind him, the weight of it all settling in. And as the clock ran out, it wasn’t just time on that match. It was time on this chapter. Time on his college wrestling career as a Cyclone.
Yonger Bastida sat and processed the loss in the 2026 heavyweight title match at the NCAA Wrestling Championships finishing a runner up. Photo by Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone FanaticThere have been and will be plenty written about how it ended. One match short of a national title. One match short of the dream every college wrestler carries with them.
That part is easy to explain.
What’s harder to explain — and far more important — is everything that came before it.
Because if you only tell the story that way, you miss the real one. And the real story of Bastida doesn’t begin on a Saturday night in March, or end there.
It begins long before any of us ever saw him wrestle.
It begins nearly 1,500 miles away, in Trinidad, Cuba, in a life that looks nothing like the one he would eventually build in Ames, Iowa. When teammate and childhood friend Anthony Echemendia has described those early days, he doesn’t pause for effect or try to make it sound like anything other than what it was. Training on concrete. Using cinder blocks as weights sometimes. Finding ways to get better with whatever was there.
That wasn’t perspective. It wasn’t a story.
It was just life. It is just life.
And from that life came a decision that most people will never have to make.
To leave.
To leave family. To leave home. To leave the language you’ve always spoken and step into a place where even the simplest conversations take effort. Where nothing feels familiar. Where everything has to be learned again.
Ames, Iowa.
Where the only sense of familiarity, at least at first, came through Fernando Villaescusa — Iowa State’s wrestling Development Coordinator and a key figure in introducing Kevin Dresser to Bastida. He also played a crucial role in helping Bastida and Echemendia transition from freestyle to folkstyle on their way to becoming NCAA All-Americans and Big 12 champions.
A voice that sounded like home in a place that didn’t.
When Bastida arrived, he didn’t speak English. He had never wrestled folkstyle, the style specific to college wrestling in America. And still, he stepped into a Division I program, expected to compete, to learn, to adapt, all while working toward a college degree.
“I came a long way. With my English, with wrestling — folkstyle — everything. When I came from Cuba, I didn’t know anything. I’m pretty proud of how far I’ve come,” Bastida said when reflecting on his time at Iowa State during a weekly media availability.
There’s no easing into that. There’s no version of that where it feels comfortable. There’s just the decision, over and over again, to keep going anyway.
His first season reflected that reality. A 4-4 record as a freshman at 197 pounds. Moments where you could see the potential, paired with everything he was still trying to figure out.
Because it wasn’t just about wrestling.
It was about learning a new style at the same time he was learning a new language. A style his teammates and opponents had been accustomed to since they were little boys. It was about navigating classrooms, conversations and expectations while rebuilding his foundation from the ground up. About walking into rooms where you understand just enough to know you don’t fully belong yet — and choosing to stay anyway.
That wasn’t just about wrestling.
That was about everything.
There are people who saw that version of him up close.
Echemendia did.
“I drove 10 hours to come see him when he first got here. He had barely any clothes. He was trying to figure everything out. Maybe he didn’t have the resources to feel like himself yet,” Echemendia said when describing what Bastida was like when he first arrived. “I told him, ‘You’ve always been that guy. Just be yourself.’ It’s a process, new culture, new people, you’re figuring everything out.”
They’ve known each other since they were kids. Teammates since they were eight years old. When Echemendia was asked why he drove the ten hours, he said it was a simple decision.
“I did that because I’m a team player, and he’s my brother. We’ve been on the same team since we were eight years old. I remember breaking my elbow when I was about 10, and the teachers asked which teammate I wanted to come help me at home. I said Yonger. That’s how far we go back.”
Photo via Yonger BastidaPhoto via Iowa State WrestlingThat’s who he was then.
And in a lot of ways, it’s still who he is now.
What has changed is everything else.
“Everything is different about him. He shines. He’s the guy here now. People look up to him. That gives you confidence,” Echemendia said. “He’s confident, he talks to everybody, and he’s very open.”
You could see that transformation happen slowly.
In the interviews where every word took effort. In the pauses that weren’t hesitation, but translation. In the way he processed everything before speaking, making sure he got it right.
And then, over time, those pauses disappeared.
Yonger Bastida during Iowa State Wrestling 2022 Media Day
Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone FanaticThe confidence showed up. The personality followed.
The same kid who once had to work through every sentence now commands a room without thinking twice about it.
That kind of growth doesn’t happen all at once. It happens quietly. It happens when no one is watching. It happens in the moments no one writes about.
And through all of it, there was Fernando.
Not just as a coach, but as something closer to family.
“When I got here, he was kind of like my dad. All the support he gave me, on and off the mat, is phenomenal. Relationships like that mean everything.”
Yonger Bastida being coached by Fernando Villaescusa during the 2022 Big 12 Championships
Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone FanaticFernando never stopped coaching him in Spanish. Not because he couldn’t understand English eventually, but because in the middle of a match, when everything speeds up, you don’t have time to translate. You react to what feels natural. You react to what feels like home.
And somewhere along the way, through all of that discomfort and adjustment, Bastida didn’t just grow as a wrestler, he grew into someone people feel.
Spend a few minutes around him now and you understand what all of that built. He doesn’t rush past people. He doesn’t treat those interactions like obligations. He stops for the fans, especially the young fans, every time. Photos. Autographs. Conversations.
After losing in the 2026 title match at the NCAA Championships, Bastida stopped to sign autographs and take photos with the little fans who lined the railing.
Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone FanaticDuring Yonger Bastida’s senior night, he stopped to sign autographs on his way off the floor for all the little fans waiting for him at the tunnel.
Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone FanaticThere’s a patience to it. A presence to it.
Like he understands what it means to be seen.
“I feel like it was the right place to come. All the support, from teachers, academic advisors, coaches, my teammates, the Cyclone fans, that’s something I’ll take to the grave with me,” Bastida said when reflecting on his career.
Senior Day was one of those moments that reveals more than any result ever could.
Not because of what happened.
Because of what it meant.
“Even walking out of the tunnel, I was getting emotional when we walked as a team. I was trying to put my head somewhere else so I wouldn’t think about it,” Bastida said when describing his emotions on competing one last time in Hilton Coliseum. “I was thinking, ‘This is my last time here.’ I just took a breath and tried to think about other things.”
He didn’t want to take that final shot.
You could see it before he ever said it.
“Even during the match, the last shot I took, I didn’t even want to take it. Because once I take it, it’s over. That was an emotional moment for me.”
The way he wrestled those final seconds wasn’t how Bastida wrestles. It wasn’t urgent. It wasn’t aggressive. It was careful. Measured. Like he knew exactly what those seconds represented and wasn’t ready for them to be gone.
And when it was over, there was no hiding it.
Photos from Bastida’s senior night. Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic“All the ups and downs, all the fans supporting me all the way through, that’s what was going through my head. I didn’t want to stand up because I was about to start crying. I got a little emotional. It was all the experiences — the coaches, the fans — everything,” Bastida said.
And not long after,Dresser had to step away. Even though he said he didn’t want to admit it.
“I know we had some guys shed some tears today, especially Yonger. This being his sixth year, this place is obviously pretty special to him.”
But that wasn’t all of it.
“Don’t tell anybody…I did (get emotional). Don’t you dare tell anybody. I had to go to the locker room, try to look like a tough guy and cover it up. But yeah… I got a little choked up,” Dresser said with a quick wink.
Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone FanaticThat part matters.
Because Dresser doesn’t do that.
He’s built on control. On toughness. On not letting moments get too big, no matter how big they actually are.
And you don’t see that unless something (or someone) means more than just the result.
A few weeks later, in Cleveland, you could see it again.
“I’m really proud of Yonger and all the progress he’s made since he got here in November of 2020. The growth of him as a person and a wrestler is really impressive,” Dresser said.
And he knows exactly what it took to get there.
“Coming to college and being a Division I athlete is a big step. But then you think about having to learn a whole new language and leaving your family. He didn’t go home for five years,” Dresser said. “You’re here, losing weight, and you don’t understand anybody. Even if things are better here, home is still home. I just respect the toughness he had. He’s fun to watch. He’s just a great kid.”
Yonger Bastida celebrating with Coach Villaescusa and Coach Dresser after winning in dominant fashion in the semifinals at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships. Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone FanaticSo yes, there will be headlines about how it ended.
There always are.
But the real story of Yonger Bastida Pomares was never about how it ended.
It was about how he got there.
A kid from Trinidad, Cuba who left everything he knew. Who walked into a life that didn’t feel like his yet and built one anyway. Who learned a language, a style, a culture — all at once — and never let any of it stop him.
“The best opportunity I had in my life. It means everything,” Bastida said.
Who became the No. 1 heavyweight in the country.
Who wrestled his way into a national title match, the biggest stage in all of college wrestling.
Who became someone people look up to.
Whose name Cyclone fans chant from the stands.
And maybe that’s why the final seconds felt the way they did.
Because as the clock ran out, it wasn’t just marking the end of a match.
It was closing a chapter that took years of sacrifice to build.
If you’ve ever stood near the Iowa State bench, you’ve heard Fernando’s voice.
Clear. Direct. Constant.
But it lands differently now.
Con fuerza (with toughness).
Siguele dando (keep going).
Tu puedes, Yonger (you can do it).
And the truth is, he already did.
Long before the final seconds ever ran out.
The post The real story of Yonger Bastida was never about one match appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.
Audi Crooks will make her USA Basketball competetive debut in Santiago, Chile for the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup Games later this month after earning one of 12 roster spots.
Crooks spent three days at the trials in Colorado Springs and was selected by the USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team Committee. Addy Brown was at the trials and didn’t make the team.
Audi Automatic. @AudiCrooks
AmeriCup trials pic.twitter.com/LJ50owpXKV
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) June 18, 2025
The roster composed of fellow collegiate athletes includes Raegan Beers, Mikayla Blakes, Madison Booker, Joyce Edwards, Hannah Hidalgo, Flau’jae Johnson, Gianna Kneepkens, Olivia Miles, Kennedy Smith, Hannah Stuelke and Grace VanSlooten.
The squad is coached by Duke head coach Kara Lawson and assisted by Oklahoma’s Jenny Baranczyk and Old Dominion’s DeLisha Milton-Jones.
Team USA opens Group B play with Chile on June 28, followed by pool games against Columbia, Puerto Rico and Mexico. You can view the full schedule here.
The winner of the FIBA AmeriCup earns a spot to the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin as the United States is vying for their fifth-straight Gold Medal.
Iowa State lands their first specialist of the 2026 class as highly-ranked punter Lucas Tenbrock announces his commitment via social media.
COMMITTED! GO CYCLONES!!! pic.twitter.com/04cbfjEJSG
— Lucas Tenbrock 5 (@LucasTenbrock07) June 18, 2025
The 6’6, 200 pound specialist from St. Charles, Ill. is ranked as the No. 1 punter in class of 2026 by Chris Sailer Kicking. He’s also ranked as the No. 27 kicker by Sailer.
Sailer’s scouting report of Tenbrock is strong.
Lucas is a big time high school punting and kicking prospect. He is big, tall, strong and athletic. He has an ideal frame for a college level punter. Lucas hits a big time D-I punt. Don’t wait on him, Lucas is a special punting talent. Also an excellent kicker. Lucas does a great job on field goal. He hits a pure, accurate ball off the ground and easily has 55+ yard range. His kickoffs are strong, D-I ready. Lucas drives the ball deep into the endzone with 4.0+ hang time. I look forward to seeing what the future holds.
Chris Sailer Kicking
Iowa State became Tenbrock’s first and only offer earlier this week on June 15.
2026 Iowa State Football commits
RB | Caleb Francois (Minnetonka, Minn.)
WR | Milan Parris (Stow, Ohio)
WR | Jeffrey Roberts (Ames)
OL | Mason Bandhauer (Fort Collins)
OL | Ethan Beckman (Prior Lake, Minn.)
OL | Pete Eglitis (Columbus, Ohio)
DL | Daniel Howard (Chicago)
DL | Brysen Wessell (Missouri)
DE | Ajibola Afuye (Stillwater, Minn.)
LB | Keian Kaiser (Sidney, Neb.)
LB | Barry Fries (Omaha, Neb.)
S | Tyrell Chatman (Lincoln, Neb.)
S | Bryson Williams (Omaha, Neb.)
ATH | Kaprice Keith (Omaha, Neb
ATH | Amarion Jackson (Omaha, Neb.)
P | Lucas Tenbrock (St. Charles, Ill.)
Last week, the Big 12 Conference released every school’s 2025-26 home-and-home opponents. In the new structure, with 18 games and 16 schools, each team only gets to play three teams twice in the regular season… a far cry from the beautiful round robin.
The Cyclone men’s three opponents are Kansas, Baylor and Oklahoma State. The home-only opponents are: Arizona State, UCF, Colorado, Houston, Texas Tech, West Virginia. The away-only opponents are: Arizona, BYU, Cincinnati, Kansas State, TCU, Utah. The entire conference’s opponent list can be found here.
We aren’t sure what the future will look like. Will these opponents rotate or are these “protected rivalries?” Either way, I’m going to rank Big 12 basketball opponents in terms of my interest of who I would want the Cyclones to face twice each season. I used an excel sheet and ranked 15 teams in four categories: history, venue, proximity, quality of team.
1. Kansas
Who else would it be? The Cyclones and Jayhawks have played 260 times since 1908, an average of 2.2 times per year. While Kansas owns a dominant series record of 191-69, it’s been a fairly competitive rivalry dating back to when Fred Hoiberg got his second career technical foul and Georges Niang had his face broken open. Since that 2014 Big 12 Tournament, Kansas has a 15-10 record in the series which is not nearly as lopsided as most of Kansas’ series in that time. Plus, by pretty much every metric, Phog Allen Fieldhouse and Hilton Coliseum are two of the best venues in the sport. When those teams meet in Lawrence and Ames, it’s some of the best basketball that this sport offers.
2. Kansas State
The Cyclones should play K-State twice a year for a lot of the same reasons as Kansas, minus the blue blood status. These teams have met 242 times since 1909 and while K-State owns the historical series, it’s been one of the more competitive series in the conference since the turn of the century (29-28 ISU.) The history combined with the proximity makes it a no-brainer. The ongoing rivalry with Jerome Tang is just another reason and the gift that keeps on giving.
3. Baylor
It’s not really drivable but Baylor has consistently provided great games over the course of the Scott Drew era. Iowa State fans have watched the Bears go from basement dwellers to National Champions. One could make the argument that Cyclone fans should actually not want to play Baylor twice a year because of Drew’s 4-6 record in Ames since 2015, which would be valid. However, T.J. Otzelberger has won five of six against Baylor by an average of 13.8 points and it seems that ‘Otzball’ is a bad matchup for Baylor.
4. Houston
There’s not much history with this opponent but the recent history is pretty dang good. The Cyclones and Cougars have met four times in two years and each game has been elite for the casual basketball fan. Iowa State’s two wins over Houston have been extremely memorable with a Milan Momcilovic game-winner and a 28 point win in the 2024 Big 12 Championship. Houston’s two wins have both been two of the most entertaining battles of the Otzelberger era. In my opinion, after KU and K-State, there’s a pretty massive drop-off in rivals for Iowa State and frankly, Houston doesn’t have any rivals yet. The similar play styles have already made for some classic games and if that continues to happen, this could develop into a real rivalry.
5. BYU
Let me preface this, as a Cyclone fan, I would not want Iowa State to play BYU every year. From a Big 12 perspective, it would make a lot of sense for this series to be played every year. BYU has proven to be a kryptonite for Iowa State in their first two seasons in the conference. The Cougars have won 3 of 4 over Iowa State and the only loss included a 15-point comeback by the Cyclones on senior night. On top of that, it appears that BYU is only going to get better. BYU’s NBA offense to Iowa State’s suffocating defense is like oil to water… playing that in Provo and Ames each year would be must-see TV. (Bonus points for one of the most memorable non-con games in program history.)
6. Texas Tech
If you asked me a decade ago, Texas Tech would’ve easily been dead last. A lot can change in 10 years. Tech has been one of the strongest programs in the league and they’ve been elite under two different head coaches. While they’ve had a lot of great years dating back to 2018, Iowa State and Tech have rarely been elite during the same season, so there’s not a ton of great games between the two but I envision that changing in the future. Perhaps Tamin Lipsey‘s late game heroics are a vision of what’s to come.
7. Arizona
I know that Chris Williams would be fine never going back to Tuscon and who could blame him? Iowa State’s first trip to Tuscon was a nightmare and will always be one of the first nut kicks that I think about. HOWEVER, for the first 39 minues and 59 seconds, it was pretty dang cool to see ISU playing in an atmosphere like the McKale Center. If both parties agree that Caleb Love isn’t allowed in the building, I’d be fine with this doubleheader.
8. Oklahoma State
The Pokes would be much higher if Marcus Smart earned another year of eligibility. The 2013-2017 range of this series was my favorite stretch of games in program history. From Chris Babb dunking on Smart to “Naz Long does it again” to Abdel Nader’s senior night baptism and everything in-between, this series delivered. Unfortunately, those days are gone and I’m not too confident that they’re ever coming back.
9. West Virginia
The Riot Bowl was a forced rivalry that never really took off. It did provide some great memories in the Dustin Hogue era and with the best dunk in Big 12 Tournament history but there hasn’t been a marquee moment in this series since 2017. It would’ve been ranked higher from a local perspective if Darian DeVries stuck around… but we all know that’s a touchy subject in Morgantown.
10. Cincinnati
This is more of a bet thinking that Cincinnati could return to the level that they were at for so long because right now there’s not much going for this series. Believe it or not, this is fourth closest school to Ames. Additionally, the two games played in 2025 got pretty chippy. If the Bearcats can elevate towards the top of the Big 12, this could be a fun rivalry.
11. Colorado
It’s hard to rank a Big 8 school this low because of the history and proximity but there’s nothing interesting about Colorado basketball to me. Maybe they’ll make a good hire after Tad Boyle hangs it up but until then, I’d rather watch this Jamaal Tinsley highlight than play Colorado twice a season.
12. TCU
I knew one thing for sure, TCU would be dead-last of the Big 12 teams that have been here for longer than two years. Even though they’ve had some really solid teams under Jamie Dixon, there’s nothing interesting about TCU basketball to me. If it weren’t for Gabe Kalschuer, the Horned Frogs could be even lower.
13. UCF
These last three could’ve easily been thrown in a random number generator because they are interchangeable. Next to no history, far away, and boring venues. UCF gets the nod because there’s at least been two pretty important road wins already in their two years in the league.
14. Arizona State
Two Bobby Hurley meltdowns a year would be fun. Other than that? I don’t know.
15. Utah
I still haven’t forgiven them for the 1944 Final Four.
Iowa State’s recruiting success in Nebraska continues with the commitment from 2026 3-Star Safety Bryson Williams.
Cyclone Nation I’m locked in #AGTG pic.twitter.com/TwmV0zcyZv
— Bryson Williams (@bwilliams_2828) June 18, 2025
Williams announced today on social media that he’s choosing the Cyclones over offers from Vanderbilt, Washington State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Nothern Illinois, Lindenwood, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Penn, Sacramento State and South Dakota State.
The 6’4, 175 pounder from Omaha is the sixth commit from the state of Nebraska in Iowa State’s 2026 class. He joins Tyrell Chatman, Amarion Jackson, Kaprice Keith, Barry Fries and Keian Kaiser as top 10 rated recruits in the Cornhusker State by 247Sports.com.
Williams is rated at 85th best safety in the 2026 class by 247Sports and is the second safety commit of Matt Campbell‘s class.
2026 Iowa State Football commits
RB | Caleb Francois (Minnetonka, Minn.)
WR | Milan Parris (Stow, Ohio)
WR | Jeffrey Roberts (Ames)
OL | Mason Bandhauer (Fort Collins)
OL | Ethan Beckman (Prior Lake, Minn.)
OL | Pete Eglitis (Columbus, Ohio)
DL | Daniel Howard (Chicago)
DL | Brysen Wessell (Missouri)
DE | Ajibola Afuye (Stillwater, Minn.)
LB | Keian Kaiser (Sidney, Neb.)
LB | Barry Fries (Omaha, Neb.)
S | Tyrell Chatman (Lincoln, Neb.)
S | Bryson Williams (Omaha, Neb.)
ATH | Kaprice Keith (Omaha, Neb
ATH | Amarion Jackson (Omaha, Neb.)
One of the highest-rated commits in Iowa State history has flipped his commitment on Tuesday. On3Sports.com reports that four-star quarterback Jett Thomalla is going to Alabama.
Thomalla announced his commitment to Matt Campbell’s program on April 18 but Alabama swooped in with an offer less than a month later on May 15. The Omaha native also held offers from Iowa, Arizona, Missouri, Virginia Tech and others.
The 6’5, 195 pound Elite 11 product told Cyclone Fanatic on May 21 that Iowa State understood his interest in Alabama but was still going to recruit him just as hard.
“They’re just really easy to get along with. Coach Waters went through the same process with Kansas State and Penn State, so they’ve done it before,” Thomalla said. “So did Coach Campbell. They kind of understand and in the end, obviously, they’re still going to recruit me really hard.”
Even with the decommitment, Iowa State still has commits from five of the top 10 players in Nebraska for the Class of 2026. On3Sports.com has Thomalla as the No. 13 rated quarterback in the country.
As of now, ISU doesn’t have any other QB commits in the 2026 class but Rocco Becht has at least one year remaining with a chance for two depending on his decision after this season. Redshirt freshman Connor Moberly and incoming freshman Alex Mankse are both on scholarship through at least 2028.
Mar 8, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger motions to his bench during the second half of a game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
ANKENY — Sometimes a late addition can make the most lasting impact.
That’s often been the case for Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger and his staff, anyway, when it comes to tapping the transfer portal.
So who proved to be the final player plucked from the portal by the Cyclones this spring? Aggressive and productive guard Dominick Nelson of Utah Valley — the reigning Western Athletic Conference player of the year.
“The first year, the last guy we added was Izaiah Brockington, right?” Otzelberger said late last month as ISU’s athletics programs kicked off their annual Tailgate Tour. “The last guy that we added two years ago was Curt Jones, right? So there’s been some of those — the last guy you add is something you really need and really fits, can really fit in. I think with Dominick, that downhill playmaking ability is certainly unique.”
Multiple transfers have become foundational elements of each of Otzelberger’s four NCAA Tournament-worthy teams. This season’s quartet of seasoned newcomers — Nelson, fellow guard Mason Williams of Eastern Washington, and forwards Blake Buchanan of Virginia and Eric Mulder of Purdue Fort Wayne — promises to mirror that sizable impact as roles emerge around productive returners such as Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, Milan Momcilovic and Nate Heise.
“The leadership that they can provide, I think it allows you to hit the ground running when you get to practice (this month) and then beyond, as opposed to when you’re starting with a group that’s totally new,” said Otzelberger, who has guided the Cyclones to the Sweet 16 twice in his four seasons as the head coach. “So (we’re) fortunate to be in the position that we are.”
ISU will likely find itself among the top four or five contenders for a Big 12 crown in the 2025-26 season — and poised to make another possible run in the NCAA Tournament.
But first things first: How do the four transfers fit into Otzelberger’s gritty and disruptive defense-based scheme?
1. Buchanan and Mulder
Buchanan stands 6-11 and Mulder is 6-8. Both are rim-running bigs and from a strictly athletic perspective, could be upgrades over the hard-nosed Brandton Chatfield, who exhausted his eligibility, and Dishon Jackson, who chose to transfer to Pitt.
“Buchanan and Mulder, they’re guys (who) both (have) great feet,” Otzelberger said. “Intelligent players. Guys that can change speeds and directions and pick.”
Buchanan averaged 5.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks as a role player for the Cavaliers last season. Mulder — a former Pella Christian prep — averaged 8.4 points and 6.7 rebounds will battling injuries for the Mastodon’s last season.
“We want guys that have the ability if we play them on pocket passes, short rolls, can be great decision makers (and) assist-to-turnover (ratio) guys,” Otzelberger said. “Mulder was, by KenPom, the most efficient player in the country (in that area). Buchanan is a really gifted passer and lob threat.”
2. Williams and Nelson
Both Williams and Nelson stand 6-5. Both excel at attacking the paint and scoring at the rim. Williams is a more accomplished outside shooter and drained a respectable 34.5 percent of his 3-pointers last season. Nelson boasts an uncanny ability to get to the free throw line and tied for 13th nationally in free throw attempts last season at 237.
“Both are taller, longer guards with a lot of upside,” Otzelberger said. “Both need to continue to get stronger and continue to build their core strength and things like that, but Dominick, is a downhill, playmaking (guy) and gets to the foul line about as well as anybody does. (He’s) attacking in transition. With Mason, he’s more of a guy that can make plays off the bounce as well as make shots and that sort of thing, so we like the character, we like the decision making. Guys we really think have more upside and can develop — and who want to develop. We’ve seen that work really well for a guy like Curt Jones (and) his background is not that different from those guys.”
So the complementary puzzle pieces are arrayed on the table and Otzelberger’s trademark taxing summer workouts will enable the big picture to form.
“Guys that are really rooted in development and want to do their work every single day,” he said, “those guys will really do well for us.”
AMES – Iowa State secured its second commitment from its second official visit weekend with the addition of Brysen Wessell, a defensive lineman out of Jackson, Missouri. The 3-star prospect announced his pledge to the Cyclones on Sunday afternoon via social media.
1000% committed #Committed @ISUMattCampbell @CoachRasheed @BrycePaup @CycloneFB @JHSIndians_FB @JacksonHS_FB pic.twitter.com/Bj8Ari9rji
— Brysen wessell (@WessellBrysen) June 15, 2025
Wessell chose Iowa State over a lengthy list of offers, including Arkansas State, Central Michigan, James Madison, Lindenwood, Missouri State, Missouri Western State (D2), Southeast Missouri State, Southern Illinois, UT Martin, Wake Forest, Washington State, Western Illinois, and Western Michigan.
He is rated as the No. 83 defensive line prospect in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports.
What it means: The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Wessell becomes the third defensive
lineman to commit to Iowa State’s 2026 class, joining Ajibola Afuye and Daniel Howard.
With his size, length, and strength, Wessell adds more depth and versatility to the defensive front as the Cyclones continue to build out a well-rounded class.
2026 Iowa State Football commits
QB | Jett Thomalla (Omaha, Neb.)
RB | Caleb Francois (Minnetonka, Minn.)
WR | Milan Parris (Stow, Ohio)
WR | Jeffrey Roberts (Ames)
OL | Mason Bandhauer (Fort Collins)
OL | Ethan Beckman (Prior Lake, Minn.)
OL | Pete Eglitis (Columbus, Ohio)
DL | Daniel Howard (Chicago)
DL | Brysen Wessell (Missouri)
DE | Ajibola Afuye (Stillwater, Minn.)
LB | Keian Kaiser (Sidney, Neb.)
LB | Barry Fries (Omaha, Neb.)
S | Tyrell Chatman (Lincoln, Neb.)
ATH | Kaprice Keith (Omaha, Neb.)
ATH | Amarion Jackson (Omaha, Neb.)
AMES – Iowa State added another piece to its 2026 recruiting class with the commitment of Ajibola Afuye, a promising edge rusher out of Stillwater, Minnesota.
Alhamdulilah, Go cyclones!!
committed @ISUMattCampbell @CoachRasheed @DerekHoodjer @AllenTrieu @CycloneFB @CycloneAlert247 @Ponies_Football @Mr_C_SAHS @garluc_75 pic.twitter.com/NJU4c7ZMbS
— Ajibola Khalid Afuye 3 DE (@Khalidafuye1) June 15, 2025
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound prospect earned his offer from Iowa State after a strong showing at the program’s prospect camp in early June. Afuye also holds offers from Minnesota and Northern Iowa.
What it means: Iowa State continues to build momentum on the recruiting trail, landing a quick and high-upside edge rusher in Afuye. He becomes the second defensive lineman to commit to the Cyclones in the 2026 class.
The 3-star prospect brings impressive size and athleticism to the table, giving Iowa State a more versatile group up front as it rounds out its defensive line unit.
2026 Iowa State Football commits
QB | Jett Thomalla (Omaha, Neb.)
RB | Caleb Francois (Minnetonka, Minn.)
WR | Milan Parris (Stow, Ohio)
WR | Jeffrey Roberts (Ames)
OL | Mason Bandhauer (Fort Collins)
OL | Ethan Beckman (Prior Lake, Minn.)
OL | Pete Eglitis (Columbus, Ohio)
DL | Daniel Howard (Chicago)
DL | Brysen Wessell (Missouri)
DE | Ajibola Afuye (Stillwater, Minn.)
LB | Keian Kaiser (Sidney, Neb.)
LB | Barry Fries (Omaha, Neb.)
S | Tyrell Chatman (Lincoln, Neb.)
ATH | Kaprice Keith (Omaha, Neb.)
ATH | Amarion Jackson (Omaha, Neb.)
Iowa State picked up its second commitment on the offensive line out of official visit weekend on Tuesday in Dexter, Michigan’s Owen Winder.
The 6-foot-7, 305-pound prospect announced the news over social media Tuesday.
Winder chose the Cyclones over other offers from Kentucky, West Virginia, Duke, Georgia Tech, Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Toledo and West Virginia.
He slots in as the No. 104 offensive tackle in the class according to 247 Sports as well as the No. 24 prospect out of Michigan.
What it means: Winder joins Pete Eglitis as the second 6-foot-7 offensive lineman to put his name on the commitment list for the 2026 class. The addition brings the total in Ryan Clanton’s room to four this year, which is right around where they’ve been finishing under the offensive line coach.
The 2026 class: Iowa State’s class now sits at 14, with a few more expected in the coming weeks with the second official visit weekend coming up in the next few days.
2026 Iowa State Football commits
QB | Jett Thomalla (Omaha, Neb.)
RB | Caleb Francois (Minnetonka, Minn.)
WR | Milan Parris (Stow, Ohio)
WR | Jeffrey Roberts (Ames)
OL | Mason Bandhauer (Fort Collins)
OL | Ethan Beckman (Prior Lake, Minn.)
OL | Pete Eglitis (Columbus, Ohio)
OL | Owen Winder (Dexter, Mich.)
DL Daniel Howard (Chicago)
LB | Keian Kaiser (Sidney, Neb.)
LB | Barry Fries (Omaha, Neb.)
S | Tyrell Chatman (Lincoln, Neb.)
ATH | Kaprice Keith (Omaha, Neb.)
ATH | Amarion Jackson (Omaha, Neb.)
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – Iowa State women’s basketball’s Addy Brown and Audi Crooks were two of 21 collegiate women’s basketball student-athletes invited to the 2025 USA Women’s AmeriCup Team Training Camp.
Training camp will take place from June 16-24 and will be held at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center (OPTC) in Colorado Springs. The beginning of training camp will include a Trials for the final team selection.
The Junior National Team Committee is responsible for Trials and team selection. Ten nations from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean will take part in the 2025 AmeriCup, held June 28-July 6 at Santiago, Chile.
The 2025 USA Women’s AmeriCup Team will open Group B with host nation Chile, followed by Colombia, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The winner of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup will earn a berth to the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, set to be held in Berlin next summer.
Kara Lawson (Duke University) will serve as head coach with assistant coaches DeLisha Milton-Jones (Old Dominion University) and Jennie Baranczyk (University of Oklahoma). They will be assisted by court coaches Jim Flanery (Creighton University) and Robyn Fralick (Michigan State University) at trials.
Crooks is fresh off one of the most productive sophomore campaigns in the nation, averaging a Big 12-best 23.4 points per game while shooting 60.5 percent from the floor. She became the fastest Cyclone and third-fastest Big 12 women’s basketball player to score 1,000 career points, reaching the milestone in just 49 games (vs. Utah, Jan. 5, 2025).
The Algona, Iowa native is a two-time unanimous All-Big 12 selection and was named Third Team All-America by both the Associated Press and the US Basketball Writers Association in 2025. During the 2024-25 season, she was named a Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Top 5 Finalist, as well as appearing on the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy watch lists.
Brown is widely regarded as one of the most well-rounded players in the country, averaging 15.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. She is the only Cyclone to finish a season with at least 400 points, 250 rebounds and 150 assists, completing the feat in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.
The 6-2 forward earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors and was voted a Third Team College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American. In the Big 12 Championship second round, she turned in a career-high 41 points, just one off the school record, to help Iowa State to a 96-88 win.
#
Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) and forward Aaron Nesmith (23) celebrate after Haliburton makes the game winning shot as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) looks on during the fourth quarter during game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Tyrese Haliburton wins game 1 for the PacersThe former Cyclone was again at the top of the sports world after hitting a game-winner that sent the Pacers by Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.
debuts new signature shoe
debuts in the Finals
hits the game-winnerWhat a night for Tyrese Haliburton!pic.twitter.com/4ClUeMOhrf https://t.co/qoxlnFBjU9
— NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2025
It was his latest – and the Pacers’ – act of late game heroics in the postseason that has given Haliburton a reputation of making big shots and big moments.
Now, we all saw what happened on Sunday in Game 2. Oklahoma City has dominated a majority of the first two games. Haliburton finished the first half with only three points.
He knows that he’s got to be better, and the good news for Indiana is that you get three of the next four at home. Game 3 is Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on TNT.
Official Visit WeekendsThis weekend marked the first of two official visit weekends for Iowa State as it continues to round out its 2026 class.
I posted a premium update on how things went over the past few days and where the Cyclones stand with quarterback commit Jett Thomalla, as well as others. They also grabbed a commitment from offensive lineman Pete Eglitis.
It’s shaping up to be another big group coming into town Friday that includes a number of priority targets:
Confirmed incoming visits (June 13-15)
4-star TE | Ian Premer (Great Bend, Kansas)
3-star LB | Pierce Petersohn (Dodge Center, Minn.)
3-star LB | Kasen Thomas (Sioux City)
3-star S | Bryson Williams (Omaha, Neb.)
3-star DL | Jermaine Polk (Toledo, Ohio)
Bridget Carleton is back doing her thing and the Minnesota Lynx are out to a 9-0 start.
Carleton moved to No. 5 in the Lynx’s franchise in 3-pointers made during Sunday’s game where she finished with eight points in 34 minutes.
5TH ALL-TIME IN LYNX HISTORY. pic.twitter.com/KAo6pVqEnd
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) June 8, 2025
While it’s been a quiet start in the statbook, it’s clear this team is firing on all of its cylinders right now.
Stevo Klotz making some noise in LAThe fan favorite appeared in an Athletic article about things to look for during workouts this week, and it looks as though he may try to slot in as a long snapper.
“Keep an eye out for undrafted rookie tight end Stevo Klotz. He caught five passes in Tuesday’s team drills. There might not be a spot for him on the 53-man roster, but he feels like a lock for the practice squad, with the potential to make an impact as an elevation player during the season. Klotz is a solid blocker, which should show up when the pads come on next month. And he should also be a factor in special teams. Klotz was working on his long-snapping in the early stages of Tuesday’s practice.“
Quick HitsBananas vs. Baseball & ESPN vs. Sports
I’ve never understood the hate and criticism the Savannah Bananas get from some people on social media. In the world I grew up in, we never heard many negative things about the Harlem Globetrotters and these people have the option to simply scroll past the video their watching – they don’t even need to change the channel.
But that same crowd was up in arms over the weekend, and I’m on their side. ESPN decided to televise some of the Bananas games on its networks – and that’s great. Grow the game, let the kids have fun, etc.
What I have a problem with is putting that show on TV while conflicting against college baseball’s Super Regionals.
Can y’all imagine the Globetrotters playing a game on CBS during the Sweet 16? Hell no.
It’s a shame that the world wide leader in sports wouldn’t avoid this, but it’s not surprising.
ESPN posted a story about dirt racing on its front page over the weekend… it was because Kyle Larson wrecked a car and was uninjured in an accident that was attributed to a part failure. But it’s crickets from that company when it comes to the actual racing – you know, sports.
Don’t get me wrong, I love what the Bananas do, but I need the ‘S’ back in ESPN.
Edmonton – Florida is everything we’d hoped through two games.
Each game has delivered on everything that these teams have shown throughout the playoffs so far.
Florida’s Sam Bennett ran into the opposing team’s goalie for the third time in this year’s postseason. That sounds trivial at face value, but the Panthers’ strategy has been to play dirty – it’s win at all costs, and Bennett is the lead henchman.
Sam Bennett falls onto Stuart Skinner and he hurts his leg. Called for Goalie Interference
Was it the right call? pic.twitter.com/2nuabCgC3L
— 2 Goalies 1 Mic (@2Goalies1Mic) June 7, 2025
While Edmonton has done its share of the same throughout the past six weeks, Connor McDavid is going to out-skill any team that’s in his way. His motor is in a different gear this year and it was on display with one of the best assists we’ve seen that got to Leon Draisaitl here.
Like… #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/5O3HgDEalh
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 7, 2025
To finish out that same game, after Florida took the lead back, a 40-year old Corey Perry tied things up with 17 seconds to go before the 37-year old Brad Marchand won it for Florida in OT.
Its knotted up at 1-1. Game 3 is Monday night at 7 p.m. on TNT.
The WWE bent its knee to fans with the re-signing of R-Truth. I put this in at the end of my column from last week and didn’t know how many would care.
It was bizarre to me – how a guy that is unanimously loved could lose his job days after one of his best performances of his career. It’s why I got out of watching the product in the first place. Guys are released or buried on the roster despite surmounting large fan bases and support. Cough, LA Knight.
R-Truth’s post stating he was being released garnered 22 million views on the platform.
Im sorry to inform you all. I just got released from WWE. I want to thank WWE for the ride, but MOSTLY I want to thank each and EVERYONE OF YOU who was along for the ride, Thank you for all the love, support, and appreciation you have given me over the years. Thank you
— Ron Killings (@RonKillings) June 1, 2025
In the ensuing days, it was reported that Truth was fielding independent booking dates along with calls from AEW. Once WWE realized the backlash, and saw fans chanting “We want Truth,” during the week, they went back to him and had to have WWE President Nick Khan in on the negotiation – something out of the ordinary to normal procedure.
I don’t know what the hell they were going to do if they didn’t bring Truth back for this moment, and I probably would be a lot less excited about everything with the WWE had they not. But damn, did it make for good TV.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS IN HISTORY
WE ALL GOT WORKED
R TRUTH IS BACK IN WWE
MITB pic.twitter.com/gfXRYzmPf8
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) June 8, 2025
Coastal Carolina embarrasses SEC fan
I’ll leave you with some more SEC tears, courtesy of this Barstool CCU account that got pretty big during the program’s last run to Omaha in 2016.
They put together a fun video after an SEC reporter claimed that Auburn would embarrass the Chanticleers over the weekend. Coastal proceeded to sweep the Tigers 2-0.
two words.
SUPER. REGIONAL. pic.twitter.com/UeiKMDg8AB
— Barstool CCU (@BarstoolCCU) June 6, 2025
I’ve got no clue who the players are on any of these teams, but I’m ready to watch some college baseball next week.
Iowa State earned its 13th commitment to the 2026 recruiting class over the first official visit weekend in Pete Eglitis, an offensive lineman out of Columbus.
The 6-foot-7, 285-pound prospect earned first-team all-state honors at Bishop Watterson High School a season ago, collecting an amount of offers during his recruitment.
Eglitis chooses the Cyclones over offers from Pittsburgh, Louisville, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Missouri, Marshall, James Madison, Old Dominion, Toledo, Miami (Ohio), Ohio, Kent State, Akron, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Liberty and Western Michigan.
What it means: This is the third offensive lineman to commit for the 2026 class and the first out of the Campbell staff’s Ohio ‘wheelhouse.’
He’s flown slightly under the radar as far as rankings go, coming in at No. 151 for offensive tackles on 247 Sports, but that offer sheet can speak for itself.
He brings a lot of size to the table and gives Iowa State a more rounded group at the position as it continues to fill out its class with another round of visits set for next weekend.
2026 Iowa State Football commits
QB | Jett Thomalla (Omaha, Neb.)
RB | Caleb Francois (Minnetonka, Minn.)
WR | Milan Parris (Stow, Ohio)
WR | Jeffrey Roberts (Ames)
OL | Mason Bandhauer (Fort Collins)
OL | Ethan Beckman (Prior Lake, Minn.)
OL | Pete Eglitis (Columbus, Ohio)
DL Daniel Howard (Chicago)
LB | Keian Kaiser (Sidney, Neb.)
LB | Barry Fries (Omaha, Neb.)
S | Tyrell Chatman (Lincoln, Neb.)
ATH | Kaprice Keith (Omaha, Neb.)
ATH | Amarion Jackson (Omaha, Neb.)
Isaac Jensen, a priority tight end target for Iowa State in the 2026 recruiting class, was on campus last weekend for a visit for his first of the summer.
The Cyclones, who have have a pair of Jensen’s high school teammates committed, are hoping they stood out.
“I’m looking to see what I saw at Iowa State,” Jensen told NebPreps on what he was looking for on his Missouri visit.
See the full interview here.
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound prospect has other visits scheduled to Missouri (June 6), Florida State (June 13), and Texas A&M (June 20).
He had good things to say about his time in Ames.
“It was great,” Jensen said. “My family loved it and I loved it. The thing I liked the most was spending time with the tight ends and seeing what a weekend in there shoes is like, and seeing how I’d fit in.”
Along with his Millard South High School teammates, Iowa State has been circling the wagons in Nebraska on the recruiting trail, securing commitments from six of the state’s top nine prospects in the 2026 class.
A commitment from Jensen would make it seven.
“Obviously it’d be pretty cool to play with Jett and AJ and live with them, but I’m just going to do what’s best for me and if it is, then it is, but if it’s not, I’m not going to put myself into a position to not succeed.”
May 31, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) holds the trophy after game six of the eastern conference finals against the New York Knicks for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers punched their tickets to the NBA FinalsHaliburton finished the series off with a 21-point, 13-assist performance to push the Pacers to the series win in six games.
The former Cyclone had over 20 points or over 10 assists in five of the six games and will now make his first ever trip to the NBA Finals.
THE PACERS’ TIME IS NOW
Hali brings Indiana back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000 pic.twitter.com/4IRR1DT58I
— ESPN (@espn) June 1, 2025
The thing that sticks out about Haliburton is the willingness to talk his talk over the course of the series.
From the choke sign to the ‘overrated’ stuff, he’s backed up what’s coming out of his mouth.
he did the premature choke in game 1 and backed it up by winning the game in OT. he wore all black tonight and backed it up by closing out the series. legendary stuff, shoutout to tyrese https://t.co/Pa3r5b95GB
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) June 1, 2025
‘cers in 6 pic.twitter.com/cCjASm1qNF
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) June 1, 2025
And now, for the second time in three years, a former Cyclone is front and center for a professional team that’s competing for a league championship.
The other coming from Brock Purdy’s trip to the Super Bowl with the 49ers in 2023, it will be interesting to see how Cyclones take in the series. Much like that one, I’d say most of America is rooting against the opponent.
NBA Finals TV Schedule
Thurs. June 5 | Game 1 @ OKC, 7:30 p.m. ABC
Sun. June 8 | Game 2 @ OKC, 7 p.m. ABC
Wed. June 11 | Game 3 @ Indiana, 7:30 p.m. ABC
Fri. June 13 | Game 4 @ Indiana, 7:30 p.m. ABC
Mon. June 16 | Game 5 @ OKC, 7:30 p.m. ABC
Thurs. June 19 | Game 6 @ Indiana, 7:30 p.m. ABC
Sun. June 22 | Game 7 @ OKC, 7 p.m. ABC
Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff to do Cy-Hawk gameThe pregame show announced that it will be on hand for the 2025 Cy-Hawk game, which will kick off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 6 on FOX.
I grew up College Game Day fan and really haven’t tuned in a ton to Fox’s product (I’m also skeptical of their production because of their below average motorsports broadcasts) but it’s clear that this is a really big deal to a lot of fans.
It will be interesting to see the show and Iowa State go for its first Cy-Hawk win with a national show in attendance.
New Cyclones in CFB 26 video gameThe first details of EA Sports’ second edition of the College Football video game since its rebirth are out, and three new Cyclones will noticeably be in the game.
The program confirmed that head coach Matt Campbell, defensive coordinator Jon Heacock and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser will all be featured in the game.
It’s new in this installment, that the coaches’ themselves were eligible to be in the game and Iowa State will take advantage of it.
Elsewhere, Colorado’s Deion Sanders and North Carolina’s Bill Belichick each have reportedly declined EA’s invitation to be in the game. I’m curious to what the negatives are there, but good on Iowa State to get the visibility.
Official Visit weekends over the next 14 daysThis is Iowa State football’s bread and butter when it comes to recruiting. Over the last few years, the pair of official visit weekends the program hosts in June has secured a number of commitments.
There are a number of targets coming between both weekends including four-star prospects Messiah Tilson (WR, week 1) and Ian Premer (TE, week 2).
We’ll have more on the full names of everyone visitors later this week – make sure you’re subscribed to the premium forum to get the earliest details as things go on this month.
Quick hitsEdmonton – Florida volume 2
These two behemoths are heading back to the Stanley Cup Final. It’s disgusting – OK, I’m just a little salty about my team.
But this Stanley Cup series should be something electric. Florida has spent the better part of the playoffs by “running” teams and throwing cheap shots left and right.
While Edmonton has done the same in a lesser extent, the Oilers are getting everything out of their role players and skill guys and look even more dangerous than last year, despite the dropoff on talent on paper. It starts Wednesday.
NHL Finals announced TV schedule
Wed. June 4 | Game 1 @ EDM, 7 p.m. TNT
Fri. June 6 | Game 2 @ EDM, 7 p.m. TNT
Mon. June 9 | Game 3 @ FLA, 7 p.m. TNT
SEC makes some history
You’re probably accustomed to hearing it, but the Southeastern Conference has made even more history this month, after sending media members a 7-page document that says its teams face a “regular season gauntlet,” this week.
Wright State upended the No. 1 overall seed in the college baseball tournament in Vanderbilt, knocking them out of the tournament on the first weekend.
WRIGHT STATE ELIMINATES NO. 1 OVERALL SEED VANDERBILT IN THE REGIONAL pic.twitter.com/7GBVS9zjWC
— ESPN (@espn) June 1, 2025
With Texas A&M Softball being knocked out a week ago, it marks for the first time ever that the No. 1 overall seeds each failed to make it out of their home-field regionals.
If you didn’t think it could get any better, No. 2 Texas went down at home to in-state rival UTSA, losing a pair of games to the Roadrunners to be knocked out of the event.
.@TexasBaseball getting blown up in Austin by @UTSABSB, 7-1 (7) in an elimination game for the Longhorns. UTSA embarrassing Texas in the NCAA Austin Regional. UT fans not happy. pic.twitter.com/qK4OH02qXC
— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) June 2, 2025
WWE releases its most likeable superstar
I debated on putting this in here until I saw the attention that this news got on Sunday.
WWE chose to release R-Truth, who’s at the end of his current contract, but is one of the most unanimously liked athletes that I’ve ever seen. People like that always stick out to me – and I don’t know if we’ll ever see a guy that has as few enemies (or haters) than R-Truth.
When I stopped watching wrestling a few years back, it was because they’d release all the guys I loved to watch. I hope this isn’t the rinse-recycle part of the circle.
Im sorry to inform you all. I just got released from WWE. I want to thank WWE for the ride, but MOSTLY I want to thank each and EVERYONE OF YOU who was along for the ride, Thank you for all the love, support, and appreciation you have given me over the years. Thank you
— Ron Killings (@RonKillings) June 1, 2025
Hundreds of fans pack the ESPN College Game Day set waving signs and cheering before the Cy-Hawk game in Ames, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register via Imagn Content Services, LLC
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – The Big 12 Conference has announced television broadcast assignments for Iowa State’s non-conference games.
After opening the season in Dublin, Ireland for the Aer Lingus Classic against Kansas State (Aug. 23, 11 a.m. CT, ESPN), Iowa State returns home to face South Dakota on Aug. 30 in the home opener at Jack Trice Stadium. The game against the Coyotes, who reached the FCS Semifinals in 2024, will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on FOX.
Iowa State welcomes Iowa for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series with FOX highlighting the rivalry in an 11 a.m. CT game on Sept. 6. The Cyclones beat the Hawkeyes 20-19 last season in a thriller in Iowa City.
ISU then faces a road contest against Arkansas State on Sept. 13 at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN2. The Cyclones and Red Wolves are meeting for the second time after ISU posted a 52-7 win last season at Jack Trice Stadium.
Iowa State returns 11 starters, including quarterback Rocco Becht, from last year’s Pop-Tarts Bowl championship team. Becht, who threw for more than 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns, is among six offensive starters returning, while five defensive starters return.
Don’t miss any of the action at Jack Trice Stadium! Purchase your 2025 season tickets now by clicking here.
2025 Iowa State Football Schedule
Aug. 23 +*vs. Kansas State (ESPN) 11 a.m.
Aug. 30 SOUTH DAKOTA (FOX) 2:30 p.m.
Sept. 6 %IOWA (FOX) 11 a.m.
Sept. 13 at Arkansas State (ESPN2) 3 p.m.
Sept. 27 *ARIZONA TBA
Oct. 4 *at Cincinnati TBA
Oct. 11 *at Colorado TBA
Oct. 25 *BYU (Homecoming) TBA
Nov. 1 *ARIZONA STATE TBA
Nov. 8 *at TCU TBA
Nov. 22 *KANSAS TBA
Nov. 29 *at Oklahoma State TBA
Dec. 6 Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship Game
All Times Central
- Aer Lingus College Football Classic (Dublin, Ireland)
%Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series
*Big 12 Conference Game
#
Oct 22, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark speaks to media during Big 12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark told CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello that the conference’s athletic directors are aligned on a College Football Playoff format.
The league will battle for a format that features the five highest ranked conference champions along with 11 slots for at-large teams in a 16-team playoff.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark tells @CBSSports he had a “great conversation” with the league’s athletic directors this morning and they are “aligned on our preference” for a 5+11 CFP model.
Big 12 coaches will meet with Yormark on Thursday to discuss further.
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) May 28, 2025
This goes against the format that SEC and Big 10 athletic directors are battling for – which would award each of the leagues four automatic spots, while the Big 12 and ACC get only two.
This is all falling under the assumption that the league representatives (and Notre Dame AD) agree to an expansion to a 16-team playoff.
With SEC meetings going on, the topic is being widely discussed this week, and it’s not yet clear what changes will be made.
In fact, in a report ESPN’s Heather Dinich and Pete Thamel, SEC coaches are actually against the idea of the automatic qualifier format, which would also push the league to playing nine conference games, like each of the other power conferences.
SEC coaches are on the same side as the Big 12, coincidentally, with the thought that it’d be possible to get more than four teams into the playoff under the 5+11 format.
All of the sides have a responsibility to agree to a new format for 2026 and beyond by the December 1, 2025 deadline.
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives to the hoop past New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the fourth quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton got back in his game on the court Tuesday, earning a triple-double for the Indiana Pacers in a 130-121 win over New York.
Haliburton scored 31 points, collected 12 rebounds and added 15 assists to help Indiana take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The statline is historic for Haliburton. Only three players in NBA history have had at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists in a postseason game:
- Tyrese Haliburton
- Nikola Jokic
- Oscar Robertson
Haliburton became the first player in the league’s history to do it without committing a single turnover Tuesday.
Has anybody had more iconic moments than Tyrese Haliburton in the 2025 Playoffs?? pic.twitter.com/FChghm1w96
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) May 28, 2025
The former Cyclone is on a roll right now, and it seems like it will lead to a trip to the NBA Finals for Indiana.
Game 5 of the series will be back in New York, and will tip off at 7 p.m. Thursday live on TNT.
May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) walks downcourt during the third quarter against the New York Knicks during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Tyrese Haliburton gets Pacers out to series leadThe former Cyclone helped the Indiana Pacers get out to a 2-0 lead before the team faced off with New York for a home game on Indy 500 Sunday.
Throw in the 20-point lead Indiana got to during Game 3 and the momentum really couldn’t have been higher for the Pacers.
Yet, for the third time in the 2025 playoffs, the Knicks would complete a 20-point comeback and eventually finish the game off to close the series to 2-1.
The good news for Indiana is that it will get game 4 at home, too. It would love a 31-point game from Haliburton like the one it saw in game 1.
Regardless, it’s pretty remarkable to see the run that Haliburton is on. It’s sort of similar to Purdy’s a couple seasons ago. We’ll see how the next three weeks play out.
Greg Sankey takes a shotThe SEC commissioner hosted a media session ahead of the conference’s spring meetings to address where the vote might go in the new format for the College Football Playoff.
Like other league leaders have, Sankey took it as an opportunity to take a shot, this one going at the Big 12 and SEC.
Greg Sankey fires a barb at the ACC & Big 12 for statements they released last week after the straight-seeding vote.
“I don’t lecture others about good of the game. Coordinated press releases about good of the game… I’m looking for ideas to move us forward.”
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) May 26, 2025
The difference in the shot here is that there was never a press release that was put out, but it appears Sankey took a page out of the SEC fans’ books that deal with hypotheticals and making things up.
I’ll dive deeper into the ramifications of all this after the meetings, but Ross Dellenger has a great look into it here.
The Big 10 voted to support the 4-4-2-2-1 format of the playoff, which would grant themselves and the SEC with four automatic spots – something other conferences will take opposition to.
On top of it, Dellenger also reports that the league gave Sankey the power to split away from the NCAA if he feels the conference needs to.
We’re as close as we’ve ever gotten to total turmoil in CFB, and that move feels bigger than anything we’ve seen in the last few seasons.
Dominykas Pleta classified as a freshmanT.J. Otzelberger revealed during the Tailgate Tour that Dominykas Pleta, Iowa State’s highly touted recruit out of Germany, will be classified as a freshman.
With how things currently stand with the transfer portal in college sports, the likelihood of Pleta using all four years of eligibility is lower than it would be in years past, but having it as an option isn’t a bad thing.
The 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward is part of the four-player class that will come to Ames this year with three players rated in 247’s top 150. Pleta doesn’t have a rating yet, but did average over 20 points and eight boards per game in Germany’s top professional league.
Quick HitsMay 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) celebrates Sunday, May 25, 2025, after winning the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Doug McSchooler-USA TODAY Network via Imagn ImagesAlex Palou immortalized his name as an Indianapolis 500 winner on Sunday. The IndyCar talent was already a three-time series champion, and started off the year winning an unprecedented four times in the first five races.
If you’re familiar with F1, we’ve seen that a few times in the last couple of decades – this isn’t as simple as ‘this team has the best cars and it’s expected they’ll win.’
Palou is a generational talent that is in the prime of his career at 28 years old, with a win at Indy being the one thing that was missing from his resume.
It’s still odd to me that some question how big this race is when 350,000 people watched Palou cross the bricks first (bagging him $3.8 million) while another 7 million (8.5 million watched his final laps) watched on TV… but I thought the video captured the moment as best as I’ve seen.
Alex Palou celebrates with his team after winning the #INDY500 pic.twitter.com/GSWUqvx1iJ
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 25, 2025
Amazon Prime’s Coca Cola 600 broadcast blew me away. I’ve never been sold on streaming-exclusive events and the NFL seems to be the only place where they’ll put up the TV numbers expected for a game.
But Prime went full boar on delivering a broadcast worth buying – even if we’re not technically paying a dime because it put a 30-day free trial up for the stretch of five races that it’s contracted for.
They put Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the call with other familiar names in the sport, limited commercials and overall just hit a damn home run in a day in age where broadcasts have gone downhill.
Prime even went with a postrace show that lasted nearly 90 minutes – something fans haven’t gotten in motorsports on a regular basis ever.
I was out on streaming companies and all the subscriptions we’re roped into paying, but last night made me a big supporter in my book.
Ross Chastain has a ways to go in that medium, but winning that race proves you’ve got the skill, and team, it takes to be successful in NASCAR.
A well-deserved burnout for Ross Chastain! #NASCARonPrime pic.twitter.com/zBjpVkSaSV
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) May 26, 2025
Millard South Jett Thomalla (4) looks for receivers against Basha during a game at Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona, on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
Jett Thomalla, Iowa State’s four-star quarterback commit in the 2026 class, picked up an offer from Alabama in May.
It was about a month after the Millard South High School (Omaha) prospect announced he would commit to Iowa State. It’s not an out-of-the ordinary move by any means.
After all, Brock Purdy took a visit to Alabama late in his recruitment process as well.
“That’s what I said right away, talking to Iowa State coaches,” Thomalla said of the path that eventually took Purdy to Ames. “Yeah, hopefully I end up like him, that’d be cool.”
Thomalla picked up other offers from Arizona, Iowa, Missouri, Duke, Virginia Tech, Washington State, San Diego State, UNLV, Colorado State, and Arkansas State during his recruitment process before ultimately deciding on Iowa State.
The Alabama offer came just came later.
“It was just cool, like growing up as a kid, it’s always been one of the bigger programs,” Thomalla said. “You always watch them on TV… It just shows hard work pays off and it’s cool to get.”
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound prospect will take a visit to Tuscaloosa to meet with Kalen DeBoer, who’s in his second year at the helm with Alabama, but no date has been released yet.
“Yes and no,” Thomalla said when asked if there was a difference between the program that now has a newer coach. “He did a great job at Washington, too. He put Michael Penix in the NFL. I kind of just want to go down there and meat him. I’ve talked to him before – he’s a cool guy.”
Iowa State is aware that Thomalla plans to visit, but that won’t change the program’s pursuit of the talented arm.
The staff likely won’t have to change many plans, either. Iowa State typically recruits committed players as hard or even harder than it recruits uncommitted athletes.
“They’re just really easy to get along with. Coach Waters went through the same process with Kansas State and Penn State, so they’ve done it before,” Thomalla said. “So did coach Campbell. They kind of understand and in the end, obviously, they’re still going to recruit me really hard.”
Thomalla is one of six Nebraska prospects to announce their commitment to Iowa State, and his high school tight end Isaac Jensen (a four-star prospect in the same class) remains a top priority for the program.
“I really like them, and it shows that I have a really good relationship with them – just being able to call and be totally up front about it,” Thomalla said. “They understood, but they kind of just say to stay locked in and ‘you’re our guy.'”
Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) shoots against Lipscomb Bisons guard Gyasi Powell (10) during the first half of a first round NCAA men’s tournament game at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State men’s basketball team will face Northwestern in its second exhibition game of the season on Sunday, Oct. 26, at Hilton Coliseum. It will be the first in a home and home exhibition game, as the two teams will meet in Evanston, Ill. in Oct. 2026.
The exhibition game will be the first in Hilton Coliseum for the men’s program since 2017, when the Cyclones beat Emporia State 77-68. Iowa State will open the preseason slate the week prior with an exhibition game at Creighton on Friday, Oct. 17. This will mark the first time the Cyclones have played two exhibition games in a season since 2009 when Iowa State beat Black Hills State (96-47) and UNC Pembroke (106-54).
While this game will not count in the regular season record, the two teams are even 1-1 in the all-time series. Iowa State beat Northwestern 64-54 in Ames in 1949, while the Wildcats beat the Cyclones 67-65 in the championship game of the 2009 Chicago Invitational.
The Cyclones are coming off a 25-10 campaign in 2024-25 with a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats went 17-16, ending the season in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. In ESPN’s Way Too Early Top 25, the Cyclones are ranked No. 13.
Tipoff and TV designation will be announced at a later time. Tickets to the game will be part of the 2025-26 season ticket package, with more details available later this summer.
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Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Nate Heise (0) drives against Lipscomb Bisons guard Kellan Boylan (23) during the first half of a first round NCAA men’s tournament game at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – For the first time since 2017, Iowa State will play in an exhibition game. The Cyclones will travel to Omaha to face Creighton on Friday, Oct. 17 at the CHI Health Center. A return exhibition game at Hilton Coliseum is scheduled for October 2026.
The last time the Cyclones played an exhibition game was in 2017-18, a 77-68 victory over Emporia State.
While this game will not count in the regular season record, Iowa State holds a 17-15 advantage in the all-time series. The last time the two teams met was in 2021, a 64-58 Cyclone victory in Omaha.
The Cyclones are coming off a 25-10 campaign in 2024-25 with a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bluejays went 25-11 and also advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In ESPN’s Way Too Early Top 25, the Cyclones are ranked No. 13, while the Bluejays are among the first five teams outside the Top 25.
Tipoff and TV designation will be announced at a later time.
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Iowa State women’s basketball team celebrates with Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Emily Ryan (11) after winning 85-63 over Kansas State in the senior day of the Big-12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly announced the addition of Emily Ryan to his 2025-26 staff as a graduate assistant Tuesday morning.
“I want to first of all thank our administration for making it possible for Emily Ryan to remain a member of the Cyclone Women’s Basketball family,” said Fennelly. “Emily’s loyalty to Iowa State and her passion for this program are truly special. Her work ethic is as good as I have ever seen. I am confident that she will impact our program as a coach, just as she did as one of the best players to ever play at Iowa State.”
Ryan ended her career as one of the best point guards in Iowa State history, recording top five all-time marks in assists, steals and blocks. She set the program record for assists by over 200 dimes and ranks seventh all-time in NCAA women’s basketball history with 993 assists.
Her 1,632 points rank 11th all-time at ISU and she was just the third NCAA women’s basketball player to record 1,500 assists, 900 assists and 600 rebounds in a career.
The Claflin, Kansas native helped Iowa State to five NCAA Tournaments, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2022 where she was named to the Greensboro Regional All-Tournament Team.
In Iowa State’s run to the 2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship crown, Ryan passed out a team-high 15 assists through three games while averaging 9.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
Throughout her five seasons running point for the Cyclones, Ryan was a three-time All-Big 12 honoree, a 2024 Big 12 All-Tournament team member, a three-time Naismith Trophy watch list member, 2025 Wooden Award watch list member and a two-time Nancy Lieberman Award watch list member.
For her excellence both on the court and in the classroom, she was voted a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Third Team Academic All-America in 2024-25. Ryan received her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Iowa State University.
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Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell, men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger, and athletic director Jamie Pollard spoke to media members during the first stop of the 2025 Tailgate Tour.
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell stands on the field before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
ANKENY — Matt Campbell’s a creature of habit.
Routine reigns supreme for Iowa State’s veteran head football coach. The amount of decisions he must make — from what he wears to what he eats — is streamlined for efficiency.
So suffice it to say, preparing for the Cyclones’ so-called “week zero” Aug. 23 season opener against Big 12 rival Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland, has challenged Campbell to deviate from his well-crafted daily regimen.
And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
“As a routine guy, this has got me out of my comfort zone a little bit, but sometimes that’s good,” Campbell said while kicking off the ISU athletics program’s Tailgate Tour early Monday afternoon. “And I think when we’ve had to do that it’s challenged us and we usually come out better because we just haven’t said, ‘Well, this is the way we’re gonna do (it).’ We’ve tried to research it and put the best plan together.”
Part of that research has hinged on meeting with a handful of NFL teams to gather intel on how they handle not only playing a game overseas, but how they adjust in the aftermath to get back on track stateside, as well.
“There’s been some really good insight,” said Campbell, whose team is coming off its first 11-win season in the program’s 133-year history. “I think probably the greatest insight is understanding the impact postgame and how you handle coming off of that, and really probably putting a plan of attack (together) for that.”
As always with Campbell, that plan reveals itself in the details. How will the Cyclones deal with the six-hour time change? How can they stay in peak form physically despite the travel-related issues? How can they play well in an extra-early and vitally important conference opener and recover well enough to open the home season the following week against a strong FCS team in South Dakota at Jack Trice Stadium?
“I just think it really puts a high demand on how important every day is in June, July and, obviously, August,” said Campbell, whose team will face Iowa at home and Arkansas State on the road to complete a stretch of four straight games early in the season. “So we’re gonna have to be great teachers and great coaches through the summer, and we’re gonna have to be able to maximize our value through that experience, so it’s a really good challenge (and) It’s been good for me to learn and grow, to be honest with you.”
ISU director of athletics Jamie Pollard said it hasn’t been much of a challenge to get Cyclone fans to snatch up tickets for the season-opening Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium. It doesn’t hurt that the game features a matchup of long-running rivals, as well.
“We’re 10,000-plus (tickets sold) and K-State’s in that same neighborhood,” Pollard said. “So the promoter is extremely pleased with where we’re at. We just had our ops team come back from over there and they had the same experience that coach Campbell and I had, which is, our fans are gonna love this.”
But back to those details. One of the NFL coaches Campbell met with, naturally, is Nick Sirianni, who led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl triumph last season. Campbell and Sirianni played together for four years at Division III Mount Union — and coached together one season there, as well.
“Coach Sirianni and the Eagles last year, they played in Spain, then had to come back and play,” Campbell said. “And they were 2-2, and then had a bye week, and then, obviously, went on a great run.”
So win or lose, Campbell expects the Cyclones to grow significantly from their first-ever transatlantic trip.
“You try to take all that and try to put the best plan together,” he said.
CAMPBELL ON BROCK PURDY’S BIG PAYDAY Campbell’s not remotely surprised the Cyclones’ former record-breaking quarterback, Brock Purdy, cashed in on a new five-year, $265-million contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
After all, Purdy went through “prove-it” mode at ISU — then went from “Mr. Irrelevant” as the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to a high-performing starter in quick succession.
“You’re talking (about) one of the best organizations in football, so the great thing about Brock is I think he’s been doubted since high school, right?” Campbell said. “He’s been a guy that every time he’s been given the chance to lead, he’s taken on that opportunity, that moment, and he’s capitalized on it. That’s what’s really special about him. … The money piece is great, but I think the reality of the story’s even greater, and that’s what’s awesome.”
May 13, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) walks off the court after game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
It’s Tailgate Tour week and it was a big week for a pair of Cyclone superstars.
Let’s muse.
Tailgate Tour kicks off in AnkenyIowa State’s annual Tailgate Tour kicks off today in Ankeny. Both myself and Rob Gray will be there to get comments from coaches and the athletic director Jamie Pollard, who will likely talk on Iowa State’s search for a new president after Wendy Wintersteen announced she will retire in January. More on that later.
Brock Purdy gets paidThe former Cyclone quarterback’s new contract had been long anticipated and the San Francisco 49ers delivered.
The five-year, $265 million contract was already a great deal for Purdy on the surface. It made him the 8th-highest paid quarterback in the league and was a huge upgrade on his rookie deal.
For reference, a stat from Shehan Jeyarajah – Purdy’s contract paid him an average of $934,252 per season. He’ll make that number every six days on his new contract.
On top of it, the contract includes a No Trade Clause as well.
As part of his five-year, $265-million extension, #49ers QB Brock Purdy received a full no-trade clause for the duration of the deal, per @MikeGarafolo pic.twitter.com/4CUrzi3DQK
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) May 19, 2025
Tyrese Haliburton vs. Brunson & the KnicksThe former Cyclone helped clinch his team’s spot in the Eastern Conference Finals days ago and likely gotten some extra rest in preparation to face Jalen Brunson and the Knicks.
Both of those guys are ballers, and they’ve led they’re teams with grit all throughout the NBA Playoffs so far. It’s as intriguing of a matchup here that we could’ve gotten.
Haliburton and Brunson faced off outside a WWE ring last year, too.
Tyrese Haliburton vs Jalen Brunson.
ECF FINALS. pic.twitter.com/mlahm72EJ3
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) May 17, 2025
I don’t know how the NBA managed to do it, but they slotted Indiana for game 3 at home on the day of the Indianapolis 500. That will be a huge day in that state.
NBA Eastern Conference Finals schedule
Wed. May 21 | Game 1 @ New York, 7 p.m. TNT
Fri. May 23 | Game 2 @ New York, 7 p.m. TNT
Sun. May 25 | Game 3 @ Indiana, 7 p.m. TNT
Tues. May 27 | Game 4 @ Indiana, 7 p.m. TNT
Thurs. May 29 | Game 5 @ New York, 7 p.m. TNT
Sat. May 31 | Game 6 @ Indiana, 7 p.m. TNT
Mon. June 2 | Game 7 @ New York, 7 p.m. TNT
Quick HitsThe NHL Playoffs delivered one of its most memorable weeks in recent years, and that’s rather impactful. This tournament rarely fails to disappoint.
On Saturday, the Winnipeg Jets faced off in Dallas for game 6 against the Stars. The first period was filled with scoring chances and two goalies that refused to let their opponents strike first.
But in the second, Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele hit paydirt, sliding the puck under Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger to give the Jets the 1-0 lead.
That was a matter of hours after Scheifele found out his father had unexpectedly passed away.
Sports always find a way to be poetic. Of course it’s Mark Scheifele to open the scoring. What a moment
pic.twitter.com/wwMHC15F4Z— Ross Levitan (@RossLevitan) May 18, 2025
There were doubts Scheifele would even suit up to play, but many in the arena and watching at home were thrilled to see how it played out to that point – and that’s fans on both sides.
Mark Scheifele goes through the handshake line following the passing of his father.
Incredible moment. pic.twitter.com/jI2TF1EUGd
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) May 18, 2025
Hockey summed up in two images
Jamie Benn and Mark Scheifele@DallasStars #TexasHockey
(Both Getty) pic.twitter.com/Hq0axhzGJh
— Travis Currie (@travcurrie) May 18, 2025
As poetic as it was, Oettinger stood on his head and kept the game knotted up through regulation.
HOW DID JAKE OETTINGER STOP THIS???! pic.twitter.com/udOsvyef8b
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 18, 2025
It set up Thomas Harley’s game-winner in overtime inside an arena that’s turned into one of the best atmospheres in hockey.
Now, Dallas will head to the Western Conference Finals to take on Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers with home-ice advantage throughout the Cup, should they make the final round. That series starts Wednesday.
THOMAS * HARLEY!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/L4kOLoHhrI
— X – Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 18, 2025
On the Eastern side, Carolina took care of the Washington Capitals early, sending Alex Ovechkin home in five games as the Hurricanes look as crisp as ever.
And fittingly, Toronto looked the opposite in Game 5 against Florida, dropping their third-straight game of the series and getting booed out of their home rink in a 6-1 loss.
It looked as though the Leafs were in the same spot they had been in behind superstars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, who’ve looked impeccable during the regular season while lacking stats in the playoffs.
Granted, that would have been the end for many teams, but Toronto came back in Florida to win 2-0 and force a game 7 set for primetime on Sunday night.
Surely, that would be a game that guarantees a back-and-forth war and will come down to the wire, right? Well, it is still the Maple Leafs.
Toronto got taken off the puck from the start, consistently lost battles, and went to the locker room tied 0-0 after the first period before coming back out of it in one of the biggest ass kicking’s that someone could imagine. Yes, even for the Maple Leafs.
“This is brutal,” Paul Bissonnette, a lifelong Leafs fan, said on TNT in between periods. “This is men vs. boys right now. (They’re) completely unprepared. I think they’ve lost every single 50-50 puck battle. I don’t know how else to describe it, but a pathetic performance.”
“This is brutal” –@BizNasty2point0 pic.twitter.com/egZKIFCSDx
— Viva La Stool (@VivaLaStool) May 19, 2025
Same guy pictured here coasting down the rink in the biggest game of the century for this team.pic.twitter.com/ceFfd2q5hz https://t.co/fkL84lB8Rz
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) May 19, 2025
It looks as though that will be Marner’s last game as a Leaf, and the defending champion Florida Panthers will keep on marching.
This place will chew you up and spit you out, as it has done with this group in Toronto.
There’s plenty that will say the same about this really old race track in Indianapolis.
The Indianapolis 500 is this week, but the weekend’s qualifying sessions tried to steal the show
Each car qualified on Saturday and set there best 4-lap averages to try and lock in to either the race or the top 12, which move on to try to set the pole speed on Sunday.
These cars are typically on tightropes, but the introduction to the new hybrid-engine system has seemed to cut the width of those in half.
Kyle Larson went around for the second time this month on practice Friday, Colton Herta flipped on Saturday and Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin lost control in a Sunday warmup session. Each of those guys are some of the most talented in the world. These cars are tough.
Scary moment here with Colton Herta. He would get of the car and walk away on his own pic.twitter.com/mAVjTPZQWy
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 17, 2025
Scott McLaughlin hits the wall hard in #Indy500 practice. pic.twitter.com/N5oPmCuOVI
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 18, 2025
But the drama ramped up on Sunday when Team Penske was forced to take its cars off of the grid.
IndyCar officials found – and may have been tipped off – that Team Penske had altered a ridge found on the rear attenuators – crash structures on the back of the body that are given to teams as a spec part and can’t be modified.
The controversy only grew as post-qualifying inspection didn’t find the same issue on Saturday, in the cars and team owned by the same Roger Penske that owns Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar as a whole.
“They had that yesterday, I guarantee you,” series star Pato O’Ward said. “Until someone pointed it out today – if those cars are disqualified today, they should have been disqualified yesterday.”
“They don’t need to be doing that stuff.” Pato O’Ward says the Team Penske No. 2 and No. 12 cars should have been sent to Last Chance Qualifying. #Indy500 #INDYCAR pic.twitter.com/7AwpI18Jks
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 19, 2025
Whether they were intentionally trying to cheat or not – I’m sure you’ll have your guesses on that – it’s a rough look after being penalized at the start of last season for a different issue.
But I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that this is what race teams do. They try to find every way to push the envelope and gain any inch that they can.
Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden will try to become the first driver to win this race three year’s in a row on Sunday.
The day culminated with the fastest six cars on the grounds going flat out to determine the first two rows of the race, and an unlikely hero came out on top.
Robert Shwartzman! What a run by the rookie. #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/WY1hysycns
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 18, 2025
Robert Shwartzman, a former endurance and formula racer from Israel, put his car on the pole – a car fielded by a team attempting to qualify for its first Indy 500 ever.
Oh, and it was in his first oval race of his entire career, too.
The odds on that last week – before the start of practice – sat at +5000. It’s one of the biggest upsets of the decade in motorsports.
And to think that was just qualifying. I’d say the race on Sunday (11:30 a.m. FOX) will be exciting.
Dec 30, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) during the game against the Detroit Lions at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
The San Francisco 49ers and former Cyclone Brock Purdy have agreed to a new contract, according to Adam Schefter.
Schefter reports Purdy’s new five-year deal is worth $265 million.
It makes Purdy the eighth highest-paid player in the NFL at $53 million per season.
The contract is a stark upgrade from Purdy’s original, four-year, $3.74 million total that he was paid on prior.
Purdy earned his extension two seasons removed leading the San Francsisco 49ers to the Super Bowl, while also putting the team into the NFC Championship before being injured the season before.
San Francisco missed the playoffs in 2024 due to injuries, but hope Purdy can help lead the team back this year.
Iowa State University president Wendy Wintersteen speaks during the naming ceremony for Patterson Hall at the Iowa State Veterinary Medician Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
The following is a press release from Iowa State University:
Ames, Iowa – In a message sent today to the campus community, Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen announced her plans to retire in January 2026. Wintersteen became the first woman and second ISU alum to hold the university’s highest office when she was named the 16th president of Iowa State in 2017.
“I am fortunate to have served Iowa State University in many roles over the past 46 years, and it’s been a fascinating journey,” Wintersteen said. “I am truly proud of Iowa State’s extraordinary faculty and staff for their remarkable performance these past years. Perhaps most of all, I will miss the amazing energy, talent and potential of our Iowa State students.”
President Wintersteen’s tenure has been marked by new and renovated facilities across campus, record research grants and awards for innovation, significant improvements in student outcomes, a vast increase in the ISU Research Park and strong fundraising success.
Iowa Board of Regents President Sherry Bates said, “Under President Wintersteen’s leadership, Iowa State’s reputation has soared, particularly in research growth, student outcomes and an emphasis on innovation. With her steady guidance, Iowa State has met and overcome many external challenges, including a derecho, an international pandemic and more. The state of Iowa has been blessed to have an accomplished leader like Wendy Wintersteen leading this great land-grant university.”
Innovate at Iowa StateDuring Wintersteen’s tenure as president, Iowa State has earned global recognition as a leader for innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education. Notable accolades and rankings include:
- 2023 Entrepreneurial University of the Year for the Americas,
- 2024 Model University Accelerator/Incubator award from the U.S Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship,
- 2022 NASDAQ Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, the highest honor from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers,
- Top 100 universities worldwide for U.S. patents – tied for 57th with 60 patents in 2024.
As president, Wintersteen has advanced support for Iowa State’s cutting-edge research. Iowa State ranks in the top 3% for research out of nearly 500 universities without a human medical school. Over the past eight years, the university received more than $4.2 billion in external funding, including three consecutive years of record-setting research funding.
Improved student outcomesUnder President Wintersteen’s leadership, Iowa State has achieved many records for student outcomes. The university’s first-year student retention rate has climbed to 87.6%, which is 10.5 points higher than the national average for four-year public institutions.
ISU students are graduating faster than ever before. The average time to degree has decreased from 4.4 years in 2018 to a historic low of 4.12 years in 2024. Additionally, Iowa State’s six-year graduation rate outperforms the national average of four-year public institutions by more than 18 points.
During her presidency, 57,698 students graduated from Iowa State prepared for the workforce. Nearly 75% of Iowa State’s undergraduates complete two or more high-impact practices such as learning communities, faculty-student research projects, internships or study abroad. Since 2018, Iowa State has maintained an exceptionally strong placement rate of 95%.
More than 44% of Iowa State students graduate without debt, and the percentage of students who take loans has decreased from 59% in fiscal year 2019 to 55.6% in fiscal year 2023.
In recent years, nearly 75% of undergraduate students received donor-funded scholarships and grants. To eliminate financial barriers for student seniors from completing their degree due to financial problems, 1,938 students received donor-funded completion grants to help them earn their degree and join the workforce.
Historic fundraising successDuring President Wintersteen’s first four years, the Iowa State University Foundation exceeded its initial fundraising goal of $1.1 billion and achieved a historic $1.542 billion fundraising total for the Forever True, For Iowa State campaign. More than 96,000 alumni, donors and friends made gifts and commitments to the university.
The record-breaking total included $500 million directed for student support, including 56,000 donor-funded scholarships awarded. The campaign created 148 named faculty positions, which provide faculty with resources to invest in teaching programs, research and other strategic priorities.
President Wintersteen worked with Iowa State alumni and friends to secure more than $275 million for new or revitalized facilities such as the following:
- ISU’s world-class Student Innovation Center,
- Gerdin Building Expansion for the Ivy College of Business,
- Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building, a facility made possible by the largest single gift for an academic building in Iowa State history,
- LeBaron Hall rebuild and McKay Hall renovation project, work began in April 2024 with support from numerous private donors,
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, phase 1 completed and phase 2 ($66.5 million) underway with support from the state of Iowa,
- Richard and Joan Stark Performance Center,
- Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex,
- Robert T. Hamilton Poultry Teaching and Research Farm,
- Stanley L. Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility.
Notably, the Iowa State University’s Research Park also experienced significant growth during this time with a 150-acre expansion and nearly 50 new tenants.
President Wintersteen worked with Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard to receive approval from the Iowa Board of Regents for the CyTown development, a multipurpose project to enhance the Iowa State Center.
“President Wintersteen has worked tirelessly to advance the mission of the university,” said Charles Sukup, chairman of Sukup Manufacturing and Iowa State alum. “Her efforts to generate support for new facilities, teaching and research will benefit students and the state of Iowa for years to come. She has been an outstanding servant leader who has earned the trust of faculty, students and the citizens of Iowa.”
A career rooted in extension and outreachWintersteen began her career at Iowa State as an extension field specialist in integrated pest management. After completing her doctorate in entomology, she rose through the ranks to become a professor and held several leadership roles.
Prior to becoming president, Wintersteen served eleven years as the inaugural endowed dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. Under her leadership, Iowa State’s agricultural programs ranked in the top 10 worldwide, CALS became the third-largest college of agriculture in the nation, research grants increased markedly, awards for teaching excellence grew and the college achieved a 98% placement rate for its graduates.
Wintersteen has received many honors and awards for her leadership and service, including:
- Named the 2024 EO Iowa innovationENTREPRENEUR of the Year by the Des Moines Business Record,
- Voted one of the Top 25 Most Influential Business Leaders by readers of the Des Moines Business Record in 2024 and 2025,
- Inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame in 2021,
- Received the 2020 Food Systems Leadership Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities,
- Honored with the 2020 National Ruby Award, the most prestigious recognition given by Epsilon Sigma Phi, the national honor society for extension professionals,
- Named a Woman of Influence from the Des Moines Business Record in 2018.
The president also serves on several national and state boards and committees to advance innovation, research and higher education. This includes the U.S. Council on Competitiveness, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) Council of Presidents and Research Intensive Committee, the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors and Big 12 Conference Board of Directors Executive Committee (Secretary/Treasurer 2023-2025), America’s Cultivation Corridor, and the World Food Prize Foundation Board of Directors.
Wintersteen and spouse Robert Waggoner together host nearly 100 events each year at The Knoll, the president’s residence on campus. They have been married 41 years.
A complete list and additional biographical information are available on the president’s website.
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) in action during the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Circa Sports debuted their over/under win totals this week and its filled with notable numbers.
Let’s dive in.
2025 opening Big 12 win totals
Arizona State 8½
Kansas State 8½
Texas Tech 8½
Baylor 7½
BYU 7½
Iowa State 7½
Kansas 7½
Utah 7½
Houston 6½
TCU 6½
Cincinnati 6
Colorado 6
Arizona 5½
UCF 5½
Oklahoma State 5
West Virginia 5
For starters, the top of the Big 12 is at 8.5 in a three-way tie between Arizona State, K-State and Texas Tech, while the bottom of the league in Oklahoma State and West Virginia is at 5.0.
On top of it, there are another five teams – Iowa State, Baylor, BYU, Kansas and Utah – that are each at 7.5.
That’s eight teams, which is literally half of the league, that are separated by one win at the top.
For reference, the SEC’s top teams (Alabama, Georgia and Texas) at 9.5 with Mississippi State at the bottom at 3.5. In the Big 10, Ohio State and Oregon are at 10.5 while Purdue is at 3.
This isn’t to say the Big 12 doesn’t have a juggernaut, although some might claim that – I’ll hold off until the games are here on that.
What it does say is that the league is going to be just as competitive as it was last year, when nine team’s were in contention for the Big 12 championship game going into the last week of the regular season.
Looking further down the list, Sonny Dykes and TCU are sitting at 6.5 wins, just two seasons removed from playing the national championship game. That’s a wildcard in the grand scheme of this season – one that Iowa State will face on the road November 8.
Another of those road matchups for Iowa State in Colorado come in at 6.0, with what Deion Sanders and the Buffs will have to replace in the losses of Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders.
There’s plenty of time for speculation, and Iowa State’s schedule is considerably tougher this year, but it says a lot about where the program is for that number to be where it’s at right now.
Hopefully, these next 100 days go by pretty quick. That’s when Iowa State will open the year against one of those conference favorites in K-State.
Mar 23, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Nate Heise (0) dribbles against Mississippi Rebels guard Jaylen Murray (5) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Iowa State men’s basketball will face Mississippi State as part of its non-conference schedule, according to a report by the Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman.
It will be part of one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country when it’s all said and done.
The Cyclones are slated to play in the Players Era Tournament – a new MTE designed to give players NIL bonuses.
Many of the tournament’s details haven’t been announced yet, but the list of teams includes Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Creighton, Gonzaga, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State, St. Joes, St. Johns, Syracuse, Tennessee and UNLV.
Iowa State will also travel to Purdue before its annual Cy-Hawk matchup with Iowa.
Below is the known games for the slate, so far.
2025-26 known MBB schedule
Nov. 3 | Fairleigh Dickinson
Nov. 10 | Mississippi State (Stanford Pentagon)
Nov. 17 | Stonehill
TBA | Players Era Tournament
Dec. 6 | @ Purdue
Dec. 11 | Iowa
Dec. 29 | Houston Christian
Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) celebrates with fans celebrates with fans after fans rushed to the field as Cyclones win 29-21 over Kansas State Wildcats in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – The Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Iowa State and Kansas State will kick off at 11 a.m. (CST)/5 p.m. (IST) on Aug. 23 with ESPN televising from Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.
The game marks Iowa State’s first football game outside of the United States.
The Cyclones and Wildcats will be playing for the first time in a season-opener and this will be the first time the Ireland game features Big 12 Conference institutions.
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 06: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers after the Pacers celebrates with teammates after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in game two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Rocket Arena on May 06, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Pacers defeated the Cavaliers 120-119. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
We’re back with musings on Tuesday this week, and even though things have slowed down, there’s still plenty of things to get to.
Let’s muse.
Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers have the juiceSince my last column, former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton made the most famous bucket of his career, and has since put his Indiana Pacers up 3-1 over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
ICE IN HIS VEINS
TYRESE HALIBURTON CALLED GAME. pic.twitter.com/hnX4VknD9O
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 7, 2025
The Pacers’ star hit the game-winning shot to push Indiana past Cleveland in a 120-119 win on Tuesday.
As far as playoff runs go, momentum can play a big role, and the good news there is that this Indiana team has some juice.
Game 5 is Tuesday night at 6 p.m. on TNT.
Iowa State Softball snubbed from NCAA TournamentIn the less fun news from the last week, Iowa State Softball was left out of the NCAA Tournament after its best regular season in program history. I wanted to dive into the ‘why’ a little bit, and attempt to explain what the committee was thinking and what direction the program is heading in.
Iowa State has some young stars – the program put three freshmen onto the all-conference freshman team, two of which (Jessie Clemmons & Sereniti Trice) made overall all-Big 12 teams. Junior Tatum Johnson made all-Big 12 honors as well, along with the aforementioned Karlee Ford.
Along with those four, sophomore starting pitcher Lauren Schurman really showed off her play once the conference season started, delivering a number of series opening wins.
I say all this to point out that barring the transfer portal, Iowa State is returning all but one of its key lineup players next season, so the expectations are going to be a bit higher for next year.
Looking to Add On
pic.twitter.com/S37A677yU7
— Iowa State Softball (@CycloneSB) May 9, 2025
The Cyclones finished the year at 31-23, but struggles in non-conference play made the most damage on their resume. It took the young team a little bit longer to get going than the rest of the country.
Iowa State dropped three quad 4 games, and had a non-conference RPI of No. 96 when it was all said and done.
There’s a reason that metric isn’t being used to select postseason teams for the basketball tournament, and I’m not exactly sure why its used as much as it is in baseball and softball. Here’s the full RPI from season’s end.
That dragged Iowa State, which got its final RPI up to No. 65 after the successful conference season, in those metrics.
This goes along with the committee’s doubt of the Big 12. The conference’s champion in Texas Tech was seeded as the No. 12 team in the country and had an RPI of just No. 17.
I don’t want to rile everyone up, as that X post did to the softball fans. It may be fair Iowa State was left out.
But the Cyclones beat some tournament teams in the regular season and won 15 (!) Big 12 games. For reference, as Brent Blum likes to say, it’s next best year had just eight conference wins.
Here’s to Jamie Pinkerton’s squad that I can’t wait to see next year.
Quick HitsIf you’re into jersey numbers, here’s Iowa State’s NFL guys.
New Homes
New Numbers pic.twitter.com/aJDrBdZhTc— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) May 12, 2025
Some of the teams have been posting 5-10 second clips of the guys or photos since workouts started out – let me know if that’s something y’all would want included here.
A short primer on each of the Stanley Cup Playoff series:
Dallas – Winnipeg (2-1, DAL)| The Stars have turned into a wagon thanks to Mikko Rantanen. The trade deadline acquisition has exploded in the stat books and leads the NHL in points in the playoffs with 18 in 10 games so far. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has looked bad away from home, and Dallas will look to exploit that again Tuesday.
Players in NHL history to record 9+ goals and 8+ assists over a six-game span in the playoffs:
Mikko Rantanen (2025)
Wayne Gretzky (1982-83)That’s it. pic.twitter.com/2ATLmX39dE
— Greg Harvey (@BetweenTheNums) May 12, 2025
Edmonton – Vegas (3-1, EDM) – We got a buzzer beater the other night and despite winning 3-0 against Vegas, yesterday’s game had a few scraps. These teams hate each other and there’s no guarantee this series is over.
Toronto – Florida (2-2) – If you’re a fan of physicality, these two teams are what you want to see. Florida head hunts more than some teams we played against growing up, which is wild to say for a team in the NHL. Sam Bennett is a target after his hit on Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz and Max Domi is catching some heat on the other side.
Carolina – Washington (3-1, CAR) – The Hurricanes have got the Caps on the ropes and it doesn’t seem like Washington has the juice to stop them. We’ll see if Ovechkin can pull out a miracle.
Indy 500 & the kickoff to ‘The month of May’
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Indianapolis 500 practice kicks off today and runs all through the week. Just five full days of preparation – more practice than any race on the planet – for the toughest one in the world.
If you like having baseball on in the background during the day, this gives off similar vibes.
Nov 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) scores a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the first quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Former Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins and the Houston Texans agreed to a new contract Thursday, making Higgins the first second round draft pick to have a fully guaranteed contract out of the draft.
Higgins’ deal with Texans is reportedly worth $11,700,824 spanning four years.
Houston Texans and rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins have agreed to a fully guaranteed four-year $11,700,824 contract, per Chris Cabott of @EquitySports. Higgins is the first second-round pick in NFL history to have a fully guaranteed contract. pic.twitter.com/fyPM50BTbL
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 8, 2025
Both Higgins and fellow Iowa State teammate Jaylin Noel were drafted by the Texans, and will look to team up again in the wide receiver room.
The deal was reported by Equity Sports and Higgins’ agent, Chris Cabott.
The Iowa State softball team celebrates after winning 9-5 over Iowa in the Cy-Hawk Series at Iowa State Sports Complex on April 15, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Angelina Allen’s interned for the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
But before Iowa State’s senior left fielder takes her shot at the big leagues in the realm of advanced analytics, she’s having a blast helping to propel the Cyclones’ softball program to previously unreached heights.
“It’s been awesome,” said Allen, whose team notched its best Big 12 finish in program history (third) this season. “It’s been cool to see this young team grow, as well.”
Third-seeded ISU (30-22, 15-9) will face No. 6-seeded BYU in today’s 7:30 p.m. quarterfinal at OGE Energy Field at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
The game can be viewed on ESPN+.
Allen — who last season became the second player in ISU history to attain All-American honors — is one of just two seniors on the team. So the immediate and more distant future is bright for the Cyclones, but plenty of growing pains emerged early in the season, along with an untimely injury that could have knocked them off course.
Miami of Ohio transfer infielder Reagan Bartholomew missed eight games because of injury shortly before Big 12 play started, and after suffering an initial shock, ISU regrouped and reeled off four straight games — including a series sweep of UCF on the road. Bartholomew returned after the Cyclones won a series at home against Arizona State and as head coach Jamie Pinkerton put it …
“Then it was on,” he said.
ISU opened Big 12 play with a 6-1 mark and closed the conference season out with two straight wins over Baylor. Bartholomew was lost to another injury in the meantime, but other players stepped up in her absence.
“The gratification that I’ve had is just seeing a team with the youth — they’re playing free,” said Pinkerton, who has led the Cyclones to an unprecedented three 30-win seasons. “There’s no pressure. No one’s expecting anything.”
Big 12 coaches picked ISU to finish 10th in the preseason, so Pinkerton’s team has slugged through that arbitrary ceiling. The Cyclones aren’t Cinderella’s anymore, however, but they’re still playing loose and confidently; shunning nerves while simply having fun playing the game.
“As the season went on, I knew that they were building something,” Pinkerton said.
Now ISU’s intent on making more history by challenging for a Big 12 tournament title, which could set the stage for securing a second NCAA Tournament berth in the past five years after a 33-year postseason drought. The Cyclones are squarely “on the bubble” but no one would know that when watching them play.
Free and loose. No pressure. All grit.
“My end goal coming to college always is to go to (the postseason) and just to know we’re this close, and we’re on our peak and on our high right now, it’s just so fun to finish this way,” said Allen, who notched the game-winning RBI in the 4-3 senior day win over Baylor. “So no matter what, I’m so excited to finish with this squad and just finish with these girls.”
Maddox McGinnis, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive lineman, will visit five programs’ summer camps before his recruitment gets going over the summer and fall months.
The 2027 prospect will be in Ames on June 1, before taking other trips to Kansas, Missouri, Florida and Ohio State in the ensuing weeks.
“Honestly, with them starting off my recruitment at such a young age and offering me as a freshman, them being my first offer just plays a big role in all of that,” McGinnis said. “I love Coach Campbell, he’s a great guy. Coach Clanton’s good, I love him.”
The Cyclones became the first to offer McGinnis in January and stand as his lone offer so far in the process.
This isn’t an unfamiliar strategy from coach Matt Campbell, and it’s one that’s paid off for Iowa State in the past.
The Cyclones were the first to offer New York Jets running back Breece Hall out of Northwest High School in Kansas – which is where McGinnis attends.
“We really have a pipeline here at Northwest (High School) with Iowa State with Breece Hall,” McGinnis said. “Breece was down here with them and coach Campbell asked how I would feel if he offered me. When he did, I was shocked.”
Hall has turned into one of the best running backs in the NFL, and McGinnis hopes to take steps towards the next level like he did.
“It’s crazy knowing that he was in my shoes at one time,” McGinnis said of Hall. “We do it really different here. We’re working out every day at 6:30 a.m. and we’re taking care of ourselves so that we can make it to the next level.”
It’s still early in McGinnis’ recruitment, but Iowa State will have another shot to work with him during the camp season, which is now less than a month away.
“I’m just looking for a place that I’m going to fit in to as a family and a place that’s going to give me a chance,” McGinnis said.
May 6, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates his game-winning three-point basket in the fourth quarter during game two of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton has done it again.
For the second time in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Haliburton has secured a game-winning shot to give his team a pivotal win in the series.
TYRESE HALIBURTON WINS GAME 2 FOR THE PACERS
WHAT. A. WILD. PLAY. pic.twitter.com/rFsjZmtrBz
— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2025
The win comes after the Pacers trailed by seven points with 42.2 seconds to play.
Haliburton had 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists to help the Pacers to the 120-119 win over No. 1 seed Cleveland.
Then, he hit the big cajones celebration.
TYRESE HALIBURTON CALLED GAME pic.twitter.com/lBNzTMYLrY
— buckets (@buckets) May 7, 2025
Tyrese Haliburton, hockey guy.pic.twitter.com/mtyNxjnICH
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) May 7, 2025
The victory gives Indiana a 2-0 lead in the series through two games.
The Pacers and Cavaliers will pick things up on Friday when the series returns to Indiana for Game 3 on Friday night.
Game 3, Fri. May 9 – 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4, Sun. May 11 – 7 p.m. TNT
Game 5, Tues. May 13 – TBD, TNT
Game 6, Thurs. May 15 – TBD, ESPN
Game 7, Sun. May 18 – TBD
Alex Ernst, an Iowa State football video production specialist, passed away this week.
Below is Iowa State’s statement as well as comments from colleagues that have posted about him.
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State Athletics Department mourns the loss of football video production specialist Alex Ernst, who passed away Sunday in a car accident.
Ernst was dedicated to Cyclone Athletics, particularly football where he worked with the program for nearly two decades, starting as a student and continuing into a full-time role after his graduation. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education in 2010 and his master’s degree in higher education in 2014, both from Iowa State.
“We are devastated by the tragic passing of Alex Ernst,” ISU Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. “For nearly 20 years behind the scenes, first as a student and then as a full-time employee, Alex was an unsung hero who played an important role our department’s success through his outstanding work in video operations. Everyone in the ISU Athletics Department family is keeping Alex’s loved ones and friends in their thoughts and prayers, as well as the other individuals lost in this terrible accident.”
He was passionate about all of Iowa State’s athletics teams, but specifically about the Cyclone football program where he filmed practices and games, while aiding the coaching staff in preparation both during the season and the offseason.
“We are heartbroken by this news,” Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell said. “Alex was an important and valued member of our football family and had a special relationship with so many in our program. He was exceptional at his job and took great pride in what he did. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy.”
Alex was ” the do anything, for anyone, at anytime , with a grin on his face guy” . He once told me ” Good people make for Good times” ….He was GREAT people The Best https://t.co/i6AGlqP1Hb
— JON HEACOCK (@Coach_Heacock) May 6, 2025
Ernst wasn’t always the ra-ra guy but he was always present…loved his job and loved the players…I know that I will always appreciate him for putting a smile on my face whenever he told me to “play better” …I was blessed to have been able to know you! Love ya Ernst https://t.co/LPquvxLPKA
— Rocco Becht (@RoccoBecht) May 6, 2025
Alex loved the Cyclones (and White Sox) more than anyone, embodied what it means to be an Iowa Stater, and wanted nothing more than to help any person he could, in any way he could. https://t.co/2GpFC6jMlD
— Derek Hoodjer (@DerekHoodjer) May 6, 2025
I’m at a loss for words hearing of the passing of a good friend. I wish everyone in this industry was like Alex because of how kind & hardworking he was each day. He was a staple of Iowa State Football & someone I valued greatly during my time there. He will be incredibly missed. https://t.co/iOe4qWmVVs
— Kyle Kempt (@CoachKyleKempt) May 6, 2025
Tragic. Will be odd not seeing Alex around like we all have for the last few decades. to all impacted. https://t.co/aQy8hMYTQm
— Chris Williams (@ChrisMWilliams) May 6, 2025
Absolutley devastating. The most selfless person who showed up everyday with a smile on his face willing to help regardless of any outside circumstance. A true joy to be around and a great friend. You’ll be undoubtedly missed Ernsty. https://t.co/nrR0e5a6pw
— Jace Heacock (@CoachHeacock) May 6, 2025
Alex was such a great guy. What a tragic loss for ISU — and the world. Love and to his family. https://t.co/NgeoPf76GK
— Rob Gray (@ROBWGRAY) May 6, 2025
RIP Alex and prayers to him and his loved ones. Cyclone forever https://t.co/dNGTF6aZSO
— Marchie Murdock (@CoachMurdock2) May 6, 2025
Grant Mahoney: We lost a great one, way way wayy too soon. @alex_ernst’s energy was contagious and was always in a good mood. The world would be a better place if there were more Alex Ernst’s in it
A man behind the scenes, making it happen. There was not one time in the building where he didn’t come over and say hello – not a single time. He was very fond of his family, and always beamed about being a proud uncle. He is part of the FB family I know, and will miss. https://t.co/0jfzjybXY2
— Doug (@dhicks433) May 6, 2025
— ROB GRAY (@ROBWGRAY) May 6, 2025
Oct 22, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark speaks to media during Big 12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Big 12 Conference commissioner Brett Yormark has agreed to a three-year contract extension, according to multiple reports.
Yormark originally agreed to an initial deal that lasted through 2027 when he took the job in 2022. This extension will keep Yormark in the position through 2030.
Through his time with the league, Yormark helped the Big 12 lay a foundation in the midst of conference realignment that saw Texas and Oklahoma leave for the SEC.
Yormark then secured a TV deal and aided in adding Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah to the Big 12, along with the additions of BYU, Houston, Cincinnati and UCF.
The new contract extension is a vote of confidence in the commissioner from Big 12 presidents, that are on board for another five years under the leadership of Yormark.
Photo courtesy Wofford Athletics
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly has announced the signing of Evangelia Paulk ahead of the 2025-26 season. Paulk comes to Ames from Wofford College and will have two years of eligibility remaining. She is the second transfer to commit to the Cyclones, joining Arizona transfer Jada Williams.
“We could not be more excited to add Evangelia to the Iowa State family,” said Fennelly. “Our goal as we looked at our team for next year was to identify specific people and players who fit the great culture we have in our program. E is exactly what we wanted and needed.”
Paulk’s impressive sophomore campaign in Spartanburg was rewarded with the SoCon’s Player and Defensive Player of the Year honors. She started all 29 games for the Terriers and averaged over 32 minutes per contest, leading the team in scoring (12.8 PPG), rebounding (8.4 RPG) and steals (95). Her steals total also led the conference while her scoring average was fourth and rebounding was second. The Asheville, North Carolina native knocked down 42 3-pointers and tallied 54 assists on the season. She scored in double figures in 18 games while tallying nine double-doubles.
“She gives us needed length and athleticism on the wing,” said Fennelly. “E is a two player that will give us more versatility at both ends of the floor. I know our fans will love watching her compete in a Cyclone uniform.”
As a freshman, Paulk earned the status as the conference’s Freshman of the Year, averaging 8.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. She swiped 46 steals as a rookie, starting all 30 games and playing nearly 30 minutes per contest. The 6-0 guard totaled five double-doubles as a freshman, a Wofford program record.
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We’re back with Monday Musings after an electric weekend all over.
Let’s muse.
Iowa State softballIowa State Softball has officially earned its third 30-win season in program history.
It’s remarkable what coach Jamie Pinkerton and his squad did this season in Big 12 play.
When I was younger, and wanted my fix for Iowa State sports after the end of the college hoops season, I often turned to softball to see the Cyclones could capture lightning in a bottle.
Self admittedly, I was just a nerd looking at game notes. I thought the aspect of how the non-conference schedule, and the entire sport, was set up (and it’s only gotten weirder with conference realignment).
But nothing ever came of it. It wasn’t a fun thing to follow.
The Cycloneers thing reached its peak – and I think many are still following that slant of things – but nothing has been able to top this year since a decade before I was alive.
The Cyclones came back to beat Baylor twice after dropping the first game to the Bears 10-0 in the series.
They will now turn to the Big 12 Tournament, where they will face the winner of No. 11 Houston and No. 6 BYU on Thursday.
As far as the big dance goes, I feel good about Iowa State’s odds of making the national tournament – or regional as they call it.
This is all from what I can tell, but there’s a bracketology under the College Sports Madness banner that has had the Cyclones moving up in recent weeks.
They first appeared a month ago as a team in the No. 1 overall seed’s region, but have since moved. I’ll have more later this week on where they’re slated.
Tyrese HaliburtonTyrese is doing the thing again.
It seems that all this guy does is talk shit, back it up, and gets people talking about him. He’s a total hockey player on a basketball court, and it’s made me appreciate him even more than I ever thought I could.
The former Cyclone tallied 22 points,
in Indiana’s game 1 win over the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers Monday, making a statement that his Indiana team is here to play.
Here’s the remaining schedule for Haliburton and the Pacers in round 2:
Game 2, Tues. May 6 – 6 p.m., TNT
Game 3, Fri. May 9 – 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4, Sun. May 11 – 7 p.m. TNT
Game 5, Tues. May 13 – TBD, TNT
Game 6, Thurs. May 15 – TBD, ESPN
Game 7, Sun. May 18 – TBD
Jett Thomalla to Elite 11Iowa State quarterback commit Jett Thomalla received his invitation to the Elite 11 camp, extended to the top quarterback prospects in the country.
Thomalla, and four-star prospect out of Millard South High School in Omaha committed to Iowa State just nine days ago.
He’ll become the sixth Cyclone quarterback to participate in the event.
Cyclones in the Elite 11.
Cyclones to compete in Elite 11
Grant Rohach, 2012
Re-al Mitchell, 2017
Hunter Dekkers, 2019
JJ Kohl, 2022
Alex Manske, 2024
Jett Thomalla, 2025
Quick HitsI wanted to do a normal quick hits from the week – but when I saw how much of a dud WWE Smackdown was in Des Moines, and how much I loathe having to have another thought on Deion Sanders’ kid, I’m just going to spotlight one thing.
The NHL Playoffs
They deliver every year, but this one has been exceptional.
In the 106-year history of the league, what happened this weekend twice has only happened three other times.
2 goal comebacks in the 3rd period to win a game 7 in NHL history:
First 106 years: 3
Last 2 days: 2 #StanleyCupPlayoffs— Dominic Moore (@mooredom) May 5, 2025
It started with my Stars on Saturday, and it felt near impossible to switch the energy in that game, but that’s what makes this sport special.
The sexiest goal ever scored in the history of hockey. pic.twitter.com/hznvAv0AjG
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) May 4, 2025
Then, it happened again. The Winnipeg Jets looked dead in the water, but scored two goals to tie the game, with the latter coming in the final two seconds.
That’s a buzzer beater the NBA fans haven’t seen this playoffs, unless you tune in to Haliburton.
The Jets went on to win and we’ll have another war in the second round between them and Dallas.
THE JETS TIE IT WITH 1.6 SECONDS LEFT IN THE GAME
PANDEMONIUM IN WINNIPEG, WE GOT GAME 7 OVERTIME pic.twitter.com/iIWCyUeq2p
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 5, 2025
Watching professionals play this sport while they are walking on egg shells is one of the coolest things to see in sports. Everything changes when one mistake will ruin your season.
I hope you and your friends park it next to the TV this week and watch the second round.
According to a report from ESPN, the NCAA has taken disciplinary action against five members of the 2022 football staff.
Staffers Jace Heacock, Chase Clark, Michael Dryer, Kyle Highland and Mason Williams were named in the report, alleging that more than 6,200 online wagers were made totaling $100,000 on professional and collegiate games, including men’s and women’s basketball games involving Iowa State.
Heacock is listed as Iowa State’s Director of Analytics on the athletic department’s website.
The five were named in the DCI’s investigation into sports gambling on college campuses. They faced no criminal charges.
The five acknowledged that they knowingly violated NCAA sports wagering bylaws in a negotiated resolution finalized last week, according to the report.
Each are subject to a one-year, show-cause order through April 24, 2026.
Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Cade Kelderman (13) reacts after a play during the second half of a first round NCAA men’s tournament game against the Lipscomb Bisons at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Iowa State men’s basketball has officially put Waukee native Cade Kelderman on scholarship, the program announced Friday.
Kelderman spent his first two seasons with the program as a walk-on, and worked his way into the lineup after the injury to Keshon Gilbert sidelined the Iowa State star late in the season.
The 6-foot-1, 185- pound guard played pivotal minutes in Iowa State’s narrow loss to No. 5 Houston, and also went for a three in the team’s Big 12 tournament loss to BYU.
Kelderman hit a season-high five points in the Cyclones’ tournament win over Lipscomb in March.
He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining going into the 2025-26 year.
Jan 30, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team wide receiver Jaylin Noel of Iowa State (12) and National team wide receiver Jayden Higgins of Iowa State (9) work through drills during Senior Bowl practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State’s 2024 football team left behind a legacy littered with historical landmarks; program firsts that will be hard to match or surpass this season and beyond.
Now the Cyclones’ 2025 NFL Draft class is following a similar script.
Four ISU players, led by wide receiver Jayden Higgins, were selected by NFL teams within the first four rounds of the seven-round event. That had never happened before — and that never-had-been, or it’s-been-a-long time acknowledgement proved to be a theme for the Cyclones as the draft rolled through Green Bay.
Higgins, the second pick in the second round (34th overall) by the Houston Texans, nearly became ISU’s second first-round pick in three years (Will McDonald was tabbed by the New York Jets with the No. 15 pick in 2023) after going 50 years without a single one.
So let’s start with the tall and talented former Eastern Kentucky transfer, who blossomed into a top-10 receiver In Cyclone history, despite playing just two seasons in cardinal and gold.
**On Jayden Higgins … “We’ve been seeing a lot of comments in here saying, ‘Hey, this is my sleeper, (Higgins) is my sleeper,’” five-time Pro Bowler Steve Smith Sr. said about Higgins on his Underdog Fantasy YouTube channel. “This isn’t my sleeper because I’m wide awake watching his film. He is not underrated. He is not a sleeper.”
Higgins — who stands 6-4 and weighs 215 pounds — notched one of the best seasons ever as an ISU receiver in 2024, compiling top-three single-season numbers in catches (87, second all-time); receiving yards (1,183, third); and touchdowns (nine, tied for second).
“He’s a guy that can do a lot more than just be a big outside receiver,” former Cyclone offensive coordinator and current Los Angeles Rams assistant Nate Scheelhaase said of Higgins in 2023. “We’re able to put him in the slot. He’s been good in the run-blocking game. I think anytime you have a guy like that, you feel like the sky’s the limit and he can grow each week.”
Prophetic words. And now Higgins can reunite with fellow former ISU star Jaylin Noel because as fate would have it, the Texans selected him in the third round.
*On Jaylin Noel …* “Jaylin Noel is Julian Edelman** with a sub 4.4 40 and will be the best WR in this class not named Travis Hunter,” veteran CBS sportswriter Tom Fornelli posted on ‘X’ before the draft.
Edelman, of course, shined as a slot receiver for quarterback Tom Brady in multiple Super Bowl wins at New England. Noel’s similarly well-rounded and can immediately make an impact on special teams as a punt and/or kickoff returner. The 5-10, 200-pounder and two-time captain from Kansas City also caught seven passes spanning 50 or more yards — the most by a Cyclone since at least 1971.
“I think where you see the growth happening is him being able to make full-speed decisions and when he’s able to do that, he can put a lot of pressure on people fast,” Scheelhaase said of Noel in 2023.
More prophetic words, which brings us to another Cyclone picked in the third round: Darien Porter, one of head coach Matt Campbell’s greatest success stories.
**On Darien Porter (third-round selection by the Las Vegas Raiders)… “(He) is gonna be a top draft pick,” Campbell said of Porter late last season.
That’s because the 6-3 wide receiver-turned-cornerback from Bettendorf put in the hard work on special teams, then seized the moment when he found a home in the secondary and wowed scouts at the NFL Combine.
“I’m very grateful,” Porter said as his senior seasonal ISU wound down. “Grateful for my teammates and my coaches for never giving up on me.”
Porter spent six years in the Cyclones’ program. Offensive tackle Jalen Travis spent just one in it — but greatly enhanced his NFL Draft stock during his relatively brief stay.
*On Jalen Travis (fourth-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts) …* “I don’t know if there’s a lot that guy can’t do,” ISU offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser** said last season of the 6-8, 339-pound Princeton graduate transfer. “He’s so smart and so athletic, and he’s like a zombie out there. He wants to eat everybody’s heart right out of their chest.”
Enough said. Travis became the first Cyclone offensive lineman drafted in the past 12 years.
“He certainly made a huge impression,” Campbell said.
Apr 29, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts during a time out during game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton – and his father, John – had social media buzzing this week, after the Indiana Pacer made a series-clinching shot to give his a team a trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals in game 5 of the series against Milwaukee.
INCREDIBLE.
Tyrese Haliburton overtime game-winner to advance. pic.twitter.com/Smau9ScsJY
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 30, 2025
Haliburton finished with 26 points, nine assists, five rebounds, three steals and three blocks, becoming the first NBA player to put up a playoff statline like that since Lebron James in 2016.
Tyrese Haliburton tonight:
26 PTS
5 REB
9 AST
3 STL
3 BLKFirst player to reach these numbers in a playoff game since LeBron James in 2016. pic.twitter.com/JgKpsVkLlC
— Polymarket Hoops (@StatMamba) April 30, 2025
It was a big moment for Haliburton, who’s turned into a star in Indiana.
Tyrese Haliburton reps this community
And we love him for it pic.twitter.com/NZD7XLBVvo— Wes Trueblood (@TruebloodWesley) April 30, 2025
The former Cyclone even commented on a recent NBA Player survey that was published – which only included answers from 90 players in the league, 13 of which said he was the league’s “Most overrated player.”
Overrate THAT
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) April 30, 2025
After the game, however, Haliburton’s father walked onto the court and can be seen celebrating in the face of Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Great look at Tyrese Haliburton’s dad coming at Giannis with some bullshit after the game. Incredible restraint from Giannis. pic.twitter.com/tvXoeoNgko
— Badger Steve (@UW_Steve) April 30, 2025
Haliburton said that he had a conversation with his father, and has also talked to Antetokounmpo since finding out what happened.
“I don’t think that my pops was in the right at all there. … We will have a conversation and I’ll talk to Giannis it’s unfortunate we’re all grown men.”
Tyrese Haliburton on the confrontation his dad had with Giannis following Pacers-Buckspic.twitter.com/NJfCnPEfUR
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) April 30, 2025
John Haliburton released a statement over social media:
I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight’s game. This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.
Here’s Giannis Antetokounmpo speaking about being humble and keeping his family away from postgame activities.
Antetokounmpo did say that he “loves Tyrese,” and also that John said to him, “This is what we f—ng do.”
Giannis has multiple all-time great press-conference answers on his resume. Add this to the list after he was asked about Tyrese Haliburton’s father taunting him on the court.pic.twitter.com/t8EIp9YrW7
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) April 30, 2025
Some on NBA shows had staggering opinions on John’s actions. Both Robert Griffin III and Myron Medcalf said on social media that he should be banned from games going forward.
The fellas had clashing opinions about the moment between Giannis and Tyrese Haliburton’s dad pic.twitter.com/cbAFYTVhT6
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 30, 2025
I also found this on Haliburton’s success in his career against the Bucks.
Tyrese Haliburton against the Bucks:
— 13 wins over last two seasons
— Knocked them out of IST
— Dame time celebration on Dame
— Game 3 game-winner (2024)
— 4-point play game-winner (2025)
— Game 5 game-winner in OT (2025)
— Knocked them out of the playoffs consecutive years pic.twitter.com/lt4uUj9Zcc— 🆁🆄🆂🆃🆈 (@PacersStatsMuse) April 30, 2025
I don’t know how much stock I’d put into the in-season tournament win, but if a player did that against one of my teams, I’d probably hate him, too.
Haliburton and the No. 4 Pacers will take on the No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, although the date a tip time for game 1 has not yet been announced.
Malik Verdon has signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons, the team announced Saturday.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder spent four seasons at Iowa State, and departs to the NFL a year early.
Over his time in Ames, Verdon became an integral piece to the Cyclones’ success, and was a standout during the team’s 11-3 season that ended with a Pop-Tarts Bowl win.
Verdon earned second-team All-Big 12 honors during his final year, as he finished with 76 tackles (2nd on team), 3.5 TFL’s, a sack, one interception and two forced fumbles.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native finished with 134 tackles in 27 career games, with three picks, 10 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
Myles Purchase has been signed to an undrafted free agent deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, the team announced Saturday.
Purchase becomes the second former Cyclone to sign with Los Angeles, joining Stevo Klotz in the blue and gold colors.
The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder spent four seasons with the Cyclones, where he appeared in 52 games (top 10 all-time in program history), and earned 146 tackles, 11.5 TFL’s, 26 pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery.
The fumble recovery and the interception each came during his final year in Ames, where the Cyclones would finish 11-3, make a trip to the Big 12 championship game and win the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
J.R. Singleton has signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Seattle Seahawks, the team announced Saturday.
Singleton spent five seasons with the Cyclones, and donned the No. 58 in his final season in memory of former coach Curtis Bray.
As a co-captain for the Cyclones, Singleton recorded a career-best 32 tackles in his final year and led the team with four sacks while appearing in 13 games.
It was enough for the 6-foot-2, 305-pound player to earn All-Big 12 honorable mention.
Singleton finished his career with 75 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks.
He appeared on both Iowa State teams that qualified for the Big 12 championship game in the Matt Campbell era.
Stevo Klotz has been signed on an undrafted free agent deal by the Los Angeles Chargers, the team announced Saturday.
Klotz spent five seasons in an Iowa State uniform, and made 12 starts in the Cyclones’ 11-3 season that ended with a Pop-Tarts Bowl win.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder was the recipient of the Nick Bassett Perseverance Award in 2024, and was named to the All-Big 12 second team in both of his final two seasons.
Over his final year, Klotz finished with eight receptions for 89 yards, including a touchdown in Iowa State’s win over Cincinnati.
After starting his career as a walk-on, Klotz was placed on scholarship in 2023, and finished his career with 149 yards on 15 receptions with two touchdowns.
Jarrod Hufford was signed on an undrafted free agent deal by the Las Vegas Raiders Saturday.
The former Cyclone spent six seasons in Iowa State colors and picked up Big 12 OL of the Year honors in his final two seasons in Ames.
The 6-foot-5, 320-pound player started his final 47 games at Iowa State, anchoring the line and appearing at four different positions over that stretch.
Hufford will join his teammate Darien Porter, who was drafted by the Raiders in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday.
Dec 3, 2024; Stanford, California, USA; Utah Valley Wolverines guard Dominick Nelson (0) shoots a layup against Stanford Cardinal forward Maxime Raynaud (42) during the second half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
Iowa State men’s basketball may have rounded out its roster with its latest addition in Dominick Nelson, a shooting guard transferring in from Utah Valley.
Nelson averaged 14.4 points per game last season for Utah Valley in route to earning WAC Player of the Year honors.
The 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard also collected 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game for the Wolverines.
What it means: Iowa State is getting a guard that knows how to get to the rim, and maybe more importantly, the free throw line.
Nelson shot 80 free throws more than any Iowa State player and although he finished at 68.8 percent there, he averaged seven free throw attempts per game.
This will likely round out Iowa State’s 2025-26 roster unless things change.
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones offensive lineman Jalen Travis (72) celebrates a touchdown with running back Carson Hansen (26) in the first quarter against the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
Former Iowa State offensive lineman Jalen Travis was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts Saturday.
Travis transferred to Iowa State from Princeton for his final year of college football and helped the Cyclones to an 11-3 finish, a Big 12 championship game berth and a Pop-Tarts Bowl win.
He becomes the first Iowa State offensive lineman to be drafted since Carter Bykowski (2013).
Travis finished as an All-Big 12 honorable mention player, and becomes the fourth Cyclone drafted in the 2025 draft, tying the program record in the modern era.
Dec 29, 2023; Memphis, TN, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) and wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) react after a touchdown during the first half against the Memphis Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel has been selected by the Houston Texans with the 79th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Noel spent four seasons in an Iowa State uniform and improved each year during his career in Ames.
The Kansas City native finished with 1,194 yards on 80 receptions with eight touchdowns during his senior year.
Noel played a major role in helping Iowa State to its first season with a double-digit win mark, a Big 12 championship game berth and a Pop Tarts Bowl win.
Noel will join a pair of other former Cyclones in the wide receiver room in Houston.
Xavier Hutchinson picked up five catches for the Texans in the 2024 playoffs, and Jayden Higgins was drafted to Houston earlier Friday night.
Jan 28, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team defensive back Darien Porter of Iowa State (10) pauses between plays during Senior Bowl practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter has been selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the 68th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Porter spent five seasons on the field in Ames after transitioning from wide receiver, becoming a top cornerback and an elite special teams.
Over his time with Iowa State, Porter blocked five kicks, including a field goal in the team’s Farmageddon win over Kansas State at Jack Trice Stadium this fall.
Porter recorded 12 tackles, three interceptions – including one in Iowa State’s Cy-Hawk win over Iowa – and two blocked kicks in his senior year in Ames.
He played a major role in helping Iowa State to its first season with a double-digit win mark, a Big 12 championship game berth and a Pop Tarts Bowl win.
Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) celebrates with fans celebrates with fans after fans rushed to the field as Cyclones win 29-21 over Kansas State Wildcats in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.
Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins has been selected by the Houston Texans with the 34th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
During his time in Ames, Higgins proved to be a dynamic wide receiver.
Higgins finished his second season with the Cyclones with 1,183 yards on 87 receptions.
His nine touchdowns helped Iowa State to an 11-3 record – the program’s first season in the double-digit win mark, a berth in the Big 12 championship game and a Pop-Tarts Bowl win.
In Houston, Higgins will join a fellow former Cyclone wideout in Xavier Hutchinson, who had 86 yards for the Texans in two playoff games last season.
Higgins is officially the first Cyclone to be selected in the 2025 draft and becomes the highest drafted wide receiver in program history.
Mar 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa State wideout Jaylin Noel (WO35) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
AMES — When Jaylin Noel strode onto Iowa State’s campus as a true freshman in 2021, coaches paired him with a veteran player for winter workouts.
“Just so happened, it was Brock (Purdy),” Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell said.
Noel, then a three-star wide receiver prospect from Kansas City, made an immediate impact his first season at ISU, hauling in 38 passes from his record-breaking senior quarterback. Purdy, of course, went on to become “Mr. Irrelevant” as the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft — and Noel’s likely to be a much higher selection when this season’s draft spans Thursday through Saturday in Green Bay.
“I think the one thing about Jaylin Noel is he always knew who we was,” said Campbell, who will likely see a minimum of four of his players get drafted, which would match the number of Cyclones taken in 2022. “He was never trying to be somebody else. Man, I think he was on such a great mission to impact his family and make a difference in the lives of others, and by his senior year, I don’t know between him and (former Cyclone safety) Beau (Freyler), I don’t know if I’ve ever seen two authentic leaders who were (more) selfless. Didn’t care how many catches he had. His whole thing was how could he impact his team and impact winning.”
Now Noel — along with fellow former ISU standout receiver Jayden Higgins — projects as a likely early second-day draft pick. Add former Cyclone cornerback Darien Porter to that mix, as well, along with offensive tackle Jalen Travis and even oft-injured but talented safety Malik Verdon. All five were invited to the NFL Combine and if all of them get picked in this year’s draft, it would set a modern program record. The 1974 NFL Draft featured six former Cyclones — but there were 17 rounds then, instead of a mere seven.
“(It’s) a credit to those young men, right?” Campbell said. “I think you’ve seen that happen in our football program now over 10 years. I think this group — you’re probably (looking at) four or five guys (who) maybe can get drafted in the top 100 in the next couple of days. It’s really impressive.”
Noel, Higgins, Porter and Travis all became rapid risers thanks to eye-popping numbers in various areas at the combine. Noel and Porter rank sub-4.4 40-yard dashes while excelling in several other drills. Higgins and Travis also put up impressive numbers at the combine — and even though Verdon couldn’t go through drills because of a lingering injury, he could be a late third day selection or highly-prized undrafted free agent.
“When you look at last year’s team, who made all the plays in the moment?” Campbell said. “Boy, it was all those guys.”
Campbell also said former defensive tackle J.R. Singleton and offensive lineman Jarrod Hufford should get an opportunity as undrafted free agents or long-shot late third-day picks, as well, so the Cyclones should once again be well-represprtned in NFL training camps this summer.
“If you’re willing to stay the course and just keep plugging away you can reach your full potential,” Campbell said. “Now, you’ve gotta have the talent to do it, and those guys certainly have had it, but it’s certainly a credit to them. We’re just a beneficiary of their success.”
Soon, several NFL franchises will become those beneficiaries — but what Noel and company did for the team will leave a legacy that continues to benefit ISU.
“I just want to leave them with the mindset that you can’t settle,” Noel said late last season. “If you settle to be average, that’s what you’re gonna get on the field: Average. So never settle, always push each other, and hold guys accountable.”
And for Noel, it all started with a chance paining with Purdy, which gave Campbell a glimpse of what would come.
“I remember watching those guys running downs and backs across the field,” Campbell said. “I’m just like, man, watching (Noel’s) competitiveness at a young age — and he had a really great mentor early.”
Dec 29, 2023; Memphis, TN, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) and wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) react after a touchdown during the first half against the Memphis Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Thursday marks the start of the 2025 NFL Draft. Here’s some intel on what the experts are saying on Iowa State’s potential selections.
I pulled the charts below and numbers surrounding each player from NFLmockdraftdatabase.com – they’ve created somewhat of a composite that puts averages out based on where players are appearing in mock drafts. You’ll notice that for the most part, each of the five former Cyclones featured on the site are rising in the charts, too.
“I think so much of that is a credit to those young men, right,” Campbell said of the late risers. “I mean, we’re really the beneficiaries of young men that have come here with great love for football, and guys that have really risen to some of the best players at their position in the world.”
WR Jaylin Noel
Noel is Iowa State’s biggest riser in the class, jumping up over 60 spots since the college football season ended and is now hovering around the second and third rounds in most mock drafts.
“For Jaylin Noel, what he’s done here in his career has been incredibly impressive,” Campbell said. “And then to watch his maturity, to attack the moments, because when you leave, boy – the Senior Bowl is big. The moment of being ready for the combine’s big and then how you handle each of those meetings is big. I think he’s just knocked it out of the park.”
His combine numbers each ranked in the top 10 for players at the wide receiver position, and his ability to play on special teams as a returner and a gunner will add value, too.
WR Jayden Higgins
Iowa State fans will know that Higgins’ film speaks for itself. The Iowa State wideout impressed over his pair of seasons in Ames and is being floated as a potential first round pick if things go the right way on Thursday.
CBS had Higgins being picked by the Detroit Lions in the first round late in the year and now has him being selected by Green Bay at No. 23.
CB Darien Porter
Porter wowed scouts with his combine speed in the 40-yard dash in late February – hence the big rise in the former Cyclone’s average rank on the boards.
As a utility player as well as a cornerback, Porter will have as much or even more added value than a player like Jaylin Noel, when pairing those combine results with it.
CBS had him as high as No. 14 in its mock draft six weeks ago, and he’s another outside shot at being a pick in the first round. If not, like the pair of wideouts, he could be off the board on Friday night.
OL Jalen Travis
Travis may have benefited the most from the film he put down during Senior Bowl weekend, which really inflated his chances of being selected in the draft.
“It’s no different for Jalen Travis,” Campbell said. “And obviously, we only had him for a year, but I mean, what that guy did in the Senior Bowl, and then what that guy did at the combine, and who that guy is, he certainly made a huge impression.”
He’s jumped over 150 spots since the week before the combine and forecasts as a fifth rounder.
S Malik Verdon
Verdon’s injury history was always going to make it harder for him to be picked, but he’s right on the cusp of possibly being a selection.
Former players will say, too, that it’s better to not be picked when it gets so late in the draft, allowing players to take multiple offers and find the right situation or maximize their value.
“It puts a lot of challenge on this year’s team, but when you look at last year’s team – who made all the plays in the moment? Well, it was all those guys,” Campbell said. “I think J.R. Singleton is going to get himself into a camp and maybe drafted late. I think Jared Hufford is in the same boat – he’s certainly got a chance to be drafted and have a chance to where he’ll definitely be on a team.”
There’s certainly a possibility of both Singleton and Hufford to be signed to undrafted free agent deals, as well as others potentially from the 2025 roster. Those will largely be settled over the weekend if past patterns repeat themselves.
“So, I think all those guys kind of came to fruition of what this program has been trying to build on – man, if you’re willing to stay the course and just keep plugging away, you can reach your full potential now,” Campbell said. “You’ve got to have the talent to do it, and those guys certainly have had it, but it’s certainly a credit to them, and we’re just a beneficiary of their success.”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell took to the podium Wednesday to preview the upcoming NFL Draft and wrap up Iowa State’s spring football media dates.
Photo Courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications:
AMES, Iowa – The 19th annual Cyclone Tailgate Tour, powered by MidAmerican Energy, returns next month to a location near you! This ever-popular tour brings together Cyclone fans all throughout the state of Iowa in celebration of Iowa State Athletics. This year’s 10-stop tour will take place May 19-23.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our staff to engage with Cyclone fans across the state,” Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. “We are so grateful for our loyal fans who travel to Ames for all of our events, and the Tailgate Tour affords us the opportunity to return the favor and visit them in their home areas.”
Each Cyclone Tailgate Tour stop is free and open to fans of all ages. These family-friendly events provide fans the unique opportunity to interact with and hear updates from Iowa State head coaches and Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard. Cy and members of the spirit squad will also be in attendance. Enjoy giveaways, photo opportunities, food and beverage available for purchase, and a chance to connect with fellow Cyclone fans. All children in attendance will also receive a gift courtesy of the Cyclone Club.
While tour event lineups may vary, this year’s tour will feature ISU Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard, football coach Matt Campbell, men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger, women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly, volleyball coach Christy Johnson-Lynch, wrestling coach Kevin Dresser, the “Voice of the Cyclones” John Walters and, of course, Cy.
Doors open 30 minutes prior to the listed event start times. The evening stops include a program which begins at 6:30 p.m. for all locations excluding Council Bluffs, which will begin at 7 p.m. Official Iowa State merchandise from Cy’s Locker Room will be available for purchase at all evening stops.
Make sure to follow Iowa State Athletics on social media platforms throughout the tour for more coverage.
2025 Cyclone Tailgate Tour
| May 19 | Ankeny, Toast | Noon-1 p.m. | | May 19 | Davenport, Rhythm City Casino Resort | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | | May 20 | Dubuque, Grand River Center | Noon-1 p.m. | | May 20 | Cedar Rapids, Veterans Memorial Building – Coliseum | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | | May 21 | Waterloo, SingleSpeed Brewing Co. | Noon-1 p.m. | | May 21 | Clear Lake, Surf Ballroom | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | | May 22 | Humboldt, 716 Main | Noon-1 p.m. | | May 22 | Okoboji, The Roof Garden Ballroom at Arnolds Park | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | | May 23 | Sioux City, Tyson Events Center | Noon-1 p.m. | | May 23 | Council Bluffs, Mid-America Center – Convention Center | 6-8 p.m. |
Iowa State picked up a second offensive lineman out of the transfer portal in the past week Tuesday in former Wisconsin tackle Derek Jensen.
Jensen, a 6-foot-6, 290-pound player was a four-star prospect out of high school and originally had an Iowa State offer back in August of 2021.
The product of Arrowhead High School was also teammates with current Iowa State defensive lineman Jace J. Gilbert.
What it means: Iowa State lost the Helton twins to the portal a couple of weeks ago and have now quickly found replacements that each have college experience.
Losing talent is never ideal, but this addition, along with Austin Barrett, could be the best-case scenario in today’s age of the portal.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 20: John Cena gestures during his Undisputed WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on April 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The college sports world has calmed down (except for the portal, of course), recruiting has ramped up, and Iowa State Softball is still keeping us entertained.
Let’s muse.
Iowa State continues to build recruiting success in NebraskaIt took another step forward when the Cyclones earned their latest commitment out of four-star quarterback Jett Thomalla.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound quarterback from Omaha was rated as the top prospect in the state, which this Iowa State staff has had a plethora of success in for the 2026 class.
Of the top nine prospects in the state, Iowa State has gained commitments from six and is targeting three others (see below).
Isaac Jensen – tight end (teammate to Thomalla and fellow commit Amarion Jackson at Millard South). No visit scheduled for June yet, but more in the story linked above.
Darion Jones – cornerback visiting June 13-15
Leighton Burbach – offensive tackle visiting June 6-8
It’s riled up Nebraska fans online who will do nothing but bring up the past and that’s been blissful.
Iowa State picked up a commitment from Dylan Barrett’s brother, Austin, this weekend as well, a nice 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive lineman who can play anywhere on the line. Call the weekend a win.
Christian Wiggins commitsIowa State men’s basketball got its second four-star commitment in 24 hours to go along with football’s addition of Thomalla.
Christian Wiggins, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard out of Wayzata, Minnesota announced his commitment Saturday.
He’s going to be around a top 50 recruit when it’s all said and done – these things change so frequently, sometimes without any reason – and currently sits at No. 52 in the 247 Sports list.
There’s more on Wiggins inside this article, but I wanted to point how Iowa State’s consistent recruiting strategy – and the success that’s followed – has kept the program ahead of the 8-ball.
If you look up the program’s class rankings in each of the next two classes (2026 & 2027), Iowa State is No. 2 and No. 1, respectively.
Each of the prospects is rated inside or right around the top 150 nationally and no matter what the state of the sport is moving forward, having three players wrapped up in the next two classes in April is going to be a big advantage.
Iowa State Softball still riding the hot handThe Cyclones started off things off by taking down Iowa in their midweek game, followed it up with two out of three against Kansas, and swept a doubleheader against South Dakota State on Monday to finish things off.
Both Reagan Bartholomew and Karlee Ford had walk-off hits and it seems like all this team knows how to do lately is win.
Big 12 Softball Standings
1. Texas Tech 16-2 (36-10)
2. Arizona 14-7 (37-9)
3. Arizona State 13-8 (33-16)
4. Iowa State 11-7 (25-19)
5. BYU 11-7 (29-12)
6. Oklahoma State 8-8 (27-15)
7. Baylor 8-10 (22-23)
8. UCF 7-11 (26-20-1)
9. Kansas 5-13 (19-22)
10. Utah 4-14 (12-34)
11. Houston 3-13 (20-19)
They’ve got nine games to go – and they will probably need to win a majority of them to be in a good spot for the NCAA Tournament, but all signs are pointing up.
Here’s the remaining slate:
Iowa State Softball remaining schedule
Tues. April 22 | @ UNI (5 p.m. ESPN+)
Fri. April 25 | @ Utah (6 p.m. ESPN+)
Sat. April 26 | @ Utah (1 p.m. ESPN+)
Sun. April 27 | @ Utah (1 p.m. ESPN+)
Tues. April 29 | @ Iowa (5:30 p.m. BTN+)
Wed. April 30 | Drake (4 p.m. ESPN+)
Fri. May 2 | Baylor (4 p.m. ESPN+)
Sat. May 3 | Baylor (1 p.m. ESPN+)
Sun. May 4 | Baylor (Noon, ESPN+)
Wed. May 7-Sun. May 10 | Big 12 Tournament
Here’s a look at one of the walk-offs with a phenomenal call from my friend, Noah Wolf.
we LOVE walk-off winners 🫶 pic.twitter.com/DsFIXy9cEI
— Iowa State Softball (@CycloneSB) April 18, 2025
Quick HitsA CFB report with an odd possibility mentioned…
There was a recent article from Heather Dinich of ESPN that mentioned there variables that could be added to the College Football Playoff’s criteria, and it got a lot of traction Monday.
The article included a stipulation, stating, “A model in which each Power 4 league can earn guaranteed spots through a combination of its teams’ overall records — and maybe even TV ratings, according to a source — could be presented.“
The phrasing certainly got people’s attention – enough that I’m including it here. I don’t think that it has a lot of bearing, but the fact it was pointed out means it is being thrown around as a possibility.
I do think that there is already some of that mixed in there just based on the interests of those in power – the SEC and Big 10. That conversation will culminate sometime in June, according to the article.
We’ll know the new format – I believe going forward – on December 1, 2025 for future seasons, and if anything is changed this year, it will be how teams are seeded.
John Cena walked out of WrestleMania 41 with his 17th title and it was one of the worst WWE matches I’ve ever watched.
It’s what I expected to happen ever since Cena announced his retirement tour, and I mulled over what I’d write on it – long enough to delay this column a day – and it probably makes less sense now.
I think wrestling fans have all seen it and those that aren’t will want this explanation short, but rapper Travis Scott came in to distract Cody Rhodes, Cody kicked his ass, and then they did a moral thing where Rhodes refused to hit Cena with the title belt and John walked out with the title.
Cena tried to do the Marshawn Lynch at the press conference and we sat there and watched, hoping there was something – anything – that justified the disappointment of the main event to what otherwise was a stellar night & weekend. Shoutout Joe Hendry.
The lone thread of the entire storyline in Cena turning heel (bad guy) was the Rock, who couldn’t bother enough to show up to the biggest day of the company he’s supposed to be heavily involved in. I never understood Rock fans in my childhood and I don’t think I ever will after that.
I figured that this was all a part of Cena’s promise when he turned heel – to ruin wrestling for everybody, the way that only he can – or so I thought. But Cena made no mention of that on Raw – which was as good of an episode as they’ve put on since the move to Netflix. It’s supposed to be good, that’s what the Raw after ‘Mania has always been because they’re setting up new storylines and all that, but the build-up and everything to that main event fell absolutely flat, and it fell flat for no reason.
I just about love everything that WWE is doing, aside from this Cena angle. It feels like he – or the WWE – is just throwing more and more crap out there to try and get people to actually hate this guy, who is really, really bad at being unlikeable.
The NHL Playoffs are underway, and I wanted to give y’all who might be on the fence about watching playoff hockey some things to follow in each series. It’s one of, if not the best, products on the planet.
Winnipeg vs. St. Louis – The Blues ended the year on a heater after making a coaching change to a guy named Jim Montgomery. He coached the Stars and the Bruins to tremendous regular seasons, but did go into the NHL’s rehab program for reasons unclear to the public – take your guesses. Anyways, they had a 12-game win-streak late and take on the Jets – who have looked unstoppable this year. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck is at the top of his game and if the Blues win this thing it will be considered a massive upset. Jets won the first two games in front of their home crowd – which is one of the best atmospheres in the league come playoff time. Jets are up 2-0.
Dallas vs. Colorado – It’s no secret I’m a huge Stars fan. Dallas’ front office staff has consistently been the only one out of my ‘big 4’ teams that hasn’t disappointed me in the last eight years. The Stars got Mikko Rantanen, who used to be a huge face in Colorado, in a trade with Carolina and promptly signed him to an 8-year deal – the max that’s allowed in the NHL. Dallas has beaten Colorado with overtime heroics in each of the last two playoff series they’ve had and this one will be as intense as any series all playoffs. I wrote all of these before & during the games Monday, and Dallas tied up the series with a gritty goal from fourth-liner Colin Blackwell.
COLIN BLACKWELL CALLED GAME IN OVERTIME.
THE @DALLASSTARS EVEN THE SERIES #TEXASHOCKEY pic.twitter.com/lTckK45g0j
— Victory+ (@victoryplustv) April 22, 2025
Vegas – Minnesota – A majority of the NHL fans hate Vegas. They’re true villains in the league because of their immediate success as an expansion team. They’ve got dogs and Minnesota is notorious for it’s early playoff exits – the Wild have never even won a conference finals game. It would take the biggest upset in the playoffs for the Wild to get by Vegas, but the Knights don’t look as powerful as they were in recent years. Vegas leads 1-0.
Los Angeles – Edmonton – Because of this playoff system that pits teams from the same division against one another in the opening rounds, LA and Edmonton are facing off for the fourth-straight year in round one. Each year, LA has pushed Edmonton one game further than in years past and the Kings hope this is the year they take them out. I’d still pick Edmonton, but these teams know each other well and got in quite a bit of scuffles in their last regular season meeting. LA had a 4-0 lead, and was up 5-3 with 2:30 to go, but Edmonton still tied things up. Somehow, the momentum didn’t carry over to take this to overtime and the Kings escaped with a win they needed to have life in this series.
THE KINGS TAKE THE LEAD BACK! pic.twitter.com/0vw8ZfDVjn
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 22, 2025
Toronto – Ottawa – The Senators strategy was clear in game 1 – they want to out-tough and hit their way to a series win. Toronto has lost in game 7 of their first round series in five of the last seven years. The Leafs will be the better team but anything can happen in these things.
Tampa – Florida – The battle for Florida will be as intense of a series as you can find outside of Dallas – Colorado. Brad Marchand, the league’s pest, was traded to Florida at the deadline and gives them an extra piece to go to battle. If you haven’t followed hockey, Steven Stamkos moved on and is in Nashville, who still missed the playoffs in signature fashion, and the Lightning aren’t what they once were. This should be fun.
Washington – Montreal – Obviously, Alex Ovechkin was at the forefront of the sports world a couple of weeks ago while breaking the NHL goal scoring record. He’s trying to lead his Capitals to another Cup and was the hero in game 1 with a nice OT goal that sealed the deal. Meanwhile, Montreal has a fifth overall draft pick named Ivan Demidov, who wowed in the KHL (the Russian professional league that is very much as close to the NHL level as it gets outside of it – yes, far closer than the AHL), coming into the swing. He’s as impressive as it gets and could be an X-factor.
OVI GETS IT DONE!
Alex Ovechkin’s FIRST EVER #StanleyCup Playoffs @Energizer overtime winner gives the @Capitals the victory in Game 1! pic.twitter.com/4TQEtvZLjD
— NHL (@NHL) April 22, 2025
Carolina – New Jersey – Part of that Stars trade included a youngster in Logan Stankoven, who had two goals in game 1 of this series. I don’t know how much fight the Devils have in them – Jack Hughes is out for the rest of the year with an injury and his brother Luke Hughes appeared to be hurt in the opening game. Regardless, Carolina brings it offensively. The ‘Canes are the closest thing in hockey the last decade to Hoiball. It’s a product.
New Iowa State running backs coach Jake Landry works with his group during practice this spring. Photo courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications.
AMES — One of first-year Iowa State running back coach Jake Landry’s first connections to the Cyclones’ third-year wide receivers coach, Noah Pauley, hinged on a faulty one.
An overcrowded electrical outlet stood in the way of the then-first time graduate assistants at Division II Minnesota Duluth — and they were in charge of plugging in the headsets for their Bulldogs’ top assistants in a game at Bemidji State.
“Funny story,” said Landry, who takes over a talented and crowded running backs room at ISU this season. “I won’t say if it was me or coach Pauley, but we unplugged the radio guy live on the air. We quickly plugged it back in and I think to this day the guy there doesn’t realize we were the ones that cut him off the air for about 10 seconds.”
Oops? Consider it a rare misstep for the reconnected rising stars in the coaching profession, who will have a major say in what the Cyclones’ Taylor Mouser led-offense will look like this season.
“Jake Landry is my best friend,” said Pauley, who will watch two of his recent ISU receivers, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, get picked in the NFL Draft late this week. “The guys will love playing for him. He’s obviously had a ton of success at his last stops, and obviously been a (FCS) national championship offense coordinator (at North Dakota State last season), so we’re all excited to have him here. Especially, myself.”
Landry will guide a Cyclone running backs unit that returns its top two backs and most of its production from last season’s program-record 11-win team. Carson Hansen (752 rushing yards, 15 total touchdowns) and Abu Sama (587 rushing yards, two touchdowns) headline the room, and their blend of power and speed makes them potent playmakers still seeking to strike a chord with consistency.
“Whether that’s fundamentals and technique, whether that’s mentally being aware of the situations that we’re working on in practice or in the games, I think it’s just constant communication,” said Landry, who recently became a father of twin boys. “(We’re) always evaluating what we need to be better at and being at the forefront of that; being authentic with those guys and very transparent. We’re gonna hold everybody in that room to the same standard.”
The one-two punch of Hansen and Sama helped ISU average 160 yards rushing for just the third time in head coach Matt Campbell’s nine-plus season tenure in Ames. But redshirt freshmen Dylan Lee and Aiden Flora will make a strong push for playing time, as could true freshman Ryver Peppers.
“It’s been great to see those younger guys grow throughout spring ball and the offseason,” Hansen said. “Everyone’s different so everyone doesn’t communicate the same, so you have to kind go adjust toward people, but it’s been great to have different relationships. We kind of all build off of each other.”
Landry — a Grand Forks, N.D, native — has built a strong coaching resume from those humble beginnings in Duluth. He reconnected with Pauley at North Dakota State, then rejoined him with the Cyclones this season after former running backs coach Tyler Roehl — a fellow former Bison assistant — left the program to become the tight ends coach for the Detroit Lions.
Both of Landry’s parents were educators, and his dad coached high school football. He credits legendary former Grand Forks Central High School football coach Mike Berg for mentoring him and helping him form the foundation of his own coaching philosophy.
“We still text and email to this day,” said Landry, a former quarterback and captain at North Dakota. “He’s had a huge influence on me and not only as a coach, but as a person as a whole.”
So did that experience at Minnesota Duluth, where strong connections — and one accidental disconnect — has helped Landry rise through the ranks to the Power 4 level.
“I wouldn’t trade any of those opportunities that I’ve had,” Landry said. “It keeps you hungry. Keeps you with a chip on your shoulder. You want to go out and prove that you know what you’re doing, and you don’t forget those humble beginnings.”
Nov 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Jack Sadowsky V (33) recovers a fumble by Utah Utes quarterback Isaac Wilson (11) during the third quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Iowa State linebacker Jack Sadowsky V announced Monday over social media that he would be entering the transfer portal.
Sadowsky appeared in 10 of the Cyclones’ 14 games during the 2024 season, collecting 29 total tackles.
Seven of those most notably came in the road win over Utah late in the season as Iowa State chased a spot in the 2024 Big 12 championship game.
Sadowsky, a native of Batavia, Illinois, will have two years of eligibility remaining, as well as a redshirt year.
Iowa State has earned a commitment out of the transfer portal in former Indiana offensive lineman Austin Barrett.
The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder appeared in five games for the Hoosiers a season ago.
Barrett chose the Cyclones over finalists Oklahoma State, Louisville, K-State and Western Michigan, and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Barrett will join his brother Dylan, who started his career at Wisconsin before transferring to Iowa State, on the line.
The addition of Barrett will help the Cyclones cushion the offensive line room after the departure of Wade and Brent Helton, who entered the portal earlier this month.
Both of the Helton’s were expected to see the field in some way this season, so the addition of Barrett puts Iowa State a bit closer to the 8 ball.
Iowa State men’s basketball earned its latest commitment to the 2026 recruiting class _____ in Christian Wiggins, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard out of Wayzata, Minnesota.
Wiggins announced the move over his social media accounts.
Wiggins is rated as the No. 52 player in the class by the 247 Sports composite scale, and is also rated as the No. 8 shooting guard in the class.
He chose Iowa State over Creighton, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Northern Iowa.
What it means: Wiggins is a lengthy athlete that can shoot the three on a step-back as well as take it inside. He can score from anywhere and will give the Cyclones an offensive threat if his game can translate in the Big 12.
The 2026 class: Wiggins joins point guard Yusef Gray Jr. as the lone players in the 2026 class so far.
The addition technically brings the class up to the No. 2 spot in the overall rankings, however most teams have not yet earned two commitments for the cycle.
This does put Iowa State ahead of the 8-ball by a fair margin, as it already has a 2027 commitment from forward Josiah Harrington, and that could help out over the next few years.
Iowa State Football earned its latest commitment to the 2026 class Friday in Millard South quarterback Jett Thomalla.
“The relationships with coaches was a big thing when I was there,” Thomalla said. “It felt like home to me, just being able to talk to those guys.”
The four-star prospect announced the news over social media.
Cyclone Nation, I’m home!!@taylorMendy93 @MSouthFootball @CycloneFB @CoachJWaters @ISUMattCampbell pic.twitter.com/CE6l8E4V62
— Jett Thomalla (@JettThomalla) April 18, 2025
Thomalla is rated as as the No. 16 quarterback in the class by 247 Sports and the No. 231 prospect overall.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound recruit chose Iowa State over offers from Iowa, Arizona, Missouri, Duke, Virginia Tech, Washington State, Colorado State, Arkansas State, UNLV, and San Diego State.
During his visit to Ames, Thomalla roomed with wide receivers Brett Eskildsen and Dom Overby.
“They were really cool, that was a big part too,” Thomalla said. “That, and the culture. When I got with the players, all I heard was great things about how the coaches act when (recruits) aren’t around.“
Iowa State hopes Thomalla can turn into a quarterback as steady and talented as both Brock Purdy and Rocco Becht have been in Ames.
“It just proves that they can produce guys – they didn’t get them out of the transfer portal or anything,” Thomalla said. “They can get a quarterback out of high school and put them in the NFL.”
Thomalla said that Iowa State showed him slides of plays they run currently with Becht that compare side-by-side to plays that his Millard South team runs.
He becomes the second player from Millard South to commit in the 2026 class, joining his No. 1 wide receiver in Amarion Jackson.
“I was pretty high on Iowa State before he committed and after he did, it kind’ve boosted it a little bit,” Thomalla said. “He’s one of my best friends. We hangout quite a bit and it’d be cool to room with him (at Iowa State).”
The Cyclones are also among the top choices for Millard South tight end Isaac Jensen, and the pair of teammates hope to push Jensen to Ames in the future.
“We hang out with him a bunch, too, so that’s the plan, obviously,” Thomalla said. “I really hope he does (commit). He’s got a couple other official visits scheduled, but we’re recruiting him pretty hard.”
What it means: Iowa State was once again able to grab its top quarterback target for the class, and one that emerged here over the past year in Thomalla.
This is familiar territory for the staff, and really has become the expectation since Rocco Becht signed as part of the 2022 class.
Since then, the Cyclones took J.J. Kohl (who was a 4-star, but is now at Appalachian State), Connor Moberly, another four-star in Alex Manske and now add the Nebraska product.
While Iowa State is secure at the position for this season with Becht, there’s never such a thing as having too many quarterbacks and that’s only become more true with what’s going on with the portal.
The 2026 class: The class is now ranked at No. 14 in the country by 247 Sports. I typically refrain from making a big deal out of class rankings in the moment, especially because of the unpredictability, but it’s not a bad sign that this might be the highest I’ve seen Iowa State at any time since I started on the beat a few years ago.
Thomalla’s commitment also gives the Cyclones their sixth prospect out of the top nine recruits (by 247 Sports’ rankings) in Nebraska. And, Iowa State is targeting each of the other three – one of which happens to play tight end at the same school as Thomalla (Isaac Jensen).
“Obviously, they see a lot of talent here in Nebraska,” Thomalla said. “Hopefully we all have great careers. I think it’s cool that we’re all going to have something in common. It’s gonna be fun.”
Current top 9 Nebraska prospects in the 2026 class by 247 Sports
1. QB Jett Thomalla, Iowa State commit
2. CB Darion Jones, Iowa State target
3. OL Leighton Burbach, Iowa State target
4. ATH Amarion Jackson, Iowa State commit
5. ATH Kaprice Keith, Iowa State commit
6. TE Isaac Jensen, Iowa State target
7. LB Barry Fries, Iowa State commit
8. LB Keian Kaiser, Iowa State commit
9. S Tyrell Chatman, Iowa State commit
Thomalla becomes the 13th addition to the 2026 class, and will serve as the lone quarterback in the group.
Iowa State’s ’26 recruiting class
QB | Jett Thomalla, Nebraska
RB | Caleb Francois, Minnesota
WR | Milan Parris, Ohio
WR | Jeffrey Roberts, Iowa (Ames)
OL | Mason Bandhauer, Colorado
OL | Ethan Beckman, Minnesota
DT | Daniel Howard, Illinois
LB | Keian Kaiser, Nebraska
LB | Barry Fries, Nebraska
DB | Tyrell Chatman, Nebraska
S | Brayden Thomas, Ohio
ATH |Kaprice Keith, Nebraska
ATH | Amarion Jackson, Nebraska
Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; DUPLICATEIowa State Cyclones wide receiver Isaiah Alston (8) receives a pass against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images***
Iowa State wide receiver Isaiah Alston announced Thursday that he would be entering his name into the transfer portal.
Alston appeared in 11 games for the Cyclones, and had two catches for 52 yards in the team’s Pop Tarts Bowl win.
The New Jersey native spent the first four seasons of his career at Army before transferring to Iowa State.
He will have one season of eligibility remaining.
Iowa State linebackers coach Colby Kratch, running backs coach Jake Landry, and players Carson Hansen, Abu Sama & Beau Goodwin addressed media members in Ames Wednesday to give an update on spring practices.
Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) scores a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
AMES — Consider Iowa State running back Carson Hansen to be a modern-day stoic.
The junior from Lakeville, Minn., eschews exuberance and irritation both — opting to adopt an even-keel approach to any situation.
Almost any situation, that is. Hansen’s numerous jaunts into the end zone serve as an exception to that emotion-suppressing rule.
“I don’t know,” said Hansen, who rushed for a team-best 13 touchdowns last season. “It’s kind of just one of those things where you’ve put in all this work. So you’ve kind of gotta show emotion because it’s like, ‘Man, this is a great reward.’”
Hansen battled persistent injuries last season but still scored multiple touchdowns in five games. The versatile 6-2, 220-pound tailback totaled three touchdowns — two rushing, one receiving — in the Cyclones’ 42-41 Pop-Tarts Bowl win over Miami to help his team cap an historic 11-win season. Now he’s fully healthy and aiming for more consistency in a well-stocked room that includes flashy and powerful fellow junior Abu Sama and upstart redshirt freshman Dylan Lee, among others.
“(It’s) a very competitive group,” said ISU’s first-year running backs coach Jake Landry, who served as North Dakota State’s offensive coordinator last season. “They’re fun to be around. They know when to enjoy being around one another in a meeting, but they also know when to lock in.”
Hansen and Sama proved to be a potent tandem for the Cyclones last season, as both produced big plays in both the running game and the passing game. Hansen led ISU with 752 yards on the ground on 151 carries. Sama rushed for 587 yards on 122 carries — and notched a 100-yard game in a 20-0 win over Houston.
“Carson and Abu have played a lot of football and I’m excited to continue to work with those guys,” said Landry, who will guide a unit that averaged 160.5 rushing yards per game last season — its best output since Breece Hall led the Cyclones’ backs in 2021. “Just to see their leadership within the room continue to grow and their overall knowledge, I think it’s something we’re harping on right now this spring.”
But back to the consistency piece. Hansen, when healthy, settled into a groove in that all-important area at times in 2024, but Sama’s still working on establishing a similar rhythm.
“I feel a lot better than I did last year,” said Sama, who burst onto the scene as a freshman with a 276-yard three-touchdown rushing performance in a snow-strewn win at Kansas State. “With my body and just getting deeper into football, and my IQ and stuff like that, so I can’t wait for the season.”
Neither can Hansen, who continues to perfect his craft in terms of following the best blocks and making the right reads at the line of scrimmage.
“Knowing where the free defender is al the time, the free hitter, is (important),” said Hansen, who caught a pair of touchdown passes last season, as well. “Understanding the game a little bit more, understanding what everyone else is doing, that’s kind of been the big process for me this offseason. Just getting to know the big picture and what everyone’s doing and how to set people up.”
Last season’s reps helped establish that knowledge base. Now Hansen’s building on it, processing those “big picture” elements rapidly and routinely.
“You’re gonna be put in a lot of situations, so you’ve gotta know a lot of different situations,” he said. “So if we prepare for that in the offseason we’ll be in a good spot.”
That’s exactly where the Cyclones’ running backs room seems to be as spring practice winds down and strength- and speed-building summer workouts beckon. ISU rushed for 27 touchdowns last season — the second-highest total in head coach Matt Campbell’s nine-plus season tenure. Hansen nearly achieved half that total by himself, and is eager to produce more celebration-worthy moments in 2025.
“It’s (nice) to be able to show what you’ve put in — put the work in — and you can see it come to fruition,” Hansen said.
Iowa State offensive linemen Wade and Brent Helton are entering the transfer portal. Bill Seals of Rivals was the first to report the news.
The Helton’s, who are twins that were recruited out of California by offensive line coach Ryan Clanton, were expected to see the field this year after each of them redshirted a season ago.
The twins were the first players that Clanton brought up when asked about who would fill the three interior positions on the offensive line last week in a press conference.
“Both the Helton’s have done a really good job,” Clanton said. “(We’ve) been teaching them how to play center and guard on the inside, and obviously that’s helped a ton.”
Iowa State will turn to the rest of its offensive line room, and hope that there’s been enough depth created there during Clanton’s time in Ames.
And he’s confident about quite a few players there.
“Trevor Buhr, he’s a dog,” Clanton said. “Dylan Barrett, he’s a dog – that’s healthy now. And then you have Garrett Rutledge, from Council Bluffs. That kid – you put him at guard and he’ll run through somebody’s face. He’s stone cold, the way we like them around here.
“And then there’s Brendan Black and Jim (Bonifas),” Clanton said. “Jim is 320 pounds. He’s the smartest guy on the team – he knows the offense better than maybe some other people – he has like a coaching understanding of the offense. And Brendan Black is like a freight train on the inside.”
Iowa State continues its spring practices throughout the rest of this week.
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) and Iowa State Cyclones defensive end Joey Petersen (52) and defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) and defensive back Marcus Neal (31) in action during the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
AMES — “See ball, hit ball.”
Those four simple words formed Iowa State sophomore safety Marcus Neal’s hard-hitting motto as a fledgling freshman. And those basic instincts still guide the 6-1, 210-pound ball of energy on the football field — but now there’s a broad base of knowledge that undergirds them.
“It’s great because you can actually see things,” said the Kansas City native, who totaled a career-high eight tackles in the Cyclones’ Pop-Tarts Bowl win over Miami last season. “Say a play’s happening and you’re like, ‘Whoa, yeah.’ Since you’ve learned those things, you can make a good play on the ball, or get a better fit other than just being out there trying to play see ball, hit ball.”
Neal’s one of dozens of young Cyclones informally enrolled in what his position coach, Deon Broomfield, calls “football school.” It’s designed to provide players with basic understanding of all the concepts that crop up in the three phases of the game — offense, defense and special teams. It goes beyond practice and position group meetings, and class is almost always in session in the offseason.
“Guys are in this building 24/7,” Broomfield said. “You just try to expose them to as much football (as you can). Guys are in here and, ‘Hey, today we’re gonna learn about offensive formations.’ The next day, (it’s) maybe just motions. And you try to just literally peel back the layers of what you need to do to be successful, from when you get a call, to lining up and identifying the formation, and what’s my alignment? You just really try to slow it all down so kids can have the ability to not really think. It just becomes a habit.”
Neal’s aced those offseason football 101 classes and is poised to be a big contributor in a safeties’ room that features just one returning starter in All-Big 12 performer Jeremiah Cooper. Neal was forced into duty last season because of injuries to Malik Verdon and Drew Surges, among others, and should provide more than just depth in 2025.
“You’ve got to be physically ready, first and foremost, to be able to play at this level,” said Broomfield, who’s also been ISU’s pass game coordinator since 2023. “And he came in as a physical guy. I would say if you looked at his best trait, it’s man, that kid is physically defined. And now it’s to get the mental to match the physical. That’s where we’re probably gonna see his biggest jump over the next four months before we open up (the season) in Ireland.”
Neal’s now more nuanced “see ball, hit ball” approach should at minimum help him carve out a major role on special teams. As his knowledge base grows, so will his reps at safety, where several players, including Surges — who made the win-sealing interception in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Ta’Shawn James, and Jamison Patton are making strong pushes for significant playing time, as well.
“Everybody’s working and everybody in our room can play,” Neal said. “So everybody’s bringing their A-game every day and coach Broom’s gonna put us in the best position possible to go out there and succeed on the field.”
That’s where football school comes in. There’s no syllabus, per se, but there is structure. And the class schedule is fully flexible, so it’s customizable to meet each player’s needs.
“The first time (on the field) I was like trying to figure it out on my own,” Neal said. “Of course the coaches have helped me, but it’s different when you get on the field. Everything happens so fast. You don’t even see it happen, it just happens, and you’re trying to just make a play. But now as I’m learning more, (I’m) able to slow things down out there — know what’s coming based on what you get. So in that area, it helps a lot. You’re not just out there playing. You can actually see things happening.”
So now Neal’s motto features six words: “See ball, hit ball, know ball.”
“Just keep learning more and more,” he said. “You can’t ever learn too much.”
Apr 13, 2025; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy falls to his knees in celebration after winning a playoff on the no. 18 green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
History was made over the weekend in more sports than one.
I try to lead off with Iowa State stuff, but we’re light this week as is typical for this time of year, so hang with me.
Let’s muse.
Nico Iamaleava set the NIL world on fire The now-former Tennessee quarterback and his camp tried to pull more money out of the program’s collective after seeing the basketball portal prices blow up in one of the crazier over-the-table stories we’ve seen with NIL.
Iamaleava was making $2.4 million per year and was participating in spring practices, until a report surfaced from On3’s Pete Nakos stating that the quarterback and Tennessee were in negotiations.
Nic Iamaleava – Nico’s father – claimed that the report wasn’t accurate.
More games being played off the field than on the field. Bi7ch Nakos from @On3sports called and asked me directly, I told him I had no idea on what he’s talking about. He said his “close source” that he trusts with his life from the University of Tennessee staff gave him this
— Coach_Nic (@Nic_Iamaleava) April 11, 2025
One day later, Iamaleava sat out of the team’s final spring practice before its annual spring game, because of the contract negotiations his father – or camp – claimed were not going on. All of those negotiations, by the way, to squeeze another $1 million out of Tennessee’s collective.
A day later, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said that they cut ties with the quarterback it built its team around.
The NIL situations without guardrails in place have predictably turned things upside down in certain spots, with the most eyes being on this one.
And this isn’t even the craziest story.
Josh Pate reports here that Iamaleava was nearly held out from a playoff game because of contract renegotiation. And not only that, but there were negotiations going on elsewhere with others in the playoff.
“This stuff was happening last December during the playoffs — with this kid included, but not just this kid,” Pate said. “They were trying to get more money from Tennessee and other playoff teams before the playoffs. They were trying to leverage playoff participation.”
“The explainer was, ‘Our client is being paid X amount of money to participate in 12 games, maybe a 13th if you make the conference championship game ,” Pate said. “But you guys made the playoff. He should make money money.’ This is the kind of BS that’s happening behind the scenes right now.”
The guardrails can’t come soon enough in the ‘truly unprecedented times’ that we’ve been in for five years now.
Iowa State Softball is in the midst of a historic yearI have been a fan of coach Jamie Pinkerton since he got the job to lead the Cyclones’ softball program, which had been just straight up bad in the years I’ve been around.
Until 2019, Iowa State had only won more than six Big 12 games in a season once. In 2021, his team led by All-American Sami Williams qualified for the NCAA Tournament, which doubled the program’s all-time number of appearances in the postseason event.
It seems like everything is coming together for this group now, though.
After it got out to a phenomenal start in Big 12 play, the Cyclones went down to Stillwater this weekend to take on No. 17 Oklahoma State.
Behind the hot arm of sophomore pitcher Lauren Schurman, and a hotter bat in junior Sydney Malott – who had four home runs on the weekend – the Cyclones took two out of three and earned the program’s first road-series win against a top 25 team ever.
T2 | We’ll have what she’s having, please
Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR homers for @malott_sydney this weekend
pic.twitter.com/not1Z9h9Jm
— Iowa State Softball (@CycloneSB) April 13, 2025
With nine Big 12 wins already, Iowa State’s in a great spot – sitting in fourth in the standings with three series to go against conference opponents.
Oh, and each of those series will come against teams with Big 12 records below .500 in Kansas (home), Utah (road) and Baylor (home).
Big 12 Softball Standings
Mon. April 14
1. Texas Tech, 34-9 (14-1)
2. Arizona, 36-7 (13-5)
3. Arizona State, 31-14 (11-7)
4. Iowa State, 20-18 (9-6)
5. BYU, 25-12 (8-7)
6. Baylor, 21-21 (7-8)
7. Oklahoma State, 24-14 (6-7)
8. UCF, 25-18-1 (6-9)
9. Kansas, 17-20 (4-11)
10. Utah, 12-30 (4-11)
11. Houston, 20-19 (3-13)
Check out this program now — and it couldn’t be at a better time with the first of this season’s two two Cy-Hawk games coming on Tuesday, April 15 in Ames (4 p.m. ESPN+).
Haliburton and Niang in the playoffsTwo former Cyclones are headed to the NBA Playoffs this week in Tyrese Haliburton and Georges Niang.
Niang and the Atlanta Hawks will take on the Orlando Magic in a play-in game Tuesday (6:30 p.m. TNT).
Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers earned the No. 4 seed in the East and start their series with No. 5 Milwaukee on Saturday (Noon, ESPN), and here’s another reminder of how well he’s been playing with a cool stat here.
Tyrese Haliburton’s career assist-to-turnover ratio is 4.14. Here’s how he stacks up with other NBA legends through their first 5 seasons:
Haliburton: 4.14 AST/TO
CP3: 3.88 AST/TO
Stockton: 3.74 AST/TO
Steve Nash: 2.54 AST/TO
Magic Johnson: 2.48 AST/TOGenerational Passer pic.twitter.com/VcHLn4Pwmp
— 🆁🆄🆂🆃🆈 (@PacersStatsMuse) April 13, 2025
Quick HitsThe Masters delivered this weekend, and I know some of y’all are reading this and saying ‘duh’ aloud, right now.
Admittedly, I probably haven’t followed golf as closely as I’ve wanted to over the last decade – I used to watch it a ton with my grandpa and was hanging on every weekend for Zach Johnson.
For one reason or another, I’ve just fell out of it with golf, and despite how much motorsports and other things I was watching on Sunday, The Masters drew me in – and it did so all weekend.
The most obvious draw being on Sunday, a.k.a. Rory McIlroy‘s biggest rollercoaster day. Somehow, every time he got down, he hit the shot to put himself back in front throughout the day.
Even if you didn’t have background on anything in the sport, you could feel the pressure – and later relief – throughout his run all the way to end.
Rory McIlroy gave everything. #themasters pic.twitter.com/Iv38QeVTbm
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2025
Sometimes you get lucky, and The Masters has done so quite a few times in my life, delivering a story as epic as that was.
I also never thought I’d see a guy take a leak during this deal. José Luis Ballester did so during the tournament on Thursday and his answers to questions about it were equally as entertaining.
“I’m like ‘I really need to pee,’” Ballester said. “Didn’t really know where to go, and since (Thomas) had an issue on the green, I’m like ‘I’m just going to sneak here in the river and probably people would not see me that much,’ and then they clapped for me. Probably one of the claps that I really got today real loud, so that was kind of funny.”
“They saw me,” Ballester said. “It was not embarrassing at all for me. If I had to do it again, I would do it again.”
José Luis Ballester explained why he urinated in Rae’s Creek during today’s opening round of the Masters. pic.twitter.com/4CduoJScId
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) April 10, 2025
I’ve seen some on social media angry about it and to them I ask if they’ve ever done that themselves.
The guy rocks, as for the upside down logo hat – that brand has been picking up steam, and is really popular with Dallas Stars fans, so I’ve seen this style used for a few years and have usually liked it. Some designs it doesn’t work for, but you’ll have that everywhere.
I’ve also become kind of numb to people complaining about logos being upside down because of Texas fans.
One last thing, did Jordan Spieth hit this guy in the balls on purpose?
@JordanSpieth casually sack whacking a spectator with his club. @barstoolsports pic.twitter.com/hZmSgERn7S
— COLETRAIN (@beantownnahnah) April 13, 2025
I’ve got to take a minute to talk about Tony Stewart.
Already one of the most interesting characters in sports, Stewart turned to racing in NHRA Drag Racing in 2024 after marrying Leah Pruett, who was racing in the sport full-time before taking this season off for maternity leave.
He formed his own team, took a top fuel seat this year, and then on Sunday, earned his first career victory in the series in the Las Vegas 4-wide Nationals.
Apr 13, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; NHRA top fuel driver Tony Stewart celebrates with wife Leah Pruett and son Dominic Stewart after winning the Four Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The win is the first of Stewarts professional drag racing career. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesIt added another rung to his resume which now includes:
- 1994 USAC Midget champion
- 1995 USAC Midget, Non-Wing sprint car & Silver Crown champion
- 1997 IndyCar champion
- 2002, 2005 & 2011 NASCAR Cup Series champion
- 2002 & 2007 Chili Bowl Nationals champion
- 2006 IROC & 2021 SRX champion
- 3-time World of Outlaws sprint car race winner
- 2025 NHRA race winner
That isn’t his entire resume, either. He’s got more accolades, championships and race wins as a team owner in multiple forms of racing. Each of those titles came in the top level of racing for the vehicle or form of motorsport that was being used.
That’s 31 years of success at the highest levels going back to his USAC Midget crown in 1994.
It’s time he’s talked about as one of the greatest athletes of all time, and Sunday served as the latest reminder.
By the way, anyone who says that the sports calendar cools off or gets boring after March Madness doesn’t know how to work their TV.
We’ve got the Stanley Cup Playoffs, WrestleMania this weekend, and a huge sprint car race at Knoxville all this weekend alone. Time to buckle up.
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jeremiah Cooper (4) defends a pass against Arizona State Sun Devils tight end Chamon Metayer (7) in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
AMES — As the records fell, the pressure mounted.
Iowa State’s historic 11-win 2024 season featured white-knuckle hairpin twists and turns — soaring highs and jarring lows that took the Cyclones to the Big 12’s grandest stage: Last December’s conference title game against Arizona State at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Excitement spiked. A first-ever Big 12 championship appeared tantalizingly within reach. But on game day in “Jerry World,” ISU’s College Football Playoff hopes promptly fizzled out, evaporating into the ether so quickly and thoroughly that it became impossible to fully process the 45-19 blowout loss to the Sun Devils.
“Knowing the feeling that we worked so hard to get to that moment just to not show up — that was a different type of feeling I had never felt before,” senior Cyclone safety Jeremiah Cooper said last week as spring practice continued apace for his team. “It felt like we did all that just to be embarrassed, so that was a bad feeling for everybody, and that’s something that’s gonna stick with me.”
Not in a negative way, but as fuel for his final season. Dashed dreams conjure new and even bolder ones. And momentary embarrassment morphs into all-encompassing pride — and a dogged determination to max out in his last go-around.
Cooper’s not a fresh-faced upstart anymore. He’s fully absorbed the leadership lessons laid out by Anthony Johnson early in his college career, and Beau Freyler towards the end of it. So Cooper’s the next man up in that regard and fully prepared to fulfill that vital role for his fellow safeties, the defense, and his entire team.
“I’m taking everything I learned from (them) and applying it to me,” said Cooper, who boasts seven career interceptions, which is one shy of tying for 10th-best in program history. “It’s pretty cool leading the safety group. I mean, you’re the veteran in the group — it’s kind of crazy how fast things can change for you. But I’m not backing down from it. I love (those) boys so much. I’ll do anything for them.”
The 6-0, 190-pound Cooper leads all ISU defensive players in career starts (32) and consecutive starts (17). He’s seen it all and done it all, earning first team All-Big 12 honors as a sophomore while collecting honorable mention all-league accolades last season. He’s experienced a long 4-8 season rife with missed opportunities as well as last season’s remarkable 13-game body of work that drew a grade of incomplete because the Cyclones couldn’t seal the deal in Arlington.
In short, Cooper’s acquired wisdom and perspective through both hard work and hard knocks.
“I think he understands what it takes to be a leader, and I tink he has to learn to be that within his own realm,” said ISU safeties coach Deon Broomfield, whose unit also features promising returners such as Ta’Shawn James, Marcus Neal and Jamison Patton, among others. “Some guys, it doesn’t really come off as authentic if that’s not who you really are. So when he does speak, he’s a naturally quiet guy. He’s a more go about his business (type), but he will pull a guy off one-on-one and be able to do it. So I think as long as he leads within himself, I think guys will respect that and respond to it.”
Cooper’s done most of his talking on the field, combining strong ball-hawking skills with a penchant for hard-hitting tackles. He totaled five interceptions as a sophomore and despite snaring just two last season, he still led ISU with eight pass breakups. So when he “speaks” — with his voice or his on-the-job demeanor — teammates take heed.
“Coop always keeps your head straight,” said Neal, who made a career-high eight tackles in the Cyclones’ Pop-Tarts Bowl win over Miami. “That’s what I like. You can always go to Coop for anything, even outside football. He’s like a big brother.”
And an ambitious one at that. Cooper left Arlington last season deflated but undeterred. Emboldened, refocused, and always reaching for the stars.
“Win a championship, that’s it,” he said. “That’s all I want this team to do because I know we’ve been working towards it. It’s gotta happen.”
Iowa State picked up the 12th commitment to its 2026 recruiting class Tuesday in defensive tackle Daniel Howard.
The 6-foot-3, 280-pound prospect announced the news over social media.
Proud to announce that I am COMMITTED to Iowa state university!!! Cyclone Nation@CoachRasheed @DerekHoodjer @TrentSlattenow @Coach_Kratch @ISUMattCampbell@LaneTechFB @PrepRedzoneIL @_Conz__ @AllenTrieu @RivalsFriedman @GregSmithRivals @ChadSimmons_ @CycloneFB pic.twitter.com/18vNs8kAkG
— Daniel Howard 2026 DL (@DanielHoward91) April 9, 2025
Howard is rated as the No. 65 defensive lineman in the class out of Lane Tech High School in Illinois.
He chooses the Cyclones over offers from Kansas State, Kansas, Cincinnati, Toledo, Northern Illinois and Illinois State.
What it means: Howard becomes the 12th commit to the 2026 class, and the first at the defensive line position.
His 280-pound, 6-foot-3 frame is ideal for Iowa State to develop down the road.
The defensive line spot was one Iowa State hadn’t had a commitment out of yet for this class, which is nearly rounded out as far as the spread around positions go.
The 2026 class: This class is up to 12 commitments, and if it’s anything like previous years, we’ve very well passed the halfway mark for it, but that isn’t set in stone.
Iowa State has a number of uncommitted prospects set for official visits this summer. More on that later this week.
Iowa State’s ’26 recruiting class
RB | Caleb Francois, Minnesota
WR | Milan Parris, Ohio
WR | Jeffrey Roberts, Iowa (Ames)
OL | Mason Bandhauer, Colorado
OL | Ethan Beckman, Minnesota
DT | Daniel Howard, Illinois
LB | Keian Kaiser, Nebraska
LB | Barry Fries, Nebraska
DB | Tyrell Chatman, Nebraska
S | Brayden Thomas, Ohio
ATH |Kaprice Keith, Nebraska
ATH | Amarion Jackson, Nebraska
Mar 23, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (2) dribbles against Mississippi Rebels guard Dre Davis (14) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Monday night marked the end of the 2024-25 college basketball season, and considering all of the drama that provided us with, paired with the “madness” the portal gave us, and the greatest scorer of all time delivering once more on Sunday …
Well, that makes it a perfect time to muse on a Tuesday.
Joshua JeffersonIf you even glanced at social media any time this weekend after 7 p.m. on Saturday, you probably saw rumblings on social media about Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson and LSU.`
Fans subscribed to the CycloneFanatic premium forum got to follow it all live as things were happening — and it all eventually culminated in an important announcement from Jefferson on Tuesday.
Block out the noise…. pic.twitter.com/iToAD7wa1D
— Joshua Jefferson (@Joshua_LV0) April 8, 2025
So Jefferson essentially announced he’d be returning, and he’ll enter the season as one of the strongest candidates for Big 12 player of the year, along with a great shot of earning All-American honors if things go the right way.
It’s important to remember that Jefferson didn’t get an off-season to develop last year as he was recovering from an injury.
Whether or not he can take steps forward this summer might be the most important aspect for Iowa State, who’s in the top 10 of a few different ‘Way too early,’ Top 25’s (Rothstein – 6, On3 – 7, Fanta – 10).
College Basketball’s National ChampionshipFlorida took home the national championship after a gritty game against Houston that came down to the wire.
Coach Todd Golden had zero NCAA Tournament wins coming into March and Florida played three games in three days en route to a SEC Tournament title that ended on Selection Sunday – so much for either of those narratives.
I thought the celebration on the river walk was badass, too. That would be a crazy spot to take it all in.
while you were asleep pic.twitter.com/62DdkPWrkx
— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) April 8, 2025
As far as how the all-No. 1 seed Final Four went, it had all of the drama and close finishes that we could ask for, and on the surface it completely delivered.
However, after the game, I was left with a desire to see something different. The officiating crew whistled just four fouls in the first half of Monday night’s game, before blowing the whistle 26 times during the second half.
Houston had chances on weak technicals to really make Florida pay, and the Gators saw 11 calls go against UH to their one during a stretch of the game. I’m not saying the wrong team won.
But Monday’s game fit the same theme we saw countless of times through the year: Inconsistent officiating paired with overreactions leads to games changing.
I feel bad for Kelvin Sampson, who deserves a title in the worst way.
Here’s to hoping he gets one, and he’s proven his teams have more than what it takes. I don’t think many Cyclone fans would disagree, either.
Already miss it. Nothing better than March pic.twitter.com/Hp5R0QggmI
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) April 8, 2025
Nebraska has become a pipeline for Iowa State footballOver the weekend, Iowa State Football landed a pair of commitments out of the state of Nebraska, bringing the total to five for the 2026 class.
The latest pair includes cornerback Tyrell Chatman, who was formerly a Northern Illinois commit, and linebacker Barry Fries.
Of the top nine prospects from the state, Iowa State has earned commitments from five of them and will see each of the other four on official visits this summer.
Current top 10 Nebraska prospects in the 2026 class by 247 Sports:
- QB Jett Thomalla, Iowa State target
- CB Darion Jones, Iowa State target
- OL Leighton Burbach, Iowa State target
- ATH Amarion Jackson, Iowa State commit
- ATH Kaprice Keith, Iowa State commit
- TE Isaac…
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) April 8, 2025
I would say it’d be a loss if Iowa State didn’t grab two of the other four commitments, the way things are going right now.
Quick HitsLamar Jackson went after Dale Earnhardt Jr. this week in a trademark dispute over the No. 8 that Jackson has – apparently – linked to his own brand – who the hell knew that?
Earnhardt Jr.’s team was trying to get a pair of No. 8’s in different fonts trademarked, and Jackson’s camp went after them for the alternate font introduced a few years ago for Junior’s Xfinity (NASCAR’s AAA tour) team.
pic.twitter.com/uZWk8kPlcW
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) April 4, 2025
Earnhardt Jr. and his team let it go, not seeking to get into a legal battle over a No. 8 logo/font that didn’t have any historical relevance, but what on Earth is Jackson’s team thinking?
Jackson isn’t near the level of fame – or accomplishments – that Earnhardt Jr. is at. Why go after this? The only thing it accomplishes is giving Jackson a bad look for some, and reason to criticize for anyone that roots for Junior, motorsports, and anything adjacent to it.
My dad’s official comment on the Lamar Jackson – Dale Jr. beef: https://t.co/hbpz25WmLx pic.twitter.com/qmfPMYlXY8
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) April 4, 2025
Jackson’s not even the second most prevalent No. 8 of all time.
Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s goal record. No. 8 earned No. 895 in the most Ovechkin way possible over the weekend.
On Friday night, Ovi had a chance to break the record on an empty net – in his team’s home barn – but refused to get on the ice.
After turning down the shot at an empty net to complete a hat trick and break the record at home, Ovechkin scored goal 895 on Sunday against Ilya Sorokin – one of the 29 goalies that faced at least one shot from the Gr8 one that hadn’t allowed a goal, yet.
And, in classic Ovechkin-fashion, he does the sliding penguin celly, one of many that he ‘invented’ over the years.
PicsThatGoHard pic.twitter.com/5T9d4jc165
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) April 6, 2025
The Masters start Thursday, and I just discovered Rickie Fowler isn’t going to be in the tournament. I need to do a better job of keeping up with it. Anyway, I’ll take Max Homa.
Oh, and as an extra, Iowa State Wrestling just added Missouri transfer Rocky Elam, a four-time All-American at 197 pounds. Talk about a big get.
See y’all next week.
Iowa State earned yet another commitment out of a Nebraska high school product for its 2026 class Monday in Tyrell Chatman.
The safety hails from Lincoln and is the program’s fifth commitment out of Nebraska thus far.
Chatman, a former Northern Illinois commit, chose the Cyclones over outside offer from Kansas State and Wyoming.
Chatman is rated as the No. 9 prospect out of Nebraska and the No. 77 safety in the 2026 class.
What it means: Iowa State has signed its second defensive back to the class, appearing to add Chatman as a cornerback.
Hank Poteat, the Cyclones’ cornerbacks coach, is tagged in Chatman’s post announcing his commitment.
The 6-foot-2, 170-pound product will go after the ball, collecting four interceptions and seven pass breakups during his junior year at North Star High School.
Chatman plays both ways in prep ball, also acting as a rushing quarterback. He had a 486 yards through the air along with 387 rushing yards and a combined 11 touchdowns on the offensive side.
The Cyclones are getting another solid athlete here that can develop in Ames if given the time.
The 2026 class: The bigger point on Chatman’s commitment is Iowa State’s effort in the state of Nebraska for the class.
It started with the commitment of ATH prospect Kaprice Keith, who is the younger cousin of Breece Hall, and it’s only grown from there.
Chatman is the fifth prospect out of Nebraska to commit to Iowa State, and the Cyclones have their eyes set on four more preps from the state to join the others who have already made things (verbally) official.
Current top 10 Nebraska prospects in the 2026 class by 247 Sports:
- QB Jett Thomalla, Iowa State target
- CB Darion Jones, Iowa State target
- OL Leighton Burbach, Iowa State target
- ATH Amarion Jackson, Iowa State commit
- ATH Kaprice Keith, Iowa State commit
- TE Isaac…
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) April 8, 2025
The four players listed as targets each have official visits scheduled to Ames this summer.
Here’s a look at the class as it stands right now.
Iowa State’s ’26 recruiting class
RB | Caleb Francois, Minnesota
WR | Milan Parris, Ohio
WR | Jeffrey Roberts, Iowa (Ames)
OL | Mason Bandhauer, Colorado
OL | Ethan Beckman, Minnesota
LB | Keian Kaiser, Nebraska
LB | Barry Fries, Nebraska
DB | Tyrell Chatman, Nebraska
S | Brayden Thomas, Ohio
ATH |Kaprice Keith, Nebraska
ATH | Amarion Jackson, Nebraska
Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Kelsey Joens (23) takes a three-point shot around Kansas State Wildcats guard Jaelyn Glenn (3) during the first quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Kelsey Joens became the latest Cyclone to enter the transfer portal from the 2024-25 women’s basketball team.
The news was first reported by Talia Goodman and can be confirmed by CycloneFanatic. Joens departs the program after two seasons with the Cyclones.
Joens joins fellow guard Lily Hansford as departures of the program this off-season.
In the past year, the Iowa City native averaged 5.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while appearing in 35 games for the team.
Joens will have two seasons of eligibility left in her career.
Iowa State offensive line coach Ryan Clanton, safeties coach Deon Broomfield and players Jeremiah Cooper, Tyler Moore & Marcus Neal addressed media members Monday at the Stark Performance Center in Ames to give an update on spring football.
Iowa State’s Joey Petersen (52), Jarrod Hufford (54) lift the Cy-Hawk trophy as teammate Tyler Miller (66) walks alongside them after defeating Iowa Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Iowa State senior offensive tackle Tyler Miller dutifully donned his “Flow with Rocco” T-shirt for Monday’s media availability.
That’s the Cyclones’ QB1 depicted on the garment, after all.
“Let people know (to) get his merch,” Miller said of soon-to-be third-year starting quarterback Rocco Becht. “It’s a great shirt.”
It also makes sense. An offensive lineman’s best friend is his quarterback — and vice versa. Miller, a 6-9, 330-pound earth mover from Scranton, enters the 2025 season as ISU’s most experienced lineman with a team-leading 38 career starts. Becht, a junior, is tied with Miller for the team-high in consecutive starts with 27. So while they’re not joined at the hip, they are fully connected from spring ball through fall camp, through weekend game days and each whistle in between.
“When we have a guy like Rocco in the backfield you want to do everything you can to keep that guy (upright) and healthy,” said Miller, one of four returning returning Cyclone offensive linemen with 13 or more career starts. “If you give him time and opportunities, he’s gonna do great things for our team, so, like he said, we’d probably die for Rocco.”
“He” is third-year ISU offensive line coach and run game coordinator Ryan Clanton. And the “die” part may be hyperbole, but it does speak to the deeply symbiotic relationship Clanton’s sought to establish with everyone on the Cyclones offense, not just his position group.
“We all have a lot of respect for the running backs and the tight ends and how they play, and they pride they (also) take in keeping the quarterback clean,” said Clanton, whose line has ranked among the top 20 nationally in sacks allowed the past two seasons. “But what Rocco does that I think is really good, is he gets the ball out on time. He knows what’s going. He is truly in command of the whole offense and that’s cool to see.”
Clanton’s also been pleased to help build the depth that can form a true rotation on ISU’s offensive line. The Cyclones lost standout tackle Jalen Travis and stalwart center Jarrod Hufford to graduation last season — and both nurture varying degrees of NFL hopes — but with Miller back, along with versatile contributors such as James Neal, Brendan Black and Dylan Barrett, hopes remain high in the O-line room. The 6-6, 330-pound Neal even took the field at tight end occasionally last season, which helped deepen his knowledge of the offense as a whole.
“It opened my eyes to the whole scheme of the field, not just what I’m doing,” Neal said. “Knowing what the tight ends have going on and even (that) leaked into the wide receiver and what they have going on, it really did open up my mind.”
The Cyclones’ front men on offense seek to open more eyes via their “violent and versatile” approach to the game, but that mentality needs to permeate every rep, every possession, every moment of pad-popping action in practice and games.
“I’ve always believed that the O-line sets the tone for the game and that’s my challenge to them,” Clanton said. “I think that they’re there now and that’s a pretty cool thing to see.”
How will that translate into games after last season’s program-record run to 11 wins? That remains uncertain, but Clanton’s convinced his group has matured enough mentally and physically to turn its focus inward, meticulously tackling minor details and exacting techniques.
“We never have to ask them to work harder, or be more violent, or whatever — run faster, hit harder,” he said. “It’s just what they do. And credit to our defense. Practicing with those guys, if you are slow, you’re gonna get lit up pretty hard. So you can’t really take those moments off. It’s not just plays, it’s moments.”
Which brings them back to the “Flow with Rocco.” Consider it a true feel for the game rooted in the dirty work done behind the scenes.
“We have a standard when it comes to our individual drills,” Miller said. “You’ve gotta do it right. And if you don’t do it right, you’ve gotta do it again until you do it right.”
Iowa State cornerback Tre Bell in spring practice. Photo courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications.
AMES — Tre Bell remembers the precise moment his hoops dreams died.
It came in the spring of 2022 and Bell — a 6-3 defensive back and aspiring basketball player at Lindenwood at the time — searched his soul to form a fitting eulogy.
“I was in my dorm room at Lindenwood and we were, I want to say, two or three days done with the season,” said Bell, who leveled up to join Iowa State’s football program as a transfer cornerback last winter. “My first semester there. I redshirted, so I didn’t play but just going through the practices and stuff, I was just thinking, ‘Wow, football’s actually a lot more fun than I thought it was.’”
So Bell broke up with his first sports-based love, which had seemingly spurned him after a lifelong relationship — and now he’s poised to make strong contributions in the Cyclones’ secondary.
“He has all the tools and the skillset to develop,” said ISU cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat, who won a Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots in 2005 during an almost decade-long NFL career. “He’s very smart, so he picks (things) up pretty fast. You could see, from practice one to practice three, he’s grown over those three practices — just getting me in front of him to detail some of the things we’re asking him to do. You can see him picking it up and getting better every day.”
Poteat likened Bell’s work ethic to former Cyclone Darien Porter, who fully found a home at cornerback in his final college season while continuing to shine on special teams. Porter — a former track star at Bettendorf who stands 6-3 — wowed scouts at the NFL Combine by running a 4.3-second 40-yard dash and acing all the physical and mental tests he underwent in Indianapolis.
But Poteat just nodded his head slightly as Porter accrued his gaudy numbers.
“They had people (who were) projecting a 4.4 or maybe a 4.39 and I just laughed at it,” Poteat said. “I had to comment one time to somebody and I said, ‘You have no idea. DP’s gonna run way faster than that.’”
So for Poteat to compare anyone to Porter — especially in terms of his work habits and football IQ, that’s sky-high praise, but speaks to Bell’s barely-tapped potential. He doesn’t necessarily possess Porter’s elite athleticism, but he’s still fast, tough and rangy; a ball hawk in every sense of the term.
“He looks good,” said ISU junior cornerback Jontez Williams, who snared four interceptions while breaking up five passes last season. “We’ve just got to keep working on the little things, the techniques that he may not have had at the other school. He’s just working on different things that coach (Poteat) is teaching us.”
The Cyclones tied for 22nd nationally last season with 15 interceptions, and Williams and Porter combined to collect seven of them. Bell boasts one career interception, but possesses the ball skills that could help him become a fixture at corner along with promising younger players such as David Coffey, who redshirted last season.
“I feel like I haven’t reached my fullest potential yet,” Bell said. “I know I have so much to learn and so much (room) to grow. And being at this level, I’m gonna learn and grow a lot. I’ve already done a lot of growing since I’ve been here. I’m just excited to see where it takes me.”
So Bell’s not feeling pressure. He’s simply primed to produce results. He’s firmly focused on a relatively new dream: Blossoming into a standout cornerback, while fully knowing he’s got a long way to go to get there.
“I’ve watched Darien Porter a lot,” Bell said. “He’s been up here because he’s getting ready to go to the draft and go to the NFL, so having conversations with him, definitely gonna be utilizing that a lot to see how he was successful. Because, really, it was one season he really popped off, and he’s where I want to be in the next one to two years. So just learning from him, learning from film, learning all the things that he learned along the way.”
Photo Courtesy of Mac Conference/Twitter from the 2025 MAC Conference Championships.
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State seems to have found its 184-pounder.
The Cyclones landed a commitment from Rider transfer Isaac Dean on Sunday. Dean announced his commitment via his personal Instagram. A redshirt junior, Dean went 25-8 last season and was an NCAA qualifier, earning the No. 7 seed.
Dean won a Mid-American Conference title (184 pounds) and picked up quality wins throughout the year, including victories over All-Americans Bennett Berge (South Dakota State), Jaxon Smith (Maryland). Plus, Reece Heller (Pittsburgh).
A New Jersey native, Dean has shown major growth in his first two seasons with Rider. His upward trajectory gives Iowa State an experienced, battle-tested option at 184, a weight class the Cyclones needed to lock down heading into next season. Dean might be the answer.
184 lbs
Congratulations @RiderWrestling Isaac Dean! #MACtion | #RiderStrong pic.twitter.com/TTIhZFnoQK
— MACtion (@MACSports) March 8, 2025
Iowa State’s work in the portal likely isn’t done. With the transfer window open until May 2, the coaching staff is expected to host additional visits in the coming weeks. One weight to keep an eye on is 197 pounds, where the Cyclones still have decisions to make. For now, landing a proven NCAA qualifier at 184 gives the roster more stability and adds another piece to the puzzle for 2025.
Iowa State football picked up its latest commitment to the 2026 recruiting class in linebacker Barry Fries.
The Elkhorn, Nebraska linebacker made his commitment official over the weekend while on campus for a spring practice.
Fries, a 6-foot-3, 224-pound prospect chose Iowa State over offers from Air Force, Wyoming, South Dakota State and Sacramento State.
He becomes the fourth player in the 2026 recruiting class, which now stands at 10 commits, out of Nebraska.
Fries is also the second linebacker to verbally commit, joining Keian Kaiser – a fellow Nebraska native.
This story will be updated at a later time.
Sep 7, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) sacks Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Cade McNamara (12) during the fourth quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
AMES — When Domonique Orange pops on the football field, he does so with pizzazz, cleaving through would-be blockers to menace quarterbacks and running backs alike.
The now-chiseled 6-4, 325-pound defensive lineman from Kansas City might not tackle them, but they’ll know his name and do anything to avoid his crushing clutches.
So a clear “it” factor surrounds the suddenly-senior Iowa State nose known as “Big Citrus” — and he could have tried to go pro or raise his profile in a SEC or Big Ten program his final college season but chose to stay in Ames.
“I feel like I left some things on the table that I could have done better last year, so me coming back, like I said not too long ago, I’m coming for it all and I’m not here to play no games,” Orange said. “That’s really about it. That’s how I see it.”
That’s exactly what his coaches want to hear, but they need to see more of that “it” factor from Orange — amping up both the quantity and quality of his backfield-bashing journeys. He’s worked hard to take control of his weight and nutrition but establishing the necessary baseline stamina has proved to be an even steeper challenge.
“The mental challenge for him, is he’s gotta work on consistency,” ISU defensive line coach Eli Rasheed said. “HIs body, his recovery, his weight room, his conditioning, repeat. I’ve already told him, ‘Hey, 60 plays, 60 plays, 60 plays.’ Just keep getting in his mind that you have to be out on the field. It’s going to be challenging for him but he understands that challenge. We have to have that guy on the field (to) help us — and he’s got to prove to the National Football League that he can play 60 plays with good grades and not have drop-off.”
When Orange provides glimpses of his potential, they’re often well beyond good. He made a tackle for loss at the goalline in last season’s win at Iowa. He notched a sack in the loss to Arizona State in the Big 12 title game. And he had two tackles and a pass breakup in ISU’s unprecedented 11th win of the season in the Pop-Tarts Bowl win over Miami.
So “Big Citrus” shows up in big moments but must do so much more frequently for a Cyclone defensive line that’s struggled to produce a pass rush since former star defensive end Will McDonald left for the NFL three seasons ago. ISU has ranked 105th or worse in sacks since 2021 and eked out a Big 12-worst 16 quarterback takedowns last season. None of that is Orange’s fault as an interior lineman, but his ability to disrupt and disassemble opposing offensive lines leads to more opportunities to wreak havoc off the edge and via blitz packages.
“His play has got to be good for every game that we’ve got,’’ Rasheed said. “But he understands that some of his first few games that he played (last season) was probably not great video for him and he’s looking to put outstanding video out so his (NFL) stock can go up.”
Orange isn’t merely eyeing the future, however. After helping the Cyclones make history last season, he’s determined to leave a lasting legacy. That starts in his head, then ripples through his body.
“I’ve just gotta have that mindset,” said Orange, the sole returning starter on ISU’s D-line. “I’ve always had the physical ability to do anything I wanted, it’s just at times during a game I had that mindset of not really trusting what I could do with my athletic ability or not. I would say it’s all just a mindset that I have to be great.”
All game, all season. If Orange keeps that mental message in tact — and avoids significant injury — he’ll be a prime determining factor for a Cyclone defense that aims to remain one of the stingiest in the Big 12 for the ninth season in a row despite losing six starters.
“Man, if they have a long drive, can you stay in there seven plays instead of coming out after three?” ISU defensive coordinator Jon Heacock said. “He’s gonna have to do that for us to be good on defense.”
Iowa State quarterbacks coach Jake Waters, cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat and players Jontez Williams & Tre Bell addressed media members Wednesday to give an update on the program’s spring football practices at the Stark Performance Center in Ames.
Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) warms up before a game against the Miami Hurricanes the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
AMES — He matured. He developed. And he became a true mentor.
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht ticked off virtually every box in terms of personal and team goals in 2024, helping guide the Cyclones to their first 11-win season in program history.
So what’s the 6-1, 210-pound junior’s mission this season? Be even sharper on all fronts.
“Obviously the leadership part, on and off the field, in the locker room — becoming a guy (like) Jaylin Noel and Beau (Freyler were) on their respective sides of the ball,” said Becht, who threw 25 touchdown passes to nine interceptions last season. “Really speeding up the process of the game for me and being more accurate within the game, and making great decisions. That just comes with the mentality that you have and how you’re able to move on from each play.”
Becht accounted for 16 total touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions in the final six games last year. The Wesley Chapel, Fla., native more than doubled his previous career-high in rushing touchdowns with eight and grew immensely as a technician and surveyor of the field. That’s why he’s expected to make even bigger gains this season, even as sure-fire NFL Draft picks at receiver such as Noel and Jayden Higgins have moved on.
“Rocco is like another offensive coach on our staff,” said ISU offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, whose unit tied for 17th nationally last season in red zone touchdown conversion rate. “He’s the guy, since we got back (from the Pop-Tarts Bowl win over Miami) who, when the coaches aren’t there, he’s there running practice and going through route. And going through all of our man (coverage) beaters, our zone (coverage) beaters, our concepts — teaching those guys and just getting the timing down. (He’s) getting the feel for those guys and where they’re at; showing those guys what elite work ethic looks like.”
Becht’s working to develop tight bonds with talented transfers such as Xavier Townsend and Chase Sowell, who bring complementary skillsets to a deep but unproven room. He’s also deepening his connection to his top tight ends such as Gabe Burkle and former freshman All-American Ben Brahmer, who’s coming off a leg injury that hampered him most of last season.
“One word to describe (Becht) is just, leader,” said Townsend, who became friends with Becht at a young age as they both grew up in the Tampa area. “He’s been leading this team and I’ve been seeing it from afar, but now I can see it up and close and personal and be a part of that. So it’s been great being here and seeing him in that role.”
Becht’s also grown in that area in his two seasons as the Cyclones’ starter. He’s adept at both reading a key position group’s room and reading defenses quickly and adroitly, finding ways to both shore up his teammates’ confidence and shake the spirits of opponents. So from a technical standpoint, Becht’s advanced to the fine-tuning stage, but as a leader, his ceiling remains unlimited.
“He can take another huge step in leadership,” ISU quarterbacks coach Jake Waters said. “And he’s all about it. We lost a lot of good leaders last year, obviously, (so it’s important) for him to take a step there and then use clean up some things fundamentally that we noticed throughout (last) year. You go back and watch the cut-ups and there are little things here and there. He’s an extremely accurate thrower of the football, but there are some little things he can clean up. And just total, big picture, situational football — processing, getting through reads, things like that where he can take another step, he recognizes that and he’s working his tail off to do that.”
He’s also not taking another for granted or leaving anything to chance. Becht’s become a professional in terms of his offseason work, pregame preparation and in-game adjustments. Now he merely needs to be even better at pulling everyone else along with him.
“Coaches are behind me and trust me that I’m gonna be able to get it done,” Becht said. “So I can’t wait.”
Iowa State picked up an off-season junior college addition Wednesday in former Highland CC defensive lineman Markell Chapman.
The 6-foot-3, 315-pounder was taken aback by his visit to Ames.
“What made me choose Iowa State, was when I got there, it immediately felt like home,” Chapman said. “The hospitality was great. They showed love. They weren’t too boujee. They weren’t putting on a front or acting a certain way because they have a recruit in the facility.”
AGTG
Blessed to say @CycloneFB is Home #Committed @CoachTomblinISU @CoachJWaters @CoachRasheed @DerekHoodjer @CoachDJmayo @Coach_Smush pic.twitter.com/vfxeHmDrSe
— Markell Chapman (@Markellchapman7) April 2, 2025
Chapman appreciated the realness of Iowa State and what they showed him.
“Certain places won’t show you the real life – they showed me the real life,” Chapman said. “They weren’t trying to be too nice on their players because I was in there. They showed me how they actually run their program. I respect that and I like it. I can work with that.”
Chapman chose Iowa State over offers from Colorado State and Eastern Kentucky.
He will join a talented room on the defensive side of the ball and compete for snaps at the nose tackle spot in relief this fall.
“They want me to come in, put in the work, and compete for that starting spot,” Chapman said.
During his time at Highland CC, Chapman appeared in nine games during his sophomore season, collecting 14 tackles, including seven tackles for loss and three sacks.
“That was all of the motivation I needed right there,” Chapman said. “Them showing the love that they showed and the way that the players I’ve seen how they work, and how good they are, I know that I can get there and they can transform me.”
Oct 22, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Jada Williams (2) talks to media during the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Iowa State women’s basketball landed its first addition out of the transfer portal on Wednesday in former Arizona guard Jada Williams.
The Cyclones beat out Iowa, Baylor and TCU among others to land the former McDonalds all-American.
“It’s a great fit for me,” Williams said. “I think that, with the pieces around me, we’re going to do phenomenal things this year. For me, I’m super blessed that they allowed me to join a tight-knit circle, which not everybody’s a fit. For them to think that, and then for me to feel the same thing, it’s a blessing.”
Williams has been wanting to feel that way, and put her name into the transfer portal after two seasons at Arizona.
“I prayed about feeling this type of feeling again, and kind of being in a situation where people are likeminded around me,” Williams said. “It’s somewhere that feels like home. It’s close back to Kansas City. I’ve got family going to Iowa State next year. I think it’s a perfect fit.”
Williams was rated as the No. 21 prospect and was a five-star in the 2023 recruiting class that also contained Addy Brown, Audi Crooks, Kelsey Joens and Arianna Jackson.
Brown grew up playing against Williams on their AAU teams while they were still in elementary school and the pair were on the same McDonald’s All-American team.
“I’ve played with and against Addy (Brown) for a long time and I’ve been in the same gym as Audi (Crooks) a lot,” Williams said. “We’ve been talking a ton, kind of setting goals and things of that nature. I’m coming in hungry and I think they’re just as hungry as I am.”
“Our goal is a national championship, for sure,” Williams said.
The Kansas City native averaged 12.7 points per game at Arizona as well as 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
Williams is a fast guard that finishes strongly at the rim, and can shoot the three. She’s active on the defensive side of the ball in steals, averaging 1.6 per game in her last season at Arizona.
Williams is currently the 13th scholarship for the roster in Ames. Women’s programs are allowed to use 15 scholarships, but Iowa State typically hovers at 13 or lower depending on the situation.
It isn’t concrete that Iowa State’s roster for the 2025-26 season is done, but there may be another departure if the Cyclones add other pieces in the portal.
“We know that our end goal is to win a national championship,” Williams said. “I think we all have that goal in mind, and throughout the summer and before the season, I think that’s what we’re working towards… We’ve just got to keep the main thing the main thing, and I think the culture will take care of a lot of things that come with college basketball.”
Iowa State wide receivers coach Noah Pauley, defensive line coach Eli Rasheed, and players Xavier Townsend, James Neal & Ikenna Ezeogu addressed media members Monday to give an update on spring football practices.
Sep 28, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights wide receiver Xavier Townsend (3) scores a touchdown during the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
AMES — The so-called “Tampa Trio” became the “Tampa duo” before finally dwindling to the “Tampa uno.”
Iowa State standout quarterback Rocco Becht stood as the last member of that Sunshine State-based group that initially included receivers and friends Xavier Townsend and Greg Gaines when they visited the Cyclones’ campus in the summer of 2021.
Gaines eventually transferred to Rhode Island. Townsend chose to stay closer to home and went to UCF. But now he and Becht will form a revamped “Tampa duo” for the Cyclones this season.
“I kind of messed that up a little bit,” Townsend said, smiling, as he met the ISU media for the first time on Monday. “But (I was) able to spin back and make the right decision.”
Townsend, a 5-11, 185-pound junior, first met Becht at the age of eight. They were on-the-field adversaries then, but over time formed a bond that led to their reunification in Ames. So what will the Cyclones — who need to replace the massive production of NFL prospects Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel this season — get in Townsend?
“First, I want to describe myself as a hard worker,” he said. “Because before it shows o the football field, it’s in the film room (and) in the indoor (facility) doing the work and all that. And when it comes down to game day, I feel like I’m pretty electric. I can make plays. Downfield passes, in the return game, flipping field (position) in the return game — just making plays.”
Townsend totaled 157 all-purpose yards last season before sitting out the final eight games to preserve his redshirt. He’s both speedy and shifty and naturally draws comparisons to Noel because of his athletic ability and body type. In other words (and to repeat) …
“He’s electric,” ISU wide receivers coach Noah Pauley said. “It’s been really fun having him (around). He’s a wild guy. He’s a guy that came in and kind of hit the ground running as far as learning the playbook and playing multiple positions. He had a lot of good stuff to watch with Jaylin Noel and stuff we did with him, but it’s gonna be a lot of fun moving forward trying to find ways to get him the ball, whether that’s split wide out, in the slot, in the backfield. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
Townsend’s one of two high-level transfers the Cyclones added to the receivers room in the offseason. The other — 6-4, 195-pound junior Chase Sowell — came from East Carolina and is also expected to make an immediate impact.
“We came in and the first thing we (did) was, ‘OK, let’s go put the work in,’” Townsend said. “Chase is a hard worker. He wants to keep continually bettering his craft as I do. So it’s been great. We’ve been able to tag along with the players that have been here, because everyone here is hardworking, too. You always see somebody getting extra work in and you see that, it makes you be like, ‘Hey, let me hop in with you.’”
Sowell averaged 20 yards per catch last season for the Pirates. Townsend flashes game-changing potential. And several solid performers return for ISU, including former transfers Isaiah Alston and Eli Green, as well as emerging playmakers such as Carson Brown and Brett Eskildsen.
“I think (Townsend and Sowell) and the younger guys that we had last year, it’s probably the best talent that we’ve had top-to-bottom in that room, the most depth,” Becht said. “I’m excited to see all those guys collab together and go at it and compete in spring ball.”
He’s especially stoked to be reunited with Townsend, who took note of the Cyclones’ historic 11-win mark last season from afar, and immediately heard from ISU assistant athletics director for football player personnel Derek Hoodjer when he entered the portal last winter.
“I want to say it opened around 6 o’clock and at 6:01 I was on the phone with Hoodj,” Townsend said. “Of course, I was watching Iowa State the whole season. So I felt like it would be a great fit, you know? I was happy when they called.”
Feb 17, 2025; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) drives to the basket as Virginia Cavaliers forward Blake Buchanan (0) defends in the first half at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Iowa State is nearly done with its portal cycle and there’s no shortage of things to talk about.
Let’s muse.
Men’s Basketball adds three in the portalIowa State secured three players in the past couple days in the portal:
- Mason Williams – a 3-point shooter that developed his inside game after an injury forced him to adjust his skillset.
- Eric Mulder – a forward out of Purdue Fort Wayne, originally from Oskaloosa, that finished as the most efficient player in the country this year.
- Blake Buchanan – a Virginia forward with old ties to Otzelberger that values defense and says that he felt he was held back last year.
I talked to each of these guys over the weekend (click on their names for the links) to find out more about them – each has some intricacies that contributed to Iowa State going after them.
From a macro perspective, Iowa State went out and got some depth and took guys that are eager to develop – and do the work that is required from Otzelberger and staff. They’re all blue collar guys.
This shouldn’t be overly surprising. Iowa State is not going to be the program that hands a multi-million dollar check to a Coleman Hawkins or a Hunter Dickinson.
It’s unrealistic, especially with costs soaring even higher for talent in the portal. And yet, some people around the internet are acting like Iowa State just signed a contract to go 2-22, again.
I can’t stand this era of NCAA Basketball, right nowI mulled over how I wanted to present these words here for the better part of this week. I don’t think it’s some unique take, but this week in the portal drove me crazy.
I think it sucks that any level of success at the mid-major level means the starters are likely to get picked up elsewhere and the coach’s name is going to be in circles everywhere. On the same lines, it sucks that Drake will have rostered over 50 players in three seasons with nearly, entire different staffs on the bench in Des Moines.
This year’s NCAA Tournament was the dullest I can ever remember. The entire tournament has lacked the magical moments, and anyone saying otherwise is lying through their teeth.
I cannot believe that in the eyes of some, Iowa State’s entire 2025-26 season hinges on if it gets one player who’s spent last season in the Summit League.
How did Dickinson and and Hawkins work out for the Kansas schools, by the way? Maybe I’m reading the comments too much, but I’m ready for football season.
Next year’s WBB rosterAudi Crooks and Addy Brown each announced on social media that they would be returning to Iowa State next season – throw that in the bag of this era of college hoops, we’ve got to have players announce they aren’t going to enter the portal.
And that kind of feels necessary.
Meanwhile, it feels like Iowa State will retain most of its roster, and is hunting for guards in the portal this off-season.
There are more specifics on the premium forum, but one name out there publicly that both Iowa State and Iowa are going after is former Arizona guard Jada Williams. She averaged 12.7 points per game for the Wildcats in her sophomore season, and if she doesn’t end up in Ames, there’s a good chance Iowa State will see her on its schedule next season.
I’ll have more on the women’s program later this week.
Quick hitsA pair of former Cyclones landed some big jobs in college basketball this week. Drake hired Eric Henderson away from South Dakota State, which opened the position for former Cyclone point guard Bryan Petersen to take on the role in Brookings. Daniyal Robinson then took the North Texas job after three 20-plus win seasons at Cleveland State, which each ended in trips to the CBI. Those will be fun to follow next year.
NCAA denies Colorado spring scrimmage with Syracuse. I’ve reported on this in recent weeks – the potential of teams setting up spring scrimmages in the future.
Colorado tried to set one up with Syracuse but got denied due to the quick turnaround, the belief it would give either program recruiting advantages, and somehow missed time to academics – even though it would take up the same time as a practice.
The 3 reasons the NCAA cited denying the chance for Colorado and Syracuse to scrimmage in the spring. The 1st I get, but 3, come on, kids are transferring mid semester nowadays, academics is a non issue in this era!!!!! pic.twitter.com/G77NWpA36f
— Joe Kenn (@bighousepower) March 29, 2025
Vintage NCAA. I’m old enough to remember when BYU and Coastal Carolina scheduled and played an on-campus game in 72 hours during the pandemic year. I wouldn’t be shocked to see this continue to gain some momentum in the coming weeks, we’ll see if it’s enough to create some down the road.
The Yankees’ bats – In peak Rob Manfred/MLB action, baseball seemed like it would be overlooked this weekend with opening day lining up directly against the Sweet 16, and it sort of was until they fell ass-backwards into the story of the year so far.
The New York Yankees showed up to play Milwaukee with custom bats they had built that put more wood around the barrel where contact happens most – they almost look cartoonish.
Michael Kay explains that the Yankees made new bats “where they moved a lot of the wood into the label so the harder part of the bat is going to strike the ball.”
Seems relevant today… pic.twitter.com/cpldzigdrT
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 29, 2025
New York preceded to beat Milwaukee 20-9 and 12-3 in the last two games of the series, with players crediting the bats.
They probably would have gone unnoticed if the team’s own broadcast pointed it out Saturday but by the rule book, there are no rules against it.
I thought that would be the whole of the story for the time being, but then I opened social media and saw a Twins player had the same thing. Apparently Cody Bellinger was approached about it during his time with the Cubs, but never used it in a game.
I don’t think there’s any chance these get outlawed. MLB tried juicing the balls before and these seem to be undoubtedly helping batters.
Iowa State Softball
I’ll leave y’all on a good note. Iowa State Softball is in the midst of its best start to Big 12 play in program history at 6-3 after taking a series against Arizona State, who was 23-10 coming into the weekend.
I went out to the game with some friends – admission is free – and got to see this group in person. Coach Jamie Pinkerton has got a good thing going on and pitcher Lauren Schurman can really spin it on the mound. They’ve got BYU this week in Ames.
Iowa State’s linebacker Caleb Bacon talks to media during the university football media day at Jack Trice Stadium on Friday, August 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — The constant discomfort didn’t sour Caleb Bacon’s spirits as he sat alone at home. That’s because the budding, but injured Iowa State star linebacker had a big game to watch.
So the former walk-on from Lake Mills grabbed the TV remote to watch last season’s Cy-Hawk game, feeling both isolated and invigorated after undergoing knee surgery to repair a season-ending injury in last year’s opener.
“It almost didn’t feel like it was real that first week — the surgery was so quick,” said the 6-4, 245-pound redshirt senior who expects to enter this season fully healthy and primed for even more growth. “But when we went into Iowa (and) beat them (20-19) … that was just really cool for my guys. I just got a different perspective (last) season, just being on the sidelines watching.”
That newfound perspective will accompany Bacon back onto the field this season — but he’s far from alone in that regard. Fellow linebacker Carson Willich also missed all of ISU’s historic 11-win 2024 season. Freshman Cael Brezina played in just a handful of games and junior Will McLaughlin — the most experienced linebacker for the Cyclones last season — sat out because of injury until mid-November, and never came close to being fully healthy despite gutting out dozens of snaps down the stretch.
“I think those guys learned great lessons along the way,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “I think they’ve got a chip on their shoulder coming back, which is kind of fun. And I think they’ve got a lot that they feel like they have to prove, which is a lot of fun, too. So we’re excited about that linebacker room.”
That group took its lumps at times last season, as a patchwork unit of walk-ons and unknowns were thrust into duty and impressed teammates and coaches alike with their energy and effort despite being rank beginners in terms of the playbook. Players such as Rylan Barnes and Beau Goodwin emerged to help plug the gaping holes, and their development formed a silver lining that accompanied that injury-based tumult at linebacker for the Cyclones.
“It helped that everybody was just ready to compete, top to bottom,” said Brezina, who totaled three tackles for loss and recovered a fumble last season. “I feel like you could have gone with anybody in our room and we were ready to play. We were locked in. Great leadership in the room. You had old guys (who) were injured or not playing, but that whole time they were still in the film room, they were still working with us young guys.”
There’s only one truly “old guy” slated to start at linebacker this season and that’s Bacon. He’s one of just two seniors in the room even though he’s only played two full seasons, and just one in down and distance situations. But that 2023 season, Bacon burst onto the scene, climbing to second on the team in total tackles with 60, and tying for second in sacks (3.0) and quarterback hurries (8.0).
“(He) was such a monumental figure for our football team in ’23,” said Campbell, whose team opens the 2025 season in the Aug. 23 Aer Lingus Classic against archival Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland. “The offseason that he had a year ago, physically — he was so ready to emerge on the scene. So I think anytime you have adversity, how you handle it is really big. (He was) a great leader last year.”
Now Bacon’s ready to start popping pads and dropping quarterbacks again. He and Willich will both be limited contact-wise this spring in hopes of being 100 percent for fall camp and the season to come. Bacon’s just happy to be back out there, combining brute force with that hard-earned perspective acquired by sitting at home, then standing on the sidelines as his teammates made history last season.
“I’ll just be going out there and playing everything like it’s gonna be my last snap,” he said. “Kind of felt like after that play when I went down (in last season’s opener), it’s like, ‘Man, anything can happen anytime.’”
So Bacon’s ready serve up his signature sizzle. Grateful and hungry; enlightened and emboldened.
“I realized the first couple weeks (after the injury), like, man, I got hurt, this sucks,” he said. “But it’s really not that bad in the grand scheme of things. If you look all around the country, people are going through way worse stuff than you are. So (I’m) just keeping that in the back of my mind, too, at all times.”
Mar 4, 2025; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers forward Blake Buchanan (0) talks to the coaching staff in the second half against the Florida State Seminoles at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Emily Faith Morgan-Imagn Images
Iowa State men’s basketball has found its latest transfer portal commitment in Blake Buchanan, a forward out of Virginia.
The 6-foot-11, 225-pounder announced the news over his Instagram account.
“The big thing with (Iowa State) is the relationship I have with T.J. (Otzelberger),” Buchanan said. “He saw me out of high school – we kind of built a relationship there. I think the biggest thing for me is that he did a lot of the little things for me, and the player development they have for me – they have a good thing going at Iowa State right now. I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Buchanan practiced under Otzelberger in the 2023 USA Basketball U-19 camp in Colorado Springs. Otzelberger served as a coach while Buchanan was one of 35 players that were invited.
“He got to coach me and I got to see the type of guy he was,” Buchanan said. “He’s a super good guy. He cares about the right things. He cares about his players. For me, he’s a big Tony Bennett fan – and obviously I played for him. That meant a lot to me. His values and what he believes in went a long way with me.”
Buchanan averaged 5.4 points for a Virginia team notorious for its low scoring games, along with 5.3 rebounds a night during his second season with the Cavaliers.
“Obviously, I came to Virginia knowing it was a defensive school and probably one of the best defensive schools in the country,” Buchanan said. “(Bennett) valued that and so do I. That’s a big reason why we got along, and why I played – because of the defense I was able to play.”
Buchanan thinks that will be something that translates well in his game.
“No matter what happens, you can control your defense – (Otzelberger) values that too and Iowa State’s one of the best defensive teams in the country,” Buchanan said. “I think that side of my game is going to translate super easy for me.”
Buchanan will have two years of eligibility remaining once he arrives in Ames.
“They see a lot more in me than I think some other schools did,” Buchanan said. “They want me to be aggressive, play free, shoot… they saw me and what I could do out of high school. I think when I came to Virginia, I was limited in ways. They want to just break me open, and that’s a big reason why I picked them – player development. They want to get me playing free and doing different things. That excited me.”
Dec 20, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Guillermo Diaz Graham (25) drives to the basket against IPFW Mastodons forward Eric Mulder (32) during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Iowa State men’s basketball has earned its first commitment out of this transfer portal cycle in former Purdue Fort Wayne forward Eric Mulder.
“I wanted to try and find something closer to home,” Mulder said. “It’s obviously a great program, with phenomenal coaches, staff and players… and Iowa State was the perfect fit.”
Mulder, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward, announced the news over his social media channels.
Going home pic.twitter.com/aMmDRUqDSn
— Eric Mulder (@eric_mulder16) March 27, 2025
Mulder, a native of Oskaloosa, was one of the most efficient players in college basketball a season ago.
“I was actually an Iowa fan – growing up, I wanted to play football at Iowa, but God blessed me with more of a basketball body,” Mulder said. “Sometimes it’s hard to believe where I am today. I’ve definitely been very blessed and have had a lot of people supporting me in my journey that I wouldn’t be here without.”
He finished at No. 13 in the country in field goal percentage, converting on 69.5 percent of his shots.
“It’s about not forcing anything, setting good screens and trying to give the guards an advantage to get downhill,” Mulder said. “Then you look to get a dunk down, or an offensive rebound and a putback.”
He also ranked in the top 30 in offensive rebounds, collecting 3.34 per game – good for 28th, nationally.
“They like my athleticism,” Mulder said. “I think I could do well disrupting the other team’s offense and just putting good ball pressure on… it’s just about being ready to go night in and night out. The Big 12 is obviously a really good league, and you’re playing a good, physical team every game.”
Mulder has two years of eligibility remaining.
Nov 29, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA Southern California Trojans guard Boogie Ellis (5) and Eastern Washington Eagles guard Mason Williams (2) battle for the ball in the first half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Iowa State earned its second commitment out of the portal Friday in Eastern Washington guard Mason Williams.
The 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard averaged 13.9 points per game for the Eagles last season, scoring in high volumes throughout the year.
“I watched a lot of college basketball this year and what really stood out was their playing style,” Williams said. “They play to their guards and also play bigs – and just play to get the most out of every possession. Also, just the community I’ve seen throughout their games – they have the gym rocking every time. It’s something to play for and work for, every night.”
Williams added 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, and set his career high in scoring with 35 points against Idaho State on January 30.
Iowa State’s development and belief in Williams aided in the Cyclones’ landing the commitment from the junior, who was battling injuries through the end of the season.
“They believe in me,” Williams said. “They’ve expressed how I can develop into the player that I need to be, and expressed the growth they think I can have. I think I went through a season last year playing through a lot of injuries and playing through stuff that doesn’t make you your best player.”
Williams played through a ligmament injury in his wrist that hindered his shooting ability, but still maintained a 34.6 percent clip from the 3-point line.
He also battled through a groin injury late in the season. That led Williams, a Seattle native, to develop his game more.
“Cutting through the lane was something I developed just this year,” Williams said. “Usually, throughout my career, I was known as a 3-point shooter and a point guard. With the wrist injury I was going through this year, it had me adapt to getting to the rim more and being a bigger threat going downhill.”
“They expressed that development is key to their program and their success, and that their community was very bought in,” Williams said. “I’m ready to join a winning program. It’s all about winning – by any means possible.”
Williams will have two years of eligibility when he arrives in Ames.
“I’m excited to get to work,” Williams said. “I don’t think anybody has seen the best of me and it’s about to be a really exciting time. I can’t wait to get to Ames and put on for the community.”
Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) stiff arms Miami Hurricanes defensive back Zaquan Patterson (20) during the first half at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
AMES – Iowa State Football hosted its first spring practice press conference Wednesday at the Stark Performance Center. Here’s everything that was discussed.
Spring scrimmagesA pair of Big 12 coaches put out interesting ideas on how teams’ 15 spring practices can be better utilized in recent weeks.
Both Deion Sanders at Colorado and Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State floated the idea of hosting scrimmages during the spring, rather than sticking to the 15 practice dates where players are going up solely against their teammates.
Iowa State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser is all for it.
“Yeah, I love it,” Mouser said. “I’m a competitor and I like to play. As much as I like to go against (defensive coordinator Jon Heacock) for 15 days in a row, it’s actually not super fun, at all.”
Iowa State offensive coordinator on the idea of college football teams playing scrimmages in the spring against different teams in the future. pic.twitter.com/KlbAnSEIAd
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 26, 2025
Mouser threw out the name of Cincinnati defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt, who had spent the years leading up in Ames before taking the job prior to the start of the 2024 season.
“It’s fun to go out there – it doesn’t matter if it’s coach Veidt at Cincinnati, who’s a good friend – it’s fun to compete with people,” Mouser said. “I think it would be awesome to go play someone else in the spring. (You could) be able to keep it really basic with your base stuff and not feel like you’d have to scheme so much, but it’s a great time to get your young guys reps.
“And, you might not even have to play some of those older guys,” Mouser said. “To be able to go scrimmages and have your young guys go and get their face pounded a little bit would be good for everybody. Losing, and stepping out of your comfort zone, I think is one of the best ways to grow.”
The running backs roomIowa State returns its top two running backs from a season ago and feels strongly about its young talents – and the group as a whole – going into the 2025 season.
Mouser suggested that the room compromised of Abu Sama and Carson Hansen – who combined to rush for 1,339 yards a season ago – is one of the program’s best.
“The running back room has kind of spoken for itself,” Mouser said. “Those guys, you know, it doesn’t necessarily feel like they’re juniors because they’ve played a lot of football here, but that might be the best position group on our football team.”
He also brought up the possibility of utlizing the both of them on the field in certain situations, as well as redshirt freshman Dylan Lee and true freshman Ryver Peppers.
“How can we challenge those guys to help us be dynamic on offense,” Mouser said. “(Can we) get Abu (Sama) and Carson Hansen on the field at the same time? Dylan Lee is another guy that looks incredible out there that’s going to push the running back room. Ryver Peppers is another guy that’s done a really good job that jumped off the tape yesterday.”
Success on defense will rely on Domonique OrangeIowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock is challenging senior defensive lineman Domonique Orange this season.
Heacock said that for the unit to be successful, it would require Orange to play in around seven snaps during a given drive, rather than being substituted after three or four.
“I think the big thing with (Orange) is that he’s got to become a 70 percent-of-the-time player. You’ve got to play seven out of 10 plays. Last year, I think he played around four out of 10. He’s got to play seven out of 10 for us to be as good as we can be. It’s got to be his challenge. And I think at the next level, what he wants to become, it’s a 50-man roster, basically, and they’re not coming off the field. If you’re an interior player, you have to be ready to play.”
Heacock went on to say that Orange was one of the most talented lineman in the program.
“He understands it, and everyone in this building knows. He’s one of our best defensive linemen, if not our best defensive lineman… I think it’s conditioning and consistency – both… he’s going to have to do that for us to be good on defense.”
Mouser’s deskThe Iowa State offensive coordinator also revealed that he picked up a piece of confetti from the Big 12 championship game – where Iowa State lost to Arizona State – as a reminder.
“As late as the season went for us, I think we were all still upset about how the Big 12 championship game went,” Mouser said. “I picked up confetti off of the field and I keep it in my office and I look at it every day. As cool as the Pop Tarts Bowl was, it was great to end with a win and I’m happy for our seniors to send them off with a win, I think there’s a bad taste in everyone’s mouth from just how we showed up and played in the Big 12 championship game. We can’t get to that level and get on that stage and do that again.”
It’s clear the motivation for Iowa State – coming off its first and only 11-win football season – is still present.
“Like I’ve told you guys before, we won 11 games last year and I don’t think any of us saw that as a fluke,” Mouser said. “The expectation here is that we’re going to find a way to elevate the standard – to win 11 games, win 12 or 13 games, whatever it takes. But, the habits have to reflect the mission and you can’t win championships without championship habits.”
The entire media availability session can be seen on the CycloneFanatic YouTube channel.
Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, linebacker Cael Brezina and tight end Tyler Moore addressed media members after the start of spring practices in Ames on Tuesday.
Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones tight end Gabe Burkle (84) catches a pass for a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the first quarter during the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
AMES — Cerebral. Competitive. Uncompromising.
All of those words aptly describe Iowa State junior tight end Gabe Burkle, who saw his role dramatically expand last season as significant injuries struck Ben Brahmer, Tyler Moore, and Cooper Alexander.
“(The) injuries sucked,” said the 6-6, 260-pound Burkle, a former Cedar Rapids Prairie standout who caught his first career touchdown pass in the Cyclones’ 42-41 win over Miami (Fla.) in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. “It was tough to get over that, but we had to work through it as a team and as a position group. But they did a great job helping us, watching me during practice, watching the other guys during practice, giving me pointers and watching extra film with me and telling me what they saw.”
What ISU — which seeks to build off its first 11-win season in program history — sees in Burkle is an every down tight end. He’s adept at blocking, elite at route running, and blessed with good hands. He caught multiple passes in six of the Cyclones’ final seven games last season and is poised to help headline a room that, when healthy, is among the best in the Big 12.
“What Gabe Burkle did in the last four games (last season) — I thought he was playing maybe as good as any tight end in the country, both form a blocking standout and obviously his pass catching ability,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, whose team began spring practice on Tuesday. “Especially in tight windows, he was able to do some really special things.”
Now that Brahmer — a freshman All-American in 2023 — is fully healthy, and Moore is working toward being in the same situation, Burkle’s all-around ability should help give quarterback Rocco Becht an array of accomplished tight end targets. That’s especially important since the Cyclones bade farewell to NFL-ready receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins.
“With Ben being back and Gabe, they’re kind of like a one-two punch,” Becht said.
Add Alexander and Moore to the mix, and second-year offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Taylor Mouser can operate from the full gamut of formations.
“I’m thinking that room has a chance to be really, really special (this) year with the depth that we have,” said Mouser, who helmed an offense that ranked among the top-20 nationally in Toal plays spanning 20 yards or more last season. “All of this guys are probably as big and fast as they have been and the benefit, or the silver lining in those guys being hurt is they were able to spend a lot of time with (strength) coach (Reid) Kagy. Those guys are pros. (They) had the highest GPA on the team, so no big deal there. Those guys do everything the right way and they’re a blast to be around.”
Brahmer, Burkle and Moore all attained Academic All-Big 12 honors last season. Alexander was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll. But only Burkle managed to stay healthy athletically among that esteemed group last season. Now that they all are — or are close to getting there — they feel like the sky’s the limit in terms of their collective production.
“We all have the skillset to go out there and block when we’re asked to, and to go out there and run routes when we’re asked to,” said Moore, a senior from Johnston who’s battled injuries his entire career. “I feel like we’re gonna see a lot of personnels where we’re all mixed in, not really showing the defense who’s doing what at any point.”
Burkle’s been fortunate to remain relatively healthy for two full seasons as a Cyclones after redshirting in 2022. That — along with his wide-ranging abilities — makes him especially important to an offense that will strive to operate more consistently in the 2025 season.
“He’s one of the best on the ball blocking tight ends, one of the best contested catch tight ends, and he’s the smartest guy we have probably in the building,” Mouser said. “(He) and Ben Brahmer, and obviously Tyler Moore are guys that I expect to elevate their leadership ability on our offense; to push everyone else and make everyone else better.”
Burkle’s primed to take on that role and share it with others.
“It’s exciting to know we’ve got a lot of experience back and a lot of talent there, as well,” he said.
Iowa State picked up another commitment for its 2026 recruiting class Tuesday night in Nebraska linebacker Keian Kaiser.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound prospect announced his commitment over social media just days after locking in his official visit weekend in Ames for this June.
“There’s a big relief,” Kaiser said. “It was a very tough decision, I think I knew I was going to go there the whole time, but you never know if maybe I was missing out on something somewhere else.”
I’m home!!!!! 1000% committed @CycloneFB @Coach_Kratch @Coach_Heacock @ISUMattCampbell @TrentSlattenow @DerekHoodjer @TheTrenchLab @SidneyRaiderFB pic.twitter.com/GSIzyeHn9o
— keian kaiser (@keiank09) March 26, 2025
Kaiser held offers from Wyoming and Lindenwood, but Iowa State was the first to offer him back in November.
“I think they believe in me a lot, and I think it really helped with my recruiting,” Kaiser said. “Iowa State basically just told me that they really think I’m a key piece – and that makes every football player feel good when a power 4 school says that.”
Kaiser, who doesn’t yet have a 247 rating and comes out of Sidney High School, becomes the third player out of Nebraska to join the 2026 class, joining ATH commits Kaprice Keith and Amarion Jackson.
He’s also the first linebacker add for the group.
Another reason for Kaiser’s commitment came in the ease of getting to know linebackers coach Colby Kratch.
“He was the first person I talked to and I talked to him the entire day at my Game Day visit,” Kaiser said. “I think that really sparked something. Me and him just really have slowly gotten closer and closer. We’ve been getting more and more comfortable with each other – and just spilling more jokes out… I think our relationship is getting really close.”
“I kind of thought going into all of this recruitment stuff that football coaches would kind of be mean,” Kaiser said. “My dad always told me they wouldn’t go easy on me, but immediately he gave off a lot of good energy. It told me that this was a guy I want to be around a lot. I don’t know if it was just sitting with him and talking to him – he wouldn’t ask anything about football. It kind of showed me that he was in this just for football, but he’s in this to be there for me.”
What it means: This is a scouting add from linebackers coach Colby Kratch, and although he’s only entering his second year at the position in Ames, it’s one that can be trusted. Kratch spent six seasons with the staff as a graduate assistant and in the player personnel department from 2017-2022, before departing for one year where he was at North Texas as the linebackers coach.
Kaiser flies under the radar, picking up just one other FBS offer, but has a strong frame that can be utilized in multiple spots in the linebackers room.
The Cyclones have also established a core of Nebraska products with this class, with Kaiser becoming the third prospect from the state to announce his commitment.
Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic (22) on a fast break during the second half of their first round NCAA men’s basketball tournament game at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/USA Today Network via Imagn Images
In a few months, Iowa State’s heartfelt goodbyes to seniors such as Curtis Jones, Brandton Chatfield, and Conrad Hawley will turn into hellos to highly-touted incoming freshman such as Jamarion Batemon, Xzavion Mitchell, Dominykas Pleta, and Killyan Toure.
Iowa State sophomore sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic looks forward to mentoring all of those newcomers — especially Bateman and Mitchell, who like him hail from the state of Wisconsin.
“I’m definitely gonna help those guys out because I know what it was like,” said Momcilovic, who struggled to hit shots in the Cyclones’ 91-78 loss Sunday night to Ole Miss in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Fiserv Forum. “(I) was in their shoes a couple years ago, so obviously take them under my wing and I’ll kind of show them the way.”
Momcilovic — who scored 20 points in ISU’s first round win over Lipscomb, but just five against the red-hot Rebels — helps form a strong core of returners for the Cyclones. Former transfers Nate Heise and Joshua Jefferson both announced their intention of returning to ISU next season. Standout point guard Tamin Lipsey, who faces a second straight offseason framed by injury rehab, will also be back, eager to guide all of his team’s incoming newcomers through the process of adapting to head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s rigorous daily habits and relentlessly grueling practices.
“Just looking forward to the future,” said Lipsey, who dealt with and continually reaggravated a groin injury suffered late this season. “(And) just getting healthy as quickly as possible.”
Otzelberger and his staff will also seek to fill voids and add depth by curating another crop of players from the transfer portal, which opened Monday and already features four Cyclones: Dishon Jackson, Demarion Watson, Kayden Fish and JT Rock.
Finding good program fits in that massive pool of vagabond athletes is one of the key reasons Otzelberger’s led ISU to NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his first four seasons. Expect that pattern to hold for the 2025-26 roster as the Cyclones seek to plumb the portal for both backcourt and frontcourt help.
“We do have a good core back, a really good core,” said Momcilovic, who scored in double figures in nine of ISU’s final 11 games. “I think we’ll be really good next year. I think I’ll taker another step and be great. Obviously, that didn’t happen (Sunday). Just gonna use it as more motivation and keep working harder.”
Heise and Momcilovic played their best basketball down the stretch this season. The 6-9, 240-pound Jefferson showcased his expansive skillset all season, setting career highs in points per game (13.0), rebounds (7.4), assists (3.1), steals (2.1), and field goal percentage (52.0).
“It should be a good year next year,” Jefferson said.
As for the 6-8 Momcilovic, becoming a strong mentor stands as just one of his offseason missions. The other one? Working to consistently dominate games as a scorer, both on the move and when spotting up from beyond the arc.
“Just taking more games over and being more aggressive,” Momcilovic said. “I feel like this year I took a decent step, but I feel like next year I can take a bigger step.”
Iowa State head coach T. J. Otzelberger, right and assistant coach JR Blount are shown during the second half of their second round NCAA men’ s basketball tournament game Sunday, March 23, 2025 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mississippi beat Iowa State 91-78. Otzelberger went to St. Thomas More High School in Milwaukee and played at UW-Whitwater. Blount went to school at Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin.
Below, you will be able to follow every move Iowa State men’s basketball makes in the transfer portal this year in chronological order.
Friday, March 28Mason Williams, a guard out of Eastern Washington, was Iowa State’s second add from the portal. The 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard excels at driving the lane and has the capability of scoring at a high volume. Williams tallied 35 points against Idaho State in January and scored 18 points or more in eight games last season.
Thursday, March 27Eric Mulder became Iowa State’s first commitment out of the transfer portal on Thursday. The 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward out of Purdue Fort Wayne will join the Cyclones frontcourt alongside Joshua Jefferson next season. Mulder was one of the most efficient players in the country, finishing No. 13 in field goal percentage at 69.5 percent in the Summit League.
Nojus Indrusaitis announced his name for the portal on Thursday. The former four-star guard averaged 2.1 points per game for the Cyclones in the 2024-25 season. Indrusaitis showed promise early in the season, but his playing time dwindled down the stretch in conference play.
Monday, March 24Dishon Jackson entered the portal Monday night, according to a post from Jeff Goodman. The Iowa State starter averaged 20.6 minutes per game while scoring 8.5 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Cyclones this season. Jackson was a regular contributor – the only one to have entered the portal from the group that still has eligibility left in Ames. Jackson will move to his fourth program, after starting out at Washington State and coming to Ames from Charlotte.
Kayden Fish became the third Cyclone from the 2024-25 team to enter his name into the transfer portal on Monday. Fish entered the portal after his medically redshirting during his first year, before returning to Iowa State for the past season. He appeared in nine games and averaged 0.7 points per game.
Demarion Watson entered the portal on Monday afternoon, according to a report from 247 Sports’ Travis Branham. Watson averaged 1.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in 8.8 minutes. The Maple Grove, Minn. native had not logged more than 10 minutes in a game since Iowa State’s matchup on the road at Houston, and before that – the earlier KU game on the road.
J.T. Rock announced Monday that he would enter the portal, as well, after spending two years in the program developing his game. The 7-foot-1 freshman did not log more than five minutes in a game during his career in Ames.
Mississippi forward Malik Dia (0) drives between Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic (22) and guard Tamin Lipsey (3) during the first half of their second round NCAA men’ s basketball tournament game Sunday, March 23, 2025 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Iowa State’s 2024-25 season came to a close on Sunday night in a disappointing loss to Ole Miss.
For as much excitement as their was for both Iowa State hoops teams at points this year, it ends in first weekend exits and the eyes will turn to the transfer portal – which opens today.
‘This is March,’ has turned into ‘That’s March.’
Ole Miss made their shots“He just talked about being a person and how you come back from this,” Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic said in the postgame locker room interview. “What you do every day and how you be consistent. He talked about just thanking (Brandt Chatfield, Curtis Jones, and Conrad Hawley). Obviously, it was not the way we wanted to play tonight. Credit to them, they played amazing. It’s just more fuel to the fire for me.”
I feel like the ‘credit to insert opposing team’ can be overused – sometimes it’s just not your night, and that was exactly what happened in this one.
Ole Miss went 11-19 from the 3-point line in this game – that’s 57 percent. The Rebels were a 33 percent shooting team coming into the game, and they just couldn’t miss.
Meanwhile, Momcilovic was an uncharacteristic 1-8 from three and 2-12 from the field.
“On offense, I couldn’t hit a shot,” Momcilovic said. “Just playing like this – it’s tough. It’s tough to not perform at the highest moment. Obviously, I want to play very well in the tournament. It’s tough when I miss a lot of shots, but it’s just about getting right back to work, and hopefully I play a lot better in these games.”
I don’t want to spend too much time on that game – let’s talk about the season and all of that hope.
This really felt like it could be ‘a year‘Iowa State reached No. 2 in the country and it felt like every single cylinder was firing smoothly, with no end in sight.
My friend, Ben Swanson, put it really well during the Big 12 football championship game but I think the analogy fits this basketball team even more.
it happened again https://t.co/FhAYmAZBxc pic.twitter.com/zOSChOhvhV
— ben (@bj_swanny) March 24, 2025
It’s disappointing, and it should be.
That’s not how anyone wants the careers of Curtis Jones and Keshon Gilbert – two all-time Cyclones – to end.
This group was playing at levels we haven’t seen in Ames from the end of November in Maui to that Kansas game at Hilton.
But again, that’s March. No matter how oversimplified people online want to say it is, winning NCAA Tournament games is not easy.
Looking aheadHere’s where Iowa State stands moving forward. The players listed in italics averaged less than ten minutes per game, and the bolded names set to join the team from the latest recruiting class – all of which are 4-star recruits, minus Pleta, who does not yet have a rating from 247 Sports.
2025-26 MBB Roster
Tamin Lipsey, Sr.
Joshua Jefferson, Sr.
Nate Heise, Sr.
Dishon Jackson, Sr.
Milan Momcilovic, Jr.
Cade Kelderman, Jr.
Demarion Watson, Sr.
Nojus Indrusaitis, So.
J.T. Rock, So.
Kayden Fish, So.
Dominykas Pleta, So. forward
Killyan Toure, Fr. point guard
Jamarion Batemon, Fr. guard
Xavion Mitchell, Fr. forward
It was great to hear from the Nate Heise, Joshua Jefferson and Momcilovic that they’ll be back next season and I’d anticipate the other two guys listed at the top will return.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out how Nate Heise ended the season, too. Some ‘fans’ had left him for dead, and Heise put his head down and hooped. That was cool.
A salute to Emily Ryan, the captainThe Iowa State women were downed by Michigan in the Round of 64. They’ll go to the portal again, and hope to hit more than they missed on last year’s off-season.
But I want to take a few lines from this and give a salute to Emily Ryan.
College teams have their captains, and they all fit different roles.
I think back to Alex Ovechkin during his Stanley Cup year and David Ross on the World Series Cubs. They put up drastically different numbers on the statbooks but led their teams as well as anyone.
And still, I don’t think there’s one player that I’ve covered that exemplifies leadership and the word ‘captain,’ more than Emily.
She will be missed, and I have no doubt she will be a successful coach no matter where she ends up.
The quick hitsFor the first time in a long time, March lacked the madness.
Every 1-4 seed won its first round game for the first time since 2017. It’s the first time since 2007 that the Sweet 16 has no teams seeded No. 11-16. The remaining programs in the tournament each come from the ‘power 4’ conferences. The closest thing to a ‘Cinderella’ that we have left is a team out of the SEC coached by John Calipari.
Spare me the “well, actually we have more elite matchups now.” That’s great, and I’m sure the games will be good, but that’s never been what separated this event on the sports calendar.
It feels too simple to blame NIL or the transfer portal with such a small sample size – and a definitive outlier to previous years – but neither is bringing a lot of hope right now.
Sean Miller left Xavier for the second time after losing to Xavier in the round of 64.
When Miller was left without a job, Xavier was there to bring him back with open arms. Reading his quotes leading up to this and fans’ tweets – this wasn’t at all expected. It’s just another reminder of what college sports looks like now.
Oh, and Drake coach Ben McCollum is headed to Iowa. After the most successful season in program history in the modern era, Drake AD Brian Hardin will look for a third coach in the same amount of years, and try to go 4-4 on great hires. It seems inevitable that star point guard Bennett Stirtz will follow, as well.
College basketball, baby.
The best moment from the weekend came in Maryland’s win over Colorado State.
Derik Queen hit the big shot and had a great postgame interview afterwards.
“I said ‘who wants the ball’ and he said ‘Give me the MFIN ball” – Kevin Willard
When asked where he gets that confidence from Derik Queen said:
“I’m from Baltimore.”
pic.twitter.com/uOaqq4aMa1— Mark Titus Show (@MarkTitusShow) March 24, 2025
I visited Baltimore for a wedding last year and saw firsthand all of the pride they have for that area of hoopers. I feel bad for former UNI Panther Bowen Born, but the opposite for Niko Medved.
Former Cyclone basketball stars Tyrus McGee, Dustin Hogue and Bridget Carleton won championships over the weekend. McGee and Hogue won a title as teammates and Carleton captured her during the WNBA off-season. More on them later this week.
Two Cyclones @CycloneMBB Cup Champs!!!! @DustinHogue1 @IowaStateSport pic.twitter.com/MavS355bv7
— Tyrus McGee (@T_Real25) March 22, 2025
this was fun… pic.twitter.com/pscaFsNhV8
— Bridget Carleton (@bridgecarleton) March 24, 2025
I’ll say it every year until it happens, but NCAA Wrestling needs to get with the times. Get off of March Madness weekend. There’s no reason to go up against it and the cool stories that we see get overlooked each and every year.
Anyways, five months til Farmageddon in Ireland.
Mar 23, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Mississippi Rebels guard Dre Davis (14) and Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (2) go after a loose ball during the second half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
MILWAUKEE — The emotions blindsided Joshua Jefferson as the final seconds cruelly ticked off the Fiserv Forum clock. The buzzer blared, and Iowa State’s standout junior stretched his jersey over his face, momentarily holding back tears in the wake of his third-seeded team’s 91-78 loss to No. 6-seeded Ole Miss Sunday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Cyclones’ planned extended stay amid “March Madness” abruptly ended. Final Four dreams extinguished by injuries and drama dissolved into the ether. And that’s hard to process — let alone accept — for an ISU team (25-10) that seemed destined for at least a third trip to the Sweet 16 in head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s first four seasons.
“I’m just a competitor,” said Jefferson, who scored 16 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds while playing 37 minutes. “I want to win every time I’m on the floor. So it being the end of the season it was just kind of like, ‘Dang, the season’s over.’ That’s just where my mind was at.”
Ole Miss (24-11) simply didn’t miss for most of the first half to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second time in program history. The Rebels rapidly erased an early 13-5 Cyclone lead by responding with a decisive 23-4 run that gave them a 28-17 lead on Matthew Murrell’s conventional 3-point play with 7:22 left in the first half. Ole Miss’s lead would eventually swell to 26 points in the second half as ISU scrambled in vain to find consistency on either end of the floor.
“They’re a team that plays with a lot of toughness,” Otzelberger said. “They’re connected defensively, their switching can be disruptive. At times it wears on you mentally (and) you’re not able to get the ball in the paint and not get the normal plays that you want to make.”
Star guard Curtis Jones led all scorers with 26 points in his Cyclones’ swan song, and sank four of his team’s eight 3-pointers.
“Credit to Ole Miss, they really outplayed us today,” said Jones, who scored 94 points in five career NCAA Tournament games with ISU, the fifth-most in program history. “So I tip my cap to them. Obviously, we wish the game was closer, but I gave it everything I’ve got.”
Junior guard Tamin Lipsey tweaked the groin injury he sustained in the Big 12 Tournament again early in the loss, which further hampered his ability to move without experiencing searing pain.
“It was kind of hard to play how I like to play,” said Lipsey, who scored seven points in 32 minutes. “The movement wasn’t how I wanted it to be, and that’s tough when it’s such a big-time game to not feel like you want to feel.”
The same regret washed over sharpshooting sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic, who scored 20 points on 4-for-8 3-point shooting in the Cyclones’ first-round win over 14-seed Lipscomb, but shot just 2-for-12 from the field in Sunday’s dispiriting loss to the Rebels.
“Just thinking about thanking (seniors) Brandt (Chatfield), Curt, and Conrad (Hawley),” said Momcilovic, who finished with five points. “I appreciate everything they do. And then (we) talk about don’t hang the head. A lot of us still have eligibility left so we’ll be back here and use it as motivation, so when the time comes, we can get over this hump.”
Jefferson plans to do the same once the sting of Sunday’s setback fades and the potential for another strong season springs to the fore. Tears will turn to smiles, and disappointment will dovetail with optimism. But until then, there’s nothing but hurt — and that will linger for a while.
“Just a sadness about the season being over,” the 6-9 junior said. “We all wanted to go farther in this tournament. Just a bunch of sadness, but I appreciate all of our seniors for what they did for us on the floor.”
And one loss — even on the sport’s grandest and cruelest stage — won’t define them even as it marks the end of their ISU careers.
“The young men in our program have fought a lot this year, and we’re proud of how they’ve worked every single day,” Otzelberger said. “And all of them can say they left the program in a better place, so (I’m) proud of these guys.”
Milan Momcilovic, Curtis Jones, and Joshua Jefferson reflect on Iowa State’s loss to Ole Miss before looking ahead to what’s next.
Milan Momcilovic reflects on Iowa State’s loss to Ole Miss.Curtis Jones gives his thoughts on Iowa State’s loss to Ole Miss in the NCAA Tournament before closing the book on his ISU career.Joshua Jefferson touches on loss to Ole Miss before changing his focus to the offseason and what’s ahead.
Iowa State assistant coach Diante Garrett is shown during practice before their first-round NCAA men’ s basketball tournament game Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He went to Vincent High School in Milwaukee. © Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
MILWAUKEE — Christmas came one day late for former Iowa State star-turned-first year assistant coach Diante Garrett.
The Milwaukee native officially joined ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s staff on Dec. 26 — and he’s been helping the Cyclone sharpen their ball skills ever since.
“That’s what T.J.’s expecting of me, to come out there and give my experience,” said Garrett, who led the Big 12 in assists as a senior on 2010-11 before embarking on a decorated 12-year professional career. “I’m actually able to be in shape to be able to hang with these guys a little bit and get them better instead of (being) a guy who just is talking guys through it, or pulling them to the side, but not actually giving them an example.”
Garrettt never played in an NCAA Tournament game for the Cyclones in three seasons under Greg McDermott and one under Fred Hoiberg, so helping to mentor and improve this third-seeded ISU team (25-9) entering Sunday’s 12:30 p.m. second-round matchup with 6-seed Ole Miss (23-11) at the Fiserv Center is especially satisfying.
“Our guys have an inherent respect (for him) because of what a great player he was and how accomplished he was in college and as a pro,” said Otzelberger, who served as an assistant on both McDermott’s and Hoiberg’s staffs. “But they also see how much he loves it. They see how much it means to him, how much he cares about it. And I think that has a great impact.”
Garrett’s seen Otzelberger grow as a coach, as well.
“He wants guys who go hard,” Garrett said. “That really doesn’t require any talent. If you go hard you can outwork the opponent and that’s what he wants. He brings that out of everybody, really. I see that now. He’s got more of a big voice than what he had back then. Now he’s locked in around the nation. Everybody knows him, so he’s been doing a helluva job with that, for sure.”
Garrett’s not the only one savoring a link to the not-so-distant past. Star junior point guard and Ames native Tamin Lipsey’s earliest memories of following the Cyclones begin at the tail end of Garrett’s era.
“(To) just be out there on the practice court challenging us and guarding us — it gives us a good look for scout when he’s out there,” Lipsey said. “It’s definitely a crazy-unique story, definitely for him as well. I bet he loves being back in this program and being in Ames, reminiscing about old times that he had. It’s awesome.”
And more importantly, having an impact on the program’s future — during this tournament run and beyond.
“Whatever they need to ask me, I’m able to answer,” Garrett said. “I’ve got the experience. I’ve played multiple years, so whatever they want to ask me, I’m here. I’m like a big brother to them.”
A BANNER DAY FOR GREEN Kyle Green never tires of gazing at the Milwaukee Bucks banners flying high around the Fiserv Forum. After all, the Iowa State assistant coach’s son, A.J., is featured on one of them.
“I took a photo and sent it to my wife, and that was kind of cool,” Kyle Green said.
A.J. Green starred at Northern Iowa before joining the Bucks’ organization on a two-way contract in July of 2022. He’s averaging 7.4 points off the bench for Milwaukee this season while shooting 42.4 percent from 3-point range.
“You just hope and hope — you want what’s best for your kids — and you want them to be able to fulfill their dreams,” Kyle Green said. “But to have it happen, to be a part of it, is awesome, and then to be here and kind of be in this arena and see his picture, it’s cool.”
Green’s cool moments didn’t to a trip inside the Bucks locker room to see when his son sets up for games, however.
“I wanted to get in (there) and try to take a picture of his locker, but it was locked,” Green said with a chuckle. “I couldn’t get in there. They wouldn’t let me in.”
Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) celebrates after a play during the second half of a first round NCAA men’s tournament game against the Lipscomb Bisons at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
MILWAUKEE — The scar tissue has healed, forming a hard-earned callous on the once sizable chip that protrudes from Curtis Jones’ shoulder.
The Iowa State senior guard’s journey from wholly overlooked Cretin-Durham High School (Minn.) standout to go-to and always green-lit shooting star in cardinal and gold is so well-documented, it feels like yesterday’s news; a vestige of a bygone era divorced from his current opportunity-filled NCAA Tournament reality.
“It’s definitely a thing of the past, but it’s always to be remembered, you know what I’m saying?” said Jones, who seeks to lead ISU (25-9) to a second-round tournament win over 6-seed Ole Miss (23-11) at 6:45 p.m. Sunday (TruTV) at the Fiserv Forum. “I ain’t never gonna forget it. I’m just happy, man. I feel blessed, grateful to just be here and get this experience — because if you look at where I was then, this just doesn’t happen.”
A stint at Indian Hills Community College opened up a Division I shot at Buffalo. Two seasons as a Bull attracted Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s interest, and now the 6-4, 195-pound Jones’ scoring efforts often mirror ISU’s overall results.
The Cyclones have won 40 games when he scores in double figures in the past two seasons and dropped just 11 when he gets 10 or more.
As his stroke goes — from deep beyond the 3-point line to floaters in a tightly-packed lane — so go the Cyclones to a large degree.
“I saw Curt play in high school (while) recruiting teammates of his,” ISU assistant coach Kyle Green said. “I’m not sure I’ve seen a guy improve that much physically, emotionally, (with) confidence. It’s amazing. Even the time he’s been here, the first 10-15 games he was good. Then he kept taking steps. Then he had a huge NCAA Tournament last year. The confidence grew from there and in the moments, he’s always able to step up and kind of lift his game.”
Jones and the Cyclones may require a bit more runway to achieve similar lift against the Rebels, who built a 22-point lead on blue-blood No. 11 seed North Carolina in the first round before rebuffing a late rally to secure a 71-64 win.
“Toughness and togetherness are two things that really stand out to me about their team,” Otzelberger said.
Ole Miss also boasts the length and athleticism that can give the Cyclones fits. Leading scorer Sean Pedulla can slice through defenses for layups while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range. Gifted 6-9 forward Malik Dia can knock down long-range shots to augment his ability to control the paint on both ends of the floor.
“He looks pretty tough,” Cyclone junior forward Joshua Jefferson said. “Definitely a strong, physical player. Watching some film this morning, looks like he wants to get to his spots and use his body to his advantage, so we’re just going to try to match our physicality with his as much as we can.”
Dia expects a similar but even more wide-ranging challenge from Jefferson.
“(He) can score the ball, pass, assist, rebound,” Dia said. “Really good player.”
Both teams are replete with them — and Jones feels poised to help make the difference. He scored 26 points in ISU’s loss to Illinois in the Sweet 16 last season and averages 2.8 made 3-pointers and 1.7 steals in four career NCAA Tournament games.
“When I first saw him he was like 6-feet, 150 pounds in high school,” Green said of Jones. “He buys into the weight room and has gotten stronger, and with that comes confidence. Added stuff to his game — he’s got that mid-range, all of that’s part of his strength development as much as anything else. That leads to the confidence, and all of a sudden we’ve got this guy who’s out here scoring 20 in NCAA Tournament games.”
And doing anything else that could propel the Cyclones to the Sweet 16 for the third time in four seasons — which would be a program first in his final shot.
“I’m just gonna try to give it everything,” Jones said. “Literally everything I’ve got.”
Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Chris Beard talks to forward Malik Dia (0) during the second half of a first round NCAA men’s tournament game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Iowa State will meet a familiar coach in the Round of 32 on Sunday in the NCAA Tournament. Former Texas Tech and Texas coach Chris Beard is now leading Mississippi. Watch his pregame press conference here in its entirety.
Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger during the first half of a first round NCAA men’s tournament game against the Lipscomb Bisons at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Watch Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Nate Heise, Dishon Jackson and Brandt Chatfield preview Sunday’s NCAA Tournament game against Mississippi. Watch the entire press conference here.
Curtis Jones and Milan Momcilovic preview Iowa State’s second-round matchup with Ole Miss.
Curtis Jones gives his thoughts on a potential Sweet Sixteen berth before talking Ole Miss.Milan Momcilovic previews Iowa State’s matchup with Ole Miss in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
USA Today / Imagn Photo
Here’s my quick scout on Ole Miss:
Strengths: — Athleticism. Teams like this generally give Iowa State’s offense problems and I don’t anticipate this to be any different. The Chris Beard switch defense is a concern, but Iowa State’s coaching staff has seen his teams a ton and should be prepared for it.
— Ole Miss is one of the best teams in the country at taking care of the basketball, ranked 2nd nationally in turnover percentage. A real strength on strength battle coming in terms of Iowa State’s pressure D vs. Ole Miss’ ball security.
— Top 35 in offense and defense. Very well balanced.
— G Sean Pedulla is a junkyard dog. 39 percent from 3. Leads the team in scoring and assists. I’d guess Lipsey starts on him but could move that to Heise if Tamin isn’t moving well.
Weaknesses: — Not a great shooting team. The Rebels were 5-7 from 3 in the first half against North Carolina, built up a lead but that quickly deteriorated when their form came back to life.
— Struggled down the stretch, losing five of its last seven games entering the NCAA Tournament.
Keys for the Cyclones:
REBOUNDING: Ole Miss struggles on the offensive glass. Not giving this team second chance opportunities will go a long way. As always, Iowa State will also want to get into transition as fast as possible after misses. I suspect that the Cyclones will struggle in the half court against Ole Miss so this will prove to be especially key.
FREE THROWS: This is going to be a highly physical game. Depending on how it is called, I project that we’ll see a lot of free throw attempts on both sides. Who can take advantage of that?
BATTLE IN THE PAINT: Minus Keshon Gilbert, while this is still a guard’s game, Iowa State’s post play will likely dictate how far the Cyclones go. We’ve seen a lot of consistency from Jackson, Jefferson and Chatfield over the last few weeks. I suspect this will be a big key on Sunday as well.
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Wrestling
PHILADELPHIA — Iowa State officially closed out its run at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships with a seventh-place finish from Jacob Frost in his tournament debut.
Frost, the No. 9 seed at 141 pounds, ended the weekend on a high note with a dominant 17-3 major decision over Minnesota’s No. 6 Vance VomBaur. With the win, Frost etched his name into the Iowa State record books as the 311th All American in program history.
In the final team standings, the Cyclones finished in 27th place with 18.0 team points.
Hear everything coach Kevin Dresser and Frost had to say after the session.
PHILADELPHIA – There’s a lot of emotions wrapped into Friday night of the NCAA Wrestling Championships or better known as the “Blood Round”.
Evan and Jacob walked into the evening together as the lone Cyclones left in the tournament. It felt like a poetic twist that almost seemed scripted.
Jacob fought his way back from a two-takedown deficit to beat No. 14 Sergio Lemley (Michigan) in a 9-8 decision, securing a spot on the podium. Just before that, on the same mat, Evan saw his tournament end just short of All American status in a tough 4-2 loss to No. 8 Braeden Davis (Penn State).
Jacob will wrestle one more match where he will go against Minnesota’s No. 6 Vance Vombaur for seventh place.
Beyond the results of the Blood Round, it’s impossible to ignore the emotions behind it all.
“That was a contrast of emotions. You’re dying for one of them and the other one is on top of the world,” said head coach Kevin Dresser at the conclusion of the session. “You know, that was a different moment. We’ve been sad and we’ve been glad, but at the same time, that was unusual.”
They walked into this tournament side by side, and they’ll walk out of it the same way. But only one will walk onto the mat Saturday.
Iowa State sits in 26th place in the team standings with 16.0 points.
Full Iowa State Match-by-Match Results
133: No. 11 Evan Frost – Round of 12 (2.0)
First Round: W-D, 2-0 vs. No. 22 Tyler Wells (MINN)
Second Round: L-D, 5-0 vs. No. 6 Connor McGonagle (VT)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-D, 8-4 vs. No. 12 Ethan Oakley (UNC)
Round of 16: W-D, 5-3 vs. No. 3 Nasir Bailey (LR)
Round of 12: L-D, 4-2 vs. No. 8 Braeden Davis (PSU)
141: No. 9 Jacob Frost
First Round: W-TF, 16-1 (6:29) vs. No. 24 Jason Miranda (STAN)
Second Round: W-D, 6-1 vs. No. 9 Andrew Alirez (UNCO)
QF: LBF, 4:13 vs. No. 1 Brock Hardy (NEB)
Round of 12: W-D, 9-8 vs. No. 14 Sergio Lemley (MICH)
Consis. QF: LBF, 0:59 vs. No. 4 Josh Koderhandt (NAVY)
7th-Place Match: vs. No. 6 Vance VomBaur (MINN)
149: No. 4 Paniro Johnson – Round of 16 (1.0 Pts.)
First Round: L-D, 5-2 TB-1 vs. No. 29 Jack Gioffre (UVA)
Consis. Rd. 1: W-D, 1-1 TB-1 (RT) vs. No. 20 Koy Buesgens (NCST)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-D, 4-3 vs. No. 19 Andrew Clark (RUT)
Round of 16: L-D, 2-0 vs. No. 11 Sammy Alvarez (RID)
157: No. 16 Cody Chittum – Round of 16 (1.5 Pts.)
First Round: W-D, 8-1 vs. No. 17 DJ McGee (GMU)
Second Round: L-D, 8-3 vs. No. 1 Tyler Kasak (PSU)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-D, 5-3 vs. No. 31 Noah Castillo (CHAT)
Round of 16: L-D, 4-3 vs. No. 9 Tommy Askey (MINN)
165: No. 30 Aiden Riggins – Round of 16 (2.5 Pts.)
First Round: L-MD, 11-3 vs. No. 3 Mike Caliendo (IOWA)
Consis. Prelim.: W-D, 7-6 vs. No. 32 Jared Keslar (PITT)
Consis. Rd. 1: W-D, 9-3 vs. No. 14 Drake Rhodes (SDSU)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-MD, 9-1 vs. No. 13 Will Miller (APP)
Round of 16: L-F, 1:53 vs. No. 5 Julian Ramirez (CORN)
174: No. 23 MJ Gaitan – Round of 24 (2.0 Pts.)
First Round: W-MD, 13-2 vs. No. 10 Alex Cramer (CMU)
Second Round: L-MD, 12-4 vs. No. 7 Danny Wask (NAVY)
Consis. Rd. 2: L-TF, 18-1 (1:53) vs. No. 8 Lenny Pinto (NEB)
184: No. 13 Evan Bockman – Round of 32 (0 Pts.)
First Round: L-F, 6:49 vs. No. 20 Nick Fine (COL)
Consis. Rd. 1: L-D, 12-5 vs. No. 29 Kole Mulhauser (PRIN)
285: No. 28 Daniel Herrera – Round of 32 (0 Pts.)
First Round: L-D, 6-0 vs. No. 5 Ben Kueter (IOWA)
Consis. Rd. 2: L-D, 7-1 vs. No. 21 Jacob Bullock (IND)
PHILADELPHIA — The NCAA Championships are brutal. And yet, two Cyclones are still standing, together — just as they started.
Evan and Jacob Frost are heading to the Blood Round. That’s where All American status is earned or lost, and they’ve both wrestled their way into that do-or-die moment.
Evan Frost went2-0 on the day, knocking off the No. 12 and No. 3 seeds in back-to-back matches. The most notable came with a late takedown in the final 13 seconds of his matchup against No. 3 Nasir Bailey (Little Rock). A clutch moment that sent him into tonight’s Round of 12. Add that win to the list of losses avenged. Last year Bailey beat Frost by technical fall during the Collegiate Duals. Head coach Kevin Dresser called it growth.
“The Frost brothers made good adjustments,” Dresser said. “He (Evan) didn’t get close to getting turned this tim. It’s been 15 months since that one, and Evan finally got it back.”
Jacob, meanwhile, dropped his quarterfinal match to top-seeded Brock Hardy and was sent to the wrestlebacks. But he’s still alive. He’ll wrestle for a shot at All American honors, just like his brother.
“It’s very fitting,” Dresser said. “Probably wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m excited.”
As for the rest of the squad…
Paniro Johnson, Cody Chittum, and MJ Gaitan ended their tournaments in today’s session. Tough losses all around, decided by inches and one or two positions.
“There’s some tough lessons you learn here. For all of us, you know?” said Dresser. “You get to this point, and you’re close, and you’re now the to 12 and 16 (seed)…What can you do to push over the hump? Some of it’s wrestling related. At the end of the day there’s one takedown that decides a lot of these matches. And so the guys that get them win the matches, and the guys that don’t don’t.
“You get to this point, and you’re close, there’s one takedown that decides a lot of these matches. And the guys that get them, win the matches.”
Aiden Riggins deserves his flowers, too. He fought his way into the Round of 16 as the No. 30 seed before getting caught in a pin by No. 5 Julian Ramirez (Cornell). It was a strong showing from a young guy who just kept getting better every round.
Tonight is all about the Frost twins. Blood Round. Bright lights. Everything on the line.
Iowa State sits tied for 22nd place in the team standings with Pittsburgh with 12.5 points.
Match-by-Match Results
133: No. 11 Evan Frost
First Round: W-D, 2-0 vs. No. 22 Tyler Wells (MINN)
Second Round: L-D, 5-0 vs. No. 6 Connor McGonagle (VT)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-D, 8-4 vs. No. 12 Ethan Oakley (UNC)
Round of 16: W-D, 5-3 vs. No. 3 Nasir Bailey (LR)
Round of 12: vs. No. 8 Braeden Davis (PSU)
141: No. 9 Jacob Frost
First Round: W-TF, 16-1 (6:29) vs. No. 24 Jason Miranda (STAN)
Second Round: W-D, 6-1 vs. No. 9 Andrew Alirez (UNCO)
QF: LBF, 4:13 vs. No. 1 Brock Hardy (NEB)
Round of 12: vs. No. 14 Sergio Lemley (MICH)
149: No. 4 Paniro Johnson – Round of 16 (1.0 Pts.)
First Round: L-D, 5-2 TB-1 vs. No. 29 Jack Gioffre (UVA)
Consis. Rd. 1: W-D, 1-1 TB-1 (RT) vs. No. 20 Koy Buesgens (NCST)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-D, 4-3 vs. No. 19 Andrew Clark (RUT)
Round of 16: L-D, 2-0 vs. No. 11 Sammy Alvarez (RID)
157: No. 16 Cody Chittum – Round of 16 (1.5 Pts.)
First Round: W-D, 8-1 vs. No. 17 DJ McGee (GMU)
Second Round: L-D, 8-3 vs. No. 1 Tyler Kasak (PSU)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-D, 5-3 vs. No. 31 Noah Castillo (CHAT)
Round of 16: L-D, 4-3 vs. No. 9 Tommy Askey (MINN)
165: No. 30 Aiden Riggins – Round of 16 (2.5 Pts.)
First Round: L-MD, 11-3 vs. No. 3 Mike Caliendo (IOWA)
Consis. Prelim.: W-D, 7-6 vs. No. 32 Jared Keslar (PITT)
Consis. Rd. 1: W-D, 9-3 vs. No. 14 Drake Rhodes (SDSU)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-MD, 9-1 vs. No. 13 Will Miller (APP)
Round of 16: L-F, 1:53 vs. No. 5 Julian Ramirez (CORN)
174: No. 23 MJ Gaitan – Round of 24 (2.0 Pts.)
First Round: W-MD, 13-2 vs. No. 10 Alex Cramer (CMU)
Second Round: L-MD, 12-4 vs. No. 7 Danny Wask (NAVY)
Consis. Rd. 2: L-TF, 18-1 (1:53) vs. No. 8 Lenny Pinto (NEB)
184: No. 13 Evan Bockman – Round of 32 (0 Pts.)
First Round: L-F, 6:49 vs. No. 20 Nick Fine (COL)
Consis. Rd. 1: L-D, 12-5 vs. No. 29 Kole Mulhauser (PRIN)
285: No. 28 Daniel Herrera – Round of 32 (0 Pts.)
First Round: L-D, 6-0 vs. No. 5 Ben Kueter (IOWA)
Consis. Rd. 2: L-D, 7-1 vs. No. 21 Jacob Bullock (IND)
Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) shoots against Lipscomb Bisons guard Gyasi Powell (10) during the first half of a first-round NCAA men’s tournament game at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
MILWAUKEE — Tamin Lipsey’s gone hot and cold.
In terms of therapy, that is.
The Iowa State standout point guard managed to play through the pain of a groin injury in Friday’s 82-55 first-round NCAA Tournament win over 14-seed Lipscomb at the Fiserv Forum, but will immediately return to a strictly adhered to rehabilitation regime in advance of Sunday’s second-round matchup with No. 6 seed Ole Miss.
“A lot of treatment, a lot of heat, a lot of stretching — just whatever (ISU head athletic trainer) Vic (Miller) says,” said Lipsey, who scored 10 points on 5-for-9 shooting for the third-seeded Cyclones (25-9). “But I’ll probably be doing treatment every couple of hours just to keep it feeling good.”
Lipsey made a statement immediately against the Bisons (25-10) driving both left and right for adroitly-finished layups in the first two and a half minutes of the game to give his team a 4-0 lead. He’s nowhere near fully healthy — but rarely is — so will strain to ensure that he remains good to go for Sunday’s second-round matchup with 6-seed Ole Miss.
“It’s a blessing every time you can step on the court,” said Lipsey, who added three rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes. “I don’t take it for granted. I think on (that) second layup, I kind of noticed it more than earlier in the game, but, I mean, it is what it is. I’m gonna play through it. It’s not too bad.”
For Lipsey, maybe. His own physical pain rarely supersedes the mental pain of missing time on the court for his hometown Cyclones — and expect that to remain the case however deep his team’s run may be.
“(I) talk all the time, I could talk for hours on what a tremendous young man, leader, character person Tamin is,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who became the program’s all-time leader in NCAA Tournament wins as a coach with five. “We know that he’s going to lay it on the line for his teammates (and) our program every chance he gets.”
MOMCILOVIC’S MOMENT Milan Momcilovic scored 17 of his game-high 20 points in the first half for the Cyclones. His 12 points during a key 14-0 run essentially sealed the win, and his command performance came nearly three years to the day of leading nearby Pewaukee High School to its third straight Wisconsin Class 2 state title.
But does Momcilovic remember how many points he scored that day?
“I want to say 20-something,” he said.
Try 29 points — and it coincided with ISU’s last trip to Milwaukee.
“Milan, truthfully, just took over the game,” Otzelberger said. “You could see his confidence growing once he saw it go through the basket. And then credit to his teammates for doing an unbelievable job of finding him.”
Four difference ISU players recorded assists on Momcilovic’s eight baskets, including Curtis Jones, who added 17 points off the bench.
“I didn’t know that what they call a barrage was coming, but when he gets going, man, any look that he takes, on the move, from 3, mid-range, even the layups — he can heat up quick,” said Jones, who delivered the pass that ignited Momcilovic’s run.
Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) drives against Lipscomb Bisons guard Kellan Boylan (23) during the first half of a first-round NCAA men’s tournament game at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
MILWAUKEE — The routine’s rarely altered.
Iowa State star forward Milan Momcilovic and formerly little-used walk-on Cade Kelderman join the team for dinner at 4 p.m. Then they return to the practice court for fierce, but friendly shooting competitions deep into the night.
But who usually wins?
“I win most of the time,” Momcilovic said after efficiently dropping 20 points on 14-seed Lipscomb in the third-seeded Cyclones’ 82-55 first-round NCAA Tournament win Friday as a local fan favorite at the Fiserv Forum. “I would say I’m the better shooter, but he’s pretty elite.”
Momcilovic — who grew up in nearby Pewaukee — would have a major say in ISU’s (25-9) lambasting of the normally hot-shooting Bisons (25-10). The 6-8 sophomore scored 12 points in a span of three minutes and 20 seconds to spark a 14-0 Cyclone run that turned an early 16-15 deficit into a 29-16 advantage with 7:16 left in the first half.
And once Momcilovic’s first 3-pointer fell, his teammates exchanged brief knowing glances.
“He was cooking,” said ISU junior point guard Tamin Lipsey, who played through the pain of a groin injury and scored 10 points while dishing out four assists in 24 minutes. “I feel like every time he shot, it was going in, and I’m sure he felt the same way.”
The other Cyclones sure did.
“He’s been on fire from 3,” said senior guard Nate Heise, who soared for two alley-oop dunks late and scored nine points while grabbing six rebounds. “And there (are) a couple plays we go to for him to get those 3s, and that broke the game open today — and he was the biggest reason why.”
Kelderman, who became a regular part of the rotation late in the season, added a 3-pointer of his own off the bench and turned one of his team-high-tying three steals into a breakaway layup. The Waukee native and lifelong Cyclone fan also smiled as he lined up his long-range shot.
“I was open, (so) it was, ‘I’ve gotta shoot it,’ but I didn’t know I was smiling,” Kelderman said. “Honestly, when I shot it I didn’t think it was going in. It didn’t look like it was on the right trajectory, but man, it went in, and it was cool.”
ISU’s defense cooled off Lipscomb by holding it to a season-low 55 points and 37 percent shooting. The Cyclones also outscored the Bisons 23-to-5 in points off turnovers and 50-to-20 in the paint. Curtis Jones added 17 points for ISU, who will play 6-seed Ole Miss (23-11) in the second round on Sunday.
“We really dialed in,” said Jones, who’s scored 16 or more points in five of the past six games. “We got some runouts and no team can guard a fast break well, so that was big time.”
Junior forward Joshua Jefferson scored 10 points to join Momcilovic, Jones and Lipsey in double figures. He also clutched eight rebounds while recording a game-high eight assists.
“Just tried to play as well-rounded as I could,” Jefferson said.
That seemed to be a team-wide mission on Friday — one the Cyclones accomplished with aplomb.
As for Momcilovic’s dramatic first-half flourish, Kelderman deserves some credit for that.
After all, he registered a relatively rare win over his roommate in one of those post-dinner shootouts.
“Maybe, like, Tuesday or Wednesday, but I got him this week,” Kelderman said, smiling again. “I got him going, got him right. So give all the credit to me.”
T.J. Otzelberger takes the stage alongside Cade Kelderman, Joshua Jefferson, and Milan Momcilovic following Iowa State’s 82-55 victory over Lipscomb in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.
Nate Heise, Joshua Jefferson, Curtis Jones, and Tamin Lipsey speak to the media following Iowa State’s first-round victory over Lipscomb.
Nate Heise reacts to the execution of Iowa State’s gameplan in their win over Lipscomb.Joshua Jefferson gives his thoughts on his performance against Lipscomb in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.Curtis Jones discusses the outside noise before diving into the Cyclones’ second-half execution against Lipscomb.Tamin Lipsey discusses the latest on his injury following Iowa State’s win over Lipscomb.
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – MARCH 21: Emily Ryan #11 of the Iowa State Cyclones dribbles against Brooke Daniels #5 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on March 21, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND – “It’s one of those things that you realize is going to happen, but you never want it to.”
Those were Emily Ryan’s words following her final game in an Iowa State uniform – an 80-74 loss to Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
The Cyclones held a 10-point lead in the third quarter, and dominated the momentum for most of third frame. They had all of the makings of completing an upset, until Michigan started to make shots at an increased clip.
“We were playing well on offense and on defense,” Ryan said. “That’s just kind of basketball. It’s a game of runs and it’s a team sport – everyone has to do their jobs and I’ll take full credit for this one, I didn’t do my job today. It’s just not easy feeling that way, but it’s something you’ve got to take accountability for. I couldn’t be more proud of how everyone came out and gave everything they had. That’s something we can take with us and be proud of.”
Michigan connected on three 3-pointers in the final 2:14 of the third quarter, and literally shot its way back into the lead during a three-minute stretch in the fourth quarter.
“When you come in, I told myself I was going to leave everything in it and have no regrets,” Ryan said. “So, that’s what I kind of tried to do. I just hope that I was able to do enough for this program and do my part and left it in a better place that I found it.”
It took some time for Iowa State to get settled in, with both Addy Brown and Audi Crooks picking up two fouls in the first quarter.
But Iowa State started to attack Michigan’s five-guard lineup, which stayed out there most of the game after post Yulia Grabovskaia was taken out of the game with three fouls.
The ball was going to the interior with ease, and Audi Crooks was putting her shots in. She finished 13-18 with 28 points and seven rebounds.
Addy Brown quietly collected a near-triple-double with eight points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, and was integral in finding Crooks on the interior.
“I’m not going to harp on too much that we would have done, could have, should have done because that’s over,” Crooks said. “That’s not going to help us in any way, shape or form.”
Michigan’s onslaught just proved too much to overcome, ending Iowa State’s season.
“Basically, the message that we give our team every game is (that) you want to walk out of the building, (with) no excuses, no regrets,” coach Bill Fennelly said. “And we don’t have any.”
The Cyclones finish the year at 23-12, having qualified for 23 of the last 30 NCAA Tournaments under Fennelly including each of the last six.
“My evaluation is obviously going to be very different than most people,” Fennelly said. “But I thought our team did everything right. They sort of joked, but they showed up. I think showing up is a skill in life. They showed up every day. They did things the right way.
“I really could not be more proud of our team,” Fennelly said. “Obviously disappointed in the result of one game, but this team has done so much for our school, I think for women’s basketball, for the Big 12. And probably, more importantly, that he have done a lot for me.”
Fennelly and his staff will prepared for the NCAA Transfer Portal, which opens on Tuesday, March 25.
They’ll start season 31 of the Fennelly era without Ryan on the floor, but she’s as confident as anyone in the group she’ll leave behind.
“I couldn’t be more excited for the future and for all the guys in that locker room,” Ryan said. “All of them have another opportunity to come back and get after it, they’re going to be hungry and they have the right mindset. They have a lot of talent. I’m jut really excited to watch them and be their biggest cheerleader from here on out.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Audi Crooks & Addy Brown addressed media members following their team’s NCAA Tournament loss to Michigan on Friday in South Bend.
PHILADELPHIA — It was a long, gritty first day at the NCAA Championships, and Iowa State is still fighting. One Cyclone, Jacob Frost, punched his ticket to the quarterfinals. The rest? Five Cyclones will keep battling through the back side with something to prove.
Jacob put on a dominant show against No. 8 Andrew Alirez of Northern Colorado with a 6-1 win, sending himself to the quarterfinals. It was 1-1 with under a minute to go. Frost got a late takedown, locked in the ride time point and to top it off, Alirez got dinged for stalling.
“That was a big, big win for him, and deservedly so,” head coach Kevin Dresser said. “We knew [Alirez] was really good at reattacks and we were smarter about that. He just stayed in there and fought. He’s a tough customer.”
Frost is now the lone Cyclone still alive on the Championship side of the tournament.
Five Cyclones remain in the back of the bracket: Evan Frost (133), Paniro Johnson (149), Cody Chittum (157), Aiden Riggins (165) and MJ Gaitan (174).
Riggins lost his first match of the tournament to the No. 3 seed. Then went on two win two straight, including a revenge match over South Dakota State’s Drake Rhodes.
“He’s made a lot of improvements,” Dresser said. “Him and Jacob Frost are the only guys who’ve won two matches at the NCAA tournament right now. That’s pretty good for him.”
Paniro Johnson stayed alive too, surviving a 1-1 tiebreaker win. It wasn’t pretty, but as Dresser put it: “We figured out how to get his hand raised. I guess I’ll just leave it at that.”
Evan Frost, Chittum and Gaitan each dropped their second-round matches but will wrestle again tomorrow morning in the consolation round. That includes the blood round tomorrow night.
As for Evan Bockman, his run is over. But he didn’t go down without a fight.
“Everybody tried to talk him out of wrestling today,” Dresser said. Bockman unfortunately was also hit with the injury bug as he suffered an MCL injury at the Big 12 Championships. The injury has continued and he basically wrestled his way through the first day of the tournament on one leg.
“He wasn’t having it. He’s one tough guy. If we can get 100 more like him in terms of toughness, we’ll be just fine.”
Iowa State ended the day in a four-way tie for 18th place with Rutgers, Oregon State and South Dakota State.
Session III starts Friday at 11 a.m. CT on ESPNU. Quarterfinals and blood round will follow that evening at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Let the roller coaster continue.
Match-by-Match Results
133: No. 11 Evan Frost
First Round: W-D, 2-0 vs. No. 22 Tyler Wells (MINN)
Second Round: L-D, 5-0 vs. No. 6 Connor McGonagle (VT)
Consis. Rd. 2: vs. No. 12 Ethan Oakley (UNC)
141: No. 9 Jacob Frost
First Round: W-TF, 16-1 (6:29) vs. No. 24 Jason Miranda (STAN)
Second Round: W-D, 6-1 vs. No. 9 Andrew Alirez (UNCO)
QF: vs. No. 1 Brock Hardy (NEB)
149: No. 4 Paniro Johnson
First Round: L-D, 5-2 TB-1 vs. No. 29 Jack Gioffre (UVA)
Consis. Rd. 1: W-D, 1-1 TB-1 (RT) vs. No. 20 Koy Buesgens (NCST)
Consis. Rd. 2: vs. No. 19 Andrew Clark (RUT)
157: No. 16 Cody Chittum
First Round: W-D, 8-1 vs. No. 17 DJ McGee (GMU)
Second Round: vs. No. 1 Tyler Kasak (PSU)
Consis. Rd. 2: vs. No. 31 Noah Castillo (CHAT)
165: No. 30 Aiden Riggins
First Round: L-MD, 11-3 vs. No. 3 Mike Caliendo (IOWA)
Consis. Prelim.: W-D, 7-6 vs. No. 32 Jared Keslar (PITT)
Consis. Rd. 1: W-D, 9-3 vs. No. 14 Drake Rhodes (SDSU)
Consis. Rd. 2: vs. No. 13 Will Miller (APP)
174: No. 23 MJ Gaitan
First Round: W-MD, 13-2 vs. No. 10 Alex Cramer (CMU)
Second Round: L-MD, 12-4 vs. No. 7 Danny Wask (NAVY)
Consis. Rd. 2: vs. No. 8 Lenny Pinto (NEB)
184: No. 13 Evan Bockman – DNP
First Round: L-F, 6:49 vs. No. 20 Nick Fine (COL)
Consis. Rd. 1: L-D, 12-5 vs. No. 29 Kole Mulhauser (PRIN)
285: No. 28 Daniel Herrera – DNP
First Round: L-D, 6-0 vs. No. 5 Ben Kueter (IOWA)
Consis. Rd. 2: L-D, 7-1 vs. No. 21 Jacob Bullock (IND)
Top Team Standings:
| 1 | Penn State | 39.5 | | 2 | Nebraska | 28.0 | | 3 | Oklahoma State | 27.0 | | 4 | Iowa | 18.0 | | 4 | Minnesota | 18.0 | | 4 | Ohio State | 18.0 |
Mar 8, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Cade Kelderman (13) is guarded by Kansas State Wildcats guard Dug McDaniel (0) during the second half at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images.
MILWAUKEE — Cade Kelderman granted permission before the social media post went viral.
The post in question? A photo featuring his dad, Justin, and he decked out in Iowa State gear at the 2017 NCAA Tournament in Milwaukee.
Cade — then a bright-eyed youth, and now a rotational player for the Cyclones — said, ‘Sure,’ and watched it rack up more than 1,000 likes by Thursday afternoon.
“I was like, ‘Wow, it’s crazy how fast time goes,’” said Kelderman, a sophomore walk-on guard from Waukee who hopes to help third-seeded ISU (24-9) beat 14-seed Lipscomb (25-9) at 12:30 p.m. Friday (TNT) at the Fiserv Forum.
Kelderman’s made the most of his limited playing time late in the season, and has doled out two assists in two of the past three games. He’s savoring every moment on the floor as a lifelong Cyclone fan-turned-contributing player.
“As much as you want to make the NCAA Tournament feel bigger than what it is,” Kelderman said. “It is just another game. We do everything that we do in practice for a reason — for it to translate to the game. So just trust the work you do every single and know good things will happen when you do that.”
LIPSEY’S HEALTH UPDATE Tamin Lipsey’s legendary pain threshold finally exceeded its limit.
The perpetually banged-up, but rarely sidelined star Iowa State point guard made the difficult decision to sit out last Friday’s Big 12 Tournament loss to BYU — but his groin injury has healed enough for him to play Friday against the Bisons.
“I don’t know the percentage,” Lipsey said when asked to put a number on his health status. “I think anything north of 80 is pretty good. I don’t think you can ever get to 100 just with the wear and tear of the season, but I think I’ll be good.”
Lipsey’s been superb as his ball-handling duties have spiked in Keshon Gilbert’s absence, crafting a 23-to-3 assist-to-turnover ratio in his past three games. He’s also scored 15 or more points in three of his past four outings, while supplying ISU with his usual stringent defense.
“He looks great,” Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “He’s moving great. He’s feeling great. He’s confident. Excited to have him back out there for us.”
DRIVEWAY DREAMS The closest Iowa State senior big man Dishon Jackson came to playing in the NCAA Tournament was his childhood driveway — until now.
“It’s something that kids dream about,” said the 6-11 Jackson, an Oakland, Calif., native who grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds in the Cyclones’ 76-56 win over Cincinnati in the Big 12 Tournament. “I used to play in my driveway shooting March Madness shots, like, counting down the shot clock, also it’s just a dream come true for me.”
Jackson’s attempted (and missed) just one 3-pointer this season, but in that driveway? He had exquisite range.
“Man, I’m shooting everything,” he said.
PHILADELPHIA — Four Cyclones had their hands raised in the first round of the NCAA Wrestling Championships and will advance to the second round.
Iowa State is currently 13th in the team race with 6.5 points. tied with NC State.
Let’s break down the good and the bad from Session I.
The Good
Most of the guys you expect to wrestle well, did. A season full of injuries means the guys who are healthy enough to compete need to meet expectations. These four did.
The Frost brothers looked like the twins we were used to seeing in the regular season, starting the day off with back-to-back wins. Evan Frost (133) had a slow match, but he put in an impressive full second-period ride in a blood-round rematch against Minnesota’s Tyler Wells. Jacob Frost (141) had a dominant performance against No. 24 Jason Miranda (Stanford), notching a 16-1 major decision win. Cody Chittum (157) looked solid. MJ Gaitan (174) had the highlight moment of the day with an upset win over No. 10 Alex Cramer (Central Michigan), where he brought his funky moves and secured bonus points for the team.
The Bad
Four Cyclones fell to the wrestlebacks and will have to battle to stay alive in the tournament.
Evan Bockman (184) lost by pin with 12 seconds left in his match, but he’s also wrestling with a knee injury that Dresser said would typically keep a guy out. But with this being Bockman’s final run at the NCAA Wrestling Championships, an exception was made. Bockman is tough. Dresser has described him as the toughest in the room. It sucks that this injury could completely plague his final days as a collegiate wrestler.
Aiden Riggins (165) and Daniel Herrera (285) were outmatched in their Cy-Hawk rematches. Nothing surprising there.
Paniro Johnson lost a heartbreaker in overtime against No. 29 Jack Gioffre (Virginia). Johnson put up a tough fight and was close to scoring a takedown until a coach’s challenge reversed the call. But Johnson couldn’t finish to save his match. This one will sting, and now he has to decide how to come back from this. Will he fight stronger? Can he claw his way back up and wrestle back for third? Or will this loss completely derail his tournament?
We’ll find out.
Session II of the NCAA Championships begins at 6 p.m. and can be watched on ESPN. You can also tune in on the Varsity App to listen to Nate Carr and Joe Sinclair if you would like some Cyclone flair mixed in.
Match-by-Match Results
133: No. 11 Evan Frost
First Round: W-D, 2-0 vs. No. 22 Tyler Wells (MINN)
Second Round: vs. No. 6 Connor McGonagle (VT)
141: No. 9 Jacob Frost
First Round: W-TF, 16-1 (6:29) vs. No. 24 Jason Miranda (STAN)
Second Round: vs. No. 9 Andrew Alirez (UNCO)
149: No. 4 Paniro Johnson
First Round: L-D, 5-2 TB-1 vs. No. 29 Jack Gioffre (UVA)
Consis. Rd. 1: vs. No. 20 Koy Buesgens (NCST)
157: No. 16 Cody Chittum
First Round: W-D, 8-1 vs. No. 17 DJ McGee (GMU)
Second Round: vs. No. 1 Tyler Kasak (PSU)
165: No. 30 Aiden Riggins
First Round: L-MD, 11-3 vs. No. 3 Mike Caliendo (IOWA)
Consis. Rd. 1: vs. No. 14 Drake Rhodes (SDSU)
174: No. 23 MJ Gaitan
First Round: W-MD, 13-2 vs. No. 10 Alex Cramer (CMU)
Second Round: vs. No. 7 Danny Wask (NAVY)
184: No. 13 Evan Bockman
First Round: L-F, 6:49 vs. No. 20 Nick Fine (COL)
Consis. Rd. 1: vs. No. 29 Kole Mulhause (PRIN)
285: No. 28 Daniel Herrera
First Round: L-D, 6-0 vs. No. 5 Ben Kueter (IOWA)
Consis. Rd. 2: vs. No. 21 Jacob Bullock (IND)
Addy Brown sits on the court before Iowa State’s opening NCAA Tournament game against Princeton Wednesday, March 19, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. Photo Courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications // Luke Lu
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Iowa State is coming off of a win over one of the slowest-paced offenses in college basketball in Princeton.
But on Friday, when it faces No. 6 Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament (10:30 a.m. ESPN2), it will be up against one of the fastest.
“I would say they play as hard as any team we’ve seen,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “They play considerably faster than what we saw last night.”
The Wolverines rank 33rd in the country in possessions per 40 minutes, utilizing a five-guard lineup to get out in transition and push the pace on its opponents.
Fennelly said it’s unique to anything his team has seen this season.
“They play five guards a lot, which we have not seen,” Fennelly said. “Usually you get to this point in the year, you’ve seen everything. We have not seen that style yet. That will be interesting for us. That was probably the initial part of it.”
It will pit Audi Crooks up against smaller, but faster guards for a portion of game.
Michigan’s 6-foot-5 center Yulia Grabovskaia averages just 13.5 minutes per game.
It sets up for Crooks to succeed on the offensive end – and Iowa State is banking on that – as long as she plays to her full potential.
“I think she’s got a chance,” Fennelly said. “Obviously the difference is how are we going to guard them and how are they going to guard us kind of thing. I think Audi has done such a good job all year of finding her niche, finding her spots. Our team has done a much better job, like we saw in the second half, of getting her the ball in the right spots.
“It will be different tomorrow,” Fennelly said. “We’re going to have to do a good job of making sure the angles and the timing of when we throw the ball to her is what it needs to allow her to be successful.”
Michigan sees that matchup – playing a faster guard in the spot of a post player – as just as big of an advantage for themselves.
“I think it just comes down to grits,” Michigan guard Jordan Hobbs said. “Obviously she’s bigger and stronger than a lot of the girls on our team. But she probably also hasn’t had to go against a guard matchup. Offensively for us we have a mismatch as well just as they do down low… But I think at the end of the day it’s going to come down to who wants it more.”
Michigan routinely has three freshmen in its rotation, including the team leader in scoring in Olivia Olson.
Olson – a former Iowa State target – is averaging 16.2 points per game for Michigan, and is one of three players on the team hovering around a 40 percent mark from the 3-point line.
For an Iowa State team that starts four sophomores, they’ll be the more experienced group.
“For the sophomore class, this is our second March Madness and NCAA tournament,” Iowa State’s Arianna Jackson said. “I think having that year of experience under our belt definitely helps. Those freshmen have never played in an NCAA game, so… We’ve already played one yesterday. Having that type of experience and knowing that coming in I think just gives us a little bit more of an edge.”
Iowa State will try to key in on that inexperience, while playing defense on some sets that it hasn’t seen all season.
And as with every game in this tournament, anything can happen, come Friday at 10:30.
Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly, Emily Ryan & Arianna Jackson addressed media members ahead of their team’s upcoming NCAA Tournament matchup against No. 6 Michigan set for Friday at 10:30 a.m. on ESPN2.
Michigan’s press conference with coach Kim Barnes Arico and players Olivia Olson, Jordan Hobbs & Syla Swords can be seen below as well.
Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (2) and BYU Cougars’s forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) battle for a loose ball during the first overtime of the Big-12 men’s basketball in the Senior Day at Hilton Coliseum on March 4, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
MILWAUKEE — Soaked in sweat, a pint-sized version of a very big man squinted at the scorching Las Vegas sun.
Joshua Jefferson, then in the second grade, stood on the football field on a Saturday morning. Fully padded up for practice. And all the future star forward for Iowa State could think is …
“(It’s) just taking too long to score,” recalled the Cyclones’ 6-9 Swiss Army knife, who hopes to help his third-seeded team (24-9) slice through 14-seed Lipscomb (25-9) at 12:30 p.m. Friday (TNT) at the Fiserv Forum. “After (the season) was over, I went to my dad and said, “I kind of don’t want to play this anymore.’ He was surprised, taken aback by it, but he respected my decision.”
Unlike his father, Ben, and older brothers, Cameron and Noah— who all shined as 300-pound linemen through college and beyond, Joshua Jefferson wasn’t destined for the gridiron.
The basketball bug bit, sending him on a remarkable roundball journey that’s snaked through high-level AAU ball and high school, a two-season stint at West Coast Conference power St. Mary’s, and finally, to Iowa State, where Jefferson’s blossomed into the fifth player in Big 12 history who stands 6-9 or taller to record 100 or more assists in a season.
“It’s funny,” said Ben Jefferson, who rocked the trenches at Maryland before playing professionally and eventually seeing Cameron claim an NFL championship ring with the Denver Broncos. “Because a lot of the things that guys are seeing now, we’ve been seeing since middle school and high school.”
That’s virtuosic versatility. An uncanny ability to both handle and crisply spray the basketball to wide-open teammates. An expansive skillset that enables Jefferson to slay would-be defenders with devastating baby hook shots in the paint and also run the floor like a guard — head up, in full attack mode, armed with 240 pounds of muscle barreling down the court.
“He’s a tremendous decision maker,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said of Jefferson, who’s averaging 13.0 points, a team-best 7.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.2 steals this season. “So we play him a lot like a point guard because he’s got that type of feel, those type of instincts, makes those type of decisions. He’s really challenging to guard in transition. The more defensive rebounds he can get and push, the better for our team.”
So Jefferson may have spurned a football-based family tradition, but that choice dovetails with Otzelberger’s observation. And every time he reaches into his deep bag of basketball tricks, favorable comparisons are drawn. Just ask former Cyclone great Georges Niang, who’s carved out a decade-long NBA career after graduating from ISU.
“(He’s) really impressive to watch,” Niang said. “His ability to pass, facilitate, handle the ball, score from all different angles — I’m a huge fan of his game. It’s actually a compliment to me that people think I play like him. He’s probably more athletic than I am. I don’t think I could get a (sheet of) toilet paper under my jump in college, but he’s extremely talented and I’m OK with that comparison because he’s a damn good basketball player.”
Jefferson’s sealed more than one win this season by going 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. He’s shooting 78 percent from the stripe and appears unflappable as he sets his feet, takes a deep breath, and spins the ball toward the rim. But beneath his stoic facade lies a fierce competitor dedicated to minimizing and fixing any mistakes. And as many games as Jefferson’s helped the Cyclones win during their fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, it’s a miss that could have sealed a triumph that stuck with him for a while.
Jefferson toed the line with his team leading by two points with three seconds remaining several weeks ago at Arizona. He missed the first free throw and made the second. Wildcats star Caleb Love preceded to sink a miracle 60-foot buzzer-beater to send the game to overtime and ISU ultimately lost, 86-75.
“I put a lot of guilt on myself for that game,” said Jefferson, who couldn’t even practice this summer after joining the program because he was rehabbing a knee injury. “My teammates did a good job of building me back up because I’ve proven I can do it in pressure situations (like the overtime win at Texas Tech), so I rubbed that one off.”
Every time Joshua made an explosive play at an elite AAU event in middle school and high school, his dad’s eyes widened as the ensuing “oohs” filled his ears. Then he looked around at the other slack-jawed spectators.
“People would come talk to me after the game and say, ‘I’m telling you, this guy is something special,” Ben Jefferson said.
That message also emanated from his AAU coach, Dedan Thomas Sr. — who starred at UNLV while Ben was playing professional football.
“He said, ‘I’ve seen him do multiple things most kids don’t even think about doing,’” Ben Jefferson said. “‘And he did it so easily it gave me chills.’”
It turned out Jefferson’s football-free destiny would send him to Ames. Otzelberger developed a bond with him in high school, and when he left UNI to return to Iowa State, this time as a head coach, Jefferson hoped to join him immediately. But the Cyclones had already recruited enough bigs, so his status as a Cyclone had to wait … until now.
“It’s about checking all the boxes, and also checking the most important one: your gut,” Ben Jefferson said. “T.J. was the one.”
Now Joshua Jefferson’s squarely positioned to aid ISU’s pursuit of college basketball’s top prize.
So what’s the Cyclones’ ceiling?
“Final Four,” he said. “I think that’s what we’re all shooting for. I think we have the talent and bandwidth to get there. We’ve just got to continue to do what our coaches are asking of us, because they’re gonna put us in a position to succeed, so I think that’s what we can get to.”
Lipscomb Head Coach Lennie Acuff hits the stage along with players Joe Anderson, Jacob Ognacevic, Will Pruitt, and Gyasi Powell ahead of Friday’s matchup with Iowa State.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s pregame press conference prior to the Cyclones tipping off the 2025 NCAA Tournament vs. Lipscomb on Friday. In addition to Otzelberger, players Milan Momcilovic, Tamin Lipsey and Curtis Jones also take the stage in Milwaukee.
Iowa State’s Nate Heise, Tamin Lipsey, Brandt Chatfield, Curtis Jones, and Cade Kelderman spoke to the media ahead of their matchup with Lipscomb.
Nate Heise touches on why he came to play for Iowa State before diving into their matchup with Lipscomb.Brandt Chatfield discusses his role on this year’s team, how he’s come along this season, and more.Curtis Jones on his confidence ahead of the NCAA Tournament.Tamin Lipsey discusses the latest on his injury before diving into the season as a whole has been affected by injuries.Cade Kelderman discusses his role on the team with injuries before getting into his upbringing as an Iowa State fan.
Audi Crooks shoots a free throw during Iowa State’s 68-63 win over Princeton during the First Four of the NCAA Tournament at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana. Photo Courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications // Luke Lu
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Iowa State entered Wednesday’s First Four game against fellow 11-seed Princeton playing some of its best basketball of the season.
And despite enduring a disastrous second quarter against the Tigers at Purcell Pavilion, the Cyclones escaped with a 68-63 win — largely because they played one of their best quarters of the season right after halftime.
Crunch time hit Iowa State and it responded, sending head coach Bill Fennelly to his 800th career win. After the game, Fennelly said his team shined when it mattered most.
“I would agree with that, especially given the time, the situation, the opponent, yes,” Fennelly said when asked if that was this Iowa State team at its best while completing a comeback from 15 points down. “The desperation that your season is (over) is in the back of your mind… I thought when you put it all together, it was an amazing effort by this team.”
The Cyclones were outscored 27-7 in the second quarter and trailed 38-25 at halftime.
The situation seemed dire. Fennelly shared a simple halftime message with his players.
“He put the ball in our court and said it’s up to you,” said standout sophomore forward Addy Brown, who scored 22 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out seven assists. “(He said) ‘I mean, if you guys are happy with this effort, go out there and do the same thing. If you’re not, you better change it or you’re going to go home.’ So it was up to us. We took it and ran with it.”
The Cyclones did so with ease, going on a 19-2 run after an early Princeton bucket, which secured a 46-42 lead.
Brown, who finished with 22 points and seven boards, had 11 of those 19 points that helped dig Iowa State out of its hole.
By the end of the third quarter, Iowa State had outscored Princeton 27-9. Then, Audi Crooks put the pedal down.
The 6-3 sophomore All-American scored her team’s next eight points and finished with 12 of Iowa State’s 16 points in the fourth quarter on her way to a 27-point game.
“I don’t know if anything really changed, but we just started to execute better,” Crooks said of the Cyclones’ second half. We took our time with our offensive possessions especially. We did better defensively, I thought, in the third quarter, limiting their second-chance opportunities.”
Fennelly took the blame for Princeton’s lead getting out of hand before halftime, and said that he had kept standout senior point guard Emily Ryan out of the game to save her minutes for the second half.
Ryan — who broke the Big 12 record for career assists — has been on a ‘pitch count’ all season, but her minutes have risen in recent games.
“I made a huge mistake,” Fennelly said. “I tried to save her minutes for the second half and it literally almost cost us the game because a lot of the time when we struggled offensively, she was out of the game.”
He also mentioned that he wished he had called a timeout when the deficit grew to double digits.
“I should have called timeout,” Fennelly said. “You get so caught up in saving them. I guarantee you my father, God rest his soul, was screaming ‘Call a timeout for God’s sake.’ I mean, we had two layups. So, it’s like I thought we were getting enough but, yeah, when it went from 7 to 13 like it did so fast and then you’re at the end of the half and it’s like, alright, we can get to halftime and that was a mistake, again, that was completely on me.”
While Iowa State played with as much fire as it could have likely handled, it survived. And that’s all this tournament is about.
Iowa State will face No. 6 Michigan in the Round of 64 on Friday, March 21 at 10:30 a.m. CT on ESPN2.
Philadelphia, PA. – The most anticipated week of the year has arrived for the sport of college wrestling. The NCAA Wrestling Championships take place March 20 – 22 in Philadelphia and eight Cyclones are vying to. prove to the world wrong.
I had a chance to catch up with assistant coach Brent Metcalf, Paniro Johnson and Evan Bockman during the team’s open practice. We touch on topics from the mental preparation heading into the week, changes to improve and more.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Addy Brown & Audi Crooks addressed media members following the team’s 68-63 win over Princeton in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament Wednesday.
Iowa State Cyclones MJ Gaitan takes down Missouri Tigers’ Ellis Pfleger during their 174-pound wrestling in the Big-12-conference showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Iowa State 174-pounder MJ Gaitan found himself down, 9-0, and running out of time.
The Cyclones’ high-risk, high-reward bundle of energy then flipped a switch, turning his opponent to win by fall with 28 second left in regulation in the consolation rounds 10 days ago the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The native Californian’s pulse-quickening roller coaster ride through the backside concluded with a third-place finish, which locked up the scrambling sophomore’s second berth in the NCAA Championships, which run Thursday through Sunday in the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
“In nationals, you get one takedown, you (probably) win the match,” said Gaitan, who’s one of eight Cyclones to qualify for the NCAA meet. “It doesn’t matter how you win at that tournament. Everyone’s going in there competitive and they’re gonna take every point that they can. I know that.”
It’s fitting that Gaitan — ISU’s most chaotic competitor — would spectacularly stave off certain defeat to have a chance to improve on his tournament run last March, which ended in the blood round. Cyclone head coach Kevin Dresser’s seen four starters, including three former All-Americans, lost to injuries this season. So chaos of the worst kind has set the tone for ISU — a situation Dresser hopes is reversed in the city of brotherly love.
“We’ve got eight really excited guys right now and I think this time of year I’m pretty good at reading excited versus maybe tired and worn out,” said Dresser, whose team notched its best finish in 14 years (fourth) at nationals last season. “So mentally we’re really excited right now. How that translates? I don’t know. We’ve got a few guys (who) are banged up, but everybody’s got a few guys (who) are banged up, so we have to put that out of our mind.”
ISU 149-pounder Paniro Johnson earned a No. 4 seed at his weight class after winning his second Big 12 title. 141-pounder Jacob Frost is seeded ninth, his banged-up twin brother, Evan, is seeded 11th at 133, and veteran 184-pounder Evan Bockman is seeded 13th despite battling injuries all season.
Both Evan Frost and heavyweight Daniel Herrera earned at-large berths to nationals. Frost medically forfeited at the Big 12s because of an injury. Herrera’s been impressive while wrestling in place of Yonger Bastida, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in November.
“If you would have told me on Nov. 1 that I’d be standing here in front of you all talking about Daniel Herrera qualifying for the NCAA Tournament, I would have bet you a lot of money for a lit of reasons,” Dresser said. “Obviously, the injury with (Bastida), but also as a true freshman to dive into heavyweight — you know, heavyweight’s good this year. All the weights are good, but heavyweight is really good this year.”
Herrera’s no longer surprising himself, though. His remarkable growth this season has been well-documented — and not just by Dresser and the media. Herrera keeps a journal, which helps remind him of how far he’s come in a relatively short time.
“That’s helped me a lot, just being able to reflect, but also not (be) content with where I’m at or who I am right now,” Herrera said.
Gaitan’s similarly driven as a chance to ascend the podium at another chaotic national meet nears.
“Always being laser-focused,” he said. “That’s the only thing you can do in that scenario.”
Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey (3) shoots over BYU center Keba Keita (13) at Hilton Coliseum on March 4, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
MILWAUKEE — Tamin Lipsey vowed to do everything in his power to recover from a groin injury and play in the NCAA Tournament.
And by all accounts, Iowa State’s star junior point guard is poised to return to the floor in his third-seeded team’s first round game at 12:30 p.m. Friday against 14-seed Lipscomb at the Fiserv Forum.
“I’m gonna work as hard as I can,” Lipsey said after sustaining the injury late in the Cyclones’ 76-56 Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal win over Cincinnati a week ago in Kansas City.
And now?
“Each day there’s been improvement,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said Wednesday shortly after his team (24-9) landed in Milwaukee to prepare for its TNT-televised matchup with the Atlantic Sun champion Bisons (25-9). “Today he was engaged with practice — not as much in the live (drills) and that sort of thing. He’ll take a more active role in practice (on Thursday), but he’s done a great job every day. He and (head athletic trainer) Vic (Miller) in the training room, the work that they’ve done, he’s really in a great rhythm shooting the basketball.”
As expected, guard Keshon Gilbert did not travel with the team after Otzelberger announced he was done for the season because of issues pertaining to a chronic muscle strain that lingered for several weeks. That makes Lipsey’s likely return — though his minutes may be somewhat limited — extra important, but several other Cyclones have fulfilled larger roles while Gilbert shuffled in and out of the lineup.
“What you’ve seen is Joshua (Jefferson’s) stepped up,” said Otzelberger, whose team seeks to advance to at least the second weekend for the third time in his four seasons at the helm. “Milan (Momcilovic’s) taken a more active role in terms of attacking and getting to spots offensively. Nate Heise’s playing with confidence. Dishon (Jackson’s) had some really big moments and scored the ball — and I think Tamin down the stretch of the season is playing his best basketball.”
The same could be said of leading scorer Curtis Jones, who’s averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers in his past four games — and shooting 95 percent from the free-throw line (19 of 20) in the same span.
“Curt, he knows the light is green,” Otzelberger said. “Very green. There’s no such thing as a bad 3 when he can get it off, and it’s just important that he continues to get to his spots on his floaters, get to the rim, get to the foul line, play with tremendous efficiency, which is what he’s done.”
As for Lipsey, Otzelberger’s excited to see how much healthier he can become over the next 24 to 48 hours to keep his rapid healing process on track.
“I would say that each day he’s progressed noticeably well,” Otzelberger said. “Excited for that continued progression these next few days going into the game.”
So are Lipsey’s teammates, of course. They’ve seen him play through countless injuries and are convinced he can successfully navigate this one, as well.
“I was watching him working out today and (he) looks great,” said ISU’s third-leading offensive rebounder Brandton Chatfield. “(That) just makes me happy. I know he’s gonna be doing really well.”
SCOUTING LIPSCOMB The Bisons rank among the top 15 nationally in free throw percentage (79.7, tied for fifth) and fewest turnovers per game (9.5, 14th). They also score 37.1 percent of their points from the 3-point line and get quality looks while playing at a slower-than-average pace.
“They really space the floor,” Otzelberger said. “Highly skilled team.”
6-8 forward Jacob Ognacevic spearheads Lipscomb’s attack. The senior from Sheboygan, Wis., is averaging 20.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He also shoots 40 percent from beyond the arc and presents a mismatch problem for the Cyclones.
“Great in terms of the mid-range, getting his shot, shoots it well from 3,” Otzelberger said. “He really gets their offense going.”
The Bisons aren’t as efficient defensively, ranking 101st nationally in that measure by KenPom, but they do keep opposing teams off the offensive glass.
“They have a very clear identity,” Otzelberger said. “They play with a lot of purpose.”
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger gives an injury report on Tamin Lipsey and previews Friday’s first round NCAA Tournament matchup against Lipscomb upon the Cyclones arriving in Milwaukee.
Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Emily Ryan (11) gets hugged from head coach Bill Fennelly after walking out from the home court last time as a Cyclones during the the senior day after winning 85-63 over Kansas State in the Big-12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly choked up when asked once again to describe Emily Ryan’s impact on his program.
Ryan — who will play in her fifth NCAA Tournament when the Cyclones clash with Princeton in Wednesday’s 6 p.m. First Four game (ESPNU) against Princeton in South Bend, Ind. — is the program’s career assists leader. She’s shot an all-time best 88.5 percent from the free throw line. She ranks second to Ashley Joens in games played at 151 and second all-time in steals. And oh, by the way, the 5-11 fifth-year senior from tiny Claflin, Kan., has climbed into the top five in blocked shots, as well.
In short, Ryan’s the epitome of “the Iowa State way” — and her last tournament trip will begin with a matchup of 11-seeds.
“Emily’s been through so much,” Fennelly said. “And to walk out of Iowa State University …”
His voice cracked briefly at this point.
“Knowing that she took her team five times,” Fennelly continued. “That’s amazing.”
The Cyclones (22-11) are one of 15 programs nationally to have qualified for the NCAA Tournament six seasons in a row. Ryan’s been a rock for most of that tumultuous trek, serving as the steady hand when perils lurk around every bend. And while she’s quick to shift the spotlight to talented younger players such as Audi Crooks, a two-time consensus first team All-Big 12 selection, and Addy Brown, a freshman All-American last season, Ryan’s leadership still serves as ISU’s guiding light.
“What she’s been able to do over the course of these five years at Iowa State, we’re super proud of her and blessed to even be wearing the same jersey as her — and it happened to be at the same time,” said Crooks, who ranks eighth nationally in scoring at 23.2 points per game. “So definitely want to send her out the right way.”
ISU is positioned to make a similar run to last season’s, which ended in an 87-81 overtime loss to No. 2 seed and host Stanford. The Cyclones would need to win an extra game, of course — and they’d be underdogs in their first-round matchup with 5-seed Michigan, but a second-round matchup against No. 2 seed and host Notre Dame remains eminently possible. Ryan scored a career-high 36 points in last season’s second-round loss to the Cardinal, so expect her to be at her best as her college career winds down.
“This time of year it’s just everyone showing up and it’s a matter of which team wants it the most,” Ryan said. “So we’re gonna come into the NCAA Tournament with that mindset.”
The Tigers (21-7) will likely do the same. They’re one of three Ivy League teams to make the tournament and have won 16 of their last 19 games.
“They’ve had a great year,” Fennelly said. “They were one (of the teams) we scouted. There are about five teams I assigned my staff to look at. I kind of thought we’d be in this situation.”
So while the Cyclones face a long and tough road, they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“If you can’t get up and excited to play in March Madness,” Ryan said, “there (are) a lot of issues there.”
Mar 13, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Nate Heise (0) rebounds during the first half against the Brigham Young Cougars at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
AMES — Nate Heise slumped in his chair.
For four consecutive years, the Iowa State transfer guard watched the NCAA Tournament brackets pop onto his TV screen knowing his team would not be there.
No suspense. No chance. No “Big Dance” prospects to dream about for senior from Lake City, Minn.
That changed during this Selection Sunday show — and Heise smiled, certain he’d finally get an opportunity to play on college basketball’s biggest stage.
“That’s what I’ve dreamt about my whole life,” said Heise, who’s poised to play major minutes in the No. 3 seed Cyclones’ first-round tournament game against 14-seed Lipscomb at 12:30 p.m. (TNT) Friday at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. “So that’s what I focused on and thought about when I transferred here. That’s been the entire thing.”
Heise’s role expanded the last month of the season with star senior guard Keshon Gilbert in and out of the lineup. Now that Gilbert’s been shut down to focus on healing a lingering muscle strain, Heise’s strength and skill on both ends of the floor becomes even more vital for ISU (24-9), which has advanced to the Sweet 16 in two of head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s three seasons.
And he’s not the only Cyclone transfer to never experience March Madness — though he did play in the NIT for Northern Iowa as a sophomore. Twice-transferred big men Brandton Chatfield and Dishon Jackson will also play in their first NCAA Tournament, and all three will help determine if ISU makes another strong run or stumbles in the opening weekend.
“They work incredibly hard,” said Otzelberger, whose team opened as a 14.5-point favorite against the Bisons (25-9). “When we recruit guys, we talk to them about what the day to day is gonna be. And I think we’re very transparent that it’s not gonna be for everybody. So if you want to come here, you’d better be committed to the work, and if you do that, you’re gonna develop, you’re gonna be a better person, you’re gonna improve your game, you’re gonna be surrounded by like-minded people, and at the end of it, you’re gonna accomplish a lot of great things.”
Heise established Cyclone career highs in scoring three consecutive games during the last month of the season. The 6-5 senior’s also shooting a career-best 37.1 percent from 3-point range despite starting the season 7-for-26 from beyond the arc. Heise’s also one of ISU’s best on-ball defenders and is averaging 5.3 rebounds over the past six games.
“(He’s) playing with extreme confidence,” Otzelberger said. “He’s going out there and he’s extremely impactful.”
Jackson’s production has also spiked lately – and he’s scored in double figures three straight games for the first time since December. Chatfield’s been a ferocious offensive rebounder off the bench all season, and ranks third on the team in that area despite averaging just 14.5 minutes per game.
“They’ve worked really hard this year, so I’m happy they get to see what March Madness is all like, and the excitement behind it,” said fellow transfer Joshua Jefferson, who has previous tournament experience with St. Mary’s.
Heise’s hyped to finally be part of it, and not just because it will be his first time.
“(It’s been) one of the most fun seasons of my life,” he said. “Everyone (has) stepped up in different moments, and that’s what being a team is.”
Mar 7, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones center Audi Crooks (55) shoots the ball against the Baylor Lady Bears in the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-Imagn Images
SOUTH BEND – For 64 teams, the NCAA women’s basketball tournament kicks off Friday morning.
But Iowa State will have to prove that it belongs in it when it takes on No. 11 Princeton Wednesday (6 p.m. ESPNU) in the Purcell Pavilion at Notre Dame.
“It definitely feels good when you’re able to contribute in a significant way, especially at the Big 12 Tournament and heading into the postseason,” forward Audi Crooks said. “It just kind of gives you a little bit more motivation – a little bit of a bigger chip on your shoulder – to prove the point that you are an elite scorer, that we are an elite team, and that we belong in this tournament.”
Crooks is coming off a 32-point performance in Iowa State’s most recent game – a Big 12 quarterfinal loss to Baylor. Her teammate Addy Brown preceded it with a 41-point game in the team’s second round win over Arizona State.
Both players, as well as the rest of the team, are trying to prove that’s a sign of things to come, and not a pair of one-off performances.
“I just think that we have a lot to prove and that sometimes we fly a little bit under the radar,” Crooks said. “We played, probably the toughest schedule in the country, and our record reflects that – and I think that that kind of allowed people to write us off a little bit. I just think that we’re not a team to be messed with and that we need to be taken seriously.
“That’s just kind of the chip on the shoulders – to show that and to prove that, individually and collectively,” Crooks said.
That will be against a Princeton squad led by a pair of sophomore guards in Skye Belker (13.1 points per game) and Ashley Chea (12.5), who both average in double figures for the Tigers.
The duo is complimented by Fadima Tall, a 6-foot-0 forward that nets 10.3 points, and a team-high, 6.3 rebounds per game.
Like Iowa State, a majority of the production comes from three of its starters – however, the two teams play unique styles to one another.
“I think the biggest thing for us is their balance – offense and defense – they don’t have anything that jumps off the page,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “All of their numbers are really good, and they’d probably be even better, if they played at a little slower pace.”
Princeton slows the pace down a lot as it is – the Tigers are No. 342 in the nation in possessions per 40 minutes, and while doing so, remain efficient on the offensive side of the ball.
“It’s one of the slower paces that we’ve faced – we don’t see a lot of that in our league, but the efficiency that they play with reminds me a lot of (a team like) Utah kind of team.”
Coincidentally, the Tigers battled Utah to a 79-76 loss earlier this season, before the Utes came into Hilton Coliseum and ran away from the Cyclones.
Fennelly reiterated that his team’s lack of familiarity with that kind of pace could provide a challenge in the game.
“You have to understand that going into it,” Fennelly said. “We’re not a team that’s going to force them and make them do different things. I think sometimes when you get into these events, you can overthink it. There’s a reason you got here. (We’re going to) play our game and it comes down to, ‘Who’s going to make a shot?'”
What Iowa State can control is how many possessions it gives away to Princeton. The Cyclones’ 476 turnovers this season rank in the top 10 in the country.
“We get a little loose with the ball,” Fennelly said. “Sometimes, some of the decisions we make, like I told my trainer, ‘Can we test them to see if we’re color blind or something because sometimes, I just don’t know what we’re doing,'” Fennelly said with a half-grin. “I always tell them, ‘Its like life – if you don’t think it’s a good decision don’t do it. Alright? It’s midnight, OK? You’re going to a party, maybe its not a good idea to make that decision… you know, do something else.”
That stat becomes a lot more important when the opponent minimizes its possessions.
“They don’t lose their phone, they don’t lose anything, but the ball just doesn’t seem to be as important,” Fennelly said. “When we take care of the ball, we can score. When we don’t take care of the ball, we get a little bit crazy, and defensively, we’re not one of those teams that’s going to overpower you. So we better value the ball a little better than we do at times.”
Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Kelsey Joens (23) rebounds the ball against Houston during the second quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, Feb19, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.If there’s an X-factor to be had outside of each team’s top three scorers, it could come in Iowa State’s Kelsey Jones.
Since she was made a main figure to the Cyclones’ rotation to chase rebounds as a primary focus, Iowa State’s season has been drastically different.
“Obviously when you get to this part of the season, everything is so magnified,” Fennelly said. “There’s a lot of games that change – win or lose – by a hustle play or a play that doesn’t appear in the stat sheet. And you see it starting in the conference tournament and there’s a loose ball here and there, and Kelsey does that a lot.”
The Cyclones are 7-2 since the staff made that move, with a win over No. 14 Kansas State. They’re playing their best ball right now.
“There’s a reason you’re here,” Fennelly said. “Play that way and hopefully its good enough.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Audi Crooks and Addy Brown addressed media members ahead of their team’s upcoming First Four matchup against Princeton set for Wednesday at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
Head coach Kevin Dresser, MJ Gaitan (174) and Daniel Herrera (285) talk about the NCAA Wrestling Championships that will take place March 20-22 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Listen as Dresser dives into team mentality heading into the biggest weekend of the year after an injury plagued season. MJ Gaitan highlights wrestling through an injury, choosing Iowa State and how he plans to find success this weekend. Daniel Herrera talks about his confidence in earning an at-large bid and a fun look into how he felt competing in his first post-season.
The following is a press release via Iowa State University.
BOONE, Iowa – A century after playing championships inside State Gymnasium, the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and Iowa State University (ISU) enter an exciting new era together as the IHSAA State Basketball Tournament will move to James H. Hilton Coliseum starting in 2027.
An initial five-year agreement with support from Discover Ames will place the five-day, 32-team boys’ tournament inside Hilton Coliseum as the first-of-its-kind multi-use CyTown district is developed at the Iowa State Center and slated to come online in 2027.
“We couldn’t be more excited about what this opportunity will offer our student-athletes, schools, and supporters as they experience an elite basketball environment at Hilton and an awesome new tournament community in CyTown and Ames,” IHSAA executive director Tom Keating said. “Our sincere appreciation goes to everyone who has helped make this possible at Iowa State University, Discover Ames and Cyclone Athletics.”
Lauded as one of the nation’s finest college basketball venues, Hilton Coliseum boasts consistently strong attendance for the Cyclones’ men’s and women’s basketball programs with a capacity of 14,267, and the programs annually rank among the national leaders in home attendance.
ISU will make facilities at Hilton Coliseum and the attached and updated Scheman Building available for the IHSAA event. Opened in 1971, ISU Athletics installed a new state-of-the-art video board, LED ribbon boards and an audio system ahead of the 2024-25 season and has also completed upgrades to its team locker rooms within the facility. The Scheman Building is in the midst of a significant renovation which has created new hospitality spaces for Cyclone contests as well as other special events that the facility attracts.
The surrounding CyTown district – announced in 2022 and expected to be up and running in 2027 – will feature space for retail, food and beverage, common areas, and a 200-room Marriott hotel, The Cardinal.
“On behalf of Iowa State University, thank you to the IHSAA board, Tom Keating, and Tom’s staff for deciding to bring the Athletic Association’s state basketball tournament to Ames to experience Hilton Magic,” Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. “We are excited to host this great event and our staff looks forward to working with the IHSAA to make this special for the athletes, coaches and fans whose teams reach the state tournament each year.”
“This is a major win for Iowa State University and our communities’ hotels and restaurants,” he added. “It is a great example of the new economic opportunities that CyTown can bring to the Ames community. This will be the first of many such opportunities our community will have in future years, because of Iowa State University’s investment in CyTown.”
IHSAA basketball brings eight qualifiers across four classifications to the state tournament. Since moving to a five-day format in 2018, the event has averaged nearly 50,000 paid attendees with full capacity available.
Ames already hosts over 100,000 youth sports visitors annually through the Iowa Games, Special Olympics of Iowa’s Summer Games, and more.
“We are super excited to partner with Iowa State Athletics and the IHSAA to bring the State Basketball Tournament to Ames and Hilton Coliseum starting in 2027,” said Discover Ames President and CEO Kevin Bourke. “This weeklong event will expose teams and fans from across the state to Iowa State University, as well as create a huge economic impact to Ames while showcasing our wonderful community.”
Ames played host to the IHSAA’s basketball tournament six times between 1917 and 1926, all inside then-Iowa State College’s State Gym. The most recent edition featured a small-school round robin, with Irwin topping Keystone, Grandview, and Lake View for the 1926 Class B title.
The IHSAA concluded its 2025 championships on Friday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, where the tournament has been hosted since 1963.
“We have great relationships in Des Moines and at Iowa Events Center, and we thank them for all their years of support and their continued work in hosting our events,” Keating said.
FUTURE IHSAA STATE BASKETBALL DATES
· March 8-12, 2027
· March 6-10, 2028
· March 5-9, 2029
· March 4-8, 2030
· March 10-14, 2031
Mar 12, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) brings the ball up court around Cincinnati Bearcats guard Jizzle James (2) during the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
The brackets are out, and it’s full-steam ahead for March Madness.
Let’s muse.
Keshon GilbertT.J. Otzelberger dropped a bomb at his NCAA Tournament press conference Sunday, announcing that Keshon Gilbert would not be on the floor for the remainder of the season.
It’s obviously a big hit for the Cyclones – Gilbert averaged 13.4 points and 4.1 assists per game this year.
Otzelberger said that Gilbert just needed to get right, and it was evident that Gilbert wasn’t the same player recently as he was earlier in the year.
I don’t want to spend too much time on Gilbert here, since he won’t be on the floor, but I encourage everyone to tune into Williams & Blum on the silver linings here.
The fortunate part of this is that Iowa State kept that internal until its No. 3 seeding was announced by the committee – some teams were kept out with injuries being used as a crutch for the group’s decision. It very much could have made a difference between a 3 seed and a 4 or a 5, but the Cyclones got as good of a draw as they could ask for.
Also, Tamin Lipsey is expected to play.
The matchup with LipscombLipscomb plays a slow-paced style of basketball, averages just 9.5 turnovers per game (14th in the country), and makes 9.9 3-pointers per game (29th).
Each of the latter two are traits of teams that found success against Iowa State this year, and this is a team that’s certainly capable of shocking the world this week.
The Bisons have six players that shoot 34 percent or better from the 3-point line including Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Jacob Ognacevic, who averages 20 and 8.
That said, Lipscomb lost to Arkansas and Kentucky by a combined 45 points in the only two games it played against teams in the tournament field this year.
Elsewhere in the region lies the trio of Ole Miss, North Carolina and San Diego State on the other side, along with Tom Izzo & Michigan State, Shaka Smart & Marquette, Dusty May & Michigan, and Bruce Pearl & Auburn. There’s a lot of intrigue.
The women turn around and play in the First FourOn the women’s side, it will be Iowa State against Princeton in the ‘play-in’ round on Wednesday night.
Princeton made the tourney on merit – it lost to Harvard in the Ivy League tournament and earned its spot on resume.
The Tigers took Utah to the brink in a 3-point loss before nearly sweeping the slate in its last 20 games, which included a pair of wins against the same Harvard team it lost to on Friday.
The winner of that game will take on No. 6 Michigan. The Wolverines aren’t slouches, but they do start three freshmen.
But, it’s March and you still have to get there. Bill Fennelly, Audi Crooks & Emily Ryan had some great quotes on the draw. Anything can happen in March.
Quick hitsI’m keeping these limited to the brackets we saw today as it’s the only thing I pay attention to (mostly) this week of the year.
The committee leans on Tucker DeVries’ injury as a reason West Virginia was snubbed.
The whole thing is in bold because it’s absolute crap. Tucker DeVries hasn’t played a game for West Virginia since December 6. He didn’t even play in 1/3rd of the team’s games this season.
Committee references Tucker DeVries injury for not selecting WV. The guy hasn’t played in over 3 months. Didn’t play a single Big 12 game. That is not a reason when he only played 8 games all season.
— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) March 16, 2025
And there it is…
UNC AD & Committee Chair “Tucker DeVries being out went into consideration.”
He’s been out since Thanksgiving! WATCH THE GAMES!
WVU has a better resume with no DeVries than Carolina & Xavier!
They won at the PHOG, beat IowaSt, & won 10 XII games. STOP! https://t.co/OvybGwS7Rx
— Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac) March 16, 2025
It’s ridiculous that they’re looking at injuries at all.
We’ve got to fix who gets put on the committee. It’s the NCAA, so I have little faith that it will ever happen, but North Carolina Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham being the chairman of the group while the Tar Heels qualify with that resume should tell you all you need to know.
Now, UNC did get left out of the tournament while Cunningham was on the board two years ago, but I don’t buy there wasn’t some ribbing against WVU and Indiana.
Give me Rothstein, Fanta and a few others that watch this sport 365 days a year.
Speaking of Rothstein, and I’m not sure if you all remember Wally Szczerbiak shitting on Tyrese Haliburton a year ago, but Jon had a great quote tonight on CBS in response to the claim that UNC would make a run.
This is an instant classic from @JonRothstein pic.twitter.com/nk8TpXNdrl
— Cyclone Dave (@CycloneDave69) March 17, 2025
Meanwhile, Drake gets Missouri in a 6-11 game in Wichita, with former Cyclone Caleb Grill and former Hawkeye Tony Perkins. It’s probably the closest thing to a Big 4 Classic game we’ve seen since Fran pulled the Hawkeyes out of that deal.
Drake, 11-seed vs 6-seed Missouri in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Bulldogs with 30 wins. Tigers 22-11, with a couple familiar names. Former Hawkeye Tony Perkins, and former Cyclone Caleb Grill. Grill averages 14 pts/game, Perkins 9. Should be fun. pic.twitter.com/sERtUUofd7
— Mr. SOUNDOFF (@johnsears) March 16, 2025
UC Riverside is listed to play in both the NIT and CBI!
It’s likely that Riverside accepted a bid to play in the CBI before learning of their spot in the NIT, and that they won’t actually be playing in both tournaments.
BUT, it would be cool to see. At the very least it will be interesting to see how both parties handle it.
HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK? I DON’T CARE
THIS IS AWESOME https://t.co/i5qWpgpWw9 pic.twitter.com/hM8jZx2oPs
— Sam Federman (@Sam_Federman) March 17, 2025
The five games (not including Iowa teams) I’m most excited to watch are:
No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 UC Riverside – I feel like both of these teams were under-seeded and each has capabilities of making a big run.
No. 8 Louisville vs. No. 9 Creighton – Could switch my pick for this game 200 times between now and tip and still feel wrong.
No. 7 Kansas vs. No. 10 Arkansas – Bill Self vs. John Calipari in the first round.
No. 2 St. Johns vs. No. 15 Omaha – I don’t know if it can happen, but the trash can celebration postgame would be electric.
No. 6 Illinois vs. Texas OR Xavier – It feels like both games will be a buzzsaw no matter what happens.
And a message for everyone as these tournaments take place over the coming days – what a certain team does in the tournament does not justify it’s seed.
Just remember that.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Emily Ryan & Audi Crooks addressed media members at the Scheman Building in Ames after being selected for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) and guard Emily Ryan (11) during the fourth quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State women’s basketball is headed to the First Four. The Cyclones will take on No. 11 Princeton in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday in South Bend, Indiana.
The winner of the game will advance to face No. 6 Michigan in the Round of 64 on Friday.
Princeton finished the season 21-7 (12-2) in the Ivy League and got into the tournament as an at-large bid after being downed by Harvard in the Ivy League Tournament.
Iowa State and Princeton will tip off at 5 p.m. on ESPNU on Wednesday, March 19.
Mar 8, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats forward Coleman Hawkins (33) tries to keep the ball from Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) and forward Joshua Jefferson (2) during the first half at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger gets to go home to coach in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four years.
Cyclone forward Milan Momcilovic will do the same for the first time.
And injured point guard Tamin Lipsey is expected to play in third-seeded ISU’s first-round tournament game against 14-seed Lipscomb on Friday in Milwaukee.
So a lot of good news flowed from the Cyclones’ post-Selection Sunday news conference at Hilton Coliseum — with some significant bad news about senior guard Keshon Gilbert attached.
“We’ve decided that he needs to focus on his rehab and getting his body back right, so he won’t be available as we move forward,” Otzelberger said.
And that’s not just Friday.
Gilbert — ISU’s leading assists man before suffering a muscle strain late in the season — won’t play no matter how deep a run the Cyclones make. When asked if he would travel with the team, Otzelberger referred back to his initial comment.
“(I’ll) kind of stick to that first statement of, you know, Tamin will be ready to go, and with (Gilbert), he’s gotta focus on getting back healthy and getting back to being him,” Otzelberger said.
So ISU (24-9) is simply focused on being itself as currently configured as it makes its fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament under Otzelberger. Two of those appearances — including the first one that wound through Otzelberger’s hometown of Milwaukee — turned into Sweet 16 berths, and the Cyclones feel they’re similarly positioned to make a deep run.
“Defense always travels,” said Momcilovic, who was playing in the Wisconsin state championships when Otzelberger guided his first ISU team to the Sweet 16 in 2022. “We’ve got guys who can score, one through five. It could be anyone’s night, any game. So I think we have a lot of weapons that a lot of teams have to prepare for.”
Lipscomb, the Atlantic Sun Conference champs, shoots 35.7 percent from 3-point range and rank 14th nationally in fewest turnovers per game at 9.5. The Bisons (25-9) have also won 11 of their past 12 games and faced Kentucky and Arkansas on the road early this season.
“Never take anyone lightly,” versatile Cyclone forward Joshua Jefferson said. “So (we’re) going into it like Lipscomb can win the whole thing. I think that’s the best mindset for any team to have going into March Madness.”
ISU’s also convinced the loss of Gilbert doesn’t affect their hopes of advancing deep into the tournament. A win over Lipscomb would lead to a likely matchup with sixth-seeded Ole Miss. And if the Cyclones were able to advance past the second round, a clash with No. 2 seed Michigan State could be on tap in the Sweet 16. So it’s not any easy road — nor should it be — but ISU feels ready to traverse it.
“(Our expectation) is to go as far as we can,” said Momcilovic, one of four current ISU players averaging double figures in scoring. “National championship, to be honest.”
Why not? The Cyclones will face extremely long odds, but dreams form the grist for this tournament — until they’re dashed, or extended one more round, each arduous step at a time.
“I think we’ve been a group that’s been focused on what’s in front of us and what these guys can do,” Otzelberger said. “And overall, our energy and enthusiasm and togetherness has been really good.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Milan Momcilovic & Joshua Jefferson addressed media members on Sunday at the Pete Taylor Media Room at Hilton Coliseum about their team’s NCAA Tournament draw.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) tries to nocks the ball out from BYU Cougars’s guard Dallin Hall (30) during the first half of the Big-12 men’s basketball in the Senior Day at Hilton Coliseum on March 4, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES – Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State’s second-leading scorer, will not be on the court for the 2025 NCAA Tournament, according to coach T.J. Otzelberger.
“With Keshon, we’ve decided that he needs to focus on his rehab and getting his body back right, so he won’t be available moving forward,” Otzelberg said during his press conference on Sunday in the Pete Taylor Media Room at Hilton Coliseum.
love/appreciate all of your support! i want yall to kno that there is nothing more to the situation. Im battling an injury that just can’t seem to get better while playing on it. But enough about me! We a 3 seed in Milwaukee .. Ik the guys are going to make you all proud! https://t.co/aHi2sCJAT4
— Ke … (@kg2times) March 16, 2025
Gilbert averaged 13.4 points and 4.1 assists per game for the Cyclones this season.
He was the leading scorer for Iowa State in seven of the team’s 33 games coming into the tournament.
“He’s got to focus on getting back healthy and getting back to being him,” Otzelberger said.
Otzelberger’s answers can be seen here, and the full press conference is available at the CycloneFanatic YouTube channel.
T.J. Otzelberger says that Keshon Gilbert will not be avaliable for the Cyclones moving forward. pic.twitter.com/v3risUv7rs
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 16, 2025
Iowa State will face No. 14 Lipscomb on Friday at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Mar 13, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (2) shoots the ball during the second half against the Brigham Young Cougars at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
Iowa State men’s basketball will be a No. 3 seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament, and will face No. 14 Lipscomb in Milwaukee in the first round on Friday.
The Cyclones finished their season with a 24-9 (13-7) overall record after being downed by BYU in the Big 12 quarterfinals.
Lipscomb finished 25-9 (14-4) and won the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament to secure its bid into the tournament. The Bisons are led by coach Lennie Acuff, who’s in his sixth season at the helm of the program.
Jacob Ognacevic leads Lipscomb in scoring, averaging 20.1 points per game down low for the team, which is slated at No. 83 in the nation by KenPom.
No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 14 Lipscomb will tip off at 12:30 p.m. Friday on TNT.
Mar 13, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones coach TJ Otzelberger watches game play against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
AMES — Fortunes rise and fall. Forecasts vary as upsets emerge and buzzer-beaters reign supreme.
That why the cliché phrase “March Madness” broadly applies to the NCAA Tournament — both in terms of the seeding process and the hyper-intense, pulse-pounding game play that stretches into April.
So where might the injury-plagued and 12th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones stand as Selection Sunday looms?
As a No. 4 seed, according to the two most prominent bracketologists, Joe Lunardi of ESPN, and Jerry Palm of CBS Sports.
ISU (24-9) appeared somewhat comfortably positioned as a No. 3 seed potentially heading to Milwaukee with thousands of fans in tow a mere 24 hours ago, but as other teams in the same seed range win and lose, projections are adjusted accordingly. And the Cyclones still may still be a 3, with Milwaukee in play, as the committee doesn’t always agree with the bracket gurus, of course.
But Lunardi’s early Saturday version of the brackets ship the Cyclones off to Seattle to play 13-seed Akron (presuming the Zips win the MAC Championship) in the first-round of a geographic outlier in the East Regional. Palm put ISU closer to home in Denver, but also in the East, with a projected matchup with 13th-seeded Big South champion High Point looming in the first round.
So are they right? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, the Cyclones will embark on a potentially daunting and thrilling run that could take them just about anywhere — especially if injured star guards Tamin Lipsey (groin) and Keshon Gilbert (muscle strain) can return to the lineup.
Gilbert, who didn’t play in either of ISU’s Big 12 tournament games, called his injury “day-to-day.” Lipsey’s now in the same boat, but he’s hopeful a week off will help him heal up enough to be able to play.
“Right now I’m not super certain of what it’s gonna look like,” Lipsey said after sitting out Thursday’s 96-92 Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal loss to No. 17 BYU. “I’ll be working with (head athletic trainer) Vic (Miller) a lot in the training room and be on the court as soon as I can. … I’m gonna work as hard as I can, and I’m definitely gonna step (foot) on the court.”
Maryland and Wisconsin appeared to have recently jumped ISU in Lunardi’s and Palm’s projections. Kentucky — which compiled two more Quad 1 wins along with three more Quad 1 losses than ISU — is also a stern competitor when it comes to playing in Milwaukee.
So Selection Sunday will be an edge-of-the-seat affair for the Cyclones, as usual. The one certainty: ISU will play in its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament since head coach T.J. Otzelberger took over a 2-22 program. The Cyclones reeled off two Sweet 16 appearances in that relatively short span and regardless of seed, it’s still built to make a deep run.
“It’s extremely important that you lay it on the line, that you play for your teammates, that your pride shows up,” Otzelberger said after the BYU loss. “We’ve had ups and downs this season. We’ve had some great moments and we’ve had ones that we could have been better. When you have those experiences it brings you closer together, and I feel like our group right now there is a camaraderie, there is a bond, a connection and they want to play for one another. This time of the year special things can happen when you maintain that commitment.”
By all accounts, that bond remains sturdy even as the lineup’s been unsettled by injuries and/or illnesses for nearly two months. The Cyclones are convinced they can compete with anybody, even at less than full strength. No one knows what will happen. Everyone’s dreaming of what could happen. Especially if Gilbert and/or Lipsey is back — but nothing’s guaranteed amid the “Madness.”
“When (and if) they come back, they’re gonna be good obviously,” said forward Milan Momcilovic, who’s scored in double figures in 10 of 12 games after missing nearly a month with a hand injury. “But we’re gonna keep elevating our game to another level, so hopefully we’ll peak in the next couple of weeks.”
East Lansing’s Brian Windham Jr., left, guards Ann Arbor Huron’s Macari Moore during the first quarter on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Holt High School. © Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Macari Moore, a point guard recruit signed to the 2025 class for Iowa State, has decommitted from the program.
The Ann Arbor, Michigan product announced the news over social media afternoon.
My recruitment is open!! pic.twitter.com/sForQibpov
— Macari Moore (@Mac2121_) March 14, 2025
Moore is rated as the No. 222 prospect overall in the class by 247 Sports.
He was one of five players in the 2025 class for Iowa State, and one of two point guards set to be coming to Ames.
Killyan Toure is expected to be the point guard coming into the class, along with forwards Xzavion Mitchell & Dominykas Pleta as well as shooting guard/wing Jamarion Batemon.
More information can be found on the CycloneFanatic premium forum.
Jake Hummel signs his one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Photo Courtesy Baltimore Ravens.
The Baltimore Ravens have officially signed former Cyclone linebacker Jake Hummel to a one-year contract, the team announced Thursday.
The Dowling Catholic graduate has been a special teams standout since joining the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams in 2022.
While the Rams did not re-sign Hummel, who collected 31 tackles in his career as well as a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, the Ravens hopped on the opportunity.
PUNT BLOCKED! TO THE HOUSE FOR SIX!
: @NFLonFox | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/862Na3qyim
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 8, 2024
Hummel will reunite with other former Cyclones in Baltimore in tight end Charlie Kolar and cornerback T.J. Tampa.
The Ravens now have the second-most former Cyclones in the league, just behind the New York Jets who have four players on their roster.
2025 Cyclones in the NFL
As of March 13, 2025
Baltimore – TE Charlie Kolar, LB/ST Jake Hummel, CB T.J. Tampa
Denver – DE Enyi Uwazurike
Detroit – RB David Montgomery
Houston – WR Xavier Hutchinson
New Orleans – TE Michael Jacobson (P-squad)
New York Giants – S Anthony Johnson Jr.
New York Jets – RB Breece Hall, WR Allen Lazard, DE Will McDonald IV, RB/KR Kene Nwangwu
San Francisco – QB Brock Purdy
Washington – OG Julian Good-Jones (P-squad), S Ben Nikkel (P-squad)
Mar 13, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) dives for a loose ball during the first half against the Brigham Young Cougars at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tamin Lipsey tested himself, seeking to shrug off the waves of pain and discomfort.
Iowa State’s tough-as-nails point guard had hoped a groin injury sustained late in Wednesday’s 76-56 Big 12 Tournament win over Cincinnati wouldn’t keep him out of Thursday’s quarterfinal matchup with No. 17 BYU — but for once, he couldn’t simply grit his teeth and grind on.
“I didn’t know,” said Lipsey, who went through warm-ups before making the rare decision along with the coaching and training staff to sit out the Cyclones’ wildly fluctuating 96-92 loss against the Cougars at the T-Mobile Center. “Walking around, it kind of felt fine (but) that’s a lot different than moving at full speed on a basketball court. It was kind of bothering to cut and accelerate off that leg, so just felt like I probably wouldn’t do much good if I was on the court.”
And while Lipsey made the difficult decision to briefly shut down for ISU (24-9) against BYU (24-8), fellow guard Curtis Jones fully turned up. The Cyclones’ leading scorer scorched the Cougars’ defense for 22 points in five minutes and 21 seconds in the first half, helping his team overcome an early 10-point deficit and eventually surge to a 53-49 halftime lead. He finished with 31 points and drilled seven 3-pointers — the most in program history in a Big 12 Tournament game. But BYU — which also trailed by as many as 10 points late in the first half — responded by going 18 of 36 from 3-point range.
“It’s not a good feeling, I can say that, because it felt like when it went up it was just take it out of the net and we’re going the other way,” said Jones, who started in Lipsey’s place and notched his second 30-point game of the season. “It’s a little discouraging because it just seemed like every possession they were getting that shot and knocking it down.”
That sinking feeling applied to both benches to be mutual as the Cougars watched the Cyclones shot a sizzling 65 percent from the field for two-thirds of the game. The Cougars then chipped away before using a crucial 11-0 run to regain the lead with 9:41 left and they wouldn’t trail again.
“They were making a lot of though shots but we were making (them) on our end, as well,” Lipsey said. “I feel like our offense was flowing and our team did a good job.”
Milan Momcilovic added 18 points for ISU, and big men Dishon Jackson and Joshua Jefferson notched 14 points apiece. Jones started in Lipsey’s place and notched his second 30-point game of the season. He also scored 14 straight points for his team during that torrid five in a half minute stretch.
“That was unreal,” said Momcilovic, who went 8 of 13 from the field. “He was looking like Steph Curry out there.”
Jones certainly channelled Curry’s trademark sky-high confidence.
“My shot was falling,” said Jones, who drained 7 of his first 11 3-point tries. “So why not just keep letting it fly?”
Why not, indeed.
“He was a one-man wrecking crew,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said.
The Cyclones and Cougars broke the single-game Big 12 Tournament record for combined made 3-pointers with over nine minutes remaining. BYU won its ninth-straight game — and notched an equally pulse-pounding double-overtime win over the Cyclones a week and a half ago in Hilton Coliseum.
So the eye-popping numbers produced Thursday seemed shocking, but is par for the course when ISU and BYU meet.
“I think we played really well, so that’s all you want heading into the (NCAA) Tournament,” Jefferson said. “I think we’d all much rather have a national championship than a conference tournament (title), so I think that’s what also played into Tamin sitting out. We want him health for the long-term. Just happy with our team and where we’re at right now.”
So while the loss stings, the overall mood remains buoyant. Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger said he’s “optimistic” that both Lipsey and fellow guard Keshon Gilbert (muscle strain) can heal up for a robust run in March Madness. A week of rest and rehab certainly won’t hurt — and that much-needed respite could benefit the entire team. ISU entered Thursday as a projected No. 3 seed according to ESPN Bracketology guru Joe Lunardi and its unlikely a narrow loss agains one of the country’s hottest teams would hurt the Cyclones’ seeding. But the only thing certain at this point is they’ll be in the tournament, and considerably closer to full strength than they were on Thursday.
“Now we get time to take a step back and come together as a group,” Lipsey said. “Rest our bodies, get healthy, get back on the practice court — get feeling good and see where we go.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, and Curtis Jones react to bowing out of the Big 12 Tournament after a high-scoring game against BYU.
Tamin Lipsey gives a quick update on his health before an instant reaction to Iowa State’s loss to BYU.Joshua Jefferson reacts to Iowa State bowing out of the Big 12 Tournament before looking ahead to what’s next.Curtis Jones gives his thoughts following a 31-point performance in Iowa State’s 96-92 loss to BYU.
Mar 12, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (2) drives to the basket around Cincinnati Bearcats guard Simas Lukosius (41) during the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — What happens in the T-Mobile Center stays in the T-Mobile Center.
That’s hyper-versatile Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson’s policy when it comes to describing the technical foul he drew in the second half of Wednesday’s 76-56 rout of Cincinnati in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament.
“We’re just gonna keep that on the floor,” said Jefferson, a Las Vegas native who shined from start to finish with 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.
But?
“I wasn’t surprised,” he added.
The Cyclones (24-8) crafted a commanding 41-to-23 rebounding edge over the Bearcats (18-15), who were desperately trying to cling to the outer edge of the NCAA Tournament bubble. ISU will face surging No. 17 BYU (23-8) in Thursday’s 11:30 a.m. quarterfinal — a rematch of a double-overtime setback nine days ago at Hilton Coliseum.
“(That) was a gritty game all-around,” said ISU point guard Tamin Lipsey, who added 16 points on 5-for-8 shooting on Wednesday before exiting the game late with a groin injury. “And obviously we played each other pretty recently, so wow know each other well.”
Lipsey said he planned to play against the Cougars as he becomes the latest Cyclone to suffer a physical setback. He’s played through a fractured thumb much of the season and fellow guard Keshon Gilbert continues to be hampered by a muscle strain. Gilbert played ten and a half minutes in the first half Wednesday, but sat out the second because he didn’t feel he could produce any explosive push.
“It’s just a day by day type of thing,” Gilbert said. “It depends on how it feels tomorrow and that’s how we’re gonna handle it, doing what’s smart for me and my health.”
Lipsey’s in the same situation, but he famously — or infamously — must be dragged to the sideline no matter what type of pain he’s experiencing.
“Tamin is a guy, as you guys have seen for a long time, he’s gonna say he feels fine, no matter what we do, so we’ve got to keep (a) close eye on him,” ISU athletic trainer Vic Miller. “(We’ll) kind of see how he’s moving and go from there.”
Lipsey’s dished out 23 assists to just three turnovers in the past four games and has shot better than 50 percent from the field in three of those matchups. So he’s gelling at the right time, just like last season when the Cyclones swept to a conference tournament title and Sweet 16 run.
“Tamin’s just Tamin,” said Gilbert, who sank a 3-pointer in his relatively brief return to the court. “He’s a dawg one-on-one. He’s the best point guard in the nation if you ask me.”
Speaking of “dawgs,” transfer center Dishon Jackson — a.k.a. “Big Dawg” — played his best game in an ISU uniform, scoring 10 points while hoarding a career-high 15 rebounds.
“It’s just who wants it more,” said Jackson, who hadn’t notched double-digit boards since the Jan. 4 win over Baylor. “I feel like (today) I wanted it more, and (head) coach (T.J. Otzelberger) was telling me before the game I need to attack the glass hard if we want to win, so that’s what I did.”
Senior guard Curtis Jones added eights point and drained two of the Cyclones’ 10 3-pointers. ISU shot 46.7 percent from beyond the arc and 53.7 percent overall, and overcame 17 turnovers. The Cyclones also limited the Bearcats to 32.8 percent shooting and never trailed
“It feels good when you know you won — especially the way we did, and you don’t even play your best” Jones said. “The score (doesn’t) really give an indication of how the game went. They fought but we when you can go on runs at the end, that helps in any game.”
The Cyclones have now won by double-digits in four straight Big 12 Tournament games — a string of blowouts likely to end no matter the outcome against the Cougars, who led by as many as 21 points in the previous meeting.
“They came and smacked us in the mouth in the beginning of the game,” Jefferson said. “So just coming out with a good sense of urgency tomorrow will help us get it done.”
Tamin Lipsey, Keshon Gilbert, Joshua Jefferson, and Dishon Jackson react to No. 12 Iowa State’s win over Cincinnati, update injury statuses, and preview BYU.
Tamin Lipsey provides an update on his injury and looks ahead to BYU from Kansas City.Keshon Gilbert provides an update on the status of his knee injury moving forward.Joshua Jefferson recaps a career day at the Big 12 Championship before discussing his rebounding efforts ahead of another matchup with BYU.Dishon Jackson comments on a career day on the glass (15 rebounds) before previewing BYU.
This weekend was a true rollercoaster, with plenty of highs and lows. There’s a lot to unpack. Let’s dive into this special edition wrestling mailbag and tackle a few questions!
From Twitter, @PetersburgrKing writes: My question/slightly critique: wtf with all the injuries?! Where do we go from here so this postseason is setting us up for future success?
This question prompted me to revisit our weekly media availabilities with Coach Kevin Dresser, which led me down quite the rabbit hole.
In one interview, Dresser shared that nothing had changed to explain the growing injury list, which became increasingly discouraging. He mentioned that he feared this season might mirror one he had at Virginia Tech, where injuries to key wrestlers derailed the year. I came across an article in the Virginia Tech archives that reads, “Bruce is the third heavyweight to go down for the Hokies this year.” Imagine losing three heavyweights in a single season? On top of a bunch of other injuries!
The thing to remember is that this year’s struggles shouldn’t affect the potential success for next season. Hypothetically, all the Cyclones who were injured this year will be back—though we still need to wait on Yonger Bastida’s medical redshirt decision. Next year’s team should look completely different and more like the team you saw last March.
From Twitter, @timmer52342 said, “MJ has to big the biggest surprise of the Big12s for ISU right? Maybe Riggins. Both wrestled their asses off.“
I think Aiden Riggins was the biggest surprise this weekend. He’s a guy I’ll admit I completely overlooked going into Tulsa. Wrestling for third place is never easy, especially when you start the day as the No. 8 seed and lose 2-0 to No. 1 Terrell Barraclough (UVU). But Riggins battled his way through the back of the bracket, ultimately facing Barraclough a second time in the third-place match. He showed the growth I’d been hearing about. Riggins even earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Riggins, if you’re reading this, my bad for not recognizing your game sooner!
That said, MJ Gaitan definitely deserves credit for his third-place finish.
Dresser shared that Gaitan was actually close to not competing due to an injury. But Gaitan worked with the team trainer and came out on fire. His pin over No. 5 Cade DeVos (SDSU) had to be one of my favorite moments from the weekend.
It’s honestly fitting that both Riggins and Gaitan had such gutsy performances after swapping weights in the middle of the season and taking some time to find their groove.
MJ Gaitan brings out that funky and wild style we love so much to turn the match in his favor and win by fall. He needed that. Iowa State needed that.
Gaitan will wrestle for third place. pic.twitter.com/hA5AYNXtYe
— Jacqueline (@JacquelineCord) March 9, 2025
From Twitter AND the forums, several people wrote asking for insight into the controversial story of the weekend regarding weigh ins and lack of disqualifications.
The most concrete information I gathered was that two wrestlers, from Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, broke rules during weigh-ins on Saturday morning. Weigh-ins happen two hours before the competition starts, and the two main infractions I heard about were that one wrestler was “sitting” on a workout bike and another had a cut underwear band. Both of these things are against the rules and should result in disqualification, as clearly stated in the rulebook.
Regarding the @Big12Conference weigh-in controversy, I was not in the weigh-in area at the time of the issue in question. I did speak with five coaches who were. Below are rules 9.2 15 and 3.22.1.b from the rulebook, and you can draw your conclusion(s). pic.twitter.com/7P0nsYmPAJ
— Rock Harrison (@rockreax) March 8, 2025
The report from Big 12 is that underwear was altered for weigh ins and that weight loss activity (riding bike) was occurring during weigh ins.
If that is the case, by rule disqualification is the stated penalty. pic.twitter.com/j4LPatikr4
— Christian Pyles (@CPyles8) March 8, 2025
Allegedly, the two wrestlers were disqualified, but that decision was later overturned, allowing them to compete.
From my personal experience, when I arrived at the BOK Center that morning, I saw several coaches pacing with frustrated expressions. Honestly, I can’t blame them. Rumors were running rampant as we headed into the first session, and Air Force tweeted about a match delay that further speculated about who was involved. On Sunday night, I met an Air Force parent in the elevator who asked if I had any insight. They still didn’t understand what had happened and expressed frustration at the lack of information.
After a delay and official meeting, Jamison and Nogle will meet at mat 3. #FlyFightWin https://t.co/Vv8jaXmkyg
— Air Force Wrestling (@AF_Wrestle) March 8, 2025
Dresser was pretty clear about his frustration surrounding the lack of transparency with the coaches.
The Big 12 Conference has yet to publicly address the issue, which I think has only made things worse. They can try to ignore it, but it will remain a stain on the 2025 tournament. Especially considering who was involved, the team race, it sets a concerning precedent.
If you’re bold enough to make this call as a conference, then be bold enough to back it up.
My thoughts: 1. This isn’t good for the sport. 2. Rules are rules.
We’re not talking about a controversial celebration, a questionable judgment call from a ref, or a coach stepping too far on the mat. We’re talking about athletes who’ve gone through, at minimum, five months of official weigh-ins. The process and rules didn’t magically change. Certain fans of a certain team were arguing on Twitter that disqualifying them would’ve hurt the sport, claim they weren’t actually breaking any rules, or say people are just being soft or looking for reasons to target a dominant program. But let’s be real.
I asked Dresser to give insight into the situation. His response ruffled some feathers, of course. Here’s what he had to say:
“There were some shenanigans pulled in a back room today.”
I asked Coach Dresser if he could give any insight into the situation that broke at the beginning of the day regarding certain wrestlers breaking rules around weigh ins. He shared that coaches received zero communication… pic.twitter.com/vifvXdQSYx
— Jacqueline (@JacquelineCord) March 9, 2025
From Twitter, @bwernimont11 said, “What do you think the starting lineup looks like next year and do you think we beat Iowa and Okie State?”
The lineup: I think we’re in for some serious déjà vu when we find ourselves asking the same questions we asked at the 2024 Media Day: What is Dresser going to do with all the middleweights?
125: Adrian Meza, Garrett Grice, Ethan Perryman
133: Evan Frost
141: Jacob Frost, Anthony Echemendia
149: Casey Swiderski, Paniro Johnson
157: Cody Chittum
165: Aiden Riggins, Connor Euton, Manny Rojas
174: MJ Gaitan
184: ??
197: ??
HWT: Yonger Bastida
I’ll be honest, I have no idea what the lineup is going to look like. If the Cyclones enter next fall without injuries, I expect wrestle-offs to be a bloodbath. Plus, what will the transfer portal bring? Will anyone transfer out of the program? Personally, I’m most curious about what happens at 125, 184, and 197 pounds.
Can they beat Iowa? Can they beat Oklahoma State? Well, both teams will be losing a lot of talent. Ask me again closer to August, after we see how the offseason unfolds. I’ll have a much clearer picture then.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) steals the ball from Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) during the second half in the Big-12 men’s basketball showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday March 1, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The cascade of colored paper caught Tamin Lipsey in mid-celebration — a Big 12 Tournament champ, reveling in the ebullient energy pulsating through “Hilton South.”
Thousands of Iowa State fans roared last March at the T-Mobile Center, boisterously commemorating the Cyclones’ championship-cementing 69-41 win over top-ranked Houston. And Lipsey savored that confetti-strewn moment, letting his deep emotions linger before finally dissolving into preparation for the bigger tournament that followed.
“I’d say at each game we had more and more fans,” said Lipsey, who hopes to help No. 12 ISU reprise that crowning performance beginning with Wednesday’s 11:30 a.m. second-round Big 12 Tournament game against Cincinnati. “It just made it so much easier. We do have an advantage playing down here. It’s like Hilton South, like they say, and it definitely impacts how we play.”
So does senior guard Keshon Gilbert, who sat out three of the Cyclones’ (23-8) last five games of the regular season because of a muscle strain. The potent and disruptive St. Louis native returned to practice this week, however, and should be good to go on Wednesday and beyond.
“(He) felt great,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said of Gilbert, who leads his team in assists (4.6 per game) and ranks second in scoring (13.8 points). “I think when you’re returning from any injury there (are) things you have to work through. But he had a great mindset, mentality, focus, and had a great practice.”
It’s unlikely that Gilbert — who’s averaging a team-high 32.4 minutes per game — will be 100 percent health during the Big 12 or the NCAA Tournament, but his wide-ranging abilities on both ends of the floor greatly enhance his team’s hopes of repeating as conference tourney champs.
“It’s been amazing having Keshon back,” said Lipsey, who joined Gilbert and forward Milan Momcilovic on last season’s Big 12 All-Tournament team. “Just bringing that energy, the positivity to the group — and just having everyone on the court, it always makes (us) feel good.”
The fifth-seeded Cyclones (23-8) seek to cut down the nets at the T-Mobile Center two years in a row for the first time since 2014 and 2015, but will have to win four game in four days to accomplish that feat. That planned but arduous journey starts against a 13th-seeded Bearcats team (18-14) that played ISU tough about a month ago at Hilton Coliseum before falling, 81-70.
“It still comes down to us focusing on us being tough with the basketball, attacking the paint and the rim, being really aggressive offensively,” said Otzelberger, whose team ranks among the top-nine in defensive efficiency, forced turnovers percentage and steals percentage, according to KenPom. “Certainly the pressure we put on our opponents and turnover we can generate to go in transition — and then the rebounding battle is always going to be important.”
ISU’s 28-point win over the shorthanded Cougars in last year’s championship game was the most lopsided triumph over a No. 1-ranked team in 56 years. The Cyclones don’t expect the stars to align remotely like that again and enter this week’s tournament as more of a darkhorse contender instead of a secondary favorite. Still, to be at full strength — a rarity over the tumultuous past six weeks — bolsters their already-high confidence that with several thousand cardinal-and-gold clad fans’ help, the confetti can rain down again.
“I feel great and it’s fun,” said ISU senior guard Curtis Jones, who’s averaging a team-best 17 points per game. “This is the best time of the year. Even watching these (other) games in the hotel — these conference tournaments, the mid-majors and things like that, it’s just great games. So I’m enjoying it and looking forward to playing in it.”
As for Lipsey, an Ames native and lifelong Cyclone fan, he’s taking nothing for granted. Last season, a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery hampered him in March as his team surged to the Sweet 16. This season, it’s a fractured thumb, but it’s getting better every day.
“This is the best time to feel great,” ISU’s all-timer steals leader said. “This is the time that really matters. It’s win or go home from now on.”
Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, Curtis Jones, and Head Coach T.J. Oztelberger spoke to the media in Kansas City ahead of the 2025 Phillips 66 Men’s Basketball Big 12 Championship.
Tamin Lipsey speaks on his defensive performance all season long, playing through an injury once again, and more.Joshua Jefferson discusses his All-Big 12 appearances, ballhandling, and more from Kansas City.Curtis Jones speaks on his teammates and reflects on an All-Big 12 First Team selection from Kansas City.Iowa State Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger goes in-depth on All-Big 12 selections, the latest on Keshon Gilbert, how the rest of his guys have stepped up, and more.
Iowa State earned its latest commitment out of the 2026 class on Monday in ATH Amarion Jackson out of Omaha, Nebraska.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect announced his commitment over social media on Monday.
Jackson is rated as the No. 3 player in Nebraska by 247 Sports, and chooses the Cyclones over Iowa, K-State, Kansas, Minnesota, Illinois and Northwestern.
What it means: Iowa State is getting an all-around player in Jackson, who ramped up to 1,184 all-purpose yards during his most recent season at Millard South High School.
Jackson earned 778 yards on 50 receptions while going for seven touchdowns. Along with playing receiver, he grabbed a touchdown on both kickoff return and punt return, and held wide receivers without touchdowns on the defensive side of the ball as a free safety.
The Cyclones already have a pair of wide receivers committed to the 2026 class in Ames’ Jeffrey Roberts and Ohio’s Milan Parris. Another commit to the class in Kaprice Keith is also slated as an ATH prospect and could end up on both sides of the ball.
The timing of Jackson’s commitment exemplifies how strongly the program feels about him and gives it another option on where he would best be utilized.
The 2026 class: The Iowa State recruiting class is up to eight players for the cycle, and remains ahead of pace to a typical off-season in Ames.
With Jackson and Keith both potentially ending up on either side of the ball, the options will be around for Iowa State.
Iowa State’s ’26 recruiting class
RB | Caleb Francois
WR | Milan Parris
WR | Jeffrey Roberts
OL | Mason Bandhauer
OL | Ethan Beckman
S | Brayden Thomas
ATH || Kaprice Keith
ATH | Amarion Jackson
It’s early in the cycle, so more commitments are going to juice a team’s rating, but Iowa State is currently slated as the No. 18 class in the country on 247 Sports.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and players Rocco Becht, Dylan Barrett, Gabe Burkle, Domonique Orange & Caleb Bacon addressed media members Monday ahead of the start of spring practices.
Iowa State guard Curtis Jones (5) goes for a layup around Colorado forward Assane Diop (35) at Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 18, 2025 in Ames.
The following is a press release from the Big 12 Conference:
IRVING, Texas – Four Iowa State Cyclones were named to various All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Teams Monday by the league coaches.
Senior Curtis Jones was named the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year, while also earning a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team. Junior Joshua Jefferson was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, while also earning a spot on the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team. Junior Tamin Lipsey was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team, while also being named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. Senior Keshon Gilbert rounded out Iowa State’s selections by being named to the All-Big 12 Third Team.
Jones is the third Cyclone to be named the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year, joining Tyrus McGee (2013) and Lindell Wigginton (2019). Jones is also the third Cyclone under T.J. Otzelberger to be named to the first team, joining Izaiah Brockington (2022) and Lipsey (2024). In league play, Jones averaged 17.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He led five Cyclones in double figures in league play. In 22 games off the bench this season, Jones averaged 17.3 points per game. He is one of just eight players in the country since 1996-97 to average at least 17.3 points when coming off the bench in 20 or more games. Jones was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on Jan. 13 after scoring 23 (Utah) and 26 (Texas Tech) points off the bench that week.
Jefferson became Iowa State’s 12th selection to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team, while it marks the fourth-straight year a Cyclone has been named to the team. Iowa State and Baylor are the only schools in the Big 12 to have someone named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team in each of the last four years. Jefferson was the second-leading scorer for the Cyclones in Big 12 play at 13.5 points, while leading the Cyclones with 7.0 rebounds per game. He tied an Iowa State single-game conference record with eight steals at Colorado this season, as he finished league play with a team-high 47 steals. Jefferson was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week five times, the most of any player in the league.
Lipsey and Gilbert are the first Cyclones since Rasir Bolton in 2020 and 2021 to earn all-conference honors in back-to-back seasons. Lipsey is the sixth Cyclone in school history, and third in the last three years, to be named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. Lipsey was also named to the team last season, becoming the first player in school history to be named to the all-defensive team twice. Lipsey averaged 10.9 points, 2.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game in Big 12 play this season.
Gilbert missed three conference games, but finished with the third-best scoring average on the team in league play at 11.9 points per game. He led the Cyclones with 62 assists in league play, while also averaging 3.9 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. He tied Jefferson’s conference school record with eight steals against BYU on Senior Night. Gilbert earned back-to-back Big 12 Player of the Week honors during non-conference play. Gilbert was a second team selection last season.
The Cyclones return to action Wednesday morning, as fifth-seeded Iowa State faces either 12th-seeded Oklahoma State or 13th-seeded Cincinnati in the 2025 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship Second Round at the T Mobile Center in Kansas City. Tipoff is set for 11:30 a.m. on ESPN or ESPN2.
Player of the Year: JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Freshman of the Year: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
Newcomer of the Year: JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Defensive Player of the Year: Joseph Tugler, Houston
Sixth Man Award: Curtis Jones, Iowa State
Most Improved Player: Richie Saunders, BYU
Coach of the Year: Kelvin Sampson, Houston
All-Big 12 First Team
Caleb Love, Houston
Norchad Omier, Baylor
Richie Saunders, BYU
LJ Cryer, Houston
J’Wan Roberts, Houston
Curtis Jones, Iowa State
Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
JT Toppin, Texas Tech*
Darrion Williams, Texas Tech
Javon Small, West Virginia
All-Big 12 Second Team
VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
Keyshawn Hall, UCF
Milos Uzan, Houston
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Chance McMillian, Texas Tech
All-Big 12 Third Team
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Zeke Mayo, Kansas
Coleman Hawkins, Kansas State
Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Arizona: Tobe Awaka, Henri Veesaar; Baylor: Robert Wright; BYU: Egor Demin; UCF: Darius Johnson; Cincinnati: Jizzle James; Colorado: Julian Hammond III; Houston: Emanuel Sharp; Kansas: Dajuan Harris Jr.; Kansas State: David N’Guessan; Oklahoma State: Bryce Thompson; TCU: Noah Reynolds, Ernest Udeh Jr.; Utah: Gabe Madsen
Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Jayden Quaintance, Arizona State
J’Wan Roberts, Houston
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Sencire Harris, West Virginia
Big 12 All-Newcomer Team
Norchad Omier, Baylor
Keyshawn Hall, UCF
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Zeke Mayo, Kansas
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Big 12 All-Freshman Team
Jayden Quaintance, Arizona State
VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
Robert Wright, Baylor
Egor Demin, BYU
Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell celebrates after beating Miami Hurricanes in the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
AMES — Amid another round of sweeping changes to college football’s landscape, one constant remains for Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell: He’s not a big fan of spring football games.
“My philosophy on that changed a long time ago,” said Campbell, who has fielded his team for a spring game in name only a handful of times — including last year — in his 10-season tenure in Ames. “Everybody’s just catching up to me.”
So don’t bank on the Cyclones opening up Jack Trice Stadium in late April for a showcase of drills and practice reps. The 15 practices afforded teams are simply too valuable, Campbell said, to turn one of them into a de facto dog-and-pony show. Especially now, with new scholarship limits set to be in place this fall, and the spring transfer portal opening on April 16, more and more coaches are following Campbell’s lead with regard to spring games.
ESPN reported Monday that 19 Power 4 programs have canceled their spring games this season to both take advantage of full -practice time while also working in rest and recovery windows. Campbell said those stand front and center in his mind, too, but he’s less concerned about portal implications vis-a-vis spring games.
“I’m not scared about people recruiting our guys,” said Campbell, whose team is coming off its first 11-win season and a Pop-Tarts Bowl triumph over Miami (Fla.). “Shoot, they’ve been recruiting them for the last four years (and) our guys just keep staying.”
So the beat goes on for ISU, even as a record five former players were invited to last month’s NFL Combine — and four produced prodigious results, while former safety Malik Verdon continued to return to full health as in invitee.
Former receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins excelled in various speed, agility and strength-based measures, as did former cornerback Darien Porter and one-and-done transfer offensive tackle Jalen Travis. Count soon-to-be third-year starting quarterback Rocco Becht as one of the least surprised by his former teammates lofty numbers.
“I totally believed those guys were gonna pop off,” Becht said. “We all expected that from them but it’s awesome to see the world finally able to see those guys at work and see what they’re able to do.”
Those high-profile departures leave glaring voids in terms of production, particularly at receiver, but Becht’s convinced a mix of lesser-known returning players, a couple of portal additions, and incoming freshman can fill them quickly.
“It’s probably the most talent that we’ve had in that room top-to-bottom — the most depth,” Becht said. “So I’m excited to see all those guys collab with each other and go at and compete in spring ball.”
Spring practices begin in earnest on March 25 and as players finish up offseason workouts, Campbell and his staff are focusing on strategically shaping the spring schedule, not worrying about ceremonial games at the end of it.
“I think this year’s unique because we play so early in the year (against Kansas State in the Aug. 23 Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland),” Campbell said. “We’ve got to be really smart about what that looks like and I’d say today I’m leaning on practicing and not having a spring game.”
Campbell then joked that he’ll probably get lit up on social media for his stance on such events, but he’s fine with that.
“I’ve always had a unique thought oil that,” he said. “And believe me, there are some years where I think it’s awesome. I think it’s awesome to open up the stadium if it’s a young team that needs to play in front of some sort of a crowd, I think that’s big. But I think we’ll make those decisions kind of based on what this team needs, and I don’t know if I can tell you right now what this team needs until we get back out on the practice field and really evaluate our football team.”
SHIFTING GEARS Campbell said former wide receivers Beni Ngoyi and Kai Black are settling in nicely as their roles change.
Ngoyi, a 6-4 200-pound sophomore, was switched to defensive back before the Pop-Tarts Bowl and has gained important reps at cornerback.
“I think in the last practice (before the bowl game) here, he had a huge interception on a two-minute drill,” Campbell said of Ngoyi. “Beni played really good corner in high school (and) I think his last year in a half, some of his most impressive reps were at corner.”
Black, a 6-3 sophomore, has bulked up to around 240 pounds and could become an outside receiving threat while also potentially joining a well-stocked tight ends room.
“He’s a big body who’s always been kind of trying to keep the weight off,” Campbell said. “We’ve allowed him to go at it and put the weight on and we’ll see where he rolls.”
Mar 8, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) dribbles around Kansas State Wildcats guard David Castillo (10) during the second half at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
It’s finally March.
The best weeks of the college basketball season are ahead of us and we’ve got plenty to talk about. So let’s muse.
Iowa State won comfortably at Bramlage ColiseumAnd that was exactly what it needed to do.
The Cyclones took bad losses to Kansas State and Oklahoma State this season, and if you’re a great team – you’re damn well going to avenge it the next time you play.
Curtis Jones seemed to get back in his groove, Nate Heise had the best technical foul of the season, and the Cyclones cruised.
Mar 8, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger questions a call by the officials during the first half against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn ImagesIf you’re a Cyclone fan looking for a rooting interest in the Cincinnati-Okie State game, I’d much rather face an OSU team that beat you a few weeks back.
It’s looking like a 3 seedIowa State will most likely be a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Take the shot of a 2 seed like gravy and avoid a loss in the first Big 12 Tournament game to take out the possibility of falling to a No. 4 seed.
That’s the situation for the Cyclones.
I’ll dive more into matchups and what not after Selection Sunday, but I don’t anticipate much movement with or without a Big 12 championship. That said, that’s why they play the games.
The women fell in the Big 12 quarterfinalsBill Fennelly’s squad fell in the Big 12 quarterfinals to a stout Baylor team in what really looked like an inspired effort despite the loss.
The Cyclones had Baylor on the ropes and found themselves on the opposite side of a rough call that put them behind the 8-ball down the stretch.
Nonetheless, I think Iowa State is playing it’s best basketball right now.
Addy Brown broke out for 41 points Thursday. Crooks was on her game the next day — and breaking records along the way.
And more importantly, it’s evident that the Cyclones are clicking right now.
Anything is possible for this group as far as it pertains to the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, and to reiterate, I’d still be shocked to see them excluded from the field – ESPN’s Charlie Creme has moved them down in recent days to a “Last 4 in” team.
Paniro Johnson earns his second Big 12 titleIowa State Wrestling has been hampered with injuries all year, and even had a wrestler bow out of the rest of the tournament after being injured in a match over the weekend.
But Paniro Johnson gave the Cyclones a bright spot, bringing home his second Big 12 championship.
Jacqueline has a great story on it, as she was in Tulsa all weekend, here.
The Quick HitsIt’s conference tournament week for a majority of the country, and some will tell you this week is more exciting than the ensuing opening four days of March Madness. It’s not, they’re just really excited.
That’s not to say the week won’t kick ass. I’m glued to SB Nation’s Blogging the Bracket for game times and matchups all week.
But we’ve already had fireworks surrounding these games.
One of my favorite March follows is the infamous NMTC – the ‘Never Made the Tourney Club (@NMTC_Hoops) – which tracks programs that have never qualified for the NCAA Tournament, and other miscellaneous things from the sport.
The first three automatic bids handed out each went to teams qualifying for their first ever big dance – High Point, SIUE and Omaha.
Three bids handed out thus far. All three have been given to first-time NCAA Tournament participants. What a year for the Never Made the Tournament Club (@NMTC_Hoops)!
— morrisoncrying (@morrisoncrying) March 9, 2025
Speaking of Omaha, the team that destroys a trash can in the locker room after every win, I so badly hope it can win its first round game. Good hockey program over there, too.
Drake capped off the Missouri Valley Tournament with its third-straight NCAA Tournament berth, while finishing the season with a 30-3 record in what was the most impressive year for a team out of Des Moines of all time.
I can’t wait to see what Bennett Stirtz, Isaia Howard and the boys do in 11 days.
Steph Curry is reportedly becoming an assistant GM for his alma mater Davidson. I love this move – I think the life of a mid-major gets harder every year and no one is lining up on the front lines to fix it.
I first fell in love with mid-majors watching him lead that Davidson team in March and I hope this becomes a regular happening around the country.
Anyways, keep tweets like this coming. We’re in the good times right now.
Iowa State men’s basketball is ranked at No. 12 in Monday’s Associated Press Poll, dropping out of the top 10 for the first time in over a calendar year.
The Cyclones are one of four teams from the Big 12 Conference ranked inside the poll, along with No. 2 Houston, No. 9 Texas Tech and No. 17 BYU.
Arizona and Kansas both received votes.
The Cyclones will continue their 2024-25 season Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. CT on ESPN or ESPN2 against either Cincinnati or Oklahoma State in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament.
AP MBB Poll
March 10, 2025
1. Duke
2. Houston
3. Auburn
4. Florida
5. Alabama
6. St. John’s
7. Michigan State
8. Tennessee
9. Texas Tech
10. Clemson
11. Maryland
12. Iowa State
13. Louisville
14. Texas A&M
15. Kentucky
16. Memphis
17. BYU
18. Wisconsin
19. St. Mary’s
20. Purdue
21. Missouri
22. Michigan
23. Oregon
24. Illinois
25. Marquette
Others receiving votes: Drake 103, Arizona 82, UCLA 52, UC San Diego 39, UConn 38, Gonzaga 28, New Mexico 20, Creighton 18, Mississippi 17, VCU 6, High Point 4, Kansas 3, Akron 2, McNeese St. 1, Xavier 1.
Paniro Johnson takes the stage during the 149-pound finals at the 2025 Big 12 Wrestling Championships at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova / Cyclone Fanatic
TULSA, Okla. – With just 22 seconds left in the 149-pound title match, Paniro Johnson trailed 4-2 against UNI’s top-ranked Colin Realbuto.
In a dramatic turn, Johnson shot and secured a takedown, clinching the victory.
The BOK Center erupted as Johnson’s hand was raised, a familiar scene in March when teams rally behind their best interests in the team race, filling the arena with a chaotic energy.
Before the dual, assistant coach Brent Metcalf shared his vision for the match, telling Johnson: “I want them dead silent. I don’t want any noise in there. I want you getting your hand raised, and I want them in awe of what they just watched.” Well, the Northern Iowa fans went silent.
The victory was especially sweet, as it reversed the outcome of their earlier meeting in the regular season when Realbuto defeated Johnson in sudden victory in front of a record-setting crowd at the McLeod Center. For Johnson, avenging that loss proves that he can compete with and beat anyone.
“I’m more happy that I just beat that guy instead of winning the Big 12 title, to be honest,” said Johnson minutes after getting off the stage. “The Big 12 title means a lot to me but in the end, I want to know that I’m the best and I don’t want nobody getting away with a win without me getting mine back. You know what I mean?”
Dresser shared that the loss in Cedar Falls didn’t sit well with any of them. The matchup with Realbuto was more than just a title fight—it was about redemption.
“That was a great way to end the night, you know?” said Dresser. “I know that dual meet loss in Cedar Falls didn’t sit well with Paniro. It didn’t set well with any of us. I don’t think anybody in Cyclone wrestling nation liked the way that turned out. So for him, I know he was excited to get a chance to redeem himself a little bit there. So good way for us to finish the weekend.”
While “two-time Big 12 champion” has a nice ring to it, Johnson’s ultimate goal remains clear: to become a national champion. His work is far from finished.
“I got to celebrate for the last two minutes, and I’m gonna get on this podium, and we right back on the horse,” Johnson said. “We got 13 days to the last day of nationals, then we can do whatever we want after that. But right now, I’m focused on being on the podium and mainly being on top of the podium because I believe I’m the best. I gotta create more. I can’t keep winning like that if I want to be on the top because sometimes it bites you. But hey, you got to get it done. Ugly or pretty. You get it done.”
The NCAA Wrestling Championships will take place March 20 – 22 in Philadelphia.
“We don’t want to downplay a Big 12 title, but at the same time, people don’t remember conference championships like they do getting on the podium and obviously winning a national championship. My message to Paniro all year has been to be greedy. We need to be really greedy. We need to stay humble and we need to see what we can do in the next eight or nine days to separate ourselves,” Dresser said. “I’m really proud of him but we can’t put our guard down now. We got to keep our foot in the gas.”
The NCAA Wrestling Championship brackets and seeding will be announced on Wednesday, March 12, at 7 p.m., revealing Johnson’s path toward making his dream a reality.
Full team results here.
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova
Tulsa, Okla. – MJ Gaitan brought a shining spot for Iowa State on Sunday afternoon, finishing in third place at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships as the No. 7 seed after a gritty battle in the back of the bracket.
Gaitan started the day with a dramatic win by fall over No. 5 Cade DeVos (SDSU), bringing the Iowa State fan section to its feet. He trailed the match 9-0 but DeVos allowed Gaitan to lock in a headlock, leading him to win by fall in 6:32. Gaitan kept his momentum going, securing a third-place finish with a 6-4 win over No. 3 Gaven Sax (OU).
MJ Gaitan brings out that funky and wild style we love so much to turn the match in his favor and win by fall. He needed that. Iowa State needed that.
Gaitan will wrestle for third place. pic.twitter.com/hA5AYNXtYe
— Jacqueline (@JacquelineCord) March 9, 2025
Here is what Gaitan had to say after coming off the mat, “Starting off, I know I had a tough draw.” The California native began the tournament by facing two-time NCAA Champion Keegan O’Toole, a recognizable name as former Cyclone David Carr had a strong rivalry with him. “I’m the seventh seed, but I don’t ever let that number justify how I’m going to wrestle. I know I could beat all these guys. Yeah, O’Toole got me in the first round. That was a learning experience. Props to him, he’s really good. Wrestling back, I’ve always been on the backside, even my whole high school career. Wrestling back, it’s nothing new to me. Just reset, stay focused, and give glory to God.”
Iowa State currently sits in fourth place with 103.5 points. Now, all eyes are on Paniro Johnson. He’ll go up against No. 1 Colin Realbuto (UNI) in the 149-pound Big 12 final on Sunday night.
Final results for the Cyclones:
- 125: Kysen Terukina did not place.
- 133: Evan Frost finished in seventh place.
- 141: Jacob Frost finished in fourth place.
- 157: Cody Chittum finished in sixth place.
- 165: Aiden Riggins finished in fourth place.
- 184: Evan Bockman finished in sixth place (Medical forfeited his last two matches after getting injured in the semifinals.)
- 197: Nate Schon finished in sixth place.
- 285: Daniel Herrera finished in fifth place.
Team Standings:
- Oklahoma State 149.5
- Northern Iowa 137.5
- South Dakota State 110.0
- Iowa State 103.5
- Oklahoma 72.5
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
125: No. 8 Kysen Terukina – DNP
First Round: L-D, 4-1 vs. Tristan Daugherty (NDSU)
Consis. Rd. 1: Bye
Consis. Rd. 2: L-D, 10-3 vs. No. 7 Trever Anderson (UNI)
133: No. 1 Evan Frost – 7th Place
First Round: W-MD, 17-4 vs. Stockton O`Brien (WYO)
QF: L-MD, 20-6 vs. No. 8 Kade Moore (MIZ)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-MD, 14-3 vs. Julian Chlebove (ASU)
Consis. Rd. 3: L-D, 14-13 vs. No. 3 Julian Farber (UNI)
7th-Place Match: W- MFF vs. No. 6 Cleveland Belton (OU)
141: No. 3 Jacob Frost – 4th Place
First Round: W-TF, 16-1 (5:21) vs. Daniel Miranda (ASU)
QF: W-D, 15-8 vs. No. 6 Josh Edmond (MIZ)
SF: L-MD vs. No. 2 Cael Happel (UNI)
Consis. Rd. 4: W-D, 12-5 vs. No. 8 Julian Tagg (SDSU)
3rd-Place Match: L-D, 8-2 vs. No. 1 Andrew Alirez (UNCO)
149: No. 2 Paniro Johnson
First Round: W-D, 2-1 vs. Avery Allen (SDSU)
QF: W-D, 6-5 SV-1 vs. No. 7 Logan Gioffre (MIZ)
SF: W-D, 7-3 vs. Teague Travis (OKST)
Finals: vs. No. 1 Colin Realbuto (UNI)
157: No. 1 Cody Chittum – 6th Place
First Round: vs. Bryce Shelton (AF)
QF: W-MD, 9-0 vs. Caleb Dowling (WVU)
SF: L-MD, 12-4 vs. No. 4 Cobe Siebrecht (SDSU)
Consis. Rd. 4: L-D, 7-6 vs. No. 3 Ryder Downey (UNI)
5th-Place Match: L-D, 4-3 vs. No. 5 Jared Hill (WYO)
165: No. 8 Aiden Riggins – 4th Place
First Round: Bye
QF: L-D, 2-0 vs. No. 1 Terrell Barraclough (UVU)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-D, 10-7 vs. Cooper Voorhees (WYO)
Consis. Rd. 3: W-MD, 11-3 vs. Clayton Ulrey (UNCO)
Consis. Rd. 4: W-MFF vs. No. 6 Nicco Ruiz (ASU)
3rd-Place Match: L-D, 1-0 vs. No. 1 Terrell Barraclough (UVU)
174: No. 7 MJ Gaitan – 3rd Place
First Round: Bye
QF: L-TF, 15-0 (1:44) vs. No. 2 Keegan O`Toole (MIZ)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-D, 4-2 vs. Carter Schmidt (CBU)
Consis. Rd. 3: W-D, 15-9 vs. Aydin Rix-McElhinney (UNCO)
Consis. Rd. 4: WBF (6:32) vs. No. 5 Cade DeVos (SDSU)
3rd-Place Match: W-D, 6-4 vs. No. 3 Gaven Sax (OU)
184: No. 4 Evan Bockman – 6th Place
First Round: W-TF, 19-4 (6:33) vs. Gage Musser (AF)
QF: W-D, 4-1 SV-1 vs. No. 5 Deanthony Parker Jr. (OU)
SF: L-Inj. Def. (3:35) vs. No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
Consis. Rd. 4: L-MFF vs. No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach (WYO)
5th-Place Match: MFF vs. No. 5 Deanthony Parker Jr. (OU)
197: No. 6 Nate Schon– 6th Place
First Round: WBF (2:26) vs. Jacob Meissner (ASU)
QF: L-D, 14-8 vs. No. 3 Wyatt Voelker (UNI)
Consis. Rd. 3: L-D. 6-4 vs. Jesse Cassatt (MIZ)
7th-Place Match: W-D, 9-4 vs. Kael Bennie (UVU)
285: No. 6 Daniel Herrera – 5th Place
First Round: WBF (4:36) vs. Andrew Blackburn-Forst (NDSU)
QF: WBF (5:37) vs. No. 3 Lance Runyon (UNI)
SF: L-D, 4-1 vs. No. 2 Cohlton Schultz (ASU)
Consis. Rd. 4: L-D, 5-3 vs. No. 8 Sam Mitchell (WYO)
5th-Place Match: W-D, 5-3 vs. No. 5 Juan Mora (OU)
Tulsa, Okla. – Paniro Johnson will make his return to the finals at the Big 12 Championships on Sunday night at the BOK Center.
Listen to everything Johnson had to say about how he felt competing on day one, opening his offense in the semifinals matchup and his mindset heading into a rematch with No. 1 Colin Realbuto (UNI).
TULSA, Okla. – Much like the regular season for the Cyclones, day one at the Big 12 Championships didn’t go quite as planned.There were upsets, injuries and glimmers of hope all mixed in.
Iowa State still has eight wrestlers alive heading into day two, highlighted by the bright spot of the day: Paniro Johnson, who will wrestle in Sunday’s finals.
The Cyclone are currently in fourth place in the team race with 84.0 points.
Here are all the details from day one.
Paniro Johnson will wrestle for his second conference championship.
It felt fitting that Paniro Johnson performed at his best in a match that kept the largest fanbase in attendance quiet for seven minutes. Johnson secured his spot in the finals at 149 pounds with a 7-3 decision win over Oklahoma State’s Teague Travis. Johnson opened up his offense and separated himself in his win. If Johnson wrestles with the same confidence and aggression on Sunday night, he’s positioned well to win his second conference title.
Here’s what Dresser had to say about Johnson:
“I think he opened it up a little bit today, you know? I mean, it’s no secret, if that guy can get a little orneriness to him and just want to go out and beat guys really bad, he’d like the results even more. There’s times when you have to be a savage and you just got to put guys away, and you have to have that mentality for the whole time. And that’s hard for him to generate sometimes, but when he generates it…You have to separate yourself at this level, because you can’t go into the NCAA Tournament and be in overtime the first round and the second round and the third round. You’re not going to win all those so you have to figure out, as a wrestler, how to separate yourself. And so that’s the challenge with him.”
Yessir!
Paniro Johnson is into the Big 12 finals with a 7-3 decision over Teague Travis!
pic.twitter.com/hpNbX4nzsY
— Iowa State Wrestling (@CycloneWR) March 8, 2025
Iowa State took some tough losses
It’s hard to feel great about a day when top-seeded wrestlers Evan Frost and Cody Chittum are wrestling in the back of the bracket, Evan Bockman is forced to injury default in the semifinals, and Kysen Terukina’s highly anticipated return ends with an early elimination.
The silver lining is that Paniro Johnson, MJ Gaitan and Aiden Riggins have punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships with several others still have the chance to do the same.
“You know, I tell them (the team) all the time, ‘This weekend is about jockeying for position. So you can put yourself in Philadelphia number one and number two, put yourself in the best spot in Philadelphia.’ So that’s the goal.”
Jacob Frost, Cody Chittum and Evan Bockman still have the opportunity to secure their tickets to Philadelphia, with Evan Frost likely to earn an at-large bid. Realistically, the Cyclones have a chance to send eight to compete at Nationals.
Session III matchups:
- 133: Evan Frost vs. No. 6 Cleveland Belton (OU) – 7th place match
- 141: Jacob Frost vs. No. 8 Julian Tagg (SDSU) – Consis. Rd. 4
- 157: Cody Chittum vs. No. 3 Ryder Downey (UNI) – Consis. Rd. 4
- 165: Aiden Riggins vs. No. 6 Nicco Ruiz (ASU) – Consis. Rd. 4
- 174: MJ Gaitan vs. No. 5 Cade DeVos (SDSU) – Consis. Rd. 4
- 184: Evan Bockman vs. No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach (WYO) – Consis. Rd. 4
- 197: Nate Schon vs. Kael Bennie (UVU) – 7th-Place Match
- 285: Daniel Herrera vs. No. 8 Sam Mitchell (WYO) – Consis. Rd. 4
This session will begin at Noon on ESPN+.
Team Standings:
1. Oklahoma State 137.5
2. Northern Iowa 120.5
3. South Dakota State 87.5
4. Iowa State 84.0
5. Northern Colorado 63.0
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
125: No. 8 Kysen Terukina – DNP
First Round: L-D, 4-1 vs. Tristan Daugherty (NDSU)
Consis. Rd. 1: Bye
Consis. Rd. 2: L-D, 10-3 vs. No. 7 Trever Anderson (UNI)
133: No. 1 Evan Frost
First Round: W-MD, 17-4 vs. Stockton O`Brien (WYO)
QF: L-MD, 20-6 vs. No. 8 Kade Moore (MIZ)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-MD, 14-3 vs. Julian Chlebove (ASU)
Consis. Rd. 3: L-D, 14-13 vs. No. 3 Julian Farber (UNI)
7th-Place Match: vs. No. 6 Cleveland Belton (OU)
141: No. 3 Jacob Frost
First Round: W-TF, 16-1 (5:21) vs. Daniel Miranda (ASU)
QF: W-D, 15-8 vs. No. 6 Josh Edmond (MIZ)
SF: L-MD vs. No. 2 Cael Happel (UNI)
Consis. Rd. 4: vs. No. 8 Julian Tagg (SDSU)
149: No. 2 Paniro Johnson
First Round: W-D, 2-1 vs. Avery Allen (SDSU)
QF: W-D, 6-5 SV-1 vs. No. 7 Logan Gioffre (MIZ)
SF: W-D, 7-3 vs. Teague Travis (OKST)
Finals: vs. No. 1 Colin Realbuto (UNI)
157: No. 1 Cody Chittum
First Round: vs. Bryce Shelton (AF)
QF: W-MD, 9-0 vs. Caleb Dowling (WVU)
SF: L-MD, 12-4 vs. No. 4 Cobe Siebrecht (SDSU)
Consis. Rd. 4: vs. No. 3 Ryder Downey (UNI)
165: No. 8 Aiden Riggins
First Round: Bye
QF: L-D, 2-0 vs. No. 1 Terrell Barraclough (UVU)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-D, 10-7 vs. Cooper Voorhees (WYO)
Consis. Rd. 3: W-MD, 11-3 vs. Clayton Ulrey (UNCO)
Consis. Rd. 4: vs. No. 6 Nicco Ruiz (ASU)
174: No. 7 MJ Gaitan
First Round: Bye
QF: L-TF, 15-0 (1:44) vs. No. 2 Keegan O`Toole (MIZ)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-D, 4-2 vs. Carter Schmidt (CBU)
Consis. Rd. 3: W-D, 15-9 vs. Aydin Rix-McElhinney (UNCO)
Consis. Rd. 4: vs. No. 5 Cade DeVos (SDSU)
184: No. 4 Evan Bockman
First Round: W-TF, 19-4 (6:33) vs. Gage Musser (AF)
QF: W-D, 4-1 SV-1 vs. No. 5 Deanthony Parker Jr. (OU)
SF: L-Inj. Def. (3:35) vs. No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
Consis. Rd. 4: vs. No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach (WYO)
197: No. 6 Nate Schon
First Round: WBF (2:26) vs. Jacob Meissner (ASU)
QF: L-D, 14-8 vs. No. 3 Wyatt Voelker (UNI)
Consis. Rd. 3: L-D. 6-4 vs. Jesse Cassatt (MIZ)
7th-Place Match: vs. Kael Bennie (UVU)
285: No. 6 Daniel Herrera
First Round: WBF (4:36) vs. Andrew Blackburn-Forst (NDSU)
QF: WBF (5:37) vs. No. 3 Lance Runyon (UNI)
SF: L-D, 4-1 vs. No. 2 Cohlton Schultz (ASU)
Consis. Rd. 4: vs. No. 8 Sam Mitchell (WYO)
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Joshua Jefferson & Curtis Jones addressed media members following their team’s win over K-State on Saturday.
Mar 8, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Nate Heise (0) is guarded by Kansas State Wildcats forward David N’Guessan (1) and forward Coleman Hawkins (33) during the first half at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
The plus and minus number that appears in college basketball box scores can deceive as often as it illuminates.
And that mercurial measure did the latter for No. 10 Iowa State’s wire-to-wire regular-season closing 73-57 win Saturday at Kansas State — and the player with the best number for the Cyclones proved to be Nate Heise at plus-16.
“Coach (T.J. Otzelberger) just mentioned over and over that this was a pride game,” Heise said on the Cyclone Radio Network after the game. “So if we won or lost it wasn’t gonna affect our seed in the (Big 12) Tournament. So we were just playing for pride, playing for the name on the front of the jersey and the back of the jersey, and I think we just played hard regardless.”
Heise started in place of Keshon Gilbert, who has missed three of ISU’s past four games with a muscle strain. Heise scored seven points and led the backcourt with six rebounds, while tying center Dishon Jackson with a game-high three steals as the Cyclones (23-8, 13-7) avenged an 80-61 loss to the Wildcats (15-6, 9-11) five weeks ago at Hilton Coliseum.
Curtis Jones led ISU with 24 points on 11-for-12 free-throw shooting, Joshua Jefferson added 14 points in 21 minutes while battling foul trouble, and Jackson chipped in 11 points on 4-for-5 field goal shooting.
“I thought (Jackson) had a great impact,” said Otzelberger, whose fifth-seeded team opens Big 12 Tournament play at 11:30 a.m.. Wednesday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. “The finish in traffic, the dunk late, was a big basket, and we need all those points, and I think those guys, they did a good job.”
The Cyclones outscored Kansas State 22-to-six in points off turnovers and led by double-digits most of the second half. They also snapped a two-game skid at Bramlage Coliseum while spoiling the Wildcats’ senior day.
“We talk all the time about our daily habits and how much we compete, fight in practice and we don’t want to come out and go easy on the opponent after we’ve put in all that work and all that time on the practice court,” Otzelberger said. “It is good that they guys (got) the validation of getting a win, especially on the road, avenging a loss we didn’t feel great about at home.”
So this “pride” game came at the perfect time — particularly for Heise, who’s excelled in his occasionally expanded role lately. He’s scored in double figures in four of the past six games and shot 61.8 percent from the field in that span. He’s also notched multiple steals in those games while continuing to be one of the Cyclones’ most dogged on-ball defenders.
“Defensive intent, toughness, chasing down loose basketballs, getting steals, getting assists,” Otzelberger said of Heise. “He’s got a toughness and a grit to him that really impacted our other guys, as well, today.”
Gilbert’s impact on winning for ISU has been considerable during both of his two seasons, and Otzelberger said the former UNLV transfer and the Cyclones’ assists leader should be fully available for next week’s Big 12 Tournament and the bigger one that follows.
ISU will take a day off on Sunday then dive headlong into another intense practice on Monday.
“It’s gonna be spirited and fired up and energetic and enthusiastic — and Keshon Gilbert’s gonna be out there, and we’re all gonna be out there,” Otzelberger said. “And we’re all gonna earn it together.”
TULSA, Oklahoma — Five Cyclones will compete in the Big 12 semifinals at the Big 12 Championships after Session I.
- Jacob Frost
- Paniro Johnson
- Cody Chittum
- Evan Bockman
- Daniel Herrera
Kysen Terukina , Evan Frost, Aiden Riggins, MJ Gaitan and Nate Schon are still alive on the consolation side of the brackets.
Frost, Chittum and Bockman all punched their tickets to the 2025 NCAA Championships during the first session.
Five thoughts after Session I:
- Overall, really solid wrestling from the guys headed into the semifinals tonight. They wrestled smart and tough. There was several bonus point wins which is big when you look at the team race.
- Cody Chittum is wrestling like someone who wants to be a Big 12 Champion. He’s been tough and winning in dominant fashion. He racked up three minutes of riding time in one match. This is exactly how the No. 1 seed should be wrestling.
- Daniel Herrera is a BAD man. He notched two pins today. That’s huge. He just continues to grow each week. A true freshman causing havoc. There are only four allocations at heavyweight so he’s wrestling exactly like he needs to in order to steal a bid.
- I’d like to see Paniro Johnson open up a bit more. It would be nice to see him score some more points.
- Evan Bockman has really impressed me today. I’m excited to see how far he can go.
Evan Frost suffers tough loss. Here’s what Coach St. John had to say about his performance:
“He’s got kind of a bum hammy right now, and I think it’s ailing him a little bit. You know, when you get into the second or third day of the National tournament, you’ve got to figure out how to win with those ailments. This is maybe his first real injury. So, him being able to sort that out, mentally more than anything, is going to be big for him. He just has to keep doing what he’s doing and maybe change a couple of things strategically to protect himself a little more moving forward.”
Team Standings:
1. Oklahoma State – 83.0
2. Iowa State- 54.0
3. Northern Iowa – 50.0
4. South Dakota State – 40.0
5. Northern Colorado – 39.5
Big 12 semifinals and the second consolation round will begin this evening at 5 p.m. on ESPN+.
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
125: No. 8 Kysen Terukina
First Round: L-D, 4-1 vs. Tristan Daugherty (NDSU)
Consis. Rd. 1: Bye
Consis. Rd. 2: vs. No. 7 Trever Anderson (UNI)
133: No. 1 Evan Frost
First Round: W-MD, 17-4 vs. Stockton O`Brien (WYO)
QF: L-MD, 20-6 vs. No. 8 Kade Moore (MIZ)
Consis. Rd. 2: vs. Julian Chlebove (ASU)
141: No. 3 Jacob Frost
First Round: W-TF, 16-1 (5:21) vs. Daniel Miranda (ASU)
QF: W-D, 15-8 vs. No. 6 Josh Edmond (MIZ)
SF: vs. No. 2 Cael Happel (UNI)
149: No. 2 Paniro Johnson
First Round: W-D, 2-1 vs. Avery Allen (SDSU)
QF: W-D, 6-5 SV-1 vs. No. 7 Logan Gioffre (MIZ)
SF: vs. Teague Travis (OKST)
157: No. 1 Cody Chittum
First Round: vs. Bryce Shelton (AF)
QF: W-MD, 9-0 vs. Caleb Dowling (WVU)
SF: vs. No. 4 Cobe Siebrecht (SDSU)
165: No. 8 Aiden Riggins
First Round: Bye
QF: L-D, 2-0 vs. No. 1 Terrell Barraclough (UVU)
Consis. Rd. 2: vs. Cooper Voorhees (WYO)
174: No. 7 MJ Gaitan
First Round: Bye
QF: L-TF, 15-0 (1:44) vs. No. 2 Keegan O`Toole (MIZ)
Consis. Rd. 2: vs. Carter Schmidt (CBU)
184: No. 4 Evan Bockman
First Round: W-TF, 19-4 (6:33) vs. Gage Musser (AF)
QF: W-D, 4-1 SV-1 vs. No. 5 Deanthony Parker Jr. (OU)
SF: vs. No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
197: No. 6 Nate Schon
First Round: WBF (2:26) vs. Jacob Meissner (ASU)
QF: L-D, 14-8 vs. No. 3 Wyatt Voelker (UNI)
Consis. Rd. 2: vs. Jesse Cassatt (MIZ)
285: No. 6 Daniel Herrera
First Round: WBF (4:36) vs. Andrew Blackburn-Forst (NDSU)
QF: WBF (5:37) vs. No. 3 Lance Runyon (UNI)
SF: vs. No. 2 Cohlton Schultz (ASU)
Audi Crooks during Iowa State’s 69-63 loss to Baylor on Friday at the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. Photo Courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications // Luke Lu
KANSAS CITY – Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly called a timeout after just two minutes and 10 seconds of Friday’s Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal against No. 17 Baylor had elapsed.
The score: Bears 10, Cyclones 0. The situation seemed grim. A comeback seemed unlikely. But that didn’t keep Iowa State from taking Baylor to the brink in a 69-63 loss at the T-Mobile Center.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed in the result of the game, but I am not disappointed at all in the people wearing an Iowa State uniform,” said Fennelly, who saw sophomore center Audi Crooks score 32 points to break the program’s single-season scoring mark (763). “We played as hard as we could play against a very good team, and I love coaching our team. I’m blessed to do it. I’m looking forward to the next time we go to practice as we prepare for our next game.”
Iowa State played parts of the fourth quarter without either Emily Ryan or Addy Brown on the floor.
Both sat on the bench for an extended period of time with four fouls in the final quarter before ultimately fouling out. Ryan finished with nine points and five assists. Brown — who scored 41 points in the second-round win over Arizona State — totaled six points, four rebounds and seven assists.
“We showed a lot of grit and tenacity,” Crooks said. “We know that Baylor has the tendency to get into hot streaks, but to our credit, we took a lot of pride in that and didn’t fall down. We continued to fight back and eventually took the lead.”
The Cyclones went ahead 61-60 on a 3-pointer from Arianna Jackson, but they couldn’t finish it off.
Crooks scores 22 of her 32 points in the first and fourth quarters, and also grabbed six boards while going 14-18 from the field.
She missed her first two shot attempts and nearly ended the game without another miss.
“We’d be here a long time,” Fennelly said when asked about the value that Crooks brings to the team. “I think the value that you see on the court is one thing, but the value she brings to our university and program is exponentially bigger than anything she does on the basketball court.
“I think the way she handles herself, the demeanor that she carries herself with, and the joy that she plays with, I think is infectious. It’s been something that’s really impacted our team over the last two years and impacted me. She’s a great person and a great player. It’s hard to believe she’s accomplished so much as a sophomore.”
Iowa State now gets nine days of rest before finding out it’s NCAA Tournament fate.
It’s not a certainty that the Cyclones will be selected, but the resume they’ve built should have them dancing for the 23rd time in the Fennelly era.
“There’s no question our team belongs in the NCAA Tournament,” Fennelly said. “I’ll debate anyone on that one if you want to. The way we play, how we play, the schedule we play, the people we have on our team if you’re trying to showcase the sport… we play in one of the best leagues in the country. Again, I’m not in the room, but some of these teams I hear that they’re talking about… tell me when and where and we’ll show up and play you.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and forward Audi Crooks addressed media members following the Cyclones’ 69-63 loss to Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals Friday.
https://www.youtube.com/live/yobW9ah7hdU?si=zPSwjwKit8d-hOBv
Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger calls for a time-out during the second over-time against BYU in the Big-12 men’s basketball in the Senior Day at Hilton Coliseum on March 4, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — T.J. Otzelberger’s aware of the speculation.
Iowa State’s head coach knows some question the toll his trademark taxing practices can have on his players — especially as the stakes grow higher in March.
But the answer to his team’s inconsistent play the past month and a half isn’t to ease up. If anything, the No. 10 Cyclones’ drill sessions are ramping up in intensity as they seek to finish the regular season with a win at 12:30 p.m. Saturday (CBS) at Kansas State.
“Competitive is, do it in practice, non stop, and demand that there’s only one way that we do everything,” Otzelberger said of his team (22-8, 12-7), which seeks to avoid a regular-season sweep by the mercurial Wildcats (15-15, 9-10). “So that practice time truly is gold, especially in March.”
Tuesday’s double overtime loss to No. 25 BYU at home served as exhibit A for ISU’s ongoing issue with inconsistent play. The Cyclones’ defense stifled the Cougars early, leading to a nine-point lead that should have been larger. Then chronic offensive struggles led to lengthy lapses on defense which allowed BYU to build a 21-point second-half lead. ISU finally refocused and used suffocating ball pressure to produce 29 turnovers to get back in the game, but couldn’t seal the deal.
Otzelberger said fatigue is not the problem. An occasional lack of mental toughness — especially when offensive lulls mushroom into defensive deficiencies— is.
“Then you get distracted from how you built to that point, which is guard the basketball, be tough, get in transition, get easy baskets, get offensive rebounds,” said Otzelberger, whose team is 7-6 in its past 13 games. “So I think at times we get distracted from what the main thing is.”
And fixating on sometimes gaudy offensive stat lines ain’t it. The Cyclones rank 27th in adjusted offensive efficiency according to KenPom this season — a vast improvement over their production in Otzelberger’s three seasons — but trying to simply outshoot foes isn’t how his teams reached the Sweet 16 twice in his first three seasons.
Fun — a.k.a. “fierce urgency now” — underpins success in ISU’s mettle-driven program.
“It’s still about winning the possession game, be the mentally tougher more together team, and then, look, this time of the year, part of that is have fun,” Otzelberger said. “But you have fun by doing those things, right?”
Affirmative, his All-Big 12 junior point guard Tamin Lipsey said.
“I feel like we need that competitive practice,” said the Cyclones’ all-time steals leader, who’s been playing with a broken thumb. “We need to get up and down, get used to that playing, because rebounding and transition defense is what we need to focus on.”
That’s true in both good times and challenging ones. Nothing changes in terms of preparation for ISU — and when the going gets tough, the practices get tougher.
“It’s getting down to the end of the season, the win-or-go-home games,” Lipsey said. “I have a lot of faith in our team and the chemistry that we have that when the big time is gonna come, we’re gonna be ready.”
And the next “big time” moment will come in the so-called “Little Apple” of Manhattan, Kansas. The Cyclones lost by 19 points to the Wildcats at home five weeks ago and have been up and down ever since.
“It really comes down to your mental toughness and competitive endurance,” Otzelberger said. “When you do (that) the consistency comes for you.”
Addy Brown goes up for a shot during her 41-point performance in Iowa State’s 96-88 win over Arizona State in Thursday’s Big 12 Tournament game. Photo Courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications//Luke Lu.
KANSAS CITY – Arizona State took the first lead on Iowa State in Thursday’s Big 12 Tournament second round game, but it wouldn’t take long for Addy Brown to get it back for the Cyclones — and then some.
Brown hit three triples in the opening seven minutes to put Iowa State ahead, and the Cyclones never looked back in the fast-paced 96-88 win at the T-Mobile Center.
“Tonight just happened to be my night, and I took advantage of that,” Brown said. “You wait on moments like that, and I think my teammates were excited for me. They were finding me in the right places, too, so shout out to them.”
The sophomore forward led Iowa State in scoring with 41 points, setting a new career high as well as a program record for most points in a Big 12 Tournament game. She added six rebounds and four assists.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly remarked that it didn’t look too bad for a second team All-Big 12 player, poking a bit at the league awards that were released earlier this week.
“It’s kind of crazy,” Brown said. “It hasn’t really set in yet… like coach (Fennelly) said to enjoy what we did as a team and kind of just have this moment, and then tomorrow we start preparing for a different team.”
Although it ended as an 8-point game, the final score wasn’t indicative of what Brown and the Cyclones put the Sun Devils through.
At one point in the third quarter, Iowa State owned a 20-point lead on Arizona State, which ended the game with the five players that didn’t foul out of the game.
Sydney Harris helped the Cyclones get out to a double-digit lead early with three first quarter makes from deep, herself.
Her 12 points gave Iowa State separation, while Audi Crooks gave the Cyclones’ 20 points before fouling out herself.
Overall, Iowa State put the Sun Devils away early and didn’t need to look back, even if Fennelly wishes his team had done a bit more.
“We’ve got to finish,” Fennelly said. “It was eerily similar to the game we had down there. They just keep playing. … Everyone talks about finishing, but for us it was just taking care of the ball.”
Iowa State will return to the court Friday in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals to face No. 2 Baylor at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
“Baylor just defensively overwhelmed us when we played them a couple of weeks ago,” Fennelly said. “We’ve got to match their physicality, handle the ball and obviously, we have to shoot the ball a lot better than we did down there. But it seems like it’s March in the Big 12 tournament, and we get to see Baylor again.
“They’re a great team – one of the best teams in the country playing that way,” Fennelly said. “We’ll figure out something. I’m glad we have to worry about it.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly, and players Addy Brown & Syndey Harris addressed media members following their team’s 96-88 win over Arizona State in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament.
https://www.youtube.com/live/K6kmDqrjp94?si=qLFwULEF2wEnWbbM
Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Kelsey Joens (23) celebrates after made a three-point shot during the fourth quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly put his program on the national women’s college basketball map in the late 1990s and he’s kept it there.
Annual trips to the NCAA Tournament are fully expected — as are occasional trips to the Sweet 16. So Fennelly and his staff are used to overcoming challenges, but he faced a uniquely difficult one this season when it came to finding a regular rotation and sharply defining all of his players’ roles.
“It’s been the hardest thing I’ve done, we’ve done, in maybe forever,” said Fennelly, whose surging Cyclones (21-10) will play either Cincinnati or Arizona State in Thursday’s 5:30 p.m. Big 12 Tournament second round game at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
Myriad factors nudged Fennelly and his staff to maintain a deep rotation. He needed to manage all-time assists leader Emily Ryan’s minutes most of the season because of health issues. He lost standout transfer Kenzie Hare to a hip injury early in the season. Stern defender Arianna Jackson suffered a foot injury, which has hampered her at times — and all of his other players who regularly log minutes would flash at times then struggle, making it difficult for a team-wide identity to form.
But one change helped that uncertainty dissipate: Inserting sophomore guard Kelsey Joens into the starting lineup.
“No one can debate how hard Kelsey Joens plays,” said Fennelly, whose team has won six of seven games since Joens became a starter. “And I think there was some comfort — and again, I don’t know, but she’s been here, so she’s in with Addy (Brown) and Audi (Crooks) and (Jackson), they’re in the same (class). So I think there was some comfort level there, as well, but she’s earned everything she’s gotten.”
Joens’ ability to augment the prolific production from ISU’s All-Big 12 trio of Brown (second team), Crooks (unanimous first team) and Ryan (honorable mention) has helped her team rescue its season and almost certainly lock up an NCAA Tournament bid after Sunday’s 85-63 rout of No. 20 Kansas State.
Crooks — the AP’s national player of the week — has scored 25 or more points in six of the past nine games, and is shooting 61.3 percent from the field in that span.
“We’re kind of firing on all levels,” the 6-3 sophomore said. “I think we’re getting a lot more even contribution(s) from starters, from bench players, just all around.”
Joens is averaging 9.3 points and five rebounds as a starter this season. She’s shooting a torrid 51.8 percent from 3-point range (14 of 27) in that span and has notched a steal in six of those seven games.
“She’s just super consistent as far as her preparation and her work ethic,” Ryan said recently of Joens.
She’s also, Ryan added, “super easy to cheer for.”
Why, precisely?
“I think that my teammates trust me,” Joens said before the win over the Wildcats. “Whatever they need, I’m willing to do and I think they know that.”
So does Fennelly, who considers his seventh-seeded team one of four or five that could win the Big 12 Tournament.
“We’d have to play at a ridiculously high level, but that’s what March is about,” he said. “And that’s what’s exciting about playing in this conference and plying in these types of tournaments.”
Joens’ late-season surge fuels ISU’s hopes that it will be a memorable month — in Kansas City and beyond.
“You’d have a hard time telling me that she’s not one of the top couple reasons why this team has kind of found its groove a little bit,” Fennelly said. “And hopefully that will continue.”
Mar 4, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Brigham Young Cougars guard Trey Stewart (1) defends Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — It felt inevitable.
Senior night. A double-bye in next week’s Big 12 Tournament on the line — not to mention a potential top-three seed line for the NCAA Tournament. An Iowa State comeback for the ages reawakening a Hilton Coliseum crowd that never, ever, ever will count their team out.
But hoped-for happy endings are trumped by muddled middles — and that’s why the No. 10 Cyclones closed the regular season Tuesday with an 88-85 double overtime loss to BYU at home despite overcoming a 21-point second-half deficit to take three two-point leads in the first overtime.
“It hurts because we clawed all the way back, but it’s on us for even getting down that much,” said senior guard Curtis Jones, who scored 16 points in what’s almost certainly his last game at Hilton for ISU (22-8, 12-7). “We were just kind of getting bullied (late) in the first (half) and the beginning of the second, and then at the end they were getting a lot of offensive rebounds — they had 17 — so we just didn’t execute well enough down the stretch.”
Or in several key moments in the middle portion of the game. The Cyclones built a 17-10 edge with 8:50 left in the first half on senior guard Keshon Gilbert’s 3-pointer, but the Cougars (22-8, 13-6) outscored them, 23-7, down the stretch to take a 33-24 lead into the break.
That’s remarkable for a lot of reasons — not the least of which is that BYU failed to score a single point in the first six in a half minutes of the game. But the Cyclones let their early shooting woes affect their defense and the Cougars took full advantage.
ISU forced an astonishing 29 turnovers in the game … and lost. The Cyclones also were battered on the boards, 52-24, in part, but not wholly, because their furious second-half rally hinged on the intense ball pressure created by a four guard/one big lineup most of the time.
“Then, what you give up is a little bit of that size and physicality on the glass,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team fell to 19-2 this season when at full strength. “At the same time, I know our guys are competitors and it can’t be every shot that they miss in the end of regulation and in both overtimes, they get the rebound. It just can’t happen. It’s not OK. … There’s a part of defensive rebounding that if you want to win bad enough, you just find a way to get them — regardless of what’s going on. They had more fight on the glass to get the offensive rebound than we did to get the defensive rebound, unfortunately.”
Junior forward Joshua Jefferson led five Cyclones in double figures with 19 points. His pair of clutch free throws with nine seconds remaining in regulation gave his team a chance to complete its ill-fated comeback. And his layup with 34 seconds left in overtime gave ISU a 79-77 lead, but BYU scored on the other end to force another five-minute slog to the end.
“Joshua has continued to be a great player for us and proves over and over that if you put the ball in his hands, great things are gonna happen,” Otzelberger said.
The Cyclones did not put the ball in Jefferson’s hands in their last full possession in the second overtime — but they tried to do so. Instead, the ball stuck in sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic’s hands and BYU closed out on him forcefully and induced a shot clock violation.
“They guarded it well,” said Momcilovic, who scored 18 points and drilled one of his four 3-pointers to tie the game, 66-66, with 44 seconds left in regulation. “We were trying to get it inside to Joshua, I think they denied it and kind of just a broken play at the end. Had it in my hands, shot an airball, so not what I wanted, but it happened.”
And that’s why what felt inevitable proved to be illusory. All of those emotional elements — senior night, seeding concerns, the frenzied comeback — appeared to be aligning to repeat history. In last season’s final home game, the Cougars took a 14-point lead early in the second half, but Jones and his teammates overcame it to win by five.
This time, that revival didn’t necessarily come too late. It simply received and deserved an incomplete grade. And if the Cyclones are to make the Final Four-worthy noise they not long ago seemed almost destined to make as March marches on, inconsistency and anything short of a compete effort must finally become a vestige of the past.
“There’s not gonna be any take our time, ease into it,” Otzelberger said. “We’re done with the inconsistent thing. We’re done with the individual agendas offensively, and it’s time for us to start playing to the level of the team that we know we are.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Curtis Jones & Milan Momcilovic addressed media members following their team’s 88-85 2OT loss to BYU Tuesday.
AMES, Iowa — March is here, and the Cyclones are ready for the postseason. This week, head coach Kevin Dresser, Kysen Terukina and Paniro Johnson sat down to talk about the road ahead. Terukina reflects on what it means to compete in his final March as a Cyclone, while Johnson shares his excitement about returning to the tournament after a year away. Plus, Dresser looks back on the season and what’s next for Iowa State wrestling. Watch the full interviews below.
Iowa State Cyclones’ forward Addy Brown (24), center Audi Crooks (55) and guard Emily Ryan (11) celebrates during a timeout in the fourth quarter against Texas Tech of the Big-12 women’s basketball showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Three Iowa State women’s basketball players earned All-Big 12 accolades on Tuesday afternoon, as announced by the conference office. The trio of Audi Crooks, Addy Brown and Emily Ryan earned recognition from the league’s coaches after helping ISU to a 12-6 Big 12 record.
Crooks was a unanimous First Team all-conference selection for the second consecutive season, the only Iowa State women’s basketball player to be selected to the First Team in each of their first two seasons. The Algona native led the Cyclones in scoring, pouring in 23.0 points per game while pulling down 7.7 rebounds per contest. In Iowa State’s regular season finale against No. 14 Kansas State, Crooks scored a season-high 36 points, shooting 14-of-18 from the floor and 8-of-11 from the free throw line. The sophomore center was a three-time Big 12 Player of the Week selection. She scored in double figures in every game this season, finishing with six 30-plus point games and 10 double-doubles. Crooks is the nation’s leader in field goal makes this year and broke her own record from a season ago with 285 makes through the regular season.
Brown was selected to the All-Big 12 Second Team this season after being recognized as honorable mention as a freshman in 2023-24. She improved upon a stellar rookie campaign, averaging 15.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game in conference play as a sophomore, all top 12 marks in the league. Brown finished the regular season with eight double-doubles and scoring with 20-plus points nine times. She was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on February 3 after scoring a career-high 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting against No. 9 TCU. The 6-2 forward added 20 points and eight assists at No. 11 Kansas State in the same week. Brown nearly missed the program’s fourth ever triple-double at Kansas on February 15 with 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
Ryan was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, earning her third career all-conference honors. Iowa State’s all-time assists leader averaged 9.8 points and 6.2 dimes per game this season while shooting nearly 45 percent from the floor. In conference play, she increased her scoring to 11.4 points per contest. On Senior Day and likely her last game in Hilton Coliseum, Ryan posted one of her most well-rounded performances, scoring 17 points while passing out 10 assists and pulling down seven rebounds to help Iowa State to its first ranked win of the season over No. 14 Kansas State. The Claflin, Kansas native has passed out 968 career assists, the ninth all-time best in NCAA women’s basketball history, and has posted top 5 marks at Iowa State for steals (222), blocks (104) and free throw percentage (.881). She became one of just three women’s basketball players in NCAA history to record 1,500 points, 900 assists and 600 rebounds in her career (Sabrina Ionescu, Caitlin Clark).
Iowa State travels to Kansas City for the 2025 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship as the seven-seed. The Cyclones earned a first-round bye and will take on the winner of Cincinnati and Arizona State Thursday night at 5:30 pm in the T-Mobile Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Audi Crooks & Sydney Harris addressed media members ahead of her team’s upcoming trip to Kansas City for the Big 12 Tournament.
Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger takes to Iowa State Cyclones guard Nate Heise (0) during the second half against Arizona in the Big-12 men’s basketball showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday March 1, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It’s Monday Musings on a Tuesday, and we’ve got plenty to talk about.
Otzelberger hits another milestoneIowa State got back on track with an 84-67 win over No. 22 Arizona on Saturday night.
The win gives T.J. Otzelberger the mark for most-career victories over top 25 teams of any coach in program history.
It’s an impressive feat, no matter where a coach may take the No. 1 spot at their respective schools, but consider how quickly Otzelberger and his team’s ascended over others in less time.
Most AP Top 25 wins (Top 5)
25 – T.J. Otzelberger (4th season)
24 – Johnny Orr (14 seasons)
23 – Fred Hoiberg (5 seasons)
17 – Steve Prohm (6 seasons)
12 – Larry Eustachy (5 seasons)
It’s just another reminder of how far Otzelberger has brought this program in a short amount of time, as is the streak of weeks staying inside the top 10, which continued Monday.
Momcilovic leads Cyclones in win over ArizonaMilan Momcilovic seemed automatic at times finishing at 50 percent from the field and hitting on four, first-half three’s.
Even a bloody nose didn’t stop Momcilovic from a 17-point, 3-assist game. There’s more chapters to write in the story, but he’s headed in the right direction since his second half in Houston.
9 points in 65 seconds? Niang and Haliburton need to come back more often pic.twitter.com/wtjrKAp2ML
— OutCYde the Lines (@OutCYdetheLines) March 2, 2025
Heise at his bestNate Heise is playing his best ball at the perfect time.
Wrestling fans are no strangers to hearing that a team needs to ‘peak at the right time,’ and I feel that we’re seeing it with Heise here.
After reaching 10 points twice in the season prior to this stretch, Heise has recorded 11 points or more in each of the last four games.
On Saturday, he added four rebounds, a dunk and another pair of 3-pointers, along with double-digit games from both Curtis Jones and Brandt Chatfield.
There was no foul called on this play leading to a slam dunk for Nate Heise #balldontlie pic.twitter.com/pXcRLZByJK
— OutCYde the Lines (@OutCYdetheLines) March 2, 2025
Watch out, this team is 19-1 when healthy.
The women are back and we say farewell to No. 11The Cyclone women are back. Iowa State got its first AP top 25 and quad-1 win of the season on Sunday, taking down No. 14 Kansas State in Ames.
Audi Crooks led the way with 36 points, and Iowa State effectively took itself off of the bubble in its last guaranteed chance at facing a top tier team of the season.
They’ll need to win one in Kansas City, just to feel increasingly safe and avoid a loss to a team that they should beat, but this program will be dancing again – I’m confident in saying that.
Emily Ryan celebrated her Senior Day, and I wanted to put the incredibly well done tribute video in here for everyone to see and share.
Loyal Forever True
Thank you, @ryan_emily11!
pic.twitter.com/sPDsML9MbI
— Cyclone Basketball (@CycloneWBB) March 2, 2025
However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t bring up the day that Ryan established herself as an Iowa State great, and it didn’t include a single-game performance or anything in-season.
While Ryan was always a vocal leader in practice, she took another step when she posted that she would be staying in Ames, despite departures from a majority of her current teammates.
Ride or die through it all. Love you Cyclone Nation pic.twitter.com/JYh79SQCrj
— Emily Ryan (@ryan_emily11) March 28, 2023
She had the program’s back, and they’ve had hers. It was incredibly fitting to see her play so well during her final game at Hilton. I hope to see 11 in the rafters whenever enough time has passed.
The Cyclones’ showed out at the CombineIowa State had maybe its best NFL Combine weekend collectively as the football staff back in Ames could have dreamed.
We have full results and clips here, but I’ll go through the highlights here.
To start things out, Darien Porter ran the third-fastest 40-yard dash of anyone at the combine, logging a 4.3.
Porter’s numbers included earning the fastest 3-cone drill time in the Combine along with the No. 2 20-yard shuttle time.
According to Kent Lee Platte’s RAS System (Relative Athletic Score), Porter performed as the No. 4 cornerback at the Combine since 1987.
Per @MathBomb, Iowa State CB Darien Porter put up a Relative Athletic Score of 9.99 out of 10 at the Combine
That ranks 4th out of the 2,480 CBs from 1987 to 2025 https://t.co/HhIAPI7Sfy pic.twitter.com/O9wp2sy6t5
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) February 28, 2025
Jaylin Noel may have been the story of the weekend, though.
The Iowa State wideout set the top wide receiver numbers for the bench press, vertical and broad jump, and was in the top 10 in every drill he recorded.
For all that fellow wide receiver Jayden Higgins did for himself at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, Noel may have had a similar impact this week.
Overall each of the four Cyclones that participated in most drills (Malik Verdon only did on-field drills), they each performed historically well.
Along with Porter’s No. 4 mark on that same scale, offensive lineman Jalen Travis came in at No. 14 out of 1,379 offensive tackles going back to 1987. Higgins was 46 out of 3,441 wideouts to the same date. And Jaylin Noel came in 144 in the same category.
Now, it’s just measurements and tests, but those are historically unique. They cleaned up in Indianapolis.
Speaking of Indianapolis, current Pacer Tyrese Haliburton was back in Ames with fellow former Cyclone Georges Niang to celebrate his Olympic gold medal.
loyal forever true @CycloneMBB pic.twitter.com/ny9owHrZDG
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) March 3, 2025
The quick hitsHe may have missed some big news on Saturday night, but I’m sure he’s caught up by now.
I know I’m late so excuse me…
HEEL CENA!?!?!?!???????
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) March 2, 2025
In what was probably the most shocking thing I saw over the past week, John Cena turned heel at Elimination Chamber – for the non-wrestling fans, it just means he’s the antagonist of the storyline that will unfold going towards WrestleMania.
Cena had said on record multiple times that he would never do this, and has forever been one of WWE’s ‘babyfaces’ (protagonist). Now, he finally goes to the dark side during his year-long retirement tour that will wrap up in November or December. The theater that unfolds and the possibilities with it are going to be fascinating.
If you need a better explanation, this tweet sums it up the best.
In NASCAR terms: this is like if Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jeff Gordon teamed up to right hook Dale Jr. into the wall. https://t.co/dv9cK5WbOS
— FIVE WIDE Sports (@FiveWideSports) March 2, 2025
I’ve waited to include this take much of anywhere in my writing because I’m completely against what is the direct opposite to competitive spirit.
But mid-majors are up against all odds. Every win is expected, and every loss is a ‘season-ender.’ The fact that 27-3 Drake isn’t a lock – or that one of UC San Diego (26-4) & UC Irvine (25-5) will likely miss the tournament – is insane. And it doesn’t feel like expanding it would even help them get there either.
Every mid-major conference should be structuring their tournament like the Sun Belt does. Make sure your top teams have an extreme advantage, and get your ‘best’ representative into March more often than not.
Sun Belt Tournament Bracket: pic.twitter.com/U1MqQH4Bww
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) March 1, 2025
Former Cyclone quarterback Hunter Dekkers was in Jon Gruden’s latest video, and touched on the gambling situation that ended his career in Ames. For those interested in his answers:
Hunter Dekkers is one of the most interesting QB prospects in this year’s draft and I got to hear his story directly from him.
Watch our whole conversation on an all new ‘Inside the FFCA’ out NOW pic.twitter.com/0FAR7OLj11
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) March 1, 2025
Happy March, and if you’re having a tough week, just remember Selection Sunday is less than 12 days away.
Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) and Arizona Wildcats guard KJ Lewis (5) battle for a loose ball during the second half in the Big-12 men’s basketball showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday March 1, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Milan Momcilovic found himself one-handed and banished to the bench.
The talented Iowa State sophomore forward missed nearly a month with an injury to his non-shooting hand — and the tenth-ranked Cyclones went 3-4 while he healed and sat out.
But Momcilovic didn’t fret. He used that untimely journey to the sidelines to examine the game more closely in his mind’s eye, and he’s applied those spectator-based lessons since returning to the starting lineup.
“I think I’m still getting better at moving without the ball,” said Momcilovic, who hopes to help ISU (22-7, 12-6) notch its second straight win over a ranked foe in Tuesday’s 8 p.m. matchup (ESPN2) with No. 25 BYU (21-8, 12-6) at Hilton Coliseum. “(I’m) trying to be more like, for example, just like Steph Curry — obviously not as good, but (I) try to move that much. You can see how much he moves throughout the game and how much he impacts winning.”
So the 6-8 sharpshooter focused on angles and activity, where the best opportunities for quick cuts and strong screens revealed themselves. He dissected the defensive end of the floor in a similar way, where his improved physicality and on-ball defense could yield favorable results.
Nobody puts more into their game than Milan does,” said Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team could potentially lock up a double bye in the Big 12 Tournament with a win over the dangerous Cougars. “The work that he puts in, the time that he puts in — I mean, he loves basketball. He loves to work on his game. He’s a competitor. I think when you sit out, you get to see things and the game slows down for you. And then you probably have some self-dialogue and say, ‘When I get back out there, these are gonna be the things I do, and how I do them.’”
It’s no secret how Momcilovic’s presence on the floor enhances ISU’s spacing, which leads to more opportunities to attack the paint, while also creating prime kick-out opportunities. But now that he’s running the floor aggressively and relentlessly, instead of merely being a skilled spot-up shooter, the Cyclones can fire on all cylinders on the offensive end of the floor. ISU is 5-2 since Momcilovic returned to the rotation — and both losses came with one or more fellow starters out and on the road.
“(Otzelberger) always says when I do physical things I play better,” said Momcilovic, who’s shooting a career-best 41 percent from 3-point range and has drained four or more shots from beyond the arc six times this season. “Just playing defense, fouling, hacking someone, just doing those physical things — he really likes that, and it reflects on the offensive end. When I do that, shots go in.”
The Cyclones will need to see lots of shots descend through the net against BYU, which has won six games in a row and ranks fourth nationally in effective field goal percentage at 57.4 percent, according to KenPom. The Cougars’ leading scorer, Richie Saunders, is shooting 44 percent from 3-point range and spearheads an offense that’s ranked 12th nationally in adjusted efficiency.
“One thing with them that you have to factor into the equation is how well they shoot the basketball,” Otzelberger said. “They’ve got older guys, they’ve got experienced, veteran guys (who) know how to find ways to win. You don’t win six games in a row in this league without having that type of experience.”
The similarly-experience Cyclones have crafted four- and five-game winning streaks in conference play — and Tuesday will be senior night for three starters (Keshon Gilbert, Dishon Jackson, Curtis Jones), as well as key reserves Brandton Chatfield, Nate Heise and “chief energy officer” Conrad Hawley.
So Tuesday’s game is not only pivotal for postseason positioning, it will also be emotional for some of those seniors who don’t retain another year of eligibility.
“It’s unbelievable,” said the 6-10 Chatfield, who’s showcased his grit off the bench. “I’m so happy to be here.”
So is Momcilovic, who has developed his own brand of toughness on both ends of the floor.
“That was a big weakness in my game,” he said. “And T.J. and his staff has done a great job getting me (to be) more physical.”
Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) celebrates with team mates after a three-point play against Arizona during the second half in the Big-12 men’s basketball showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday March 1, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State came in at No. 10 in the latest AP Men’s Basketball Poll, released on Monday.
it continues the nation’s longest streak of weeks ranked inside the top 10.
The Cyclones are one of five Big 12 teams ranked in the poll, joining No. 3 Houston, No. 9 Texas Tech, No. 24 Arizona, and their next opponent.
Iowa State will return to the floor to take on No. 23 BYU Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum (8 p.m. ESPN2).
MBB AP Poll
March 3, 2023
1. Auburn
2. Duke
3. Houston
4. Tennessee
5. Florida
6. St. John’s
7. Alabama
8. Michigan State
9. Texas Tech
10. Iowa State
11. Clemson
12. Wisconsin
13. Maryland
14. Louisville
15. Missouri
16. Memphis
17. Michigan
18. Purdue
19. Kentucky
20. Marquette
21. St. Mary’s
22. Texas A&M
23. BYU
24. Arizona
25. Mississippi State
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Milan Momcilovic & Brandt Chatfield addressed media members ahead of the team’s upcoming game against BYU on Tuesday (8 p.m. ESPN2).
AMES, Iowa — On Saturday night, No. 9 Iowa State defeated the No. 22 Arizona Wildcats 84-67. Milan Momcilovic led the Cyclones with 17 points, including four 3-pointers, while Tamin Lipsey contributed 15 points and eight assists.
There was tons of action, special guests and a rowdy crowd in Hilton Coliseum. Relive it all below in my latest gallery.
Iowa State standout senior point guard Emily Ryan shows her appreciation for the fans on senior day after her team beat No. 14 Kansas State, 85-63, at Hilton Coliseum. Photo by Jacqueline Cordova.
AMES — The Hilton Coliseum clock read 1:15 and the scoreboard told the story of a much-needed senior day blowout triumph.
Iowa State’s lone senior — all-time assists leader Emily Ryan — strode to the bench amid cacophonous cheers.
The native Kansas ended her Cyclone homecourt career by flirting with a triple-double one last time in an emphatic 85-63 win Saturday over No. 14 Kansas State before 10,728 fans at Hilton Coliseum.
Then Ryan — who scored 17 points, dished out 10 assists, and grabbed seven rebounds — did a dance with her teammates before watching and listening to her poignant pre-recorded senior speech as the tears finally flowed as a watery testament to her rock-solid Cyclone career.
“Honestly, just a ton of gratitude is what has been going through my mind ever since the last buzzer (went) off,” said Ryan, whose teammate surprised her by festooning the locker room with balloons and streamers to help serve as a send-off for her last game in Hilton. “Just how grateful I am to have played here and to play for these coaches, and to have teammates like I do. I couldn’t be more grateful to be able to do it here in Hilton one more time and have my family in the stands, it was a really special (day).”
But while Ryan appreciated the celebration of her ongoing ISU career, she fully focused on ensuring her team (21-10, 12-6) would extend its season beyond next week’s Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. The Cyclones entered Saturday on the NCAA Tournament bubble — a precarious perch they should no longer occupy.
“21-10, 12-6 in this league, no bad losses, a quality win today, I mean, that’s not my decision, but I think there should be no doubt now,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said.
Standout sophomore center Audi Crooks joined Ryan in notching a double-double with 36 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Kelsey Joens added 10 points, and sophomore guard/forward Addy Brown totaled nine points while grabbing 10 rebounds.
The Cyclones held the Wildcats (25-6, 13-5) to 33.3 percent shooting, outrebounded them, 47-to-31, and outscored them, 50-29, in the second half.
“They’re a really good team and we were able to come out on top, and just kind of showed that we belong here,” Brown said.
So Saturday served as less of an ending and more of a beginning for Ryan and all of the Cyclones, who won’t play until Thursday in Kansas City.
“I’m squeezing every bit out of this last ride that I can,” Ryan said.
She’s belonged at Iowa State ever since she stepped foot on campus five years ago. And fittingly, at one point in the game, she needed to swap out her blood-spackled No. 11 jersey for a No. 52 shirt before closing out the game with a fresh No. 11.
“If you wrote a story, like, this is how Emily Ryan’s career at Hilton should end, you wrote exactly what happened today,” Fennelly said. “And that never happens. She played well. The crowd was into the game. Her team played well. We beat a really good team. I mean, if you would have written this story before the game, people would be like, ‘Well, that’s really nice but it’s not gonna happen,’ and it did. And I thought the second half it was just one play after another after another, and she was the one that dictated the flow of the game.”
So did Crooks, who scored 14 of her 36 points in a third quarter the Cyclones won, 27-15. Crooks finished 14 of 18 from the field in her most dominant performance of the season.
“Audi did Audi things,” Ryan said of ISU’s leading scorer. “She is so good and for how good she is, I think it’s underappreciated.”
Ryan certainly left the floor Saturday feeling anything but undervalued. She said in her speech that she hoped her legacy would hinge on being a good teammate. Nothing more, nothing less.
So did she accomplish that goal?
“(She’s) the best,” Brown said. “Just everything she does. She leads by example and that’s what a true leader does. When you see your leader doing everything the right way, it’s really easy to trust them, and that’s something that we have. We have a lot of trust in her.”
AMES, Iowa – Addy Brown, Emily Ryan and Coach Bill Fennelly shared their thoughts on what senior day meant to the program, Audi Crooks’ standout performance and the impact Emily Ryan has had on Cyclone basketball.
Watch as they reflect on the season, their journey and the emotions of this milestone.
Mar 1, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Current NBA and former Iowa State Cyclone players Tyrese Haliburton and Georges Niang talk with Iowa State Cyclones Athletic Director Jamie Pollard during half-time of their game with the Arizona Wildcats at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — Georges Niang jabbed and Tyrese Haliburton jovially absorbed the good-natured verbal hit.
The two former Iowa State stars — who never played together, but have become fast friends as NBA players on opposing teams — returned to Hilton Coliseum for Saturday night’s unveiling of Haliburton’s Olympic Gold medal-commemorating banner.
Niang, an ISU graduate, was asked how he felt to see Haliburton — who bolted to the NBA after two seasons as a Cyclone — honored in the rafters before him.
His answer did not disappoint.
“I was on the phone with (ISU director of athletics) Jamie Pollard earlier today and I’m like, ‘This kind of stuff can’t happen,’” said Niang, a 10-year NBA veteran who starred for the Cyclones from 2012-16. “I think it’s my 10-year anniversary of being an Iowa State graduate, that’s something Tyrese Haliburton does not have. I constantly tell him he’s an Iowa State dropout. A multi-millionaire, but Iowa State dropout.”
But seriously …
“I think it’s awesome, right?” Niang said of honoring Haliburton for becoming the ninth Cyclone to attain Olympic Gold.
So did every single person in an absolutely full Hilton, who rose to rapturously cheer Haliburton as he stood at midcourt at halftime of No. 9 ISU’s 84-67 win over No. 22 Arizona to see his banner for helping Team USA win Olympic Gold last summer in Paris unfurled to great fanfare.
“What’s funny about that is in the middle of my sophomore year I probably realized I was going to the NBA — and not that I didn’t want to, but I would have loved to be (in Ames) as long as possible,” said Haliburton, who’s gone on to become a two-time NBA All-Star for the Indiana Pacers. “And I think part of the reason that sucked is I looked up at the (retired) numbers and I’d be like, ‘Dang, I wish I could get up there.’ But I’ll leave in two years so I’ve probably got no chance. So the idea of my name being anywhere in this building, I kind of gave that up, unfortunately, but it’s a blessing that it’s able to happen (Saturday), and I’m really excited about it. This place means the world to me. I love Ames, Iowa, and I love Iowa State University.”
Haliburton met his longtime girlfriend, Jade, when she was a Cyclone cheerleader. They have a dog named “Ames” and Halliburton said he plans to attend ISU’s season-opening football game in Ireland against Kansas State.
“Me and Georges are planning to do that together,” he said. “I plan to come to the Iowa game, for the (Cy-Hawk) football game this year, so any excuse I can find to come to Ames is important to me.”
So much so that Haliburton seeks out people decked out on Cyclone garb anywhere he plays — whether in NBA venues or at international sites.
“When we were in London playing our exhibition games before the Olympics, there as a woman walking head-to-toe in Iowa State gear,” Haliburton recalled. “She had no idea who I was, but we struck up like a five to 10-minute conversation, and that was just the coolest thing to me because you feel like you see Iowa State everywhere.”
As for Niang’s banner-based joke? Haliburton laughed, then made a pretty safe prediction.
“I know we’re not far off from (Niang’s) 31 hanging in the rafters,” he said. “And when that day happens, I will be here for sure. He means a lot to me and the fact that he’s here means the world to me, as well.”
Mar 1, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Carter Bryant (9) defends Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — The long-distance barrage last two minutes and five seconds.
Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic commanded center stage during that first-half flurry of 3-pointers Saturday against Arizona, draining three shots from beyond the arc in that span.
Reserve guard Nate Heise added his own 3-pointer during that decisive salvo, and the No. 9 Cyclones cruised to an 84-67 win over the No. 22 Wildcats (19-10, 13-5) on a night in which former star Tyrese Haliburton’s Olympic Gold medal-commemorating banner was unfurled from the Hilton Coliseum rafters.
And even more importantly, ISU (22-7, 12-6 Big 12) made a statement in what’s fully expected will be a momentous March.
“This is the start of our run,” said Momcilovic, who scored 17 points on 4-for-7 3-point shooting to help his team end a two-game skid. “We need to do it here in March. I feel like this is a steppingstone and we can take off from here.”
The Cyclones avenged an 86-75 loss at Arizona in overtime that was made possible by guard Caleb Love’s 55-foot buzzer-beater at the end of regulation. But payback was not on ISU’s mind. The statement head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s team successfully made hinged on its dogged pursuit of making its opponent miserable on the offensive side of the floor.
One play in particular stood out. The Cyclones’ backup big man, Brandton Chatfield, missed a dunk on one end and found himself confronted with a driving Love. Chatfield moved his feet and held his ground. ISU guard Curtis Jones moved in for a double team and Love jettisoned a desperate pass that Tamin Lipsey intercepted and drove the other way for a layup. That sequence gave the Cyclones a 60-38 lead with 13:09 left, and even though Arizona later rallied within nine points of the lead, the ultimate outcome never veered into the realm of doubt.
“That’s who we are and that’s who we will be,” Otzelberger said. “And I think at times — I don’t ever fault our guys intent in terms of what they want to do — but it’s a full commitment to every single possession. This is what it will be and there’s no deviation. And that possession in particular, it was big, because our fans were amazing tonight, awesome atmosphere and environment. But the y respect so much that toughness and that effort, so that’s something that’s worth more than just the two points on the other end.”
ISU welcomed second-leading scorer Keshon Gilbert back into the starting lineup after a two game absence because of a muscle strain, and he scored six points, grabbed three rebounds, and totaled two assists and two steals. He also accounted for seven of the Cyclones’ 16 turnovers — an area that’s plagued the team in recent weeks. ISU’s turned the ball over 14 or more times in five of its last seven games, but still crafted a seven-point edge in points off turnovers on Saturday.
“It’s certainly something that we’re aware we have to be better with, and something that we work on and feel good that we will be better with it,” Otzelberger said.
The Cyclones shot 50 percent from the field while limiting Arizona to 33 percent shooting overall, and a dismal 18.2 percent from 3-point range.
Lipsey added 15 points for ISU and drained two of his three 3-point attempts while notching multiple steals for the fifth time in the past six games.
“We have areas to improve, which is nice when you win with a margin like this,” said Lipsey, who recently became the program’s all-time steals leader. “We feel like we still left some out on the table so it feels good to bounce back.”
Heise and Jones added 12 points apiece. Chatfield totaled 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds off the bench while the Cyclones’ front court starters, Dishon Jackson and Joshua Jefferson, battled foul trouble most of the game.
“(Chatfield) out of everybody who played tonight was the most physical guy on the interior, on the glass, rolling to the rim, jump-walling at the rim, so as a result, he ends up with 10 and 8,” Otzelberger said. “But his impact on the game was far greater than that.”
So March begins with ISU’s 25th top-25 win under Otzelberger — the most by a head coach in school history. Next up: No. 25 BYU at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hilton.
“We’ve got to be the more physical, tougher team.” Otzelberger said. “When we do that, we’ll beat anybody, and tonight we did that, and we’re extremely confident in our ability to do that moving forward. Now we’ve gotta earn it every single day.”
Photo: Jacqueline Cordova
AMES, IA – Iowa State defeated Arizona 84-67 in front of a rowdy Saturday night crowd in Hilton Coliseum.
Milan Momcilovic led Iowa State (12-7 Big 12) with 17 points and Tamin Lipsey added 15. Listen to everything they had to say following their home win. Plus, head coach Tj Otzelberger gives insight into the way the team has rallied back from injuries and tough losses, praise for their gritty defensive performance and more.
BONUS: Check out head coach Tommy Lloyd gives praise to TJ and the Cyclones, plus their rowdy fans, and breaks down what caused his team to struggle in Hilton Coliseum.
Former Cyclone Georges Niang returns to Ames and has high praise for what TJ Otzelberger has built at Iowa State, praises Tyrese Haliburton and their love for each other.Tyrese Haliburton returns to Hilton Coliseum for the first time since he was on the team as a player to watch his olympic banner be unveiled in the stands. He talks about his close friendship with former Cyclone Georges Niang and his love for the Iowa State fanbase.
Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Emily Ryan (11) shoots the ball over between Houston Cougars forward Peyton McFarland (42) and guard Kierra Merchant (2) during the fourth quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, Feb19, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State all-time assists leader Emily Ryan’s watched countless senior day (or night) speeches from the sidelines.
The fifth-year senior’s seen Cyclone greats before her tear up and thank their teammates, coaches and fans — and it’s a time-honored tradition head coach Bill Fennelly established early in his 30-season tenure.
“It’s a really special night,” said Ryan, who hopes to help ISU (20-10, 11-6) secure a signature win at 3 p.m. Sunday (ESPN2) against No. 14 Kansas State (25-5, 13-4) at Hilton Coliseum. “You don’t really think about your senior night until it gets here, so it’s kind of wild to think about that. But the game’s the most important part of (it), so we’re gonna focus on that.”
In other words, it’s business as usual for the hard-nosed Ryan, whose competitive drive has helped propel the Cyclones to a program-record 28-win season, a Big 12 Tournament title, and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in her half decade on campus.
“Just to honor her and have the day all about here is really great because she’s done a lot for the Iowa State program,” said sophomore guard Kelsey Joens, a former West Liberty standout who watched her sister, Ashley, go through ISU’s senior day/night festivities in 2023. “So, you know, celebrate, and then get right back to business and get ready for the Big 12s.”
The Cyclones — who took the Wildcats to overtime before falling, 87-79, a month ago in Manhattan — have won five of their last six games by remain on the NCAA Tournament bubble according to ESPN women’s basketball bracketologist Charlie Creme. ISU is currently one of the “last four in” and a ranked win would likely ensure its inclusion in the field. With a loss, the Cyclones may need to win at least one game at the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City to feel fully confident in terms of an NCAA tourney bid.
“We’ve practiced well and we’ve really tried to tell our team, ‘You can still get better,’” Fennelly said. “It’s (early March) and most people think the getting better stage is over. I’ve never believed that, and our players have embraced that, and that’s a credit to them because most people just show up to practice now because they have to. I think we’re still trying to get better and I think we have been.”
Fittingly, no ISU player has embodied that ambitious approach better than Ryan, who’s averaging 12.5 points during her team’s late-season surge — three points above her season average.
“It’s important that we play our best basketball in March,” Ryan said. “So that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Ryan’s been trying to do just about everything on the court in her five seasons as a Cyclone — and she’s largely succeeded. She’s one of three NCAA Division I women’s basketball players to record at least 1,500 points, 600 rebounds and 900 assists in her career, joining WNBA stars Caitlin Clark of Iowa and Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon.
“Part of her growing up was here in front of these fans,” Fennelly said of Ryan, who eventually hopes to go into coaching. “So I think it’s a cool thing and hopefully it’s a memory that she’ll have for a long time. And hopefully it’s a way for our fans to thank her one more time for the things that she’s done for us.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Jamie Pollard, the longest-tenured director of athletics in Iowa State University history, has received a five-year contract extension through June 30, 2030, ISU President Dr. Wendy Wintersteen announced today.
“During Jamie’s 20 years, the university has celebrated all-time program bests academically and athletically, and significant growth in attendance,” Wintersteen said. “He has built a culture of success at Iowa State, while navigating the many changes in collegiate athletics. I also appreciate Jamie’s efforts to create a new vision for the Iowa State Center and athletic facilities through the CyTown entertainment district concept.”
Pollard, the nation’s third-longest serving active Power Four Director of Athletics, has led the Cyclones’ 18-sport intercollegiate athletics program to unprecedented academic and athletic success during his two-decade run in Ames, reimagining nearly every phase of the ISU program along the way.
“I am humbled to have had the opportunity to lead our athletics program for the past 20 years,” Pollard said. “The administration’s support, led by President Wintersteen and General Counsel Mike Norton, has been instrumental in our success. We have an amazing culture in our athletics program, led by our talented and dedicated coaches and staff. Although our industry is undergoing transformational change, I am confident our department will successfully embrace these challenges with the same energy and urgency that has proven to be successful in the past.”
Under Pollard’s leadership, Cyclone student-athletes continue to thrive in the classroom, having matched or established a school-record Graduation Success Rate score for 10-consecutive years, improving from 77 percent in 2014 to its 95 percent mark each of the past three years, including the most-recent NCAA data released last fall.
The performance of Iowa State’s teams under his direction continues to impress, too. After finishing 35th in the 2023-24 Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, its second-highest placement ever (34th) and third Top 45 finish in the last four seasons, the Cyclones ranked 27th in the final fall rankings of the 2024-25 academic year. ISU joins Tennessee as the only Division I schools whose football teams produced a double-digit win total and are currently ranked among the Top 10 in men’s basketball.
The 2024 Cyclone football team enjoyed its first 11-win season in program history, reached the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game for the second time in five years and beat 15th-ranked Miami, 42-41, to win the Pop Tarts Bowl. The Cyclone men’s basketball team has spent the entire 2024-25 campaign ranked among the nation’s Top 10 and is poised to play in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-straight season, while the men’s cross country team finished second at the 2024 NCAA Championships, its second runner-up finish in the last four years.
Since his arrival in Ames, Pollard has energized the Cyclone fan base, registered all-time program bests academically, athletically and in fundraising while shattering attendance marks in the department’s five major sports. Landmark achievements of Pollard’s tenure to-date include:
- After breaking ground in March 2023 on CyTown, Iowa State’s innovative 40-acre mixed-use entertainment district being built between Jack Trice Stadium and the Iowa State Center, he announced in February 2024 the selection of Midwest-based Goldenrod Companies to lead the project’s design, development, financing and construction.
- Modeled after the Green Bay Packers’ Titletown and Kansas City’s Power and Light District, CyTown will be the first-ever entertainment district built in the heart of a college campus.
- Investment of more than $340M in new construction and facility renovations impacting nearly every Cyclone sport; the two most-recent being the $90M, 110,000-square foot Stark Performance Center which opened in August 2021 to serve every Iowa State student-athlete, and the Gateway Pedestrian Bridge and RV Village which debuted in 2022 to further enhance the game day experience for Cyclone fans at Jack Trice Stadium.
- Secured the largest donation ever received by ISU Athletics – a $25 million gift from the Reiman family – that was the lead donation for Jack Trice Stadium’s south end zone enclosure which increased capacity to 61,500— the Big 12 Conference’s second-largest stadium.
- Watched Cyclone Club annual fund donations increase in 15 of the last 19 years, including record fundraising totals in each of the last four years.
- Since the 2011-12 academic year, ISU is the nation’s only school to average at least 50,000 fans at home football games (12-straight seasons), 12,000 fans at home men’s basketball games (14-straight years), and 9,000 fans at home women’s basketball games (16-straight seasons), excluding the COVID-impacted 2020-21 academic year.
- Iowa State has earned 23 of its 26 all-time academic NCAA Public Recognition Awards in nine different sports under his direction.
- The Cyclones have won 23 of their 31 all-time Big 12 team titles on his watch and produced at least one league championship squad in 11 of the last 13 years.
National observers have taken notice of the athletics revival in Ames, as Pollard was honored as the 2023 and 2019 FBS Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), one of only 20 individuals to earn multiple FBS AD honors in the award’s 26-year history. The two-time (2023 and 2019) Sports Business Journal AD of the Year finalist was also the first collegiate administrator selected for Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 award in 2003.
Amid a six-year term on the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s College Athletics Council, Pollard completed his final year on the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee in 2023-24. The 2021-22 NACDA President has also served as President of both the Division I-A Athletics Director’s Association and the Collegiate Athletics Business Manager’s Association (CABMA) as well as chair of the Big 12 Athletics Directors Committee. Pollard is the only individual to have ever served as President of NACDA, the I-A Athletics Director’s Association and CABMA.
The terms of Pollard’s new contract will be announced at a future date.
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Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Emily Ryan & Kelsey Joens addressed media members Friday to preview their team’s upcoming game against No. 14 K-State (Sunday, 3 p.m. ESPN2).
Jaylin Noel takes questions from reporters at the NFL Combine. Photo Courtesy John McGlynn.
Iowa State has five players competing this weekend at the annual NFL Combine, with action beginning Friday for the group.
Wide receivers Jaylin Noel & Jayden Higgins, along with defensive backs Malik Verdon & Darien Porter as well as offensive lineman Jalen Travis are all in Indianapolis to showcase their skills.
Below is a compilation of everything that the players have said at the microphone, teams they’ve met with, measurements and more that will be updated throughout the weekend.
NFL Combine Schedule
Televised by NFL Network
Thurs. Feb. 27 | D-Line, Linebackers (2 p.m.)
Fri. Feb. 28 | D-backs, Tight Ends (2 p.m.)
Sat. Mar. 1 | QB’s, RB’s, WR’s (Noon)
Sun. Mar. 2 | O-Line (Noon)
Jayden Higgins, WRDrill Numbers
40-yard: 4.47 (24th among WR)
Vertical: 39.0″ (18th overall, 6th among WR)
Broad Jump: 10’8″ (8th among WR)
3-cone:
20-yard shuttle:
Measurements
Height: 6-foot-4.1
Weight: 214
Arm length: 33 1/8′
Hand: 9 1/8″
Has met with: San Francisco, Houston
Noel showed out in his numbers – with his 41.50″ vertical ranking No. 2 out of everyone at the Combine and No. 1 amongst receivers.
.@CycloneFB WR Jaylin Noel has HOPS
41.50” vert
: 2025 #NFLCombine on NFL Network
: Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/GbZpRPN0Jd— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 1, 2025
These Iowa State WRs are FREAKS
Jaylin Noel runs a 4.39
pic.twitter.com/OHjadIdG5m
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 1, 2025
Higgins told reporters that he caught 100 balls on the JUGS machine after practice every day.
“I’m a big red-zone threat,” Higgins said. “If somebody needs someone to go score, that’s me.”
“Just being able to move like a smaller receiver,” Higgins said. “I can play inside and out.”
Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins met formally with the 49ers. Big WR at 6’4’’, 215 lbs.
He said he loves run blocking, which is something Iowa State WR coach Noah Pauley instilled in him and taught.
Of note, the 49ers interviewed Pauley for their offensive coordinator position.… pic.twitter.com/Nym1A3rChJ
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) February 28, 2025
Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins on QB Rocco Becht and ISU’a culture under Matt Campbell. pic.twitter.com/dgLsXNWqRz
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) February 28, 2025
Culture is everything.
pic.twitter.com/3p6bvv1Fgy
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) February 28, 2025
Jaylin Noel, WRDrill Numbers
40-yard: 4.39 (21st overall, 10th among WR)
Vertical: 41.50″ (2nd overall, 1st among WR)
Broad Jump: 11’2″ (3rd overall, 1st among WR)
3-cone: 6.82 (9th overall, 6th among WR)
20-yard shuttle: 4.17 (8th overall, 5th among WR)
Bench: 23 (22nd overall, 1st among WR)
Measurements
Height: 5-foot-10.2
Weight: 194
Arm length: 29 1/2′
Hand: 8.75″
Has met with: Washington, Seattle, Houston, and New England
“You’ve got to move edges,” Noel said on how he performs as an undersized receiver. “Making them [DBs] feel uncomfortable. Changing in tempo — being able to decelerate and accelerate very fast.”
Noel also mentioned the Cy-Hawk catch as one of his favorite plays as a Cyclone.
Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel talks about his favorite catches, best traits pic.twitter.com/E0jywkXJYN
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) February 28, 2025
WR Jaylin Noel on playing bigger than his size suggests pic.twitter.com/2iJuEtVm9z
— Damon Wolfe (@NFLinMotion) February 28, 2025
Darien Porter, DBDrill Numbers
40-yard: 4.3 (3rd overall, 1st among CB)
Vertical: 36.5 (9th among CB)
Broad Jump: 10’11” (8th overall, 2nd among CB)
3-cone: 6.71 (2nd overall, 1st among CB)
20-yard shuttle: 4.04 (2nd overall, 1st among CB)
Measurements
Height: 6-foot-2.7
Weight: 195
Arm length: 33 1/8′
Hand: 9″
Saturday update: Porter’s impressive numbers continued Sunday, when he brought home the fastest 3-cone drill time and second-fastest shuttle run.
Has met with: Pittsburgh, Chicago, Denver, Carolina, Kansas City, Atlanta, Detroit
Friday update 2: Porter’s drill numbers scored as the No. 4 rated cornerback in NFL history going back to 1987 by the R.A.S. fomat.
It ranks athletes by numbers comparative to athletes in the current combine as well as in the past.
Darien Porter is a CB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.99 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 4 out of 2480 CB from 1987 to 2025.
Splits projected, times unofficial.https://t.co/9F2apiSBbk pic.twitter.com/0mBcTgWh87
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) February 28, 2025
Keep in mind former Iowa State running backs coach Tyler Roehl is with Detroit now.
Porter told reporters that he has goals of being the fastest runner of anyone at the Combine in the 40-yard dash this week.
Darien Porter opened up talking about improving his press man coverage this past season with his length and height, he wants to get better in that regard. He mentioned his football IQ not being an issue for his transition and it shows on his film. Intriguing prospect pic.twitter.com/C5cBlCRvqZ
— Daniel Harms (@InHarmsWay19) February 27, 2025
Then he put down a 4.3.
Darien Porter just ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash. pic.twitter.com/JD2D56at31
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) February 28, 2025
Asked Iowa State CB Darien Porter about chasing down Kaleb Johnson against Iowa: “I don’t take anything for granted. I give it my all on every play.”
On his 40: “Just know it’s going to be fast.” pic.twitter.com/DHUPI9bti5
— Bradley Locker (@Bradley_Locker) February 27, 2025
Malik Verdon, DB Drill Numbers
40-yard:
Vertical:
Broad Jump:
3-cone: 7.06
20-yard shuttle: 4.34
Measurements
Height: 6-foot-3.5
Weight: 218
Arm length: 32 1/4″
Hand: 9 1/2″
Has met with: Las Vegas Raiders
Won’t find many safeties like @Malik_Verdon
#NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/Wcz1aKlt0j
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) March 1, 2025
Safety 3-cone results:
6.72 Hunter Wohler (elite time for a safety)
6.81 Kitan Crawford
7.06 Malik Verdon
7.09 Dante Trader Jr.
7.10 Rayuan Lane III
7.26 Malaki Starkts— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 1, 2025
Iowa State safety Malik Verdon was asked which ISU freshman he would “bet” a paycheck would end up in the NFL. I don’t think the person asking the question knew the history of using that word. But Malik handled it well. pic.twitter.com/YcfQdFtpCM
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) February 27, 2025
He later amended his choice, to mention his little brother Trey, who’s now playing for Iowa State.
Let me add my brother Trey to that list!My fault lil bro, completely forgot you fully a cyclone now. Doesn’t seem real https://t.co/OYKytRUSRz
— ♛Leek♛ (@Malik_Verdon) February 27, 2025
Jalen Travis, OL
Prepared every day for moments like this
#NFLCombine on @nflnetwork https://t.co/kiyJSCAiFT pic.twitter.com/XpH3i2PFrD
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) March 1, 2025
Travis won’t compete until Sunday, but offensive line coach Ryan Clanton will be in attendance to see all the former Cyclones go.
Morning WORK with the DOGS @CycloneFB
GET TO talk some ball in Chicago today @GlazierClinics
SPRINT to Indianapolis to watch our guys put on a show!!! @TravisWJalen @NoelJaylin13 @JaydenHiggins3 @DarienPorter10 @Malik_Verdon
— Ryan Clanton (@RyanClanton) February 28, 2025
Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger reacts during the first half against Colorado in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Feb.18, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State’s rigorous daily habits are designed to form a bulwark against adversity.
That’s because the Cyclones are taught to expect and overcome such challenges, not to be caught off-guard and shrink from them.
But ninth-ranked ISU’s latest loss — a startling 74-68 setback at Big 12 bottom feeder Oklahoma State — proved that head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s best-laid and time-tested plan for on-court success isn’t foolproof. It also isn’t optional. Each of the Cyclones’ carefully-curated cohort of top players either fully buys in or grabs a seat on the bench.
“We spend a lot of time on the consistency of habits, the daily habits, the physicality, the mental toughness in how we do that,”said Otzelberger, whose injury-depleted team (21-7, 11-6) seeks to get back on track at 8 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) against No. 22 Arizona (19-9, 13-4) at Hilton Coliseum. “So regardless of injury, regardless of what guys are dealing with, all those things, there’s a standard that we need to display when we go out and compete. And that 95 percent (adherence rate) has to trend towards 100 percent of the time. I can’t explain why we’ve had a few games this year where it hasn’t been to the standard.”
A lack of continuity in the rotation for over a month at least partially explains some of the Cyclones’ struggles. Top 3-point shooter Milan Momcilovic missed nearly a month because of a hand injury, but when he returned, ISU rattled off four straight wins. Then leading scorer Curtis Jones was stricken with walking pneumonia, which forced him to miss the 68-59 loss at No. 4 Houston. Leading assist man Keshon Gilbert also missed that game with a muscle strain — an absence that extended into the head-shaking loss in Stillwater. Jones returned for that game and scored 11 points. Gilbert, Otzelberger said, could be back to face the Wildcats this weekend, but remains questionable.
“We’re optimistic that he’ll be able to return,” Otzelberger said of Gilbert, who’s also one of the Cyclones’ best finishers in the paint. “Again, his health and well being (is) No. 1. (He) was able to practice (on Thursday) for the first time (in a while), so we’ll see how his body responds to that and where he’s at.”
ISU’s lone loss this season when at full strength came against top-ranked Auburn in Maui, but some of its thornier issues (careless ball-handing, occasional lapses on defense) have crept in even in the best of times.
So Otzelberger’s team has reentered back-to-basics mode this week in an effort to recommit to those long-touted habits that remain critical to success.
“I think we just took Oklahoma State too lightly,” said versatile ISU forward Joshua Jefferson, who’s averaging 3.8 steals in the past four games, but also turned the ball over four or more times in three of those matchups. “We won’t do that ever again for the rest of the season. Just want to play how we play — how we’re supposed to play — every single game from (here) on out.”
That means the Cyclones’ gritty practice performances must be mirrored in games. ISU’s dropped to the top No. 3 seed in ESPN Bracketology guru Joe Lunardi’s latest NCAA Tournament projections, but top-25 wins over Arizona on Saturday and red-hot BYU on Tuesday at Hilton could propel the Cyclones squarely back to the No. 2 line.
And there have been some positive developments for ISU despite its two-game tumble and shaky past month. Guard Nate Heise’s notched Cyclone career-highs in points in three consecutive games, and the former Northern Iowa transfer drilled three of his four 3-point attempts against Oklahoma State.
“Nate is playing to his ability level,” Otzelberger said. “I don’t think he’s doing anything at this point beyond that. He’s extremely capable.”
Just like ISU’s team writ large — which can avenge an overtime road loss to the Wildcats made possible by a buzzer-beating 55-footer in regulation. The Cyclones don’t need a makeover. They simply need to untangle their roots and dig deep into them.
“The way we’re gonna fix it is through practice,” said Heise, who’s averaging 12 points in the past three games. “Just going through it as hard as we can with the effort we need to put in the game.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Nate Heise & Joshua Jefferson addressed media members ahead of the Cyclones’ upcoming game against Arizona (Saturday, 8 p.m. ESPN).
Iowa State Football has found its next running backs coach, hired North Dakota State offensive coordinator and running backs coach Jake Landry, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Sources: North Dakota State offensive coordinator/RB coach Jake Landry has accepted the running backs coach job at Iowa State. NDSU’s offense ranked No. 3 nationally on the way to a national title last year.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 26, 2025
Landry joined the Bison last season and played a key role in leading the program to a national championship this past season.
Before NDSU, Landry was the offensive coordinator at St. Thomas, and also spent time at Temple and Northern Illinois.
This marks the second consecutive year that Iowa State has hired an NDSU offensive coordinator in the position.
Last offseason, the Cyclones brought in Tyler Roehl, who had spent over a decade with the Bison, to their coaching staff.
Roehl is not the tight ends coach in the NFL for the Detroit Lions.
The Cyclones are set to open spring practices in the coming weeks, where Landry will begin working with a young and talented group of running backs.
Feb 25, 2025; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (2) loses control of the ball with Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Bryce Thompson (1) and Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Abou Ousmane (33) during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
Sloppy ball handling. Poor free-throw shooting. Spotty defense.
Add all of those unsavory elements up — and more — and No. 9 Iowa State’s resume-damaging 74-68 loss Tuesday at Oklahoma State took shape in stark and stunning form.
The Cyclones (21-7, 11-6 Big 12) were decisively outscored in points off turnovers (24-10), in the paint (36-28) and from the foul line (18-12), but mounted two furious second-half rallies that never got them within one possession of the lead.
“We’ve gotta come out and dictate,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said on the Cyclone Radio Network after his team’s second non-Quad 1 loss of the season. “That’s unacceptable. From how we practice to what we demand, the pride we have — credit to Oklahoma State. They did a good job. Unacceptable on our end to not come out and be the tougher, more physical, more aggressive team. That’s not gonna happen again.”
Some of the few thousands of fans of the Cowboys (15-15, 6-11) in attendance at Gallagher-Iba Arena stormed the court, adding insult to injury for ISU, which never led and entered the game as 10.5-point favorites.
One positive did emerge for the Cyclones, as leading scorer Curtis Jones returned to the lineup after missing Saturday’s loss at No. 4 Houston because of a bout with walking pneumonia. He scored 11 points. Transfer forward Joshua Jefferson shined most during ISU’s second-half comeback and finished with a team-high 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists, but he also lost seven of his team’s 18 turnovers.
“His urgency, especially late — making shots making plays, getting on the glass, all those things, he’s terrific,” Otzelberger said. “I’ve gotta do a better job with him of trying to get that same urgency with him right away because I know when the game’s on the line, I know what he’s gonna do. But we’ve gotta have that urgency to start the game because he’s too good of a player and we know what he can do, and I believe in him, and couldn’t have more confidence in him.”
ISU’s second-leading scorer, Keshon Gilbert, missed his second straight game with a muscle strain. Otzelberger expressed hope that he could return to practice late this week and potentially play at 8 p.m. Saturday against No. 22 Arizona at Hilton Coliseum, but that’s not a sure thing for a Cyclone team that’s seen injuries disrupt the rotation for over a month.
“Hopefully everybody’s available and ready to go, and if they are, everybody needs to take a tremendous sense of pride in the things that go into winning, and those things didn’t show up for us tonight,” Otzelberger said.
Guard Nate Heise provided another bright spot on an otherwise very bleak night in Stillwater, scoring a Cyclone career-high 13 points on 3-for-4 3-point shooting. He also grabbed six rebounds — and has notched an ISU career-high in scoring in three straight games.
“We’ve got a lot to learn from as a team, not just myself,” Heise said. “We’ve gotta bring it.”
The Cyclones will face fellow top-25 opponents at home in their next two games, as surging No. 25 BYU heads to Hilton on Tuesday before the regular-season finale at Kansas State occurs next Saturday. So ISU can rebuild its strong resume rather quickly — but not if it plays like it did against the Cowboys. ISU dropped from eighth to 11th in the KenPom ratings — an unusually precipitous tumble in advanced metrics this late in the season.
“We’re gonna come out (Saturday against the Wildcats) definitely with a lot of energy because we’re coming off this loss,” Jones said. “They beat us in a heartbreaker (in Tucson), so we have no excuse not to come out and give everything.”
Iowa State guard Curtis Jones (5) goes for a layup around Colorado forward Assane Diop (35) at Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 18, 2025 in Ames. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State guard Curtis Jones is with the team in Stillwater, Oklahoma after sitting out Saturday’s game with an illness.
The Cyclones’ leading scorer can be seen below in photos at shootaround confirming the news that he was back and traveling with the team after not being at the game against Houston.
Stillwater #Cyclones | #C5C pic.twitter.com/trSDoKqrIw
— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) February 25, 2025
Both Jones and fellow leading scorer Keshon Gilbert sat out Saturday’s game – a 68-59 loss to the Cougars – for their own respective reasons.
Jones sat out with an illness and Iowa State has not confirmed yet if he will be playing on Tuesday when the team takes on Oklahoma State (7 p.m. ESPN+), but him making the trip is indeed a great sign.
The senior and former Buffalo transfer leads the team with 17.1 points per game.
Gilbert sat out on Saturday with a muscle strain, and his status for Tuesday is considered more up in the air.
Feb 22, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) grabs a rebound against Houston Cougars guard Milos Uzan (7) in the first half at Fertitta Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
AMES — It’s all about the mismatches.
Iowa State typically tries to create those advantageous situations via an array of pick and roll-based actions, but Saturday’s game at Houston required a short-term paradigm shift.
The No. 9 Cyclones — down their two leading scorers in guards Keshon Gilbert (muscle strain) and Curtis Jones (illness) — instead sought to isolate tall and talented players such as Milan Momcilovic one-on-one against smaller guards. That gambit helped ISU (21-6, 11-5) cut a 16-point deficit to just one before the fourth-ranked Cougars (23-4, 15-1) recovered and eventually secured a 68-59 home win.
“(It was) brilliant,” Houston’s veteran head coach Kelvin Sampson told reporters after the game. “People think iso-ball, there’s a negative connotation to it, (but) sometimes it’s the best way to win the game.”
Next up for ISU: Struggling Oklahoma State (13-14, 5-11) at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Stillwater.
It’s unclear if Gilbert and/or Jones will be back to face the Cowboys, so the Cyclones’ ability to make adjustments will continue to loom large at Gallagher-Iba Arena and beyond, which should reap positive dividends as the regular season winds down.
“I was definitely happier with my second-half performance (at Houston),” said Momcilovic, who went 0-for-7 from the field in the first half before efficiently scoring 16 points in the second. “So to just come back in the second half kind of with a mental reset — just forget about that first half and focus on the second half. I made some shots, but ultimately it wasn’t enough.”
No shame in that. ISU forced a season-high 17 turnovers from the Cougars and outscored them 11-to-3 on those mistakes during its second-half surge. None of that allowed the short-handed Cyclones to score the upset, of course, but it did serve as another example of their cohesiveness and grit.
“Our guys could have come into this game feeling like we were down a couple players, or we were a victim, or things weren’t gonna go our way,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said on the Cyclone Radio Network after the game. “What I learned (about) is the mental toughness that we have across the board. Guys stepped up in so many ways. … They care about the program, they care about the product, they care about the fight, the toughness, the competitiveness. I’ll take that effort and that togetherness any night.”
The Cyclones’ “iso-ball” on Saturday also allowed transfer forward Joshua Jefferson to showcase his versatility (again). He, unlike Momcilovic, never got on track in terms of scoring (four points), but he sprayed the basketball to teammates for eight assists and snared seven steals to spark transition opportunities.
“Both coaches (Saturday) really had to work that game,” said Sampson, who also made some key adjustments. “Coach T.J. is awesome. He is one of the best coaches in the country.”
The feeling’s mutual — and Otzelberger can still lean on record-setting guard Tamin Lipsey regardless of his other starting guards’ health status.
Lipsey has played with a fractured thumb for weeks, but that didn’t prevent him from scoring 11 points in key moments at Houston. The junior from Ames went 3-for-6 from 3-point range and also snared two steals to make him ISU’s all-time leader in that area (226), surpassing NBA veteran Monte Morris.
“It couldn’t go to a guy who’s earned it and worked for it more than Tamin,” Otzelberger said.
So bring on the Cowboys, who are 5-3 at home in conference play, and 0-8 on the road.
“Every game is important this time of year,” Otzelberger said. “Every game has tremendous magnitude.”
Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) takes a three-point shot against Colorado during the first half in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Feb.18, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State men’s basketball appeared at No. 9 in the latest Associated Press Poll, released on Monday, extending the program’s streak of being ranked in the top 10.
The streak is the longest in the nation, and remains intact after the Cyclones dropped Saturday’s game at Houston while being without their top two scorers.
Iowa State will face Oklahoma State Tuesday, before returning home to play No. 22 Arizona Saturday night.
The full poll can be seen below.
AP MBB Poll
Monday, Feb. 24, 2025
1. Auburn
2. Duke
3. Florida
4. Houston
5. Tennessee
6. Alabama
7. St. John’s
8. Michigan State
9. Iowa State
10. Texas Tech
11. Wisconsin
12. Texas A&M
13. Clemson
14. Missouri
15. Michigan
16. Maryland
17. Kentucky
18. Memphis
19. Louisville
20. Purdue
21. Marquette
22. Arizona
23. Saint Mary’s
24. Mississippi State
25. BYU
Others receiving votes: Creighton 53, Mississippi 28, Kansas 25, New Mexico 23, VCU 20, Oregon 20, UCLA 14, Drake 12, UC San Diego 8, Gonzaga 3, High Point 3, Illinois 3, Vanderbilt 2, Utah St. 1, Yale 1.
The following is a press release and photo from Iowa State Athletics
BROOKINGS, S.D. – In a dual that came down to the final match, No. 14 Iowa State outlasted No. 11 South Dakota State, 20-15, Friday night in front of a hostile First Bank & Trust Arena crowd. In the heavyweight match, No. 27 Daniel Herrera came from behind against SDSU’s No. 26 Luke Rasmussen to win, 8-7, and clinch the dual for ISU.
ISU led by a 17-3 margin at the halfway point, getting crucial bonus points at 133, 141 and 149 pounds, before SDSU stormed back to pull within 17-15 with only one match remaining.
Iowa State (11-4, 5-1 Big 12) and South Dakota State (13-4, 5-2 Big 12) split the 10 bouts, 5-5, and ISU won the takedown battle, 16-8.
Ethan Perryman came up short against No. 15 Tanner Jordan at 125 pounds by 6-3 decision. Perryman was in deep on Jordan’s legs twice in the match, including once as time expired, but was ultimately unable to finish the tying takedown.
No. 5 Evan Frost got the Cyclones on the board with an 11-3 major decision at 133 pounds over No. 33 Derrick Cardinal. Frost tallied three takedowns and amassed over a minute of riding time in the match.
At 141 pounds, No. 11 Jacob Frost was all over SDSU’s Logan Swensen from the jump. Frost registered three takedowns before locking up a cradle for a fall in 4:48.
The Frost twins extended their identical win streaks to 11 matches.
No. 6 Paniro Johnson extended Iowa State’s lead with a win over Colin Dupill at 149 pounds. Johnson got to his offense early and often with two first period takedowns. He would add two more takedowns in the second period, and added 1:10 of riding time, en route to a 14-4 major decision.
Johnson is now 11-0 since taking over the 149-pound spot in the lineup and has won 14-consecutive matches.
No. 11 Cody Chittum prevailed over No. 19 Cobe Siebrecht in a hotly contested matchup at 157 pounds. The takedowns finished 2-1 in Chittum’s favor but the review-filled match was decided only by 1:20 of riding time to lift the Cyclone over Siebrecht, 9-8.
Iowa State led 17-3 at the intermission but South Dakota State came out with a purpose after the break with four-straight decisions at 165, 174, 184 and 197 pounds, bringing the Jackrabbits within 17-15 entering the heavyweight match.
Herrera fell behind, 5-0, early to Rasmussen after giving up a takedown and two near fall points in the first period. The Jackrabbit was tough on top, finishing the period with over a minute of riding time.
Herrera picked neutral to start the second period and took advantage of a halfhearted Rasmussen shot attempt to spin behind for a takedown to pull within 5-3. The pair ended the second period on their feet after a Rasmussen escape.
Rasmussen picked top to begin the final period and rode tough for the early portions before Herrera managed a reversal. Following a Rasmussen escape, Herrera took down the Jackrabbit and rode him out for nearly 40 seconds to erase the riding time advantage to win, 8-7.
Up Next
No. 14 Iowa State ventures to Cedar Falls for a matchup against No. 4 UNI on Sunday. That dual begins at 1 p.m. on FloWrestling.
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
No. 14 Iowa State 20, No. 11 South Dakota State 15
125: #15 Tanner Jordan (SDSU) dec. Ethan Perryman (ISU), 6-3
133: #5 Evan Frost (ISU) Maj. Dec. #33 Derrick Cardinal (SDSU), 11-3
141: #11 Jacob Frost (ISU) WBF Logan Swensen (SDSU), 4:48
149: #6 Paniro Johnson (ISU) maj. dec. Colin Dupill (SDSU), 14-4
157: #11 Cody Chittum (ISU) dec. #19 Cobe Siebrecht (SDSU), 9-8
165: #12 Drake Rhodes (SDSU) dec. Aiden Riggins (ISU), 5-4
174: #8 Cade DeVos (SDSU) dec. #17 MJ Gaitan (ISU), 8-4
184: #5 Bennett Berge (SDSU) dec. #10 Evan Bockman (ISU), 6-1
197: #15 Zach Glazier (SDSU) dec. Nate Schon (ISU), 10-6
285: #27 Daniel Herrera (ISU) dec. #26 Luke Rasmussen (SDSU), 8-7
Attendance: 2,462
Jan 27, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger talks with center Dishon Jacobs (1) and guard Curtis Jones (5) on the sidelines against the Arizona Wildcats during the second half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
AMES — He’d huff and pull. He’d occasionally blow his top. He’d sometimes demonstrably protest calls he felt officials got wrong — and all that did was make a young T.J. Otzelberger a mainstream college basketball coach.
But watching then-Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts’ reaction to being benched in the 2018 national championship game in real-time caused Otzelberger to take stock of his on-court demeanor. Hurts — now a recently-minted Super Bowl champion playcaller for the Philadelphia Eagles — didn’t grouse or throw a fit. He celebrated with his teammates after his replacement, Tua Tagovailoa, rallied them to a 26-23 win.
“The camera’s on him,” said Otzelberger, whose typically calm demeanor will likely be on display when the No. 10 Cyclones (19-5, 9-4) face Cincinnati (15-9, 5-8) at 3 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2) at Hilton Coliseum. “Everybody’s looking for him to crack. Everybody’s looking for his body language. Everybody’s looking for him to get frustrated at that moment — and the camera stayed on him for the final two hours of the game, and the whole 30 seconds of the trophy (presentation), to him running on the field. So I think I learned so much from that, and I wanted to help our guys learn some things from that, as well.”
Otzelberger showed those videos to his players on Wednesday. But what did he hope they’d glean from the experience?
“So we’re looking at it as, how do we gain strength from him?” said Otzelberger, whose team has won two straight after sharpshooting forward Milan Momcilovic returned from a hand injury that sidelined him for nearly a month. “I know as a coach, I have, and I know our young people have. And then it comes around, people didn’t think he could be an NFL quarterback, wouldn’t get drafted, wasn’t good enough for this that and the other — (but he’s a) Super Bowl champion, right? Elite winner, gritty competitor. So we all have expectations of things we want to go our way, but I also feel like we all need to be be learning, we all need to be in the moment as much as we can, and (there are) a lot of learning opportunities out there.”
Learning to adopt an even-keel mentality helps breed consistency — and that’s one lesson Otzelberger plucked from Hurts’ ability to mentally shine in ego-testing moments. It also helps ensure that no situation is too difficult to navigate, whether it’s the Cyclones’ recent three-game losing streak, or any other adverse elements they’ll encounter as conference season winds down and the NCAA Tournament beckons.
“No matter what, man, no matter how you may be feeling, don’t really show too much emotion, even if you’re feeling down or may not be in the role that you want,” said 6-11, 270-pound transfer center Dishon Jackson, who leads ISU with 24 blocked shots. “Don’t ever show that. Be there for the team and always be present.”
The Cyclones seek to beat a Bearcats team that’s presently living up to its early-season expectations. Cincinnati rose to No. 14 in the AP rankings in early December, but dropped out after losing eight of its first 10 Big 12 games. The Bearcats then strung together three consecutive double-digit wins over UCF, BYU and Utah — and leading scorer Jizzle James is a big reason why. He’s averaging 21.3 points over those victories after scoring zero points in 19 minutes in a 63-50 loss to West Virginia at home.
“They’re playing with tremendous confidence,” Otzelberger said. “I think so much of this is, you look at timing and when teams encounter their portion of adversity, and then, when do you play them? Obviously, right now, a three-game winning streak (and) offensively they’re playing great.”
But, as Otzelberger noted, Cincinnati’s identity is based on stern defense, so his team’s composure and stoic approach to challenges will likely be tested — just as Hurts was when he was benched seven years ago.
“When Hurts was having some adversity, he kind of stayed the same throughout it,” said key ISU reserve Nate Heise, who’s one of five Cyclones averaging one or more steals per game. “So I think that’s something you can try to emulate.”
Feb 8, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger talks to Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (2) during their game with the TCU Horned Frogs in the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger and Purdue head coach Matt Painter have announced the two teams will begin a home-and-home series next season. The 2025 game will be played at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind., while the 2026 game will be played at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.
Both teams are currently ranked in the Top 10 in the country in the AP Poll, with the Boilermakers coming in at No. 7 and the Cyclones at No. 10. The series will bring a home game to two of the toughest places to play in the country in Mackey Arena and Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones and Boilermakers have met five times previously, with four of those games coming on a neutral floor. The two teams met for the first time in 1987, a 104-96 Cyclone victory in West Lafayette. The two teams have also met in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas and Milwaukee. The last meeting came in 2017, as the two teams squared off in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Milwaukee.
Exact dates for the games will be announced at a later time.
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Iowa State earned another addition to its 2025 recruiting class in Dominykas Pleta, a 6-foot-9 post player out of Germany Thursday.
The overseas recruit announced the news over his Instagram account, and he’s as ready to win as anyone that’s already in Ames.
“I saw they were ranked third for a long time,” Pleta said. “That’s what I really like. I’m a winning guy. I like to win – I’ll do everything to win, to be honest. It don’t matter what.”
The big is late addition to the class, which is currently rated as the No. 15 class in the country.
He will round out the recruiting class, which already features a talented player at each position: point guard Macari Moore, shooting guard Killyan Toure, wing Jamarion Batemon and forward Xzavion Mitchell.
Pleta, who does not yet own a rating on 247 Sports said the connection with Iowa State started early in his recruitment.
“The second I hopped on a zoom meeting with coach T.J. (Otzelberger), coach Nate (Schmidt) and all of the others from the staff, we had good chemistry from the first second on,” Pleta said. “Even when I got there, I meant some players, I really liked the atmosphere. I watched a practice and saw that they’re really competing at every practice.”
Pleta and his camp wanted to keep his recruitment private, and are not disclosing the names of who’s been recruiting him.
However, CycloneFanatic can confirm that he held offers from 10 high major schools including at least one from every power conference.
BREAKING: Dominykas Pleta (@dpleta_), a 6-foot-9 forward out of Germany, announced today he will play his college ball at Iowa State.
He had 10 high major offers from schools in each of the power conferences.
It’s a big get for the 2025 class.pic.twitter.com/Oy0kyHXsfB
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) February 14, 2025
Pleta took a visit to Ames during his school’s four-day break from classes at the end of November, touring one other school that was stationed in a ‘big city.’
He liked the focus on basketball that he saw at Iowa State.
“I took the chance and went there, but unfortunately couldn’t see a game live,” Pleta said. “I saw one other school – one that I can say is in a big city – one where you get to see the city and you have a lot of other impressions. I really liked that I could just concentrate on basketball at Iowa State.”
Pleta wasn’t able to attend a game, but said that he fell in love with videos he’s been shown of Hilton Coliseum and that everyone in Germany knows about Iowa State.
“What I liked as well, was that when we were walking around, people immediately recognized coach and the players,” Pleta said. “I could really see that it’s a basketball city and a basketball school. When I saw clips of the arena, I gotta say, I fell in love with the atmosphere there. You don’t see that here (in Germany).”
He threw a deep pull out there for Cyclone fans, too, bringing up Nick Weiler-Babb, who has played for Bayern Munich for each of the past five seasons.
“Everybody knows the school here in Europe and Germany,” Pleta said of Iowa State. “Everybody knows Iowa State as a big school with big names from there. We all know of Tyrese Haliburton, and us Germans, we all know Nick Weiler-Babb, so I’ve known of Iowa State.”
Otzelberger and co.’s latest commitment brings a multi-tooled game to Ames and plenty of experience on the court.
Pletta added the team he’s on right now has a big focus on defending, so he’ll fit right into the type of basketball Otzelberger utilizes in Ames.
“Whatever they need from me,” Pleta said. “I’ll do anything.”
Mar 16, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach TJ Otzelberger hoists the Big 12 Tournament trophy alongside his team after defeating the Houston Cougars at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-Imagn Images
AMES — T.J. Otzelberger’s self-described “rant” lasted eight minutes and 13 seconds.
Iowa State’s head coach spoke passionately about his tenth-ranked team’s fan base — both at home and on the road. He then rhapsodized about the Cyclones’ “truly heroic” efforts this season, which have buoyed them into the Final Four and national championship conversation.
Otzelberger didn’t overlook a single player on ISU’s roster, from frontline stars to little-used walk-ons. Then the 47-year-old who’s seen almost every conceivable high and low in three stints — two as an assistant, and the latest as the head coach — with the Cyclones’ program rested his case.
“So I may have answered all your questions,” said Otzelberger, whose team (19-5, 9-4 Big 12) faces surging Cincinnati (15-9, 5-8) at 3 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2) at an already-sold out Hilton Coliseum. “I don’t know if you have any.”
We did — but it’s worth sampling from at least snippets of the high praise Otzelberger heaped on each of his players who have assumed evolving and crucial roles in games and during his arduous practices this season:
On Tamin Lipsey … “What he’s playing through is nothing short of heroic,” Otzelberger said of his all-Big 12 point guard, who he noted is not only playing with a fractured thumb, but also hunting the 3-point shot and shooting it better because of his mental fortitude. “He’s literally the greatest winner that I’ve ever been around.”
On forward Milan Momcilovic, who recently returned from a hand injury that required surgery … “If everybody could see the return that her had, the work that he put in, the plyo(metrics), the effort, the energy, the sprints — like, he came back, because he’s a great teammate, and competitor and winner, he came back probably at least a week if not two prior (to) what probably anybody would have came back,” Otzelberger said.
On “floor general” Keshon Gilbert … “How he set the tone for us (in Tuesday’’s win at UCF), moving the ball and making plays for his teammates, like the dynamic floor leader, floor general — he made the right play over and over,” Otzelberger said.
On transfer forward Joshua Jefferson, whose been a double-double machine this season … “(He’s) continued to rededicate himself from a leadership standpoint,” Otzelberger said. “And I think a lot of times when it’s your first year in a program you don’t want to ruffle feathers with the guys returning. Joshua Jefferson, his leadership, his poise — I mean, when people are making this comparison to (former Cyclone great) Georges Niang, who is probably the best college player that I’ve ever been around, and when you’re getting compared to (him) and who he is, and how he worked and how he does everything, that says everything you need to know about how well Joshua’s playing and how much he’s leading our team.”
On leading scorer Curtis Jones, ISU’s so-called sixth starter … “How does he come off the bench?” Otzelberger said. “He’s the most consistent player there is. There’s not a more consistent player out there. Every single day he does the same thing, so whether he starts, comes off the bench, whatever’s thrown at him, that consistency shows up for Curt every single time he takes the floor.”
On transfer lockdown defender Nate Heise, who’s adjusted to a reserve role … “When you look at Nate Heise getting on the floor for loose balls and setting the tone last game — those are like five- and six-point plays,” Otzelberger said. “There’s four players on the other team and one Nate Heise diving on the floor (and) that ends in a Keshon 3.”
On backup big man Brandton Chatfield, who ranks third on the team in offensive rebounds despite playing 14 minutes per game … “We call them ‘hammers’ in our program when you get offensive rebound, outback, finish,” Otzelberger said. “When you get two of them on the road (like at UCF), in the final nine or 10 minutes of the game? Those are as much backbreakers as anything can be.”
On transfer center Dishon Jackson, who leads the Cyclones in blocked shots with 24 … “We’re seeing more and more elite defensive performances from him — his communication, his energy, his enthusiasm,” Otzelberger said.
On Demarion Watson, who’s provided myriad high-flying hustle plays while not knowing if/when he’ll see minutes … “There’s not another Demarion Watson who’s just always ready when the coach calls on him,” Otzelberger said. “And it may not be next game and it may be next game. It may be in the first half and it may be in the second half.”
On minutes-starved bench players such as JT Rock, Kayden Fish, Nojus Indrusaitis, Conrad Hawley and Cade Kelderman … “When you look at our team dynamic on the bench, everybody’s like, ‘Well how do you get that?’” Otzelberger said. “You don’t just snap your fingers. Man, it’s a credit to those guys — their attitude, their mindset, their mentality.”
So to sum up, ISU’s head coach is filled with gratitude. The inspiration for his “rant” came while sitting on the team plane on the way back from Orlando. Otzelberger struggles to sleep on an aircraft. He’s too wound up, so he watched as much film as possible, then sifted through his thoughts and settled on the deep appreciation stemming from all of the above — and then some.
Oh, and one more thing: ISU’s been ranked in the AP’s top ten for 21 weeks in a row — a string unmatched by any program in the country. The level of success the Cyclones have turned into a new normal is not only unusual, it’s also almost unprecedented. And if that doesn’t make ISU’s players, coaches and fans alike extremely grateful, nothing will.
So rant on, T.J.
Rant on.
“There (are) some really awesome things happening in front of our eyes,” Otzelberger said. “And if you don’t really enjoy them and appreciate them when they are happening, they can pass you by, and that’s a shame when you miss out on those joys. Because like I said, I’ve been here when we haven’t had them. I’ve been here when we’ve been last in the league as an assistant when things hadn’t gone as well. And I think that’s really helped shape me, and benefit me, and helped me is so many ways. But to your point, a lot of reflection of what’s happened, what’s in front of us, and an appreciation for all the people that are making this so awesome.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Emily Ryan & Reagan Wilson addressed media members to preview their team’s upcoming game on the road against Kansas (4 p.m. ESPN+).
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Dishon Jackson & Nate Heise spoke to media members ahead of his team’s upcoming game against Cincinnati.
Head coach Kevin Dresser, Cody Chittum and Daniel Herrera break down this week’s road test against No. 11 South Dakota State and No. 4 UNI, share updates on team injuries and reflect on their growth and confidence heading into the matchups.
Jan 28, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team wide receiver Jaylin Noel of Iowa State (12) runs a play during Senior Bowl practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
The following is a news release courtesy of Iowa State Athletics Communications:
IOWA STATE SENDING FIVE TO NFL DRAFT COMBINE
AMES – Five Iowa State players have been invited to participate in the 2025 NFL Draft Combine to be held Feb. 27-March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Cyclones will be represented by Jayden Higgins (WR), Jaylin Noel (WR), Darien Porter (DB), Jalen Travis (OL) and Malik Verdon (DB).
The group played a significant role in leading the Cyclones to the best season in school history in 2024. ISU finished 11-3 and reached the Big 12 Championship game for the second time in school history. The season culminated with a win over Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Higgins and Noel combined to make 159 receptions for 2,260 yards and 16 touchdowns, forming arguably the nation’s best receiving tandem. They were one of just two duos with both players eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards.
Higgins, a South Miami, Florida native, had 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns, all of which rank among the top three single-season marks in school history. Higgins was an All-Big 12 Second-Team selection and earned Associated Press Third-Team All-America accolades.
Noel, a Kansas City, Missouri native, finished with 80 receptions for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns. Noel was Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year and finished his career with a streak of 46-straight games with a reception, the third-longest active streak nationally at the end of the season.
Porter is a true success story, switching from wide receiver to defensive back before his fourth season at Iowa State. The move paid off as Porter elevated himself to a starter this season and had three interceptions. In his career, the Bettendorf, Iowa native also excelled on special teams, blocking five kicks (four punts, one field goal).
Travis, who played a graduate season at Iowa State after spending four years at Princeton, anchored the Cyclone offensive line at left tackle. He missed the season’s first two games and after his return, Iowa State averaged 32.8 points, 172.7 rushing yards and 426.1 yards per game. The Minneapolis, Minnesota, native allowed just one sack in 475 pass plays.
Verdon, who declared for the NFL Draft following his redshirt junior season, finished second on the team with 76 tackles, despite missing two games due to injury. He had one sack, an interception and two forced fumbles in 2024 as the Cyclones went 11-3 overall.
The Cincinnati, Ohio, native played 27 career games for the Cyclones and finished with 134 tackles and three interceptions.
Higgins, Noel, Porter and Travis each had strong performances at the Reese’s Senior Bowl earlier in February. Verdon was invited but did not participate as he recovers from injury suffered near the end of last season.
The NFL Network will broadcast each day of the Combine.
Feb 11, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Central Florida Knights guard Mikey Williams (1) defends Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) at Addition Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images
Iowa State’s Curtis Jones and Milan Momcilovic shined early, then went into the deep freeze Tuesday at UCF.
A recipe for a tense game?
Nope — and that’s because everyone in the No. 10 Cyclones’ rotation made major contributions in an eventual 77-65 win in Orlando.
Seven players for ISU (19-5, 9-4) scored between eight and 15 points to send the slumping Knights (13-11, 4-9) to their fifth straight loss.
“We did a lot of winning things,” head coach T.J. Otzelberger said on the Cyclone Radio Network after the game. “I felt like offensively we really had great intent to make the right play. It wasn’t a great shooting night for us by any stretch, but I felt like our guys were taking the right shots.”
Keshon Gilbert led the Cyclones with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting. Joshua Jefferson narrowly missed his 10th double-double of the season with 13 points and eight rebounds. Tamin Lipsey added 11 points and Jones totaled 10 to help complete the regular-season sweep of UCF.
“We just need to continue to make the right plays for our teammates,” Otzelberger said. “I felt like we focused on doing that, and then the free-throw line was big for us late.”
ISU made 15 of its 17 free-throw attempts in the second half — and drained 10 in a row as the Knights tried to rally behind full-court pressure and fouls to extend the game. Cyclone reserves Nate Heise and Brandton Chatfield contributed their best offensive performances in several games, combining for 17 points and eight rebounds to help their team win its second game in a row. Heise had scored a total of seven points in his previous five games.
“He’s brought a lot to the table even though you watch the offense and you say the shots not falling or he doesn’t look aggressive,” Otzelberger said. “We’ve continued to be demanding of it and as aggressive as he’s been defensively, he was shot-ready offensively — and that’s what Nate Heise’s here to do.”
Chatfield had scored a total of eight points in his previous seven games and collected just three rebounds in his most recent three games.
“I’m his roommate and I spend a lot of time with him,” Heise said. “It’s always great to see him do well because he’s the ultimate team guy.”
ISU looked good early, as well, starting 4-for-8 from 3-point range and racing to an early 18-9 lead before UCF made a run. The Knights scored 16 of the game’s next 20 points to take a 25-22 lead with 4:51 left in the first half. The Cyclones responded with a late 7-0 run fueled by two baskets by Gilbert and held a narrow 32-30 edge at the break.
Jones scored all of his 10 points in the first half, and shot just 2-for-9 from beyond the arc. Jefferson added six points before the break and Gilbert had five for the Cyclones, who totaled 10 assists on 13 first-half field goals but shot just 1-for-4 from the free-throw line in the opening 20 minutes.
The Cyclones return to action Saturday against Cincinnati (15-9, 5-8), which has won three games in a row. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
“We know we’re gonna have a great crowd,” Otzelberger said. “There’s gonna be great energy in Hilton on Saturday. We’ll be excited to be at our best in a great environment.”
The NFL’s Detroit Lions are expected to hire Iowa State running backs coach Tyler Roehl, according to a report from Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports.
Roehl was in the position in Ames for one season, after he was hired before the start of the 2024 season.
Prior to that, Roehl served as the offensive coordinator at North Dakota State for five years and had been the tight ends & fullbacks coach as well for the five seasons before that.
Roehl helped North Dakota State to three national championship games, with two wins and most recently helped the Cyclones to an 11-3 season and a Pop Tarts Bowl championship.
Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic (22) celebrates with teammates during the second half against TCU at Hilton Coliseum on Feb 8, 2025 in Ames. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — The spacing greatly improved and the lane became less crowded.
These two welcomed side effects of standout shooter Milan Momcilovic’s return to the lineup for No. 10 Iowa State (18-5, 8-4 Big 12) after missing a month with a hand injury were widely expected — and came to fruition in the Cyclones’ 82-52 dismantling of TCU last Saturday.
But there’s one less obvious positive byproduct stemming from the 6-7 sophomore forward’s active status: His teammates, particularly star guards Keshon Gilbert, Curtis Jones and Tamin Lipsey, can remain relatively fatigue-free.
“I think one of the biggest things that was hidden in that whole stretch was it was good early, but the more games went on, the more our other guys had to play,” said ISU assistant coach Erik Crawford, whose team faces floundering but dangerous UCF (13-10, 4-8) at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Orlando. “I think when you take out a guy who was averaging 25 to maybe 30 minutes a game, it just puts the load on the rest of those guys. And then as we started to see, you could tell we were getting a little bit more beat up as the games went on.”
Jones and Lipsey played season-high minutes in five of the seven games Momcilovic was out. Gilbert did so in three games — but was perhaps most affected by his absence because of his downhill attacking style that teams countered by packing the paint. Combine all those factors and it’s easy to see why the Cyclones lost four of those seven games but now appear poised to solidify their status among the Big 12’s top-four teams.
“Obviously, the vibes were a little low when you go on a three-game losing streak, but I know all of our guys have high expectations for us and we know we’re one of the best teams in the country,” said Lipsey, who’s been playing with a fractured thumb in recent weeks. “We can go out and perform like that, so we’re just gonna go at it every night and try to get to work.”
Tuesday night, that workmanlike approach takes aim on the Knights, who are riding a season-worst four-game losing streak. UCF boasts some impressive wins this season, however, including a road triumph at No. 12 Texas Tech and a season-opening home victory over eighth-ranked Texas A&M.
“They’re a scary team,” said Crawford, who addressed the media Monday because head coach T.J. Otzelberger had a time conflict. “Just as easily as they can lose, they can win by 20. They have the ability to put up points probably as good as any team in our conference, and I think what you’ve seen is what the league does: It’s a tough league to get through, Obviously, with us dropping three (straight) games and I think they’ve dropped four (in a row), that’s more par for the course. When you go on the road in some of these environments, it’s tough to play, and I think that’s what they’re facing.”
ISU, meanwhile, is in the midst of a four-game stretch devoid of ranked foes. And if the Cyclones can navigate it successfully, they’ll enter what’s likely to be a hyped top-10 matchup on Feb. 22 at No. 6 Houston with reinvigorated high hopes and as a projected two-seed in the NCAA Tournament. But as Crawford said, life in the Big 12 entails encountering unforeseen storms that can pop up anywhere, at any time, and against any of the league’s 16 teams.
“That’s the beauty in the sport,” said transfer forward Joshua Jefferson, who notched his ninth double-double of the season in the win over the Horned Frogs. “There (are) always gonna be ups and downs. You’ve just gotta stay with it and not get consumed by all the lows that have happened during the season. So just staying confident and staying encouraged with everything.”
Especially while weathering injuries, which ISU’s endured while revitalizing itself as March looms.
“The main thing is to have great practices, get lost in the game with your teammates, and have fun,” Otzelberger said after the TCU win. “We were able to do that (on Saturday).”
There was a national TV show in Ames on Saturday, the Big 12 looks like its old self, and March Madness is right around the corner.
Let’s muse.
ESPN’s College GameDay‘s great, but it could have been better GameDay was courtside for Iowa State – TCU, marking the fourth time the show has appeared in Ames for basketball or football.
Although, it didn’t have the same buzz as the other three.
On Friday, we talked to the show’s Seth Greenberg, who’s been with ESPN for more than two decades.
He said something that reminded me how GameDay can be so much more than it is right now.
“People have got to remember, there’s only seven College GameDay‘s, and Iowa State’s getting one of them,” Greenberg said. “That’s what I was trying to explain to our guys while I was at (Virginia) Tech… Duke-(North) Carolina, you’re going to probably be there twice. The SEC is having a great season, but the powers that be on the fourth floor decided that this was the destination, which is a tribute to the community, the students, the fans, and the coach.”
It will always be special any time Iowa State hosts GameDay, and it was on Saturday — but the basketball version of the popular show deserves to be more than what it is leading up to the national tournament.
Seven GameDay slots and we’re sharpie-ing in the same pair of programs in the same rivalry to two of them before the season starts.
You want to be a permanent fixture in hoops fans’ homes? Be there every week – and be there everywhere.
In total, 60 power conference programs on both the men’s and women’s sides have hosted the show.
Only six non-power conference programs have ever hosted the basketball version of the show, with one of them being Gonzaga and each of the other five (Memphis, Saint Mary’s, Dayton, Southern Illinois & Wichita State) hosting the show for a game played before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I watched a little bit of it because it was kind of on before our reunion, and it was O.K.,” Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly said. “To me, it wasn’t a typical GameDay – it wasn’t as home team-centric as they usually are. The SEC, Duke and St. John’s seem to be the big thing, but just getting them here is good and getting T.J. (Otzelberger) on TV is good. I just didn’t see the juice – I thought it was great, but I’ve seen a lot better.”
Don’t get fans started on the old B-roll footage of Ames from who knows when. I just wish this show was a fixture in the sport like it is for football.
Cyclones are back on track in the tumultuous Big 12 Meanwhile, Iowa State improved to 2-0 with GameDay in town, earning its fourth 30+-point win over a conference opponent since 2000.
Milan Momcilovic returned to the lineup and although it took the Cyclones some time to get readjusted, you’d have no idea by looking at the box score.
Momcilovic and Curtis Jones combined to shoot 9-13 from the 3-point line and have some time to get in a groove before their next big test.
However, that’s not the case everywhere in the Big 12.
Following Saturday, five of the top 11 teams in the KenPom ratings come from the Big 12.
So much for it being a “down year” for the Big 12 with 5 of the Top 11 teams currently on KenPom in the conference pic.twitter.com/TsuijcMIml
— RC Maxfield (@RCMB323) February 9, 2025
The conference is a different beast than it was coming into the year with the top five teams sort of breaking away from the field.
Not to mention, Kansas State is as hot as fish grease right now. The Big 12 tournament could be really fun.
Bill Fennelly’s group at its bestThe Cyclone women completed a 2-0 week that was highlighted by a 30-point win against a Colorado team that came in leveled with Iowa State in the standings.
I called for the team to finish its final seven-game stretch to close out the year at 5-2 to feel good about its NCAA Tournament resume, but it’s hard not to feel better about it regardless after that game.
“I don’t know if we could have played any better,” Fennelly said. “I really don’t. I told the team before the game we want to play a game that our returning players could look at and go, ‘Man, that looks like our team,’ and I think they did that.”
Iowa State was at its best and showed the committee that it shouldn’t be in the same conversation as Colorado. And now? Some extra rest before returning to the court on Saturday.
Elsewhere in college basketballWhether it’s brought up on College GameDay or not – there are some phenomenal stories going on around college hoops right now.
Dick Vitale returned to broadcasting, and it was great to hear his voice again. I’ve griped enough about ESPN today, but I wish his return was actually on ESPN instead of the Lakers’ game that featured neither of the team’s two stars on the court.
WELCOME BACK, DICKIE V!
Dick Vitale gets a standing ovation in his return after cancer took him away from the broadcast booth for two years pic.twitter.com/KcJE2tRAnh
— ESPN (@espn) February 8, 2025
Since Omaha lost to Iowa State to fall to 4-9 on the season, the Mavericks have turned things around in a big way.
They’ve gone 12-1 in their last 13 games, and lead the Summit League standings while celebrating all of the success with WWE-style postgame locker room celebrations. Hard team to dislike.
A new challenger tags in! Brandt Danals finishes off that can with a SPEAR #GoMavs #OmahaMBB pic.twitter.com/J9xivu6GTE
— Omaha Men’s Basketball (@OmahaMBB) February 8, 2025
And I want to mention the mid-majors in the state. Drake has the best record in men’s hoops at 22-2 and UNI made a 14-point comeback on Illinois State Saturday with a pair of hot tubs sitting on the baseline.
What a night, Panther fans!!!
Thank you for showing up in force for our first-ever Panthers In Paradise! #EverLoyal #1UNI #Family pic.twitter.com/e1NwYQPDRI
— UNI Basketball (@UNImbb) February 9, 2025
So it remains a good time to be a basketball fan in the state of Iowa. Hope y’all have a fantastic Daytona 500 week.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) goes for a layup around TCU Horned Frogs center Trazarien White (13) during the first half in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Feb 8, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State men’s basketball kept its streak of being ranked in the top 10 of the AP Poll alive, Monday.
The Cyclones came in at No. 10 in Monday’s poll, making it 22 straight weeks that the program has been ranked in the top 10 – the longest streak in the country.
Iowa State is one of five Big 12 programs ranked in the poll, joining No. 6 Houston, No. 12 Texas Tech, No. 13 Arizona and No. 17 Kansas.
T.J. Otzelberger’s group will face UCF on the road Tuesday (6 p.m. ESPN+) before returning home to take on Cincinnati Saturday (3 p.m. ESPN2).
AP MBB Poll
Monday, Feb. 10, 2025
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
T3. Florida
T3. Duke
5. Tennessee
6. Houston
7. Purdue
8. Texas A&M
9. St. Johns
10. Iowa State
11. Michigan State
12. Texas Tech
13. Arizona
14. Memphis
15. Kentucky
16. Wisconsin
17. Kansas
18. Marquette
19. Ole Miss
20. Michigan
21. Missouri
22. Mississippi State
23. Clemson
24. Creighton
25. Maryland
Others receiving votes: UCLA 123, UConn 106, Illinois 59, Louisville 53, New Mexico 40, Drake 21, Saint Mary’s 20, Utah St. 8, George Mason 7, Gonzaga 5.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Audi Crooks & Arianna Jackson addressed media members following their team’s 86-56 win over Colorado.
Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Arianna Jackson (2) attempts to steal the ball from Colorado Buffaloes’s forward Lior Garzon (12) during the first quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Arianna Jackson dove to the floor, desperate to corral the steal.
She settled for a forced turnover instead.
The Iowa State sophomore guard often says her defense feeds her offense, but Saturday against Colorado it was the other way around.
Jackson drilled three of her first four 3-point attempts, then made multiple hustle plays as the Cyclones blew out the Buffaloes, 86-56, before a crowd of 10,081 at Hilton Coliseum.
“I think hitting shots early definitely builds a little confidence,” said Jackson, who’s 8-for-14 from 3-point range in the past three games for ISU (17-9, 8-5 Big 12). “But if the ball’s on the ground, I’m definitely gonna go for it.”
Jackson scored in double figures for the second straight game. Audi Crooks led the Cyclones with 33 points and 12 rebounds on ultra-efficient 15 of 20 field goal shooting. Addy Brown added 12 points and 11 assists and Emily Ryan had 12 points and five assists — giving ISU four players in double figures in the convincing win.
“This team isn’t made up of one, or two, or three people,” Crooks said. “It’s made up of many more than that and every person contributes. Those games when they do and it shows up on the stats board, that’s really huge because at the end of the day it’s not about two or three people having obscene numbers.”
Not anymore. Not on this two-game win streak, anyway. Cyclones not named Audi Crooks or Audi Brown combined for 45 points in the road win at Cincinnati and 41 points on Saturday as ISU moved past Colorado (16-7, 7-5) in the conference standings.
The Cyclones also honored two of the best teams in program history — the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 teams — at mid-court during the game.
“I don’t know if we could have played any better,” said ISU head coach Bill Fennelly, whose team outrebounded the Buffaloes, 38-29, and outscored them 44-22 in the paint. “I really don’t. I told the team before the game we want to play a game that our returning players could look at and go, ‘Man, that looks like our team,’ and I think they did that.”
Fennelly also said the Cyclones have looked like a much-improved team with former West Liberty star Kelsey Joens in the starting lineup. The 5-11 sophomore guard scored five points, grabbed a team-high two offensive rebounds and sprinkled in four assists. In other words, she did a little bit of everything while sparking ISU with effort-based plays, much like Jackson does.
“Her and Kelsey, they just play really, really hard,” Fennelly said.
Jackson, Fennelly added, has “an extra heartbeat” and “loves Iowa State.” Joens, he noted, “makes plays no one on (the) team makes.”
“(She’s) flying through to get a rebound, or getting a loose ball, and can make the occasional shot,” Fennelly said. “You need people like that and most players don’t want to be that person. I want to be the guy that comes and sits in front of (the media). But Kelsey just loves to compete. She does what we ask her to do. She takes really hard coaching and she gets coached really hard. The other thing is, her teammates have a lot of trust in her, and I think that goes a long way.”
The Cyclones will enjoy a little time off before returning to the court next Saturday at Kansas. Fennelly said winning the last two games may have “saved the season.” Now his team is positioned to build off those efforts and not only make the NCAA Tournament, but potentially make some noise in it, as well.
“When they play the way they’re playing, we’ll line up and compete with a lot of people,” Fennelly said.
Feb 8, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; TCU Horned Frogs guard Vasean Allette (3) watches Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) shoot during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES – With Milan Momcilovic back in the starting lineup, Iowa State’s star shooter in Curtis Jones was back to coming off of the bench in his team’s 82-52 win over TCU Saturday.
And for the first time in nearly two weeks, he was back in double figures, helping the Cyclones’ snap a three-game losing streak.
“It was great to see it’s something that’s worked for us in the past, work today,” Jones said. “So I was glad to get back to that recipe that we had going and just look forward to continuing with this momentum that we built today.”
The Cyclones reached a rough spot in their season, going 3-4 without Momcilovic on the floor.
Coming into the three-game losing skid, Jones had scored 18 points or more in six straight games. He failed to reach that mark in each of the losses, but did so with ease in the team’s 30-point, conference-game win.
“We prepared this week very hard – just harder than it has been,” Jones said. “Just getting bodies back, getting everybody back healthy – that helps, but having Milan back was great. He made four threes, which is big time, and I made five. So it was a good day shooting for both of us, over 50% from three.”
Jones looked all the part of his former self, going 5-6 from distance with 24 points, a rebound and an assist. At one point, Jones hit a 3-pointer on three straight possessions.
He attributes his strong play with Momcilovic’s return.
“Curt Jones is an elite play-making, scoring guard and regardless of what another team does, if the ball is on the move and we’re playing for one another, Curt is going to be successful,” coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “I think we saw that tonight. We’ll continue to to see that moving forward and I’m just really proud of the way that he played and the energy that he played with.”
Iowa State went through it’s processes getting back up to snuff in the early parts of Saturday’s game, but it became evident that it would figure things out when both players were hitting on three’s again.
“Just seeing the lane be a little less clogged than it normally is, it’s big time because we’re a team that likes to actually score in the paint,” Jones said. “So to be scoring in the paint, there’s got to be open space in there, and Milan brings that. I feel like when I’m out there, I could bring that as well. So having two guys that do that really opens up the floor for guys like Tamin (Lipsey) and (Keshon Gilbert), myself and everybody else.”
Iowa State will return to the court Tuesday, taking on UCF on the road at 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+).
If Jones has another big game, it shouldn’t surprise anyone.
“It’s crazy to just think of letting the game come to you, coming off the bench and scoring 24, but he makes it seem like that’s a common thing to do, even though nobody else on Earth does that,” Otzelberger said.
Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) celebrates with team mates after making a three-point shot during the second half in the Big 12 men’s basketball game at Hilton Coliseum on Feb 8, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — ESPN’s College GameDay wrapped and Hilton Coliseum roared.
The P.A. announcer bellowed the name Milan Momcilovic as one of No. 8 Iowa State’s five starters mere minutes after the broadcast ended — and the crowd erupted accordingly.
Then the Cyclones did the same, using 71 percent shooting to race to an 18-point halftime lead and an eventual 82-52 lambasting of TCU Saturday before a sold-out crowd of 14,267.
“It was great to get that love from the crowd,” said Momcilovic, who drained a Big 12 season-high-tying four 3-pointers after sitting out a month because of a hand injury. “I really wanted that first 3(-point attempt) to go down. We drew that play up for me. I got too excited but I got it going in the second half.”
Momcilovic missed his only two shots in the first half, but went 5-for-7 in the second to finish with 14 points.
ISU (18-5, 8-4 Big 12) snapped a three-game skid. Leading scorer Curtis Jones — who Momcilovic displaced in the starting lineup — drilled all three of his 3-point attempts and scored 16 of his game-high 24 points before halftime.
“Having Milan back was great,” said Jones, who went 5-for-6 from beyond the arc. “He made four 3s, which is big time — and I made five. So it was a good day shooting for both of us, over 50 percent from 3.”
Big men Dishon Jackson and Joshua Jefferson scored 10 points apiece in the first half on combined 9-for-10 field goal shooting. Jefferson notched his ninth double-double of the season (13 points and 10 rebounds) and kept numerous possessions alive with either offensive boards (four) or tip-outs.
“Joshua’s effort on the glass and his focus today was amazing,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “He created so much offense for us.”
So did Momcilovic, whose ability to space the floor allows the Cyclones to more readily attack the paint and open up 3-point opportunities.
“Our team has built a dynamic offensively that we work together as five guys to create an advantage, try to get it in the paint, (and) score in the paint,” Otzelberger said. “If you take it away, kick it to 3. If (they) over-close the 3, get to the foul line. There’s rhythm to how we do that and I felt like we were able to reestablish that.”
ISU lost four of seven games in Momcilovic’s absence, largely because of poor shooting and turnover issues. His return remedied the former problem, but ball security remained an issue, as the Cyclones coughed up 15 turnovers. But they also forced 16 — and outscored the Horned Frogs 22-to-12 in points off those miscues.
“They certainly did what they wanted to do,” said TCU head coach Jamie Dixon, whose team fell to 12-11 and 5-7.
The Cyclones never trailed — and when Momcilovic finally drilled a 3-pointer with 16:46 left, Hilton roared again. ISU had built a 51-28 lead and Dixon promptly called timeout.
What happened next? Backup guard Nate Heise poked away a steal and dunked on the other end to eclipse 1,000 career points. Then ISU got a stop and Momcilovic drained his second 3-pointer to give his team a 56-28 lead, all but sealing the much-needed win.
“Just good to be back on the floor with my teammates,” said Momcilovic, who added that he feels 100 percent healthy. “I felt ready to go.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Milan Momcilovic & Curtis Jones spoke to media members following their team’s 82-52 win over TCU.
T.J. Otzelberger’s postgame press conference will be added when it is made available*
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova
AMES, Iowa – Nine sophomores and one true freshman propelled No. 14 Iowa State to a 26-15 victory over Arizona State on Friday night at Hilton Coliseum.
“Well, nine sophomores and one true freshman, and they all came out of the same recruiting class. I didn’t think I’d ever be saying that, but they got the job done,” Dresser said.
Like much of the Cyclones’ season, Friday night’s dual did not come without lineup changes. Illness sidelined two key wrestlers: Cody Chittum (157) and Evan Bockman (184). Chittum’s illness wasn’t discovered until just hours before the team reported for the dual, resulting in Carter Fousek making his Hilton Coliseum debut.
“We find out he’s (Chittum) sick this morning at noon, and Fousek is supposed to wrestle an exhibition match. I call him up at 12:30 and say, ‘You’re going.'”
That unexpected change led to the most significant match of the night. Fousek delivered a stunning comeback, bringing the Hilton crowd to its feet. After falling behind 6-0 in the first period, he clawed his way back, put Pierson Manville on his back, and secured a pin in 6:07.
“Off the rip, he (Manville) was ready to go, and I just knew if I stayed in there, I’d have a chance,” Fousek said. “As the match got on him, he started to fade. I got tired too, but I just decided to get tough.”
With a young lineup, Dresser has had to make adjustments like this all season. “It’s been a struggle all year. It’s been difficult. It’s been very difficult,” he said. “Sometimes you gotta get it done, and it was a good win.”
With the victory, Dresser reached 250 career dual wins.
Photo by Jacqueline Cordova“For this year, I guess they (dual wins) haven’t come as easy,” Dresser said. “But, you know, I’ve been fortunate. I’ve had two great institutions, Virginia Tech and Iowa State, and three great ADs that have all been supportive.”
Iowa State will have a quick turnaround as it hosts No. 15 Pitt on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum. The dual will be streamed on ESPN+ as the Cyclones look to keep building momentum late in the season.
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
No. 14 Iowa State 26, Arizona State 15
125: #2 Richard Figueroa (ASU) WBF Ethan Perryman (ISU), 1:55
133: #5 Evan Frost (ISU) dec. Julian Chlebove (ASU), 5-1
141: #11 Jacob Frost (ISU) dec. Emilio Ysaguirre (ASU), 6-1
149: #7 Paniro Johnson (ISU) dec. #21 Jesse Vasquez (ASU), 10-4
157: Carter Fousek (ISU) WBF Pierson Manville (ASU), 6:07
165: Aiden Riggins (ISU) MD Javani Majoor (ASU), 21-7
174: #21 MJ Gaitan (ISU) MD Joseph Manfredi (ASU), 15-5
184: Shay Addison (ASU) WBF Nando Villaescusa (ISU), 5:38
197: Nate Schon (ISU) dec. Jacob Meissner (ASU), 7-4
285: #5 Cohlton Schultz (ASU) dec. #26 Daniel Herrera (ISU), 3-0
Announcers Rece Davis, from left, Andraya Carter, Jay Williams, Seth Greenberg and Jay Bilas pose for a photo during ESPN GameDay at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. © Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State’s on a three-game skid, one of its best shooters, Milan Momcilovic, hasn’t played in almost a month, and Saturday’s 11 a.m. game against middling TCU can only be seen on ESPN+.
So why in the world is ESPN’s College GameDay going to be broadcasting live from Hilton Coliseum before tipoff?
“It’s a destination,” said one of GameDay’s most venerable contributors, Seth Greenberg. “I have so much respect for (Cyclone head coach) T.J. (Otzelberger) and what he’s done, and the passion that he’s brought back to Iowa State. I was a really dear friend of (the late) Johnny Orr back in the day, and it’s exciting to see where they are right now — and the road to success is always under construction. You’re gonna have road blocks and detours along the way.”
One of the biggest obstacles the No. 8 Cyclones (17-5, 7-4) have faced is Momcilovic’s absence. The 6-7 sharpshooter from Pewaukee, Wis., has missed the last six games because of a hand injury, but he’s now considered “day-to-day” — which means he’ll likely return sooner rather than later. Otzelberger hinted that Momcilovic likely won’t be back to face the Horned Frogs (12-10, 5-6), but it’s not out of the question. Either way, ISU needs a GameDay-sized jolt of energy to get back on track while playing three of its next four games against unranked opponents at home.
“It’s a hard conference, it’s a long season,” said all-Big 12 point guard Tamin Lipsey, who’s been playing through a painful injury of his own (thumb). “There (are) gonna be ups and downs, and obviously we’re in a down spot right now, but the good thing about that is we’ve got time to make our way out of it.”
But the Cyclones’ resurgence must start Saturday against TCU, which has won two straight games but has yet to win a conference road game.
“It really is gonna come down to our guards doing a great job guarding the basketball and keeping their guards out of transition and out of the paint,” Otzelberger said. “It’s gonna come down to our front court establishing the physicality in the interior, and us as a team finishing plays on the glass. We do that — (and) focus on our identity — then offense will come for us.”
Especially when Momcilovic returns. His 3-point shooting acumen — a team-best 44.3 percent —helps space the floor for his teammates, but his ability to encroach in the paint and drill fadeaway also creates more opportunities on the offensive end of the floor.
“Obviously losing Milan is a big thing,” said Greenberg, who returned to Hilton with the GameDay crew for the first time since the Cyclones honored Orr for a game 10 years ago. “It’s impacted their spacing. It’s hurt their backcourt. And when you’re not making shots, it also hurts your defensive transition, which hurts your 3-point defense. They all go together in a lot of ways, so hopefully he gets back soon.”
All signs point to that positive development for ISU, which saw its 29-game home win streak snapped last Saturday in a loss to surging Kansas State. There’s no better time to start a new one than the present — especially with GameDay in town to help tout the Cyclones’ home environment.
“I think the atmosphere and the energy — (it’s) deafening,” Greenberg said. “And how hard the team plays. They don’t take plays off. They might not shoot it straight all the time. They might pitch it to the wrong team a bit too much, but the effort is incredible, and it reflects the community and it reflects the institution. You always want your team to reflect the DNA of your community. I think that’s a really important thing and that’s what Iowa State does.”
So despite the recent skid and injury woes, it’s fitting that GameDay’s returned to Ames. The hype’s not the same, but the stakes are as high as ever for a Cyclone team that’s still ranked among the top-10 nationally by KenPom.
“(Hilton) is huge, especially coming off when you’re struggling,” Greenberg said. “At some places it wouldn’t be because you lose three in a row and there may be some empty seats. That ain’t happening here.”
Jan 30, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Georges Niang (20) follows through on a three-point basket in the third quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Former Cyclone Georges Niang has been traded away from the Cleveland Cavaliers and will now play for the Atlanta Hawks.
The deal was made by Atlanta, who is sending forward De’Andre Hunter to Cleveland for Niang, Chris Lavert, three second-round draft picks and two swaps, according to the report from Shams Charania.
The Atlanta Hawks are trading forward De’Andre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks and two swaps, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/5fpE4LJzpK
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
Niang is in his ninth season in the NBA, and had appeared in every game during his time with the Cavaliers.
The former Cyclone averaged 8.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game with Cleveland this season.
Niang goes from the Eastern Conference leading Hawks to Atlanta, who’s 23-28 this season, sitting at ninth in the standings.
The Hawks will take the floor again on Friday in a home matchup against Milwaukee.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzeleberger and players Tamin Lipsey & Demarion Watson spoke to media members to preview his team’s upcoming game against TCU Saturday (11 a.m. ESPN+).
Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) drives to the basket around Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) during the first half in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Jan. 7, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — T.J. Otzelberger said today that Milan Momcilovic has returned to practice, but his timeline for a return to gameplay remains uncertain.
Momcilovic — a 6-7 forward shooting a team-best 44.3 percent from 3-point range — has been out for nearly a month because of a hand injury that required surgery.
Otzelberger noted the injury would likely require a “four to six week” recovery period, and the team initially targeted the Feb. 15 game against Cincinnati as a likely return to the court for Momcilovic.
“Milan returned to practice today,” said Otzelberger, whose eighth-ranked team (17-5, 7-4) seeks to snap a three-game skid Saturday against TCU at home. “He was out there and doing things, so, again, it’ll be day to day. Whenever he’s able to return, when it’s in his best interest, is when he’ll return.”
The Cyclones are 3-3 since Momcilovic suffered the injury in practice the day before the Kansas win at home. The offense has faced significant struggles recently as opposing teams have taken advantage of Momcilovic’s absence and increased their ball pressure while clogging the interior.
“Obviously, we miss having him out on the court,” ISU point guard Tamin Lipsey said. “It makes a big difference, just spacing-wise and offensively, teams have been switching up how they’ve been guarding us since he’s been out. So we sort of have to learn how to play without him at this time, and that’s something we’ve been going through on offense, and just how to get movement and stay active without one of those key shooters on the floor. Obviously, he spaces the floor, opens up gaps for us to (attack), and when he’s not out there, it’s harder for us to find those gaps to drive, and it’s harder to make plays. So obviously looking forward to him getting back whenever that is.”
Could that be Saturday when ESPN’s College GameDay is in town? Otzelberger intimated that may be too soon, but reiterated that Momcilovic is close to being back — and his health interests stand paramount in that regard.
“I don’t want him to feel rushed in any way, shape or form,” Otzelberger said. “I know we can all watch and say, ‘Hey, having him back will give us enthusiasm and energy, and his ability to shoot and score the basketball (is big), but that’s a personal choice, and that’s on his timeline, and I support him in how he goes about making those choices.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell announced Thursday the signing of two prep players.
The Cyclones, who signed 19 players during the early signing period in December, have added defensive lineman BJ Carter (6-4, 280, Middleburg, Fla. [Middleburg]) and running back Jayden Jackson (5-11, 215, Franklin, Texas [Franklin]).
“Our program is excited to add BJ Carter and Jayden Jackson to our 2025 signing class,” Campbell said. “This is a talented group that we believe aligns with the values our program stands for and the vision for where we are headed. BJ and Jayden both had tremendous senior years and will be ready to help us continue to build Cyclone Football as they arrive to Ames this summer.”ADVERTISING
Iowa State’s class included 21 future Cyclones, 11 on offense and 10 on defense. The players come from 10 different states, with Iowa producing seven of the signees.
According to On3, ISU signed five of the top six players in Iowa, while Rivals has Iowa State landing six of the state’s top 10 players.
Quarterback Alex Manske was a four-star recruit, along with linebacker Will Hawthorne and offensive lineman Will Tompkins. Ohio offensive lineman Kuol Kuol was a four-star signee according to 247sports.
To view the entire class, click here.
BJ Carter
DL
6-4 / 280
Middleburg, Fla. / Middleburg
Played at Middleburg High School for head coach Ryan Wolfe … three-star prospect and a top-150 defensive lineman nationally by 247Sports, ESPN and On3 … helped Middleburg to a 7-4 record and state playoff appearance in his senior season … finished the 2024 season with 46 tackles, including seven sacks and nine hurries … also forced a fumble and registered two PBUs … as a junior, compiled 49 tackles, including five for a loss and two sacks … compiled 143 tackles and 10 sacks in his career … picked the Cyclones over offers from NC State and West Virginia.
Jayden Jackson
RB
5-11 / 215
Franklin, Texas / Franklin
Prepped at Franklin High School for head coach Mark Fannin … three-star by all major recruiting outlets … top-125 running back by 247Sports composite … rushed for more than 8,000 career yards, just the 13th player in Texas high school football history to reach that mark … totaled 8,035 yards and 114 rushing touchdowns … had 38 career 100-yard rushing games … recorded four games with five rushing touchdowns in his career … as a senior, rushed for 2,386 yards and 35 touchdowns … averaged 12.6 yards per carry while leading Franklin to a 10-3 record in 2024 … earned The Sporting News Texas All-State Second-Team honors as a senior … District MVP … had a career-high 328 yards and five touchdowns in 2022 game against C.H. Yoe … earned offensive MVP honors for his efforts in 2022 state championship game … reached the state championship game from 2021-23, winning a pair of state titles … finished high school career with 56-5 record.Print Friendly Version
Iowa State held its weekly media availability which featured a full slate of interviews. Assistant coaches Brent Metcalf and Derek St. John talked about the benefit of the team having a small break before a double header at home and the importance of consistency with this team. Paniro Johnson and Nate Schon talk about their growth and training as wrestlers.
Schedule graphic courtesy of Iowa State Athletics Communications.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State’s 2025 football schedule is complete after being announced by the Big 12 Conference on Tuesday morning.
The season opens Aug. 23 in Dublin, Ireland as the Cyclones face Big 12 Conference rival Kansas State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Tickets for the game against the Wildcats are on sale now.
The Cyclones will play six home games at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium, opening the home slate Aug. 30 against FCS semifinalist South Dakota.
Iowa State’s annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series showdown against Iowa returns to Ames Sept. 6. The following week (Sept. 13), ISU closes out its nonconference schedule at Arkansas State.
Arizona comes to Jack Trice Stadium Sept. 27 as the Cyclones jump back into Big 12 play. ISU then plays back-to-back road games for the only time in 2025, traveling to Cincinnati on Oct. 4 and Colorado on Oct. 11. It will be Iowa State’s first game against the Buffaloes since 2010 but the 66th in series history as the schools renew one of the longest rivalries in program history.
Following its second bye week, Iowa State hosts BYU for Homecoming on Oct. 25. The Cyclones welcome Arizona State on Nov. 1 in a rematch of the 2024 Big 12 Championship game.
Two of ISU’s final three games will be on the road, starting with a Nov. 8 showdown at TCU. Iowa State’s Senior Day will be Nov. 22 against Kansas and the regular season closes on Nov. 29 at Oklahoma State.
Arizona, BYU and Arizona State will visit Jack Trice Stadium for the first time in 2025.
Due to the Cyclones starting play in “week zero”, Iowa State’s schedule will have three byes: Sept. 20, Oct. 18, Nov. 15.
Season tickets are available now for renewal or for those looking to experience the excitement of gameday at Jack Trice Stadium for the first time. For more information, click here.
Iowa State returns 12 starters, six each on offense and defense, including star quarterback Rocco Becht. Becht threw for more than 3,500 yards and led the Cyclones to four thrilling come-from-behind victories in 2024.
2025 Iowa State Football Schedule
Aug. 23 #vs. Kansas State (Aer Lingus College Football Classic)
Aug. 30 SOUTH DAKOTA
Sept. 6 IOWA (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series)
Sept. 13 at Arkansas State
Sept. 27 ARIZONA
Oct. 4 at Cincinnati
Oct. 11 at Colorado
Oct. 25 BYU (Homecoming/Hall of Fame Weekend)
Nov. 1 ARIZONA STATE
Nov. 8 at TCU
Nov. 22 KANSAS
Nov. 29 *at Oklahoma State
Dec. 6 ^Big 12 Championship Game
All times central.
*Big 12 Conference Game
at Dublin, Ireland
^at Arlington, Texas
Feb 3, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Rylan Griffen (6) dunks the ball against Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (2) during the second half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Keshon Gilbert strafed away the steal and jetted the other way.
Iowa State trailed Kansas by 12 points late in the first half and the standout guard seemed determined to ignite a run. Instead, he lost the basketball near the sideline. The Jayhawks’ Dejuan Harris seized it and delivered a perfect 50-foot pass to forward KJ Adams for a fast-break dunk.
That play — in a nutshell — typified the No. 3 Cyclones’ miserable night at Allen Fieldhouse.
No. 16 Kansas (16-6, 7-4) controlled the game from start to finish en route to a 69-52 triumph that saddled ISU (17-5, 7-4) with its first three-game losing streak since February of 2023.
“You make a great defensive play, and then it turns into a turnover, which turns into transition points for them,” said Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team trailed by as many as 23 points and shot 23.5 percent from the field in the first half. “There’s probably not a team or a program that does a better job than what Kansas does in transition — if you have a turnover, and how they turn it into points. We had very few live-ball turnovers and you feel like every one that we had turned into a layup or dunk on the other end.”
ISU amassed 17 offensive rebounds partly because it missed so many shots, but it also got to the free-throw line 20 times and made just 11. The Cyclones also went a dismal 3-for-21 from 3-point range — and two of those makes came in the final eight minutes of the game.
“It sucks,” said ISU’s Curtis Jones, who scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds but shot just 3-for-11 from the field. “You know, losing is not ideal, but we did some things well tonight. We got 17 offensive rebounds. Only seven turnovers. It was really just shots weren’t falling.”
That’s become a troubling trend for the Cyclones, who shot a season-low 31 percent on the heels of a 36.5 percent performance in the blowout home loss Saturday to Kansas State. Jones said teams are scouting ISU better and better as floor-spacing forward Milan Momcilovic continues to rehab after undergoing hand surgery. Otzelberger said Momcilovic is likely still a couple weeks out from returning to the rotation — but he did get up some form shots and 3-pointers in warmups.
“It’s a day-to-day situation,” Otzelberger said of Momcilovic, who is shooting a team-best 44.3 percent from 3-point range. “Today was the first step in jus kind of going through and feel what it feels like to go through the game warmup just to get along those lines in that mindset. But we’ll see. I don’t want to rush him back. I want to be on the timeline that’s in his best health interest, and whenever that is, we’ll be ready to go.”
Point guard Tamin Lipsey and forward Joshua Jefferson led the Cyclones with 11 points apiece. Gilbert chipped in nine as did big man Dishon Jackson, who added a team-best nine rebounds. The bench total just three points and that paucity of production for ISU’s reserves has also become a discouraging trend — one that didn’t show up immediately when Momcilovic went down and the Cyclones handled Kansas, 74-57, two and a half weeks ago in Ames.
“We’re ranked No. 2 in the country (at the time),” Otzelberger said. “Our offense was probably among the top five in the country. Milan goes out, which shifts our winning formula a little bit. It didn’t show up when we played the last time. We played really well offensively but you could see it show up at times (since then). … We’re working really hard to get that formula back in place.”
Jayhawks head coach Bill Self is convinced the Cyclones will do just that despite their recent struggles — especially when Momcilovic returns.
“T.J.’s group, the last week has been rough for them,” Self said. “(They) beat Arizona if a guy doesn’t throw in a 70-foot shot. And then you have a hangover, probably, (against Kansas State), and then you turn around and come to Allen Fieldhouse. So it’s been rough but everybody’s gonna go through it in our league for the most part. So they’re gonna be fine. They’re still a team that can go to the Final Four.”
Otzelberger and his players feel the same way, even though they’ve struggled mightily lately.
“This isn’t a victim mentality or a woe-is-me (situation),” he said. “We know that adversity is part of playing in this conference and the teams we play. I’m confident in our guys and what we’re gonna do in practice the rest of this week and how we’re gonna move forward together.”
Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (2) drives to the basket around Kansas State Wildcats’ guard Max Jones (2) during the first half in the Big-12 men’s basketball showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Feb 1, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State got ran out of its gym as it was downed by a Kansas State group that’s become an arch rival.
It’s like Jean Girard beating Ricky Bobby in “Talladega Nights,” but unlike the world-renowned motion picture, this defeat comes in the middle of a season coming off a defeat that shouldn’t have been one anyway.
So … let’s muse.
That performance fell flat.Iowa State got out to a start that saw them get up by almost double digits and forced K-State to take a timeout before the under-16 mark.
Almost everything after that went wrong.
The Cyclones entered the halftime break still down by two after shooting 6-9 from the 3-point line.
They allowed K-State to go on a 15-4 run in the second half before T.J. Otzelberger went to drastic measures to try and get his team back in it.
For the first time since he arrived in Ames, the head coach got a technical – one that he had apparently been trying to get for a couple of possessions.
T.J. Otzelberger’s first technical foul of the season. pic.twitter.com/tRoHiMDj4O
— Jake Brend (@JakeBrendTV) February 1, 2025
The call wasn’t what sent Otzelberger ‘over the edge,’ but more so how his team was performing.
It almost worked out, too. That 13-0 run that followed had all of the ‘Hilton Magic’ makings, but ultimately wasn’t enough.
Should that be concerning for fans? Maybe a little.
They’ve never seen Otzelberger have to resort to something like that. Not that I’m calling it disrespectful or anything – he’s just never pulled that ploy out of the book.
The Cyclones looked distraught, tired, and discombobulated.
This has to be the wakeup call.It has to be.
Iowa State hasn’t had Milan Momcilovic for six games, and since his departure, the team has gone 3-3.
Keshon Gilbert isn’t as consistent as he had been. The post play and lack of rebounding was extremely discouraging. Nate Heise and Brandt Chatfield brought little-to-nothing to the court, and Heise’s got to get out of his own head.
But Otzelberger knows that, and he said all of the right things in his postgame press conference.
“Certainly, this was an unacceptable effort,” Otzelberger said. “You’ve got to understand why that happened. You’ve got to really care so that it doesn’t happen again. And then you’ve got to put your focus quickly on the next thing, because you can’t have the hangover of today carry over in anything we do tomorrow.
“So it’s going to be really important how we walk in the building tomorrow, how focused we are,” Otzelberger said. “This is a mental thing. This is a mental toughness thing. This is a care-factor thing. This is pride in putting on that jersey. That’s what it’s about. And we’re going to be extremely demanding that that is to the standard tomorrow, and as we move forward.”
You can watch the full thing below – this quote is around the 4:15 mark.
I have no reason to think that that wasn’t exactly the case on Sunday as the Cyclones were practicing on the court at Allen Fieldhouse to prepare for Monday night’s game against Kansas.
A crazy Big 12 hoops SaturdayThat’s a Kansas team that just blew a 21-point lead to Baylor – the largest blown lead in program history.
Big Monday will be a contest of who can right the ship more, and Iowa State looked even more off course, at least Saturday.
It was even more eventful elsewhere.
Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley took his bench to the locker room with 30 seconds remaining in a loss to Arizona.
He blamed the ‘relentless chirping’ from some of the Arizona players for the move – which I respect. He thought it was going to escalate and didn’t want to shake hands postgame. That’s all good – there’s never been a game I’ve watched where I needed guys to shake hands afterward. Basketball remains one of the only sports where you see fans call for it.
What I can’t comprehend is the coach’s lack of awareness to trash talk. It’s going to happen, and the second that opposing players figure out that your players let it effect them is when you’re going to lose a game. That will be exploited by anyone that pays attention enough to use it.
Why did Bobby Hurley pull his team off the floor and refuse to shake Tommy Lloyd’s hand?
“It was relentless, constant chatter from some of the Arizona players all game… It wasn’t being policed properly, and it was also done with no class.”pic.twitter.com/bCuAUZv54o
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 1, 2025
Houston took its first loss of the year, even being without J.T. Toppin and head coach Grant McCasland for most of the game.
Somehow, Toppin was called for a flagrant 2 because his leg collided with a player while making a pass.
40 seconds that created the most intense college basketball game I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/NCG5pLsvGR
— Jackson (@JacksonBig12) February 2, 2025
Pathetic ejection call on Texas Tech’s JT Toppin.. pic.twitter.com/zdHLcJoZbT
— College Basketball Content (@CBBcontent) February 1, 2025
McCasland had every right to react like he did, and I hope we find some common sense in officiating to understand there was no intent here. At least it didn’t cost Texas Tech a win.
It’s down to sevenFor the Iowa State women, the season has come down to the last seven-game stretch.
The Cyclones are on the bubble without a resume-defining win still, falling to TCU 82-69 in Hilton Coliseum on Monday.
Here’s the slate for the rest of the year:
Feb. 5 | @ Cincinnati (13-7, 5-5)
Feb. 8 | vs. Colorado (15-6, 6-4)
Feb. 15 | @ Kansas (14-8, 4-7)
Feb. 19 | vs. Houston (5-17, 1-10)
Feb. 22 | @ Baylor (18-5, 8-2)
Feb. 25 | @ UCF (8-12, 1-9)
Mar. 2 | vs. K-State (21-2, 9-1)
I wholeheartedly believe the Cyclones will need to go 5-2 during this stretch to feel good about their NCAA Tournament hopes.
Anything less, and they’ll need to make some noise in Kansas City.
The good news is they’ve been inching up to getting better and better almost every time out, but it’s time to put up or shut up for everyone outside of the pair of scorers that had 60 of the 69 points.
…
ESPN’S College GameDay is in town for Saturday’s game against TCU – some students have already set up camp for the week, softball starts Thursday and we get another rivalry game this Monday night. Let’s make it a week.
Feb 1, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Kansas State Wildcats guard Max Jones (2) shoots in front of Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) during the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Iowa State men’s basketball fell to No. 8 in the latest AP Poll rankings following an 0-2 week that saw an overtime loss to Arizona and Saturday’s loss to Kansas State.
The Cyclones are one of five Big 12 teams that appear in the poll, joined by No. 5 Houston, No. 13 Texas Tech, No. 16 Kansas, and No. 20 Arizona.
Baylor also received three votes in the poll.
The No. 8 Cyclones square off with No. 16 Kansas tonight at 8 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse (ESPN).
The full poll can be seen below.
AP MBB Poll
Mon. February 3, 2025
1. Auburn
2. Duke
3. Alabama
4. Tennessee
5. Houston
6. Florida
7. Purdue
8. Iowa State
9. Michigan State
10. Texas A&M
11. Marquette
12. St. John’s
13. Texas Tech
14. Kentucky
15. Missouri
16. Kansas
17. Memphis
18. Maryland
19. UConn
20. Arizona
21. Wisconsin
22. Mississippi State
23. Illinois
24. Michigan
25. Ole Miss
Others receiving votes: Clemson 182, Saint Mary’s 136, Louisville 86, Creighton 50, Oregon 39, UCLA 26, New Mexico 23, Drake 18, Gonzaga 11, Utah St. 8, Vanderbilt 4, Baylor 3, George Mason 3, Texas 1, Oklahoma 1.
Iowa State earned a post-signing day commitment to its 2025 recruiting class Monday as running back Jayden Jackson announced his choice over social media.
The Franklin, Texas prospect became a star for his hometown school, and helped lead the team to two state champions during his career.
The 5-foot-11, 215-pounder chose the Cyclones over offers from Boston College, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Toledo, UTEP, Wyoming, Tulsa, Sam Houston State, Prairie View A&M, and Lamar.
Despite the colorful offer sheet, he’s come in under the radar on 247 Sports’ rankings. Jackson is rated as the No. 124 running back in the class and just the No. 1647 player in the class overall by the composite scale.
Nonetheless, it’s evident Jackson became a leader for his team.
“Teams that get remembered play in December.”
FINAL: Franklin 35, Hitchcock 21. #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/TIU1hdbM52
— Morgan Weaver (@morganweaver_) November 30, 2024
Jackson also became the 13th player in Texas High School Football history to rush for 8,000 yards during his career – his numbers are stout.
ATTENTION to any college program and recruiters… I’ll say this, #1 Jayden Jackson may be the best HS RB in the State of Texas and probably in the Nation!
Gameday for the Franklin Lions against Columbus!! @FranklinISD @jaydennnn24 pic.twitter.com/2ENFr1hHVo
— Caleb Eagans “Dflash” (@Dflash_Eagans) December 6, 2024
It looks like Iowa State caught a late-cycle steal in Jackson, a strategy the staff has implemented in the recruiting process over the years that they set aside scholarships for.
He joins Ryver Peppers as incoming players in the running backs room with coach Tyler Roehl.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Addy Brown and Audi Crooks spoke to media members following their team’s 82-69 loss to TCU Sunday at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State Cyclones’ forward Addy Brown (24) drives to the basket around TCU Horned Frogs guard Maddie Scherr (22) during the first quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — TCU star post player Sedona Prince has scored 1,294 career points.
She entered Sunday’s matchup with Iowa State averaging a team-best 19.3 points.
And she scored zero while fouling out.
The Cyclones couldn’t take advantage of her unusually lean effort, though, and fell, 82-69, to the ninth-ranked Horned Frogs before a crowd of 10,331 at Hilton Coliseum.
“Our game plan was executed OK,” said ISU head coach Bill Fennelly, whose team fell to 15-9 overall and 6-5 in Big 12 play. “But I keep going back to the same thing. Their role players — or, I don’t even know what the term would be — their fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh players made some really big shots. We didn’t.”
ISU’s stars Addy Brown and Audi Crooks combined for 60 of the Cyclones’ 69 points. Brown went 11-for-16 from the field and 3-for-4 from 3-point range for 31 points while adding six rebounds and five assists. Crooks scored 29 points, but needed 26 shots to reach that number. ISU’s other eight rotation players combined to go 2-for-9 from the field.
“Obviously, we’ve got to have some people step up and they’re more than capable,” said Brown, who’s scored 19 or more points in five of the past six games. “So we’re just waiting and believing in them and we’re just gonna continue to have the utmost confidence in them.”
Brown’s short jumper with 3:39 left pulled the Cyclones within seven, at 74-67, but the Horned Frogs (21-2, 9-1) responded with a pair of baskets from two of those aforementioned role players: Backup post Deasia Merrill and guard Agnes Emma-Nnopu. TCU also got 19 points in 21 minutes from guard Taylor Bigby (17.4 points per game) and 10 points from reserve guard Donovyn Hunter (5.3 points per game).
“These kids live in the gym,” Horned Frogs head coach Mark Campbell said. “We’ve got a special group that loves to work at their craft — and Taylor and Donovyn are two of those.”
But ISU showed fight, as usual. The Cyclones trailed by as many as 13 points in the first quarter, but chipped away and went into halftime down just one, at 37-36, after back guard Kelsey Joens’ buzzer-beating 3-point swish.
TCU, however, scored 10 of the first 14 points of the third quarter — including a pair of clutch 3-pointers from Bigsby. ISU then necessarily defaulted into catch-up mode and could never get within one possession of the lead despite Brown’s and Crooks’ best efforts.
“We just kind of needed to hold the line and we didn’t,” Crooks said. “That’s just the difference. They just kept throwing punches and we put our hands up and prayed. That’s not gonna get you a ‘W.’
Not against top-10 teams such as TCU and Kansas State — both of whom the Cyclones had chances to beat in the past four days.
“We’re right there, we’re in the game, but that’s the disappointing part,” Fennelly said. “But at the same time, those are things that you have to show up at practice tomorrow and hopefully fix them.”
Iowa State earned its seventh commitment to the 2026 recruiting class Sunday in Minnetonka, Minnesota’s Caleb Francois.
Francois plays quarterback for his high school – Minnetonka Senior – in what is rush-heavy offense.
The finished with 1,624 rushing yards last year with 24 touchdowns, while also passing for another 828 yards and eight more scores.
He was previously recruited by running backs coach Tyler Roehl at North Dakota – which was his only other offer besides Iowa State.
Francois was part of the junior days weekend the program was hosting, and commits just after picking up the scholarship offer a week ago. He does not yet have a rating from 247 Sports.
The Cyclones now have seven players committed to their 2026 class, which is on a quicker pace to be filled than the classes of the past few years.
Iowa State picked up its latest 2026 commitment over the weekend from Brayden Thomas, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound safety out of Lakewood, Ohio.
Out of everything that secured the commitment for the program that finished at No. 15 in the country, less of it had to do with football.
“Just talking with coach Campbell,” Thomas said. “I really like (the staff), and they were making everything a top priority for me and stuff like that. When I got there, I liked everything about it.”
The conversation that Thomas had with head coach Matt Campbell while he was in Ohio to visit played a big role in landing the prospects commitment.
“The biggest thing to me was that it wasn’t just about football for him,” Thomas said. “He asked a lot of questions about how my life was outside of football. I’ve talked to many different coaches and he asked me a ton of questions that no one ever asked me before.”
Thomas is rated as the No. 51 safety in the class and chose the Cyclones over offers from Toledo, Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Miami-Ohio, UMass, Eastern Michigan and Kent State.
Safeties coach Deon Broomfield forecasts Thomas as a field safety on Iowa State’s defense, and also played a big role in landing the Ohio talent.
“From a position coach standpoint, coach Broomfield was the only coach to contact me and set up a date to introduce himself to my mom,” Thomas said. “That meant a lot to me.”
Thomas was in town over the weekend for Iowa State’s second round of Junior Days – an annual pair of recruiting weekends the staff hosts.
The family atmosphere stuck out to Thomas.
“It shocked me,” Thomas said. “I wasn’t thinking about the facilities or anything like that, but the thing that stood out to me the most was the people there. Everyone’s friendly. And the basketball game was packed and sold out. It was like something I’ve never seen before.”
Part of the visit included a trip to Hilton Coliseum to see the No. 3 Cyclones MBB team take on K-State, and the support fans had despite a losing result was notable for him.
“Even though they lost, everyone was still cheering like that,” Thomas said. “It was cool to see that the fans were still there for the team, no matter the result.”
But the whole weekend made it official for Thomas, who’s now one of seven commitments to the 2026 class in Ames.
“Coach Campbell coming down to Cleveland to see me and the conversation we had – it was just very meaningful,” Thomas said. “When I got to Iowa State and finished my visit, I knew that was the coach I wanted to play for.
Feb 1, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger and assistant coach JR Blount react against the Kansas State Wildcats during the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — It started to feel automatic. Inevitable. So when sub-.500 Kansas State strolled into Hilton Coliseum early Saturday afternoon, fans felt the opposite of threatened. They fully expected the No. 3 Cyclones to easily extend their home winning streak to 30 games — and with little stress attached.
Instead, a waking nightmare ensued. The Wildcats out-toughed and outplayed ISU almost from start to finish in a shocking 80-61 rout that sent much of Hilton’s faithful shuffling toward the parking lots with a couple minutes remaining.
“I don’t think anyone expects that to happen in here,” said Cyclone point guard Tamin Lipsey, who led his team (17-4, 7-3) with 20 points. “Not us. Not the fans. So it sucks that it did happen, and we’re gonna figure out how and why it happened, and try to make (sure) that not happen again.”
Just how stunning Saturday’s outcome proved to be can be fleshed out in a couple of key numbers. Kansas State (10-11, 4-6) became the first under-.500 team to beat a top-five foe on the road by 15-plus points in the AP poll era, according to ESPN Stats and Info. The Wildcats had lost 15 consecutive road games. The Cyclones owned a 29-game home winning streak and opened as 15.5-point favorites.
So yeah, this is a head-scratcher to put it mildly. The Cyclones used an 11-0 second-half run to pull within six points, at 58-52, with 10:05 left, but Kansas State countered with a 10-2 splurge to seize back control.
“Extremely disappointing because the areas that we really focus to demand, especially the rebounding — the rebounding thing was the difference in the entire game,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team was outrebounded, 39-29, and outscored 30-28 in the paint. “There’s a point in the game where it was 15-to-zero points in the paint, and that’s a care, that’s a pride, that’s a fight, that’s a physical (thing). And to me, that was indicative of our effort, our energy, and us not playing anywhere near our standard.”
At one point, the Wildcats had 10 offensive rebounds to the Cyclones’ one. And despite ISU getting out to an early 13-4 lead, Kansas State chipped away with grit and precision, eventually stitching together an 8-0 run to lead, 17-16, with 12:28 left in the first half. ISU trailed, 37-35, at halftime and allowed the Wildcats to score the first seven points of the second half. Otzelberger then called timeout — and later demonstrably protested a foul call to be issued a rare technical. So he pulled out all the stops to energize his team, but nothing worked long enough to prevent Saturday’s outcome.
“We put ourselves in a position when it was 58-52 to give (us) a chance,” Otzelberger said. “And then we let them score two baskets right away and separate again. So I was frustrated with a lot of things in that moment (the technical was called) — mostly the fact that we weren’t as good as we needed to be defensively. But I was frustrated with some other things, as well.”
Formerly hot-shooting guard Curtis Jones added 14 points for the Cyclones, but he made just one of his 10 field goal attempts in the second half.
“Still confident in it,” he said. “I believe it will go down next game, and in the games after that.”
But that — like a long winning streak — no longer feels automatic, nor inevitable.
“You’ve gotta be accountable to yourself first, and it’s gotta really matter to you,” Otzelberger said. “Today that wasn’t the case.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Tamin Lipsey & Curtis Jones addressed media members following its 80-61 loss to Kansas State on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.
Kansas State’s postgame press conference can also be found below.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Addy Brown & Kelsey Joens addressed media members ahead of his team’s upcoming game against TCU (Sunday, 3 p.m., Fox Sports 1).
Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball head coach T. J. Otzelberger greets Kansas State men’s basketball head coach Jerome Tang (right) before the game in the Big-12 conference showdown of an NCAA college basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Joshua Jefferson sat nearly 2,000 miles away from the in-game controversy a year ago that led to minor mayhem and major meme-making at Hilton Coliseum.
The once-thorny subject: Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang’s allegations that Iowa State was spying on his huddles during his team’s 76-67 loss last January in Ames.
The far-fetched flap briefly made national waves, but didn’t amount to a ripple for Jefferson, who was focused on helping his St. Mary’s Gaels pummel Pacific (which they did).
But when he joined the Cyclones’ program this season, some teammates told him about the odd affair in a “here’s something crazy that happened last season” manner, and he just shrugged — and he’s not alone in that regard.
“We don’t really pay too much attention to the drama outside,” said Jefferson, who hopes to help the third-ranked Cyclones (17-3, 7-2) dispatch the Wildcats (9-11, 3-6) when they return to Hilton Saturday at 1 p.m. (ESPN2). “Just take care of the game and try to win the game.”
ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who vociferously denied those allegations last season, politely refused to rehash any details pertaining to those bizarre events. He, like his players, is simply too consumed with “taking care of the game” — on Saturday and as February eventually fades into what should be another momentous March.
“What happened last year happened last year,” said Otzelberger, whose team seeks to extend the second-longest home winning streak in program history to 30 games on Saturday. “We’re coming off a game (at Arizona) that, you know, felt like we should have won. So our urgency and our desperation to practice great (and) play great is gonna carry us forward. It just so happens this is who our opponent is. We have a lot of respect for them.”
The feeling’s mutual.
“Home or on the road, they’re an incredible team,” Tang told reporters this week. “And then (we’ve) gotta go to Hilton, and that’s one of the best atmospheres in college basketball.”
And Hilton doesn’t forget. The student section, flanked by a cohort of super fans, will try to tease, prod and rattle Tang and his team, which recently snapped a six-game skid with home wins over West Virginia and Oklahoma State.
“The main thing is they just start real fast,” said Cyclone guard Keshon Gilbert, who leads his team in assists at 4.6 per game. “So we’ve just got to come out and start fast and do what we do from the jump.”
That’s especially true for Jefferson, who’s shined most in the second half in recent games. Take Monday’s overtime loss at Arizona. The versatile 6-8 junior scored 13 of his 15 points after halftime, and he’s committed to applying his anger-fueled late-game mentality into a full 40 minutes of ornery production.
“I think it tends to happen when I get mad with the game and sometimes with myself,” said Jefferson, who boasts an ISU-best eight double-doubles this season. “So just mentally focusing on in on putting two halves together, so (we’ll) see what will happen from there.”
Jefferson’s wide-ranging abilities will naturally match him up with Kansas State’s Coleman Hawkins — a 6-10 high-profile transfer from Illinois who leads his team in rebounds (7.1 per game) and assists (4.5). Hawkins, of course, has history with the Cyclones, as well, as he made key plays for the Illini in its 72-69 Sweet 16 win over ISU last season in Boston.
“Hawkins is a terrific mismatch player,” Otzelberger said. “They use him in a lot of ways. He can shoot it, post it, mid post, drive you right (and) beat you off the dribble to the rim.”
So Saturday’s about concrete x’s and o’s, not cloak and dagger-based secret codes. Just like last season’s meeting. The Cyclones simply played better because of crisp execution, not some alleged intel advantage — and the programs have moved in opposite directions ever since.
Jefferson, once briefed on last season’s kerfuffle, found it both strange and inconsequential. But if he’d been with the Cyclones at the time, it probably would have made him mad, which as noted, brings out his best.
“At times, yeah,” he said.
Jan 25, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats head coach Jerome Tang questions a call by the officials during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
After suffering a heartbreaking overtime defeat at Arizona on Big Monday, No. 3 Iowa State (17-3, 7-2 Big 12) is set to return home and defend one of the most formidable home-court advantages in college basketball. The Cyclones will look to extend the nation’s second-longest active home winning streak to 30 games when they host Kansas State (9-11, 3-6 Big 12) on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum (1:00 p.m., ESPN 2).
The Cyclones fell victim to an Arizona buzzer-beater that forced overtime, where Wildcats guard Caleb Love hit a near 3/4 court shot at the end of regulation to tie it. Arizona caught fire and pulled away in overtime. Despite the loss, Iowa State remains one of the premier teams in the country, boasting the Big 12’s highest-scoring offense at 84.2 points per game while ranking in the top 10 nationally in multiple metrics, including KenPom (No. 5) and the NET rankings (No. 7).
For Kansas State, this season has been a rollercoaster. After a 6-2 start, the Wildcats dropped nine of their next 10 games, but they have shown signs of resurgence. K-State enters Saturday’s contest riding a two-game winning streak, having secured back-to-back double-digit victories over No. 23 West Virginia and Oklahoma State. The Wildcats have found success with early scoring bursts, jumping out to a 19-2 lead against West Virginia and a 10-0 run against Oklahoma State.
The Cyclones’ supporting castOne of the biggest storylines for Iowa State this season\ has been the emergence of Curtis Jones. Jones has been elevated into the starting lineup due to injuries and has flourished. The former Big 12 Player of the Week is averaging 20.6 points and 6.8 rebounds since taking on a starting role while shooting over 35 percent from three-point range. The senior guard is coming off perhaps one of his worst games in his Iowa State career. Jones scored eight points on 1-11 from the field and 0-8 from behind the 3-point arc. Look for Jones to bounce back in a big way against the Wildcats.
Keshon Gilbert has continued to prove himself as the heart and soul of the Cyclones, leading the team in minutes and assists. His impact has been recognized nationally, earning him two Big 12 Player of the Week honors and a spot on the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List. The 6-foot-4 guard was awesome in Tucson on Monday night. He scored 17 points, collected six rebounds, and dished out three assists against the Arizona Wildcats. Gilbert’s leadership will be critical in ensuring Iowa State bounces back from its loss at Arizona.
Tamin Lipsey, a Preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection, remains the glue that holds the Cyclones together. Known for his defensive prowess, Lipsey leads the team in steals and is on the verge of becoming Iowa State’s all-time steals leader. Like Gilbert, Lipsey was also great in the loss to Arizona. He recorded one of his best games of the season scoring 18 points on 7-13 shooting from the field and 3-7 from behind the arc. His ability to disrupt opposing offenses will be vital against a Kansas State team that has found a rhythm in recent games.
Saint Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson has been a revelation for Iowa State this season. Leading the team in rebounding and boasting eight double-doubles, Jefferson has been recognized five times as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. His battle in the paint against Kansas State’s frontcourt, particularly Coleman Hawkins, will be a key factor in the game.
Kansas State transfers making an impactKansas State underwent a major roster overhaul in the offseason, welcoming 10 newcomers, including seven Division I transfers. David N’Guessan, one of the team’s few returners, is having a career year, averaging 12.3 points and 7.0 rebounds.
The Wildcats’ most notable addition over the off-season came in Coleman Hawkins, a 6-foot-10 forward who reportedly joined K-State on a $2 million NIL deal. Hawkins has been a versatile force, averaging 10.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. The matchup between him and Joshua Jefferson will be one to watch.
Brendan Hausen, a sharpshooter from Villanova, leads the Wildcats in three-point shooting at 41.3 percent. Hausen is not shy about taking any shot on the floor even if its 15 feet behind the three-point line. Iowa State will need to smother him on every catch he gets. Dug McDaniel has provided steady play at point guard and continues to get more acclimated to the Big 12’s style of play every game, while Max Jones has given Kansas State another perimeter threat with his 39.5 percent shooting from deep.
One of the biggest factors in Kansas State’s recent success has been its ability to dictate the tempo early. In each of their last two wins, the Wildcats jumped out to commanding first-half leads in the opening minutes of the game. Defensively, K-State has held its last three opponents under 40 percent shooting from the field, showing significant improvement on that end of the court.
For Iowa State, preventing the Wildcats from building early confidence will be crucial. The Cyclones thrive on their Hilton Coliseum advantage, where they have compiled a 56-8 record under coach T.J. Otzelberger.
A rivalry renewedSaturday marks the 241st all-time meeting between Iowa State and Kansas State. The series is the second longest among Iowa State opponents, trailing only Kansas. Under Otzelberger, Iowa State holds a 5-3 record against Kansas State, including a victory at Hilton Coliseum last season that sparked controversy.
After last season’s game in Ames, a tense exchange between Otzelberger and Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang led to allegations that the Cyclones were spying on the Wildcats’ huddle. Tang later called Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey the “No. 1 flopper” in the Big 12 after the Cyclones eliminated Kansas State from the Big 12 Conference Tournament in March. While both coaches have downplayed the past tensions, fans are sure to remember the added drama as the teams meet again.
With a packed Hilton Coliseum (dressed for a white-out) behind them and coming off a rare loss, expect the Cyclones to come out with energy and intensity. Kansas State has been playing better in the recent weeks, but Iowa State’s defensive pressure and home-court advantage should make the difference.
Jan 24, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Kansas State Wildcats head coach Jerome Tang and Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger meet after their game at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Iowa State will face off with Kansas State on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum (1 p.m. ESPN2).
It’s just days removed from the one-year anniversary of K-State coach Jerome Tang accusing Iowa State of utilizing phone cameras and people in the stands to gain an advantage during media timeouts when the two met on January 24, 2024. So of course he was asked about it, and as expected, he wanted no part of it.
“I hadn’t even really thought about it,” Tang told Kansas.com this week.
The Wildcats coach was visibly distraught about certain members of the crowd during the game and appeared to have voiced those displeasures in his postgame with Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger.
The spying allegations found their way to media members around Manhattan, and pressed Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard to complete an investigation to look for proof of what was being alleged.
Proof of which, was not found.
“Let’s put this to bed here and now,” Otzelberger said following the Cyclones’ victory on the ensuing Saturday over Kansas. “It didn’t happen. It won’t happen. And others need to be much more careful with their words moving forward.”
T.J. Otzelberger’s statement on accusations of cheating during the Kansas State game: pic.twitter.com/sjvztSt7wY
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) January 27, 2024
The two teams will square off for the first time since the incident in Ames this weekend, and it’s expected that fans in the arena will have some fun with it. It would be shocking if they didn’t. None of which now concerns Tang, whose struggling team has won two games in a row after dropping six straight.
“No adjustment,” Tang said. “We are going to go up there and just enjoy the environment and see what we can do to get a road win.”
Iowa State Cyclones’ forward Addy Brown (24) shoots the ball over UCF Knights center Khyala Ngodu (35) during the fourth quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
No matter how big the punch, Iowa State responded – that is until overtime in an 87-79 loss to No. 11 Kansas State Thursday night.
The Cyclones ended regulation on a 10-0 run, but the game was sent to overtime after a failed 3-point attempt by Emily Ryan.
“The thing that bit us again – our scouting report defense is still a struggle,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said on the Varsity Network postgame show. “And then, offensively, we couldn’t get anyone to make a shot except for Addy (Brown) and Audi (Crooks). You just look right down the list – we were 10-for-a lot. That’s a struggle.”
Brown and Crooks combined for 48 points on the night, but no other Cyclone scored in double figures.
Aside from the duo, Kelsey Joens finished 3-6 from the field and scored nine points. The rest of the team shot 7-38.
Those numbers didn’t encourage Fennelly, much like Iowa State’s 23 turnovers.
“We had some good looks at it, but had too many turnovers – we’ve got to give them credit,” Fennelly said. “(There were) some bad decisions by us, and we’ve got to coach that better. We worked really hard on it, and unfortunately it didn’t go our way tonight.”
The game was a chance at a resume-defining win for this group, which falls to 15-8 (6-4 Big 12) on the year.
Iowa State will return to the floor on Sunday with another opportunity for a marquee win on its resume, when it takes on No. 9 TCU at Hilton Coliseum (3:00 p.m. Fox Sports 1).
“It will be a harder matchup for us,” Fennelly said. “We’ll see. We’re in a really tough stretch with four games and no days off. We’ve got to figure out something. We’ll see what we can do. We’re excited to get back home. TCU’s a great team. I’m sure they’ll show up this year, because they have a great team, so I’m sure they’ll make the trip to Ames this year.”
Jan 30, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team wide receiver Jaylin Noel of Iowa State (12) and National team wide receiver Jayden Higgins of Iowa State (9) work through drills during Senior Bowl practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
Five Iowa State football players are competing this week in the annual Reese’s Senior Bowl game and ensuing practice sessions that lead up to Saturday.
Here’s everything we’ve seen from wide receivers Jaylin Noel & Jayden Higgins, offensive lineman Jalen Travis, and defensive backs Malik Verdon & Darien Porter.
Fans can tune into Saturday’s game at 1:30 p.m. CT on NFL Network.
Below is a sampling of some of the best highlights from the week, starting with Jalin Noel while he’s rocking the script Cyclones helmet.
Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel is making a NAME for himself at the @SeniorBowl! pic.twitter.com/5OCZdZ5Ta5
— Fantasy Points (@FantasyPts) January 29, 2025
Another day another Jaylin Noel highlight!#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/3sYwTGTJAR
— Jason Allwine (@JFootballwine) January 30, 2025
Jaylin Noel (WR, Iowa State) on his quickness, his inside/outside versatility, and meeting with some teams like the #Titans at the #SeniorBowl. @AtoZSportsNFL pic.twitter.com/exe1HxuYGz
— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) January 30, 2025
Jayden Higgins showing off his dominant speed in 1-on-1’s.
No help is always tough for a DB in 1-on-1s, but Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins showing off some vertical separation is good to see
Big part of what would make a successful Senior Bowl for him pic.twitter.com/ZjJFFp9zAL
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 29, 2025
With another view here:
I don’t normally like posting reps where the WR blows past a defender this easily, but Jayden Higgins isn’t supposed to be able to move like this at this size pic.twitter.com/jYsM44iIxH
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) January 29, 2025
And Higgins is capturing eyes all around Mobile.
Jayden Higgins is THE GUY I’ve planted my flag on at WR for the 2025 NFL Draft.
An awesome combo of size, agility, hands, nuance, and contested catch ability.
He should be a 1st round pick. pic.twitter.com/F5cEmx6AGp
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 29, 2025
Darien Porter reportedly had the top speed as a gunner on punt coverage and can be seen below in an interview.
Per our partners at @ZebraSports Iowa State CB Darien Porter with the top speed so far this week topping out at 21.89 mph as a gunner on punt coverage.
ST reps matter!#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/fZdpjwesv7
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) January 29, 2025
Iowa St CB Darien Porter has a chance to make his mark in the NFL very early.
6’3”, arms the reach from Mobile to Seattle & one of the highest recorded running speeds on the field recorded in Mobile this week.
Total package…and only been playing CB for 3 years
Could the… pic.twitter.com/looANGE1XS
— Dom C (@DC_NYJets) January 30, 2025
Jalen Travis hanging with Marshall’s Mike Green.
Not many OTs can hang with Mike Green but this is a really nice rep for Iowa State’s Jalen Travis pic.twitter.com/2Kis8AYiZT
— Jack Brentnall (@Jack_Brentnall) January 30, 2025
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger, and players Keshon Gilbert and Joshua Jefferson spoke to media members ahead of their team’s upcoming game against Kansas State (1:00 p.m. ESPN2).
AMES, Iowa –
Iowa State 141-pounder Anthony Echemendia will miss the remainder of the season, head coach Kevin Dresser confirmed on Thursday morning. Echemendia underwent surgery a few weeks ago and was in recovery, but complications this week required another procedure. He is now off the mat until at least April or May. The good news is that he will take a medical redshirt and has two more years of eligibility, according to Dresser.
With Echemendia out, Jacob Frost will continue holding down the 141-pound spot. Frost was named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week after securing back-to-back wins over top-20 opponents, including a dramatic sudden-victory win over No. 4 Tagen Jamison of Oklahoma State. He also dominated No. 19 Mosha Schwartz of Oklahoma in a 10-4 decision. Now ranked No. 9 in the nation by FloWrestling, Frost has won eight straight matches.
Echemendia’s injury marks another major hit for the Cyclones, who are already without heavyweight Yonger Bastida for the season due to a knee injury. Bastida is pursuing a medical redshirt as well.
Iowa State Cyclones’ forward Addy Brown (24), center Audi Crooks (55) and guard Emily Ryan (11) celebrates during a timeout in the fourth quarter against Texas Tech of the Big-12 women’s basketball showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Click through the first seven statistical categories the Big 12 features on its women’s basketball site.
One team stands atop each one: No. 11 Kansas State.
“Their numbers are borderline ridiculous,” said Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly, whose team (15-7, 6-3) will face the Wildcats (19-2, 7-1) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan. “And I think there are a lot of things that go into that.”
One of those things — star seventh-year center Ayoka Lee — can no longer fuel Kansas State’s burgeoning success for the foreseeable future. The 6-6 All-American fractured a bone in her foot 10 days ago in an 81-69 win over Arizona State, and is out indefinitely. The Wildcats then saw their 14-game winning streak snapped Saturday at Colorado, but they’ve played well without Lee in the past, and Fennelly expects they’ll do the same on Thursday and beyond.
That’s because Kansas State can lean more heavily into standout senior guard Serena Sundell’s impressive production. She’s led the Wildcats in scoring in three of the past five games and ranks second to Lee in points per game (13.0) Sundell also averaged 17.5 points per game in a pair of close losses to the Cyclones last season, and is among the conference’s most versatile and skilled players.
“I don’t think there’s any question Sundell will be one of the finalists for (Big 12) player of the year,” said Fennelly, whose team has won seven of the past eight meetings in the series. “I’m a huge fan of hers. She’s gonna be a great pro, I think. But they play the game the right way. They don’t beat themselves and it’s always a good environment when we play there.”
Fennelly said he’ll adopt an all-hands-on-deck approach to guarding Sundell rather than tasking one of his top defenders, such as Arianna Jackson, exclusively with that challenge. And if too many resources are spent in an effort to contain Sundell, several other Wildcats can take over offensively, including forward Temira Poindexter (12.7 points) and guard Jaelyn Glenn (9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists). Both seniors shoot 40 percent or better from 3-point range, which helps explain how Kansas State leads the conference in almost every major offensive statistical measure.
“They have a well-rounded team,” said senior ISU guard Emily Ryan, who averaged 11.5 points, seven rebounds and 10.5 assists in her team’s wins over the Wildcats last season. “It’s not just (Lee). Everybody around her is really talented, so it’s next man up for them and that’s what they’re doing. Super-talented team that’s gonna come ready to go, regardless of who they have on the court and who’s not on the court.”
Lee’s absence could help the Cyclones’ star sophomore center Audi Crooks put together another dominant offensive performance. Crooks ranks sixth nationally in scoring at 22.2 points per game, but will likely see an array of creative and disruptive defensive tactics (again) deployed to lessen her impact on the game.
“Right now, it’s kind of, you front her and limit her touches, or when she catches it, you come and get it,” Fennelly said. “Those are two completely different styles. So we have to practice them both basically every day and hopefully we’re getting a little better.”
The stats show that they are. ISU’s won six of its last seven games to solidify a foothold among the top-third tier in the league — and a first ranked win of the season would likely move the Cyclones’ off the NCAA Tournament bubble.
“I think we’ve found somewhat of a rhythm,” Ryan said. “Everyone knows their role and they’re embracing it.”
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova/CycloneFanatic
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State 141-pounder Jacob Frost has been named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week, the league office announced Wednesday.
Frost earned victories over two top-20 opponents last weekend, including the highest-ranked win of his career against Oklahoma State’s No. 4 Tagen Jamison. It was a tactical match from Frost as he was busy with his shot fakes throughout the bout which paid dividends on his deciding takedown in sudden victory for a 4-1 decision.
The Metairie, Louisiana native also notched a win over Oklahoma’s No. 19 Mosha Schwartz, a three-time NCAA Qualifier, on Friday. Frost controlled the match from start to finish as he tallied three takedowns, while allowing none, in a 10-4 victory.
The sophomore did not allow a takedown during the weekend as he improved to 22-4 on the season. Frost has won eight-consecutive matches and climbed to No. 9 in FloWrestling’s latest 141-pound national rankings.
No. 13 Iowa State is back in action Feb. 7 and 9 when it plays host to Arizona State and No. 16 Pittsburgh.
Jan 27, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (1) and Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) run toward the ball during the second half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
TUCSON — It’s difficult to draw up a more heartbreaking way to lose a basketball game than what No. 3 Iowa State (17-3, 7-2) suffered in the McKale Center vs. Arizona late Monday night.
Absolutely brutal. Arizona won it 86-75 in overtime, but the story revolves around the final 2.9 seconds of regulation.
Iowa State led by three coming off of a made free throw by Joshua Jefferson. Veteran Caleb Love was 1-of-11 from the field when he heaved an improbable 55-footer that went in, and sent the game into overtime. The extra period was simply a formality.
“Foul or defend” is a popular debate across the sport of college hoops. Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger explained his thought process to end regulation in his postgame press conference.
“Depending on the clock and the time, you know like the first scenario presents itself at 20.6, it’s probably too early. We’re not fouling there,” Otzelberger said. “At the end when it’s a couple of seconds, again, it’s easy to look at it now and say, ‘why didn’t you foul in that situation?’ I don’t know what the odds are of that shot going in, but probably not really high. I think the odds say you are far better off not to foul and defend.”
The only other thing Iowa State could have done is have Jefferson – who had missed the first of two free throws – purposely miss the second to allow Arizona to only get off the desperation heave under a more difficult live-ball situation compared to an in-bound.
Either way, it is an extreme long-shot to lose a game in that scenario.
“They controlled the game more than we did,” Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd said. “You try to hang in there and give yourself a chance. A desperation three is probably not the chance you are trying to give yourself, but it made for great theater.”
I’ll say.
Now Iowa State has to pick itself up off the mat. After this long desert swing, the Cyclones will arrive back in Ames at around 5:30 a.m. central time on Tuesday to start preparation for a pseudo rivalry game against Jerome Tang and Kansas State on Saturday in Hilton Coliseum.
“We want to be great at doing things that are hard,” Otzelberger said. “This is going to be one of those things. It’s how we practice every day. It’s the habits we have. There are all the cliches about how adversity reveals character and I am confident in the character of the guys on our team and in our locker room. As disappointing as this is, we will bounce right back.”
More reaction from a dramatic night in Tucson
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd on the Cyclones…
“Crazy respect for Iowa State. One of their best players is injured, so let’s make note of that. That Lipsey kid – I don’t know what he has going on with his right hand – but he plays his ass off. Crazy respect for them. Rest assured, they have something waiting for us when we go to Ames.”
Tamin Lipsey on going to overtime following such a huge moment…
“It’s tough, especially when you are playing in a place like this with such great fans and a great atmosphere. That just brought the life into the arena right after he made that shot. Like coach said, we were trying to bounce back. We won the tip and went down and scored and then just let it get away from us.”
Otzelberger on Arizona holding Curtis Jones to 1-of-11 shooting…
“They had great awareness to him at all times. They communicated well to make sure there was always a body on him and he was accounted for even in transition and on the offensive glass. They did a terrific job. They have bigger, physical guards and they did a great job of keeping a body on him. They didn’t let him play inside the 3-point line and he had to take some difficult, challenged threes.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and point guard Tamin Lipsey addressed media members in Tucson following an 86-75 overtime loss to Arizona Monday.
Arizona’s bruising forward Tobe Awaka couldn’t miss.
Iowa State’s sharpshooting guard Curtis Jones couldn’t hit.
But when push came to shove in Monday’s tense late-night matchup at the McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, the home team mustered the energy to shove much more strongly via a stunning buzzer-beating halfcourt shot that forced overtime and changed the game.
Final: The Wildcats 86, the No. 3 Cyclones, 75.
The upshot: Surging Arizona (14-6, 8-1) finished strong to stay within one game of Big 12 leader Houston in the standings — and ISU (17-3, 7-2) dropped two games back.
The Wildcats’ Caleb Love drilled that 55-footer to force overtime. The Cyclones committed a season-high 18 turnovers.
“We expect these types of battles in this league,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said on the Cyclone Radio Network after the game. “We’ve found ways in most c ases to claw, fight and come away with a win. That didn’t happen tonight, and now it’s time to go back (to) regroup and use it as we move foeqard to be better from it.”
Tamin Lipsey led ISU with 18 points — 14 of which came in the first half. Keshon Gilbert scored 17 points — 15 of which came in the second half. Joshua Jefferson added 15 points — 13 of which came in the second half.
Love notched 14 of his game-high 20 points in the second half and overtime. Awaka scored 17 points on 6-for-6 field goal shooting. He also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds while his team limited Jones to 1-for-9 field goal shooting.
The Cyclones controlled most of the first half, leading by as many as seven points, at 25-18.
But the Wildcats quickly reversed their fortunes with a stunning 16-0 run that gave them a 34-25 lead.
ISU responded, however, with an interior bucket by Jefferson, and Lipsey’s third 3-pointer of the first half to score the final five points and trail by just four, 34-30, at the break.
“Our guys were resilient tonight,” Otzelberger said. “Their togetherness, the compettive spirit they played with for one another, how hard they played in a very physical game — I told them in the locker room, from an effort, and attitude, and fight, and compete standpoint, we left it all out there. And we should feel great about that.”
Lipsey — who’s playing through a thumb injury — kept the Cyclones afloat in the first half, scoring 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting. Arizona held Jones and Gilbert to two points apiece in the opening 20 minutes. They shot a combined 1-for-10 from the field. Jones was coming off a career-high 33-point performance in the Cyclones’ 76-61 win at Arizona State, but the Wildcats made a lot his looks difficult — as they did for most of ISU’s players. The Cyclones shot just 31 percent from the field in the first half, and were outscored 9-to-8 in points off turnovers, and 9-to-6 in fast break points.
ISU has trailed at halftime in five of its six road games this season, but rebounded to win in four (or five) of those matchups. Monday’s challenge proved too steep for the Cyclones, however, who hope to rebound on Saturday against Kansas State at home before a Big Monday trip to Allen Fieldhouse to face the 11th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks.
“We’ll get some rest and we’ll be prepared,” Otzelberger said. “We’ll have a great week of practice going into that and be ready to go and be at our best on Saturday.”
Iowa State landed its fifth commitment to the 2026 recruiting class Sunday in wide receiver Milan Parris. He was one of the prospects on campus over the weekend for the program’s first slate of junior days – with the second coming next week.
The Snow, Ohio prospect out of Walsh Jesuit High School was expecting big things after how Iowa State had been recruiting him since the season ended.
“It was great,” Parris said. “The hospitality was awesome – I mean, I expected it to be very good just based off of the love that Coach (Matt) Campbell and Coach (Noah) Pauley have shown me the past couple of weeks coming to the school. Everybody was very welcoming and they showed love to my mom, and that’s very important, too.”
Parris is rated as the No. 96 wideout in the country and the No. 24 prospect out of Ohio by 247 Sports. He had 597 yards on 28 receptions with 9 touchdowns during his junior season.
Parris has the Ohio-area cookie cutter offer sheet of many prospects that Campbell and his staff have gone after since he arrived in Ames.
The 6-foot-5, 200-pound prospect chose the Cyclones over Cincinnati, Kentucky, Purdue, Wisconsin, USF, Ball State, Central Michigan, Kent State, Ohio, Marshall and UMass.
“(Saturday) was my grandpa’s birthday,” Parris said. “He passed away last year. I just thought it was God talking to me – or him – telling me that the time was right. I’ve wanted to get the process over with, I just didn’t know who to trust or where I wanted to be. Iowa State just felt like the place. The culture – everything – was just right. It reminded me of the school I’m at right now – Walsh Jesuit. So, it just fit.”
Parris becomes the second commitment to the class at the wide receiver position, joining Ames’ Jeffrey Roberts as future players for wide receivers coach Noah Pauley.
“He’s great,” Parris said. “He’s a very cool guy. He’s very personnable. He’s very cool with my mom and he’s been good. We’re always talking about stuff whether it’s school, sports, or my family, it’s always good.”
Iowa State’s class is now rated as the No. 34 class in the country by 247 Sports.
“It just felt like home,” Parris said. “I knew it was right like, as soon as I got in the car after my meeting with (the coaches). I just knew it felt right.”
2026 Iowa State Football commits
WR | Milan Parris (Stow, Ohio)
WR | Jeffrey Roberts (Ames, Iowa)
OL | Mason Bandhauer (Fort Collins, Colo.)
OL | Ethan Beckman (Prior Lake, Minn.)
ATH | Kaprice Keith (Omaha, Neb.)
Iowa State center Dishon Jackson (1) knocks the ball away from Arizona State forward Basheer Jihad (8) during a game at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Jan. 25, 2025. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
There was little movement at the top of this week’s Associated Press top 25, which was released Monday with the Cyclones in at No. 3 in poll.
This marks the eighth-straight week Iowa State has been ranked in the top three, and the 19th-straight poll to slot the Cyclones in the top 10.
Iowa State is one of seven Big 12 teams that either appear in the poll or received votes, joining No. 6 Houston, No. 11 Kansas and No. 22 Texas Tech inside the top 25.
Arizona (47), Baylor (8), and West Virginia (3) also received votes.
The Cyclones face Arizona (9:30 p.m. CT ESPN) on the road tonight in their first of two games this week.
The full poll can be seen below.
AP MBB Poll
Mon. January 27, 2025
1. Auburn
2. Duke
3. Iowa State
4. Alabama
5. Florida
6. Houston
7. Michigan State
8. Tennessee
9. Marquette
10. Purdue
11. Kansas
12. Kentucky
13. Texas A&M
14. Mississippi State
15. St. Johns
16. Oregon
17. Wisconsin
18. Illinois
19. Memphis
20. Missouri
21. Louisville
22. Texas Tech
23. Ole Miss
24. Vanderbilt
25. UConn
Others receiving votes: Michigan 129, Maryland 116, Utah St. 99, Clemson 92, Arizona 47, Saint Mary’s 45, Gonzaga 34, Texas 22, Creighton 12, Baylor 8, New Mexico 4, VCU 4, West Virginia 3, Oklahoma 2, Bradley 1, UCLA 1.
Jan 25, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard KJ Lewis (5) goes for a lay up while Colorado Buffaloes forward Sebastian Rancik (7) fails to block him during the second half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
After opening their Arizona road trip with a resounding 76-61 victory over Arizona State, the No. 5 Iowa State (17-2, 7-1) are set for a high-stakes clash against the Arizona Wildcats (13-6, 7-1 Big 12) in Tucson on Big Monday. Both teams are tied for second place in the Big 12, making this late-night ESPN showdown a pivotal spot in the conference race.
Cyclones’ Surge Continues
The Cyclones come into Monday’s matchup after a gutsy comeback against Arizona State. Trailing by seven early in the second half, Iowa State flipped the script with a dominating 43-21 run to close the game. Senior guard Curtis Jones was stellar again for the Cyclones, delivering a career-high 33-point, seven rebound, and three steal game, which included five points during a game-sealing 19-3 run in the final five minutes of regulation. Jones has thrived as a starter in recent games, averaging 23.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and shooting over 44% from beyond the arc.
Milan Momcilovic, the Cyclones’ sharpshooting sophomore wing, is still sidelined with a hand injury since mid-January. His absence has forced Iowa State to adapt, with players like Jones stepping up and Joshua Jefferson anchoring the frontcourt. The Saint Mary’s transfer recorded his eighth double-double of the season against Arizona State, contributing 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals in 30 minutes.
Wildcats’ Momentum
Under head coach Tommy Lloyd, the Wildcats have won eight of its last nine games and is fresh off a 78-63 home victory over Colorado. The Wildcats leaned on sharpshooter Anthony Dell’Orso, who torched the Buffaloes for 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from deep. Preseason All-Big 12 First Team honoree Caleb Love struggled offensively but contributed in other ways, adding six rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
The Cyclones’ top-ranked Big 12 offense (84.6 points per game) will be tested by an Arizona defense known for its athleticism and ability to force turnovers. Iowa State’s backcourt trio of Curtis Jones, Tamin Lipsey, and Keshon Gilbert will face off against Arizona’s Caleb Love and KJ Lewis in what promises to be a dynamic guard battle.
Lipsey, a preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection, has been the Cyclones’ defensive anchor, leading the team in steals while dishing out the second-most assists. Gilbert, meanwhile, has emerged as a leader in his senior campaign, earning Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 recognition earlier this month.
In the frontcourt, Jefferson’s rebounding and physical presence will be crucial against Arizona’s star forward Trey Townsend and a duo of seven footers in Motiejus Krivas and Henri Veesaar.
Challenges on the Road
While Iowa State has been nearly unbeatable at home under Otzelberger—boasting a 29-game winning streak at Hilton Coliseum—the road has presented its own challenges. The Cyclones struggled in their loss at West Virginia a couple weeks ago and were tested early against Arizona State before finding their rhythm. Fatigue could be a factor as the team plays its second game in three days.
With both teams tied for second in the Big 12, Monday’s game has significant implications for the conference standings. With Houston’s come from behind win against Kansas, a win for either Iowa State or Arizona could position them as the top challenger to the Cougars and keep them within striking distance. For the Cyclones, it’s also an opportunity to further solidify their case for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament—a feat the program has never achieved.
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova / CycloneFanatic
AMES, Iowa – For only the second time ever, a college wrestling dual aired live on ESPN. Iowa State hosted both events, including Sunday night’s matchup against No. 3 Oklahoma State.
This was Iowa State’s toughest challenge yet. The Cyclones stormed out to an early lead, fueled by the energy of the Hilton Coliseum crowd and clutch performances from the Frost brothers and Cody Chittum. However, as the dual progressed, the Cowboys’ upper weights proved too much to overcome, handing Iowa State a 27-12 loss in its first Big 12 dual defeat of the season.
“I was excited to win those four matches, but I also knew the storm was a-brewing,” head coach Kevin Dresser said. “I knew what we were facing. I didn’t think that we could win any of those matches, and we didn’t.”
Iowa State had four back-to-back wins from Evan Frost, Jacob Frost, Cody Chittum, and Paniro Johnson.
Jacob Frost was a standout for the Cyclones, securing the highest-ranked win of his career with a 4-1 victory in sudden victory over No. 4 Tagen Jamison.
“That was great. That was a heck of a match, man,” said Dresser. “Those Frost boys are tough. You know, I said it—I think Friday night—they can get away, they can ride, they can turn, and they’ve got great leg attacks. Great formula to be a good college wrestler—a really good college wrestler. So proud of him.”
At 149 pounds, Johnson remains undefeated since moving up in weight, improving to 8-0 with a 4-2 decision over No. 14 Carter Young. Cody Chittum capped off the Cyclones’ early momentum with a 4-2 victory over No. 11 Caleb Fish at 157 pounds.
“He’s starting to figure out who he is. He stayed really, really solid to his style and his game plan,” said Dresser about Chittum’s win. “When you start to do that and know who you are as a wrestler, you can start to beat really good people. And he beat a really good guy today. I mean, Fish has been on a roll, and so that was a big win.”
The Cowboys swept the remaining five matches from 165 pounds to heavyweight, including four bonus-point wins.
“From 165, really, to heavyweight, they overwhelmed us. I think every one of them is ranked in the top six or seven, and it shows,” said Dresser. “When you’re in that situation, everything’s a learning experience. But hopefully, all those guys aspire to be at that level, and that’s going to take some work.”
Dresser remains positive this team can have some success in March despite the injuries that have plagued this year’s starting lineup.
“I think we’ll be okay,” said Dresser. “We got some guys that can do a lot of damage when we get to the NCAA tournament and the Big 12s. You get dealt a hand, and you got to play it, and we’re going to play it strong.”
Match-By-Match Results
No. 13 Iowa State 12, No. 3 Oklahoma State 27
125: #4 Troy Spratley (OSU) maj. dec. Ethan Perryman (ISU), 20-10
133: #5 Evan Frost (ISU) dec. Reece Witcraft (OSU), 9-4
141: #13 Jacob Frost (ISU) dec. #4 Tagen Jamison (OSU), 4-1 SV-1
149: #11 Paniro Johnson (ISU) dec. #14 Carter Young (OSU), 4-2
157: #12 Cody Chittum (ISU) dec. #11 Caleb Fish (OSU), 4-2
165: #6 Cameron Amine (OSU) dec. Aiden Riggins (ISU), 11-4
174: #3 Dean Hamiti Jr. (OSU) TF #23 MJ Gaitan (ISU), 20-4 (5:20)
184: #3 Dustin Plott (OSU) maj. dec. #12 Evan Bockman (ISU), 11-2
197: #7 Luke Surber (OSU) def. Sawyer Bartelt (ISU), Inj. Def. (6:37)
285: #3 Wyatt Hendrickson (OSU) TF #23 Daniel Herrera (ISU), 16-0 (3:30)
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) shoots the ball over as UCF Knights center Khyala Ngodu defends during the first quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Audi Crooks dominated the paint. Addy Brown did a little bit of everything. And previously-cold players sank long-range shots with regularity.
Iowa State didn’t merely beat Big 12 bottom dweller UCF Saturday at Hilton Coliseum. The suddenly-surging Cyclones imposed their will, building a double-digit lead within a few minutes, en route to a 90-56 triumph that played out in front of 10,326 fully satisfied fans.
“Very good balance,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said. “Everyone contributed.”
ISU (15-7, 6-3) started the game with a 13-0 splurge and won for the sixth time in its past seven games. The Knights (7-11, 0-8) haven’t won a game in 49 days and played without their top three leading scorers.
“They have made some hard decisions with their team,” Fennelly said. “Obviously, they had. Limited roster but they’re doing things the right way, and at a time when most people don’t want to do it that way, I have a lot of respect for people (who) do.”
Crooks notched a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds while going 8-for-12 from the field. The 6-3 sophomore’s now scored a minimum of 20 points in 10 of her past 12 games.
“She just took control,” UCF head coach Sytia Messer said. “We were hoping that she would miss a few and we could get her in foul trouble, but that didn’t happen. That’s the only way we figured with the experience that we have right now that we could defend her.”
Brown scored 13 points, collected seven rebounds and doled out seven assists. Veteran point guard Emily Ryan added a game-high 11 assists to add to her school record total.
Four different Cyclones scored during their game-opening 13-0 barrage. Guard Arianna Jackson scored five of her 13 points in that span and sparked ISU with a 3-pointer just 35 seconds into the game.
“We’ve got a tough stretch coming,” Jackson said of upcoming top-10 matchups with Kansas State and TCU. “So just keep working, keep grinding.”
That’s what transfer guard Lily Hansford did while struggling to score this season. She sank her first four 3-point attempts on Saturday and finished with an ISU career-high 12 points.
“Just trust in your reps,” Hansford said. “Trust that you’ve put the work in and getting extra reps always helps. That’s kind of what I’ve been doing.”
Hansford had made just three of her previous 30 shots from beyond the arc this season after shooting 44.9 percent from long-distance for Oregon State last season. So her hot-shooting performance amounted to a return to form — and bodes well for ISU’s offensive prospects moving forward.
“That was fun to see,” Fennelly said. “That was probably the highlight of the game.”
Crooks and Brown scored 10 points apiece in the first half, helping the Cyclones forge a commanding 47-27 lead. ISU sank 12 3-pointers and notched 29 assists on 34 made field goals.
The Cyclones will take a couple days off before preparing for Thursday’s big game at No. 10 Kansas State.
“I’ve just told them, ‘Lock yourself in, block out the noise, and we’ll see,’” Fennelly said. “But I love this team.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Arianna Jackson & Lily Hansford addressed media members following their team’s 90-56 win over UCF Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State guard Curtis Jones (5) dives for a loose ball against Arizona State Alston Mason (1) and Adam Miller (44) during a game at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Jan. 25, 2025. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
When Arizona State pressed, Iowa State didn’t.
That, in a nutshell, proved to be the difference as the No. 3 Cyclones’ staved off the Sun Devils’ upset bid Saturday in Tempe — finishing with a 19-3 flourish to cement what turned into a convincing 76-61 road win.
“I know they had seven turnovers in the first half,” ISU star guard Curtis Jones said on the Cyclone Radio Network while perusing the box score. “They had 11 in the second half. That definitely played in our favor. We’re a team that likes to get runs off those turnovers.”
Jones led ISU (17-2, 7-1) with a career-high 33 points and helped keep his team afloat offensively in a first half that ended with Arizona State (11-8, 2-6) leading, 40-33. The Cyclones took their first lead of the second half of a pair of Joshua Jefferson free throws that made the score, 57-56, with 5:54 left. The Sun Devils decided to press ISU, which took full advantage by scoring 19 of the game’s final 22 points.
Jefferson notched his eighth double-double of the season (13 points, 10 rebounds) and made several winning plays on both ends of the floor as ISU rallied late. His second assist of the game led to a Demarion Watson dunk with 5:14 remaining. Then, after a stop, Jefferson found Keshon Gilbert for a 3-pointer that gave the Cyclones a 62-58 edge with 4:43 left.
“They call (Jefferson) Mr. Do-It-All and if you can’t see why, I don’t know what you’re watching,” said Jones, who added seven rebounds and hit half of his 3-point attempts (5-for-10). “Ten rebounds, four steals — and he was guarding the point guard a lot of the time late in the second half, which doesn’t show up in the box score. Great defense.”
Arizona State would never get within one possession of the lead after the 3-pointer from Gilbert, who scored seven of his 12 points in rapid succession to seal the triumph.
“Once he kind of got that look in his eye and saw that 3 go through — I just feel like he was operating on all cylinders,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said of Gilbert. “He loves the big moment. He loves the big game. And, man, he really stepped up for us here today.”
So did the Cyclones’ fans, who turned Desert Financial Arena into a Hilton Southwest of sorts.
“We needed that energy late and our guys talked about it in the locker room, how we could tell that we felt like we had that home court advantage, even on the road,” Otzelberger said. “So, very thankful and grateful to everyone who came out today.”
ISU outscored Arizona State 43-21 in the second half while limiting the Sun Devils to 32 percent shooting after the break.
“It’s a long game,” Jefferson said. “So how you start isn’t how you finish.”
Not always, anyway — and rarely for the Cyclones, who boast four comeback road wins this season and will face surging Arizona (13-6, 7-1) at 9:30 p.m. Monday in Tucson.
“Tough game, tough opponent, a big opportunity awaits,” Otzelberger said.
Friday night at Hilton Coliseum had it all: a record-setting crowd for the Beauty and the Beast setup with wrestling and gymnastics, and a Cyclone wrestling team that delivered one of its best performances of the season.
No. 13 Iowa State rolled to a 25-6 victory over No. 22 Oklahoma, winning eight of ten matches and proving that this group is dialed in.
“I don’t know if we’ve had the same lineup all year. I don’t think we have but with the lineup that we put together tonight I thought tonight was good,” said head coach Kevin Dresser. “I thought we wrestled hard at all 10 weights.”
Iowa State held strong, giving up only five takedowns during the entire dual.
The night was packed with highlights, but none stood taller than MJ Gaitan’s performance at 174 pounds. Taking on No. 8 Gavin Sax, the 2024 Big 12 Championships runner-up at 174 pounds, Gaitan wrestled a smart match.
“I’m mostly proud of MJ for sticking to the game plan and not being a crazy man out there because Coach St John did a good job of coaching him up and just, you know, forcing him to wrestle really, really smart,” Dresser said. “When he wrestles smart, that MJ guy could go a long ways if he can wrestle with what he’s got. His wrestling IQ needs to get better and tonight was an example of a good wrestling IQ.”
Gaitan is known for his relentless pursuit of pins, always determined to bring down every opponent, no matter how he gets there. This fearless style keeps both fans and Coach Dresser on the edge of their seats. It’s this same drive that inspired Gaitan’s new approach to preparation, a shift that ultimately led to his success.
“I’ve been working and scouting that guy not to go to that crackdown position he likes a lot, obviously, so I’ve been working on that a lot with St. John,” said Gaitan. “And just getting back healthy on the mat was a really big thing too. Our good trainer Tim and all the staff here are amazing, helping me get back out on the mat, which is what I love to do, being back in Hilton for my first debut this year. So it felt really good.”
Some other highlights…
The Frost brothers continued their impressive season, delivering back-to-back victories at 133 and 141 pounds. True freshman Kane Naaktgeboren also had a night to remember, notching his first collegiate dual win.
“He keeps getting better. That was a good win for him,” said Dresser about Riggins. “You know, as he starts to believe in himself, and tonight should be a good reason to believe in himself, but I think he had a good night.”
As the Cyclones prepare for a quick turnaround against No. 3 Oklahoma State on Sunday, the team’s confidence is growing.
“I think our chemistry is coming together,” said Jacob Frost. “We’re growing together as a team. We’re kind of finding our groove as a dual team and a tournament team. I think we’re growing together, and we’re all wrestling for each other now.”
How are the constantly shifting Cyclones preparing for a major team test against the Cowboys?
“We’ve got nothing to lose, got everything to prove,” said Gaitan. “Just having that mindset. That it doesn’t matter. We’re already ranked lower so what do we have to lose? Have no fear,” said Gaitan.
Match-By-Match Results
No. 13 Iowa State 25, No. 22 Oklahoma 6
125: #29 Antonio Lorenzo (OU) dec. Ethan Perryman (ISU), 5-2
133: #5 Evan Frost (ISU) Maj. Dec. #22 Cleveland Belton (OU), 9-0
141: #13 Jacob Frost (ISU) dec. #19 Mosha Schwartz (OU), 10-4
149: #11 Paniro Johnson (ISU) dec. #13 Willie McDougald (OU), 4-2
157: Kane Naaktgeboren (ISU) dec. Layton Schneider (OU), 8-3
165: Aiden Riggins (ISU) dec. #30 Tate Picklo (OU), 7-3
174: #23 MJ Gaitan (ISU) dec. #8 Gaven Sax (OU), 7-2
184: #12 Evan Bockman (ISU) dec. Eli Cordy (OU), 7-2
197: Nate Schon (ISU) dec. Bradley Hill (OU), 14-7
285: #26 Juan Mora (OU) dec. #23 Daniel Herrera (ISU), 4-2
Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) goes for a layup around UCF Knights forward Moustapha Thiam (52) during the first half in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum onTuesday, Jan. 21, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Tamin Lipsey speaks casually, as if discussing the weather, or engaging in small talk.
The subject matter is his own physical pain — this time in the form of a throbbing right thumb — and Iowa State’s first-team All-Big 12 point guard acknowledges its existence, dismisses the discomfort, and moves on.
“I hurt it during (the) West Virginia (loss),” said Lipsey, who naturally will continue playing through the malady in Saturday’s 1 p.m. Big 12 matchup between his No. 3 Cyclones (16-2, 6-1) and Arizona State (11-7, 2-5) in Tempe. “Jammed it pretty bad. It’s been pretty swollen and stuff, so catching the ball has been sort of sensitive, so I’ve just been wrapping it up.”
Out of sight, out of mind. Lipsey’s pain threshold has attained near-legendary status within ISU’s program because each time he seems to reach its limit, he grits his teeth and grinds through it. He played through a shoulder injury last season, underwent surgery in the spring, and slowly returned to full-contact activities late in the summer. Now his thumb hurts — a lot — but it’s an afterthought in his mettle-tested mind.
“He’s a once in forever type of guy when you talk about the level of mental toughness that he has and the physical toughness that he has,” said Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who in three-plus seasons has crafted a program-best 69.9 percent winning percentage. “I’ve done this almost 20 years at this level and (I’ve seen) some guys who’ve had those skills. Tamin is kind of on his own line in terms of his ability to do that and I think (his) mom and dad deserve a lot of credit for that.”
Lipsey’s dislodged at least one steal in 84 of his 87 career games. He recently climbed past former greats Fred Hoiberg, Justus Thigpen and Jeff Hornacek to stand alone at No. 2 on ISU’s all-time steals cart with 212. That’s just 13 fewer thefts than Monte Morris — Lipsey’s childhood idol — compiled from 2014-17, so expect that grit-based record to fall relatively soon.
“(It’s) kind of a testament to how hard he plays,” burly transfer forward Dishon Jackson said. “He’s just out there flying around, diving on the floor, taking the ball from dudes. It’s just, like, you can only do that for so long, I would think, but he does it every time.”
Lipsey’s stacked up multiple steals in 13 of the Cyclones’ 18 games this season, and his productivity in that area should be key against an athletic Sun Devils team that ranks 277th nationally in offensive turnover percentage according to KenPom. But Arizona State’s coming off its most impressive win of the Big 12 season — a 65-57 upset of No. 23 West Virginia in Morgantown one game after the Mountaineers toppled the Cyclones.
“They’re a team that plays hard, they compete on the glass, they get up and down in transition,” Otzelberger said. “They really can score in spurts. They’ve got the ability to get it going quick, and they’ve got some gifted personnel that — if you’re not very intentional with your pressure defensively, they can create some matchup issues and get baskets.”
Lipsey along with each of ISU’s rotational players bedevil opponents with similar problems. He and fellow guard Keshon Gilbert surge into the lane with abandon and finish at the rim with aplomb. Curtis Jones drains deep 3-pointers and features what Lipsey called “one of the best floaters” he’s ever seen. Add in Jackson and fellow forward Joshua Jefferson’s presence in the paint, and the considerable contributions of bench players such as Brandton Chatfield, Nate Heise and Demarion Watson, and it’s easy to see why the Cyclones remain difficult to prepare for even as standout shooter Milan Momcilovic misses four to six weeks because of a hand injury.
But Lipsey stands front and center in that equation — a man in the arena who refuses to let pain dictate his performance. The more he hurts, the more he hustles.
“If I can work through it, I’m gonna work through it,” the Ames native said. “Especially when my team needs me with Milan being out. Can’t afford having other people out.”
Least of all, him.
“Tamin is able to make Tamin plays that nobody else can make,” Otzelberger said. “Chase down the loose ball, get that offensive rebound. So I think while he’s dealing with whatever he’s dealing with, making that play galvanizes our team, energizes our team. Everybody on our team knows in our big wins, our best performances, Tamin makes that play consistently. So the first time he makes it, I think it takes our team confidence to a whole other level.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Tamin Lipsey & Dishon Jackson spoke to media members at the Sukup Practice Facility ahead of his team’s upcoming game Saturday at Arizona State (1:00 p.m. ESPN+).
Waukee Northwest’s Colin Rice (24) takes the ball down the court on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Valley High School. © Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Waukee Northwest forward Colin Rice was in attendance for Iowa State’s 74-57 victory over No. 9 Kansas last week for his first game day visit to Hilton Coliseum.
The 6-foot-8, in-state prospect is rising in the ranks of the 2026 class and is on Iowa State’s radar as it continues to build its group for the recruiting cycle.
“It was a great game to go to,” Rice said. “There’s something special about Hilton.”
It was Rice’s second visit to Ames. He was on campus over the summer of 2024, as well.
Rice and Iowa State have had ongoing conversations, and meanwhile he’s garnered offers from Drake, Northern Iowa, Murray State, St. Louis and North Dakota State.
“They’ve been kind of calm – just lowkey stuff,” Rice said of his talks with the staff. “They like how I play. They like how I play defense. They think I’m a fit, I’ve just got to keep getting better and hopefully something will come of it.”
Rice says that they want to see him get stronger and be more physically ready for college basketball.
Iowa State took exceptional notice of Rice’s defense, too.
“I think mostly recently – I’ve always been gifted with being able to move side-to-side and being so tall, I can guard every position,” Rice said. “I take pride in it and it’s starting to show.”
The Waukee Northwest star will turn his focus to the high school court for the remainder of the season as he and his team chase a state championship.
“Just to win it all,” Rice said of his goals. “I think we’ve got a really good team with a lot good pieces and I’ll just do what I need to do to help our team win, whatever it is.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Addy Brown & Audi Crooks spoke to media members Wednesday following their team’s 82-59 win over BYU at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State Cyclones’ forward Addy Brown (24) shoots the ball over BYU Cougars forward Kendra Gillispie (35) during the third quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — The word of the month for Iowa State’s Addy Brown is “aggression.”
The 6-2 guard/forward from Derby, Okla., is unselfish to a fault, and so eager to involve all of her teammates that she veers off from her ongoing mission to simply shoot the ball more.
So she’s working on that — and it showed on Wednesday night.
Brown ripped off 11 straight points in a decisive second quarter, helping the Cyclones shake free of BYU and eventually coast to an 82-59 win at Hilton Coliseum.
“I’ver never really forced shots,” said Brown, who scored 22 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out seven assists as ISU (14-7, 5-3 Big 12) won for the fourth time in its past five games. “Even in high school, my coaches would constantly ask me to shoot the ball more. Well, if I see an open man, I’m not gonna force shots up. So if I see an open man, I’m gonna get you the ball. And I think sometimes I’[m looking to do that first instead of, ‘OK, maybe I am open.’ So I think that’s kind of where that shift has been.”
Audi Crooks led the Cyclones with 24 points — 12 of which came in the third quarter. ISU outscored the Cougars, 28-11, during that decisive 10-minute stretch, and two of Crooks’ four field goals in the third quarter came off of Brown assists.
“She really enjoys throwing the ball to Audi,” Fennelly said. “And Audi should go home every night and (go), like, ‘I’m the luckiest post player in the history of the sport because I’ve got (point guard) Emily Ryan and Addy Brown throwing me the ball.”
Ryan finished with seven points, six rebounds, three assists and a game-high four steals. The senior standout — back after missing one game because of an illness — shot just 2-for-9 from the field but made her trademark winning plays on both ends of the floor.
“We talk about (not going) for steals,” said Fennelly, whose team had a season-high 11 takeaways. “You get them because you play hard, you’re in the right place, you know the scouting report — and Emily Ryan checks off all those boxes.”
Guard Sydney Harris added 11 points on 2-for-3 3-point shooting and fellow guard Kelsey Joens drilled both of her shots from beyond the arc. The Cyclones outshot BYU (10-8, 1-6) 50 percent to 25.8 percent in the second half, and 28-to-7 in points off turnovers in the game.
“That was really huge for us because I think (early on) our defense fueled our offense,” said Crooks, who’s scored 20 or more points in nine of the past 11 games. “We were able to get some transition baskets and and-ones before they were able to get their defense set.”
Brown provided two of those and-ones — along with a 3-point shot — during her personal 11-point flurry that allowed ISU to crawl out of an early 15-4 hole, take the lead, and pile on the points as the game wore on.
“We were struggling offensively and I couldn’t get anything to fall,” Brown said. “So kind of you see that (first shot) go in and just sticking with it — it’s always exciting to see that I can get the and-one, and I think after that we started to go, so it definitely was a turning point.”
So expect the term “aggression” to remain the operative one for Brown, who Fennelly said practiced so well on Tuesday that she’d be the best player in the Big 12 if she can routinely replicate that behind-the-scenes performance.
“It was incredible,” Fennelly said. “She can just do so many things for our team, and wants to do so many things for our team. (She) just fills up her stats sheet and was tremendous (Wednesday).”
By Rob Gray, correspondent
AMES — Joshua Jefferson didn’t have time to grouse about missing a free throw.
Within seconds, the dynamic Iowa State forward was being fed by Keshon Gilbert for a top-of-the-key 3-pointer after fellow forward Dishon Jackson rebounded his miss.
Swish.
And so it went for Jefferson — a 6-8 transfer from St. Mary’s — who obliterated his previous career high with 30 points in the No. 3 Cyclones’ 108-83 dismantling of UCF Tuesday before a crowd of 14,267 at Hilton Coliseum.
“I just give all praise to my teammates, just putting me in the right positions to score,” he said. “They were looking for me.”
As for adding a third 3-pointer late to score 30 — nine above his previous career-best effort set almost a year ago to the day at San Francisco?
“(Guard Curtis Jones) and (Gilbert) at the end of the game saying, ‘Go get 30,’” said Jefferson, who went 3-for-4 from long-range and 9 of 14 from the field overall. “So we ran a couple sets for it.”
ISU moved to 16-2 to start a season for the fourth-time in program history and now stands 6-1 in Big 12 play. Gilbert added 21 points eight assists and three steals to surpass 100 thefts in his career. Jones notched 19 points and eight rebounds. Jefferson did a little bit of everything, as usual, grabbing seven boards, dishing out five assists and snaring four steals.
“With Joshua, obviously we’re seeing with every game how he’s continuing to impact winning in different ways,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team shot 56 percent from the field and outrebouded the Knights (12-6, 3-4), 43-29. “And tonight you could just tell he had confidence in his shot. He puts the work in, so it’s great our guys recognize that.”
The Cyclones played erratically early, losing eight turnovers while forcing just three in the first 12 and a half minutes. UCF took an 18-15 lead with 12:20 left in the first half, but Demarion Watson once again sparked ISU off the bench — draining a corner 3-pointer off a Gilbert assist to tie the score.
Gilbert added a 3-pointer on there ensuring possession, helping ignite a 13-3 run capped by Jones’ long-range basket that put the Cyclones up by seven, at 28-21. They wouldn’t trail again, but Watson’s first 3-pointer of the season proved to be a lid lifter for ISU, which had made just one of its previous 20 shots from beyond the arc, including a 1-for-17 performance in Saturday’s 64-57 loss at No. 23 West Virginia.
“That was big time,” Jones said of Watson’s long-range hoop. “Made his free throws, and just his presence on defense — rebounding well. He had five rebounds in 11 minutes, which is crazy.”
Watson scored a season-high 11 points in that relatively short timespan, and Nate Heise provided significant contributions off the bench, as well, totaling nine points while matching Jefferson with four steals. Heise also hit his first 3-pointer in Big 12 play after starting 0-for-12 from long distance.
“Nate is capable of so much out there,” Otzelberger said. “We all recognize and see what he does defensively, on the glass, (with) steals … We’re gonna continue to demand from him that he’s a more aggressive offensive e player because we know what he can do. We know he can make shots. We know he can drive the ball and score.”
He can also force turnovers in multiple ways, which helped the Cyclones make a rapid turnaround in that area. ISU outscored UCF in points off those miscues, 23-2, after being outscored, 9-2, in that area early in the game.
“It was bad,” Jones said. “Like, it looked bad at first. I know it looked bad and we really didn’t want it to be like that no more, so (we put) an emphasis on taking care of the ball and making the right passes.”
Then they could focus on making sure Jefferson dropped 30 for the first time in his college career.
“There really ain’t nothing we feel like he can’t do out there,” Jones said, “which helps a lot.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Curtis Jones & Joshua Jefferson spoke to media members following their 108-83 win over UCF Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State wrestling held its weekly media availability to preview duals against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Head coach Kevin Dresser gave injury and program updates, expectations heading into first weekend back in Hilton and more. Plus, Daniel Herrera (285) and Paniro Johnson (141) talk about their growth, navigating this season and returning to Hilton Coliseum.
After a tough loss at West Virginia on Saturday, the No. 3 Iowa State Cyclones (15-2, 5-1) aim to regain their footing Tuesday night when they host the UCF Knights (12-5, 3-3) at Hilton Coliseum (7:00 p.m., ESPN+).
The game marks UCF’s first-ever visit to Hilton and only the second meeting between the two programs. Iowa State secured a 60-52 victory in Orlando last season and will look to replicate that success at home, where they’ve been nearly unbeatable the last couple seasons.
The Cyclones suffered their second loss of the season in Morgantown, snapping a 12-game winning streak. Their 56 points against West Virginia were the fewest they’ve scored in a game this season.
Head coach T.J. Otzelberger expects his team to bounce back with the energy and support of a raucous Hilton Coliseum crowd, which has witnessed 28 consecutive Iowa State victories, the second-longest active home winning streak in the nation.
Cyclones’ PowerCurtis Jones has been a revelation for Iowa State this season. Initially a key reserve, Jones has stepped into the starting lineup due to injuries and hasn’t missed a beat. Averaging 19.3 points per game, the Big 12’s second-leading scorer has recorded seven 20-point performances. His scoring ability will be pivotal against a UCF team that allows a conference-worst 77.4 points per game.
Keshon Gilbert continues to showcase his all-around game, leading Iowa State in minutes and assists. The senior guard has earned two Big 12 Player of the Week honors this season and was recently named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List. Gilbert’s court vision and defensive intensity will be critical in setting the tone for the Cyclones. Look for Gilbert to get his offense going early to help set the tone for Iowa State.
Defensive stalwart Tamin Lipsey anchors the Cyclones’ backcourt. The Preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection leads the team in steals and ranks second in assists. Lipsey’s ability to disrupt passing lanes and spark fast breaks will be key against UCF’s dynamic trio of guards.
In the frontcourt, Saint Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson has been a force on the boards, leading the team in rebounding. Jefferson’s four Big 12 Newcomer of the Week awards underscore his impact on both ends of the court.
Additionally, Dishon Jackson’s presence in the paint, highlighted by his team-leading 1.9 blocks per game, gives the Cyclones a formidable interior defense.
UCF’s Challenges and StrengthsUCF enters Tuesday’s matchup after a heartbreaking 69-68 loss to No. 8 Houston. The Knights led by one with under five seconds left, only for Houston to score on a baseline drive to secure the win. Despite the loss, UCF’s performance against a top-tier opponent demonstrates their potential to compete with the Big 12’s best.
Keyshawn Hall leads UCF with 16.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-7 guard has proven he can take over games, including a 40-point, seven rebound, and six assist explosion against Arizona State earlier this season. However, Hall struggled against Houston, managing just six points while grabbing 11 rebounds. Iowa State’s defense will look to contain Hall and limit his offensive impact. Look for Joshua Jefferson and Nate Heise to take this defensive assignment.
Darius Johnson, a four-year starter, is UCF’s backbone. Averaging 14.9 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.7 steals per game, Johnson is a two-way threat. His ability to knock down three-pointers at a 41.7% clip makes him a constant perimeter danger. Jordan Ivy-Curry, the Knights’ third leading scorer, contributes 14.2 points per game and adds versatility to their backcourt.
The Knights also boast an emerging talent in 7-foot-2 freshman Moustapha Thiam. A dominant shot-blocker, Thiam has already recorded three games with five or more blocks this season. His interior presence could disrupt Iowa State’s offense if the Cyclones struggle to establish spacing.Keys to the GameRebounding Battle: Brandton Chatfield has been a standout on the offensive glass, consistently earning the Cyclones second-chance opportunities.
UCF, meanwhile, relies on Hall and Thiam to control the boards. Winning the rebounding battle will be crucial for both teams. The Cyclones have struggled rebounding early on in games, look for UCF to be very aggressive on the boards early. Three-Point Shooting: Iowa State’s abysmal 1-for-17 performance from beyond the arc against West Virginia was an anomaly.
The Cyclones, led by Milan Momcilovic’s 44.3% three-point shooting, need to rediscover their rhythm from deep. With Momcilovic sidelined due to injury, other players must step up to fill the void. A guy like Nate Heise has proven that he can be formidable three-point shooter but has struggled so far this season (25%). Last season at Northern Iowa, Heise shot 35.6%. It’s only a matter of time till he gets going. Turnovers: Both teams thrive on forcing mistakes.
Iowa State’s defensive pressure, spearheaded by Lipsey and Gilbert, averages 8.5 steals per game. UCF counters with Johnson, who ranks sixth nationally in steals per game. The team that takes better care of the ball will have a significant edge. Iowa State has been turnover prone the last couple games.
In their last three games, the Cyclones have turned the ball over 15, 13, and 14 times. That’s a high margin for a team that averages less than eight a game. Tuesday’s game is a significant test for both programs. Iowa State’s 28-game home winning streak is tied for the second-longest in school history. Coach Otzelberger, who boasts an 86-37 record at Iowa State, is on track to become the first Cyclones coach to lead the team to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first four seasons.
For UCF, the game represents an opportunity to solidify its place in the Big 12 and build their NCAA Tournament resume. The Knights have already secured three Quad 1 victories this season, including a win over Texas A&M in their opener. A win in Ames would further validate their ability to compete in one of college basketball’s toughest conferences.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Addy Brown & Sydney Harris addressed media members Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum ahead of their team’s upcoming game against BYU (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. ESPN+).
Iowa State guard Emily Ryan (11) reacts after a basket against Arizona State during the fourth quarter at Mullett Arena in Tempe on Jan. 8, 2025. © Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES – Iowa State point guard Emily Ryan will practice on Tuesday after missing Saturday’s game – an 82-68 loss to now No. 16 West Virginia – with an illness.
Ryan, who’s in her fifth year and serves as the captain of the team, is an integral part of the Cyclone offense and plays a big role on the bench when she isn’t playing in games.
“She’s going to try and practice today,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said during his pregame press conference Tuesday. “She did not practice yesterday… and if she’s feels okay, will give it a shot (Wednesay).
Fennelly said that the illness had affected some members of the coaching staff and sidelined the point guard Saturday.
“The good news is that she’s going to give it a shot today and she feels a lot better, so we’re definitely trending in the right direction,” Fennelly said. “We’re definitely hopeful she will go tomorrow.”
Iowa State (13-7, 4-3) will take on BYU (10-7, 1-5) Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum and it can’t afford many more losses.
The Cyclones are currently listed in the ‘last four in’ category of ESPN’s bracketology. The squad has an integral stretch of 11 games coming up that will shape its resume, with four games against ranked opponents remaining.
That resume lacks a big win, and this team likely needs Ryan on the court to get that.
“Obviously, it kind of showed that we needed her her calming presence against West Virginia,” sophomore forward Addy Brown said. “We kind of got sped up pretty easily, and she definitely would have helped some of that. At the end of the day, you’ve got to look and kind of take in the perspective that she’s not going to be here next year, so we’ve got to get used to playing without her, which sucks, but that’s just how it goes.”
There’s optimism that Ryan will return soon, but with Iowa State’s next pair of games being at Hilton Coliseum against teams at the bottom of the Big 12 standings in BYU and UCF, look for a ‘pitch count’ as Fennelly would put it.
“I think having a point guard that’s played in this league for five years is huge, regardless of what they would produce,” junior guard Sydney Harris said. “But obviously, she does produce a lot for us. So, it was definitely hard without having her… but, I think she’ll be back shortly.”
Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) celebrates after beating Miami Hurricanes in the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State football team has been ranked No. 15 in the final poll released Tuesday by the Associated Press.
It is the second-highest ranking in the final poll and just the fourth time ISU has been ranked at season’s end: 1976 (#19), 2000 (#25), 2020 (#9).
Iowa State won a school-record 11 games, finishing 11-3 overall and 7-2 in Big 12 contests. Iowa State started the season 7-0, matching the best start in school history. ISU also reached its second Big 12 Championship game during the historic campaign.
The Cyclones beat No. 18 Miami, 42-41, in the Pop-Tarts Bowl to end the season.
Iowa State rose to as high as No. 9 in the AP poll and No. 16 in the CFP poll during the regular season.
Final AP Top-25
- Ohio State
- Notre Dame
- Oregon
- Texas
- Penn State
- Georgia
- Arizona State
- Boise State
- Tennessee
- Indiana
- Ole Miss
- SMU
- BYU
- Clemson
- Iowa State
- Illinois
- Alabama
- Miami
- South Carolina
- Syracuse
- Army
- Missouri
- UNLV
- Memphis
- Colorado
#
Iowa State’s Keshon Gilbert and Nate Heise addressed media members Monday at Hilton Coliseum ahead of their team’s upcoming game against UCF at Hilton Coliseum Tuesday (7:00 p.m. ESPN+).
Jan 15, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) drives to the hoop past Kansas Jayhawks guard Zeke Mayo (5) in the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Iowa State men’s basketball remained in the top 3 of the AP Poll Monday, following a week that saw the Cyclones go 1-1 in games against Kansas and West Virginia.
The Cyclones are one of four Big 12 programs ranked in the top 25, joined by No. 7 Houston, No. 12 Kansas and No. 23 West Virginia.
Texas Tech (104), Arizona (21), Cincinnati (4) and Baylor (4) are also receiving votes.
Iowa State returns to the court Tuesday to face UCF at 7:00 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum (7:00 p.m. ESPN+).
AP MBB Poll
Monday, Jan. 20, 2025
1. Auburn
2. Duke
3. Iowa State
4. Alabama
5. Florida
6. Tennessee
7. Houston
8. Michigan State
9. Kentucky
10. Marquette
11. Purdue
12. Kansas
13. Texas A&M
14. Mississippi State
15. Oregon
16. Ole Miss
17. Illinois
18. Wisconsin
19. UConn
20. St. Johns
21. Michigan
22. Missouri
23. West Virginia
24. Memphis
25. Louisville
Others receiving votes: Texas Tech 104, Utah St. 38, Vanderbilt 35, Gonzaga 34, Georgia 30, Clemson 30, Arizona 21, Saint Mary’s 12, Cincinnati 4, Baylor 4, UC Irvine 3, Wake Forest 2, Creighton 2, Bradley 1, Maryland 1.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Nate Heise (0) rebounds the ball around Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) during the second half in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Jan. 7, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Nate Heise anticipated the question, then preempted it.
“Keep shooting it,” one of Iowa State’s key contributors off the bench said in reference to his recent long-range shooting struggles. “Because I’ve played four years and (I’ve been) pretty consistent through those four years, so it’s bound to turn here.”
That’s the message the former Northern Iowa transfer’s been hearing from his coaches and teammates alike entering Tuesday’s 7 p.m. matchup between the No. 3 Cyclones (15-2, 5-1 Big 12) and UCF (12-5, 3-3) at Hilton Coliseum.
Heise’s missed all 10 of his 3-point attempts in conference play, but he shot 36 percent from beyond the arc last season — so as he noted, his track record speaks for itself.
“To demand of Nate to do things that he’s already proven to do in his college career seems very logical to me,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose entire team labored to connect from 3-point range on Saturday, going an icy 1-for-17 from long distance in a 64-57 loss at No. 23 West Virginia. “So we’re gonna continue to demand that he’s an aggressive offensive player. We all see what does on the defensive end, what he does on the glass, and the impact that me makes in those ways. We need him to hunt the rhythm 3, and he will do that. We need him to attack closeouts, and he will do that. And we need him to help make plays against the press and pressure and in transition, (and) we know he can do (that).”
Dismal 3-point shooting numbers only tell part of the story in the Cyclones’ first loss in their past 13 games. ISU only got to the free-throw line seven times against the Mountaineers — 11 trips below its previous low for attempts there this season. The Cyclones allowed West Virginia to strike for 14 steals, which accounted for all of their turnovers. And the basketball stuck at times in Saturday’s setback, which led to over-dribbling, poor spacing and clogged passing lanes. Add all of that up and a recipe for defeat fully emerges — but ISU still had a chance to win until the closing moments of the game.
“We’ve been in that spot before (on the road) and been able to get a couple stops and a couple scores, now all of a sudden we win by seven, eight, nine,” Otzelberger said. “So (West Virginia) deserves a lot of credit. They were locked in and certainly (there were) things we could have done better and learned from, and we’ll be better for it moving forward.”
They’ll definitely need to be better in those areas immediately, as the Knights are coming off a one-point home loss to league leading Houston on Saturday. UCF plays fast and features several physically-imposing playmakers, led by 6-7 guard Keyshawn Hall (16.9 points per game, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists).
“They’ve got tremendous physicality in the interior and length in the front court,” Otzelberger said. “They score the ball well. You’ve got to be ready for different presses, traps. They work really hard to turn you over.”
The Knights also struggle to defend consistently in the halfcourt, which could help the Cyclones get back on track from the 3-point line. They’ve held opponents to under 70 points just once in Big 12 play — Saturday’s 69-68 setback to the No. 7 Cougars — and are prone to live ball turnovers, which ISU will seek to produce regularly.
“We’ve got a chance to bounce back,” said ISU guard Keshon Gilbert, who dishes out a team-high 4.7 assists per game. “We’ve done forgot about the West Virginia game. It is what it is. It happened. We know we’ve gotta get better, so we just focus on (that).”
Just like Heise, who’s continued to be a major factor in the Cyclones’ success despite his shooting slump.
“I know being the competitor he is and the winner that he is that he understands that is how you show your competitiveness, that is how you show you’re the winner that you are — is doing it in those situations,” Otzelberger said. “I’m totally confident as we move forward, he’s gonna do that job.”
Jan 18, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) talks with West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jonathan Powell (11) during the second half at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
We’ve got a pair of losses from the weekend to digest, and it’s a national championship game day for college football. Let’s muse.
It can’t go like thatAnd Iowa State knows this. Playing on the road in any Big 12 environment is a struggle, but one that could have been managed Saturday had it shot better than 1-17 from the 3-point line.
The Cyclones had the lead with seven and a half minutes to go and tied the game with 2:34 to play when Keshon Gilbert drove and finished at the rim.
So Iowa State was right there despite the poor performance from three, 14 turnovers and just seven free throws attempted – and the previous season low in that stat was 18.
Had Iowa State gotten to the line more, maybe the 3-point number is just a bad number, rather than a key factor in a loss. Of course, all of this could improve this week as the team further transitions into this period where will it will be without starter Milan Momcilovic.
Bottom line: Iowa State wasn’t going to finish the league slate undefeated, even in a down year in the Big 12.
Was this the best time for a loss?I hate that this is even a take that I have to write out, but unfortunately the date that a team loses certain games can play a major part in the national perception of that team.
Games carry more weight the later they appear in the year. Look at how bubble teams are treated in late February with every win and loss, and the early season games that get glossed over because they were played in November. Hell, I’ll throw in Notre Dame’s football loss to Northern Illinois – it’s not everything, but it is something.
Iowa State may have taken a loss at the most optimal time.
Since the last AP Poll was released Monday, seven of the top 10 teams in the rankings lost. By the end of Sunday, 20 of the top 25 teams in the poll dropped at least one game this week.
AP Top 10 teams to lose this week
No. 2 Iowa State lost to West Virginia
No. 4 Alabama lost to No. 21 Ole Miss
No. 5 Florida lost to Missouri
No. 6 Tennessee lost to Vanderbilt
No. 7 Marquette lost to Xavier
No. 8 Kentucky lost to No. 4 Alabama
No. 9 Kansas lost to No. 2 Iowa State
Throw in getting a top 10 win a few days earlier, and Iowa State should remain in a good spot.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see West Virginia jump back into the poll, either. Darian DeVries has got things working over there.
Morgantown nips women, opportunities running outThe women took on West Virginia Sunday without star point guard Emily Ryan and it proved to be too much to overcome.
Iowa State doesn’t yet have a top 25 win, and likely only has four opportunities for big wins the rest of the regular season.
It’s put up or shut up time for the Cyclones, who are back at home twice at Hilton this week before taking on a pair of those big opponents.
Iowa State men’s basketball adds ’26 guard Also, Iowa State men’s basketball earned its first commitment to the 2026 class in Milwaukee guard Yusef Gray Jr. Sunday.
He’s a strong rebounder and his dad was high school teammates with new assistant coach and former Cyclone Diante Garrett.
We’ll have more on him and the upcoming junior days for football later this week.
Game Day for the National Championship Monday marks the end to the “2024” college football season, which was another filled with unpredictability, big moments and fun times.
Enjoy it tonight wherever you’re watching, and show your Notre Dame friends Shane Gillis’ new ad with Under Armour. The guy always delivers.
Answer Shane’s Prayer. Go Irish pic.twitter.com/jyJfCwxpyJ
— Under Armour (@UnderArmour) January 18, 2025
West Allis Central’s Yusef Gray Jr. (3) elevates for two during the WIAA Division 1 boys basketball sectional final against Marquette at Racine Horlick High School on Saturday, March 9, 2024. © Scott Ash / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State men’s basketball earned its first commitment to the 2026 recruiting class Sunday in Milwaukee’s Yusef Gray Jr.
The 6-foot-5 guard said the coaching staff’s communication led to the commitment.
“Really, it was just the relationships that we’ve built over time – it was crazy,” Gray Jr. said. “The time that coach (J.R Blount) and coach (T.J. Otzelberger) took out to build (that relationship) with me – like coming out to watch me play – that meant a lot to me.”
Both Otzelberger and Blount made regular visits to see Gray Jr., which also meant a lot.
“Before the season started, coach (Otzelberger) and coach (Blount) came out to my school to talk to me for a month straight. The consistency they had taking planes for a month straight just to see me and talk to me… it just showed how connected they were.”
Gray Jr. was first offered by Iowa State before the start of his sophomore season at West Allis Central High School.
He chose the Cyclones Sunday over offers from Marquette, Creighton, Mississippi State, DePaul, Bryant and Arkansas State. He does not yet have a rating from 247 Sports.
“Really, the main consistency I had with coach (Otzelberger) – I wasn’t talking to a head coach like him. He had known my dad from a long time ago, too, and I just talked to my parents about it. It was just a great fit for me.”
Gray Jr.’s father was even high school teammates with new assistant coach and former Cyclone Diante Garrett at Harold St. Vincent HS.
“He was telling me how great of a player he was and that I could learn a lot from him.
The young prospect is the latest add for coach T.J. Otzelberger and J.R. Blount out of the Wisconsin pipeline – where two of the program’s 2025 commits in Xzavion Mitchell and Jamarion Batemon are from.
Now, Gray Jr. will join them down the road for an Iowa State team that climbed to No. 2 in the rankings last week, and is 15-2 on the year.
“I think it’s amazing,” Gray Jr. said of the team. “All of the guys playing the way they are just shows how connected they are, on and off the court.”
Below are his freshman highlights, along with clips from a game where he scored 31 points against Tyrese Haliburton’s former school.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
MORGANTOWN, West Virginia – Iowa State (13-7, 4-3 Big 12) fell to No. 20 West Virginia (15-3, 5-2 Big 12) in Morgantown by a score of 82-68 Sunday afternoon.
ISU, without Emily Ryan, could not recover after committing 25 turnovers resulting in 26 West Virginia points. The Mountaineers rank third in the nation in forced turnovers.
Addy Brown led the Cyclones scoring 19 on 6-of-8 shooting from the field while making six free throws. Brown also had seven rebounds, seven assists and a steal.
Audi Crooks added 13 points, her 52nd straight game in double figures. Iowa State totaled four with 10-plus points as Sydney Harris totaled 12 and Aili Tanke had 10.
How it Happened
West Virginia had three early 3-pointers, but Iowa State kept within one of the Mountaineers at 13-12 at the first media timeout led by six points by Brown. Out of the timeout, WVU hit an 11-0 run as ISU committed costly turnovers. At the end of one, the home team led 30-15.
Iowa State would call an early timeout two minutes into the second frame but WVU continued to control the game after the break. After Iowa State’s 10th turnover, West Virginia then stretched its advantage over 20 (40-19) with 6:08 left in the half.
WVU found its largest lead of the game at 26 after the Mountaineers’ eighth shot from deep to make the scoreboard read 57-31. Heading into the fourth quarter, West Virginia led it 69-49.
The Mountaineers would go on to win it 82-68.
Up Next
Iowa State returns home to host BYU Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. and UCF Saturday, Jan. 25 at 4 p.m.
Notes
- Iowa State’s women’s basketball all-time record moves to 880-673 (.567) and 337-355 (.488) all-time in conference play.
- Head coach Bill Fennelly‘s Iowa State record moves to 624-320 (.662) and his career record moves to 790-373 (.680). He is 289-207 (.584) in conference games at ISU.
- Iowa State shot 50 percent or better from the floor for the 10th time this season. ISU is now 8-2 when shooting 50 percent or better from the floor this season.
- Audi Crooks’ 13 points marked her 52nd straight game of her career scoring in double figures.
- With her third point of the night, Aili Tanke recorded her 50th point of the season.
Freedom forward Donovan Davis (24) chases down a loose ball against Slinger in a game in the Rick Majerus WBY Shootout on Friday, December 27, 2024, at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin. © Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State hosted a rising star in 2027 prospect Donovan Davis Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum as the Cyclones took down No. 9 Kansas in a top 10 showdown.
The 6-foot-8 prospect out of Wisconsin came away impressed with the energy that coach T.J. Otzelberger’s team had.
“(Brandt) Chatfield looked really good against (Hunter) Dickinson – (Dishon) Jackson coming off the bench and bringing all of that energy… I mean that was really fun to see,” Davis said.
The Cyclones weathered the Jayhawks in a rocking Hilton Coliseum for their 28th-straight home win – the second longest streak in the country.
That’s exactly what Otzelberger and assistant coach J.R. Blount wanted Davis to see.
“Coach (Otzelberger) came up to me and said that he wanted to me experience what they were going through there – with the big win they had (against Kansas),” Davis said.
The defense Iowa State played in that game particular was another point of emphasis.
“I think Iowa State’s been a good defensive team, especially Wednesday in their game,” Davis said. “They forced however many turnovers – and they really disturbed Kansas. They’ve said I’m a really good defensive player that can play 1-5 and a lot of other things that they really like my game.”
Davis can shoot the three, utilizes the ball fake well and plays defense well.
That’s a part of his game that he’s developed as he’s gotten older, one that undoubtedly stuck out to Iowa State’s staff.
“I always used to like offense because you get to score and do all of this other stuff, but in the last year in a half – around my freshman year of high school – I kind of realized that defense was way more important,” Davis said. “Once you play really good defense for a very good possession, that turns into more offensive possessions. My game’s (consisted) of more defense and rebounding than it had before.”
Davis has lived in Wisconsin his whole life, and plays for Freedom High School in Kaukauna as well as Team Herro in the EYBL.
In the midst of his sophomore season, Davis has picked up offers from both Wisconsin and the Cyclones.
“It’s been a blessing,” Davis said. “I’ve been working on this since I first started playing basketball. For my goals, I’ve always wanted to go step-by-step. The first step was to get a college offer, but just because I’ve finished that goal doesn’t mean I don’t go for new goals.”
Although he didn’t grow up a fan of Wisconsin, Davis has watched the pair of big programs in his home state, but also draws memories of watching a former Cyclone in Ames.
“I’ve watched them, but I wouldn’t say I was like a fan, I guess you could say,” Davis said. “I obviously watched (Wisconsin) and Marquette a lot. Iowa State is one of those teams I would watch, because of Tyrese Haliburton coming from Wisconsin.”
It’s early in his recruitment, but Iowa State has established a connection here. In the meantime, Davis will turn to his goal of a state championship later this season.
“Now, my new goal is just to finish high school with, hopefully, a state championship in such a small town in Wisconsin that not really a lot of people know of,” Davis said.
Jan 18, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) dives for a loose ball during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Clang. Boink. Thud.
No. 2 Iowa State simply couldn’t shoot straight from 3-point range Saturday at West Virginia, and its 1-for-17 performance from beyond the arc helped pave the way for a 64-57 loss in Morgantown.
The Cyclones (15-2, 5-1 Big 12) sank just 5.9 percent of their long-range attempts and ran out of gas down the stretch to fall on the road to the Mountaineers (13-4, 4-2) for the ninth straight time.
“(That) ain’t gonna get it done a lot,” ISU’s leading scorer, Curtis Jones, said on the Cyclone Radio Network after his team’s nation-leading 12-game win streak was snapped. “I was 1-for-6. I’ve gotta be better than that.”
And he usually is.
Jones scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Fellow guard Keshon Gilbert added 13 points, and forward Joshua Jefferson notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. ISU led by as many as seven points late in the first half and four points midway through the second half, but West Virginia responded each time. Star guard Javon Small scored 20 of his game-high 27 points in the second half for the Mountaineers, who limited the Cyclones to a season-low four assists on 25 made field goals.
“Their defensive game plan was pretty solid,” said ISU point guard Tamin Lipsey, who had one of those scarce assists. “Just being in the gaps, being there when we wanted to drive.”
West Virginia outscored ISU 27-0 from long range and 11-to-6 from the free-throw line. The absence of injured forward Milan Momcilovic — who shoots a team-best 44.3 percent from distance — magnified the Cyclones’ shooting problems, as his mere presence on the floor helps his team space the floor and create other opportunities. He’ll be out four to six weeks, though, so ISU will need to find different ways to prevent stagnation on offense.
“(We’ll) just continue to evolve as a team and adjust t how we need to play, and how we can do things without that additional shooting threat,” head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “We’ll work on it and we’ll get better.”
The Cyclones missed all 11 of their 3-point attempts in the first half and trailed, 25-24, at the break.
Those long-range shooting woes extended into the second half, but Jones finally hit one with 13:18 left to give ISU a 35-34 lead. He then drained a short jumper to put the Cyclones ahead, 37-34. ISU took a four-point lead on Gilbert’s driving layup moments later, but West Virginia fought back with an 11-2 run to take control with a 47-43 advantage with 6:56 left. The Cyclones trailed the rest of the way, despite staying within one possession of the lead until the final 90 seconds.
“It’s gonna be about how we handle this, and not having it be something that lingers,” Otzelberger said. “(We need) to learn from it, be better for it, and to come out and be at our absolute best on Tuesday evening.”
That’s when ISU will try to regroup against UCF (12-5, 3-3) at Hilton Coliseum. The Knights nearly upset the Big 12’s lone remaining unbeaten — No. 10 Houston — on Saturday, but fell, 69-68, in Orlando.
“We know we’re gonna get their best shot,” Otzelberger said.
Jan 15, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Darian DeVries coaches against the Houston Cougars in the first half at Fertitta Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
The Iowa State Cyclones (15-1, 6-0) head to east for Saturday’s matchup against the West Virginia Mountaineers (12-4, 3-2) in Morgantown (4:00 p.m., ESPN+).
With a 12-game winning streak—the longest active streak in the nation—and a perfect 5-0 start to conference play, Iowa State is asserting itself as one of the top teams in college basketball. Saturday’s road test presents a different challenge.
Iowa State has struggled historically in Morgantown, having won there only twice since West Virginia joined the Big 12. The Mountaineers, led by first-year head coach and former Drake Bulldog head coach Darian DeVries, boast an 8-1 home record so far this season.
Cyclones Riding High After Top 10 WinThe Cyclones are coming off a dominant performance against No. 9 Kansas on Wednesday night. T.J. Otzelberger’s squad closed the game on a 16-2 run, securing a 17-point victory and tying the 1944 team for the best start to conference play in school history. The win also marked the best 16-game start in program history.
Curtis Jones, Iowa State’s sixth man turned starter due to an injury to forward Milan Momcilovic, shined against Kansas, continuing his first team all-Big 12 campaign. The Big 12’s second-leading scorer has seven 20-point games this year and earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors earlier in the season. His ability to step up in big moments has been pivotal for the Cyclones especially late in games.
Key Contributors Stepping UpKeshon Gilbert has also been a standout for Iowa State, leading the team in minutes and assists while averaging 15.5 points per game. Gilbert’s growth in his second year as a Cyclone earned him a spot on the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List.
Tamin Lipsey continues to anchor the team on both ends of the floor. Lipsey leads the team in steals and ranks second in assists. His ability to disrupt opposing offenses has made him a key this season.
Meanwhile, transfers Joshua Jefferson, Brandton Chatfield and Dishon Jackson have provided versatility and strength in the paint. Jefferson leads the team in rebounding and has earned four Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors, while Jackson’s shot-blocking and interior presence have been critical.
Mountaineers Pose a ThreatWest Virginia returns home after splitting a two-game road trip, with a loss to No. 10 Houston and a win at Colorado. The Mountaineers have already defeated two top 10 teams this season, showcasing their ability to compete at a high level.
Javon Small, a transfer from Oklahoma State, leads West Virginia in scoring at 19.4 points per game and ranks among the nation’s top 25 scorers. His matchup against Iowa State’s backcourt will be one to watch.
With the absence of star guard Tucker DeVries, the Mountaineers have had a number of guys step up and contribute. Illinois transfer Amani Hansberry averages 10.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. He is a stretch four that can knock down the three point ball at a high level. He is shooting 31.1% from behind the arc this season.
Freshman Jonathan Powell is stepped in for DeVries in a big way. Like Hansberry, Powell can really shoot the ball. The 6-foot-6 guard is averaging 9.2 points per game and shooting an impressive 37.8% from three. In Big 12 play, Powell has made two or more threes in every game except one.
Darian DeVries has quickly turned the Mountaineers into a competitive squad. Despite losing 97% of their scoring from last season, West Virginia’s defensive intensity has kept them in games, holding opponents to 64.3 points per contest.
Saturday’s game will be a battle of Iowa State’s high-powered offense against West Virginia’s stout defense. The Cyclones lead the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 85.4 points per game, while shooting an efficient 49.5% from the field. Conversely, West Virginia ranks 20th nationally in opponent field goal percentage, limiting teams to just 38.9% shooting from the field.
Iowa State and West Virginia will meet for the 25th time on Saturday, with the Mountaineers holding a 14-10 series advantage. West Virginia has dominated recent matchups in Morgantown, winning the last eight games.
A win in Morgantown would extend Iowa State’s winning streak and solidify its place atop the Big 12 standings. It would also bolster the Cyclones’ NCAA Tournament resume, as they continue to climb the national rankings, currently sitting at No. 5 in the NET and No. 4 in KenPom.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Arianna Jackson & Reagan Wilson addressed media members Friday at the Sukup Practice Facility ahead of the team’s Sunday matchup against West Virginia.
By Rob Gray, correspondent
AMES — Dishon Jackson offered up his earnest mea culpa as readily as he throws down rim-rattling dunks.
Iowa State’s heretofore starting center came off the bench in his second-ranked team’s 74-57 win over No. 9 Kansas Wednesday night at Hilton Coliseum, but not merely because of a revamped rotation made necessary by an injury to forward Milan Momcilovic.
Jackson — a twice-transferred 6-11, 274-pound force in the paint — had missed a mandatory film session, so fellow transfer Brandton Chatfield started in his place.
“I definitely beat myself up for it,” said Jackson, who responded to the likely temporary relegation to reserve status by scoring a season-high-tying 17 points in 19 minutes. “The didn’t really try to get on me too much about it. They just told me, ‘Don’t let it happen again,’ and it won’t happen again.”
Jackson’s faux pas obviously didn’t diminish his productivity, as he attacked the rim with abandon, flushing down two dunks off of tight-window assists from fellow big man Joshua Jefferson. He drained nine of his 11 free throw attempts while scoring in double figures for the first time in conference play. So whether starting or coming off the bench, the surging Cyclones (15-1, 5-0 Big 12) expect him to continue to elevate his game in Saturday’s 4 p.m. road matchup with West Virginia (12-4, 3-2) in Morgantown.
“He took the accountability,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team owns the nation’s longest winning streak at 12 games. “I think he almost felt like, whether he had let himself down, or let his teammates down, and really needed to step up to prove to them that he is with them, and this is important — I thought his response was really good.”
The same could be said for veteran reserve forward Demarion Watson, who logged important minutes on Wednesday after sitting for a month. The spry 6-7 forward grabbed five rebounds and blocked a shot in 10 minutes of action against the Jayhawks. The junior’s a fan favorite for obvious reasons: He plays hard, he soars above the rim, and hoards 50-50 balls with regularity.
“It’s an incredible feeling, just to get the crowd involved,” Watson said. “It just feels great. That kind of energy just flows into you, makes you want to do more stuff. (It) makes you — even though you might be tired, it gives you that extra boost, that extra energy.”
That’s also what Watson’s always bolstered his team with, even as it’s long been a struggle to routinely crack the rotation.
“He’s been in this spot for us before, he understands what we need from him, and what he can bring to the team,” Otzelberger said. “I think he takes a tremendous sense of pride (and) certainly he was ready, which is the coolest thing. He was ready to step up and step in and do a great job for us.”
More will be required from all of the Cyclones’ current top eight players while Momcilovic spends a likely four to six weeks recovering from an injury to his non-shooting hand. Otzelberger said they’re hoping to avoid surgery, but it’s too soon to tell precisely what the rehabilitation process will entail.
“(We’re) making sure we’re doing what we can to be in the best interests of his health and safety,” Otzelberger said.
Jackson’s making sure he’s at his peak when the team needs him the most. Big games such as Wednesday’s win over Kansas coaxes extra energy out of his already revved up motor. Finding ways to consistently do that regardless of time, place or size of the stage has emerged as one of his top priorities — and it shows.
“I like the big games,” said Jackson, who scored 12 points in the win at Iowa and 13 in the two-point loss to top-ranked Auburn in the Maui Invitational. “I have to take the same mindset into every game, but big games definitely get you a little more pumped up because you know your matchup is gonna come at you. You’ve got to be ready or he will destroy you.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Dishon Jackson & Demarion Watson spoke to media members Friday ahead of the team’s upcoming matchup with West Virginia on Saturday.
Jan 15, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) drives to the hoop past Kansas Jayhawks guard Zeke Mayo (5) in the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES – No. 2 Iowa State took down No. 9 Kansas 74-57 Wednesday to secure the program’s third-straight win over the Jayhawks at Hilton Coliseum.
Let’s go through the takeaways.
Iowa State was the better teamTen years ago, stealing a win from Kansas at Hilton Coliseum was the hallmark prize for Iowa State basketball. Any time the program that had dominated for decades came into Hilton, there was an opportunity, but things would have to play out almost perfectly for the Cyclones to capitalize.
On Wednesday, Iowa State overwhelmed Kansas in the first half, while collecting 10 turnovers in what was a sloppy game in different moments.
“We had some chances, but there was no question they were better tonight,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “Even though I think that if things had gone a little bit better for us or fallen differently… but obviously they made more plays.”
The Cyclones, donning vintage uniforms, looked like the Kansas teams of the past that would dominate them throughout the night 10 years ago.
Wednesday was a complete role reversal, and the three-game win streak at Hilton cements that.
Curtis Jones’ evolutionI have no idea of the eligibility for Sixth Man of the Year, but Jones has distantly lapped the competition for that award.
Self called him an All-American, and the former transfer from Buffalo has become Iowa State’s most consistent scorer, showcasing his range and athleticism almost every time he hits the floor.
In five Big 12 games so far, Jones has failed to reach 20 points once – and that came during the Cyclones drumming of No. 25 Baylor.
On Wednesday, he tallied 25 points, with 20 of them coming in the first half as he helped extend the lead to 10 at the halftime break.
He’s the best player in the Big 12 right now, and he will be honored with that award (possibly more) if he keeps it up.
Every shot Tamin Lipsey takes feels impactfulMaybe that’s because he doesn’t take as many as the next guy in the lineup, but the star point guard did that again Wednesday.
Lipsey finished with 10 points that included a pair of impactful three’s that Iowa State needed to keep Kansas at bay.
“Your point guard makes every play,” Self said. “He doesn’t score as many points, but I think that’s as much as anything.”
Lipsey’s first points of the night came on a lay-in where he dodged the defense of Kansas big Hunter Dickinson and put Iowa State up by five.
Kansas never got the deficit down to less than five after that, and Lipsey finished with a game-high plus/minus of +21.
Demarion Watson: back.Down Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State turned to Demarion Watson to fill minutes and opted to keep its rotation to eight players.
“Whenever you have a change like that, you want the next man up to be prepared and step up,” Otzelberger said. “When I met with Demarion yesterday when we knew it was going to be a possibility, his response was terrific.
“He said, ‘I’ve been getting extra workouts every day on my own. I’ve been coming in at night, getting shots (up). I’ve been locked in during practice, and I’m ready to go,'” Otzelberger said. “And then he said, ‘and I’ve played good against these guys in the past, too.'”
And he did so again on Wednesday.
In 10 minutes on the floor, Watson found five rebounds as well as an exclamation point block on Kansas’ Dajuan Harris Jr..
“His confidence, again, (we) talk about all the character things – I mean, he hasn’t gotten in a game for I don’t even know how long, maybe a month,” Otzelberger said. “To be ready to step in and to have such an impactful performance, you can tell how much our fans appreciate him when he goes in and gets the block that he had.
“Then to have five rebounds in not even 10 minutes of play when we’ve emphasized that the one area we need to be much better is on the glass,” Otzelberger said. “It speaks volumes of what a great job he did. So it’s really more of a credit to Demarion that he stayed ready and prepared so that when we have somebody out, we’re able to continue to move forward seamlessly.”
Jan 15, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) drives to the hoop past Kansas Jayhawks guard Zeke Mayo (5) in the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — Kansas head coach Bill Self features a two-time Wooden Award All-American in his starting lineup.
That would be star forward Hunter Dickinson.
But there was just one player in Wednesday’s hyped top-10 matchup between No. 2 Iowa State and his No. 9 Jayhawks Self described as delivering a “first-team All-American” type performance.
That would be hot-shooting Cyclone guard Curtis Jones.
“The aggressiveness and the freedom that he plays with offensively is high,” said Self, who watched Jones score 25 points in ISU’s dominant 74-57 win before a rambunctious sellout crowd of 14,267 at Hilton Coliseum. “He’s playing downhill to the point now where he’s got you retreating in many ways.”
Jones — who replaced recently injured forward Milan Momcilovic in the starting lineup — scored 20 of his game-high points in the first half alone. He canned a pair of 3-pointers in the final 90 seconds to cap an 8-0 run that gave the Cyclones a 40-30 halftime lead, and Kansas trailed the rest of the way.
“That’s really cool,” Jones said when told of Self’s high praise. “I don’t know what’s really going through my head. I just feel super-confident. If you look at the way I’m playing right now, I feel like I’ve got the right to be, kind of.”
No qualifier’s required. Jones drilled 8 of his 11 field goal tries in the first half, including an array of difficult floaters and deep 3-point balls. He’s now scored 20-plus points in four of the past five games, and a minimum of 14 points in 14 of the past 15 games as ISU notched its nation-leading 12th consecutive victory.
“You could just see he had it rolling,” said Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team notched its third straight regular-season win over the Jayhawks — its longest streak in the series since winning five in a row from 1999 to 2001. “And there were many times in that first half where we weren’t as effective offensively and he carried us through some stretches. So certainly amazing. The confidence he plays with, the poise, and the 3s that he hits, my goodness. They’re nowhere near the 3-point line. It always feels like they’re contested or eight feet behind the line — it’s amazing. And then he hits the one late and you feel like the whole place erupted.”
Momcilovic injured his non-shooting hand during a recent practice. He has been ISU’s most accurate 3-point shooter this season, knocking down long-range shots at a 44.3 percent clip. It’s unclear how long he’ll be out, but Otzelberger deftly revamped his rotation, inserting both Jones and big man Brandton Chatfield into the starting lineup, while adding Demarion Watson to his top eight. Watson, an athletic 6-7 junior, provided an emphatic blocked shot and two offensive rebounds after not playing for a month. Center Dishon Jackson — who’d started the previous 15 games — notched 12 points on 4-for-5 field goal shooting off the bench before the break. He finished with an ISU career-high-tying 17 points and four offensive rebounds. One of those boards came over Dickinson and led to one of Tamin Lipsey’s two 3-pointers that gave the Cyclones a 52-41 lead with 4:15 left.
“That play was huge,” Jones said. “It made them call timeout. And instead of going into the (under-four minute) media timeout (up) six or below, we went in up nine.”
The Jayhawks trailed by at least seven the rest of the game. Transfer guard Zeke Mayo led Kansas with 17 points. Dickinson scored just six on 3-for-10 shooting while battling foul trouble.
“It always starts with making them compete on the other end,” said ISU forward Joshua Jefferson, who notched his sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. “Just continuing to go at ‘em.”
As for Momcilovic, Otzelberger said most consider his injury a four-to-six-week situation, so opportunities for others could come for an extended period of time.
“We just want to make sure that we get it right,” Otzelberger said. “That it’s diagnosed exactly (and he knows) what he needs to do.”
Jones certainly knows what he needs to do — and that’s score in bunches and shine on the defensive end at an All-American level.
“(It’s) really surreal,” Jefferson said of Jones’ recent shooting performances. “Especially with the hype behind us. It really just heightens the ceiling for our team, so we love to see him compete and score at a high level.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Curtis Jones & Joshua Jefferson addressed media members following their team’s 74-57 win over No. 9 Kansas Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum.
Kansas coach Bill Self and players Hunter Dickinson & Zeke Mayo also took questions following the game.
AMES, IA – JANUARY 15: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks coaches from the bench in the first half of play against the Iowa State Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum on January 15, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES – Following Iowa State’s dismantling of No. 9 Kansas at Hilton Coliseum Wednesday, Jayhawks coach Bill Self was complimentary of T.J. Otzelberger and his team.
Here’s what he had to say.
On what led to Iowa State winning it: “What makes them who they are… I bet you, they get 75% of every 50-50 ball. If there’s a ball in the air, they seem to get it. And I thought in the first half there was probably five or six balls on an offensive rebound or something that they got that could have been our balls. Now we tried hard, but there’s a difference between trying hard and actually competing. And I think that they were better in that area in the first half.
On Iowa State’s Curtis Jones: “We stunk and it was 32-30. We didn’t close the half right, and they had a player play like a first team all American, and he’s terrific.
“The aggressiveness in the freedom that he plays with offense… you know, I’m sure he was always a terrific player and a good scorer and all this stuff. But, he’s playing downhill to the point now where, where he’s got you retreating in many ways.
“And (Keshon) Gilbert does as well. And of course, your point guard makes every play, and he doesn’t score as many points, but I think that’s as much as anything.”
On what Iowa State did defensively to limit Hunter Dickinson and win the game: “I think the biggest thing they did is they pressured so hard on the perimeter that the only person that could catch it easy was a five-man. So you take the five-man away from the basket to relieve pressure, he’s not going to score near as many points.
“The other thing that they do a good job of is when we tried to feed the post from the wing or the high slot multiple times on the first side – and the way that they play, they trap from under. That was not, a good design by us to try to do that, not that we wanted to. We wanted to get the ball to the second or third side as quick as we could. But I really think the way that they guarded us – I think that’s the way that would limit Hunter’s good touches, but a lot of was because of their guards that forced him to be on the perimeter.”
On what T.J. Otzelberger has done to turn Iowa State into the program that it is right now: “I think that their evaluation (in) recruiting has been tremendous. Maybe Jamie (Pollard’s) got them so much in NIL money, that they could just go out and get anybody… but the bottom line is the pieces fit.
“The other thing is, they’re very well drilled, and they are very good in situational basketball too… Just like the one time we went small-switch-five, they just BS with the ball until they get the big guy post and throw it over the top.
“They’re a very smart basketball team. They’re old, too, but I would say talent evaluation, putting a team together and then getting them to play as hungry as they do. I think that’s probably what I would commend him on as much as anything. They’ve done a great job.”
Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) ldrives to the basket around Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) during the first half in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Jan. 7, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State will be without forward Milan Momcilovic in Wednesday’s game against No. 9 Kansas at Hilton Coliseum, after the sophomore suffered an injury to his hand in practice.
The injury occurred on Momcilovic’s non-shooting hand and will sideline the standout player for 5-6 weeks, which should give him time to heal prior to the start of the postseason.
Through 15 games this season, Momcilovic is averaging 10.3 points per game and has a 44.3 shooting percentage from the 3-point line.
Without the Pewaukee, Wisconsin native, Iowa State could reach deeper into its bench than it typically might.
The Cyclones have stuck to an 8-player rotation for the better part of this season, and Momcilovic was eating up 24.8 minutes on the floor per night.
The most likely faces expected to show up will come in freshman Nojus Indrusaitis, who’s proven he can shoot it and brings tenacity, and 6-foot-7 junior Demarion Watson with size.
Remaining Iowa State MBB regular season schedule
Jan. 15 | No. 9 Kansas
Jan. 18 | @ West Virginia
Jan. 21 | UCF
Jan. 25 | @ Arizona State
Jan. 27 | @ Arizona
Feb. 01 | Kansas State
Feb. 03 | @ No. 9 Kansas
Feb. 08 | TCU
Feb. 11 | @ UCF
Feb. 15 | Cincinnati
Feb. 18 | Colorado
Feb. 22 | @ No. 10 Houston
Feb. 25 | @ Oklahoma State
Mar. 01 | Arizona
Mar. 04 | BYU
Mar. 08 | @ Kansas State
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Addy Brown and Audi Crooks addressed media members following their team’s 71-58 win over Texas Tech Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) shoots the ball around Texas Tech Lady Raiders forward/center Sarengbe Sanogo (11) during the fourth quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State’s streak of consecutive games with a 3-pointer came to an end Tuesday, while the Cyclones went 0-7 from long range in a 71-58 win over Texas Tech.
The streak spanned 945 games, and would have turned 30 years old in February… but no one seemed to care.
“I really don’t care,” Bill Fennelly said. “I know that’s big deal for a lot of people. I don’t really care. If you told me the choice is, ‘figure out a way to shoot a three’ or ‘throw it to 55 or 24,’ the ball is going to 55 (Audi Crooks) and 24 (Addy Brown).”
The game plan simply didn’t call for shots from long range.
Texas Tech had left the paint open all night for the Cyclones, and Iowa State took advantage.
Audi Crooks had another solid scoring night, finishing with 28 points, and missed a three late that would have extended the streak, although she didn’t know that was it was on the line.
“I did not realize – I thought they were just wanting me to shoot a three ball, because I never do it,” Crooks said with a laugh, recalling fans near the floor telling her that they needed a 3-pointer.
Instead, Iowa State was focused on securing its third-straight win in Big 12 Conference play, improving to 4-2 through six games.
“I mean, sorry, but also not,” Crooks said. “The streak is cool, but at the same time, we’re able to win basketball games by scoring only in the paint and from the free throw line. 21 points from the free throw line – are you kidding me? Like, that’s crazy. But I also do understand the tradition and the value in that streak, so we do apologize, but, the paint was working tonight.”
Forward Addy Brown, who had her best game in recent memory with 21 points on 8-11 shooting, also weighed in on the streak.
“I mean, it’s cool,” Brown said. “History is history. I mean, we’re historically known for shooting the three and so, I was a little upset when I heard about it. I like to keep the streak going. But again, we took what they gave us, and that wasn’t three point shots tonight. So it’s just kind of how it goes. And yeah, we go from there.”
Iowa State will look to start a new streak Saturday as it travels to Morgantown to face No. 20 West Virginia.
And if things fall the right way, it will be able to match its streak some time around 2055.
“I get it’s a big deal to some people, and it’s a big deal to us too,” Fennelly said. “I’m proud of that the streak was there, but it’s just like a kid getting a triple double. I’m not leaving him in the game to get stats. I don’t believe in that. That’s just me.”
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) shoots the ball over Texas Tech Lady Raiders center Maya Peat (54) during the third quarter in the Big-12 women’s basketball showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Audi Crooks sized up the shot, hesitated, then thought, ‘Why not?’
Iowa State’s star center hasn’t hit a 3-pointer this season, but squared over and launched from the top of the key, only to see the basketball carom off the rim a couple of times before bouncing out.
It proved to be a momentous miss — as the Cyclones’ stunning 29-year streak of 954 straight games with a 3-pointer ended — but the team considers that a footnote in a hard-fought 71-58 win Tuesday over Texas Tech at Hilton Coliseum.
“I did not realize,” said Crooks, who heard fans bellowing ‘three’ as she considered putting up the long-range shot with 92 seconds remaining. “I thought they were just wanting me to shoot the 3-ball because I never do it.”
ISU (13-6, 4-2 Big 12) took full advantage of the Red Raiders’ (12-7, 1-5) persistent efforts to defend the 3-point line, racking up 50 points in the paint while leading by nine or more points for the final 13 minutes of the game.
Crooks finished with 28 points — six above her season average — and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Forward Addy Brown scored a season-high-tying 21 points — seven above her average — and added seven boards and five assists while attacking the basket relentlessly.
“They did a good job but we also did a good job,” said Brown, who scored 10 points in a key 14-0 run in the second quarter that helped the Cyclones regain control after a sluggish start. “We watched film and we saw that they close out high and fast, and we knew they weren’t gonna be able to catch up if we ripped it and took it to the rim, and we did exactly that.”
ISU played its fourth game in the past 10 days and notched its third straight win. Crooks added two blocked shots and Brown — who went 8-for-11 from the field — had one.
“Addy and Audi showed why they’re two of the best players in the country,” Cyclones head coach Bill Fennelly said. “They literally and physically put this team on their back and (I’m) just really proud of how we handled a lot of situations tonight.”
As for the streak?
Fennelly’s fine with it ending. He said he won’t draw up plays just to extend team or personal records and ISU’s paucity of clean looks from beyond the arc clearly fueled its dominant performance in the paint.
“We only shot seven (3-pointers) so we really don’t care,” Fennelly said. “I think if we were really worried about it, we probably would have run about 15 more plays to get one.”
Instead, the Cyclones’ ran just two plays expressly designed to produce clean 3-point looks — and both came in the first half.
“I get that it’s a big deal to some people, and it’s a big deal to us, too,” Fennelly said. “I’m proud that the streak was there. But it’s just like a kid getting a triple-double. I’m not leaving them in the game to get stats. I don’t believe in that.”
That’s not what Fennelly’s long called “the Iowa State way.” It’s about effort and accountability, not the nation’s longest streak in any area, nor scintillating stat lines. But here’s one of the stats that mattered most to Fennelly: Texas Tech shot just 32.2 percent from the field and their leading scorer, Bailey Maupin, totaled just five points before fouling out.
“Everyone looks at us and goes, ‘Well, all they do is shoot the 3 and they don’t guard anyone,’” he said. “Well, you didn’t watch the game tonight then, because we guarded our (tails) off.”
Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) goes for a layup around Utah Utes guard Mike Sharavjamts (25) during the second half in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Jan. 7, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — The crowd delivers the decibels. The teams provide the marquee matchup.
When Iowa State meets Kansas in men’s basketball — either at Hilton Coliseum or at Phog Allen Fieldhouse — it’s long been appointment television for college hoops fans.
So it’s no surprise that Wednesday’s ESPN2-televised 6 p.m. clash between the Big 12 powers comes with stirring drama and extraordinarily high stakes attached.
The No. 2 Cyclones (14-1, 4-0) achieved their highest AP ranking ever this week and own the nation’s longest win streak of 11 games. The No. 9 Jayhawks (12-3, 3-1) have won three straight games by double digits after being shocked by West Virginia at home.
So what should fans expect in the third top-10 matchup between the programs at Hilton in a series that dates back to 1908?
“A great battle,” said Ames native and All-Big 12 ISU point guard Tamin Lipsey. “I feel like every year it’s one of the games that both sides are looking forward to.”
Lipsey would know. The lifelong Cyclone fan-turned-gritty-star watched in awe as ISU won four of five meetings with Kansas in the mid-2010s. He winced when the Jayhawks beat the Cyclones seven consecutive times to start this decade. Now Lipsey’s played a key role in two straight regular-season triumphs over Kansas — and narrowly missed a triple-double in one of them.
“It’s been a blast,” said Lipsey, one of five ISU players averaging double figures in scoring this season. “Every game, I look forward to (but) obviously there (are) games that you look forward to a little bit more than others.”
This time, the roles are reversed. The Cyclones are the higher-ranked team and run a high-flying offense that ranks sixth nationally in adjusted efficiency according to KenPom. The Jayhawks have hung their hat on defense, where they rank fourth in terms of efficiency. They feature elite rim protectors who hold opponents to just 42.6 percent shooting on 2-pointers, and athletic guards who patrol the perimeter and allow teams to shoot a dismal 28.6 percent from distance. So ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger knows what his team’s up against.
“I believe right now that Kansas is the best version of (itself),” said Otzelberger, whose team seeks its second top-10 win of the season. “I think they’ve really found their identity, so it’s gonna be so important that we’re locked in from the start at being the physical aggressor and being the team that does the effort-based things better right away.”
Opposing teams used to fear the Jayhawks’ dreaded offensive runs. Now Kansas is also adept at causing prolonged scoring droughts — as it did in Saturday’s suffocating 54-40 win at Cincinnati.
“I know with coach (Bill) Self’s teams, they’re always gone execute out of time outs,” Otzelberger said. “They’re always well-coached, well-prepared. He’s got great players who have been in the program with (Hunter) Dickinson, KJ (Adams), and Dejuan (Harris), so you know that already — but I think they’ve really got an edge to how the defend.”
The Cyclones counter with a top-10 defense of their own, as usual, but also feature the highest-scoring nonstarter in the country in Curtis Jones. The standout senior guard is averaging 18.1 points per game off the bench while crafting a 42-to-11 assist-to-turnover ratio. But his explosive efficiency comes, in part, because of Keshon Gilbert’s scoring acumen (16.1 points per game), Lipsey’s floor-burn-inducing play on both ends of the floor, and key contributions from forwards Milan Momcilovic and Joshua Jefferson. In short, focus on stopping one or two ISU players, and the others can still beat you.
“I heard one of the pundits that I actually respect a lot say they thought Iowa State is the best offensive team in the country,” Self told reporters on Tuesday. “I probably agree that they’ve got the best three guards on the same team in the country — and their bigs are so much more skilled than what they’ve had in the past.”
So, as Lipsey said, expect another “great battle.” The usual eardrum-piercing environment. A game that could come down to the final possession — and generally never disappoints.
“We’re gonna have great fan support,” Otzelberger said. “We’re gonna have great energy and enthusiasm in this building, and we’re gonna put ourselves in a great position to be competitive and be successful.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic spoke to media members ahead of their team’s upcoming top 10 matchup with No. 9 Kansas Wednesday (6 p.m. ESPN2) at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State’s wide receiver coach Noah Pauley talks to media at the school football facility on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State wide receivers coach Noah Pauley has been interviewed for the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator position.
The 49ers confirmed the news, as is required by league rules, in a social media post.
The 49ers have completed an interview with Noah Pauley for the team’s Offensive Coordinator position.
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 14, 2025
Pauley joined Iowa State’s staff at the beginning of the 2023 season, after being hired away from the same position at North Dakota State.
He began his career as a student assistant, and later was promoted to a graduate assistant as well as the offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach, at Minnesota Duluth.
In 2024, Pauley coached Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins each to 1,000+-yard seasons while the Cyclones finished 11-3 (7-2) with a win in the Pop Tarts Bowl over No. 13 Miami.
Pauley was on staff at North Dakota State during 49ers quarterback Trey Lance’s career in Fargo.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Audi Crooks & Kelsey Joens addressed media members ahead of their team’s upcoming game against Texas Tech (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. ESPN+).
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – JANUARY 11: Curtis Jones #5 of the Iowa State Cyclones handles the ball against Chance McMillian #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the first half of the game at United Supermarkets Arena on January 11, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
IRVING, Texas – Iowa State’s duo of Curtis Jones (player) and Joshua Jefferson (newcomer) swept Big 12 men’s basketball weekly awards, following a 2-0 week that sent the Cyclones to the No. 2 position in the AP Poll.
Jones led the Conference with 24.5 points per game over the week, adding averages of 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals while not committing a single turnover. In the 82-59 victory over Utah, the guard from Minneapolis scored 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field, adding five rebounds and six assists. In the overtime win at Texas Tech, the senior scored a game-high 26 points, as the Cyclones extended their winning streak to 11 games, which now stands as the nation’s longest. It is his first career Big 12 weekly award.
Jefferson captured his fourth newcomer selection in a five-week span, scoring 17 points in both wins. His buzzer-beating layup sent the game at Texas Tech to overtime, where he then hit the game-tying and game-winning free throws with four seconds left. The forward from Las Vegas went 5-of-10 from the field and added seven rebounds against Utah, as Iowa State won its 27th consecutive game in Hilton Coliseum, the second-longest active home win streak in Power 4.
No. 2 Iowa State returns to action Wednesday, hosting No. 9 Kansas at Hilton Coliseum. It will be the sixth top-10 matchup in Hilton Coliseum history and the second this season. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
Iowa State guard Kelsey Joens (23) grabs the ball from Arizona State center Nevaeh Parkinson (32) during the first quarter at Mullett Arena in Tempe on Jan. 8, 2025. © Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Minutes matter.
That, in a nutshell, is how Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly described sophomore guard Kelsey Joens’ wide-ranging contributions during his team’s two-game win streak in Arizona last week.
Joens — a former West Liberty standout — didn’t produce the gaudiest stat lines, but her trademark tenacity fueled the Cyclones (12-6, 3-2 Big 12) in a pair of critical victories in advance of Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. matchup with Texas Tech (12-6, 1-4) at Hilton Coliseum.
“She’s always gonna play hard,” Fennelly said. “She’s learning that it’s OK to pass and you don’t have to shoot to be effective. She’s always gonna go rebound. Defensively, I thought she was much better in both games. You’ve got to eat up minutes somehow, and if you’re eating up minutes through effort, energy, activity, sometimes that’s enough.”
Joens scored eight points in 20 minutes on Saturday in the 79-58 win at Arizona. She grabbed seven rebounds and dished out three assists in a season-high 34 minutes of Wednesday’s 90-83 win at Arizona State. Joens drained three of her six 3-point attempts in the games and blocked a shot in each win. So she did a little of everything as her role expanded significantly.
“Just doing whatever the team needs me to do — rebounding, making shots,” Joens said. “They trust me and I’m happy that they put their trust in me.”
That togetherness-based bond never waned even as the Cyclones struggled to hit open 3-pointers for much of the first half of the season. ISU drained 20 of its 42 3-point attempts (47.6 percent) in the wins in the desert, and transfer guard Sydney Harris went a combined 8-for-13 from beyond the arc.
“That was big for us,” said Cyclones star center Audi Crooks, who led her team in scoring for 14 straight games before Harris exploded for 24 points against the Wildcats. “I’ve kind of been kicking it out regardless of if they go in or not, but I believe in them. Sometimes self-doubt, especially with the guards, can get to them a little bit, so it was good to see them winning out (there).”
Fennelly stopped short of saying the two wins would create a massive momentum shift, because the schedule has become so unbalanced with 16 teams in the league. But his players have clearly responded forcefully after a disappointing home loss to No. 23 Utah last Sunday.
“I don’t think there’s any question if we didn’t go to Arizona and play the way that we played the tenor of (Monday’s media availability) would be a lot different,” said Fennelly, whose team has surged into a tie for sixth in the Big 12 standings. “But I just feel it’s really hard to quantify the rhythm of the schedule because you only play three teams twice.”
That’s life in the new-look Big 12. Some seasons the schedule may break your way, while others it won’t. The Cyclones weather that uncertainty by adopting what Fennelly calls a “boring” but necessary short-term mentality where no game matters more than any other — and every opponent is “nameless and faceless.”
“You don’t try harder if it’s team ‘A’ or team ‘B,’” Crooks said. “Or you don’t care less if you think you’re gonna win and roll somebody over. You’ve got to approach it the same way every week.”
Just as Jones does with her precious time on the court.
“Her minutes were productive,” Fennelly said. “And that’s why she got a lot of playing time.”
Iowa State came in at No. 2 in this week’s Associated Press poll, securing its highest ranking in program history.
The poll includes four Big 12 teams, with No. 9 Kansas, No. 10 Houston and No. 25 Baylor.
It sets up a top 10 matchup on Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday.
The full poll can be seen below.
AP MBB Poll
Monday, Jan. 13
1. Auburn
2. Iowa State
3. Duke
4. Alabama
5. Florida
6. Tennessee
7. Marquette
8. Kentucky
9. Kansas
10. Houston
11. Texas A&M
12. Michigan State
13. Oregon
14. UConn
15. Mississippi State
16. Gonzaga
17. Purdue
18. Memphis
19. Illinois
20. Michigan
21. Ole Miss
22. Utah State
23. Georgia
24. Wisconsin
25. Baylor
Others receiving votes: St. John’s 83, Oklahoma 63, West Virginia 61, Arizona 26, Louisville 17, Texas Tech 12, Maryland 11, Clemson 8, Missouri 8, Cincinnati 4, San Diego St. 4, Saint Mary’s 3, UC Irvine 2, New Mexico 2.
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – JANUARY 11: Head coach T.J. Otzelberger of the Iowa State Cyclones walks across the court at halftime of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena on January 11, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
No losses, two new faces, and securing the nation’s longest active men’s basketball winning streak.
It wasn’t a bad week to be a Cyclone. Let’s muse.
Getting over the hump in Lubbock Texas Tech poses a unique role on Iowa State’s men’s basketball schedule every year.
Winning in Lubbock has been the ultimate litmus test for many great Cyclone teams, and while no January road game will dictate a team’s season, this is one few have been able to top.
Ten years ago, Fred Hoiberg’s Iowa State team played at Texas Tech with the chance of taking sole possession of first place in the Big 12 standings five games into the year – it was something unheard of to that point, in the midst of Kansas’ streak of regular season titles.
The Cyclones found themselves down 31-12 in the first half, ultimately losing the game 78-73.
Two seasons ago, in Iowa State’s last trip to Lubbock, the Cyclones held a 59-36 lead, but gave up a 20-3 run before ultimately losing in overtime.
Great teams can drop a game at Allen Fieldhouse or Houston – results like that are expected.
But winning on the road in the game where nothing seems to go as planned – like at Oklahoma last season – is a huge achievement for this team.
Remember that going forward – especially in the other giant road games this month in Morgantown and Tucson.
There’s a real case for Curtis Jones to win Big 12 player of the yearLUBBOCK, TEXAS – JANUARY 11: Curtis Jones #5 of the Iowa State Cyclones handles the ball against JT Toppin #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during overtime of the game at United Supermarkets Arena on January 11, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)I’m not for awards season – and those who have followed me for a longer time know that. I’m all for honoring players that do extraordinary things, but often find some conference – or national – awards being discussed because of who isn’t on them.
Don’t get me started on how many deserving voices don’t have a Heisman vote or the curious voices of some that do.
But what Curtis Jones is doing this season is – we’ll use that word again – extraordinary.
The consistent guard is tied for second in the conference in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per game after he tallied 26 in Iowa State’s win over Texas Tech.
He comes off the bench, and that’s never meant anything in basketball, but plays ‘starter’ minutes and shoots the hell out of the ball.
At one point on Saturday, he had seven straight points, strongly aiding the Cyclones’ efforts to complete the comeback.
Let the rest of this season play out – we’re only 1/5th of the way through Big 12 play – but Jones has put himself in the conversation.
The women stack back-to-back wins with a bigger week aheadBill Fennelly’s squad brought home a pair of much-needed victories while on its Arizona swing, and they did so by shooting well from distance.
In both wins over Arizona and Arizona State, the Cyclones finished with nine 3-pointers or more, with Sydney Harris hitting a game-high of five on Saturday.
This is a strong data point for the Cyclones, who didn’t have a hot start to the year from a shooting percentage standpoint despite the history of successful 3-point shooters the team had coming into the season.
The back-to-back wins give this team some positive momentum it hasn’t really seen yet this season and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Iowa State has another favorable game at home Tuesday against Texas Tech (6:30 p.m. ESPN+) before it travels to Morgantown for a big one with No. 17 West Virginia Sunday.
There’s still more to prove for this group, but this was a step in the right direction.
Business Trip
Back Home Tuesdaypic.twitter.com/YBwvXgmJ4U
— Cyclone Basketball (@CycloneWBB) January 13, 2025
Football adds a pair in the transfer portalMatt Campbell’s program added another pair of players out of the transfer portal this week in defensive lineman Tamatoa McDonough (Yale) and defensive end Vontroy Malone (Tulsa).
Both players are depth adds, but bring their own strengths with them to Ames.
McDonough tied for first in the Ivy League with 6.5 sacks during his last season at Yale and comes to Iowa State with one year of eligibility left.
Meanwhile, Malone comes to Ames from Tulsa, where he tallied 25 tackles, five TFL’s and 3.5 sacks. He’ll have two years of eligibility left as he’ll enter 2025 as a redshirt junior.
Time will tell what their careers end up like in Ames, but that’s another two pieces that could help out this season.
Before then, we’ve got a big week on the horizon, that will kick off with T.J. Otzelberger’s squad securing the best ranking in program history. Let’s rock.
As part of a loaded week on the recruiting trail for Iowa State football, the program was in Ohio to see 2026 prospect Brayden Thomas.
The Cyclones were the second to offer Thomas, after Toledo, and are still the only power conference program to offer the standout defensive back.
“(The recruiting process) has been pretty good,” Thomas said. “I’ve talked to a lot of schools, and there’s just a lot of waiting to see coaches that come around and see me and my family in person.”
Safeties coach Deon Broomfield, who’s entering his fifth season at the position, was at St. Thomas High School this week to see the 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect.
Iowa State has frequented the area ever since coach Matt Campbell arrived in Ames.
“I’ve had a lot (of conversations) with Iowa State,” “Coach Broom – me and him talk about everything, from football to playing the game. There’s really a true bond there.”
Thomas currently holds other offers to Toledo, UMass, Eastern Michigan and Kent State.
In the Campbell era, Iowa State has often been one of, if not the first, power conference programs to offer prospects.
That stuck out to Thomas.
“The fact that they took a shot on me early (stuck out),” Thomas said. “Like, when a lot of coaches weren’t looking at me – they were my second offer. (Coach Broomfield) liked how I played and my attributes and all that. And I’m really big on a school believing in me before everyone else did. That’s one thing that really stood out to me about them, the fact that they were bold enough to take a shot on me before a lot of schools were ready to pull the trigger on me.”
Thomas will be part of the Junior day visits on February 1 in Ames, which will be his first time on campus.
“They run a unique defense that you don’t see too much in college,” Thomas said. “But, I really like how they play with the three-high safety stuff. And I’ve seen that they send people to the NFL, and had a great bowl game this year.”
Thomas’ brother, Loghan, has appeared regularly on the field for Notre Dame as both a defensive lineman and a special teams player.
“When I got the first power five offer, it was definitely big,” Thomas said. “Just knowing that my brother went to Notre Dame and I’m kind of following in his footsteps being able to play at the next level. When Iowa State offered me, it was probably one of the best days of my life, truly.”
The Cyclones already boast four commits to the 2026 recruiting class, and hope Thomas can join that group down the road.
Iowa State Cyclones’ forward Sydney Harris (25) shoots a three-point shot over Eastern Illinois Panthers’ guard Alanna Phillipo (22) during the fourth quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball home opening at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Des. 15, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
TUCSON, Ariz. – Iowa State (12-6, 3-2 Big 12) downed Arizona (11-6, 2-2 Big 12) by 21 points with a final score of 79-58 Saturday, ending the Arizona road trip at 2-0.
Iowa State sent in 10-plus 3-pointers for the second straight game and sixth time of the season, led by the game’s star Sydney Harris who hit five of the 10 made 3s. Harris had a game-leading and season-high 24 points at 9-of-14 shooting to go with seven rebounds.
Emily Ryan had the next-highest total scoring 15, missing just one of seven shots. Audi Crooks went out to game No. 50 in a row scoring in double figures, recording 11 and Addy Brown was the fourth in double figures with 10. Brown also had a game-high-tying eight rebounds and game-high six assists.
How it Happened
Iowa State started hot taking a lead of 9-2 into the first media timeout. After Arizona brought it back to a one possession game at 9-6 with 3:23 to go, the Cyclones hit a run of six to end the quarter up 15-6.
The second began with a Harris steal while Harris followed to hit a 3-pointer off an assist by Ryan. Soon after Arianna Jackson knocked down a 3 to make the scoreboard read 21-9 at 8:18. Harris entered double figures on her second 3-pointer, while Audi Crooks put in a layup next making it a 19-point edge with 3:22 to go. UA responded trimming its deficit down to single digits on a 15-2 run, including a buzzer-beating triple to make it 34-28, ISU, at the break.
Arizona came within four three minutes into the second half, but a triple and a layup by Ryan pushed ISU’s lead back to nine (41-32) into the media timeout. The Cyclones extended a 10-0 run on Harris’ third 3-pointer down the stretch in the third, and Brown capped the run at 12 with a layup as ISU led 48-32. A Kelsey Joens 3 and a three-point play by Crooks gave Iowa State the 54-38 lead entering the fourth.
Harris hit back-to-back 3-pointers, her fourth and fifth from deep, to cause an Arizona timeout with 6:04 to play. The Cyclone’s advantage again grew to 19 after a jumper by Ryan, and went to 20-plus following a pair of free throws by Brown. ISU kept control of the game, ending it with a Harris jumper at 79-58.
Top Performance
Sydney Harris had a season-high 24 points and season-high-tying five 3-pointers on nine attempts from deep. It was her first 20-plus point game as a Cyclone and 15th of her career. Harris also had seven rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Up Next
Iowa State returns home to host Texas Tech Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
Notes
Iowa State’s women’s basketball all-time record moves to 879-672 (.567) and 336-354 (.486) all-time in conference play.
Head coach Bill Fennelly’s Iowa State record moves to 623-319 (.661) and his career record moves to 789-372 (.680). He is 288-206 (.582) in conference games at ISU.
The Cyclones have made at least one 3-point field goal in an NCAA women’s record 945 consecutive games, finishing with 10 triples today. ISU has made 7,666 triples throughout the streak and has finished with 10 or more 3-pointers in a game 290 times.
Iowa State shot over 50 percent from the floor for the eighth time this season. ISU is now 7-1 when shooting 50 percent or better from the floor this season.
On the defensive end, the Cyclones held Arizona to just 58 points. It is the ninth time this season ISU has held its opponent under 60 points.
Sydney Harris poured in a season-high 24 points on 5-of-9 shooting from deep to lead the Cyclones. It is the first 20-plus point performance of her Iowa State career.
Emily Ryan is now tied for the NCAA Division I 16th all-time best assists total. Ryan tallied four assists today and has posted 898 in her career.
Ryan has played in 137 career games, the second most all-time by a Cyclone behind Ashley Joens’ 158 games.
Audi Crooks’ 11 points marked her 50th straight game of her career scoring in double figures.
Jan 4, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger and guard Tamin Lipsey (center) and forward Joshua Jefferson (left) against the Baylor Bears during the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
AMES — Joshua Jefferson eyed the rim and cleared his mind.
Iowa State’s fate resided in the capable hands of the transfer forward, who toed the free throw line, exhaled, and delivered amid deafening crowd noise Saturday at Texas Tech.
“(We) just continue to play through it all,” Jefferson said on the Cyclone Radio Network after his two free throws with 4.1 seconds left in overtime cemented the No. 3 Cyclones’ 85-84 win over the Red Raiders. “Just continue to fight, fight, fight.”
Six of Jefferson’s 17 points came in overtime as he went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. ISU guard Curtis Jones scored a game-high and season-best 26 points on 8 for 15 shooting. Jefferson added eight rebounds and Nate Heise grabbed a team-high nine boards off the bench to fuel the Cyclones’ 11th straight win. ISU (14-1, 4-0 Big 12) trailed by as many as 13 points against the Red Raiders (11-4, 2-2) but outscored them 51-40 in the second half and overtime.
“Just staying poised and continuing to do what we do,” said Jones, who also went 7-for-8 at the line. “I’m so confident in this team even in those (fraught) moments just because we never seem rattled. We’re always just on to the next thing.”
Texas Tech led, 74-72, with six seconds left in regulation and called timeout to set its defense. That move also benefitted ISU, however, which saw Jefferson sink a contested layup off a Tamin Lipsey assist with 0.2 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.
“It’s a great play that our coaches draw up,” Jefferson said. “We practice it every single day in practice and we just come out here and execute. That’s (why) we take practice so seriously — and (head coach) T.J. (Otzelberger) expects that out of us.”
Texas Tech entered the game with the third-best effective field goal shooting offense according to KenPom, but shot just 42.4 percent overall and 35.7 percent in the second half. ISU outscored the Red Raiders, 22-5, in fast break points and Keshon Gilbert (14 points) joined Lipsey in procuring four steals.The Cyclones improved to 3-0 on the road this season — and trailed in the second half in each of those wins.
“This is a really hard place to win,” said Otzelberger, whose team snapped a four-game skid at United Supermarkets Arena. “Proud of our guys for staying resilient, staying together. It wasn’t perfect, but we found a way to hang in there and make just enough plays.”
ISU led for just 99 seconds on Saturday but took advantage of three missed free throws by Texas Tech’s top foul shooters to execute those pivotal plays down the stretch and emerge victorious.
“We weathered that storm in the first half, had to weather it again in the second half, had to hang in there late just to score enough to get it to overtime,” Otzelberger said. “So a credit to our guys for playing one possession at a time. This place was rocking. I felt like I could have had eight timeouts and used them. … Just fortunate for our guys to stay the course.”
Next up: No. 11 Kansas at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum.
“(I expect a) great turnout from the crowd again,” Jefferson said. “We’ll rally behind them because we’re gonna go as hard as they root for us, and we love fighting for them.”
That was resilient.
Iowa State led for just 1 minute, 39 seconds in 45 minutes before coming out of Saturday’s game with an 85-84 overtime win against Texas Tech.
The Cyclones took advantage of getting Elijah Hawkins in foul trouble early in the second halfThe Red Raiders starter had nine assists before he was forced to the bench after picking up his fourth foul with 18:14 to play in the game.
T.J. Otzelberger opted to go right at Hawkins and it paid off, as he didn’t re-enter until the 8:34 mark.
Iowa State trailed by eight when Hawkins went to the bench, and when he checked back in, the game was tied.
Texas Tech had an answer for every punch, though.
The resiliencyTexas Tech ended the game 19-24 from the free throw line, but two of the misses came in the final minute of regulation. It allowed Iowa State the ball with six seconds left on the clock, trailing by two.
Tamin Lipsey did his thing and found Joshua Jefferson under the hoop to find the tie.
In overtime, it was the same story, but Iowa State had more time to work with on its final play, trailing by a point.
But again, Joshua Jefferson was there The St. Mary’s transfer has been the program’s most valuable off-season addition, and showed up again Saturday.
He was fouled after getting the ball in front of the hoop, and nailed the eventual pair of game-winning free throws. Jefferson finished with 17 points and eight rebounds.
With the help from No. 2, Iowa State escaped Lubbock against a Texas Tech team that – like everyone – would give the Cyclones their best shot.
That comes with the help of other portal additions, too Of Iowa State’s 85 points, 71 were scored by transfers in the overtime victory.
Curtis Jones tied his Iowa State high with 26 points, at one point scoring seven in a row for the Cyclones.
Brandt Chatfield was making all of the plays that don’t show up in the statbook, ending with six big rebounds on a plethora of hustle plays.
“I’m so confident in this team in those moments,” Curtis Jones said on the Varsity Network postgame show. “Just because we never get too high on ourselves, even when the other team starts celebrating a bit.”
The recipe and philosophy are coming together maybe more strongly than ever, and the Cyclones are off to a 4-0 start in Big 12 play.
On Monday, when the new AP rankings are released, Iowa State could appear in the top 2 for the first time in program history.
That’s what resiliency gets.
Jan 4, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Christian Anderson (4) dribbles the ball around Utah Utes guard Hunter Erickson (0) during the second half at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
No. 3 Iowa State (13-1, 3-0) heads to Lubbock, Texas for a Saturday afternoon showdown with the Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-3, 2-1) at United Supermarkets Arena (1:00 p.m., ESPN).
Cyclones Face Stern Test Against Texas Tech in LubbockThe Cyclones, riding high on a 10-game winning streak, will put their momentum to the test on Saturday when they face the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena. Iowa State is looking to solidify their place as one of the nation’s top teams. Texas Tech enters the matchup on the back of two impressive road victories and seeks to extend its streak of defeating a top-10 opponents to 11 straight seasons.
Cyclones’ Dominant RunIowa State’s 10-game winning streak includes statement victories over conference rivals Colorado, Baylor, and Utah. The Cyclones lead the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 86.3 points per game, and shine at not turning the ball over, committing only 9.6 turnovers per contest. Their +6.2 turnover margin is another Big 12 Conference best.
Curtis Jones has been a sparkplug for Iowa State, leading the team with 16.6 points per game despite coming off the bench. In their recent win over Utah, Jones delivered a 23 point, six assist, and five rebound performance. Preseason All-American point guard Tamin Lipsey is getting back to last season form. He averages 10.5 points and 5.3 assists per game while orchestrating the Cyclones’ offense. Lipsey’s 20-point effort against Utah showed his ability to deliver in crucial moments when the offense is getting stagnate.
Joshua Jefferson, a three-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, has been instrumental as well, on both the offensive and defensive end. The former Saint Mary’s standout adds 11.6 points per game and is a defensive force, highlighted by an eight-steal game against Colorado. Iowa State’s depth is further showcased by Keshon Gilbert (16.2 PPG), a mid-season Wooden Award canadate, and Milan Momcilovic (10.7 PPG), making them a multifaceted threat.
Red Raiders’ Home-Court AdvantageTexas Tech returns to Lubbock with confidence after decisive road wins over Utah (93-65) and BYU (72-67). The Red Raiders have been dominant at home, boasting an 8-1 record this season. Historically, they’ve risen to the occasion against elite opponents, including last season’s 79-50 dismantling of No. 6 Kansas.
The Red Raiders lead the Big 12 in shooting efficiency, hitting 51.2% of their field goals and a red hot 39.4% from beyond the arc. They also rank third nationally in effective field goal percentage. Chance McMillian has been lights out from three-point range, leading the nation with a 50% clip (36-for-72). McMillian’s seven-game streak of double-digit scoring includes his recent 16-point outing at BYU.
Darrion Williams, the Big 12 Player of the Week, anchors the Red Raiders’ balanced attack. Averaging 16.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, Williams has scored in double figures in 12 straight games. His playmaking was on full display with a season-high nine assists against Utah. JT Toppin, another key contributor, adds 17.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game and has recorded five double doubles this season. He can get it going offensively in a hurry. The Cyclones will have to keep him at bay.
Keys to the GameFor Iowa State, limiting Texas Tech’s shooting efficiency will be key. The Cyclones’ defensive prowess, led by Jefferson and Lipsey, have been the cornerstone of their success. They rank first in the Big 12 with 9.8 steals per game and will look to disrupt the Red Raiders’ offensive rhythm by creating live ball turnovers.
On the other hand, Texas Tech will aim to exploit its home-court advantage and efficient offense. The Red Raiders’ ability to share the ball—averaging 17.9 assists per game—could challenge Iowa State’s defense, especially when they are in rotations. Elijah Hawkins, fresh off a season-high 22 points at BYU, and Drake transfer Kevin Overton provide additional firepower for Tech off the bench.
The Red Raiders holds a proud tradition of upending top-ranked teams, but victories over Iowa State have been rare when the Cyclones are in the top 10. The Red Raiders’ lone win in such circumstances came in 2015 with a 78-73 victory in Lubbock. Iowa State will look to maintain its dominance in the series and continue its quest for a Big 12 regular season title.
With both teams firing on all cylinders, Saturday’s showdown promises to be a tightly contested battle with game of the year feels written all over it. Iowa State’s depth and defensive acumen may give them a slight edge, but Texas Tech’s home-court advantage and sharpshooting cannot be overlooked. Expect a game that lives up to the billing, with the outcome likely determined in the final minutes.
Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (2) shoots the ball over the ball as Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) and Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) defend during the first half in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Jan. 7, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — The louder the arena, the better.
Bonus points if there’s a bit of clever taunting mixed in.
So as the catcalls come, Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson’s smile broadens.
He’s determined to turn that raucous noise into demoralized silence — every road game, whatever the venue.
“Just trash-talking from the other fans, I don’t really engage with it, I just laugh,” the versatile 6-8 St. Mary’s transfer said as the No. 3 Cyclones prepared for Saturday’s 1 p.m. Big 12 road matchup with Texas Tech (11-3, 2-1) in Lubbock. “It’s just fun to hear what they have to say.”
ISU (13-1, 3-0) hasn’t had much fun at United Supermarkets Arena, which is always at or near its 15,000-seat capacity for Red Raiders men’s games. Texas Tech owns a four-game home win streak over the Cyclones — and outside of last season’s 80-77 overtime nail-biter — those recent outcomes haven’t been close.
“They have a great home court,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team has won 10 straight games, which is the second-longest streak in the country. “Their fans come out and support it. It’s a rowdy environment. They crank the noise way up, and then you’re gotta have a good team — and they have a good team. All of those things factor into it, making it a great home court advantage.”
The “good team” part of that equation stands paramount for Otzelberger, whose team overcame slow starts to win previous road games at Iowa and Colorado. The Cyclones can’t afford another bad beginning against the Red Raiders, who rank third in the country in effective field goal percentage (59.1) according to KenPom, and are equally skilled in scoring at the rim and outside of the 3-point line.
“They do a great job of spacing you offensively,” Otzelberger said. “Playing (to their) advantages.”
Texas Tech suffered a shocking 87-83 home loss to UCT to start conference play, but has registered back-to-back road wins at Utah and BYU to steady itself. Four Red Raiders average double figures in scoring, and four of their top rotational players shot 35 percent or better from 3-point range. Guard Chance McMillan’s drained 50 percent of his long-range attempts, and backcourt mate Elijah Dawkins has hit 40 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.
“They’ve got some shooters, they’ve got some big guys and they play well, and they’re well-coached,” key ISU reserve and UNI transfer Nate Heise said.
But Texas Tech’s not a finesse team. Forward JT Toppin’s averaging a team-best 17.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks despite being hobbled by injury, and fellow big men Darrion Williams and Federiko Federiko provided scoring punch and stern interior defense, as well.
“They stretch the floor out with really good shooters around the floor, and they do a good job with their (forwards), putting them in a lot of actions,” said Jefferson, who averages 11.6 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds for the Cyclones. “So just containing their good players is how we’re gonna come out and win.”
That’s the plan, anyway. ISU will continue to play its game, which centers on its skilled guards driving the basketball to collapse opposing defenses. Curtis Jones, Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey are all shooting 46 percent or better from the field, and one of them has led the Cyclones in scoring in all but one game this season.
“We’ve got bigger, stronger guards that like to get downhill in the paint and at the rim,” Otzelberger said. “Finding ways to get those guys there is gonna be the important part. They’re a team that’s really gap-conscious defensively and their activity velocity of their five men makes it not real easy to just get in the paint.”
Throw in Tech’s noisy and creative fans. along with prime TV placement on ESPN, and the recipe for a tightly-contested and challenging game is chockfull of key ingredients — just as Jefferson likes it.
“Some fanbases are a little too into the game,” he said. “But it’s healthy.”
Iowa State earned its latest commitment out of the transfer portal on Thursday in Yale defensive end Tamatoa McDonough.
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound prospect announced his decision over his social media accounts.
The Cyclones have been trying to add both quality and depth at the position since the departure of standout Tyler Onyedim, who is transferring to Texas A&M.
Onyedim was the first starter on either of the past two teams in Ames to enter the portal by choice, and left the Cyclones with some space to fill on the edge.
McDonough brings an impressive resume out of Yale, leading the Ivy League last year with seven sacks, 27 tackles and two forced fumbles.
The Asheville, North Carolina native chose Iowa State over Virginia and Yale.
He will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Joshua Jefferson & Nate Heise addressed media members Thursday at the Sukup Practice Facility ahead of his team’s upcoming matchup against Texas Tech (Saturday, 1 p.m. ESPN).
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Wrestling
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – No. 13 Iowa State (5-3, 2-0 Big 12) stayed perfect in Big 12 dual action with a 24-18 victory over No. 22 West Virginia (7-2, 1-2 Big 12) Wednesday evening inside WVU Coliseum. Bonus points were the difference as the teams split the 10 bouts, 5-5.
Iowa State won the takedown battle, 17-12. Paniro Johnson and Cody Chittum both got pins for the Cyclones while Evan Frost notched a tech fall and Evan Bockman earned a major decision.
Evan Frost started the scoring with a commanding 20-3 tech fall over Tommy Maddox at 133 pounds. Frost tallied six takedowns in the win, including three in the opening period, as he improved to 6-2 on the season.
Jacob Frost made it back-to-back wins for the Frost family to open the dual. Jacob won by decision, 9-6, over No. 29 Jordan Titus at 141 pounds. Frost overcame an early takedown by Titus and fended off a last-ditch effort by the Mountaineer for the win.
Johnson and Chittum secured back-to-back falls for the Cyclones at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively, to put Iowa State ahead 20-0 after four matches. Johnson, in his first match of the season at 149 pounds, now has dual victories at 149, 157 and 165 pounds this season.
West Virginia got on the board with two-consecutive major decisions at 165 and 174 pounds. At 165, No. 3 Peyton Hall defeated Aiden Riggins, 16-6, in Riggins’ first match of the season at the weight. At 174 pounds, MJ Gaitan fell 14-4 to No. 28 Brody Conley. Gaitan was putting Conley on his back in the third period but the match was stopped due to a potentially dangerous hold.
In a top-20 battle at 184 pounds, No. 12 Evan Bockman was victorious against No. 16 Dennis Robin by 9-1 major decision. Bockman pushed for a bonus point and got it with a late takedown plus a riding time point.
West Virginia closed the dual with three-straight wins at 197, 285 and 125 pounds. At 125 pounds, Kysen Terukina gave up a last-second takedown to Jett Strickenberger in a 4-1 decision.
Up Next
Iowa State continues its road trip Saturday at the Virginia Duals against Rider and Bucknell. Those duals will begin at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (CT), respectively, on FloWrestling.
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
No. 13 Iowa State 24, No. 22 West Virginia 18
133: #8 Evan Frost (ISU) TF Tommy Maddox (WVU), 20-3 (5:29)
141: #15 Jacob Frost (ISU) dec. #29 Jordan Titus (WVU), 9-6
149: Paniro Johnson (ISU) WBF Sam Hillegas (WVU), 5:48
157: #8 Cody Chittum (ISU) WBF Sasha Gavronsky (WVU), 3:41
165: #3 Peyton Hall (WVU) Maj. Dec. Aiden Riggins (ISU), 16-6
174: #28 Brody Conley (WVU) Maj. Dec. MJ Gaitan (ISU), 14-2
184: #12 Evan Bockman (ISU) Maj. Dec. #16 Dennis Robin (WVU), 9-1
197: Ian Bush (WVU) Maj. Dec. Nate Schon (ISU), 13-2
285: Michael Wolfgram (WVU) dec. #26 Daniel Herrera (ISU), 5-3
125: Jett Strickenberger (WVU) dec. #19 Kysen Terukina (ISU), 4-1
*InterMat Rankings (1/7/2025)
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
TEMPE, Ariz. – Iowa State (11-6, 2-2 Big 12) beat Arizona State (8-8, 2-2 Big 12) on its home court by a final of 90-83 Wednesday night led by five double-digit scorers.
The Cyclones were powered by eight triples to lead by double digits after the first quarter to start strong and go on to secure the conference road win. ISU made 10 3-pointers on the night, hitting double-digit treys for the fifth time this season.
Audi Crooks had game No. 49 in a row in double figures with a game-leading 20 points, her seventh straight game with 20-plus. Arianna Jackson was hot from the start, netting her first three 3-point attempts and going on to total a season-high 14 points. Emily Ryan (16), Addy Brown (14) and Reagan Wilson (10) made for five Cyclones in double figures.
How it Happened – Two early Sun Devil 3s led to a 6-2 lead, but Iowa State came back to tie it 8-8 on a triple by Ryan. ASU again went ahead, but Jackson sent in a triple next to take ISU up 11-10. The 3-pointers continued to fall, as Jackson, Wilson and Syndey Harris put in four more as Iowa State led 26-17 with 3:52 remaining in the opening quarter. Following an ISU scoring drought of over two minutes, Kelsey Joens delivered another 3, while the run extended to eight after a three-point play by Harris. After one, ISU led by 11 at 34-23. ISU made its first three field goals of the second quarter to continue building a lead, now at 40-26 with 8:11 left in the half.
Neither team could make a field goal for the next six minutes of play, while Arizona State would break the drought at the 2:18 mark with a jumper. After a 9-0 ASU run, Jackson would snap it with her fourth made 3-pointer to keep Iowa State ahead at 47-35. That score would hold into halftime.
Crooks put in three straight layups to kick off the second half, while Brown made two behind the charity stripe as the advantage grew to 20 (55-35). ASU answered putting together a string of 12 points, with Brown ending the home team’s run with a free throw at 4:49.
The teams traded made shots while Iowa State maintained a lead of six or more deep into the third. With 13 seconds to go, a Wilson 3-pointer brought ISU’s advantage again to double digits at 68-57. Crooks continued her strong second half totaling five in the opening three minutes of the fourth. Midway through the frame, ASU hit a 3 to cut its deficit to six and out of the media timeout came within four. Ryan then hit two free throws and followed with a layup while drawing the foul and converting on the three-point play. ASU scored seven in the game’s final 40 seconds, but ISU held on to take the seven-point victory.
Top Performance – Arianna Jackson put the Cyclones on the right foot shooting 3-of-3 from deep in the first quarter and totaling 14 points in the first half. All of Jackson’s shot attempts came from behind the arc, shooting at 4-of-6. Audi Crooks had her 11th game of the season with 20-plus points and 18th of her career.
Up Next – Iowa State next meets Arizona in Tucson this Saturday, Jan. 11 at 3 p.m. CT.
Notes
- Iowa State’s women’s basketball all-time record moves to 878-672 (.566) and 335-354 (.486) all-time in conference play.
- Head coach Bill Fennelly’s Iowa State record moves to 622-319 (.661) and his career record moves to 788-372 (.679). He is 287-206 (.582) in conference games at ISU.
- The Cyclones have made at least one 3-point field goal in an NCAA women’s record 944 consecutive games, finishing with six triples tonight. ISU has made 7,656 triples throughout the streak and has finished with 10 or more 3-pointers in a game 289 times.
- Arianna Jackson notched a season-high 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range and connected on all four attempts at the free throw line.
- Reagan Wilson scored in double figures for the first time in her Cyclone career, finishing with 10 points on two 3-pointers and going 4-of-4 at the free throw line.
- Emily Ryan became Iowa State’s 13th all-time leading scorer with her 1,450th point. Ryan finished with 16 points today, the 70th time in her career scoring in double figures. Her career total moves to 1,461 points.
- Emily Ryan holds the NCAA Division I 18th all-time best assists total. Ryan tallied six assists tonight and has posted 894 in her career.
- Ryan has played in 136 career games, the second most all-time by a Cyclone behind Ashley Joens’ 158 games.
- Audi Crooks’ team-high 20 points marked her seventh-straight 20-plus point game and 28th of her career. Crooks has finished with 10 or more points in 49 consecutive games.
Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Kelsey Joens (23) and Eastern Illinois Panthers’ forward Macy McGlone (33) battle for the loose ball during the third quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball home opening at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Des. 15, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly doesn’t put much stock into terms such as “must wins,” or “big weeks.”
He is, however, a believer in “big opportunities,” and that’s a concept the Cyclones (10-6, 1-2 Big 12) embrace in today’s 7:30 p.m. matchup with Arizona State (8-7, 2-1) in Tempe.
“I think anytime you can get a road win, it’s always good,” said Fennelly, whose team will face the Sun Devils for the first time since 1995 — his first season as ISU’s head coach. “I think the biggest challenge for us right now is trying to find some kind of rhythm, rotation that allows our execution and efficiency to match up with our effort.”
Fennelly has said repeatedly he has “zero issues” with the Cyclones’ commitment to hard work, but at some point, favorable results need to accompany that grit-founded quality on a consistent basis, and it’s why he’s been mixing and matching lineups liberally early in the conference season.
That trend, he said, will continue until he and his staff find a configuration that clicks frequently, rather than erratically — but there’s one tweak he immediately plans to make.
“I would say Kelsey Joens (may play more),” Fennelly said of the sophomore guard and former West Liberty star. “I don’t know if there’s anything in particular except that the kid is in the gym a lot. She’s working at it. I mean, she deserves a chance to maybe get a few extra minutes here and there.”
Perhaps Joens — who shoots a solid 37.5 percent from 3-point range, but is averaging just 13.4 minutes per game — may supply an answer on both ends of the floor. ISU’s seeking a consistent performer beyond the productive sophomore frontcourt duo of Audi Crooks (23.2 points per game, 8.1 rebounds) and Addy Brown (13 6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists), as well as senior point guard Emily Ryan, who’s scored more than double her season average in the past two games.
But however the revamped rotation plays out, the Cyclones are eager for a reset of sorts as they complete a two-game road swing through the Southwest on Saturday at Arizona (11-5, 2-1).
“Going on the road just gives us more time — we’re all together,” said transfer guard Sydney Harris, who’s shot a blistering 49.2 percent from long range this season but has struggled at times defensively. “There (are) no outside distractions. Not saying we have any (otherwise), but it’s just different. I think it will be fun.”
Especially if ISU can finally start executing with regularity for a full 40 minutes, not just in fits and starts.
“Hopefully (we) play better and find those five to seven minutes we’ve missed kind of in every game that we’ve lost,” Fennelly said. “We’re gonna see two good teams, and that’s the nature of this league.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Tamin Lipsey and Curtis Jones spoke to media members following their team’s 82-59 win over Utah Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) high-fives with Iowa guard Curtis Jones (5) after making a three-point shot during the second half in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Jan. 7, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Tamin Lipsey simply followed orders.
Iowa State’s first-team All-Big 12 point guard attacked the paint Tuesday against Utah at his head coach, T.J. Otzelberger’s urging, and his interior intensity led to 14 trips to the free-throw line in his team’s 82-29 win before a crowd of 13,496 at Hilton Coliseum.
“I was super aggressive,” said Lipsey, who scored 20 points as the third-ranked Cyclones improved to 13-1 overall and 3-0 in Big 12 play. “T.J.’s been telling me to play through the paint. Just trust it, and obviously I got to the line a lot. So just attacking closeouts is something we’ve been big on in offense, not catching it straight up and down; being ready to make a play, (to) catch it and drive it.”
Fellow guard and so-called “sixth starter” Curtis Jones led ISU with 23 points on 10 of 17 shooting. Transfer forward Joshua Jefferson added 17 points and went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. The Cyclones outscored the Utes (8-6, 0-3) 22-to-8 from the stripe — and that aggressiveness Lipsey spoke of proved to be the difference.
“Tamin was particularly amazing,” Otzelberger said. “How he stood out in guarding the basketball, hunting down rebounds, driving the ball with force, getting to the foul line, making plays, I felt like it was his best game, probably, this year because his mentality set the tone of the game for everybody else on both sides of the ball.”
Otzelberger’s mentality helped to reset that tone during the under-12 minute timeout in the first half. Utah had taken a 17-14 lead on guard Gabe Madsen’s 3-pointer that fueled an 11-0 run, which knocked the Cyclones on their heels. ISU responded by closing out the first half on a 21-3 splurge to take a 38-25 lead into halftime. But the Utes wouldn’t go away, cutting the Cyclones’ lead to just six three times early in the second half before a barrage of points off turnovers reestablished a double-digit edge that would only expand down the stretch.
“They wear on you, right?” Utah head coach Craig Smith said. “They grind you out. They just have great playmaking ability and they make you pay. It feels like every time you make a mistake, they make you pay.”
ISU outscored the Utes, 26-5, in points off turnovers, but gave up 10 offensive rebounds in the first half alone for the second straight game. That helped Utah build a five-point lead early before the Cyclones’ dominant first-half finish. ISU also took just three shots from outside the paint or inside the 3-point arc, so despite struggling in the latter area (6-for-22), the offense played efficiently and effectively most of the game.
“Defensively, whether they were man or zone, gapping guys, triangle-in-two — they threw a ton of stuff out there defensively,” said Otzelberger, who’s faced Smith at each of the three head coaching stops of his career. “So it’s important we stress with our guys that regardless of how people choose to defend us, we have a rhythm and a flow and a way that we play offense that we’re gonna continue to do. So when Tamin is able to drive it and live at the foul line, that puts them in a challenging spot. When Curt’s driving it, getting all those floaters that he has, that’s providing another set of problems.”
Few teams harbor any answers beyond stopgap measures. Sprinkle in Keshon Gilbert‘s wide-ranging scoring abilities — and skilled big men such as Jefferson — and the Cyclones are difficult to contain, let alone stop, for a lengthy period of time.
“Keshon is probably as good of a finisher as any guard at the rim in the country,” Otzelberger said. “So to have those guys, with their ability to attack the paint and play to their strengths, it was a huge weapon and asset for us tonight.”
Jeffrey Roberts is staying close to home for his college, announcing his commitment to Iowa State on Tuesday.
The 2026 wide receiver made things official on social media, becoming the Cyclones’ fourth commitment to the class already.
Staying home @CycloneFB @Coach_NPauley @DerekHoodjer @T_Mouser pic.twitter.com/0PYC336Dv4
— Jeffrey Roberts (@Roberts1Je50702) January 7, 2025
Roberts chose Iowa State over his other offer in Kansas State, and had been hearing from other area programs such as Iowa, Minnesota and UNI.
The 6-foot-0, 180-pound prospect wowed during his sophomore season at Ames High School.
Roberts collected 989 yards receiving with 12 touchdowns on just 38 catches – good for 26.2 yards per reception.
The class, which includes offensive linemen Mason Bandhauer & Ethan Beckman and athlete Kaprice Keith, is now rated as the No. 36 class in the country.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Addy Brown and Audi Crooks addressed media members following their team’s 75-67 loss to Utah at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday.
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) shoots the ball as Utah Utes forward Mayè Tourè (21) and guard Matyson Wilke (23) defend during the second quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball home opening at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State star center Audi Crooks eclipsed the 1,000 career points mark against Utah — and the Cyclones needed every single basket she delivered on Sunday.
The 6-3 sophomore scored 27 points in the tense matchup with the Utes, but outside of senior guard Emily Ryan’s production, she had little help offensively as ISU fell, 75-67, before a crowd of 9,251 at Hilton Coliseum.
“It can’t just be one, or two or three people scoring all the points,” Crooks said of head coach Bill Fennelly’s message to the team. “We can’t expect to win like that.”
Ryan added 18 points for the Cyclones (10-6, 1-2 Big 12), and sophomore forward Addy Brown chipped in 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds in the loss. Ryan drained three of her five 3-point attempts, but the rest of the team went just 2-for-15 from beyond the arc. Utah (12-2, 3-0) drilled 13 of its 26 3-point attempts — and senior transfer forward Maye Toure made 4 of 6 after hitting just eight all season. She led the Utes with 24 points — 11 above her per-game average. Her fourth 3-pointer with 2:38 left gave Utah a 67-61 lead and the Cyclones couldn’t inch back into the game after that.
“We just didn’t expect that and anticipate that, and I think that ended up hurting us,” said Crooks, who now has 1,006 career points. “That’s to her credit. She’s a really versatile player.”
ISU’s long-range shooting woes continue to baffle Fennelly, who has spent extra time with his players pointing out that their past numbers show they’re capable contributors on the perimeter. He cyclone through various lineups down the stretch on Sunday, but outside of his big three, couldn’t find answers on that end — so that’s an ongoing mission as this week’s road trip through the league’s Arizona schools hits on Wednesday and Saturday.
“I mean, hope is not a strategy,” said Fennelly, whose team is tied for eighth in the Big 12 in 3-point accuracy at 33.9 percent. “We have kids whose field goal percentage is so low and you look at what they’ve done in the past, and it’s like you wouldn’t even think it’s the same person. So that’s what we keep grinding through and hopefully we can do that because what we’re gonna see defensively is not different. Audi’s gonna get double-teamed like she did tonight. … (And) when you kick it, you’ve got to make people pay. And that’s where we’ve not been able to do it on a consistent basis.”
Utah sliced through the Cyclones’ defense with ease early, sinking its first seven shots while building a 21-10 lead.
But ISU’s defense tightened up as Crooks took over. Her seven consecutive points and guard Arianna Jackson’s driving layup gave the Cyclones a 9-0 run that allowed them to pull within two, at 23-21, less than one minute into the second quarter.
The game remained close the rest of the first half, as the Utes endured a 4-for-19 shooting stretch and Ryan sank two 3-pointers to tie the game, 29-29, with 4:19 left in the second quarter. Utah took a 34-33 lead into the other break — and neither team would build a two-possession lead until Toure drove past Crooks for a layup to give her team a 49-44 lead late in the third quarter. Utah maintained that two-possession cushion until Cyclone freshman guard Aili Tanke drained a corner 3-pointer at the buzzer to make the score, 52-49, at the end of the third quarter.
The Cyclones will try to get back on track on the road at Arizona State on Wednesday, and at Arizona on Saturday.
“We work hard at it,” Brown said of 3-point shooting. “We shoot them every day in practice a lot, so we know it’s gonna fall. It’s just a matter of time. We’ve just got to stay confident and just keep working hard.”
Jan 4, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Scott Drew and guard VJ Edgecombe (7) talk during a timeout against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
AMES – No. 3 Iowa State had no troubles handling No. 25 Baylor on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum, as the Cyclones rolled to a 74-55 win over the Bears.
T.J. Otzelberger’s team held Baylor to shooting marks under 30 percent while running away from Scott Drew’s team, and Drew came away with high praise.
“(We’re) disappointed, we shot 29% (from the field) and 24% (from the 3-point line), but I think you always got to credit the defense,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “T.J. has got not only a really good team, but an experienced team, and they’ve done a great job growing together. And I’ve said it all year, I think them and Auburn have been the two best teams in the country.”
The win pushed Iowa State to 12-1 on the season with a 2-0 start to Big 12 play, and it has cemented itself as a top team in college basketball.
Otzelberger’s team has stayed relentless on the defensive side of the ball as it has been since he arrived, but has improved drastically on offense.
The Cyclones’ 74 points scored on Saturday is its lowest total of the season. Before the game, it had not yet failed to score 80 points in any game it has played all year.
“I think that’s what makes them better, though, than last year,” Drew said after the game. “I think they have more weapons, and especially on the interior – I think is a little more offensive-efficient. I thought last year was good – really good defensively – but they have an inside-outside punch for sure. And there’s a reason they’re off to the start they are.”
The Cyclones forced Baylor into six steals and out-rebounded the Bears by 12 (34-22) on defensive boards. As has become routine, they got after the ball.
That trait is something that Otzelberger takes a lot of pride in, and fittingly did so on Saturday while Iowa State honored the ’99-’00 and ’00-’01 men’s basketball teams during halftime of the game.
“We had talked with our team, we had watched film on some of their games and clinching the conference championship on Friday,” Otzelberger said. “So it was really important for us to honor that group appropriately, to come out and be at our best, especially defensively, because that was a team, and those were guys that left it on the line, dove for loose balls, rebounded like crazy, and played extremely hard.
“So in order for us to do the best job honoring those guys, we really wanted to be focused defensively, to be at our best,” Otzelberger said. “And I thought, you know, in many stretches of the game, we did that, there’s a couple lapses, but was proud of our guys for appropriately honoring those teams.”
Iowa State will continue to fine tune its motor with another 18 games of Big 12 play left, and that will give a better idea to how true Drew’s comments are.
But if it looks anything like Saturday did, it will be an extremely memorable year for Cyclone fans.
Jan 4, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) reacts with guard Keshon Gilbert (10) against the Baylor Bears during the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
AMES — One swish started the game. Another sealed the blowout win.
Milan Momcilovic shined radiantly from the 3-point line Saturday for No. 3 Iowa State, sinking 4-for-7 from long range as his team dispatched No. 25 Baylor, 74-55, before a sellout crowd of 14,267 at Hilton Coliseum.
“Just came out aggressive,” said Momcilovic, who scored 15 points in the Cyclones’ 26th straight home win. “Hunting the ones that are open and the guards found me, (forward) Joshua (Jefferson) found me, so it just speaks to our team looking for me.”
Hilton’s denizens looked on lovingly at halftime when several members of the back-to-back Big 12 champion 1999-2000 and 2000-01 teams were honored at midcourt. Fans reserved the loudest applause for former head coach Larry Eustachy, who fist-pumped and swept his arm through the air to demonstrably acknowledge the raucous ovation.
“The fans are awesome,” said Eustachy, who led the 19990-2000 Cyclones to an Elite Eight appearance. “(ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s) teams remind me a lot of our teams. They stay in front of guys. They’re playing harder than Baylor. They play as hard as anybody in the country, if not the hardest.”
Otzelberger’s Cyclones (12-1, 2-0 Big 12) limited the Bears (9-4, 1-1) to 29.7 percent shooting overall and a lowly 24.1 percent mark from the 3-point line. Baylor trailed by as many as 25 points and never led while losing for the fifth time in the past six meetings with ISU.
“T.J.’s got not only a really good team but an experienced team,” Bears head coach Scott Drew said. “I’ve said it all year, I think them and Auburn have been the two best teams in the country.”
Keshon Gilbert led the Cyclones with 16 points — and his season-high 10 rebounds matched big man Dishon Jackson’s output on the glass. Jefferson added a season-high eight assists. ISU allowed Baylor to hoard 10 offensive rebounds in the first half, while yielding just three in the second.
“I mean, they were all over the glass early,” said Otzelberger, who is now tied with Fred Hoiberg for the second-most top-25 wins in program history with 23. “Part of how we’re trying to do things is the constancy over 40 minutes and we did challenge our guys at halftime in that area.”
Former Duke transfer guard Jeremy Roach led Baylor with 16 points despite missing six of his seven field goal attempts inside of the 3-point arc. The Bears committed just eight turnovers, but struggled to get open looks as the Cyclones sternly contested shots all over the floor.
“Shoutout to Iowa State,” said Roach, who like Momcilovic, drained 4 of his 7 3-point tries. “They’re a great team. Obviously, they’re ranked No. 3 for a reason.”
That’s because it’s hard to find, let alone exploit, a weakness for ISU, which shot 49 percent overall and 47.6 percent (10 of 21) from 3-point range. The Cyclones field the nation’s sixth-best offense and eighth-best defense, according to KenPom, and their array of capable shooters throughout their eight-man rotation makes scoring lulls rare. Couple that with ISU’s commitment on the defensive end and it’s easy to see why Eustachy would compare this group to his best teams.
“Eustachy’s teams — defensively they were relentless,” said Otzelberger, whose team has ranked eighth or better on that end of the floor in each of his three-plus seasons at the helm. “They prided themselves on getting back on defense, sprinting back on defense, getting set and limiting teams to one shot. Those are things that we really try to carry forward.”
Case in point: Gilbert’s 10 rebounds from the guard position. It’s the fourth time the 6-4 senior from St. Louis has notched double-digit boards in his 50 games with the Cyclones.
“(Eustachy) has this term, ‘rebound down,’ which is something we’ve tried to incorporate,” Otzelberger said. “(That) means the bigs box out the bigs and the guards come down and get the rebound.”
And by doing that — along with hot shooting from Momcilovic and others — ISU’s found a way to level-up to become an odds-on favorite to make the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four.
“We’ve got everything you need,” Momcilovic said. “We’re a dangerous team.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Milan Momcilovic & Keshon Gilbert addressed media members following the team’s 74-55 win over No. 25 Baylor. Scott Drew’s press conference can also be found below.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) takes a three-point shot against Morgan State during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball game at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — He sheds his warmups and heads to the scorer’s table. The timing’s almost like clockwork, and Curtis Jones knows his mission: Be as efficient and impactful as possible.
Then the hot-shooting Iowa State guard simply plays his role, night in, night out, on both ends of the floor.
“I think it’s just I’ll do whatever is kind of asked of me,” said Jones, who averages a team-high-tying 16.3 points off the bench for the No. 3 Cyclones, who face No. 25 Baylor (9-3, 1-0) in Saturday’s 1 p.m. Big 12 home opener (CBS) at Hilton Coliseum. “And what’s asked of me right now is really just be as aggressive as possible. Actually, really just take what’s there.”
So far, that’s been just about everything for Jones, who learned recently that he might be granted another season of eligibility based on a recent court ruling the NCAA is appealing. For now, it appears Jones and any collegiate athlete who previously competed at a non-NCAA institution and would otherwise be exhausting his or her eligibility this season, could have the option of coming back for one more season. That’s the farthest thing from the former JUCO and Buffalo transfer’s mind, though, and for good reason.
ISU (11-1, 1-0) is currently riding its second-longest home win streak in program history (25), and the teams that crafted the longest string of success at home — in the 1999-2000, and 2000-01 seasons — will be honored at Saturday’s game. So a nod at the past and deep focus on the present commands Jones’ rapt attention, and he’s not allowing his mind to wander into what-if territory.
“Nobody’s told me (I) could for sure come back, so, I mean, if it happens, great,” said Jones, who has led the Cyclones in scoring five times this season. “Whatever happens, I’m just gonna continue to do what I’m doing.”
That, ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said, hinges merely on staying on course.
“(He’s) probably our most consistent (scorer), and to have that coming off the bench, gives you a huge spark,” said Otzelberger, whose team has won four of its past five meetings with the Bears. “It is something that’s really unique for other teams in their preparation to be able to say, hey, look, the guy who’s leading them in scoring and 3-pointers made is coming off the bench. So how do you factor that in? (So) it’s not just the scoring and production. It’s also the activity. He is flying around offensively.”
Jones’ ability to play his role to perfection dovetails nicely into his teammates’ capacity for doing the same thing. Backup big man Brandton Chatfield collected seven offensive rebounds against the Buffaloes and positively affected several more — one of which led to one of Jones’ deep 3-pointers. His fellow guards, Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey, provide scoring punch and disruption on the defense end, and forward Joshua Jefferson contributes a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor — including a program-record-tying eight steals in Boulder. Couple all of that with Milan Momcilovic’s wide-ranging talents, Dishon Jackson’s powerful presence in the paint, and Nate Heise’s toughness off the bench, and everyone in ISU’s rotation is starring in their respective roles.
“I always feel like it’s the iron sharpens iron (saying),” Otzelberger said. “When you have more guys that have the ability to do it, it makes the others play better.”
Especially, Jones, who Otzelberger described as “a no-ego guy.” He just checks in and plays with a ruthless enthusiasm that’s difficult to contain, let alone suppress for an extended period of time.
“I know the rhythm,” said Jones, who has pulled into a tie for 20th all-time at ISU in made 3-pointers with 106. “(I) try to come out with a lot of energy right away.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Curtis Jones & Brandt Chatfield spoke to media members ahead of his team’s upcoming game against Baylor set for Saturday at Hilton Coliseum (1 p.m. CBS).
Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly, Emily Ryan and Audi Crooks addressed media members following their team’s win over Kansas Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) shoots the ball around Kansas Jayhawks’ center Nadira Eltayeb (33) during the third quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball Big-12 conference home opening at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Audi Crooks eyed the post and saw one defender.
It stayed that way for a while — much to her delight.
“I was very surprised,” Iowa State’s star post player said. “It was a welcome surprise, don’t get me wrong.”
The 6-3 sophomore took full advantage of her double-team free first quarter Wednesday against Kansas, scoring 16 of the Cyclones’ first 19 points en route to a 33-point performance that helped her team pull away for a 78-64 win at Hilton Coliseum.
Crooks shot 13 of 18 from the field and ISU (10-5, 1-1) sank 54.9 percent of its collective field goal attempts to decisively win its home opener before a New Year’s Day crowd of 10,807.
“When you put together game plans in this league, you can’t guard everything,” Cyclones head coach Bill Fennelly said. “And obviously they initially thought, let’s guard Audi one-on-one. That’s two (points). It’s not three. And then after a while you’re like, ‘OK, do you adjust?’”
The Jayhawks (10-3, 0-2) did just that, sending double teams that shut Crooks out the second quarter, but couldn’t keep her at bay while she scored 17 points in the second half.
ISU never trailed, but led by just five points, at 50-45, with 4:46 left in the third quarter. The Cyclones then responded with a 12-3 run that spilled into the fourth quarter to help create their double-digit cushion.
“I think we just needed to stop giving them the ball, to be honest,” Crooks said of ISU’s strong final 15 minutes. “We were giving them a lot of really easy points, easy possessions, second chances — those are things that have killed us in games’ prior, and obviously that can’t happen. So honestly, at halftime, we just decided that those things can’t continue.”
And they didn’t. The Cyclones held Kansas to 38.9 percent shooting overall and a dismal 3-for-17 mark (17.6 percent) from the 3-point line. Star point guard S’Mya Nichols led the Jayhawks with 22 points, but shot just 6-for-16 from the field.
“Iowa State’s a great preparation team,” Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider said. “They do a great job of making you try to score in ways you’re not accustomed to.”
Emily Ryan added a season-high 19 points, and Addy Brown chipped in 10 points and 11 rebounds as ISU outscored the Jayhawks, 42-31, in a foul-call-filled second half.
Ryan went 7-for-8 from the field and drilled her only 3-point attempt in just over 24 minutes of court time. The senior also doled out six assists to pad her school record in that area — and played one of the most efficient games in her storied career.
“When (Crooks) does her job so well, it makes everyone else’s life so easy, as well,” Ryan said. “Not only does her performance impact her numbers on the stat sheet, it impacts everyone on the team. It’s just a big difference when she’s on the court doing her job. She just impacts so much that doesn’t even go on the stats sheet, and it’s really special that I get to play with her.”
One area on the stat sheet Crooks and some of her. Teammates must get better in is free throw shooting. She went 7-for-13 from the line and the Cyclones ended up 17 of 29 overall from 15 feet out. Fennelly said his team shot perhaps as many free throws as it ever has in the days leading up to the home opener, so he might adopt a different tack to coax improvement out of his team in that regard.
“Maybe the next time it’s like, don’t even talk about it, don’t shoot one,” Fennelly said semi-jokingly. But we have to be better, no question.”
Iowa State Cyclones’ head coach Bill Fennelly reacts from the bench during the fourth quarter against USC Upstate Spartans in the NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Bill Fennelly’s a self-described worrier.
“I worry about a lot of stuff,” said Iowa State’s veteran head coach, whose team (9-5, 0-1 Big 12) faces Kansas (10-2, 0-1) at 2 p.m. tomorrow in its Big 12 home opener at Hilton Coliseum. “That’s my number one trait, quality: I worry well,” Fennelly said.
But — and you should have known a “but” was coming — the last thing Fennelly’s worried about as conference play kicks into high gear is the Cyclones’ resiliency.
ISU has endured humbling losses to No. 2 South Carolina and seventh-ranked UConn, as well as a pair of six-point setbacks to No. 23 Iowa and 11-1 Oklahoma State. The Cyclones have fought back from steep deficits in almost all of their losses, however, and Fennelly said his leadership core formed by senior point guard Emily Ryan, center Audi Crooks, and guard/forward Addy Brown buoys his hopes that Big 12 season could still bring considerable success.
“Obviously, moral victories don’t mean crap to anybody, but I think it shows that they’re gonna keep competing, and that’s kind of been the case all year,” Fennelly said. “Now, there’s competing and then there’s execution that comes with a level of effort.”
In other words, hard work doesn’t always translate into positive results. ISU hopes that eventually its best efforts will lead to a string of victories that could start against a Jayhawks team that features dynamic playmaker S’Mya Nichols, who leads her team in scoring (21.4 points per game) and assists (4.9).
The star sophomore point guard scored 16 points and had four assists in both meetings with the Cyclones last season, which the teams split.
“S’Mya Nichols is a pro,” Fennelly said. “You look at her numbers and it’s staggering. … She’s got the ball in her hands a lot. She’s really, really good at what she does. And then defensively, (Kansas always has) smart pressure, man-to-man, physical defense, tough to score on.”
So ISU is facing another formidable challenge — something they’ve embraced already by even scheduling teams such as South Carolina and UConn.
“We knew what was coming,” said Brown, who ranks second on her team in scoring (14.1 points per game) and rebounding (7.3). “We knew what we signed up for. They’re both great teams and I think we needed to see that type of talent early on just to prepare for our conference.”
Nineteen of those regular season Big 12 games remain — and ISU’s still poised to be a contender if its execution can match its effort.
“We’ve had teams, we’ve had games (since) forever and I would walk out and say, ‘We really, really played hard,’” Fennelly said. “But if you don’t guard right (and) if you don’t make shots, you lose.”
Dec 30, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Brandton Chatfield (33) and Colorado Buffaloes forward Bangot Dak (8) reach for a loose ball in the first half at CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
What can’t Iowa State backup big man Brandton Chatfield do?
Well, he’s not a great free throw shooter, but his offensive rebounding ability?
The 6-10 Washington State transfer’s a monster on that important front.
Chatfield grabbed a season-high seven boards — all on the offensive end — and the No. 3 Cyclones survived Colorado’s upset bid in the Big 12 season opener for both schools, escaping Boulder with a 79-69 win Monday night at the CU Events Center.
“Just being super physical, both on defense and on offense,” Chatfield said on the Cyclone Radio Network after the win. “Just hitting it hard on both ends of the floor as much as you can.”
At one point late in Monday’s road win, Chatfield got isolated on Colorado’s point guard and leading scorer, Julian Hammond III, and held his own, forcing a missed shot.
“It makes you feel really good when you get switched onto a smaller guy with crazy moves and can get to the basket real easy,” said Chatfield, who also scored nine points. “And then you make him miss a shot — it’s a great feeling.”
Curtis Jones led ISU (11-1, 1-0) with 20 points, fellow guard Keshon Gilbert added 14 points, and forward Joshua Jefferson chipped in 13 points and a program-record-tying eight steals in the team’s second win this season over the Buffaloes (9-3, 0-1).
The Cyclones pummeled Colorado, 99-71, in last month’s Maui Invitational, but Monday’s game, as expected, was anything but a blowout.
“This has been a tough place to play,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “They’d won 24 of 25 going into tonight, so a lot of things that mentally can go against you, and I thought our guys did a great job of staying the course, staying focused.”
Buffaloes point guard Julian Hammond III — who scored 20 points in the first (officially nonconference) matchup — led all scorers with 21 points on 9-for-17 shooting. Colorado shot 49.1 percent from the field, but coughed up 19 turnovers that led to 24 of ISU’s points.
The Cyclones shot just 43 percent from the field and 22 percent (four of 18) from 3-point range, but collected a staggering 20 offensive rebounds while shining on both ends of the floor in critical moments.
“Brandt was tremendous and all of our frontcourt guys really imposed their will,” Otzelberger said. “I just thought that was the difference for us tonight.”
ISU took its biggest lead of 12 points early in the second half, but Colorado immediately fought back, scoring 22 of the game’s next 27 points to take a 53-48 lead on Javon Ruffin’s driving layup with 12:59 remaining.
The Cyclones responded with an 11-4 spurt that reestablished a four-point edge, at 61-57, with 8:03 left, and the Buffaloes never regained the lead again.
“It’s always hard beating the same team twice, so just coming in with the mindset it’s gonna be a tough game — just take the hits, and they’re gonna make runs and we’re gonna make runs,” Jefferson said. “Just continue to play hard and do what we do.”
ISU’s back in action on Saturday when No. 25 Baylor (8-3) comes to Hilton Coliseum on a day in which the Cyclones’ 1999-2000 and 2000-01 Big 12 champions coached by Larry Eustachy will be honored.
“(Those are) coaches and folks that came before us and helped set the tone for this program, and achieved great things,” Otzelberger said. “It’s a great opportunity to be on that journey together and we’ll be excited and ready to go for Saturday.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Addy Brown and Lily Taulelei previewed their team’s upcoming matchup against Kansas set for Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum.
Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) is held up by Miami Hurricanes defensive back Markeith Williams (15) in the third quarter during the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The conversation about whether bowl games ‘matter’ or not is still as fluid as ever, but there’s no sign of that in and around Ames after Iowa State’s Pop Tarts Bowl win over No. 13 Miami.
Let’s talk about what we saw.
The standoutsWide receiver Isaiah Alston caught his first pass a Cyclone – and it was a great one at that.
Alston finished with two receptions for 52 yards, and while it doesn’t necessarily jump off the page, it should.
Rocco Becht throws an absolute DIME to Isaiah Alston for the first catch of his Iowa State career! pic.twitter.com/ffndCwOnsH
— OutCYde the Lines (@OutCYdetheLines) December 28, 2024
Iowa State has tried its hand with a number of players to supplement Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins before they graduated, and Alston looked the part in this game.
It comes against a Miami secondary that wasn’t highly touted by any means, but it’s a step for the Army transfer. That’s one more name we’ll be talking about over the off-season, for sure.
Running back Carson Hansen, I thought, gave the latest example of Matt Campbell’s ‘Prove It,’ mantra in what he was able to do.
The sophomore running back scored three touchdowns in the first half after a season where he was on a ‘pitch count’ in more games than one.
The three weeks off gave Hansen some time to rest up and he’s undoubtedly Iowa State’s RB1 as things stand right now. Walk-on Aiden Flora was fun to watch as well.
While those performances will be remembered fondly, tight end Gabe Burkle may have had the best.
The sophomore could have been Iowa State’s MVP with the catches he made Saturday, including Iowa State’s first touchdown of the day.
Gabe Burkle : 4 catches for 54 yards & a TD on 6 targets pic.twitter.com/WxOP1SZYzL
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) December 29, 2024
I called for Burkle to be more consistent earlier this season – it was an immediate need when Ben Brahmer went down with his injury. Not only did Burkle step up, but he’s cemented himself as another regular target for this offense – something inherently important for this group, specifically.
If he can make another jump next season, Iowa State will feel a lot more comfortable in its passing attack.
The Black-and-white uniformsNow to air some things out.
I’ll keep this short, but the arguments from those that don’t like the black-and-white uniform combos have become so disingenuous. It’s awful.
The arguments I’ve read against them include black and white not being ‘school colors.’ If they were, it wouldn’t change it.
I’ve read that it prevents Iowa State from establishing a brand, but it the helmets had the new script ‘Cyclones’ on them and I’ll let you know there isn’t another college that holds that nickname in the country above Division II.
Y’all could be Penn State fans and have bland uniforms that look like they belong on a 2A high school team. Y’all could have jerseys without players’ names on the back during the boom of the NIL era.
Iowa State’s got something unique, just embrace it.
Cam WardMiami quarterback Cam Ward completed 12 of his 19 pass attempts for 190 yards and three touchdowns, but that all came in the first half before the Heisman finalist stood on the sidelines for the remainder of the game.
This move comes in an era where players projected to go in the early rounds of the NFL Draft choose to sit, or ‘opt out,’ of bowl games regularly.
That part is pretty annoying – I think we’d all rather see all the guys play that can – but I think most see both sides to it. If one of those guys gets hurt their futures change, and that can happen in any game. Those players, in most cases getting paid to play already, should be getting some for playing in the end-of-year, one-off showcase, too.
What Ward did on Saturday only comes off as selfish.
The threat of injury wasn’t an issue for Ward – that’s what playing the first 30 minutes shows.
Calling it quits afterwards shows you don’t care about the score, nor the teammates that played a 12 games alongside you.
There was some speculation that Ward stayed in the game to break Case Keenum’s NCAA Division I record for touchdown passes, but Ward stayed in the game after passing Keenum. And if that was still the reason, woof.
LOL, what advice is Cam Ward even giving?
“Opt out and they can’t blame you?” pic.twitter.com/21blVTPUUH
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 29, 2024
When asked after the game about the move, Miami coach Mario Cristobal essentially gave a ‘no comment.’
“All meetings with players, and decisions like that, we made them in private; We keep them in private,” Cristobal said after the game. “So, I’ll prefer not to answer any questions as it relates to that. But I know he played his best while he was in there.”
Whether Ward was given bad advice, or made the decision himself, it’s a bad look – one that begs an explanation in the coming days to save what face you can before the draft.
Without that? It’s maybe the most detrimental thing a player could do without pushing a guy’s helmet into a referee (which we saw later in the Military Bowl.
Beau Freyler’s career ends
While Miami’s ‘star player’ stood on the sidelines with two healthy legs, Iowa State’s star position defensive back in Beau Frelyer needed crutches to watch his team secure its most impressive bowl win in program history.
There are more that should be remembered forever in Iowa State lore, but Freyler put his body on the line more than anyone to ever rock the ̶c̶a̶r̶d̶i̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶&̶ ̶g̶o̶l̶d̶ black & white.
Thanks for everything Cap🫡 pic.twitter.com/auXZg4hoXI
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) December 29, 2024
…
I try to end these on a fun note, so I’ll just bring up one of those seniors. Go look at Jaylin Noel’s Twitter/X account if you’re a Cyclone fan. He’s running in Georges Niang’s trail.
Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) celebrates after beating Miami Hurricanes in the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
AMES — Jaylin Noel hungrily grabbed the Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy, refusing to let it go.
Iowa State’s two-time senior captain and record-setting wide receiver would not be denied after his 18th-ranked team’s stunning 42-41 comeback win Saturday over No. 13 Miami in Orlando.
But an official told him he couldn’t cart the heavy hardware off to the locker room.
Noel’s emphatic response?
“Naaaaawwww.”
So he left the postgame interview stage with the trophy in tow as standout sophomore quarterback and Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP Rocco Becht joined him, sharing the prize as the past merged with the future, and they walked out the door side-by-side.
Noel, unlike a handful of other players on both teams, didn’t opt out of the bowl game that extended the Cyclones’ single-season record for wins to 11. He remained all-in — a stance that typified the likely NFL Draft pick’s four seasons with the team.
“To be able to be a leader on this team, and guys trusting me, and listening to me, I had to play for them,” said Noel, who caught eight passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in his swan song in Cardinal and Gold. “Those guys come in every day and look up to me and if I wasn’t gonna play then, that’s just not what leaders do, I feel like. So to be able to play in this game and go out there one last time with this team, means everything to me.”
Noel and fellow seniors such as safety Beau Freyler — who was knocked out of the bowl with a leg injury — formed the bedrock of what ISU head coach Matt Campbell called among the best leadership he’s ever been around. Defensive lineman J.R. Singleton and Joey Petersen, center Jarrod Hufford, and cornerback Myles Purchase, among others, helped lead the Cyclones to an historic season replete with “firsts.”
“It was leadership for the ages for us,” Campbell said. “You saw (it) every step of the way, and you got a chance to witness it (in the bowl win).”
All of those steps — last-minute wins over Miami, UCF and Iowa, along with a last-minute loss to Texas Tech — provided the narrative structure for what turned out to be by far the most successful season in terms of wins and losses in ISU’s 133-history. But Campbell often says, his team’s aren’t defined by that all-or-nothing ledger. Not by him and his staff, anyway.
“Obviously, it’s great that we won but the relationship we have in that locker room, man — this sport is a unique sport, and the reality of it is we’re dealing with somebody’s children,” said Campbell, who agreed to contract extension through 2032 earlier this month. “They are 18- to 22-year-olds, and our job is still — we have all forgot it — but our job, our responsibility is to (help) a young man become a man.”
Noel, Freyler, and the Cyclones’ latest crop of full-grown men leave a legacy that’s not only unmatched from a win-loss perspective. They left an indelible mark by persevering through a 4-8 season, a now-problematic gambling probe that took several starters from the team, and navigating through the stratospheric expectations that sprang from a 7-0 start.
And even though they’ll be moving on, even brighter days could lie ahead for the program Campbell once termed “a laughingstock.”
“I feel a lot of people forgot the guys that are injured and coming back,” Singleton said. “Like, this team is gonna be really good. And I think people are gonna sleep on this team until they touch that field in (August) in Ireland. They’re gonna surprise a lot of people.”
Not Noel, who eventually had to let the Pop-Tarts bowl trophy go to the team’s trophy case, but never relinquished his firm grip on leadership.
“I just want to leave (the remaining Cyclones) with the mindset that you can’t settle,” he said. “If you settle to be average, that’s what you’re gonna get on the field: Average. So, never settle, always push each other, and hold guys accountable. Because if you can do those small things, everything else will come along by itself.”
Dec 13, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard RJ Smith (5) and guard Julian Hammond III (3) celebrate a three point basket in the second half against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
No. 3 Iowa State (10-1) travels to Boulder, Colorado Monday night to take on the Colorado Buffaloes (9-2) in the Big 12 opener (8:00 p.m., CBSSN).
The Cyclones defeated Colorado 99-71 earlier in the season at the Maui
Invitational. Sophomore wing Milan Momcilovic led all scorers with 24 points, which included six triples. Iowa State finished with six players in double figures.
About ColoradoColorado’s Julian Hammond III anchors the Buffaloes’ offense, averaging 13.1 points per game. In the first meeting in Maui, Hammond III scored 20 points on 6-11 shooting from the field. He’s supported by transfer center Elijah Malone (12.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg) and Andrej Jakimovski (11.2 ppg and 4.7 rpg).
Division II transfer Trevor Baskin controls the boards, averaging 6.5 rebounds per game. He is the best offensive rebounders on the Colorado team.
The Buffaloes have developed a high-functioning offense, focusing on ball movement and efficient shot selection—a shift that has helped them remain unbeaten at home. As a team, they average 76.7 points per game.
Iowa State’s roster is loaded with talent, boasting six players averaging double-figures. Leading the way is senior guard Keshon Gilbert, who averages 16.5 points per game and has already earned two Big 12 Player of the Week honors this season. Gilbert’s ability to score and facilitate makes him the Cyclones’ go-to option.
Curtis Jones has been a reliable scoring option off the bench for the Cyclones, leading the team in field goals and three-pointers made. In the first meeting with the Buffaloes, Jones scored 19 points on 7-14 shooting and grabbed 6 rebounds.
On the interior, Dishon Jackson and Joshua Jefferson have provided a commanding presence in the paint. Jackson is averaging 11.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while leading the team in blocks with 13. Jefferson has earned multiple Big 12 Newcomer of the Week awards. He leads the team in rebounding with 8.4 a game while scoring 11.5 per game.
Rounding out Iowa State’s core is Tamin Lipsey, a Preseason All-Big 12 First
Team selection known for his defensive tenacity and leadership. Lipsey has had a slow start to the season but has really come on this past month. That is a great sign for TJ Otzelberger and Co. as Big 12 play starts to heat up.
Defensive Mindset for Road SuccessCyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger emphasized the importance of a strong defensive mentality as the team transitions into league play. The Cyclones will need that defensive edge against a Colorado team that has evolved since their first encounter. While the November matchup saw Iowa State dominate on both ends, the Cyclones will see a much different team than the one they say in Maui.
The November clash in Maui showcased Iowa State’s ability to capitalize on turnovers and dominate in transition. The Cyclones forced 18 Colorado turnovers, converting them into 37 points. Additionally, Iowa State’s half-court offense was nearly flawless, shooting 60.3% from the field and 44% from three-point range.
The Buffaloes’ ability to limit turnovers and control the boards will be critical if they hope to reverse their fortunes in Monday’s rematch.
A Storied Rivalry RenewedMonday’s game marks the 150th all-time meeting between Iowa State and
Colorado. The Cyclones lead the all-time series 79-70, but the Buffaloes have
historically dominated in Boulder, holding a 48-17 advantage. Iowa State hasn’t won at the CU Events Center since 2005.
This game also serves as Colorado’s official reintroduction to Big 12 conference play. The Buffaloes were picked to finish 15th out of 16 teams in the preseason poll, but with their early-season results, they could wreck some havoc in the Big 12.
The Buffaloes have been very good at home, winning 11 straight games and 24 of their last 25 at the CU Events Center. Boyle has compiled a 201-40 home record during his 15-year tenure, making Boulder one of the most challenging venues in college basketball.
For Colorado, protecting the home court will require not only offensive execution but also improved defense against Iowa State’s potent scorers.
Keys to the gameIowa State thrives on forcing turnovers and converting them into easy points. Colorado must prioritize ball security to avoid a repeat of November’s lopsided result.
Nationally, Iowa State is ranked No. 5 in KenPom and No. 8 in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, highlighting the team’s balanced attack and defensive prowess. The Cyclones lead the Big 12 in forced turnovers (16.0 per game) and turnover margin (+6.5), a testament to their relentless defensive pressure.
- Rebounding: Both teams’ success on the boards will be pivotal. Iowa
State’s Jefferson and Jackson will look to dominate the paint, while
Colorado’s Baskin must hold his own. The Cyclones have struggled at times keeping teams off the offensive glass. That will need to be a point of
emphasize for TJ Otzelberger. - Perimeter Shooting: Iowa State has been very efficient on the offensive end so far this season. Momcilovic and Jones can stretch defenses with their ability to knock down threes.
- Tempo: The Cyclones excel in transition, but Colorado will aim to slow the game down and force Iowa State into a half-court battle. If Iowa State can create some turnovers and get out and run, this game could be a lot like the one we saw in Maui.
Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger watches from the bench during the second half against Morgan State Bears in the NCAA men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Don’t expect a repeat.
Not in terms of the final margin, anyway.
That’s Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s overarching message as his No. 3 Cyclones (10-1) prepare to play Colorado (9-2) in the Monday’s 8 p.m. 12 season-opener for both teams at the CU Events Center in Boulder.
ISU pounded the Buffaloes, 99-71, en route to a third-place finish in last month’s loaded Maui Invitational, but trying to tame them at home is a starkly steeper challenge.
“They’ve been a team that has consistently been really good on their home court,” Otzelberger said.
How good?
Colorado’s won 25 of its past 26 home games dating back to the 2022-23 season. The Buffaloes have yet to lose in Boulder this season and have won four in a row since being shellacked by the Cyclones in Hawai’i.
“They have a team that plays very smart, doesn’t do things to put themselves at deficit,” Otzelberger said. “They have a terrific coach (Tad Boyle). Their guys now, that when we played the the first time, hadn’t had as much experience, because their roster was so now — now those guys have have had more and more opportunities to play together and have success together.”
Senior guard Julian Hammond III leads three Buffaloes averaging double figures in scoring at 13.1 points per game. He scored a then-season high 20 points in what was officially a nonconference loss to the Cyclones in Maui, and is one of four Colorado players in the rotation shooting 43 percent or better from 3-point range.
But as usual for ISU, playing winning basketball hinges more on Otzelberger’s three keys to success and less on the challenges opposing players pose.
“Monday is gonna be (about), defensively, guard the basketball, pressure the basketball,” Otzelberger said. “Try to generate turnovers and score off our defense like we were able to do last time. Win the rebounding battle, like we were able to do last time — I think we were plus-six on there glass.”
The Cyclones have’t played the Buffaloes in Boulder since 2011 and carry a six-game road losing streak into the renewed series. A combination of altitude, good Colorado teams, and sometimes onerous travel conditions helps explain why the Cyclones have struggled so much in Boulder, but Otzelberger believes the altitude piece is a bit overblown.
“I tend to think it’s a lot more talk than it is actually a factor,” he said. “To me, at most, what I’ve seen from guys I’ve coached, or what they’ve said, is, ‘Hey you’re a little more winded on your first run out there, and then everything settles in.’”
So bring on the Buffaloes in the latest version of a new-look Big 12 that features 16 teams — four of which are new this season. That expansion and newfound unfamiliarity dovetails with an unbalanced, 20-game conference schedule that presents unique challenges beyond the league’s recent round-robin slate.
Otzelberger and his players will roll with the changes, as always, locked in on how they play more than who they play.
“As much as we respect the (other) coaches, the players, and the programs, 90 percent of it for us is about being who we are and doing what we do,” he said. “That’s how we’ve done things in past years, and that won’t change this year.”
Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive lineman J.R. Singleton (58) and wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) celebrate with the trophy after defeating the Miami Hurricanes at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
ORLANDO, Fla. — Iowa State’s defense forced Miami to punt just once in Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium.
But it came at the perfect time — the one, final time the No. 18 Cyclones could furiously complete their 42-41 comeback win over the 13th-ranked Hurricanes.
“I was never nervous about (the offense) scoring,” said senior captain and defensive tackle J.R. Singleton, who watched his quarterback Rocco Becht lead ISU on a last-minute outcome-sealing drive that helped met him Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP honors. “They’d been moving the ball all day, right? It was just about us getting stops. And it was really weird. We were just off in a couple places, like we were getting them in third and longs, and then couldn’t get them off there field.”
Until 6:34 remained. And it’s not like the Cyclones’ defense — which allowed 308 rushing yards and 524 total yards — didn’t get off the field in other more opportunistic ways. ISU recovered a fumble on Miami’s first snap from scrimmage, collected another one as the Hurricanes were driving in the third quarter, then cemented the win in recently-returned, and formerly-injured safety Drew Surges’ interception on the final play of the game.
That’s three takeaways to zero giveaways, and that’s the biggest reason the Cyclones (11-3) escaped Camping World Stadium with a win for the first time in three tries.
“This is about team, and getting everybody to believe in something bigger than yourself,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, who improved to 3-4 in bowl games in his successful nine-season tenure. “It’s one of the great rewards and we are fortunate to be able to do it here at Iowa State.”
Campbell called Singleton the Cyclones’ “spiritual leader” at the team’s pep rally on Friday and Singleton continued to serve in that role as ISU slowly strengthened defensively as the game wore on. Miami (10-3) racked up 358 of its 524 yards in the first half, and managed to gain just 55 yards in the fourth quarter.
The Cyclones won 11 games for the first time in program history — extending the previous record streak by one. ISU had won nine games twice, and once under Campbell, and made reaching historic milestones a theme throughout a season that surpassed all the others.
“I don’t think there’s anything I could say to describe it,” Singleton said of attaining 11 wins. “It’s been 133 years. We made history.. Obviously, we were pushing to get into that (College Football Playoff), but you aim for the moon, and land on the stars. And it’s not bad being on the stars.”
So the Cyclones’ moon shot ending up pushing them light years ahead. None of it came easy, but what would be the fun in that?
“It’s been a really unique journey here,” said Campbell, whose team went 3-9 in his first season at ISU. “I’ve said this before with so many people — when we took the job and we came to Iowa State, I think they said, man, you’re going to the coaching graveyard.”
And look at them now: Toting off a Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy that has a working toaster attached.
“I had a bunch of my friends here for the first time to see me play,” said Becht, who grew up in Florida and was named the Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP. “It was special for me to get this win.”
CARSON CRUISES ISU tailback Carson Hansen rushed for two touchdowns and also scored via the air. His 30-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was the longest by a Cyclones in a bowl game. Hansen ended the season with 15 touchdowns (13 rushing, two receiving).
“I love this team,” the sophomore from Lakeville, Minn., said. “Getting 11 wins is just something you’ll never forget.”
ETC. Iowa State finished as one of 17 FBS teams to not allow 300 yards passing in a single game this season. They gave up 216 yards via the air against the Hurricanes. … Campbell is not just the Cyclones’ winningest head coach in program history — he’s also won the most bowl games (three). He passed Dan McCarney in both areas, and the former ISU head coach attended Saturday’s game. … The Cyclones went 3-for-4 on fourth down conversions to finish the season 20 of 25 in such situations. That ranks second-best among FBS teams.
Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) celebrates after beating Miami Hurricanes in the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
ORLANDO, Fla. — The touchdowns came in bunches. Defensive stops, except for turnovers, were few and far between early. But Saturday’s pulse-pounding Pop-Tarts Bowl between No. 18 Iowa State and No. 13 Miami eventually slowed to a timeout-fueled crawl — until Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht plunged in for a one-year touchdown with 56 seconds left, and his team held on for a thrilling 42-41 comeback win at Camping World Stadium.
“We’ve been in those situations before,” said Becht, whose touchdown run came on fourth down and capped a 15-play, 84-yard drive that spanned 5:38. “We practice it all the time. I think our team just has the poise and the confidence to execute in the biggest moments.”
Becht — who also threw three touchdowns passes — scored a game-winner on a similar play earlier this season to help the Cyclones survive, 38-35, over UCF, which, ironically enough, plays its home games across town in Orlando.
Becht, a Florida native, completed 22 of 36 passes for 270 yards and touchdowns to tailback Carson Hansen, wide receiver Jaylin Noel and tight end Gabe Burkle.
Hansen scored three touchdowns — two rushing, one receiving — and the Cyclones (11-3) overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to extend its single-season record for wins to 11. They also won a bowl game for the first time since vanquishing Oregon 34-17 in the 2021 Fiesta Bowl, while Miami fell to 1-12 in its past 13 bowl appearances.
“We’ve been in some really hard spots,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said after his team’s fifth one-score win in a season filled with firsts. “We’ve been in some tough situations and our ability to just keep playing — and it’s easy to say those things, right? Keep playing and stay in it, but you only do that if the locker room demands it. You only do it if the seniors and the guys who lead the football team show up every single day since January and they believe in that.”
ISU’s 42 points set a new program bowl record — as did its 41 points surrendered in a game that featured 930 yards of combined offense.
The Cyclones’ defense amassed three turnovers, but didn’t force Miami’s first punt until 6:34 remained, which set up the Becht-led win-sealing comeback drive. The Hurricanes’ last-gasp Hail Mary attempt was intercepted by safety Drew Surges as time expired. Thousands of Cyclone fans in attendance exulted as their team won in Orlando for the first time in three trips — and watched the players feast on the human-sized Pop-Tart.
“We were ready for (the moment),” said Noel, a two-time captain and senior who made eight catches for 117 yards and a touchdown while fellow senior Jayden Higgins opted not to play in the game. “I mean, l it hasn’t hit me yet. I love this team so much. I love coach (Campbell) for everything he’s done for me. This team means the world to mer and there’s no better way to go out.”
Senior cornerback Darien Porter — like Higgins — went through pregame warmups but chose not to play. Burkle, a former Cedar Rapids Prairie star, caught four passes for 54 yards and his first career score. Hansen, a sophomore, gained 98 all-purpose yards and pushed his season total of touchdowns to 15.
“I trusted our defense to make that stop late in the game,” Hansen said. “I was a little worried because, you know, it’s a close game and they have great players, too, but we do also, so it was just a great team win. It was just amazing to see that confetti fall.”
Miami star quarterback Cam Ward elected to play despite being broadly considered to be a top-five NFL Draft pick and threw three touchdown passes in the first half. Curiously, he sat out the second, and had to watch ISU secure the last-second comeback win.
“In decisions like that, we make them in private and we keep them in private, so I’d prefer not to answer questions (that) relate to that,” Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said. “But I know he played his best while he was in there.”
The Hurricanes amassed 358 yards of offense in the first half alone while averaging 9.4 yards per play. The Cyclones’ injury-depleted defense became even thinner, as senior captain and safety Beau Freyler suffered a leg injury in the first half and did not return, but the unit bowed up when the game was on the line — and Freyler looked on approvingly from the sidelines.
“As you guys that have covered us know, Beau has fought through injury for every single game he’s stepped on that field for the last three years,” Campbell said of Freyler, who like Noel, is a two-time captain. “He’ll go down as one of the great leaders of all time in this football program and he should be considered that forever.”
Just like Saturday’s last-second win. ISU “didn’t flinch,” as Campbell often says, while making history one last time this season.
“Man, they are going to talk about Jaylin Noel forever, and they are going to talk about Beau (Freyler) forever, and they are going to talk about Rocco (Becht) forever,” Campbell said.
Iowa State’s full 2024 Pop Tarts Bowl championship press conference following the team’s 42-41 win over No. 13 Miami Saturday in Orlando.
Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell high-fives fans as he takes the field before the game against Texas Tech at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
ORLANDO, Fla. — New contract, same vision.
Amid all the confounding changes in college football, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell’s leaning into his program’s long-standing strength: Stability.
“I know I’m not perfect, and I know Iowa State’s not always perfect in terms of how we play football,” said Campbell, who earlier this month agreed to a new, eight-year contract that extends through 2032. “But I think how we’ve tried to play, and the spirit that our kids have played with, and the ability to give our football program success here, and something for this fan base to believe in every Saturday — I’m really proud of that.”
Terms of the new deal will be disclosed at a later date, but it’s clear that Campbell, director of athletics Jamie Pollard, and Iowa State University president Wendy Wintersteen share the same long-term goals for an 18th-ranked Cyclones team (10-3) that will play No. 13 Miami (10-2) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC) in the Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium.
“Just getting back home and playing in Florida is a big thing,” said ISU’s second-team All-Big 12 cornerback Jontez Williams, who grew up about two hours north of Orlando in Starke, Fla. “I’m just ready for the moment.”
Williams and his compatriots will try to slow down the Hurricanes’ scoring offense, which leads the FBS at 44.2 points per game. He’ll listen intently to veteran defensive coordinator Jon Heacock and his position coach, Hank Poteat, in order to make that possible.
And speaking of stability — Heacock’s the rock-steady example of it among Campbell’s staff, as he’s been with him for 10-plus seasons, first at Toledo, then at ISU.
“When we walked into this place nine years ago, (our goal) was we wanted to make this place special,” said Heacock, whose defense will be down one starter because junior defensive end Tyler Onyedim unexpectedly entered the transfer portal recently. “We wanted to make this place different than it’s ever been, and we’ve worked really hard to do that. And for me, the best thing that could happen would be for these seniors who’ve led this team these last couple years (to go out with a win). They certainly deserve everything they’ve got. We didn’t handle our business (in the Big 12 title game), and we’ve got one more chance. We’ve got one more chance to handle it the right way and it’s gonna take everything we’ve got with the team that we’re playing against.”
But first the Cyclones will fully lean into that internal stability, which exists on both sides of the ball. First-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser’s been a staffer back to the Toledo days, and defensive line coach Eli Rasheed’s been along for the ride with Campbell his entire head coaching career. So the continuity is strong, which allows ISU to seek out prospective players who “fit” the program, whether as developmental players or via the portal.
Campbell depends on the former more than the latter, because at his core, he considers himself a teacher and mentor above all else. That’s why his vision never changes even as college football experiences seismic shifts and looming roster size limits. He’s found his niche — and he’s thriving within it.
For the past several seasons, at least.
“No matter what, or when, it’s time to take a step back from coaching, I feel like I can look myself in the mirror and say, ‘You know what? We at least tried every single day we walked in here to make everybody proud of what this program was about,’” Campbell said. “And we tried to do it the right way.”
Nov 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) celebrates a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the third quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
ORLANDO, Fla. — There are many keys, of course, for the Cyclones in Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl (2:30 p.m., ABC), but here are three to chew on as game day nears.
CONTAIN CAM, PART II Miami’s Cam Ward is the best quarterback Iowa State’s faced this season. Period. Ward doesn’t run it a lot because he doesn’t have to — and his 36 touchdown passes this season speak to his explosiveness and efficiency. The 6-2, 223-pound senior’s career started at Incarnate Word, then wound through Washington State to Miami. By all accounts he’s playing on Saturday, despite being considered a top NFL Draft Pick, and given how Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt ran wild on the Cyclones in third and fourth down situations, he may be tasked with showcasing all of his talents in Orlando. If ISU’s to avoid being shredded by someone named Cam for the second straight game (ahem, Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo), it will need to spy on Ward and shine in the secondary. As of now, star safety Malik Verdon seems iffy for Saturday’s game, so younger players at linebacker and safety will need to be at their absolute best.
DON’T LET ROCCO GET ROCKED Much has been made — for good reason — of the Cyclones’ inability to pressure opposing quarterbacks this season, but the offensive line deserves some praise for protecting quarterback Rocco Becht. ISU is tied for 20th nationally in sacks allowed per game at 15 and check in at 11th among FBS teams in sack yardage yielded at 77. Becht’s ability to evade pressure partly explains that, but the O-line’s markedly improved overall, and could frustrate the Hurricanes’ vaunted pass rush. When Becht enjoys a clean pocket, he’s extremely accurate, and if his blockers can give him one more second to cycle through his progressions, star receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, among others, should be able to get open and make big plays.
TAKE SHOTS ON BOTH SIDESNo team in the country remotely converts on third down as well as Miami, which is doing so at a shocking 56.5 percent rate. ISU’s well down that chart at 42.5 percent — and equalizing that statistic would make a big difference in the game’s outcome. Ward not only can extend plays with his feet, but his top receiver, Xavier Restrepo, serves as his so-called “security blanket.” He’s caught 11 touchdown passes and the Hurricanes’ second-leading receiver, Jacolby George owns seven touchdown grabs. Both are big play threats, but tight end Elijah Arroyo may be Miami’s X-factor. He’s averaging a team-high 17.0 yards per catch and has caught six touchdown passes. So will veteran Cyclones defensive coordinator Jon Heacock call up more blitzes? It’s a risky gambit, but when better to do so than in a bowl game, where several younger players can prove their mettle. ISU simply must pressure Ward, or else he’ll pick the defense apart. Heacock’s called “the professor” for a reason, and he’ll have a plan to shake things up.
WHAT’S AT STAKE Nothing. And everything. All at once. The Cyclones have already set a program record for wins with 10 and unless you’re in the College Football Playoff, bowl games are mere diversions with value attached. They’re still important because of the added practices and player development that accompanies them. ISU’s players talk about making more history by winning 11 games for the first time ever, and that’s clearly a motivating factor for them. But now that the playoff’s been expanded, bowl games become even less relevant, making the well-worn phrase, “We’re treating it like any other game,” as true as ever. So both teams should let it rip — and there can be only one that devours that human-sided Pop-Tart.
KANSAS CITY, MO – MARCH 09: Diante Garrett #10 of the Iowa State Cyclones looks to move the ball against the Colorado Buffaloes during the first round of the 2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament at Sprint Center on March 9, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
If it works, keep doing it.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger’s staff had an opening for an assistant coach as the Cyclones navigated through the month of December. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the fourth-year coach turned to a former player he recruited in Diante Garrett.
“I’d say over the 19 years I’ve been in Division I, I’m not sure there’s been a guy who loved to play basketball more than him,” Otzelberger said. “(Garrett) was a guy (who) when he was here playing, we’d have to chase him out of the Lied rec center or wherever there was a pickup game on campus because the guy couldn’t get enough basketball, and he was just loves to play.”
Garrett’s love for the game was a big part of why Otzelberger chose to bring him in with a focus on player development to fill the vacancy left by the departure of Stevie Taylor.
The former Iowa State point guard played professionally for 12 seasons, making stops in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz, as well as suiting up for the G-League’s Iowa Energy (at the time) before he ventured overseas.
“(He was) certainly an elite point guard, and we’ve got some of those guys on our roster right now who can really stand to learn and benefit from him that way,” Otzelberger said.
While in Ames, Otzelberger and his staff have built a pipeline through Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That’s where Otzelberger, then an assistant at Iowa State, found Garrett in 2004, going into his sophomore year of high school.
“When the opportunity presented itself, we were essentially feeling like after Christmas, it could be a good time to add him to our staff,” Otzelberger said. “What he’s able to bring to to the table in terms of his experiences as a Cyclone, as a professional, but then also as somebody who is terrific with player development, and loves spending time with guys on the court… It just felt like it would be a huge asset to add him at this point and give us a little bit of boost of energy and enthusiasm in our program.”
The Cyclones open Big 12 play on Monday with a road game against Colorado, who is undefeated this season at the CU Events Center.
Although Iowa State handled the Buffalos 99-71 in November’s Maui Invitational, Otzelberger knows going on the road in the Big 12 is a different challenge.
“They’ve been a team that has consistently been really good on their home court,” Otzelberger said. “When you enter league play, I think it becomes even more important when you go on the road that you’re a team that focuses on getting stops on the defensive end of the floor. You hear all the time, people will say, ‘well, defense travels.’ And really what that means is people on their home court, when they’re comfortable and able to do what they want to do – they’re going to feel good, and things, a lot of times, go their way.”
Iowa State is off to a 10-1 start and will enter Boulder as the No. 3 team in the country.
Like Otzelberger will typically stress, playing well on the defensive side of the ball will be of extremely important for this game.
“So as much as this team has been strong in certain areas, I think the area that we really need to be strong to be successful on Monday is going to be defensively,” Otzelberger said. “Guard the basketball, pressure the basketball, try to generate turnovers and score off our defense (and) win the rebounding battle, like we’re able to do last time.”
Iowa State will try to replicate that performance in its first game of conference play to its last as it tries to secure a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Bringing in a former player like Garrett who lives and breathes the sport might just be the perfect addition to help the current group navigate that path.
“You could see, even as he’s in our building here this morning, he’s in the gym early, getting shots up and getting working,” Otzelberger said Friday. “He just loves to play. So I think seeing that spirit, seeing that passion, enthusiasm for the game, is certainly contagious. And I think he could be a great mentor for guys who are looking to take the path that he did in terms of playing professionally after he could be a great source of advice as well.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger addressed media members in a virtual press conference Friday ahead of his team’s upcoming game against Colorado set for Monday (8 p.m. CBSSN).
The 2024 Pop Tarts Bowl head coaches in Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and Miami’s Mario Cristobal addressed media members Friday in Orlando ahead of Saturday’s game (2:30 p.m. CT, ABC).
Oct 19, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Beau Freyler (17) celebrates after his interception against the UCF Knights at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Game Day InfoNo. 18 Iowa State (10-3, 7-3 Big 12) vs. No. 13 Miami (10-2, 6-2 ACC)
Location: Orlando, Florida
Stadium: Camping World Stadium (60,219)
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
TV: ABC (Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Miami -4.5 (via Action Network updated Friday)
Over/Under: 57
Series ResultsThis is the first ever meeting between Iowa State and Miami.
Transfer portalIt’s more of the norm in this era of college football that the big-name stars will sit out of their bowl games rather than suit up and risk injury ahead of the NFL Draft. However, both of these teams should have almost all of their contributors in action Saturday.
The Hurricanes will be down a starting receiver in Isaiah Horton. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound wideout entered the portal and is heading to Alabama. Horton was the biggest name to go to the portal for the Hurricanes, who otherwise didn’t see any major contributors go. Iowa State’s biggest loss in the portal came from Tyler Onyedim. The junior defensive end was the first Cyclone starter to enter the portal from either the 2023 and 2024 teams following the season. Like Miami, Iowa State should be at full-go (aside from the barrage of linebacker injuries this year) Saturday.
Players to watchCarson Hansen, running back (Iowa State)We saw Hansen break out during the middle of the season for the rushing attack, but he’s been on somewhat of a ‘pitch count’ after coming down with an injury this year. The hope for Cyclone fans is that three weeks off between the Big 12 Championship and this bowl game pays a big difference, and they see his best this week.
Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, wide receivers (Iowa State)In their final game as Cyclones, Iowa State will call on the pair of 1,000-yard wideouts to show out. Both have shined in big games and this is no exception. Keep an eye on them Saturday.
Beau Freyler, star/defensive back (Iowa State)Another senior that’s put his body on the line – literally – throughout his career in Ames. Take in whatever you can of Feyler’s final game in an Iowa State uniform.
Cam Ward, quarterback (Miami)This is an easy one. The Heisman finalist has wowed college football fans all season, finishing the regular season with 4,123 yards along with 36 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. All indications are pointing to Ward playing Saturday.
Xavier Restrepo, wide receiver (Miami)The Miami senior is Ward’s favorite target. He collected 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns on 69 receptions this season. He’s projected to go in the first few rounds of the draft. Restrepo, along with Miami’s other pair of top targets in Jacolby Long and tight end Elijah Arroyo, have not announced that they will not be playing.
Mishael Powell, defensive back (Miami)The ball-hawk is among the nation’s best, corralling five interceptions on the season and nearing the top of Miami’s tackles list. Powell has 31 tackles on the year along with a sack and is the staple to the defensive back room for the Hurricanes.
Keys to the gameAir it out
If Miami has a weakness, it’s giving up yards through the air. Former Texas Tech gunslinger Tyler Shough (now at Louisville) put 342 yards on the Hurricanes. Maalik Murphy had 325 for Duke in their loss to Miami, and Syracuse’s Kyle McCord ended with 380 in the regular season finale. Iowa State fans have seen Rocco Becht put up big numbers like this, but most of those performances came during his freshman year. It’s sure to be a shootout, with the nature of Miami’s offense, and Becht will need to be on his game for the Cyclones to win this one.
Protect the quarterbackMiami has three different players with 5.5 sacks this season. They’ve totaled 35 sacks through the year, which is good for tying for 22nd in the country in total sacks recorded. Although Kansas State is tied with the same amount, Miami will be the best team Iowa State has faced in that category. It’s a big spot for this offensive line.
Push Miami to run, but stay disciplinedThe eyes are all going to be on Ward this week, but the Hurricanes rushing attack features a pair of 100-plus carry backs. Starter Damien Martinez ended the year with 823 yards and nine touchdowns while sophomore Mark Fletcher Jr. collected 545 yards and eight scores. Those are lesser numbers than the best of rushing attacks Iowa State has faced this year, but it’s a formidable threat. Paired with the freshman Jordan Lyle, who has the ability to break things open for large gains, and Ward’s athleticism being a threat to run at any time, Iowa State’s defense will have to stay disciplined in its attack.
Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell reacts after a touchdown against Arkansas State during the first quarter in the week-4 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
ORLANDO, Fla. — First 10-win season in 133 years?
Check.
First 7-0 start in 86 years?
Been there, done that.
First chance to take a bite out of a human-sized Pop-Tart?
Now we’re talking.
“I think it will be pretty cool,” said Iowa State’s star senior receiver Jaylin Noel, who hopes to help his No. 18 team beat No. 13 Miami in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. Pop-Tarts Bowl — and to the victors go the oversized ultra-processed food spoils. “Obviously, watching that game last year while we were (at the Liberty Bowl) in Memphis, and just seeing all the fun stiff they do, I think it will be a pretty cool and fun bowl game for the team.”
But alongside the highly successful PR stunts, there’s a football game to be won, of course. Both the Cyclones (10-3) and the Hurricanes (10-2) fell one win short of reaching the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, and both teams are eager to end their respective seasons with another “first.”
Miami hasn’t won 11 games since then-head coach Larry Coker prowled the sidelines in 2003. ISU, as noted, dwells in uncharted territory in terms of wins, and the Cyclones enjoy a chance to add an 11th victory to an already historic season.
“That,” Noel said, “is what I’m most proud of.”
The Pop-Tart gimmicks simply add eyeballs to what should be a well-watched game that will be televised nationally on ABC. So it’s a big stage — and a fully-functional toaster adorns the trophy that sits at the center of it.
“We’ve (had) a lot of firsts in the133-year history of Iowa State football,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “And I would say, at times, we’ve had maybe more talent but I don’t know if we’ve had the quality of team that we have this year. This team has been ravaged by injuries and challenging situations and they’ve never flinched. And to me, that’s been one of the great joys as a head coach being in a place, now, (for) nine years.”
Both Campbell and his head coaching counterpart at Miami, Mario Cristobal, credit “culture” for their burgeoning success. Sure it’s cliche and coach speak, but it’s not mere lip service, nor a vacuous talking point.
Case in point: Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward. The Heisman Trophy finalist has said repeatedly he plans to play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl even though as a potential top NFL Draft pick, conventional wisdom says to sit this one out. He’s not “flinching” either, Cristobal said.
“Nowadays in college football we are compensated at all levels, right?” Said Cristobal, who’s taken Miami from five wins to 10 in three seasons at the helm. “Coaches, players, administrators. And to do a job, you must finish the job. I think Cam’s DNA, his upbringing, everything that he is made of and stands for, it’s the right kind of stuff. The stuff you want your team made of.”
Campbell’s said similar things about his long list of senior leaders such as Noel, safety Beau Freyler, and defensive tackle J.R. Singleton. The Cyclones’ series of “firsts” are rooted in what always undergirds his program — and that helps explain why Miami’s a mere 3.5-point favorite in its home state.
“I feel like we’ve evolved over the course of time, but the always has been — from our first team meetings I ever had here, I said the word trust,” Campbell said. “(I also said), ’At some point, when trust resonates in every corner of this football program, we will have the ability to do great things.’”
That’s why ISU finds itself facing a historically-great program in Orlando for the third time in Campbell’s tenure. The Cyclones lost to Notre Dame and Clemson in previous corporatized iterations of the Pop-Tarts Bowl, so one more positive “first” beckons while a person in a pastry-based and edible suit dances on the sidelines.
And nothing’s half-baked about this opportunity, which balances the profound with the frivolous; the bedrock of the program with a crafty marketing campaign.
“I know that we have bigger things to come,” sophomore quarterback and Florida native Rocco Becht said. “And we need to build momentum with this game.”
Nov 30, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) passes the ball against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
Iowa State travels to Orlando to take part in the 2024 Pop Tarts Bowl on Saturday, facing No. 13 Miami (2:30 p.m. ABC). Here are our staff’s picks.
Chris Williams (9-4)
I’ll tell you right now, I’m not confident on any of these bowl picks. I’ll take Miami only because Cam Ward says he is playing at the time of publishing this. Iowa State hasn’t been great in these neutral-site bowls/championship type games. This feels like the safe play. Hope I am wrong. Miami 30, Iowa State 27.
Rob Gray (9-4)
Iowa State will likely need to score in the high 30s (at least) to beat Miami and its No. 1 scoring offense. If Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward plays, as expected, the Cyclones’ defense will need to force a turnover or two to keep the game close. I think ISU almost does enough to win a bowl game for the first time since 2021, but falls a tiny bit short. Miami 38, Iowa State 33
Connor Ferguson (10-3)
It looks as though Miami quarterback Cam Ward is planning to take the field on Saturday amid the Pop Tarts mascots on the sidelines. Neither team lost many key guys to the portal and both rosters should have mostly everyone available. The Hurricanes survived multiple scares to inferior competition through the year, but faltered down the stretch in close games. I think this one ends up close, too, but the Cyclones fall just short. Miami 33, Iowa State 30
Jeff Woody (10-3)
Honestly, these games are impossible to pick. But making a few assumptions (ISU and Miami will both see most of their starters play AND both be equally invested in the game), ISU should be healthier than they have been for months. Regardless, though, buckle up for a points-fest. ISU tries to slow it down, but Miami makes it a track meet. Clones in a fun one. Iowa State 38, Miami 33
Grant Mahoney (11-2)
Miami’s offense wants to sling the ball (#1 offense in the country – avg over 530 YPG, #1 scoring offense in the country – avg over 44 PPG) and they do run the ball decently well, but they don’t really want to run the ball. Cam Ward is playing in this game and has something to prove – as he’s trying to be the first QB taken in the upcoming NFL draft. ISU’s defense is built to stop the pass. If ISU has a healthy-ish Verdon/if both and/or either of his arms are functioning/as healthy as Verdon can be, I like our chances to slow down this Miami’s offense. Their defense is pretty solid, but play a lot of man to man which bodes well for ISU’s playmakers. In the end, I think Miami’s offense is too explosive. I unfortunately have the Canes winning this one. Miami 45, Iowa State 31
Jackson Pence (10-3)
This season has gone by so fast and we have reached the finale, the legendary Pop-Tarts Bowl. In a season of firsts, the Cyclones have a chance to reach 11 wins for the first time ever and head into the offseason with a lot of momentum for next season. More than anything I’m excited to see this team play one last time against a very high quality opponent in Miami. This is one of the only bowl games where a majority of the starters on both sides will play. That makes this an interesting matchup. Miami is one of, if not the best offensive teams in the country. The Cyclones will have to be ready to play from the start and eliminate the big plays. Future NFL lottery pick Cam Ward will play in the bowl game and presents a great challenge for Jon Heacock and Co. The Cyclone offense, should put up a lot of points on a Miami defense, that has been average to below average at best this season. If Rocco Becht can find the talented duo of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, and keep the ball out of harms way, the Cyclones have a chance. I think Iowa State keeps this game super competitive, but in the end can’t keep up with the Hurricanes firepower on offense. Miami 45, Iowa State 38
Jan 16, 2010; Lincoln, NE, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Diante Garrett (10) celebrates the victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Iowa State won 56-53. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-Imagn Images
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger has named former Cyclone Diante Garrett as a new assistant coach. Garrett will begin his duties with the Cyclones immediately.
“Diante will be a great addition to our program,” Otzelberger said. “His experience playing for Iowa State, and his time in the NBA, will greatly impact the development of our student-athletes. This will be a great start to Diante’s coaching career. We’re excited to have the caliber of person Diante is around our players, both on and off the court.”
Garrett played for the Cyclones from 2007-11, starting 99 of the 128 games he appeared in. He averaged 10.7 points, 4.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game over the course of his career. He earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors as a senior in 2011, while also being named to the USBWA All-District VI Team. In his final campaign in Ames, he went for 17.3 points, 6.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He was one of two players in the country to average over 17 points and six assists per game. He led the Big 12 in assists, becoming the first Cyclone since Jacy Holloway in 1996-97 to lead the league in assists.
Following his time in Ames, he spent 12 years playing professionally before recently announcing his retirement. He played in Croatia and France from 2011-12 before joining the Phoenix Suns for the 2012-13 season. He appeared in 19 games for the Suns, while also sharing time in the NBA G League with the Bakersfield Jam. He spent the 2013-14 season with the Utah Jazz, appearing in 71 games for the Jazz. The Milwaukee native averaged 3.5 points, 1.7 assists and 1.4 rebounds for the Jazz, while shooting 37.5 percent from downtown. He played the 2014-15 season with the Iowa Energy and parts of 2015 with Grand Rapids Drive in the NBA G League before spending the final nine years of his career overseas. Garrett was named a G League All-Star in 2014-15.
Garrett won multiple league championships during his career, including Croatian League Champion (2011), Italian Cup Champion (2018) and Greek Super Cup Champion (2020). He also was named All-Japanese League Second Team in 2017, while also being a Japanese League All-Star.
No. 3 Iowa State opens Big 12 play Monday at Colorado. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (CT) on CBS Sports Network.
Jeff Woody breaks down the matchup of Iowa State’s offense vs. the Hurricane defense.
Jeff Woody breaks down Iowa State’s defense vs Miami’s high-powered offense.
Jeff Woody delivers his 3 keys to victory for the Cyclones against the Hurricanes.
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) looks to pass the ball against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
AMES — Every time Rocco Becht delivers a heartfelt postgame pep talk to his current and soon-to-be former teammates, one thought crosses his mind.
Can it please be the last time?
“(I plan to) continue to build my leadership and continue to keep their heads up,” said Iowa State’s sophomore quarterback, who seeks to lead his 18th-ranked team (10-3) to a win in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. Pop-Tarts Bowl (ABC) against No. 13 Miami (10-2) in Orlando. “I don’t want to do that again. So hopefully I don’t have to this upcoming game, and hopefully we can all walk off the field (happy).”
Becht’s tunnel-based projects of uplift and consolation came on the heels of a 45-19 Big 12 title game loss to No. 12 Arizona State earlier this month in Arlington, Texas, and a 36-26 setback to Memphis in last season’s Liberty Bowl. His message on both occasions? The best is yet to come.
“He’s a leader amongst leaders,” said senior captain and first-team All-Big 12 wide receiver Jaylin Noel. “He’s always gonna be a guy (who’s) the last guy on the field for his teammates and making sure everybody’s OK.”
The 6-1, 210-pound Becht’s arm — as well as his legs — will help determine if ISU can leave Camping World Stadium with a win for the first time in three trips to this particular bowl game. The Cyclones lost, 33-9, to Notre Dame in the formerly-named Camping World Bowl in 2019. They then fell to Clemson, 20-13, in the now-defunct Cheez-It Bowl in 2021 at the same site. So third time’s the charm? Maybe, as another ultra-processed food serves as the title sponsor.
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to play for this team and play for my brothers,” said senior safety and captain Beau Freyler, who emerged as a budding star in this game three years ago. “So no matter what pain and adversity I’m facing, I’m gonna do everything I can to play on that field for the betterment of the team — and I know that’s the mindset of other dudes on the team, as well. So it’s not just me (who’s) going through it.”
Freyler’s been playing through a litany of bumps ands bruises his entire career, and battling injuries has emerged as an unwelcome theme for the Cyclones in this history making season. Standout linebacker Caleb Bacon suffered what increasingly appears to be a season-ending injury in ISU’s season opener, and several other linebackers — as well as star tight end Ben Brahmer — have missed significant time because of injuries. True freshman linebacker Cael Brezina could be back to face the fast and high-scoring Hurricanes, but Brahmer may remain sidelined, which further shines the spotlight on Noel and fellow 1,000-yard receiver Jayden Higgins, who will need to compile big numbers against a vulnerable Miami defense that’s allowed six receptions to span 50-plus yards, which is tied for 107th nationally.
“Those guys are crazy competitive,” the Cyclones’ first-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser said of Noel and Higgins. “They want to win football games, so they’re gonna in there and do everything they can to help us win. They’re so driven and the leadership that they have — we haven’t had a better leader on offense, in my opinion, than Jaylin Noel. What that guy’s done for our football program, our offense, for me personally, it’s invaluable.
“It’s gonna be hard for me to watch him not be around here, because he’s such an awesome guy to be around. So just what they provide for there offense, what he provides; he talks to those guys after every practice. He’s an emotional leader. Behind the scenes, he does it all.”
So Becht’s following in Noel’s footsteps — and neither wants to do anything other than celebrate after what they hope becomes ISU’s sixth bowl win in program history.
A chance for a bite at the human-sized Pop-Tart awaits.
“I’m excited,” said Becht, a native Floridan who’s thrown 22 touchdowns to nine interceptions this season. “I’m stoked. Having good weather, especially being in my home state — it’s gonna be fun to play in against (this) Miami team.”
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell stands on the field before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
CycloneFanatic is your one-stop spot to find all of the happenings in the transfer portal, which opened Monday, December 9.
Below, you’ll find departures, additions and offers that have been publicized for this year’s cycle.
DeparturesQB | J.J. Kohl – The former four-star prospect, and an Elite 11 quarterback during his prep years, will enter the portal with three years of eligibility left. He saw just two snaps on the field during the 2024 season.
OL | A.J. Burton – A signee to the 2024 recruiting class that spent one year as an offensive lineman with the program. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound player will have all four years of eligibility remaining.
DE | Tyler Onyedim – The most productive departure for Iowa State in the portal. Onyedim announced Saturday, December 21 that he would play elsewhere during his final year on the field.
DE | Trent Jones II – A defensive edge rusher that spent the last four seasons, that started as a walk-on and ended on scholarship. He’ll have one year of eligibility remaining.
DE | Kenard Snyder – A linebacker turned defensive end before coming to Iowa State from Louisiana Monroe. Had 8 tackles, 2 TFL’s and 2 sacks in 2024.
LB | Jacob Ellis – A walk-on turned scholarship linebacker, Ellis totaled 41 tackles for the Cyclones and appeared in all 13 games during the 2024 season.
DB | Trevon Howard – A defensive back originally out of IMG Academy that spent the last three seasons with the Cyclones. Had four tackles during the 2024 season.
DB | Ryan Robinson Jr. – a defensive back that transferred to Iowa State after spending his freshman year at LSU will transfer as a redshirt freshman. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
KOS | Keegan Shackford – a kickoff specialist who spent the last four seasons in Ames, has entered the portal looking for a new spot for his graduate year.
LS | Drake Knoblach – a longsnapper who spent the last three seasons in Ames, enters the portal with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
AdditionsWR | Xavier Townsend, UCF
5-foot-10, 170
Two years eligibility remaining
Formerly an Iowa State commit, and a friend of Rocco Becht’s, Townsend spent each of his first three seasons at UCF. He pulled out of this season and redshirted after four games to save himself a year of eligibility. Caught four passes for 50 yards and a touchdown against Colorado and was also used in the run game frequently at UCF. Averaged 7.3 yards per carry on 12 carries this season.
WR | Chase Sowell, East Carolina
6-foot-4, 195
Two years eligibility remaining
Started his career at Colorado during Deion Sanders’ first season, and ended up at East Carolina after Sanders cleaned house. Was ECU’s second leading receiver with 34 catches for 678 yards and three touchdowns.
DE | Cannon Butler, UNI
6-foot-6, 241
One year of eligibility remaining
A captain for the Panthers during his final year in Cedar Falls, with one year remaining. Collected 59 tackles and 1.5 sacks last season.
DE | Vontroy Malone, Tulsa
6-foot-3, 240
Two years of eligibility remaining
Announced his commitment on the same day Iowa State lost Onyedim to the portal. Had 25 tackles along with two sacks and a forced fumble for Tulsa in 2024.
DB | Tre Bell, Lindenwood
6-foot-3, 191
Two years of eligibility remaining
Had 24 tackles, an interception and six pass breakups this season. Would be more of a developmental add for the Cyclones, but has not used his redshirt season yet, either.
OffersDT | Khalil Laufau, Washington State
6-foot-3, 293
Two years eligibility remaining
Had 16 tackles, including five tackles for loss for 20 yards as well as four sacks for the same amount during his last year at Washington State.
DE | Breeon Ishmail, Michigan
6-foot-3, 260
Three years eligibility remaining
Appeared in two games and recorded three tackles for the Wolverines this year, securing his redshirt as well.
DE | Amorie Morrison, Old Dominion
6-foot-4, 260
One year eligibility remaining
An experienced edge rusher that collected 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks last season with ODU in the Sun Belt.
DE | Yamatoa McDonough, Yale
6-foot-5, 263
One year eligibility remaining
Collected 27 tackles for Yale last season with and is another defensive end the Cyclones are looking at to add.
CB | Keontez Bradley, Arizona State
6-foot-2, 190
Three years eligibility
Appeared in two games early for the Sun Devils, recording three tackles total against Texas Tech and Wyoming. Visited campus Tuesday, December 17.
S | Crew Wakley
6-foot-0, 200
One year eligibility remaining
The safety out of BYU collected 31 tackles along with two interceptions and a sack during his redshirt junior season with the Cougars. Iowa State is his lone offer announced thus far.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) lays up the around Morgan State Bears guard Kameron Hobbs (0) during the second half in the NCAA men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State came in at No. 3 for the third-straight week in the latest Associated Press Men’s Basketball poll, released on Monday.
The Cyclones had just one game this week, beating Morgan State 99-72 at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday.
Iowa State is one of five Big 12 teams ranked in the top 25, joining No. 7 Kansas, No. 15 Houston, No. 17 Cincinnati and No. 25 Baylor.
West Virginia, Arizona State and Texas Tech also received votes.
This is the fourth week in program history that the Cyclones have been ranked at No. 3. They will return to the court in a week to face Colorado on Monday, December 30 in Boulder (8 p.m. CBSSN).
The full poll can be seen below.
AP MBB Poll
Monday, Dec. 23, 2024
1. Tennessee
2. Auburn
3. Iowa State
4. Duke
5. Alabama
6. Florida
7. Kansas
8. Marquette
9. Oregon
10. Kentucky
11. UConn
12. Oklahoma
13. Texas A&M
14. Gonzaga
15. Houston
16. Ole Miss
17. Cincinnati
18. Michigan State
19. Mississippi State
20. San Diego State
21. Purdue
22. UCLA
23. Arkansas
24. Illinois
25. Baylor
Others receiving votes: Maryland 119, Dayton 108, Drake 91, St. John’s 90, Memphis 65, Michigan 50, Georgia 45, Pittsburgh 27, West Virginia 26, Missouri 25, Ohio St. 23, North Carolina 20, Clemson 18, Arizona St 13, Utah St. 9, Wisconsin 9, Indiana 8, Texas Tech 8, St. Bonaventure 4, Penn St. 3.
Nov 2, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Xavier Restrepo (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Duke Blue Devils during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
AMES — Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said his No. 13 team “has unfinished business.” Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said his 18th-ranked team shares a level of “trust” that’s “really hard to find.”
So while both programs fell one win short of inclusion in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando (ABC) is anything but an afterthought — and neither ISU or Miami will be going through the motions.
The Hurricanes (10-2) boast a Heisman Trophy finalist at quarterback in Cam Ward, and have (amazingly) lost 11 of their past 12 bowl games. That’s a staggering number for such a storied program, which probably ties into the “unfinished business” theme.
The Cyclones (10-3) have produced two of the best seasons in program history since Campbell took over in 2016, but have only won two bowl games during his tenure.
So maybe that “unfinished business” talk applies to both teams — and with that in mind, here’s a look at five Miami players to know before the human-sized Pop-Tart is ritually sacrificed after the game:
QB Cam Ward The Davey O’Brien Award winner started his college career at Incarnate Word, then wound through Washington State before emerging as a top-end NFL Draft prospect as a Hurricane. Ward, a 6-2, 223-pound fifth-year senior’s racked up staggering numbers at each of his stops. He’s thrown 155 career touchdown passes and just 37 interceptions during his long college journey, and also boasts 20 career rushing touchdowns. ISU’s veteran defensive coordinator Jon Heacock said he’s the most complete quarterback his unit will face this season — and that’s almost an understatement. Ward’s been sacked just 22 times while attempting 435 passes this season, a low number that speaks to his mobility and his offensive line’s talent and execution. Ward’s thrown multiple touchdown passes in all but one game this season, and he’s tossed three or more TD passes in eight games.
WR Xavier Restrepo What the 5-10, 198-pound fifth-year senior lacks in size, he makes up for with speed and sure hands. Restrepo — a first-team All-American, like his quarterback — recorded his second consecutive 1,000-yard season and nearly doubled last season’s touchdown catch total with 11. There have been rumblings that he may choose to sit out to protect his health in advance of the 2025 NFL Draft, but no official reports indicate he won’t play. Restrepo’s only “quiet’ games in 2024 came in blowout wins over Wake Forest, Florida State and Ball State. He totaled 100-plus receiving yards in six games — and his third touchdown catch in the Duke win broke open a one-possession game in the fourth quarter.
LB Francisco MauigoaThe 6-3, 230-pound former Washington State transfer from American Samoa has just two sacks this season after compiling 11 in 2022 and 223, but he’s still Miami’s leading tackler with 88 stops. He’s intercepted a pass in each of the past three seasons and has also forced a fumble this season. Mauigoa — a second-team All-ACC selection —has tallied double-digit tackles in three straight games after doing so just once in the previous nine. He’s projected as a middle-round NFL Draft pick and blends smarts with athleticism to shine on the field.
S Mishael Powell Powell’s yet another transfer player (he came in from Washington) to make a huge impact for Miami. The 6-1, 210-pound senior nearly doubled his career interception total with six this season — and he boasts one pick-six in each of the past two seasons. Powell earned second-team all-ACC honors and also owns a sack this season. He helps anchor a secondary that tied for 22nd nationally in interceptions with 14 — a number matched by the Cyclones’ secondary, among a handful of other teams.
PK Andres Borregales The two-time Lou Gross Award semifinalist is one of five players nationally to attempt 16 or more field goals this season and miss only once. The 5-11, 170-pound senior from Miami has made 15 consecutive field goal tries — including six in a row from 40 or more yards out. Borregales also booted a career-long 56-yarder through the uprights this season and has missed just one of his 179 career extra-point attempts. So he’s a potent weapon in the closing seconds for a Hurricanes team that went 3-2 in one-score games this season.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State seniors Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel and Darien Porter have officially accepted invitations to the Reese’s Senior Bowl, which will be held Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Alabama. The game will be televised on NFL Network at 1:30 p.m. (CT).
Played annually since 1950, the Reese’s Senior Bowl is one of the nation’s best collegiate all-star games. This marks the second time in school history that ISU has had three players invited to the game (2021).
Higgins and Noel formed the nation’s best wide receiver duo this season, combining to make 159 receptions for 2,260 yards and 16 touchdowns. They are the only duo with both players eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards.
Higgins, a South Miami, Florida native, has 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns, all of which rank second in single-season school history. Higgins was an All-Big 12 Second-Team selection and earned Associated Press Third-Team All-America accolades.
Noel, a Kansas City, Missouri native, finished with 72 receptions for 1,077 yards and seven touchdowns. Noel was Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year and the senior owns a streak of 45-straight games with a reception, the third-longest active streak nationally.
Porter is a true success story, switching from wide receiver to defensive back before his fourth season at Iowa State. The move paid off as Porter elevated himself to a starter this season and had three interceptions. In his career, the Bettendorf, Iowa native also excelled on special teams, blocking five kicks in his career (four punts, one field goal).
Iowa State Senior Bowl Invitees
1955- Max Burkett
1962- Dave Hoppmann
1962- Chuck Walton
1963- Dave Hoover
1964- John Van Sicklen
1966- Eppie Barney
1968- Tom Busch
1972- Dean Carlson
1973- Merv Krakau
1974- Matt Blair
1975- Tom Goedjen
1977- Luther Blue
1979- Mike Stensrud (DNP)
1981- Kenny Neil
1983- Bruce Reimers
1986- Dennis Gibson
1991- Blaise Bryant
2000- Sage Rosenfels
2001- Ennis Haywood
2002- Seneca Wallace
2003- Jordan Carstens
2007- Ahtyba Rubin
2011- Leonard Johnson
2011- Kelechi Osemele
2013- Kirby Van Der Kamp
2014- E.J. Bibbs (DNP)
2017- Allen Lazard
2019 – Steve Wirtel
2021 – Charlie Kolar, Andrew Mevis, Mike Rose (DNP)
2022 – Xavier Hutchinson, Will McDonald IV (DNP)
2023 – TJ Tampa (DNP)
2024 – Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Darien Porter
Dec 22, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) is defended by Morgan State Bears guard Rob Lawson (3) during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — Sometimes one out of three ain’t bad.
It’s just good enough — especially in the final nonconference game of the season.
So while No. 3 Iowa State didn’t meet its always-demanding expectations on the defensive end in Sunday’s 99-72 rout of Morgan State, it shined in sharing the basketball and ultimately sent an announced sellout crowd of 14,267 at Hilton Coliseum into the holiday season happy.
“The three things that we really want to do well, guard the ball, rebound the ball, share the ball — share the ball was the positive,” said Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team tied a season high in assists with 26 while improving to 10-1. “So the message was, really, nonconference, we did the job we needed to do. We should feel good about that. I think guys at times, you’ve got to celebrate certain things. Not too much, but enough where you appreciate the hard work that you’ve done.”
Morgan State (6-9) entered the game ranked 348th by KenPom but managed to get an array of easy looks at the basket while shooting 46 percent from the field. The Cyclones struggled to produce its usual high number of live ball turnovers, but finally outscored the Bears, 23-18, off those miscues.
Tamin Lipsey led six ISU players in double figures with a season-high 20 points on 8-for-9 shooting. Fellow starting guards Curtis Jones and Keshon Gilbert added 19 points and 18 points, respectively — and along with Lipsey, combined for 18 assists of those 26 assists.
“I think we’re feeling very confident just with our connectedness together,” said Lipsey, who also notched a team-best three steals. “We’re ready for the challenge, the competition (of Big 12 play). Obviously some of us have been through it and know it’s a grind, and everyone’s looking forward to it.”
The Cyclones beat three KenPom top-45 teams in their nonconference slate — Dayton, Marquette and Iowa — and it’s only loss came by two points to KenPom No. 1 Auburn in Maui.
ISU will face just one team outside of KenPom’s top 90 during its grinding 20-game conference schedule, and it will open league play Dec. 30 at Colorado. The Cyclones beat the Buffaloes, 99-71, in Maui, but should expect a sterner challenge in Boulder.
“I think there are a lot of positives to take away from what we’ve done,” Otzelberger said. “I think we’ve seen, at times, the team that we can be. I would say that the consistency is gonna be something we need to continue to work on on both ends. As far as how that will be viewed in March? I think we’ve had somer good wins, we’ve had a road win, we’ve had somer good neutral (court) wins — I think all of those matter. So now, as our guys go home for the break and have some time with their families, you know, it’s shifting gears. It’s turning that page to the next part of the schedule.”
And now that formerly round-robin conference slate of 18 games has two more legs. So there will be plenty of other opportunities to enhance ISU’s pre-NCAA Tournament resume — and ISU won’t be OK with going 1-for-3 in its key measures of performance in any game from here on out.
“There’s not time off, there’s not a buy (game), there’s not an opportunity to regroup,” said Otzelberger, whose team has scored 80-plus points in each game this season, a streak that leads the nation. “So much of it comes down to, can you keep getting better every single day? That will be our challenge.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger, point guard Tamin Lipsey and forward Milan Momcilovic addressed media members following their team’s 99-72 win over Morgan State.
Iowa State added its latest player out of the transfer portal Saturday in Tulsa defensive end Vontroy Malone.
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound player announced the news on social media Saturday evening.
Malone collected 25 tackles for Tulsa last season, along with two sacks and a forced fumble.
He becomes the second addition to the roster at the defensive end position for Iowa State, along with former UNI captain Cannon Butler.
Malone’s addition comes on the same day that Iowa State fans found out defensive end Tyler Onyedim would enter the transfer portal to play elsewhere in his final season.
Malone will have two years of eligibility remaining. Keep up with all of the transfer portal updates by following the Cyclone Fanatic Transfer Portal Tracker here.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
STILLWATER, Okla. – Iowa State (9-5, 0-1 Big 12) fell to Oklahoma State (11-1, 1-0 Big 12) in its Big 12 opener by a score of 81-75 Saturday night.
After falling behind by 17 in the third, ISU battled back after 17 third-quarter points by Audi Crooks. ISU tied it at 67s on Sydney Harris’ fourth triple late in the fourth quarter, but OSU did not let the lead flip as the Cowgirls went on to win it.
Crooks led the game with 28 points and 11 rebounds, while Addy Brown scored 15 and came close to a triple-double with nine rebounds and eight assists. Sydney Harris was the third in double figures with 12 points.
How it Happened
The home team got out to a 10-2 start, but the Cyclones got back within four at 13-9 after a string of seven points by Brown. OSU kept with the lead though, putting the scoreboard at 18-11 at the media timeout with 2:50 to go in the opening quarter. At the end of the first, OSU led by seven (22-15).
A 3-pointer by Harris at the nine-minute mark brought the score to 26-20, but the Cowgirls followed to find a double-digit lead at 35-20 hitting a 9-0 run with 6:13 remaining in the half. Oklahoma State’s run extended to 11, and another 3 by Harris ended the run a minute of play later. ISU continued to struggle shooting efficiently under 40 percent as OSU took a 41-29 lead into the break.
Oklahoma State hit its sixth triple leading to a 17-point advantage in the early goings of the second half. As OSU again went up by 17 at 5:27, Crooks would convert on a three-point play and Kelsey Joens followed that with a shot from deep to cut its deficit to 11. OSU answered with a 3 of their own, and it continued to rain 3s as Harris sunk another on ISU’s next trip down the court. The lead was brought back to single digits (59-54) during a run of eight, with six by Crooks. With four seconds to go, Joens delivered a crucial shot from deep to stand four points from the lead at 64-57.
OSU found a nine-point lead, but ISU did not give up on their way to making it a one possession game (67-64) as Arianna Jackson hit a huge triple midway through the fourth. Out of the media timeout, Harris sunk her fourth triple to tie it for the first time since a 2-2 score. OSU would keep with the lead, going up by seven at 75-68 to cause an ISU timeout with 2:24 to go. ISU was forced to foul as OSU took the win by a 81-75 final.
Top Performance
After scoring just five points in the first half, Audi Crooks came alive with 17 in the third quarter alone. Crooks had her eighth 20-plus game of the season and 25th of her career. With her 10 rebounds, Crooks has her sixth double-double of the season and 14th of her career.
Up Next: Iowa State returns home to host Kansas New Year’s Day at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Notes
- Iowa State’s women’s basketball all-time record moves to 876-671 (.566) and 333-353 (.483) all-time in conference play.
- Head coach Bill Fennelly’s Iowa State record moves to 620-318 (.661) and his career record moves to 786-371 (.679). He is 285-205 (.582) in conference games at ISU.
- The Cyclones have made at least one 3-point field goal in an NCAA women’s record 941 consecutive games, finishing with six triples tonight. ISU has made 7,628 triples throughout the streak and has finished with 10 or more 3-pointers in a game 288 times.
- With her steal, Emily Ryan became the fifth Cyclone to record 200 career steals.
- Finishing 4-of-4 from the line, Ryan also made her 300th career free throw, moving her total to 301. She is the 14th Cyclone to record over 300 makes at the charity stripe.
- Emily Ryan holds the NCAA Division I 20th all-time best assists total. Ryan tallied three assists tonight and has posted 878 in her career.
- Ryan’s career point total of 1,402 moved her into 16th all-time by an Iowa State player. She passed Chelsea Poppens’ 1,400 points with her nine points on the night.
- Emily Ryan has played in 133 career games, the fifth most all-time by a Cyclone.
- Audi Crooks’ team-high 28 points marked her eighth 20-plus point game of the season and 25th of her career. Crooks has finished with 10 or more points in 46 consecutive games.
- With her 19th point of the night, Crooks tallied her 300th point of the season. Her career total sits at 944 points through 47 games.
- Crooks also pulled down 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season.
- Addy Brown pulled down her 100th rebound of the season with her seventh board of the night. Brown finished with nine rebounds and has pulled down 371 boards in her career.
- Sydney Harris scored her 100th point as a Cyclone with her fourth point of the night. Harris finished with 12 points on four 3-pointers.
- With her first made 3-pointer of the evening, Kelsey Joens recorded her 50th career triple.
Iowa State Cyclones center Dishon Jackson (1) dunks the ball around Jackson State Tigers’s center Ebo Wilson (10) during the first half in the NCAA men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Dishon Jackson’s college basketball career has wound from Oakland, California, through Pullman, Washington, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
But despite the 6-11, 274-pound forward’s circuitous hoops journey, he’d never acquitted a nickname beyond obvious offerings such as “DJ” or “D-Jack.”
Until he reached his final college destination — Iowa State — where the Hilton Coliseum PA announcer bellows “Big Dawg” between his first and last names, and Cyclone Alley responds with a series of sharp, loud barks.
“I love it,” said Jackson, who hopes to keep living up to his new nickname in the third-ranked Cyclones’ nonconference finale at noon Sunday against Morgan State (6-8) at Hilton.
But where did the newly-minted monicker come from? Naturally, it was earned not given, but let Jackson explain:
“This summer, we were playing volleyball and I was having a good day, and I was just like, ‘I’m the big dawg,’” said Jackson, who’s averaging 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds in just 18.5 minutes per game this season. “And (teammate Demarion Watson) threw it back and was like, ‘Ain’t no big dawg.’ So it was a whole thing and they started calling me that. And then there was a day I was killing it at practice and the whole team just was barking. They started doing it the first game and then I guess the student section caught on.”
Jackson — along with versatile fellow transfer Joshua Jefferson — has shined in the paint for the Cyclones (9-1) this season, elevating the offense to an elite perch. ISU currently ranks fourth nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, and the addition of Jackson, Jefferson and reserve transfer big man Brandton Chatfield has helped take pressure off the Cyclones’ dynamic returning guards, Keshon Gilbert, Curtis Jones and Tamin Lipsey.
“Me and Josh have been talking a long time just about what we want to do on the floor together, what we want to accomplish,” Jackson said of Jefferson, who’s averaging 11.5 points, a team-best eight rebounds and 2.6 assists. “He said he was gonna kill it on the glass. I said I was gonna offensive rebound. He said he’s gonna find me in the pocket. I told him I’m gonna set screens for you and I’m gonna find you, as well, if it’s high-low. We’re just gonna find each other every time.”
So where does Chatfield fit in? Consider him cut from the same cloth is Robert “Big Rob Energy” Jones — who deftly did the dirty work for the Cyclones the past three seasons before exhausting his eligibility.
“I’d say a lot on the defensive end, getting rebounds, getting stops, calling up screens and communicating a lot, as well as offensive rebounding,” said Chatfield, who like Jackson, started his college career at Washington State.
That’s a lot of rebounding …
“Yeah,” he said. “A lot of rebounding.”
No kidding.
Chatfield’s tied with Jefferson for the team lead in offensive boards with 20 despite playing just 13.5 minutes per game. Jackson ranks a close third in offensive rebounds with 19 — so they’re complementing each other perfectly as newcomers in head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s program.
“We just try to buy in together and buy into this team concept because we really just want to win,” Jackson said. “We’re all buying into winning, so whatever we’ve got to do, whether it’s an outside activity, whether it’s we’ve gotta come to practice and boost each other up when somebody’s a little tired or something like (that) — man, we’re just buying into each other.”
As for Jackson’s newfound “Big Dawg” nickname? It’s received an important stamp of approval.
“Rob (Jones) told me about that,” Jackson said. “He said he likes it, too.”
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) throws a pass against Iowa State Cyclones defensive end Tyler Onyedim (11) in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State’s defensive line will be down at least one body in the Dec. 28 Pop-Tarts Bowl matchup against No. 13 Miami, as veteran Tyler Onyedim announced Saturday that he’s entering the transfer portal.
The 6-4, 295-pound redshirt junior played in every game for the No. 18 Cyclones in the past three seasons, and tallied 75 total tackles, two sacks, and one fumble recovery in the past two seasons.
Onyedim used a single sentence to announce the news on X: “Thank you Iowa State for everything, I plan to enter the portal for my last year of eligibility.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger spoke to media members ahead of his team’s upcoming game against Morgan State set for Sunday (12:00 p.m. ESPN+).
AMES — Audi Crooks has faced every junk defense an opponent can conjure up. Forget double teams. Try triple teams, often fueled by athletic front-facing defenders — but the Iowa State star center’s found a way to pierce most of those wide-ranging schemes.
No. 4 UConn chose to defend the 6-3 sophomore with a standard double team, and Crooks handled it well, scoring 22 points while grabbing six rebounds in an otherwise dispiriting 101-68 loss Tuesday night in the Basketball Hall of Fame Invesco QQ Women’s Showcase in Uncasville, Conn.
“It was kind of a welcome sight, to be honest,” said Crooks, who’s averaging 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and two assists this season for the Cyclones (9-4), who open Big 12 play Saturday at 4 p.m. (ESPN2) against Oklahoma State (10-1) in Stillwater. “There weren’t three people on me, so that was good, and obviously they have some physical post players, but I was able to piece together a decent performance.
“Obviously that wasn’t enough. We’ve got to be a lot more consistent across the board. It can’t just be a couple players scoring. I think we’re at our best when everybody’s pitching in.”
That happened at times against the Huskies, but not enough when the most storied program in women’s basketball history set a school record with 20 made 3-pointers. ISU has seen some third and fourth-best scoring options emerge beyond Crooks and fellow sophomore standout Addy Brown recently, however — and transfer guard/forward Sydney Harris may be the leader in that regard.
Harris scored 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc in Tuesday’s loss, and could help take pressure off Crooks, Brown and senior point guard Emily Ryan as the Cyclones chase a top-tier finish in conference play.
“That’s in her DNA to score,” said ISU head coach Bill Fennelly, whose team is the only one in the country to face two top-four opponents this season. “And a lot of our (players) have had some struggles with that, and basketball players, as I’ve said many times, they are defined by their jump shot a lot. And if their shot’s not going in, it’s hard to defend, it’s hard to rebound, it’s hard to of the other stuff, because no one cares, but it does impact success.”
The Cyclones care, of course, and now they can turn the page from one of the most rugged nonconference schedules in the country to Big 12 play, where they’ve finished among the top four in each of the past six seasons.
“I think (the tough schedule) set us up perfectly, just seeing some top-tier competition (and) some of the best athletes in the country we’ve played against,” Crooks said. “And to now take that momentum and take that strategy into Big 12 (play) is gonna be really beneficial for us in the long run.”
So bring on Oklahoma State — another top 3-point shooting team that’s trounced most of its nonconference foes.
“Hopefully we can guard it a little better than the last game,” Fennelly said.
Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly, Audi Crooks and Aili Tanke spoke to media members Thursday to preview their team’s upcoming Big 12 opener against Oklahoma State set for Saturday (4 p.m., ESPN2).
Iowa State wrestling held its weekly media availability. Head coach Kevin Dresser gave insight into injury updates and the process of navigating those injuries, the teams overall progress and more. Cody Chittum breaks down his training process and the excitement to be back in action. Daniel Herrera gives insight into the process of getting in college shape.
Dec 17, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies guard Ashlynn Shade (12) reacts after her three point basket against the Iowa State Cyclones in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Iowa State came out with fight in its 101-68 loss to No. 4 UConn on Tuesday night, but thanks to red hot shooting start from the Huskies, not many would know it.
UConn made 11 of its first 13 3-pointers against the Cyclones and entered the halftime break with a 19-point lead.
“That’s just a great team,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “They’re just better than us, they’re better coached than us… and when it’s going bad, we had a hard time stopping it. We’ll see where we go.
“People will say what they want to say, and there will be a lot of negative comments about what we are and what we aren’t, but I think our kids are very resilient,” Fennelly said. “We’ll get back home. Everyone’s 0-0 now. Hopefully, we’ll be ready to start the Big 12 against Oklahoma State on Saturday.”
Huskies sophomore Ashlynn Shade hit each of her first six 3-point attempts and finished with 27 points. Freshman Sarah Strong added another 29 for her team.
Despite an 11-0 run by the Cyclones in the second quarter, UConn still closed out the first 20 minutes with plenty of breathing room.
“I haven’t seen a team shoot the ball like that in a long time, maybe ever. I always joke that basketball is a make-shot, miss-shot game, and they made a lot of them.
“These games were a bit harder than a few that we’ll play in conference,” Iowa State’s Sydney Harris, who finished with 17 points, said on the Varsity Network broadcast. “That will help prepare us.”
Harris’ 17 points were her best so far as a Cyclone.
Sophomore forward Audi Crooks led her team once again with 22 points and six rebounds on the night.
“I’m disappointed with the end result, but when we’re talking about individual things, it’s a little bit of a confidence boost for me,” Crookssaid on the Varsity Network broadcast. “We’re going to rest and reset, and not dwell on the things that happened while we were here. We’ll be ready to go for the Big 12.”
Iowa State will return to the court and start Big 12 Conference play against Oklahoma State on the road Saturday (4 p.m. ESPN2).
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser and defensive coordinator Jon Heacock previewed their team’s upcoming game against Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl (Sat. December 28, 2:30 p.m. ABC).
Iowa State’s Rocco Becht, Jaylin Noel, Beau Freyler and Jontez Williams previewed their team’s upcoming game against Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl (Sat. December 28, 2:30 p.m. ABC).
Nov 9, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) scrambles against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
AMES — Describing Miami quarterback Cam Ward’s pro football outlook is as easy as 1-2-3.
As in, he’s likely slotted somewhere in those three top spots at his position for the 2025 NFL Draft.
But stopping him, or even containing him? That’s an exceedingly difficult proposition — but one Iowa State’s defense must at least somewhat successfully navigate to have a chance to beat the No. 13 Hurricanes at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 28 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando.
Miami’s favored by 3.5 points. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. And Ward will make plays up and down the field, showcasing his elite arm talent and game-altering mobility against a No. 18 Cyclones team decimated by injuries on the defensive side of the ball.
“I just think he’s a young professional,” said ISU defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, whose unit still ranks 33rd nationally in points allowed per game despite giving up 45 in the Big 12 title game loss to No. 12 Arizona State. “Very gifted and talented. You look at the throws that he can or he can’t make — he can make ‘em all. There’s not a throw on the field that he can’t make. And I would guess if he stays healthy, he’s gonna be one of the 1, 2, 3 guys taken in the draft.”
That puts the 6-2, 223-pound twice-transferred Ward in rarified territory, but he’s vowed to play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl rather than opting out. Both the Cyclones (10-3) and the Hurricanes (10-2) should bring most of their important contributors to Orlando in a week and a half — and that speaks to the so-called “cultures” of the two programs.
“(This is) gonna mean everything,” said ISU senior receiver Jaylin Noel, a first-team All-Big 12 selection by the Associated Press this season. “This program’s (given) everything to me and for me to be able to finish it strong, and just play with my brothers one last time, it means the world.”
Noel and fellow 1,000-yard senior receiver Jayden Higgins will tax Miami’s defense, and as long as sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht can elude a strong Hurricanes pass rush, the potential for explosive plays downfield should emerge for the Cyclones. Miami tied for 107th nationally in passing plays allowed that spanned 50-plus yards (six), but tied for 19th in sacks at 35.
“They play hard, they’re physical, they’re really well coached,” ISU’s first-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser said. “I mean, they’ve got one of the best (pass rushers) of all-time as one of their D-line coaches with (NFL Hall of Famer) Jason Taylor, so those guys up front jump off the tape when you watch them. We’re gonna have to have a plan for those guys.”
Same goes for Ward, who threw 36 touchdown passes this season while rushing for four more. He may be without at least one of his top receivers, however, as sophomore Isaiah Horton (56 catches, 616 yards, five touchdowns) is reportedly planning to enter the transfer portal. At least one report indicates record-setting leading receiver Xavier Restrepo might choose to sit out, as well, but even if both are absent in Orlando, Ward will still enjoy an array of swift and talented targets to latch onto.
“It’s a great opportunity to go against great guys, great talent like that,” said ISU cornerback Jontez Williams, an AP second-team All-Big 12 honoree. “Just be able to get in a good game and (get) good work.”
And there’s at least some good news for the Cyclones on the injury front: Head coach Matt Campbell said freshman linebacker Cael Brezina could play after missing the last four games.
“So there’s a positive,” Campbell said.
Having at least one more capable body on the field to help limit the nation’s No. 1 ranked scoring offense would obviously be a major plus for ISU, which will have its hands full as long as Ward’s taking snaps and surveying the field.
“His mind is working all the time,” Heacock said. “Reading coverages, the progressions — you see him doing all that stuff and then he has the ability to make a play last. Anytime you can make a play last at quarterback, it presents a lot of problems.”
Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger watches from the bench during the first half against Marquette in the NCAA men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The following is a news release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES – In the midst of one of the most successful runs in the program’s 118-year history, Iowa State head men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger has agreed to a new contract that will keep him on the Cyclone bench through June 30, 2032, ISU President Dr. Wendy Wintersteen and Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today.
“In just four years, Coach Otzelberger has transformed our Iowa State men’s basketball program into one of the nation’s best. Since his return to Ames, Cyclone fans everywhere are enjoying the many successes that his teams have produced,” Wintersteen said. “His commitment to academic and athletic achievement is very strong and we are excited that he will continue to lead our program for many years to come.”
Introduced as the 21st head coach in program history on March 18, 2021, Otzelberger inherited a program coming off a 2-22 campaign and has since led it to three-straight NCAA Tournament bids, including a pair of Sweet 16s, and the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament title. He owns a 79-36 (.687) record in his fourth year at ISU, including a 29-25 (.537) mark in Big 12 play. His .687 overall winning percentage ranks as the best in program history, while his .537 conference winning percentage stands second-best.
Otzelberger was no stranger to the Cyclone program when he returned to Ames as head coach, having served as assistant coach in Ames for eight seasons, working under Greg McDermott, Fred Hoiberg and Steve Prohm before spending three years as head coach at South Dakota State and two leading the tradition-rich UNLV program before being selected by Pollard to guide the ISU program. Over two stints as an assistant coach and his time as a head coach, Iowa State has compiled a 223-155 record with Otzelberger on staff, which includes six trips to the NCAA Tournament and a trio of Sweet 16 berths.
“The complete reimagining of our program under Coach Otzelberger’s leadership is a testament to his vision and the plan that he and his staff have successfully implemented,” Pollard said. “His continued emphasis on the program’s daily habits has not only reshaped our program but has allowed the Cyclones to quickly pull off one of the greatest turnarounds in college basketball history.
“As college athletics continues to undergo massive change, we believed it was critical to our continued success to secure Coach Otzelberger and Coach (Matt) Campbell for the foreseeable future. Having both head coaches secured through 2032 provides our department with leadership continuity and financial surety during these changing times,” he added.
The only coach in program history to lead multiple teams to the Sweet 16, doing so in the 2022 and 2024 seasons, Otzelberger became the 51st coach in NCAA Division I history to take a team to the Sweet 16 twice in his first three years on the job. He is one of three coaches in program history with 20 or more wins against the AP Top 25 and his 11 wins against AP Top 10 teams are the second-most in program history behind Johnny Orr’s 12.
Otzelberger, Tim Floyd and Hoiberg are the only coaches in program history with four NCAA Tournament wins and his 70 victories in his first three years in Ames were the second-most by a coach in their first three seasons behind Larry Eustachy’s 72. All-told, Otzelberger stands 178-99 (.643) in his ninth season as a head coach overall with five NCAA Tournament berths among his six postseason appearances.
“I’m thankful for the support of our President, Dr. Wintersteen and our Athletics Director, Jamie Pollard,” Otzelberger said. “My family and I love Iowa State University, and the community, and are happy to continue calling it home. Our fan base is second-to-none and we value their continued support as we continue this journey together.”
The third-ranked Cyclones, 9-1 on the season, close out their non-conference schedule with a Dec. 22 contest against Morgan State that will tip-off inside James H. Hilton Coliseum at Noon (Central) on ESPN+.
The terms of Otzelberger’s new contract will be announced at a future date.
Sep 28, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights wide receiver Xavier Townsend (3) celebrates after scoring during the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
What’s up guys?
I was out of town for the weekend, so I postponed the column to Tuesday again.
We’ll be back on Mondays next week after the first round of CFP games and maybe something out of the first week of bowls, but let’s muse.
Iowa State’s transfer portalIowa State’s start to transfer portal season was exactly what anyone could ask for.
The Cyclones took in four commits during the week in positions of need, along with retaining a high majority of its returning contributors for 2025.
Wide receivers Chase Sowell and Xavier TownsendObviously, Iowa State is tasked with replacing two 1,000-yard wide receivers in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
Interestingly, Sowell is listed at 6-foot-4, while Townsend is 5-foot-11 — just like the heights of Higgins and Noel.
Sowell came to Iowa State wanting more targets – and the ability to be a part of an offense like Higgins was for the Cyclones in 2024.
Iowa State will take anything close to that. Behind the top two wideouts, it didn’t have any consistency at the position.
With Townsend, the Cyclones pick up another slot receiver type of talent who was used in a multitude of ways at UCF. He comes in with a longtime relationship with quarterback Rocco Becht, too.
The hope is that these can be 1-to-1 replacements to an extent, but there’s a number of names in the wideout room that Iowa State will want to breakout next season. The positive is that they will all have one more year in the program.
Former UNI captain & defensive end Cannon ButlerThe addition of Butler came more out of the blue than the others, but it was a necessary one for the Cyclones’ depth at the defensive end position.
Iowa State will return starters Tyler Onyedim and Ikenna Ezeogu along with redshirt sophomore Samuel Same and redshirt senior Myles Mendeszoon.
With just four players returning with experience at the spot, grabbing the UNI captain for his graduate season couldn’t hurt.
The 6-foot-6, 241-pounder will have the off-season to put on more size, and no matter what, Iowa State adds needed depth here.
Lindenwood cornerback Tre BellIowa State beat out Kansas, West Virginia, Bowling Green, Kent State and Missouri State to land Bell, a lengthy cornerback.
With the loss of both Darien Porter and Myles Purchase, this can serve as another depth addition.
However, Bell has a pair of seasons remaining and can be a project going forward for the room.
The CFB off-seasonI’m not going to write anything with thoughts you haven’t seen before on the timeline of college sports, but I hope that Beau Pribula’s departure inspires (or creates) some movement.
The Penn State (second-string) quarterback has seen routine snaps for the Nittany Lions this year, but announced that he would enter the portal over the weekend.
Statement from Beau Pribula re: his decision to enter the portal:
“The current NCAA postseason model creates a challenge for student-athletes. The overlapping CFB playoff & transfer portal timeline has forced me into an impossible decision.”
Similar to Maalik Murphy last year. https://t.co/d4CCs7rWVr pic.twitter.com/qFVaGgXTbh
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 16, 2024
It’s one thing for a player to enter the portal ahead of a bowl game, but this might be the first for a regular contributor to be in it prior to a team’s College Football Playoff game.
One theory is that Pribula was offered a spot as the starter at a different program, and the risk of injury would be enough to result in such a move. Some may call that tampering, too.
But let’s be honest – tampering happens and there are more than two ways around it. Whatever the move is, it stinks for the on-field product and it stinks for the teams that are together for 12 games for guys to miss the 13th or 14th or whatever.
That’s the reason I’ll still watch bowl games, no matter how depleted the rosters look.
I can’t imagine what I’d do without a bunch of exhibition football games with mascots that want to k— toast themselves and mayo baths. But that’s what’s great about college football even with the nonsense rules, and I’ll enjoy it as long as we’ve got it.
I hope the NET system in college basketball changes soon, too. But until it does, enjoy the stress-free games the Cyclones run away with. I’ll watch them, but bowl games intrigue me far more.
Nov 4, 2023; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; East Carolina Pirates wide receiver Chase Sowell (5) reacts to his catch against the Tulane Green Wave during the first half at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
East Carolina transfer wide receiver Chase Sowell was set up to visit four other schools after his visit to Iowa State to find the right home for himself and his family.
But those visits were canceled, and Sowell made his commitment official on Saturday.
“Going in, obviously, I was looking for that football situation – that was the main focus – somebody that could develop and elevate my game,” Sowell said. “Honestly, the whole staff cared for me… it just felt like it was family.”
The 6-foot-4, 195-pound wide receiver was a big target out of the transfer portal – especially for Iowa State, which was looking to find replacements for a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
Sowell had visits scheduled to Arizona State, Virginia Tech, Florida and SMU before visiting Ames.
“The football layout for what I wanted was obviously to get more targets and to get the ball in my hands in different ways,” Sowell said. Jayden Higgins is kind of the guy I watched.”
The East Carolina wideout caught 34 passes and collected 678 yards with the Pirates in 2024, good for 19.9 yards per catch.
“I see myself in his game,” Sowell said of Higgins. “Just the way they used him and his versatility in their offense was very intriguing to me. That was one of the things that I was really looking for – being used more (in a more) versatile way, whether that was the slot, catching option routes, or stretching the field in any type of way. Those were key things that I was looking for, and Iowa State had pretty much everything.”
In Ames, Higgins finished the year with 87 receptions and 1,183 yards as the former Eastern Kentucky transfer became a Cyclone great during his pair of seasons at Iowa State.
Sowell, who has two years of eligibility remaining, sees a similar path to what he wants to accomplish.
Higgins, Noel and returning Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht were present for Sowell’s visit, too.
Show me WHO you’re with, and I will show you WHERE you’re at!! There’s some BALLERS in this picture!!! @SowellChase @JaydenHiggins3 @RoccoBecht @NoelJaylin13 @HunterSowell10 @mrsksowell @CycloneFB pic.twitter.com/8wX2dD3M69
— Sowell 33 (@Sowell33) December 14, 2024
“Me and Jayden are kind of the same in the sense of recruiting too,” Sowell said. “He came in with two years left and was coming from Eastern Kentucky- so he was coming from a ways away so I was asking him how he liked it and how he transferred into it.
“They gave me the rundown on how things go, the offense and kind of just how all of the coaches are,” Sowell said.
Sowell began his collegiate career as part of Deion Sanders’ first team at Colorado before transferring to East Carolina last year.
“(Higgins, Noel and Becht were) just saying that all of the coaches do a great job of caring for us as people,” Sowell said. “That was a key thing for me, being looked at as a person before a number.”
It helped make the choice complete for Sowell, and he’s solidified himself as a Cyclone for 2025.
“When I heard those type of things coming out of their mouths, I knew it wasn’t fake,” Sowell said.
Iowa State men’s basketball remained as the No. 3 team in the country when the new Associated Press poll was released Monday.
Iowa State is coming off a weekend sweep that saw wins over Iowa and Omaha, improving to 9-1 on the year.
The Cyclones are one of four Big 12 teams ranked in the poll, along with No. 8 Kansas, No. 15 Houston, No. 19 Cincinnati.
Iowa State will take off the week, as usual, from games for finals before returning to the court Sunday, December 22 against Morgan State.
The full poll can be seen below.
AP MBB Poll
Mon. Dec. 16, 2024
1. Tennessee
2. Auburn
3. Iowa State
4. Kentucky
5. Duke
6. Alabama
7. Florida
8. Kansas
9. Marquette
10. Oregon
11. UConn
12. Texas A&M
13. Gonzaga
14. Oklahoma
15. Houston
16. Purdue
17. Ole Miss
18. UCLA
19. Cincinnati
20. Michigan State
21. Memphis
22. Dayton
23. San Diego State
24. Michigan
25. Clemson
Others receiving votes: Mississippi St. 158, Arkansas 151, Missouri 120, Baylor 115, Illinois 70, Drake 52, St. John’s 50, Utah St. 48, Pittsburgh 28, Maryland 24, West Virginia 19, Wisconsin 18, Georgia 18, Oklahoma St. 16, Arizona St 14, Creighton 12, North Carolina 9, Penn St. 8, Indiana 7, Texas 3, St. Bonaventure 2.
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) shoots the ball between Eastern Illinois Panthers’ forward Jayda Johnston (5) and guard Kiyley Flowers (7) during the fourth quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball home opening at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Des. 15, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State dropped out of the AP Top 25 this week after dropping Wednesday’s Cy-Hawk game and picking up a win over Eastern Illinois Sunday.
The Cyclones are the second team outside the poll receiving votes and one of five Big 12 teams either ranked or just outside the top 25.
TCU came in at No. 12, while Kansas State and West Virginia are just behind at No. 13 and No. 14, respectively.
The full poll can be seen below:
AP WBB Poll
Monday, Dec. 16, 2024
1. UCLA
2. South Carolina
3. Notre Dame
4. UConn
5. LSU
6. Texas
7. USC
8. Maryland
9. Duke
10. Oklahoma
11. Ohio State
12. TCU
13. K-State
14. West Virginia
15. Michigan State
16. Kentucky
17. Georgia Tech
18. Tennessee
19. North Carolina
20. Michigan
21. NC State
22. Iowa
23. Nebraska
24. Cal
25. Ole Miss
Others receiving votes: Alabama 51, Iowa St. 33, Illinois 28, Utah 15, Vanderbilt 14, South Dakota St. 9, Richmond 5, Creighton 4, Oklahoma St. 3, Harvard 3, Mississippi St. 1.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins was named a Third-Team All-American by The Associated Press on Monday morning.
Higgins, already a Second-Team All-American by The Athletic and an All-Big 12 selection, has hauled in 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games. Those totals all rank second on ISU’s single-season charts.
His 1,183 receiving yards are the fourth-most nationally this season.
The South Miami, Florida native has caught a touchdown pass in nine of 13 games and is averaging 6.7 receptions per game, a top-15 mark nationally. Higgins has five 100-yard receiving games this season.
He ranks second among all FBS receivers with a 90.2 offensive ranking on PFF, while his 90.5 receiving grade is also second nationally. Both are tops nationally among wide receivers with at least 100 receiving snaps.
No. 18 Iowa State is back in action against No. 15 Miami Dec. 28 at the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Tickets are still available by clicking here.
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) goes for a shot between Eastern Illinois Panthers’ guard Kiyley Flowers (7) and center Ellie Colson (14)during the first quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball home opening at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Des. 15, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Consider Audi Crooks to be Iowa State’s lead back.
The 6-3 center is essentially the No. 18 Cyclones’ Derrick Henry — to make an NFL comparison — and keeping it simple by feeding her the ball is a wise course of action in most cases.
“It’s like, if you can run the ball and score touchdowns, run the ball,” said ISU head coach Bill Fennelly, who watched Crooks score 30 points as his team eventually pulled away from Eastern Illinois for an 87-55 win Sunday at Hilton Coliseum. “Why do we have to throw it? Just run it — and it’s OK to run the same stuff. We literally ran the same play eight times in a row. That’s OK. They’re literally looking at me like, ‘Yeah, yeah.” We call it boomerang. Just keep going in.”
Crooks went 12-for-16 from the field and six-for-six from the free throw line. Forward Addy Brown added a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, and the Cyclones’ drilled seven of their final nine 3-point attempts to close out the Panthers with a 32-8 second-half run.
ISU (9-3) led by just eight, at 55-47, late in the third quarter before scoring 14 consecutive points fueled by Crooks and three of those 3-pointers.
“I think we just focused more on the inside presence,” said guard Arianna Jackson, who sank two of the Cyclones’ 11 3-pointers. “I think at first, we were a little shot happy, so just focusing on the inside presence and then knowing your shots gonna came back to is was really what we tried to focus on.”
ISU committed 14 turnovers — and most were unforced despite the Panthers’ full-court pressure. The Cyclones started out 4-for-15 from beyond the arc but missed just two long-range attempts the rest of the game while cruising to the lopsided win.
ISU also registered 26 assists on 31 made field goals and shot 53.4 percent from the field while limiting Eastern Illinois (3-6) to 32.8 percent.
“I’m happy about the way we finished today,” Fennelly said.
Next up: A daunting, but welcomed matchup with No. 2 UConn (8-0) Tuesday in the Basketball Hall of Fame Invesco QQQ Women’s Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
“It will be a special way to end the non conference (season),” said Fennelly, who is good friends with Geno Auriemma — the Huskies’ legendary head coach. “The Hall of Fame thing is a great event and obviously to play on national television — hopefully we can give them a game.”
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Wrestling
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
HUMBOLDT, Iowa – No. 13 Iowa State (2-2, 1-0 Big 12) got back to winning ways in its Big 12 Conference opener against North Dakota State (0-4, 0-1 Big 12) Sunday afternoon inside Humboldt High School. The Cyclones won six of ten bouts, including four with bonus points, in a 27-12 victory over the Bison.
Cody Chittum and Daniel Herrera each secured pins in the win while Jacob Frost notched a tech fall and Aiden Riggins won via major decision. Osmany Diversent (133), Carter Fousek (149) and Manny Rojas (165) all made their Cyclone dual debuts.
Iowa State improved to 4-0 all-time inside Humboldt High School, the home of head coach Kevin Dresser.
After North Dakota State opened the dual with a decision at 125 pounds, Diversent got the Cyclones on the board at 133 pounds. The Cuba native used two first-period takedowns to defeat Kyle Burwick, 7-3, in his dual debut.
No. 19 Jacob Frost chased bonus points for the Cyclones at 141 pounds. The Cyclone tallied five takedowns in the match as he defeated Kellyn March, 17-2, in 6:46. In another Cyclone debut, Carter Fousek dropped a tough 4-1 decision to No. 30 Gavin Drexler at 149 pounds.
At 157 pounds, Cody Chittum made his season dual debut against NDSU’s Gabriel Schumm. Chittum overcame a 5-1 deficit to tie the match 6-6 late in the third period before pinning Schumm with a cement mixer in 4:50.
Iowa State led 14-6 at the intermission.
Out of the break, NDSU’s Boeden Greenley got a takedown with less than 30 seconds remaining to defeat Rojas at 165 pounds. Riggins got the Cyclones back on track with a dominant 12-2 major decision over Devin Wasley at 174 pounds, his first dual victory of the season.
Nando Villaescusa gave up the first takedown to Aiden Brenot but still came through with a 9-6 decision for the Cyclones. Villaescusa’s gas tank worked to his advantage late in the match as he fended off several late attacks from Brenot.
Herrera closed out the dual with a pin against Drew Blackburn-Forst in 3:59. Blackburn-Forst was looking to go upper body with Herrera, but the Cyclone managed to ward off the throw attempts.
Herrera cradled Blackburn-Forst twice in the match, and the second one stuck, as he put an exclamation point on the dual.
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
No. 13 Iowa State 27, North Dakota State 12
125: Tristan Daugherty (NDSU) dec. Ethan Perryman (ISU), 6-2
133: Osmany Diversent (ISU) dec. Kyle Burwick (NDSU), 7-3
141: #19 Jacob Frost (ISU) TF Kellyn March (NDSU), 17-2 (6:46)
149: Gavin Drexler (NDSU) dec. Carter Fousek (ISU), 4-1 SV-1
157: Cody Chittum (ISU) WBF Gabriel Schumm (NDSU), 4:50
165: Boeden Greenley (NDSU) dec. Manny Rojas (ISU), 5-4
174: Aiden Riggins (ISU) maj. dec. Devin Wasley (NDSU), 12-2
184: Nando Villaescusa (ISU) dec. Aidan Brenot (NDSU), 9-6
197: Tayshaun Glover (NDSU) dec. #22 Christian Carroll (ISU), 8-5
285: Daniel Herrera (ISU) WBF Drew Blackburn-Forst (NDSU), 3:59
*InterMat Indiv. Rankings (12/10/2024)
Officials: Carlus Mansel, Justin Thaw
Attendance: 1,500
Iowa State men’s basketball secured a 83-51 win over Omaha at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday. Listen to everything head coach TJ Otzelberger, Milan Mimcilovic and Joshua Jefferson had to say in the post-game press conference.
Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) looks for pass as Omaha Mavericks center Isaac Ondekane (24) defends during the first half in the NCAA men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Aems Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Several 3-point attempts clanged off the iron or missed it entirely.
Turnovers came in bunches. And for most of the first half on Sunday, No. 3 Iowa State struggled mightily against outmanned Omaha at Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones and Mavericks were tied, 21-21, with 6:57 left in the first half, but the defense finally clicked into place, igniting a 20-2 run that fueled a sloppy and often sluggish 83-51 win.
“Starting the game, we were very careless with the basketball,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team matched a season-high with 12 turnovers. “It’s uncharacteristic for us but not acceptable. And defensively, I just felt like we were a step slow, and those are things that are gonna leave things to chance. When we’re at our best, it’s getting after people, it’s getting up and down the open court, making plays for one another in the paint.”
The Cyclones (9-1) eventually settled into that favorable flow and outscored Omaha (4-9) 50-to-20 in the paint, and 26-to-16 in points off turnovers.
Keshon Gilbert led ISU with 16 points on 6-for-9 field goal shooting after going 3-for-13 in Thursday’s 89-80 win at Iowa. Forwards Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic added 13 points apiece, and Jefferson grabbed a team-best eight rebounds. Five Cyclones scored in double figures for the third straight game, with Tamin Lipsey and Nate Heise chipping in 11 and 10 points, respectively.
“We’ve got a team this year that everyone can score the ball,” said Momcilovic, who went 2-for-4 from 3-point range. “So I think you’re gonna see a lot of game where we’re gonna have five, six guys in double digits. That’s just how we play. We get everyone involved and I think we played decent offensively today. Can definitely bet better — turned it over a little too much in the first half, but I like what I saw.”
ISU shot 53.3 percent overall despite going six of 20 from beyond the arc. Lipsey and fellow guard Curtis Jones went a combined 0-for-9 from long range after teaming up to drain eight of 15 from 3-point range in the win at Iowa. Lipsey still provided his usually toughness-based plays, however, and Jones notched a game-high six assists in 25 minutes of court time, so their collective shooting struggles didn’t diminish the many positives they bring to the game.
“Points are gonna come and go,” Otzelberger said. “We’re fortunate to have some depth and multiple guys who can score the ball. Ultimately, everybody has to play to their identity, regardless of scoring and shots falling, and Curt had a great floor game even though the shot wasn’t falling for him. Tamin’s on-ball defense and getting us extra possessions — he did a good job in those areas. So between the two of them, there’s nine assists, one turnovers, so that’s part of it, too.”
As for the sluggish start on both ends of the floor? It happens. Finals week begins tomorrow and the Cyclones were coming off an emotionally draining comeback rivalry win on the road. It’s impossible to be fully locked in for every 40-minute span of basketball, even if that is the expectation within Otzelberger’s program.
“They did a good job of speeding us up in the first half,” Jefferson said. “So (we) just continued to take our time.”
Iowa State picked up its second wide receiver out of the transfer portal in East Carolina’s Chase Sowell, according to a report by ESPN’s Max Olson.
Sowell collected 678 yards on 34 catches as the Pirates second-leading wide receiver.
Iowa State beat out Ole Miss, Florida, Arizona State, TCU, Baylor, Kansas, Houston, Oklahoma State, SMU, Illinois, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin to land the wideout.
The Texas native will move to his third school, with two years of eligibility, after starting out at Colorado in 2022.
In Boulder, Sowell was part of Deion Sanders’ first season with the program and the ‘house cleaning’ that coach had in the following off-season.
Sowell will join former UCF wideout Xavier Townsend in Ames as the Cyclones targeted the pair of wideouts early in their first week in the portal.
It’s early in the cycle and the number of commitments skews things, but Iowa State currently has a top 10 ranking in the portal class ranks on 247 Sports.
Keep up with all of the transfer additions an departures at Iowa State by following our Transfer Portal Tracker.
Iowa State added its third commitment to the transfer portal in UNI defensive lineman Cannon Butler.
Butler recorded 59 tackles and 1.5 sacks during the last season with the Panthers.
The Cyclones have targeted defensive linemen early, along with wide receivers, in the portal during its first round of visits for the cycle.
Butler was a captain for the Panthers in 2024 and took his official visit to Ames this week.
Fans can keep up with all of the transfer portal additions by following our CycloneFanatic Transfer Portal Tracker.
Iowa State picked up its second commitment from its first round of transfer portal visits Friday in Lindenwood cornerback Tre Bell.
The 6-foot-3, 191-pound player made things official over social media Friday.
“I was looking for a school that matches or exceeds the culture I experienced at Lindenwood,” Bell said. “Iowa State has already showed a lot of love this week reaching out to my dad showing how much they cared.”
Bell collected 24 tackles, 6 pass breakups and an interception last season for the Lions.
The lengthy corner chose Iowa State over Kansas, West Virginia, Missouri State and Bowling Green.
Bell is a fast prospect at the cornerback spot, and said that he ran a 4.4 40-yard dash two years ago when he last ran one.
The St. Louis native has lived in the area his whole life and hopes to find a new home, which could end up being in Ames.
“I’m also really trying to get away from home – I’m from St. Louis,” Bell said. “I’ve lived here my whole life, so I’m trying to see something new.”
We will have more updates as portal season continues, and you can read more by following our Transfer Portal Tracker.
Iowa State has earned its first commitment of the transfer portal of the cycle in former UCF wide receiver Xavier Townsend.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound wide receiver sat for the final eight games of the year to preserve his eligibility.
In the first four games, Townsend caught 10 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown, including a 50-yard game against Colorado. He also added 88 rushing yards on 12 carries.
During his true sophomore year, Townsend collected 325 yards on 33 catches.
Iowa State offered Townsend out of high school, and the Florida native has a relationship with quarterback Rocco Becht.
The Cyclones are going after a number of receivers in the portal to replace the graduating production of 1000-yard wideouts Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins.
Townsend will have two years of eligibility remaining when he arrives in Ames.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) brings the ball up court against the Iowa Hawkeyes Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
IOWA CITY — Curtis Jones hoisted the shot, then held his breath.
The Iowa State guard wasn’t sure if his late 3-point shot Thursday at upset-minded Iowa would go in or bounce off the iron, but once he saw it tumble through the net, he smiled.
And silently heaved a sigh of relief.
“My first time here, my last time here,” said Jones, whose 23-point performance helped the No. 3 Cyclones complete an 89-80 comeback win over the Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. “Happy to go 1-0 here, so that’s all I’ll ever know.”
ISU (8-1) trailed or was tied for the first 36:55 of the game — until Nate Heise’s deft cut to the hoop met an assist from fellow forward Joshua Jefferson to give the Cyclones’ a 76-74 lead with 3:05 remaining.
ISU added to its newfound lead after that and held Iowa (8-3) without a field goal for one six-minute stretch in the second half. The Cyclones trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, but chipped away to keep it a two to three-possession game most of the way.
“I kept looking at the scoreboard, and not to say my math is great, but every time I looked up there it just seemed like we were always down six, and now we’re down eight,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team won in Iowa State for the first time since 2014, when former star Georges Niang famously (or infamously, depending on one’s rooting interest) blew the fans at Carver a kiss. “You felt like there were times we were playing how we needed to play offensively, but we weren’t as focused on the defensive side as we needed to be.”
That’s because the Hawkeyes rarely missed an open shot for roughly two-thirds of the game. Iowa drilled six of its first seven 3-point attempts and shot 61 percent in the first half en route to a 44-37 lead. But the Hawkeyes’ hot shooting eventually fizzled out, as they made just 32.4 percent of their shots in the second half, while going 4-for-15 from beyond the arc.
“That’s one of the best teams in the country, if not the best right now,” said Iowa’s Payton Sandfort, one of six Hawkeyes who scored in double figures. “And we were right there with them for a long time. Props to them for the way they made plays.”
Owen Freeman led Iowa with 16 points, Josh Dix added 14 and Sandfort scored 13.
ISU’s Jefferson — a transfer from St. Mary’s — notched his third straight-double double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and an ISU-career high seven assists. Fifteen of Jones’s game-high 23 points came in the second half. He sank three of his four three-point tries in the final 20 minutes — as did fellow guard and Ames native Tamin Lipsey, who finished with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
“I made the comment a few days ago about him being a superhero,” Otzelberger said. “And the shots are great, but there are so many plays, hustle plays, rebounds, loose balls — I felt like he was so tenacious in that department. Those plays they’re not 50-50 balls, and they weren’t tonight with them. He commanded and demanded those.”
Heise contributed 10 points and six rebounds while hitting a pair of key shots down the stretch. His tip-in of guard Keshon Gilbert’s missed layup with 7:44 remaining tied the score at 66-66. And his shot that gave ISU its first lead drew loud chants of, ‘Let’s Go State,’ from a large contingent of Cyclone fans who journeyed east for the first Cy-Hawk game decided by single digits since 2017.
“The whole game we were trailing and we just needed to get over the hump,” Heise said. “It felt like were six (or) four points away the whole time and then when we finally took the lead, you felt kind of a sigh of relief. … We just had a lot of guys who made big plays, and that’s what it comes down to.”
As for Jones, eight of his 23 points came when ISU trailed by eight points or more.
“They just keep coming, and coming and coming,” Jones said of Iowa. “Like every shot it seemed like it was going through the net perfectly.”
Until it didn’t. The Cyclones teetered on the brink of defeat several times while taking the Hawkeyes’ best shot. But they somehow found a way to win — the mark of a team capable of making a Final Four run in March.
“We were playing back on our heels,” Lipsey said. “And then later on, we were trying to put them on their heels, make them make a play, speed them up a little bit. We were able to do that.”
Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) reacts after making a three-point shot against Iowa Hawkeyes guard Brock Harding (2) Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
IOWA CITY – After 36-plus minutes of trying, Iowa State finally took the lead down the stretch to secure an 89-80 win in Thursday’s Cy-Hawk basketball game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
No matter who hit a big shot, forced a turnover or what transpired in the second half, it seemed as though Iowa’s lead would keep hovering around two or three possessions for eternity.
“I kept looking at the scoreboard, and not to say my math is great,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “But every time I looked up there, it just seemed like we were always down five, or we’re down six… now we’re down eight. And you felt like there were times we were playing the way we needed to play offensively, but we weren’t as focused on the defensive side like we needed to be.”
Iowa was throwing punches and landing almost every one.
The Hawkeyes started the game making five of their first six 3-pointers, and Iowa forward Ladji Dembele had three of them in the game, never missing from beyond the arc.
Owen Freeman was getting inside the paint, leading Iowa in scoring with 16 by the end of the night.
When it needed a big shot, Iowa got it, but the Cyclones’ confidence never waivered.
“(We) didn’t ever really feel too bad, though,” said senior Curtis Jones, who hit a big 3-pointer late to put the Cyclones up by five. “Like, even when (Iowa) was going on the run, it didn’t get to a point where it was like, ‘we can’t come back.’ And then we just kept chipping away and chipping away… it stayed at about six, I’d say, through most of the second half. And then we finally get over that.”
Jones referenced Iowa State’s loss in Maui earlier this season to now No. 2 Auburn, and the punches his team took aiding in Thursday’s win.
But what stood above all was the Cyclones’ chemistry, when things finally came together in the final four minutes.
“You know, we’re really (an) actually together team,” Jones said. “Like, a lot of teams might say it, but I feel like it shows on the court. Nobody’s really yelling at each other and nothing like that – we’re coming together, communicating with each other, like ‘you got it,’ and things like that, and really meaning (it when we say it). So, I’m always confident when I’m out there with them.”
Iowa State just couldn’t find it’s way to the lead, and tied the game three times before eventually taking its first lead with 3:05 to play.
“We don’t prepare thinking we’re going to play perfectly or everything’s going to go well,” Otzelberger said. “And what really matters to me is how, because I think it’s probably as important of a life skill as you can have – is when something doesn’t go to your way, how do you respond?
“And our guys had that happen, you know, over and over again,” Otzelberger added. “They were so good, we just couldn’t get that game tied until, I think it was 66-all. It’s a big difference mentally when you can get back to even or even take the lead. And I think it shows resiliency from our guys.”
Iowa State got an extra boost late in the game, to pick up its first win at Carver since 2014.
With a large contingent of Cyclone fans in the building, the momentum gradually switched while Iowa State continued to chip away.
Otzelberger attributed it to his roster construction.
“Well, the continuity and our roster certainly is important,” Otzelberger said, in response to a question about the amount of Cyclones in the crowd. “When you’re able to to return as many guys as we (did) – I think at this point in college athletics – having that continuity is important. Because those guys… we’ve been through some really tough fights together already. We’ve had that experience and those experiences under our belt last season.”
And that’s exactly how Iowa State was able to flip the switch when it did, at the final media timeout with the game knotted up at 74.
Iowa missed its next five shots from the field.
“I think it speaks volumes of our guys and how they lead one another, and their ability to just focus on that task at hand, and to have each other’s back, because it is important,” Otzelberger said. “You’ve got to find ways to win, a lot of different ways. And the way that that went tonight probably wasn’t my first choice coming into the game, but (we’re) grateful and fortunate that our guys hung in there and found a way.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Joshua Jefferson, Nate Heise, Tamin Lipsey and Curtis Jones addressed media members following his team’s 89-80 Cy-Hawk Series win Thursday.
Iowa State Cyclones forward Addy Brown (24) drives against Iowa Hawkeyes forward Hannah Stuelke’s (45) defense Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
IOWA CITY – Iowa State let one slip away at Carver-Hawkeye Arena as the Cyclones were downed 75-69 Wednesday night.
The Cyclones held the lead for nearly 33 minutes and were ahead by 10 with less than two minutes to play in the third quarter, which was quickly erased during a 10-0 run.
“We missed some shots,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “There were two times where we had good looks at the basket – didn’t make them. We had players that were not able to get back in transition, and they hit two three’s on us. We missed a couple free throws.”
Audi Crooks led the way for the Cyclones in scoring, going for 31 points and 10 rebounds.
However, she was 3-10 from the free throw line. Iowa State was 6-16 as a team.
“When you’re playing on the road and you’re playing a good team, and they’re playing at the level they were playing, you have to find a way to stop it,” Fennelly said. “You can’t miss two free throws. You can’t miss a layup. You’ve got to get a stop, and we just didn’t.”
Addy Brown scored nine of Iowa State’s first 20 points in the game, all coming on 3-pointers, but was held out of the game for the final 7:56 of the second quarter as well as all but 20 seconds of the third quarter after picking up three fouls early.
That hurt the Cyclones even more Wednesday with the news of Kenzie Hare sitting out for the rest of the season with a lingering hip injury. Hare was one of the team’s best shooters, but will now apply for a medical redshirt.
“(Losing Kenzie Hare) impacts a lot,: Fennelly said. “She’s a starter. She’s a really good player. She’s very tough. She can score. Obvioulsy we’re struggling to find points except from Addy (Brown) and Audi (Crooks) right now.”
Point guard Emily Ryan finished with nine points and seven assists, but was responsible for nine of the Cyclones’ 21 turnovers. Iowa ended the game with nine.
And for the ninth-straight time at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa State goes back to Ames without a W.
“There have been a lot of people that have come in here and struggled,” Fennelly said. “It’s something that we haven’t been able to overcome. We had a chance tonight, I thought… You’ve got to give Iowa credit.”
Iowa’s charge was headed by Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen, who ended with 25 points and five assists.
The senior guard was a constant threat and contributor from the mid-range for Iowa, and the Cyclones rarely had an answer.
Fennelly, speaking of Hare, went on to say that she was a big part of what the Cyclones were doing to that point in the season.
“That’s where the other guys have to step up and now they get the opportunity and the minutes,” Fennelly said. “Hopefully we can find that.”
Hare’s absence prompted a need for others to step up, but no player outside of Crooks or Brown hit double figures. Ryan was the only one to have more than five points in the game.
The Cyclones, who fall to 8-3 with the loss, will have to find it quick, too.
After a matchup with Eastern Illinois on Sunday, Iowa State will travel to Uncasville, Conn. to face No. 2 UConn on Tuesday.
There’s a lot to figure out, and Iowa State didn’t make the progress there that it needed to Wednesday.
Nov 16, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Jacob Ellis (44), defensive back Darien Porter (10) and defensive back Malik Verdon (7) celebrate during their game with the Cincinnati Bearcats at Jack Trice Stadium. The Iowa State Cyclones won the game 34-17. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Iowa State linebacker Jacob Ellis announced on social media Wednesday he would be the latest Cyclone from the 2024 roster to enter the transfer portal.
Ellis, a preferred walk-on turned scholarship player, appeared in all 13 games for the Cyclones this season and is Iowa State’s highest contributing departure to the transfer portal thus far.
The Roseville, California native totaled 41 tackles including 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack during his final season in Ames.
Elllis will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Keep up with all of the departures and new additions by following our CycloneFanatic Transfer Portal Tracker here.
Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Kenzie Hare (12) takes a three-point shot over USC Upstate Spartans guard Gracie Barnes (22) during the first quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball guard Kenzie Hare will miss the remainder of the season, Iowa State announced Wednesday night. Hare has struggled with an ongoing hip injury and after exhausting conservative treatment options, has decided to medically redshirt this season.
“Kenzie has made an amazing impact from day one!” said head coach Bill Fennelly. “I am disappointed for her and our team, but this is the best thing for Kenzie. I know she will come back better than ever and have a huge impact on our team.”
“Due to an ongoing hip injury, we have decided it’s best for me and the team that I redshirt this year,” said Hare. “I look forward to supporting my teammates the remainder of this season and for my next two seasons as a Cyclone!”
A junior from Bartlett, Illinois, Hare appeared in all 10 games for the Cyclones while making eight starts. She averaged 8.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game as Iowa State’s third leading scorer.
No. 18 Iowa State takes on No. 21 Iowa in Iowa City for the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series game. Tip-off is at 8 p.m. and the game will be televised on FS1.
By Rob Gray, correspondent
AMES — Tamin Lipsey described the nightmarish experience as “a blur.”
That’s what Iowa State’s banged-up and standout junior guard told his younger and newer teammates, anyway, about his team’s 75-56 loss two years ago to Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
As for talking to the media about it? Lipsey understandably changed the subject and spoke in general terms.
“Just the fact that it’s a rivalry game and both teams are gonna come out wanting to kill the other team,” said Lipsey, who hopes to help his No. 3 Cyclones (7-1) subdue the upset-minded Hawkeyes (7-2) in Iowa City for the first time since 2014. “So just knowing that it’s another game on the schedule, you can’t take away (from the fact) that there’s a little bit more to it than just one game.”
This rendition of the Cy-Hawk game will tip-off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. FS1 will televise the annual event. And Lipsey’s fully ready for it — even as he deals with the painful bumps, bruises and sprains that his body absorbs as a matter of course.
“Tamin, he’s somewhat of a superhero to me,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said of Lipsey, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery that limited him in summer practice. “He’s a guy that finds ways in adverse situations and challenges to still perform at an extremely high level. Sometimes, when it comes to things with him, they don’t always make sense because he just has such a strong will, intestinal fortitude and toughness to figure things out.”
Lipsey will need superhero-like company if the Cyclones are to end a four-game skid at Carver and beat the Hawkeyes for the third time in the past four meetings. And so far this season, several other ISU players have deftly deployed their own superpowers.
Fellow guard Keshon Gilbert leads the Cyclones in scoring at 17.4 points per game, and is shooting an astonishing 54.3 percent from the field despite taking a number of difficult contested shots at the rim. Guard Curtis Jones (16.3 points per game) continues to shine as a “sixth starter” and Swiss Army knife. Transfer big men Dishon Jackson and Joshua Jefferson showcase their strength in skill in and out of the paint, and sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic is shooting a heady 50 percent from 3-point range while upping his activity level of both ends of the floor.
“I’ve got tremendous confidence in him and he continues to take that step in his development,” Otzelberger said of Momcilovic. “I think for all these guys, it’s keeping the focus on the things that matter most.”
Otzeberger’s daily habits serve as the anchor in that regard and players such as Lipsey apply their diverse powers on the court from there. The Ames native’s poked away two or more steals in six of eight games this season, and no matter the size of the stage, his disruptive style makes its mark.
So while Lipsey’s nowhere near 100 percent physically, his effort-based “superpowers” continue to serve as the Cyclones’ guiding light.
“He’s the best defender on our team,” Momcilovic said. “He runs the offense. Last game he had (nine) assists and no turnovers, so he does a lot, and the scoring will come around eventually for him.”
Lipsey’s compiled a 19-to-2 assist-to-turnover ratio over the past four games, so he’s greatly impacting scoring on both ends of the floor.
“Shoot, if he’s at 25 percent (health-wise), I’ll take Tamin,” Momcilovic said. “I’ll take him no matter what.”
That’s probably hyperbole, but Lipsey’s not defined by mere numbers. Nor is Momcilovic, who could be ISU’s X-factor against the Hawkeyes on Thursday night.
“Whenever he doesn’t shoot it when I pass it to him, I get a little upset,” Lipsey said. “So I’m always telling him to hunt his shots and he does a great job of picking the ones he knows he can make, which is good, but if I (were) him, I’d shoot it every time.”
So don’t expect anything to “blur” for the Cyclones — expect for Lipsey, who turns pain into production every night, home or away.
“A lot of times, adrenaline kicks in, so I don’t really feel the ‘achiness’ of whatever I’m dealing with,” he said. “I just try to go out there and give whatever I can to help the team win.”
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell stands on the field before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
The following is a news release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES – After leading the Iowa State football program to its first 10-win season in the program’s 133-year history and its seventh bowl game in nine seasons, three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year Matt Campbell has agreed to a new eight-year contract that will keep him on the Cyclone sideline through December 31, 2032, ISU President Dr. Wendy Wintersteen and Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today.
“Coach Campbell has built a special football program at Iowa State; one that all Cyclone fans can take great pride in,” Wintersteen said. “His continued commitment to both academic and athletic excellence, combined with his strong character and integrity, make him the ideal individual to lead Iowa State’s football program. He is very deserving of this new contract.”
Named to the 2024 Dodd Trophy and Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Watch Lists, Campbell’s Cyclones roared to the program’s best start since 1938 (7-0) and its first-ever 4-0 start in Big 12 play en route to a 10-3 regular-season record. Iowa State finished in a four-way tie for first place in the 2024 Big 12 regular-season standings at 7-2 to reach its second Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game in five seasons.
The third-longest tenured coach in school history behind Dan McCarney (1995-2006) and Clay Stapleton (1958-67), ISU’s 20-0 shut-out victory at Houston earlier this season was Campbell’s 57th in Ames and allowed him to surpass McCarney as the program’s all-time wins leader. He owns a 63-51 (.553) record in nine seasons as ISU’s head coach and stands 98-66 (.598) in his 13th season as an FBS head coach overall.
“It has been rewarding to see the amazing impact Coach Campbell, and his staff, have had over the past decade on our University, athletics department, and the young men in our football program,” Pollard said. “Given all the uncertainty currently facing college athletics, it was critical that we moved quickly to solidify the future of our football program. Matt is the perfect fit for Iowa State University and I am thrilled he wants to continue to lead our program. Leadership continuity is essential to any organization’s long-term success. This is a great day for Cyclone fans.”
Campbell is the only ISU coach to guide the program to five-straight winning seasons (2017-21) and he owns 51 percent of its 89 all-time Big 12 victories while leading the Cyclones to seven of their eight winning conference seasons in the Big 12 era. He also owns school records for conference victories (8-1 in 2020) and he broke his own school record for overall wins in 2024 (10-3).
“My family and I are extremely grateful for the faith and commitment shown to our program by our President, Dr. Wintersteen, and our Athletics Director, Jamie Pollard,” Campbell said. “It is an honor to be associated with a great university and community, and I am thankful to work with great leaders, administrators and student-athletes. I look forward to finishing the 2024 season strong while continuing to grow this program and pursuing excellence in the classroom and on the field.”
In the classroom, Campbell’s program produced a program-record Graduation Success Rate score of 95 percent to rank second in the Big 12 according to the NCAA’s 2024 academic metrics released last month and the Cyclones annually rank among the league leaders in academic all-conference performers produced.
The 18th-ranked Cyclones will face No. 13/15 Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl, December 28, at 2:30 p.m. (Central) in Orlando, Florida.
The terms of Campell’s new contract will be announced at a future date.
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) eludes the rush of Arizona State Sun Devils defensive lineman Prince Dorbah (32) during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht will return to the team for the 2025 season, according to a report from the Action Network’s Brett McMurphy.
The Cyclones’ two-year starter was pursued by multiple SEC programs following his freshman year, but has already confirmed his spot in Ames for next season before the team participates in the Pop Tarts Bowl.
Although, there was no substantial worry within the program that Becht may depart, at least without his father and current St. Louis BattleHawks coach Anthony Becht taking the North Carolina head coaching job, which now seems to be going to Bill Belichek.
Becht threw for 3,235 yards for the Cyclones this season, adding 22 touchdowns to nine interceptions.
The Wesley Chapel, Florida native has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Iowa State will face No. 13 Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl on December 28 at 2:30 p.m. on ABC.
Iowa State defensive end Kenard Snyder announced Tuesday that he would be entering the transfer portal.
The redshirt junior transferred to Iowa State over the off-season from Louisiana Monroe.
During the year, Snyder recorded eight tackles along with two tackles for loss as well as a pair of sacks.
Snyder originally played linebacker at ULM, but transitioned to the defensive end position before his final year at the school.
He becomes the eighth Iowa State player from the 2024 roster to enter the transfer portal and will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Keep up with all of the departures and new additions by following our CycloneFanatic Transfer Portal Tracker here.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger, point guard Tamin Lipsey and forward Milan Momcilovic spoke to media members Tuesday previewing their team’s upcoming Cy-Hawk game set for Thursday (6:30 p.m. FS1).
South Carolina Gamecocks guard Tessa Johnson (5) drives to the basket as Iowa State Cyclones guard Arianna Jackson (2) guards her during the third quarter of a Fort Myers Tip-Off Island Division game at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla., on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024.
AMES — Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly heard the buzz, looked at his phone’s screen, and smiled.
A timely text had arrived from former Cyclone and Cedar Rapids Washington star Stacy Frese shortly after No. 18 ISU suffered a 76-36 loss a day after Thanksgiving to third-ranked South Carolina — and it put the setback in perspective.
“(She) basically reminded me there was a game that she played in that we scored nine points in a half,” said Fennelly, whose team (8-2) will face another challenging task in Wednesday’s 8 p.m. (FS1) Cy-Hawk game at No. 21 Iowa. “And, you know, that team turned out pretty well.”
Frese helped guide the 1998-99 Cyclones to the Elite Eight and also played in the Sweet 16 the following season. Fennelly said she’s one of his most frequent texters, offering encouragement after tough losses and kudos after big wins.
“Every time, what she says kind of makes sense — and she’s lived it,” said Fennelly, whose team hasn’t won at Carver-Hawkeye Arena since 2006. “She’s lived the good and the bad, and luckily for her, most of it was good, and luckily for us, when she was here, most of it was good.”
The “bad” outcome against South Carolina last month produced a vigorous response from the Cyclones, who have won the next three games by an average of 33 points. So ISU will enter Wednesday’s matchup against the Hawkeyes (8-1) with restored confidence, but the Cyclones still know what they’re up against.
“Definitely a tough environment,” ISU sophomore guard Arianna Jackson said. “It’s a tough game. It’s an in-state game, so there’s gonna be a lot of excitement. Just got to go in there prepared and ready to go.”
The Cyclones led Iowa, 55-54, early in the fourth quarter in last season’s Cy-Hawk game before Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin took over to secure a 67-58 outcome. But ISU’s young team matured significantly in that setback and eventually defied the odds by producing the program’s third straight 20-plus win season.
“We learned we had a lot of fight as a team,” said sophomore forward Addy Brown who notched 14 points and 12 rebounds in that game. “Going into it, we didn’t have a lot of experience and our point guard (Emily Ryan) wasn’t playing. All the hype was around them, so it was a really fun game just to see what we were made of.”
The Cyclones are largely made of the same stuff this season, as the nucleus of that team returned. And they’ll have to bring even more “fight” to Carver-Hawkeye this time— a place they haven’t won since eight months before the first iPhone debuted.
“It’s fun, it’s all part of it, and it would be big for us (to win),” Fennelly said. “Our team’s played a really, really difficult schedule, and we still have some tough ones ahead of us, but hopefully we’re a little more ready for this than we were earlier in the year.”
So the South Carolina game’s relegated to rear view-mirror status, even as its lessons helped ISU navigate the route forward.
“You can be humbled quickly, and that was a very humbling experience for all of us,” Fennelly said. “But the thing I try to tell all of our players is, it’s one game, it’s 40 minutes, (and) they’re gonna shut the scoreboard off. I (tell the team), ‘Learn the lessons, leave the event.’ If you lost a game and you were embarrassed, then take your medicine and move on, but that should not dictate how hard you work, how you view your teammates, how you treat people. If they take away your self-respect and your will — now you’ve got a problem. But if it’s just, hey, you can’t rebound, you can’t score, you can’t guard? That’s what practice is for.”
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback JJ Kohl (10) passes the ball in the University’s Spring Football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
It’s Monday Musings, on a Tuesday.
On a typical column like this, I’d dive deeper into Saturday’s football game and what happened around the Big 12 (and probably tell you about what a guy named Cam Skattebo did that week, but I think we all saw it).
But with Monday being the opening day of transfer portal season, I wanted to call an audible and talk about that, in what this column will probably look like over the 36-ish weeks where there isn’t an Iowa State football game.
Let’s muse.
The first round of portal departuresIowa State had seven departures to the portal on Monday. That number may seem like a lot, but it lines up with many programs across the country at the FBS level.
I’ll dive in to the pair of bigger departures the Cyclones had, and be sure to bookmark this page – 2024 CycloneFanatic Transfer Portal Tracker – to keep up with each and every move.
Redshirt freshman quarterback J.J. Kohl – Kohl was a four-star prospect out of high school, joining the Cyclones out of Ankeny in the 2023 recruiting class.
If you go and look at Iowa State’s 247 Sports page, Kohl is the second highest rated prospect of all-time for the program, trailing only Allen Lazard. Interestingly, also appearing in the top 8 are former Cyclone Hunter Dekkers and 2025 quarterback signee Alex Manske.
Recruiting rankings don’t mean everything, or anything in some cases.
But this move was expected. Kohl played just two snaps – both on run plays – during garbage time this season while Connor Moberly earned the backup spot.
It’s also a product of Iowa State’s in-state recruiting. The Cyclones have landed the top rated quarterback in the state in each of the past three classes – they weren’t all going to see the field. It’s a ‘good problem’ to have and it will be interesting to see where Kohl ends up.
True freshman offensive lineman A.J. Burton – This one is similar to Kohl, but in different ways.
Burton didn’t play this season for the Cyclones, much like all of the true freshmen that signed as offensive linemen in the 2024 recruiting class.
Coach Ryan Clanton’s resume (prior to Iowa State) speaks for itself. He spent four years at a lower level program and finished with 19 all-conference linemen in the past.
It’s evident he values developing talent over time, and it just didn’t work out here.
I would also point to the 105-man roster limit. Coach Matt Campbell has mentioned in press conferences how unfortunate the rule is. Not to mention that Iowa State – which typically had taken in around 10 preferred walk-ons in past classes – only signed one this cycle in Southeast Polk’s Sam Zelenovich.
Someone asked me if I thought NIL had anything to do with it, and I just have a hard time believing that someone would make an offer good enough to draw a player away from a program that hasn’t seen the field at that spot – it’s happened before though.
Kenny Dillingham’s unique approach to the portalI know that he’s fresh on everyone’s minds, but what Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham is doing with the transfer portal right now is different than anything I’ve ever seen a coach do.
In Dillingham’s mind, it’s unfair to players that enter the portal to have to wait until after the playoff games.
He’s encouraging players to enter the portal early on if they’re going to, in order to find the right place and have more options, which includes staying with their current team.
Kenny Dillingham’s perspective on ASU players who are entering the transfer portal:
“Our guys have the opportunity to stay on our football team, and they’re like, ‘We’ll go in (the portal) at the end,’ and I go, ‘No, that’s not fair to you to go in after our run is over. I want… pic.twitter.com/5HW1JbxQ6l
— Blake Niemann (@Blakes_Take2) December 9, 2024
On top of it, Dillingham is quote-tweeting each of the prospects that announce they are going to the portal with kind words about them. He’s a different mind, and it’s really cool to see in today’s era of CFB.
One of the best teammates and most physical players we have on our team!! Absolute joy to coach!!!! Fired up to keep coaching you thru the bowl/playoff! https://t.co/dajhij2GHG
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) December 9, 2024
Someone will be getting a DUDE! And a good person! https://t.co/CC9hTly1IG
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) December 10, 2024
The Cy-Hawk gamesWe’ll get around to hoops around the Big 12 in the coming days, but before that, it’s Cy-Hawk week.
The women’s teams kick it off Wednesday with a top 25 matchup, before Iowa State’s highest ranked basketball team ever (ok, tied for the highest) tests that mark in the rivalry game on Thursday.
What happened the last time Iowa State was ranked No. 3 in the country? The 1956-57 Cyclones were downed by Missouri in their only game that week.
The men will try to prevent that from happening by become the first Iowa State basketball team since 2014 to win at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The women will try to win there for the first time since 2006 – and they came damn close to beating Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes last year.
The week concludes with Swimming & Diving on Friday night. If the Cyclones can win two of the three matchups, they will clinch the overall Cy-Hawk Series win.
It’s another big week. Let’s rock.
Iowa State offensive lineman A.J. Burton is entering the transfer portal, according to a report from Farrell Portal (@FarrellPortal on Twitter/X).
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound lineman signed with Iowa State as part of the 2024 recruiting class, and spent one year in the program before entering the portal.
Out of high school, Burton chose the Cyclones over offers to Washington State, Indiana, Colorado, Colorado State, and Charlotte.
He will have all four years of eligibility remaining.
Keep up with all of the additions and departures from the portal with CycloneFanatic’s transfer portal tracker.
Iowa State Cyclones’ defensive back Trevon Howard (25) takes down Northern Iowa Panthers running back Tye Edwards (2) during the first quarter in the season-opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State defensive back Trevon Howard has officially entered the transfer portal, becoming the sixth Cyclone to do so on Monday, the day the portal opens.
Howard spent the last three seasons in Ames after choosing the Cyclones out of IMG Academy.
He suffered a season-ending injury that ended his 2023 season, and had four tackles in the four games he appeared in for the team this season.
Howard will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Keep up with all of the transfer portal updates with our CycloneFanatic Transfer Portal Tracker.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly, forward Addy Brown and guard Arianna Jackson spoke to media members Monday to preview the upcoming Cy-Hawk game set for Wednesday (8 p.m. Fox Sports 1).
Dec 29, 2023; Memphis, TN, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive linemen Trent Jones II (89) reacts with defensive linemen Tyler Onyedim (11) after a defensive stop during the first half against the Memphis Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State edge rusher Trent Jones II has officially entered the transfer portal, the redshirt junior announced Monday.
I am officially in the transfer portal pic.twitter.com/TCJBvm86Xq
— Trent Jones II (@tj9ine) December 9, 2024
Jones II began his career in Ames as a walk-on, leaving as a scholarship player after four years with the program.
The Eden Prairie, Minnesota native recorded six tackles, including a tackle for loss in his final season with the Cyclones.
He will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Keep up with all of the transfer portal additions and departures with Cyclone Fanatic’s Transfer Portal Tracker.
Iowa State transfer portal prospect Tre Bell on the field during a game for Lindenwood. Photo Courtesy Lindenwood Athletics // Don Adams Jr.
The college football transfer portal opened nationally on Monday, and Iowa State already has a visitor secured for the weekend.
Lindenwood cornerback Tre Bell will be on campus Wednesday-Friday checking out Ames and the program at Iowa State.
“They’ve just been talking about how they see me and how they like my film… stuff like that,” Bell said of his conversations with Iowa State. “We’ll really probably get into more detail when I get up there.”
The 6-foot-3, 191-pound cornerback secured 24 tackles, 6 pass breakups and an interception last season for the Lions.
The long cornerback already has offers from Missouri State and Bowling Green, and has been reached out to by Kent State and Ole Miss.
“I’m looking for a school that matches or exceeds the culture I experienced at Lindenwood,” Bell said. “Iowa State has already showed a lot of love this week reaching out to my dad showing how much they cared.”
Bell is a fast prospect at the cornerback spot, and said that he ran a 4.4 40-yard dash two years ago when he last ran one.
The St. Louis native has lived in the area his whole life and hopes to find a new home, which could end up being in Ames.
“I’m also really trying to get away from home – I’m from St. Louis,” Bell said. “I’ve lived here my whole life, so I’m trying to see something new.”
We will have more updates as portal season continues, and you can read more by following our Transfer Portal Tracker.
Iowa State Cyclones’ quarterback JJ Kohl (10) runs with the ball around Northern Iowa Panthers linebacker Jahsiah Galvan (11) during the third quarter in the season-opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
Former four star recruit and Iowa State quarterback J.J. Kohl will enter the transfer portal, according to a report from 247 Sports’ Chris Hummer.
The Ankeny native spent two seasons in Ames, securing his redshirt during his freshman year.
Kohl was 9-11 passing during his freshman season and rushed for 32 yards during his time on the field. This year, as a redshirt freshman, Kohl was on the field for only two snaps – both runs – throughout Iowa State’s 13 games.
Kohl was rated as a top 10 quarterback prospect in the country before arriving in Ames, and spent time at the Elite 11 camp during his prep days, as well.
He will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Three members of the 2024 Iowa State football team announced Monday that they would enter the transfer portal, and search for a new home in 2025.
Ryan Robinson Jr., a defensive back that transferred to Iowa State after spending his freshman year at LSU will transfer as a redshirt freshman. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Keegan Shackford, a kickoff specialist who spent the last four seasons in Ames, has entered the portal looking for a new spot for his graduate year.
Drake Knobloch, a longsnapper who spent the last three seasons in Ames, enters the portal with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
We will have more updates as portal season goes on with our CycloneFanatic transfer portal tracker, which you can find here.
Dec 4, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) drives against the Marquette Golden Eagles during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Iowa State men’s basketball matched its highest ranking in program history this week when the latest AP Poll release had the Cyclones at No. 3.
The new ranking comes after a week that saw Iowa State take down at-the-time No. 5 Marquette 81-70 Wednesday as well as a win over Jackson State 100-58 Sunday, both coming at Hilton Coliseum.
T.J. Otzelberger’s group comes in as the highest ranked of four Big 12 programs, along with No. 10 Kansas, No. 15 Houston and No. 22 Cincinnati.
Another three Big 12 teams in Baylor (150), Arizona State (143) and West Virginia (30) all received votes in the poll.
The Cyclones were last ranked No. 3 after defeating Wilt Chamberlain and the at-the-time No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks 39-37 at home on January 14, 1957.
The full poll can be seen below.
AP MBB Poll
Monday, Dec. 9, 2024
1. Tennessee
2. Auburn
3. Iowa State
4. Duke
5. Kentucky
6. Marquette
7. Alabama
8. Gonzaga
9. Florida
10. Kansas
11. Purdue
12. Oregon
13. Oklahoma
14. Michigan
15. Houston
16. Clemson
17. Texas A&M
18. UConn
19. Ole Miss
20. Wisconsin
21. Michigan State
22. Cincinnati
23. San Diego State
24. UCLA
25. Mississippi State
Others receiving votes: Baylor 150, Arizona St 143, Memphis 123, Missouri 119, Penn St. 90, Arkansas 89, Drake 67, Pittsburgh 62, Utah St. 57, Illinois 47, St. John’s 43, Maryland 39, Dayton 38, Creighton 32, Indiana 30, West Virginia 30, North Carolina 24, Georgia 21, Saint Mary’s 20, Texas 8, Rhode Island 3, Loyola Chicago 1.
Iowa State Cyclones’ forward Addy Brown (24) reacts after a three-point play against Central Michigan Chippewas during the first quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State women’s basketball rose two spots in this week’s AP Poll to No. 18, setting up a top 25 matchup against No. 21 Iowa in Wednesday’s Cy-Hawk Series game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (8:00 p.m. Fox Sports 1).
The Cyclones are one of four Big 12 programs ranked in the top 25, along with No. 12 TCU, No. 13 Kansas State and No. 15 West Virginia.
Four other Big 12 programs – Utah (14), Oklahoma State (4), Texas Tech (3), and Baylor (1) – received votes in this week’s poll.
Other non-conference opponents Iowa State has played or will play in South Carolina and UConn are ranked at No. 3 and No. 2, respectively.
The full poll can be shown below.
WBB AP Poll
Monday, Dec. 9, 2024
1. UCLA
2. UConn
3. South Carolina
4. LSU
5. USC
6. Texas
7. Maryland
8. Notre Dame
9. Duke
10. Oklahoma
11. Ohio State
12. TCU
13. K-State
14. North Carolina
15. West Virginia
16. Kentucky
17. Michigan State
18. Iowa State
19. Tennessee
20. Michigan
21. Iowa
22. Ole Miss
23. NC State
24. Nebraska
25. Georgia Tech
Others receiving votes: Alabama 73, Illinois 69, California 23, Stanford 18, Vanderbilt 15, Utah 14, Louisville 9, Richmond 8, South Dakota St. 8, Creighton 5, Oklahoma St. 4, Harvard 3, Florida St. 3, Texas Tech 3, Baylor 1.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – No. 6 Iowa State (7-1, 0-0 Big 12) forced Jackson State (0-10, 0-0 SWAC) into 24 turnovers en route to a 100-58 victory Sunday evening in Hilton Coliseum.
It was the 23rd-straight victory for the Cyclones in Hilton Coliseum, the second-best string in school history.
The Cyclones had five players in double-figure scoring and were led by Curtis Jones, who buried five 3-pointers en route to 19 points, and Milan Momcilovic, who tallied 18 points on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. ISU’s 11 3-pointers tied a season high.
Joshua Jefferson posted his second consecutive double-double with 10 points and 13 boards, and Dishon Jackson added 17 points with a 4-of-4 effort from the field and a 9-of-11 performance from the charity stripe.
Nate Heise had a career-high six steals, as the Cyclones had 16 thefts in the victory. Heise’s six steals is tied for fifth on ISU’s single-game steals record chart.
How it Happened
Momcilovic made his first three 3-point attempts to help ISU jump out to an early 17-6 lead. Iowa State maintained its double-digit lead throughout most of the first half despite going through a 1-of-9 stretch from the field.
A 20-6 run gave the Cyclones a 43-17 lead with 2:20 left in the first half. Jones made a pair of 3-pointers in the run, and ISU led 46-24 at the break. Momcilovic had 13 first-half points for the Cyclones.
Dorian McMillian scored JSU’s first 11 points and had 14 of the Tiger’s 24 first-half points.
Gilbert scored nine of ISU’s first 10 points to open the second half to push the Cyclone lead to 58-41.
Minutes later, Tamin Lipsey and Jones hit back-to-back treys, and the Cyclones forged their largest lead at 70-33 with 12:55 left in the game.
The Tigers bounced back with an 8-0 run, but the Cyclones quickly put on a tough defensive stretch, registering four steals in a 13-0 run to move ahead 83-41 with under 10 minutes to play. Jefferson got hot and had six points in the run.
Key Performer
Keshon Gilbert scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half, including nine in the first three minutes of the second period. Gilbert was 6-of-9 from the field and dished out five assists in the win.
Notes
- Nate Heise pulled in career board number 450.
- His next game played will be the 100th of his career.
- His next made free throw will be the 200th of his career.
- Dishon Jackson made nine free throws today to eclipse 200 in his career.
- He also went over 750 career points, netting 17 on the night.
- Joshua Jefferson grabbed his 275th rebound this evening as part of a double-double.
- Tamin Lipsey had a season-high nine assists and moved into number 13 all-time in ISU annals.
- Curtis Jones now has 375 career field goals made.
- He went over 1,200 minutes in an ISU uniform.
- Keshon Gilbert is now one assist shy of 200 at ISU.
- Milan Momcilovic made his 175th career field goal and now has 180.
Up Next
Iowa State travels to Iowa City on Thursday to face Iowa in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. CT on FS1.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – No. 20 Iowa State (8-2, 0-0 Big 12) took the win over Central Michigan (3-6, 0-0 MAC) 82-56 Sunday afternoon to end the week 2-0.
Emily Ryan had the spark in the first quarter scoring 10 as the Cyclones set on the path to the 26-point victory. Audi Crooks put up a game-leading 19 points and 10 rebounds for her second straight double-double, while Addy Brown had a point total right behind Crooks with 18.
Ryan did a little bit of everything totaling 12 points (71 percent shooting) while adding six steals, six assists, three rebounds and a block in 24 minutes of play. ISU totaled 13 steals, its fourth game this season with 10-plus.
How it Happened
Crooks kicked off the contest with a layup off an offensive rebound, meanwhile Central Michigan answered with a triple on its next trip down the court. Arianna Jackson would put the Cyclones back ahead with a 3 of her own, and Ryan followed with a layup causing an early CMU timeout at 7:31. Ryan would make seven straight points as ISU extended a 13-0 run to lead 15-3. Ryan remained hot, muscling in a tough layup through contact while making her free throw, stretching a run to 12. At the end of one, ISU led 31-13.
After the Chippewa’s deficit was extended to 20-plus (38-15), CMU called another early timeout at 7:40. At the half, the Cyclones led by 21 with the scoreboard at 49-28.
With the score at 53-33 with seven minutes remaining in the third, Kelsey Joens sunk a shot from deep and Brown followed with the Cyclones’ fourth straight made shot. Iowa State held the 60-34 advantage at the media timeout while Crooks sent in two straight layups as the quarter drew to a close.
Entering the final quarter, ISU led 70-41. The Cyclones would hold the Chippewas scoreless for over four minutes as the play clock neared zero, and the game would end with ISU up 82-56.
Top Performers
Audi Crooks shot at 75 percent to total her 19 points in the contest while notching 10 rebounds. It is her fourth double-double this season and 12th of her career. Addy Brown totaled her 18 points at 8-of-16 from the field while adding four rebounds, an assist and a steal. Emily Ryan had her second game in a row with six or more steals. Ryan holds the school record with nine set in 2021.
Up Next
No. 20 Iowa State next takes on the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series at No. 17 Iowa. The game begins at 8 p.m. and will be televised on FS1.
Notes
- Iowa State’s all-time women’s basketball record moves to 856-668 (.561).
- Head coach Bill Fennelly‘s Iowa State record moves to 619-315 (.662) and his career record moves to 785-368 (.681).
- ISU won its 10th consecutive game played in Hilton Coliseum, dating back to the 96-93 double overtime win over then-No. 7 Kansas State (Feb. 14, 2024) last season.
- The Cyclones have made at least one 3-point field goal in an NCAA women’s record 937 consecutive games, finishing with six triples tonight. ISU has made 7,601 triples throughout the streak and has finished with 10 or more 3-pointers in a game 287 times.
- Iowa State got to the line 10 times in the first quarter, the most in the opening period this season. The Cyclones converted nine times in 10 attempts by five players.
- With her first 3-pointer of the day, Kenzie Hare scored her 750th career point. Hare has scored 83 points for Iowa State this season.
- Audi Crooks notched her fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds. It is her 12th career double-double.
- Crooks has finished with 10 or more points in 42 consecutive games.
- Ryan finished with six assists today, moving her career total to 854 dimes. The mark is good for 22nd all-time in NCAA Division I women’s basketball and second in the Big 12.
- Ryan also made her lone free throw attempt, extending her make streak at the line to 24. The run began last season in the NCAA Tournament against Maryland (March 22, 2024).
- Ryan’s career free throw percentage of 87.8 percent (295-336) is second in Iowa State program history, trailing only Kelsey Bolte’s 87.9 clip (211-240).
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) eludes the rush of Arizona State Sun Devils defensive lineman Prince Dorbah (32) during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
ARLINGTON, Texas — Rocco Becht stood in the AT&T Stadium tunnel and spoke. As each of the Iowa State quarterback’s teammates filed by, he shared words of support. Then the 6-1, 210-pound sophomore issued a bold, but measured declaration after Saturday’s discouraging 45-19 loss to No. 15 Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game.
“I told everybody coming out of that tunnel, the ones that are coming back, ‘Remember this feeling,’” said Becht, who learned Sunday the No. 18 Cyclones (10-3) will play No. 15 Miami (10-2) in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Dec. 28 in Orlando, Fla. “‘We will be back in this game next year. I promise you that.’”
But first things first.
ISU has a chance to extend its record of 10 wins in a season to 11 against a Hurricanes team that will be without dynamic and likely first-round NFL Draft pick Cam Ward, who might not play to protect his health. The Miami quarterback may be joined by several teammates who choose to opt out for the same reason, but the team’s roster remains loaded with four- and five-star athletes eager to prove themselves in a top-20 matchup.
“Our guys want to finish the right way,” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said on a Zoom call after the bowl announcement.
Campbell, of course, feels the same way.
“We’re in uncharted territory for Iowa State football,” Campbell said via Zoom. “And I think any time there’s a chance to put an exclamation point on some of those things, it’s powerful.”
The Cyclones have never met the Atlantic Coast Conference school, who narrowly missed a berth in the College Football Playoff because of a 42-38 loss to Syracuse to end the regular season.
Campbell is, however, 1-0 against Cristobal. The Cyclones beat Oregon when Cristobal was at the helm, 34-17, in the 2020 Fiesta Bowl.
And ISU— even though they’ll miss out on a first-ever playoff appearance because of Saturday’s loss — will treat the Pop-Tarts Bowl seriously. It’s unclear if any Cyclones will opt of out the game, but with the transfer portal opening on Monday, it’s almost certain there will be some roster fluidity — but not in terms of the seniors.
“We have a bowl game, but we’re going to prepare for that game like it’s the playoffs,” senior cornerback Myles Purchase said. “I’m going to give my best, and I know the seniors are going to give our best in that game.”
ISU will play in Orlando in the postseason for the third time in the past six seasons. The Cyclones lost to then-No. 14 Notre Dame, 33-9, in the formerly named Camping World Bowl in 2019, and they lost to then-19th-ranked Clemson, 20-13, in the formerly named Cheez-It Bowl in 2021.
“Anything you put your hands on in life, you want to leave it better than you got it,” senior defensive tackle and captain J.R. Singleton said about his journey at ISU in general. “Really all ofus seniors, we take a lot of pride in being Cyclones and leaving this place better than how we found it.”
ISU has attained bowl eligibility in seven of the past eight seasons and is 2-4 in those games since head coach Matt Campbell took over the program. Mami opened as a 7.5-point favorite according to Las Vegas oddsmakers, but whether favorite or underdog, the Cyclones are excited to be in the postseason again — despite Saturday’s lopsided result.
ISU lost to Memphis, 36-26, in the Liberty Bowl last season.
“I know we went in last year to Memphis and obviously didn’t win that game, but this year it will be different,” senior wide receiver Jaylin Noel said.
The Hurricanes boast the nation’s most prolific scoring offense, averaging 44.2 points per game, but if Ward doesn’t play, it may not be as formidable.
The Cyclones will try to counter with the nation’s 33rd-best scoring defense— and Campbell will relish one last chance to coach up his senior leaders.
“To me it means the world to me,” said Campbell, who became ISU’s all-time winningest coach this season. “We’ve talked about (my) loyalty to this senior class and pulling us by the bootstraps out of really hard two years ago when the deck was falling against us and easily it could have imploded. These guys refused to allow it to happen. … The great thing about myself, our staff, and the young people that we have, they’ve got great humility, and they’ve got great character. We’ll show up.”
Iowa State will face Miami in the 2024 Pop Tarts Bowl (December 28, 2:30 p.m. on ABC), according to the Action Network’s Brett McMurphy.
The Cyclones finished the season 10-3 with a loss to Arizona State in Saturday’s Big 12 championship game.
Miami did not make the ACC Conference championship, and narrowly missed out on a College Football Playoff bid. The Hurricanes finished the year with a 10-2 record.
This will be the first meeting between the two programs in the sport’s history.
CycloneFanatic will have more on the game when an announcement is made.
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell motions to the referees during the second half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
ARLINGTON, Texas — Missed tackles. Costly turnovers. A lack of attention to detail.
No. 16 Iowa State’s myriad miscues culminated to form the driving narrative of Saturday’s 45-19 loss to No. 15 Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game at AT&T Stadium — but the Cyclones didn’t simply lose the game.
The picked-to-finish-last in the league Sun Devils (11-2) flexed their muscles and won it.
“They executed with high precision,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, who led ISU (10-3) to its first 10-win season with a chance to get to 11 looming in a yet-to-be-determined bowl game. “Hat’s off to them.”
Likely All-American tailback Cam Skattebo rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns and also caught a 33-yard touchdown pass, and ISU (10-3) had no answer for his wide-ranging talents. His redshirt freshman quarterback, Sam Leavitt, rushed for 33 yards and threw three touchdown passes. Arizona State’s defense forced three turnovers to start the second half, which cemented its first Big 12 title in its first season in the conference.
In essence, the Sun Devils executed near-flawlessly in all three phases, and the Cyclones stumbled across the board.
“It just shows what we can be,” said Arizona State head coach Kenny DIllingham, whose team secured its first-ever berth in the expanded College Football Playoff. “With the right direction, with the right players who are committed to the program and committed to work, I think you can achieve anything here.I’ve always thought that. People have always said this place is a sleeping giant. Well, you’re not a sleeping giant if you never wake up. You’re a dead giant, right?”
Fair enough.
The Sun Devils’ long shot hopes of not only getting into the playoff, but contending for a national championships are fully alive. ISU’s, of course, have been eliminated, but a likely warm-weather bowl destination still beckons — whether it’s the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, or the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando. There’s one last guaranteed game remaining for the Cyclones’ star-studded senior class that includes captains such as safety Beau Freyler, defensive tackle J.R. Singleton and wide receiver Jaylin Noel.
“The courage and toughness that they have shown over the course of the last two years is like nothing I’ve ever seen,” Campbell said.
Dillingham feels the same way about his “player-led” program that went 3-9 last season in his first year at the helm.
“Those guys believed in the vision, though it’s hard to believe when you’re not very good and you’re 3-9,” Dillingham said. “Not many people believed with that. But we had a sense of belief because the guys next to me, the leaders on our football team create a sense of belief with the work they put in.”
Same goes for the Cyclones, who will play in a bowl game for the seventh time in the past eight seasons.
“I’m going to play in the bowl game,” Noel said when asked if he might opt out of the game. “Just to be able to have that last moment — it will be a defining moment for this program, to win 11 games and finish better than we did last year. … Anybody that doesn’t want to uphold that standard doesn’t need to go for the ride on the last game. But we’ll be ready for it.”
Malik Verdon stares at the field after Saturday’s Big 12 Championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Photo by Jacqueline Cordova.
ARLINGTON – On the main stage of the Big 12 Conference for the second time in five seasons, Iowa State fell short of its goal again in a 45-19 loss to Arizona State.
It insures that the program will have just one more game remaining in its most successful season ever by total wins, with its new goal being behind a bowl game rather than the new-look, 12-team College Football Playoff.
“It doesn’t get much more deflating than that,” coach Matt Campbell said after the game.
On Saturday, the Cyclones unraveled, rather than succumbing to a late heartbreaker of a mistake.
Clock management came into question late in the first half, while the Cyclones trailed 24-10.
Some coaches were calling for quarterback Rocco Becht to spike the ball with two seconds remaining on the clock,, when the Cyclones had timeouts to call. Somwhere around 15 seconds came off the clock before it, and it would have ran out had ASU coach Kenny Dillingham called a timeout to set up what would be a 16-yard run by Abu Sama, too.
But Campbell wanted to get to halftime.
“We were in a flurry of chaos there, and I wanted to settle the ship,” Campbell said. “That would be the last thing I wanted to do is turn the ball back over to them. It felt like we were getting the ball to start the second half, and there was three seconds on the clock. What are you going to do?”
Cam Skattebo got nearly every yard he wanted, both before and during the dismal third quarter where the Cyclones went from ‘behind’ to ‘finished.’
Abu Sama fumbled the ball on the Cyclones’ first drive. Then Arizona State drove down the field and scored. Rocco Becht’s next pass got deflected, resulting in a pick, and Arizona State scored three plays later.
Rinse, repeat once more with another Sama fumble and Iowa State was down by 35 points.
“I think the thing we prided ourselves on is our ability to take care of the football and our ability to create takeaways,” Campbell said. “We felt like that, especially that margin for both teams, they were plus 11, we were plus 9 coming into the game, I felt that was going to be the key to this football team, the ability to take care of the football. And our inability to do that in the third quarter was just paralyzing.”
To top it off, it opted to kick a field goal on the Arizona State 5-yard line, still down 35. There isn’t much more of a figurative white flag that can be waved.
“We’re a second-half team and today it just wasn’t clicking on all cylinders for us,” Becht said. “We had everything in our hands still. We just needed to execute.”
Contrary to what a play-call like that typically warrants, Iowa State’s players didn’t quit.
Jaylin Noel would score another touchdown – one that Iowa State would have to bring its offense back on the field late after realizing it was behind by 32 and mathematically needed four touchdowns with two-point scores to tie the game, but that wasn’t going to happen.
Becht exited the game after taking a direct hit to the helmet, resulting in a targeting call against ASU. Backup quarterback Connor Moberly entered the game and controlled a drive, but Becht was adamant that he could re-enter the field, despite being down by an insurmountable score.
“Obviously you know Rocco, he was demanding to get back in the game as soon as he was cleared,” Becht said. “I’m proud of him. But I think Rocco will be just fine moving forward.”
A postgame clip of Becht in the tunnel is the latest example of that leadership.
This is what kind or leader Rocco Becht is. Instead of running to the lockerroom after the 45-19 loss, he stood waiting in the tunnel and until he could say something to every single teammate. #Cyclones @KCCINews #Big12Championship pic.twitter.com/IZMCrKwx7K
— Scott Reister (@scottreister) December 7, 2024
And he intends to lead the team in whichever bowl game Iowa State is sent to, which currently looks like will be the Alamo Bowl, according to this report from The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman.
As do the rest of the seniors, at least from what was said Saturday.
“Yeah, it means everything,” Noelsaid. “The seniors are going to play in the bowl game. I’m going to play in the bowl game. Just to be able to have that last moment, it will be a defining moment for this program, to win 11 games and finish better than we did last year.”
“We’re still on pace to make history, right,” defensive lineman J.R. Singleton said. “Iowa State’s never won 11 games, so that’s still in the grasp for us. You’re going to get our all. We’re going to go back to the drawing board, and we’re going to win that game.”
I guess you can’t say too much other than that. J.R. really summed it up,” defensive back Myles Purchase said. “We have a bowl game, but we’re going to prepare for that game like it’s the playoffs. I’m going to give my best, and I know the seniors are going to give our best in that game.”
A disappointing result will sour the season for some Saturday, but as time passes, the season will be remembered as a special one.
Before then, it will feature one more marquee matchup.
“These guys put in a lot of work to get to where we did today, and it just didn’t fall out the way we wanted it to,” Becht said. “We’ve got to be better. We’re a team that I feel like can handle adversity really well. Today at some points we couldn’t, and we have to fix that.”
Goals will reset afterwards, no matter the result of the bowl game, and there just as lofty as they were coming into this season – and that’s a great thing for Cyclone fans.
“At the end of the day, I told everybody coming out of that tunnel, the ones that are coming back, remember this feeling,” Becht said. “We will be back in this game next year, I promise you that.”
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Kyan McDonald (38) during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
ARLINGTON, Texas — Iowa State’s players somberly shuffled through the tunnel to the locker room.
Toward the end of the silent procession, Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell walked alongside senior safety Beau Freyler, his arm draped around the captain’s waist.
The jarring pain of defeat was real. The gratitude gradually became even more real. And in the wake of No. 16 ISU’s mistake-strewn 45-19 loss to 15th-ranked Arizona State in Saturday’s Big 12 title game, a blend of sorrow, simmering rage, and deep disappointment accompanied the team as it drifted into the bowels of AT&T Stadium.
“These moments when you don’t have the success that you want, obviously, there’s temporary pain,” said Campbell, whose team coughed up three turnovers that all turned into touchdowns on successive possessions to start the second half. “The great thing is, we get another football game and the great thing is that what this group has already done is historic here at Iowa State. Nobody can take it away from them.”
Hapless. Self-destructive. Adrift in the margins.
Take your pick of any dispiriting description to describe ISU’s performance in their second Big 12 championship appearance in five years.
They’re all apt and they all paint an unpleasant picture for a Cyclone team (10-3) that has, as Campbell noted, made history in a positive way by recording the program’s first 10-win season.
But the wheels came off completely in “Jerry World” against a crisply-executing Sun Devils (11-2) team that forced those three consecutive turnovers — two fumbles by tailback Abu Sama, and one interception by quarterback Rocco Becht — to quickly quash any hope the Cyclones could mount a second-half rally like they did in the 2020 title game before falling, 27-21, to Oklahoma.
“We’re a second-half team and today it just wasn’t clicking on all cylinders for us,” said Becht, who completed 21 of 35 passes for 214 yards and a pair of touchdown passes to Carson Hansen and Jaylin Noel. “We had everything in our hands still. We just needed to execute.”
The Dallas Cowboys’ stadium is also nicknamed “the Death Star,” and that seemed a more fitting term to describe how miserable Saturday turned out to be for ISU, which allowed Arizona State to score 42 of the next 45 points after taking a 7-3 lead on Hansen’s three-yard touchdown catch with 6:30 left in the first quarter.
“We’re always confident,” said Noel, a senior captain that finished with five catches for 64 yards and a 25-yard touchdown. “We were moving the ball how we wanted to (early) but it came down to the small details, and the small details weren’t there when we needed them.”
Becht left the game early in the fourth quarter after being hit by Arizona State safety Shamari Simmons, who was called for targeting on the play and ejected. After being examined by ISU’s medical staff, Becht was cleared to return, but the game’s outcome had long been cemented.
“Rocco is a tough customer,” said Campbell, whose Cyclones suffered their third-most lopsided loss since 2016. “We quadruple-checked to make sure to make sure if we were gonna put him back in the game, but if you know Rocco, he was demanding to get himself back in there when he got cleared. Proud of him and I think Rocco will be just fine moving forward.”
A win would have propelled ISU into a first-ever College Football Playoff berth, but now the Cyclones must await news of their bowl destination. And if Noel and fellow seniors such as defensive tackle J.R. Singleton are any indication, expect there to be few opt-outs from that celebrated group.
“Going out there and getting a win against whoever we play, wherever we play, it means the world,” said Singleton, who is also a captain. “We’re still on pace to make history, right? (The program’s) never won 11 games and that’s still within grasp for us. So we’re gonna give it our all, we’re gonna go back to the drawing board, and win that game.”
Arizona State’s star back Cam Skattebo racked up 219 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving). Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt did damage with both his arm and his legs, converting on third and fourth-down plays with runs, and beating the Cyclones’ secondary with 12 completions for 219 yards and three touchdowns.
“It was on us to get a stop and we didn’t,” Singleton said. “There’s no fingers to point. It’s a team effort. Team is what got us here and we lost as a team.”
So the season’s not over the Cyclones, but one potential historic feat — reaching the playoffs — has been thwarted. All that’s left, as Singleton said, is to go win one last game.
“It’s an honor that we get some more time with these guys,” Campbell said. “And we’re gonna do everything within our power to send these guys out the right way.”
Iowa State’s Rocco Becht, Jaylin Noel, JR Singleton and Myles Purchase give their thoughts on the teams performance against Arizona State and what held them back and looking ahead to the bowl game.
Head coach Matt Campbell gives his thoughts on Iowa State’s Big 12 Championship loss against Arizona State.
Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (4) celebrates with his teammates after their 35-31 win against the Kansas Jayhawks at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Oct. 5, 2024. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Chris Williams (9-3)
Big hit for Arizona State to be without its top receiver. I feel like Iowa State’s offense might out-perform playing indoors compared to what it has experienced for most of the last month and a half. Cam Scattebo is insane, but Iowa State’s defense generally fares well against semi one-dimensional teams. It feels like Iowa State has unfinished business in Arlington. Iowa State 27, Arizona State 23
Rob Gray (9-3)
Iowa State vs. Arizona State – The Sun Devils lost their 1,000-yard receiver, Jordyn Tyson, to injury, so they’ll likely lean even more heavily on talented tailback Cam Skattebo to post big gains in the ground and through the air. Arizona State’s quarterback. Sam Leavitt, has been efficient and productive (21 touchdown passes, five interceptions) with Tyson in the lineup, so expect the Cyclones’ defense to work hard to cover up tight end Chamon Metayer (five touchdown grabs) in order to force some mistakes. ISU’s been good at controlling the clock offensively most of the time in recent weeks, and if it can get solid production from it’s run game — and win the turnover battle — a playoff berth looms on the horizon. Iowa State 27, Arizona State 24
Connor Ferguson (10-2)
Iowa State takes advantage of Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson’s absence and limits Cam Skattebo (as much as a defense can try to do). The game gets harder for Arizona State with the lack of special teams it has in the kicking department – they were having tryouts for a new one six weeks ago and the replacement is 1/3 on field goals. The Cyclones have some extra motivation from being completely left off all-Big 12 offense and defense first teams and brings home the biggest win in program history in Arlington. Iowa State 30, Arizona State 23
Jeff Woody (10-2)
I feel probably more confident than I should, because there has hardly been a team as hot as the Devils. But without Tyson, Iowa State can focus hard on the Sun Devil’s dynamic running game. But the ultimate difference is special teams, where ISU has a distinct advantage. Cyclones win a fun one. Iowa State 27, Arizona State 21
Grant Mahoney (11-1)
With ASU’s top WR, Jordyn Tyson, out indefinitely with an injury, the Sun Deviled Eggs will look to run their offense even more through Cam “run through a MFs face” Skattebo. They have other serviceable weapons at WR and will need another WR to step up in Tyson’s absence. If the clones can contain Skattebo (easier said than done) and not allow a no-name WR to go off, I expect ISU to win this by two scores and punch their ticket to the CFP – using the lack of first team all big 12 selections (0) as added motivation. Iowa State 31, Arizona 21
Jackson Pence (10-2)
This has been a season of first’s for Matt Campbell and his program. The first 10 win season in school history, the first 7-0 start since the 1900s, etc. I think the staff learned a lot about the 2020 title game and are ready to continue this historic season. The defense played so well last week against a very good Kansas State rushing attack. But Arizona State is a whole other beast. Cam Skattebo might be the best running back in the nation with over 1,400 yards rushing. Iowa State will need to keep him in check in order to have a chance to win this game. There is no doubt the offense has to be better in a game with this magnitude. Rocco Becht can’t afford to make any catastrophic mistakes. I do think that Iowa State will be able to run the ball some to take a little pressure off of Rocco. Iowa State has a chance to play in a College Football Playoff game. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that would happen. They are one win away. Iowa State 34, Arizona State 24
Mar 10, 2022; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach TJ Otzelberger yells from the sideline in the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
Stevie Taylor is no longer with the Iowa State men’s basketball program, CycloneFanatic can report.
The news was first reported by Alec Busse of 247 Sports.
Taylor was in his second season with the staff, serving as an assistant coach after being the assistant director of player development in his first season.
Taylor played college basketball at Ohio, and served as the Director of Operations at Toledo during the 2022-23 season before joining the staff in Ames.
Prior to being at Toledo, Taylor spent time on staff at Nicholls, Langston, and Boston College.
By Rob Gray, correspondent
AMES — The ghosts of the past can haunt or inspire. Long-lost setbacks can create present doubts, but also invite elucidating introspection — and prime opportunities for growth and redemption.
That’s the delicate but potentially powerful emotional equation that No. 16 Iowa State’s grappling with as it prepares for its second-ever trip to the Big 12 title game Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The Cyclones (10-2) enter the arena against No. 15 Arizona State (10-2) clear-eyed and level-headed, intent on delivering for a full 60 minutes or more as a chance to attain a first-ever league crown hangs in the balance.
“Any coach, I think, man, you always reflect back on, never the wins, but you reflect on the losses,” said Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell, whose team lost to Oklahoma, 27-21, in the 2020 conference championship. “That game, that moment, was a great learning opportunity for all of us.”
Saturday’s game kicks off at 11 a.m. ABC will carry it nationally. The Sun Devils aren’t underdogs, but they are upstarts; picked to finish last in their first year in the league, and now a slight favorite to win it all.
“We’re gonna go into an environment that a lot of people haven’t been in before,” said ISU wide receiver Jaylin Noel, who joined fellow senior Jayden Higgins as a 1,000-yard receiver this season in last week’s win over Kansas State. “There’s gonna be bright lights. It’s gonna be a big stadium. It’s gonna be very loud, so just keeping our poise and not letting the moment get too big for us — our mindset is, It’s just the next game.”
Discipline. Determination. A firm grasp of what matters in each moment.
These principles guide the Cyclones — and outside of a two-game hiccup — they’ve executed that ongoing gameplan with aplomb and precision. ISU is 4-1 in one-score games and quarterback Rocco Becht’s led the team on game-winning drives in the fourth quarter three times this season. All of that, along with the Big 12’s best scoring defense (19.3 points per game allowed), has propelled the Cyclones into a rarefied airspace they haven’t been since that 2020 season that most fans couldn’t enjoy in person because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was kind of a crazy season,” ISU’s veteran defensive coordinator Jon Heacock said. “And I think our guys were just, man, it was the first time, and it’s a big game, and I felt like we were in the game and maybe didn’t play our best, or get ready to play our best. I’ve tried to share some of the scars that we have from that game.”
And learned from them. The passage of time has smoothed the surface of those disfiguring marks, but they remain visible — and instructive — for those willing to truly look. The Cyclones trailed the Sooners, 24-7, at halftime in that 2020 title game, but stormed back to have a chance to win at the end after Heacock’s defense limited Oklahoma to three second-half points. Record-setting quarterback Brock Purdy drove ISU to the Sooners’ 34-yard line with 1:05 remaining, but on 3rd and 11, he was flushed from the pocket and forced to loft up a prayer that Oklahoma intercepted to seal the outcome.
Execute one more block, and perhaps Purdy has time to get a first down. Execute a few more plays, and maybe the Cyclones reach the end zone and emerge victorious, 28-27. They were that close, which makes the loss hurt even more, but as Campbell said, teachable moments were etched in that painful history.
“That one, obviously you sting because you felt like, man, you played pretty good football that day but not good enough,” Campbell said. “I think that was another great lesson of what did you learn? How do you grow? And if you ever get an opportunity to be back in that moment, what can you do best to continue to grow forward?”
Every team is different, he added. And this team has embraced those “scars” and made them badges of honor; guideposts along a path that remains gilded with glittering opportunities as long as those hard lessons have been fully absorbed.
“I didn’t know my life would bring me to this moment,” graduate transfer offensive tackle Jalen Travis said. “To have a chance to compete on that very same stage that I was watching on TV four or five odd years ago, it truly is a dream come true for me.”
Jeff Woody dives into Arizona State’s defense and how the Cyclones can attack it.
Jeff Woody gives a full film breakdown of how Iowa State’s defense can look to stop the Sun Devils.
Jeff Woody delivers his 3 Keys to Victory in Iowa State’s matchup with Arizona State.
Kansas State Wildcats cornerback Justice James (5) knocks out the ball ball from Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) during the first quarter in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Jaylin Noel was named Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year to highlight the Big 12 Conference postseason awards for the Cyclones, announced Thursday by the conference office after a vote by the coaches.
In addition to his Co-Special Teams Player of the Year honor, Noel was also an All-Big 12 First Team selection as a kick returner/punt returner.
Four Cyclones – Stevo Klotz (FB), Jayden Higgins (WR), Jontez Williams (DB) and Malik Verdon (DB) – were named to the All-Big 12 Second Team.
In total, 15 Cyclones were recognized by the Big 12 coaches.
Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year/All-Big 12 First Team
Jaylin Noel, KR/PR, Sr., Kansas City, Mo.
Capable of flipping the field for the Cyclones, Noel was one of the top punt returners in the Big 12 during the regular season. He averaged 15.3 yards per return, the second-best mark in the league. On 13 attempts, Noel totaled 199 punt return yards with his longest being a 36-yarder. The senior also handled kick return duties early in the season and averaged 17.7 yards per return.
All-Big 12 Second Team
Stevo Klotz, FB, RSr., Chaska, Minn.
The senior tight end spent much of his time in the backfield as a fullback and was rewarded for his efforts by earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors. It marks the fourth-straight season a Cyclone tight end has earned All-Big 12 honors as a fullback, and his second consecutive honor. In addition to paving the way for the Cyclone running backs, Klotz had seven receptions, including a 26-yard touchdown reception against Cincinnati.
Jayden Higgins, WR, Sr., South Miami, Fla.
Higgins has made more of an impact than perhaps any two-year transfer in Cyclone football history. An All-Big 12 honorable mention last year, Higgins raised his game and was rewarded with second-team honors this season. The Miami, Florida native hauled in 80 receptions for 1,068 yards and nine touchdowns – all top-five marks in the league. Higgins scored a touchdown in nine of 12 games and he is just the fourth Cyclone in program history with 80 receptions in a season.
Jontez Williams, DB, RSo., Starke, Fla.
Williams turned in noteworthy season as part of a stout Cyclone secondary. He became the first Cyclone since 1982 (Ronnie Osborne) to have an interception in four consecutive games. His four picks were tied for the third-most in the Big 12 this season. Williams was a key piece on a defensive unit that was first in the Big 12 in scoring defense (19.6) and yielded just 156.9 passing yards per game in the regular season, the nation’s third-best mark.
Malik Verdon, DB, RJr., Cincinnati, Ohio
Verdon followed his 2023 All-Big 12 honorable mention honors with second-team recognition in 2024, starting 11-of-12 games as a vital part of Iowa State’s aforementioned secondary. Verdon was Iowa State’s leading tackler with 75 tackles, including 3.5 for loss. The Cincinnati, Ohio native tallied five PBU, an interception and forced two fumbles.
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Rocco Becht (QB), Jaylin Noel (WR), Benjamin Brahmer (TE), Jarrod Hufford (OL, OLOY), Jalen Travis (OL), Kyle Konrardy (K), Domonique Orange (DL), J.R. Singleton (DL), Jeremiah Cooper (DB), Beau Freyler (DB), Darien Porter (DB)
No. 12 Iowa State is back in action this week as they head to Las Vegas for one of the toughest regular season tournaments in college wrestling, the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. The Cyclones enter the weekend as the defending champions after taking the 2023 CKLV team title.
The action starts on Friday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. (CT).
During weekly media availability, head coach Kevin Dresser shared that on top of those traveling to Las Vegas, they will be sending wrestlers to compete in the Cleveland State and Buena Vista Open tournaments.
What did Dresser have to say about the lineup?125 pounds
Kysen Terukina beat Adrian Meza for the starting spot at 125 pounds and was supposed to be the starter against Iowa. However, Terukina woke up with a stiff neck and was pretty sore on the Friday before the dual. Terukina is expected to return against North Dakota State on Dec. 15. The plan is to redshirt Meza and have Terukina as the permanent starter.
Here’s what Dresser had to say about Meza: “Adrian has done a great job. He’s 8-0 and he’s had to wrestle off like four times. He’s really stepped up and done a good job for us. I love his professionalism. I love how he approaches making his weight and all that kind of stuff. As he gets better at wrestling, like we all needed to when we were freshman, he’s got a chance to really help us down the road. He got our wrestler of the week award last week. We call it our big head award.”
Here’s what Dresser had to say about Terukina: “We’ve seen a guy that’s really, really good. I really like the guy we’ve seen in the last 2 months in the way he approaches everything. He’s not hurt that bad, but to the point that we don’t want his first weekend to be two days of Las Vegas because then all we’re doing is setting ourselves up for sitting him three or four more weeks. If the right word is babying him, we’re babying him a little bit to get him feeling good so that when we turn him loose on Dec. 15 we can just rock n roll. If he gets it going, and I really like what I see right now, if that guy gets it going, he’s going to go a long way in March.”
141 pounds
The team held a wrestle off between Jacob Frost and Zach Redding. Frost earned the start for the Cliff Keen Invitational.
157 pounds
At 157, Paniro Johnson is the starter. Cody Chittum will travel with Coach St. John to the Cleveland State open. Dresser mentioned they have some things to figure out in regards to whether or not Chittum will redshirt.
165 pounds
The gut punch news of the week was that 165 pounder Connor Euton tore his ACL in matchup against Michael Caliendo in the Cy-Hawk dual. He will be out for the rest of the season and will use a medical redshirt. That will give him three more seasons with the Cyclones. Here’s what Dresser had to say: “Connor Euton showed the wrestling world just how competitive and tough he is.”
MJ Gaitan will return to the starting lineup.
285 pounds
Where is Yonger Bastida? Dresser shared that he’s still not 100 percent.
“Yonger went in there (Cy-Hawk dual) and probably wasn’t quite ready to go. Didn’t injure anything worse, but didn’t help ourselves there. So we’re going to sit Yonger probably until Nashville, which is Dec. 21,” said Dresser. “That’s when he’s scheduled to be released by the doctors. We didn’t injure anything, if I held my cards to anything Yonger did not get to train at all before that match in Iowa City. He just wanted to go out there and compete and so so we, obviously we’re a little bit banged up right now, and sometimes that just goes in streaks and we’re in that streak.”
Cliff Keen Invitational Starting Lineup and Pre-seeds. Plus, those traveling to other tournaments“You know, last year, what I liked is we got done with a pretty tough loss on a Sunday here at Hilton against Iowa, and then we had to leave Wednesday to go to Vegas. And then Friday and Saturday, we win. You know, last year was no different than this year. Seventeen of the top 20 teams in the nation are going to be in Las Vegas, and it was the same way last year. The only teams that aren’t there are, obviously, two or three really good ones: Penn State, Minnesota, and Iowa,” said Dresser. “It’s good for us. It’s going to be a lot of questions answered, and it’s a chance, really. I mean, you know, if you do well as an individual in this, you really set yourself up. I think Evan Frost is a perfect example. Evan got to the finals last year and went to the NCAA tournament. He was, what, a top-seven seed, top-six seed. So he really set his season up nice. So that’s why this tournament is important.”
125: Adrian Meza – No. 9
133: Evan Frost – No. 2
141: Jacob Frost – Unseeded
149: Anthony Echemendia – No. 3
157: Paniro Johnson – No. 5
165: MJ Gaitan – No. 5
174: Aiden Riggins – Unseeded
184: Evan Bockman – No. 5
197: Christian Carroll – No. 9
285: Daniel Herrera – Unseeded
Teams competing at the tournament: App State, Arizona State, Binghamton, Cal Baptist, Cal Poly, CSU Bakersfield, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Hofstra, Michigan, Nebraska, NC State, Navy, Northwestern, Ohio State, Ohio, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Purdue, Rider, Sacred Heart,
South Dakota State, Stanford, UNI, Utah Valley, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wyoming.
Find more detailed tournament information here.
CLEVELAND STATE OPEN125: Ethan Perryman
157: Cody Chittum
165: Manny Rojas
197: Sawyer Bartelt
BUENA VISTA OPEN133: Canon Acklin, Osmany Diversent, Blake Gioimo, Garrett Grice
157: Kane Naaktgeboren, Christian Stanek, Logan Stotts
165: Gabe Carver
174: Cade Schmidt
184: Cole Carlucci, Caleb Helgeson, Nando Villaescusa
197: Jacob Cates, McCrae Hagarty, Nate Schon, Rowan Udell
285: Xavier Bruening, CJ Carter
*Wrestling attached
Dec 4, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; The Iowa State Cyclones bench celebrates after Cyclones guard Nate Heise (0) made a basket against the Marquette Golden Eagles in the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES – Iowa State closed out its game Wednesday on a 20-9 run in the final nine minutes and change to earn an 81-70 win over No. 5 Marquette at Hilton Coliseum.
After a 10-0 run from Marquette tied the game at 61 with 9:07 to play, Iowa State flipped the script.
“We were in a similar position in the Auburn game, where we were up and then we came back,” coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “We reclaimed the lead, which is hard to do and I think our guys – from that experience – you know that good teams are going to keep coming. So, it felt like we had a more concerted effort defensively to square the ball, guard the dribble, and keep it out of the paint to where they were taking longer jump shots.”
The game changed when Nate Heise got put on Marquette’s Kam JonesDuring the timeout, Otzelberger put Nate Heise in the game with the assignment to guard Marquette point guard Kam Jones.
“Kam Jones, specifically – he was great for them making plays and setting guys up, and then ultimately, Nate Heise and the job he did in that second half guarding Jones… man, he was phenomenal,” Otzelberger said. “He was physical. He was competitive. He was tough. Nate was a big time difference-maker for defensively down the stretch, for sure.”
Along with limiting Jones to just two points in the final nine minutes, Heise had a pair of high energy three’s that caught the Hilton crowd’s attention.
The senior hit a 3-pointer to give the Cyclones their biggest lead of the game at 15 points with 3:06 to play, and later sent a ball to the student section with a block he had on the defensive side.
“Well, we knew that Nate Heise is a really good basketball player on the defensive side, specifically as a shut down defender,” Otzelberger said. “He did such a tremendous job – I have so much confidence in him. And I’ll tell you, one of my favorite moments to date from this season was the 3-pointer that he hit. The courage to take that shot – it’s a big shot – with as much as he did defensively, that’s a big time play. And he brings big energy plays for us, he had the dunk in the first half on the cut. I mean he brings a lot of energy for us on the court.
“Then to do what he did defensively – he was locked in and it was really great to see,” Otzelberger said.
The big’s had their best game as a unitThe duo of Dishon Jackson, Joshua Jefferson each stood out in different ways during Iowa State’s victory – its first in program history over a top 5 team in non-conference play at Hilton Coliseum.
Both Jackson and Jefferson were monstrous on the boards, combining for 19 rebounds as well as 26 points together.
Down the stretch, Jefferson iced the game off of a defensive stop, throwing a 360-spin move at the Marquette defender and finishing at the rim for an and-1.
“Those guys are really hard workers. They’re guys that are skilled – both of them. They have great hands. They can finish. They convert at the foul line and they pass it well. I think with Dishon, you’re seeing him in a lot more of a rhythm. His confidence is a lot higher. He’s communicating better. His body language and energy on the court is great.
“And, I mean Joshua, what a difference maker he was tonight,” Otzelberger said. “He knew he had to attack in the paint and at the rim on the glass. I think with those guys – you’re continuing to see them take steps forward. We had confidence in what they could do when we recruited them and you’re seeing them elevate their game against competition.”
If Iowa State can get play like that out of those two on a routine basis, the ceiling will certainly get higher.
Tamin Lipsey isn’t 100 percent right nowThe point guard finished with only one point to his name on an 0-4 shooting night with four assists.
Otzelberger confirmed reports that Lipsey isn’t fully healthy at this point in the year Wednesday.
“Tamin’s on-ball defense – I would put up against anyone in the country,” Otzelberger said. “His competitive spirit, his toughness, his physicality and his focus… he’s truly special that way. He commands our team. He’s still like everybody out there – we talk about what Keshon (Gilbert) brings… well, when Tamin’s out there, he just has a command and a demeanor, and a veteran experience with how he carries himself.
“He’s banged up right now,” Otzelberger said. “He’s not anywhere near 100 percent, and he lays it on the line and does whatever we need to be effective. I’m really proud of Tamin. I thought he did great tonight. You can’t look at the stats and say, ‘ah he had one point or four assists, or anything to do with anything.’ He was a very impactful player… hopefully, we can get him healthy so that he can be the player that we all know that he can be and perform at that level. We’ll continue to look into that and do what we can to support him. I love Tamin Lipsey. He’s a winner.”
Iowa State will return to the court Sunday to face Jackson State before it travels to Iowa City next Thursday for its annual Cy-Hawk Series matchup with Iowa.
Iowa State cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) looks for a shot around Marquette Golden Eagles’ forward David Joplin (23) and guard Chase Ross (2) during the first half in the NCAA men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State senior guard Keshon Gilbert stood bloodied, his split nose covered with clotting cream.
The Hilton Coliseum roared as the star senior point guard reentered Wednesday’s bruising and skin-breaking Big 12-Big East challenge game between the No. 6 Cyclones and fifth-ranked Marquette — and his usual No. 10 jersey had been swapped out for a crisp and clean No. 51.
But had he ever worn that number before at any level?
“No, sir,” said Gilbert, who scored a game-high 24 points as ISU (6-1) outlasted the previously unbeaten Golden Eagles, 81-70, before a sellout crowd of 14,267.
Fittingly, the most famous and gritty Cyclone to wear that number recently was forward Jared Homan, who pounded the glass and clobbered opposing players in the mid-2000s. On Wednesday, Gilbert sliced and diced his way into the paint with abandon, scoring 18 points on 5-for-8 shooting in the first half. He also went 8-for-8 from the free throw line and doled out a team-best seven assists.
“It’s really difficult to (stop him),” said Golden Eagles head coach Shaka Smart, whose team hadn’t surrendered more than 74 points to opponents this season. “I mean, nobody’s done it yet. Every team that Iowa State’s played, I’m sure, has had the game plan of, ‘OK, we’ve gotta keep this guy out of the paint.’ And he keeps getting into the paint. I think it starts with how he is in transition. If you’re really, really greedy in a good way — we always say, be greedy in a good way — about getting in the paint, then you’ve got to fight to go in there before the defense is set, and he’s doing a phenomenal job of that.”
Transfer forward Joshua Jefferson added 15 points and 12 rebounds for ISU, and fellow transfer big man Dishon Jackson chipped in 11 points, seven boards and two blocked shots. Jefferson’s end-to-end fastbreak spin move for a layup that resulted in a three-point play provided the highlight answer to Marquette’s 10-0 run in the second half that lad made the score 61-61 with 9:06 left. Once Jefferson’s free throw dropped, the Cyclones led 71-61 — and the former St. Mary’s standout basked in the home crowd’s rousing cheers.
“I was like, ‘I’m really happy I came here,’” said Jefferson, who drained seven of his 10 field goal attempts. “I made the best decision for my future. It’s been great since (I got) here. It feels like home.”
ISU tacked on four more points to extend its win-sealing splurge to 14-0 and after the Golden Eagles’ Royce Parham interrupted the run with a mid-range jumper, the Cyclones’ Nate Heise drilled a 3-pointer. Heise had already greatly impacted the game with stern defense and a soaring first-half dunk, but he added a blocked shot late in the game for good measure.
“He was phenomenal,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said of Heise, who didn’t miss a shot while scoring seven points off the bench. “He was physical. He was competitive. He was tough. I thought Nate was a great difference-maker for us defensively down the stretch.”
Few Cyclones are tougher than Gilbert, who received the equivalent of a standing ovation from his teammates after he trotted out of the locker room cleaned up and cleared to retake the floor. It’s the second time this season his nose has been bloodied, and it likely won’t be the last — and he’s not just OK with that physicality. He’s built for it.
“I would say just growing up and having to work for everything, like, nothing was easy,” said Gilbert, whose averaged 22.5 points in ISU’s two matchups with top-five foes this season. “I ain’t gonna lie. But just growing up having to work and having challenge at a young age, that taught me to keep on fighting and never giving up.”
In turn, he’s lifting his teammates up, especially in the biggest games on the early-season schedule.
“He’s the engine that’s driving us right now,” Otzelberger said.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Keshon Gilbert and Joshua Jefferson addressed media members following their team’s 81-70 win over Marquette at Hilton Coliseum Wednesday.
Marquette coach Shaka Smart’s postgame press conference can also be found below.
Oct 22, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark speaks to media during Big 12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark hosted a press conference over Zoom Wednesday ahead of Saturday’s Big 12 championship game, and he like others around the sport, he had some words for the CFP committee.
“The (CFP) committee continues to show time and time again that they are paying attention to logos versus resumes,” Yormark said. “Strength of schedule should matter. Wins against Power 4 opponents should matter.”
Yormark joined representatives from the ACC, South Carolina, and even Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin in voicing displeasures towards the group since rankings came out Tuesday.
Yormark pointed his angst towards the Group of five, but didn’t stop there.
“In no way should a Group of 5 champion be ranked above our champion,” Yormark said. “74% of the Big 12’s wins were against Power opponents this season. Meanwhile, the Group of Five is 11-80 versus Power Four teams this season. And in no way should a Group of Five champion be ranked above our champion.”
“ASU and ISU each played 10 games against the Big 12, SEC and Big 10, winning both P4 non-conference games against the SEC and Big 10, and winning seven of nine P4 conference games. Boise (State) played one game against the Big 10 and lost, and that was their only P4 opponent.”
He also brought up teams’ number of losses – seemingly pointing at Alabama.
“No three-loss team from a Power Four conference should get a bye over a two-loss champion from the Big 12.”
The complaints from all parties were different, and most brought up points that can easily be argued.
The only thing any of them agreed on was that the committee got it wrong, and both the Big 12 and ACC met with representatives considering a different model for the league this week.
A portion of Big 12 and ACC presidents gathered Tuesday in Dallas for presentations from two entities, each proposing new models for college football: Len Perna-led College Sports Tomorrow & SMASH Capital’s Project Rudy.
No Big Ten & SEC presidents attended, nor did Notre Dame.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 4, 2024
If anything is for certain, there will be conversations had this off-season, and the chaos of the last few might be right there with this one.
“At the conclusion of the season, obviously, the management committee will come together, and we’ll figure out what the format should look like moving forward. Do we need to improve it in any way? The one thing that I am concerned about, candidly, and something that I’ll address with Richard Clark at the right time is I need to better understand, and I think I speak on behalf of the full management committee and the commissioners, what are the key metrics that are being used as we think about rankings each week?”
“Because strength of schedule was something that was identified for me early in the fall as a very, very critically important metric,” Yormark said. “And I’m not sure that that has happened, at least to date.”
By Rob Gray, correspondent
AMES — Jalen Travis stood tall amid the freezing throng of fans and beamed.
As Iowa State’s fans celebrated, the 6-7, 340-pound Princeton graduate-turned-anchor on the No. 16 Cyclones’ offensive line soaked in the scene, reveling in the frost-tinged afterglow of a 29-21 triumph over Kansas State that helped land his team in Saturday’s 11 a.m. Big 12 title game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Fans flooded the field in Travis’s last game at Jack Trice Stadium — and it was a new and wondrous experience for ISU’s accomplished left tackle.
“No field stormings at Princeton,” the grad transfer said with a grin.
Not even after a big win over Harvard or Yale?
“Right?” Travis joked. “Right?”
Preseason prognosticators would have considered it “wrong” to slot the Cyclones (10-2) and No. 15 Arizona State (10-2) into the Big 12 Championship, but there they are in what Las Vegas oddsmakers consider a pick ‘em game at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The Sun Devils opened as 2.5-point favorites, so expect both teams’ fanbases to be wringing their hands deep into the fourth quarter with a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff on the line.
“Our sport is a journey through 12 guaranteed weeks of a football season and finding consistency, which is why college football is so entertaining, because it’s so inconsistent to watch,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, who also led his team to the 2020 league title game before falling, 27-21, to Oklahoma. “You just don’t know what you’re gonna get every week. I think one thing I would hope when you turn our football team one, boy, every time they touch the field it may not always be perfect, but the consistency of attitude, effort and strain to go win the football game as a team, that’s been what we’ve kind of tried to build our foundation on.”
Consider that building a multi-level structure now, and a possible skyscraper by the time this season’s over. And it’s the quest for consistency that forms the brick and mortar of that construction process — and nowhere is that more evident than on the Cyclones’ offensive line.
Three of ISU’s players with the longest active starting streaks populate that hiking front five, led by senior center Jarrod Hufford, who will make his team-leading 46th consecutive start on Saturday. Senior right tackle Tyler Miller will start for the 25th straight time and sophomore guard Brendan Black has started 17 games in a row. Travis — who missed the first couple games off the season because of injury — has started a mere nine straight games, but his impact on a rebuilt offensive line has been massive.
“I think what he’s given us is certainly great flexibility,” said Campbell, whose team will face a Sun Devils defense that ranks second in the Big 12 in rushing defense at 116.8 yards allowed per game. “I think as Jalen got healthy, he steadied the ship of that offensive line, for sure.”
Campbell called Hufford, Miller and Travis “pillars” for that now deep and seasoned group, especially since a handful of injuries have forced ISU to rotate several players at the guard position.
“I think their confidence and their consistency’s allowed those young guys to settle in and play good football,” Campbell said.
How good?
Case in point: The running game. The Cyclones’ backfield trio of Carson Hansen, Jaylon Jackson and Abu Sama has helped ISU average its most rushing yards per game (164.6) since that 2020 season that featured Breece Hall.
“I think just this back half of the season, really just simplifying what our run game plan is,” Hufford said recently. “(Just) having a base couple of concepts and getting good at those.”
The Cyclones have been solid in pass protection, too, allowing the second-fewest total sack yards in the conference at 77. The addition of Travis, along with Miller’s growth, has been paramount to that success — a trend that must continue if ISU’s to make history again this weekend by winning its first Big 12 championship game.
“I think I got what I wanted and more,” Travis said of his single— and deeply extended — season as a Cyclone. “Especially when it comes to relationships and playing for a coaching staff that’s willing to believe in me, our into me, and help me grow. I think that has been a blessing that has been tenfold for me since I’ve been here. Obviously, the results are independent of all that. I’d be just as happy walking out of here if we didn’t have the same results because of the people and coach Campbell and the staff, and what they’ve been able to do for me personally.”
Nov 25, 2024; Lahaina, Hawaii, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) goes to the basket over Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome (4) during the first half an NCAA college basketball game at Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images
No. 5 Iowa State returns home to Hilton Coliseum Wednesday night for a top 10 showdown with the No. 10 Marquette Golden Eagles as part of the Big 12-Big East Battle (7:00 p.m., ESPN+).
Both teams bring a wealth of talent and strong early-season resumes, making this an early test for two programs with lofty aspirations in the 2024-2025 season. With Marquette ranked No. 5 nationally and Iowa State sitting at No. 6, the matchup promises high drama and elite basketball.
A Storied Series RekindledThe Cyclones and Golden Eagles have met only eight times, with Marquette holding a narrow 5-3 lead in the series. The two programs last faced each other in the 2004 NIT semifinals, where Iowa State claimed a 77-69 victory.
Head coach Shaka Smart is no stranger to Hilton Coliseum, having posted a 9-4 record against the Cyclones during his tenure at Texas. Now leading a surging Marquette squad, he aims to extend his dominance.
Marquette’s Best Start in Over a DecadeMarquette enters the contest undefeated at 8-0, marking the program’s best start since the 2011-2012 season. Their record includes notable victories over top 40 KenPom teams Georgia, Maryland and Purdue, showcasing their ability to handle tough competition.
Offensively, Marquette thrives on pace and precision, averaging 84.5 points per game while shooting 48% from the field. Defensively, the Golden Eagles rank first nationally in steals (12.4 per game) and fifth in turnover margin (+8.3).
The key to Marquette’s success is senior guard Kam Jones, who leads the team with 19.6 points and 6.2 assists per game. Jones also tallied a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists in their most recent victory over Western Carolina.
Supporting Jones are players like David Joplin (15.9 points, 6 rebounds) and defensive stalwarts Chase Ross and Stevie Mitchell, who anchor a relentless full-court press.
Cyclones Build Momentum After Maui InvitationalIowa State comes into the game with a 5-1 record, fresh off a strong showing at the Maui Invitational. Despite a heart-wrenching two-point loss to Auburn, the Cyclones showed resilience, defeating a talented Dayton squad and routing Colorado in back-to-back games. Iowa State is averaging 86.8 points per game, with a balanced attack led by second year guard Keshon Gilbert (16.5 points, 5.3 assists) and sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic (14.2 points, 40% 3PT).
Defensively, the Cyclones rank among the nation’s elite, allowing just 65 points per game and forcing 14.8 turnovers per contest. Under coach T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State’s identity is rooted in defensive intensity, utilizing traps and blitzes to disrupt opponents’ offensive flow.
Keys to the GameFor Marquette:
- Protect the Ball: Iowa State thrives on turnovers and transition opportunities. Kam Jones and Stevie Mitchell must maintain composure against the Cyclones’ pressure defense.
- Dominate the Paint: With Iowa State rebuilding its frontcourt, Marquette will look to exploit mismatches inside. Joplin’s versatility and rebounding will be critical. Look for Joshua Jefferson to get this assignment defensively.
- Bench Contributions: The Golden Eagles’ reserves have stepped up in recent games, averaging 34 points over the last two outings. Sustained production from players like Zaide Lowery and Caedin Hamilton could win them this game.
For Iowa State:
- Limit Kam Jones: Slowing down Jones will be a collective effort, with Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert likely sharing defensive duties. Physicality and ball denial will be crucial. Look for Nate Heise to also have a couple cracks at Jones.
- Exploit Transition Opportunities: Iowa State’s athletic backcourt of Lipsey and Curtis Jones thrives in the open court. Creating fast-break chances off turnovers can energize the Hilton Coliseum crowd.
- Win the Perimeter Battle: Momcilovic and Curtis Jones need to knock down perimeter shots to keep Marquette’s defense honest. Efficient three-point shooting will stretch the Golden Eagles’ defense and create driving lanes.
Clash of PhilosophiesThis game pits two disciplined teams with contrasting styles. Marquette’s high-octane offense and full-court pressure will challenge Iowa State’s ability to execute in the halfcourt. Conversely, the Cyclones’ defensive schemes will test Marquette’s patience and decision-making.
The battle between Kam Jones and Iowa State’s defensive will be pivotal. Jones has proven capable of breaking down defenses with his scoring and playmaking, but Iowa State’s ability to force turnovers and contest shots may disrupt his rhythm.
Player Matchups to Watch1. David Joplin vs. Milan Momcilovic: Both forwards bring unique skill sets. Joplin’s physicality and rebounding will clash with Momcilovic’s shooting and craftiness. * Curtis Jones vs. Chase Ross: A sharpshooter versus a defensive ace. Curtis Jones’ three-point shooting will test Ross’ perimeter defense. * Ben Gold vs. Dishon Jackson: Gold wants to shoot from the perimeter, and at 6-foot-11 235 pounds, Jackson will be able to use his size and strength to get to the free throw line and get easy buckets around the rim. Jackson has been great early in games for Iowa State so far this season.
Final ThoughtsWith both teams riding high on early-season success, this matchup serves as a test for their potential as national contenders. For Marquette, a road victory solidifies their place among the elite, while Iowa State looks to defend its home court and build momentum heading into conference play. It will be a packed Hilton Coliseum, expect a game of runs, defensive intensity, and potentially some clutch performances.
Gilbert High School linebacker Will Hawthorne was upgraded to a four-star prospect by 247 Sports Monday.
Less than 48 hours later, the local product made his lifelong dream come true, signing to play division 1 football with the program he grew up watching down the street.
“I actually spent a lot of time – it was between Iowa State and Nebraska,” Hawthorne said. “It was just it being home. It’s different being on a team as a random from Iowa compared to ‘Will Hawthorne from up the street.’ The fans will know my family and will know me a little bit better, and being able to play in front of your home town and the stadium you spent so much time in growing up, it’s just different.”
Hawthorne garnered a number of high major offers, ultimately picking the Cyclones over Nebraska.
His other offers came from Kansas State, Kansas, Air Force, Miami-Ohio, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Western Michigan, Missouri State, South Dakota, UNI, Lehigh, Army, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, and Princeton.
Hawthorne, who’s rated as the No. 2 prospect in Iowa and No. 36 linebacker in the class by 247 Sports, wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps since he was young.
His dad, Greg Hawthorne played football at Northern Iowa, while his sister Ava Hawthorne is playing basketball at Drake, and his brother Drew Hawthorne swam collegiately at both Iowa and Cincinnati.
“My goal ever since I think I was seven years old was to play division 1 football,” Hawthorne said. “I wanted to be like (my dad) from a young age. I spent so much time on those hillsides – playing football more than watching the game. Seeing that team so close and having that goal throughout my life – it really brightened my eyes seeing (the program) grow.”
Hawthorne is the lone linebacker commit to the 2025 class and Colby Kratch’s linebacker room.
He said that he gathered a lot of information on the new Iowa State coach this year from current players during visits.
“He’s a great guy,” Hawthorne said. “A lot of information I got about him came from (current players) on the official visit. I’m the only linebacker in this recruiting class, so it was kind of just me and him a lot during my game day visits. Talking to the players, they really speak about how he lets you play, ‘free.’ Especially early on in a younger player’s mind, they can’t play as fast as they want to because they have to think about all of these things. The players talked about how Kratch just lets linebackers be linebackers and play their game.”
That stuck out to Hawthorne as Jacob Ellis and Rylan Barnes – each former joining Iowa State as preferred walk-ons – and freshman Cael Brezina and Beau Goodwin were all needed at the linebacker spot during the 2024 season.
“Oh, 100 percent,” “Seeing how deep they could go and how much they trust those guys – even the sixth string linebackers. The linebackers are the leaders of the defense and being able to trust all of those guys down the line shows a lot about who coach Kratch is.
Now, on the week he makes his decision official, Hawthorne will watch the Cyclones compete in their second Big 12 championship game in the past five seasons.
“It’s really exciting,” Hawthorne said. “I kind of made the decision before football season and kind of left it behind me to play my football season. But now, being able to watch Iowa State’s success throughout the season and building up to them being in the Big 12 Championship right before Signing Day, it’s just special.”
Iowa State is set to welcome its 2025 recruiting class, officially Wednesday, December 4 – college football’s National Early Signing Day.
The class is rated as the No. 52 class in the country, and features some of the top talent out of the state of Iowa.
Top 10 in-state prospects (By 247 Sports)
1. TE Thomas Meyer, Iowa
2. LB Will Hawthorne, Iowa State
3. DB Ethan Stecker, Iowa State
4. OL Joey VanWetzinga, Iowa
5. QB Alex Manske, Iowa State
6. OL Will Tompkins, Iowa State
7. ATH Mason Woods, Iowa
8. EDGE Jack Limbaugh, Iowa State
9. WR Zay Robinson, Iowa State
10. ATH Malachi Curvey, Kansas
Below are all of the expected signees to the 2025 recruiting class, updated to when they’ve officially signed.
Signed playersAlex Manske | 4-star QB
Algona, Iowa | Algona HS
6-foot-3, 205
Other offers: Kansas State, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin
Iowa State’s quarterback for the 2025 class – the Cyclones beat out Texas A&M to get him. Manske threw for 1456 yards (76-111) through the first half of the high school season, before a UCL injury sideline him for the back half of the year. He finished the season officially with 18 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Ryver Peppers | 3-star RB
Independence, MO | Fort Osage HS
5-foot-11, 180
Other offers: Utah, Kansas State, Northwestern, UNLV, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Army, Navy, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, UNI, Harvard, Princeton, Cornell
A gritty running back that Iowa State has been in on from the start. Fits well the personality of RB coach Tyler Roehl.
Zay Robinson | 3-star WR
West Des Moines, Iowa | Valley HS
6-foot-0, 175
Other offers: Iowa, Colorado, Kansas State, Missouri, Vanderbilt
The talented wideout for West Des Moines Valley ended the season with 661 yards on 48 receptions with 14 touchdowns – including a go-ahead score during the state championship game last month. A multi-sport athlete, and the highest rated in-state receiver in the 2025 class.
Karon Brookins | 3-star WR
Atco, NJ | Winslow Township HS
6-foot-4, 180
Other offers: West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Temple
A speedy wideout that averaged 18.3 yards per catch during his senior season on 29 catches for 532 yards.
Dyllan Malone | 3-star WR
Yorkville, IL | Yorkville HS
6-foot-3, 175
Other offers: Northern Illinois, Miami (Ohio), Illinois State, Western Illinois, Lindenwood
Iowa State flipped the wide receiver recruit from Northern Illinois in October. Averaged 52.7 yards per game as a senior at the receiver position and also grabbed a pair of interceptions.
Will Tompkins | 3-star OL
Cedar Falls, Iowa | Cedar Falls HS
6-foot-5, 270
Other offers: Kansas State, Kansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Penn State, USC, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, Nebraska, Minnesota, Duke
One of the highest rated offensive line recruits in Iowa State history. Tompkins garnered a number of high major offers.
Sione Perkins | 3-star OL
Eagle, ID | Eagle HS
6-foot-9, 260
Other offers: Eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana
A lineman out of the Northwest near where offensive line coach Ryan Clanton played in college.
Kuol Kuol | 3-star OL
Dayton, OH | Centerville HS
6-foot-6, 260
Other offers: Purdue, Vanderbilt, Michigan State, Boston College, Coastal Carolina, Marshall, Army, UMass, Akron, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Western Kentucky
An offensive lineman with high major interest out of Ohio. Formerly a Purdue commit, Kuol announced his decision to be a Cyclone last week.
Vaea Ikakoula | 3-star OL
Salt Lake City, UT | West HS
6-foot-3, 315
Other offers: Stanford, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Colorado, Boston College, Cal, Arkansas, Hawaii, Utah State, Washington State, Oregon State
A late flip in the 2025 class, choosing the Cyclones after previously being committed to Stanford. The fourth lineman to join Ryan Clanton’s room in the class.
Jack Limbaugh | 3-star EDGE
Algona, Iowa | Algona HS
6-foot-4, 220
Other offers: Iowa, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Duke, Northwestern
The in-state signee played both ways for Algona, totaling 42.5 tackles and a team-high six sacks, while earning 13 receptions for 274 yards at receiver. High school teammate to QB signee Alex Manske.
Trey Verdon | 3-star EDGE
Hamilton, OH | Hamilton HS
6-foot-2, 225
Other offers: Louisville, Pittsburgh, East Carolina, Ohio, Akron, Bowling Green, Kent State, UMass, Miami (Ohio), Toledo, Princeton, Yale
The younger sibling to current Cyclone Malik Verdon, who was attracted to Iowa State because of the family atmosphere around the program and what his brother experienced in Ames.
Charlie Woleben | 3-star EDGE
De Soto, KS | De Soto School
6-foot-5, 220
Other offers: Kansas State, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Tulsa, North Dakota State, UNI, Lindenwood
Earned conference defensive player of the year honors at De Soto High School in Kansas.
Ka’Mori Moore | 3-star DL
Lee’s Summit, MO | North HS
6-foot-1, 295
Other offers: Oklahoma, Nebraska, Michigan State, Memphis, Miami (Ohio) Kent State, Toledo, UNLV
A former Oklahoma commit, and one of two defensive linemen in the class for coach Eli Rasheed’s room.
Will Hawthorne | 4-star LB
Gilbert, Iowa | Gilbert HS
6-foot-2, 220
Other offers: Nebraska, Kansas State, Kansas, Air Force, Miami-Ohio, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Western Michigan, Missouri State, South Dakota, UNI, Lehigh, Army, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, and Princeton.
A late riser in recruiting rankings, Hawthorne jumped up to a four-star less than 48 hours away from Signing Day. The local recruit and lifelong Cyclone fan chose Iowa State over Nebraska in the end.
LaMarcus Hicks II | 3-star CB
Des Plaines, IL | Maine West HS
6-foot-2, 170
Other offers: Northern Illinois, Illinois State
The son to former Cyclone LaMarcus Hicks – Iowa State flipped him from Northern Illinois and comes in as the lone cornerback in the class.
Ethan Stecker | 3-star S
Spirit Lake, Iowa | Spirit Lake HS
6-foot-4, 205
Other offers: None
A track & field state champion that rose to No. 3 in the in-state recruiting rankings by 247 Sports late in the cycle. His brother is expected to sign as a preferred walk-on.
Joshua Patterson | 3-star S
Jacksonville, FL | Ed White HS
6-foot-0, 180
Other offers: Wake Forest, Louisville, Maryland, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Coastal Carolina, Tulane, USF, Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Liberty, Bowling Green, UMass, Troy, UConn, Charlotte, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Western Kentucky, Florida A&M, Alabama A&M, West Georgia
The first signing to Iowa State’s 2025 class, with one of the most extensive offer sheets of anyone in the group. He led his team in both interceptions (4) and forced fumbles (2), and allowed only one reception during his senior year at Ed White High School.
Mason Ellens | 3-star S
Glen Ellyn, IL | Glenbard West HS
6-foot-0, 175
Other offers: Iowa, Minnesota, Boston College, Old Dominion, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Illinois State
Committed to Iowa State as part of a summer visit weekend in June and had five touchdown returns during his high school career.
Preferred Walk-onsSam Zelenovich | WR
Des Moines, IA | Southeast Polk HS
6-foot-2, 185
Other offers: Air Force, Army, South Dakota, UNI, Western Illinois
A talented wideout from Southeast Polk that saw his senior year come to an end early due to injury. Could surprise people.
Dylan Stecker | WR
Spirit Lake, Iowa | Spirit Lake HS
6-foot-4.5, 205
Other offers: South Dakota, UNI
A multi-sport athlete, playing football, basketball and track & field. Twin brother of defensive back signee Ethan Stecker.
Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Aili Tanke (32) takes a three point shot over USC Upstate Spartans guard Gracie Barnes (22) during the fourth quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – No. 20 Iowa State (7-2, 0-0 Big 12) took the win over USC Upstate (2-8, 0-0 Big South) by a final score of 92-35 Tuesday night.
Five Cyclones combined for six 3-pointers in the first frame as ISU went on its way to command the lead. Iowa State ended the night with a season-high 15, the third game this season with 10-plus. ISU also had a season-high 19 steals, the third game with 10 or more. Emily Ryan led with seven steals.
Audi Crooks recorded a double-double in the first half and went on to put up a stellar line of 15 points, 13 rebounds while distributing five assists to lead the game in all three categories. It was her 40th consecutive game with 10-plus points.
Addy Brown (14), Aili Tanke (12) and Kelsey Joens (11) also ended with double-figure points. Tanke led with four 3-pointers, while Joens made a trio of shots from deep.
How it Happened
Scoring began seven seconds into the contest with a Kenzie Hare 3-pointer and the Cyclones would go up by seven before USC Upstate got on the board. Tanke hit the next deep shot with 6:42 on the clock to put ISU ahead 12-3 as the visitors followed to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, the Cyclones remained hot extending a run of 18, holding the Spartans scoreless for over five minutes of play. At the end of one, Iowa State led 32-11.
The second again began with a shot from beyond the arc, this one by Tanke, as the Cyclones continued to roll finding a 30-point lead (41-11) at the second quarter media timeout. ISU ended the first half on a 7-0 run to take a 48-13 advantage into halftime.
Brown drained a triple as the clock read 9:19 in the third, meanwhile Joens hit her third triple of the game as Iowa State built a 62-18 lead. Sydney Harris became the seventh to make a 3 and the deep shots continued to fall as Tanke totaled her third midway through the quarter. The lead grew to 50 (72-22) at the media timeout, and the Cyclones closed the third with more 3-pointers by Lily Hansford and another at the buzzer by Brown to remain up 50.
The Cyclones began the fourth ahead 81-30 and held the visitors scoreless for the first five minutes. Freshman Tanke followed to record her fourth triple on just seven shots with 4:05 remaining, and ISU would go on to seal the victory by 57 points.
Top Performer
Audi Crooks ascended 800 career points on the night, now holding 814. The sophomore had her third double-double of the season and 11th of her career with a stat line of 15 points (60 percent shooting), 13 rebounds and five assists in 20 minutes of action.
Up Next
No. 20 Iowa State next hosts Central Michigan Sunday, Dec. 8 at noon. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Notes
- Iowa State’s all-time women’s basketball record moves to 855-668 (.561).
- Head coach Bill Fennelly‘s Iowa State record moves to 618-315 (.662) and his career record moves to 784-368 (.681).
- The Cyclones have made at least one 3-point field goal in an NCAA women’s record 936 consecutive games, finishing with a season-high 15 triples tonight. ISU has made 7,595 triples throughout the streak and has finished with 10 or more 3-pointers in a game 287 times.
- ISU has made 80 triples this season.
- Iowa State finished with 19 steals tonight, the most since ISU’s Dec. 19, 2018, contest against Prairie View A&M.
- Emily Ryan led Iowa State with seven steals, the most by a Cyclone since she recorded nine (school record) against Omaha (Nov. 9, 2021).
- With her first point of the day, Audi Crooks scored her 800th career point. She has recorded 179 points this season and her career total sits at 814.
- She captured her third double-double of the season in the first half with 10 points and 11 rebounds. It is her 11th career double-double.
- Crooks has finished with 10 or more points in 41 consecutive games after she tallied 15 points today.
- Ryan finished with four assists today, moving her career total to 848 dimes. The mark is good for 24th all-time in NCAA Division I women’s basketball and second in the Big 12.
- Ryan also made both of her free throw attempts, extending her make streak at the line to 23. The run began last season in the NCAA Tournament against Maryland (March 22, 2024).
- Ryan’s career free throw percentage of 87.8 percent (294-335) is second in Iowa State program history, trailing only Kelsey Bolte’s 87.9 clip (211-240).
Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly and players Kelsey Joens & Aili Tanke spoke to media members after their team’s 92-35 win over USC Upstate Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) runs with the ball for a first down around Kansas State Wildcats safety Marques Sigle (21) and linebacker Austin Romaine (45) during the fourth quarter in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.
Iowa State came in at No. 16 in the latest edition of the CFP Rankings, one spot behind its Big 12 championship game opponent, No. 15 Arizona State (Sat. 11 a.m. ABC).
The Cyclones are one of four Big 12 teams ranked in the penultimate poll.
BYU is ranked No. 18 and Colorado is just behind them at No. 23.
The winner of Saturday’s Big 12 championship game is guaranteed a spot in the playoff, which will likely be the conference’s only bid.
The full poll can be seen below.
CFP Rankings
Tues., December 3, 2024
1. Oregon
2. Texas
3. Penn State
4. Notre Dame
5. Georgia
6. Ohio State
7. Tennessee
8. SMU
9. Indiana
10. Boise State
11. Alabama
12. Miami
13. Ole Miss
14. South Carolina
15. Arizona State
16. Iowa State
17. Clemson
18. BYU
19. Missouri
20. UNLV
21. Illinois
22. Syracuse
23. Colorado
24. Army
25. Memphis
Iowa State had another late add to its 2025 recruiting class, in Salt Lake City offensive lineman Vaea Ikakoula.
The 6-foot-3, 315-pound offensive lineman was originally committed to Stanford, and flipped his commitment Tuesday announcing the news on social media.
1000% Committed!! #Gocyclones @RyanClanton @DerekHoodjer pic.twitter.com/mFaqT2FXnP
— Vaea Ikakoula (@VIkakoula) December 3, 2024
Ikakoula had other offers from Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Colorado, Boston College, Cal, Arkansas, Hawaii, Utah State, Washington State and Ore. State.
He’s rated as the No. 102 interior prospect in the country by 247 Sports.
Ikakoula becomes the fourth addition to the 2025 class for Ryan Clanton’s offensive line room, joining Idaho’s Sione Perkins (6-9, 260), Dayton’s Kuol Kuol (6-6, 260), and Cedar Falls’ Will Tompkins (6-5, 270).
The 2025 class will officially sign their national letters of intent on Wednesday, December 4.
Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell watches from side line against Kansas State during the first quarter in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES —Iowa State senior Jayden Higgins provided the media with an accurate, but less-than-bold take last week.
The first-time 1,000-yards in a season wide receiver predicted that fellow senior wideout Jaylin Noel would quickly join him in achieving that milestone.
And he did. Noel surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on a nine-yard touchdown catch in the No. 16 Cyclones’ 29-21 regular-season closing win over Kansas State — and will look to add to that total against No. 12 Arizona State in Saturday’s 11 a.m. (ABC) Big 12 title game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“It was awesome,” said Higgins, who has 1,068 receiving yards this season to Noel’s 1,013. “Like I said, he was gonna join (me). It was great.”
Unlike ISU (10-2), the Sun Devils (10-2) will be without their lone 1,000-plus yard receiver this season. Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham announced Monday that top pass catcher Jordyn Tyson is out indefinitely with an injury sustained in last week’s 49-7 “Territorial Cup” win over intrastate rival Arizona. Tyson caught 75 passes for 1,103 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, so it’s next man up for the Sun Devils as they ascend the conference’s biggest stage in their first season in the league.
“Obviously, you never want to lose a good football player this time of year,” said Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell, who guided his team to its first-ever 10-win season. “But I think good football teams have great players and they’ve certainly got a collection of those guys.”
Expect Arizona State to utilize star tailback Cam Skattebo even more in the passing game, while talented tight end Chamon Metayer likely receives more targets, along with speedy receivers such as Xavier Guillory and Melquan Stovall.
Skattebo’s compiled 1,866 yards rushing and receiving this season and leads the Sun Devils in total touchdowns with 19. Metayer has caught five touchdown passes, and Guillory and Stovall average 17.1 yards and 12.5 yards per catch, respectively.
“And then you’ve got championship-level quarterback play (from Sam Leavitt), and they’ve gotten that,” Campbell said. “I’ve just been so impressed by his ability to control the offense (and) really put the offense in really advantageous positions.”
Leavitt’s completed 180 of 287 passes (62.5 percent) for 2,444 yards, 21 touchdown and five interceptions. He’s thrown 13 touchdowns to just one interception in his team’s last five wins and also has rushed for four scores this season.
“(He’s) excellent, athletic,” ISU defensive coordinator Jon Heacock said. “Similar to the guys we’ve played these last few weeks — actually, probably since (the) Iowa (win).”
Arizona State’s averaged 34.2 points during its current seven-game winning streak and Heacock’s defense led the Big 12 in fewest points allowed at 19.2 per game. So it will be a strength-on-strength situation on Saturday, even though Tyson’s unable to play. And it’s not like the Cyclones haven’t been forced to navigate through several injuries, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Campbell said safety Malik Verdon could return from injury but remains questionable, so ISU’s blend of veterans and youngsters on defense will need to continue building chemistry to help give their team a chance at their first-ever win in a league title game.
“I think it’s probably true in everything,” Heacock said. “I think the standards within the facility, within the units, within a business, within an organization — what are the standards? And if everybody’s trying to live to that standard, then you’re not getting yourself ready to play. You are ready to play.”
Higgins and Noel are similarly ready. They’re the only wide receiver duo in the Big 12 to each eclipse the 1,000-yard mark and Saturday they’ll have another opportunity to thrive together, whether out of the slot, or split wide.
“We just bond on knowing each other’s love for the game,” Noel said. “When you know a person has an equivalent love for the sport that you love, it’s easier to bond. We do talk about our goals and we know that we’ll always reach those goals as long as we stick to them.”
AMES – Matt Campbell took to the podium Tuesday in Ames to address media members ahead of Saturday’s Big 12 Conference championship game between Iowa State and Arizona State (11:00 a.m. ABC).
The Cyclones will line up across from one of the league’s top offenses, even though the Sun Devils will be without star wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
“They’re dynamic,” Campbell said. “I think they, they have such a unique ability to put the pressure on the defense in every way, shape and form. And obviously, you never want to lose a good football player this time of year. But I think good football teams have great players, and they certainly got a collection of those guys.”
Arizona State is headlined by running back Cam Skattebo. The senior has rushed for 1,398 yards this season on 247 carries – that’s good for eighth in the country.
He’s impressed Campbell enough to draw a comparison to David Montgomery, the former Cyclone tailback blazing through NFL defenses every week.
“The respect that I would have – the last guy I feel like I watch run the ball like this was David Montgomery,” Campbell said. “I just think the passion that he has the ability to run the football with… He’s dynamic in terms of his skill to run away from you, but also this unbelievable electric power to run through you.”
Skattebo has rushed for 147 yards or more in six of the Sun Devils’ 12 games this season.
Against Mississippi State, he ended with a season-best 262, and that all goes without his 13.4 yards per catch average.
“Any time you see a guy play the game of football the way it should be played, man, you have just an utmost respect for him,” Campbell said. “He’s just a really impressive football player. I think everybody in our program has the utmost respect for his ability like I said, not only as a runner, but also as a pass catcher, and what he can do in space. It’s really awesome to watch, and it’ll be a great challenge for us.”
Along with Skattebo, Arizona State poses Sam Leavitt at the quarterback position.
The redshirt freshman has burst onto the college football scene, throwing for 2,444 yards with 21 touchdowns and just five interceptions in his second year on the field.
“And then you know, you’ve got championship level quarterback play,” Campbell said. “And I think (Arizona State has) got that. I mean, I’ve just been so impressed with their his ability to control the offense, to really put the offense in really advantageous situations to be successful. (It will) be a great challenge for us defensively, for sure.”
Campbell has some familiarity with Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham, who came to Ames to study the program while he was an offensive coordinator at Auburn.
“Kenny’s obviously a dynamic young football coach and there was relationships with him through his coaching career, as he’s continued ascend,” Campbell said. “I’m really happy for him. They’ve done a tremendous job, to be quite honest with you. Him and his staff got a lot to be proud of. He’s got some great football coaches on his staff as well that we’ve got really good relationships with.”
The pair of coaches will face off Saturday, just five years after Dillingham’s visit in Ames, for the Big 12 Conference championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
“But, there’s just a lot of respect, from my standpoint, for him and what he’s been able to accomplish as man, a young head football coach,” Campbell said. “Being in those same shoes not long ago, you have appreciation for somebody. And the spirit his football team plays with, you can tell they believe in their head football coach and their coaching staff.”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s Big 12 championship game between Iowa State and Arizona State (11:00 a.m. ABC).
Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel, offensive lineman Jalen Travis, defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim and defensive back Jontez Williams spoke to media members Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s Big 12 championship game between Iowa State and Arizona State (11:00 a.m. ABC).
Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham against the Arizona Wildcats during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
I know earlier in the year you talked about you want to see if this team does handle success and is still effective. You know, as a result of that, suffice to say it that at a record of an attendant to you don’t feel like it should be like a different approach to this week just because it is the big 12 championship game.
Yeah, no different approach.
Do you have an update on Jordan Tyson?
Yeah, Jordan’s going to be out indefinitely. So unfortunately, I don’t want to give a complete three to four months out timetable, but he’s going to be out indefinitely.
Does that mean that he potentially could play if you guys go far in the…
I don’t, I really don’t want to comment. I don’t know that in the depth of that. I just know he’s out indefinitely.
And then just to follow up. What does that, um, do with offensively?
Yeah, I mean, it’s time to time to move some people around, time to get more people on the field. Create a little more balance offensively. Like we always have to be able to run the ball and have good play action.
I want to ask you what you see your role as at this university beyond football. We had Willie in here two weeks ago talking about he couldn’t be doing what he’s doing without you. Greg said the same thing last week. The whole university is not succeeding without Missy Farke. This week, the woman’s golf coach called you her mentor. That’s someone who’s been here for a decade has won a national championship. What’s it like to hear that from your colleagues and how would you describe what that role is?
Yeah. I don’t really think about it like that. I just try to be me. And that’s really it. I don’t like to look at that side of it. Just go and be a good person, make good decisions and have more fun working harder than anybody in the country. Like that’s how I look at it every single day. And is that going to happen every day?
No. Am I going to yell at people sometimes? Yeah. I mean, I’m sorry it’s going to happen, but you know, I just be the same person every day and hopefully it impacts the people around you. So, it’s cool to hear that. But I don’t really know what the impact is. I do know football. I do know sports is a great connector.
It’s one of the best connectors here at this university. We’re trying to create infinity within our university. We’re trying to get more people back involved. We’re one of the largest universities and we’re trying to get more of the alumni back involved back in games. I think we have over 20,000 alumni in Dallas or Texas and trying to get them out to the game.
Football is a great connector, and when you can connect people through sports, it’s special because of the emotions that sports create. So, I do think what we can provide that with football, what our program can provide is the connecting of people in ways that you know, academics cannot.
When Jordan’s not on the field, what’s the toughest part of his game to replace?
He’s a really good player and then he’s very physical. I mean, he blocks people. Thought I saw a few people highlight his blocks on social media, which were awesome because I think that’s what really has been separating our team is how hard we play all 11, not just, blockers just blocking, everybody blocks, the wideouts don’t just run.
It’s everybody doing the things that are extraordinary. What makes it more difficult is obviously he demands two people to cover him. So, if people don’t have to demand two people, then they can load the box. So, you have to find more creative ways to win those one-on-one matchups.
And then after the UCF game, you said Tyson could take a lot from that game and learn from it. What have you seen him apply to his game that went from the UCF game to what he did on Saturday at Arizona?
I don’t know anything specifically that I saw that was different. I thought we had a good plan for running the ball, and I thought our O line moved people, our wide outs blocked on the edge, and then he made people miss.
I mean, that sounds really, simple, but like, that’s the game of football. And if there’s something different. I just think he’s going to get slowly better and more comfortable seeing things, every carry he gets. And I think he went for over 100 yards, over 10 or 11 and a half, or something like that, yards per carry. I mean, that’s incredible. It’s incredible.
You guys have pushed the Texas to Tempe message for a long time with trying to get recruits in the door and everything like that. And with this game being in Dallas, in one of the biggest cities in the state, what does that one mean for you?
And do you guys have any plan on trying to maybe get even more pull from Dallas or Phoenix or Dallas natives trying to maybe get people that want to, are interested in ASU and coming through?
I mean its just That’s we’re making it. Two years ago when I got the job here, we made an emphasis on recruiting the state of Texas.
The direction of college football was us towards the big 12 us towards the big 12, which means we play games in Texas. We play games in Oklahoma. Which means it’s easier to recruit the state. So, I do think playing a game there and being televised there being one of the things on the billboards.
This is huge for the brand of Arizona State football, but just Arizona State as a university, like you alluded to for all sports, being in the Metroplex in that area. Will it do more in terms of that stuff? I don’t know. What I hope, is big time alumni from that region show up to the game and maybe somebody who hasn’t been to a game in 12 years or 10 years or eight years shows up to the game and we get them back engaged.
Going back to what we said earlier, football is a great, and sports are a great connector. And I think this is an opportunity to connect people back to the program that have maybe been disconnected for years.
Kenny, I believe when you guys left the stadium on Saturday, you were not aware of whether or not Texas Tech had lost or one or whatever.
Can you kind of paint the picture of what that was like when you guys learned on the way back to the valley that you guys were indeed in the Big 12 championship game?
I asked him to go through all the scenarios after the game and give them to me so we kind of had a clue. So, I was watching the games on the way home on the bus. I always ride the defensive bus.
So, we were on the defensive bus and right when the game was put away and TCU won, I made an announcement to the guys that, uh, you know, we’re in the Big 12 title and they were pretty fired up. And it didn’t matter the opponent we were going to play. The whole goal was to get there and that’s all we could control.
And then you kind of woke up in the morning and found out who we got to play.
A quick question about AT& T Stadium. There’s been examples this year of a window creating immense glare during certain hours of the day in Dallas.
It’s blinded CD lamb a few points this season. Uh, curious if you have any thoughts of that, what you make of it and then a follow up after that.
No clue
Matt Campbell at Iowa State won three games in his first season. He’s been over .500 every year since then. Um, what do you make just of the sustained success that he’s had?
It’s one thing, of course, to turn a program around and its another thing to repeat that for years to come. His culture and his realness, I think he’s one of the most just real people in the sport. I mean, you see the passion, emotion on the sideline like you see it like it’s not fake. It’s real. And when I was at Auburn, I had the ability when I was the OC at Auburn, I had the ability to go study at one program in the country.
I had two days that at that time, Coach Malzaun would let you go and study with the team. And I alluded to this first Cincinnati because the defense coordinator at Cincinnati was the linebacker coach at Iowa State. And I chose to go visit Iowa State. That was the program that I wanted to study from because I thought that they were overachieving at that time early in his career at a high level before he had built it up.
Now he’s built it up. Now they’re achieving at a high level consistently. And I wanted to go just study. And what I took away was the realness of the culture. I was like, man, like he’s over here, like joking around with a dude. And then he gets to the front of the room and demands respect. And I’m like, man, this, this culture that he created, I feel like it’s sustainable. I feel like this is a winning formula.
So, all the X’s and the O’s I learned, I studied that stuff, but I was really trying to get a vibe and a feel for how he created that culture. And he was one of the youngest head coaches at the time, and he was one of the youngest head coaches in the country at Toledo before he got to Iowa State.
And I think his genuineness is infectious, and I think that’s why he’s had that success is I think he’s just a. A real person I think is a good person. That’s real. And I think the guys see his passion and saw his vision because he lives it.
The last time you guys in the force of turnover were against Kansas. So, seven consecutive games and the regular season of course in a turnover. What does that do for the offense to keep those opposing defenses out there and break them down and wear them down over the course of the game?
Yeah, obviously possession of the ball, like you can’t score without the ball. So, the longer we have it, I know some people don’t agree with that, but I still believe there’s some power in the ball, in possessing the ball and keeping the offense on the field and keeping your defense off the field, staying fresh.
So, it’s been huge for us. Turnover margins. Obviously, it’s one of the strengths of the team. We’re about to play Iowa State as well. So, we got to be hopefully better than them at taking care of the football and they’re going to hopefully be better than us.
Obviously, it, it seems very glaring that the winner of this game is going to be the only Big 12 representative in the 12-team playoff. What have you had kind of just seen over these last few weeks as the national attention has just grown and grown and grown and you have been very vocal of just making sure that none of the players necessarily try to pay attention to that as much.
What have you tried to tell them about the idea of this team being the best team in this con in, in this conference, which is a new look, which is 16 teams now? And trying to necessarily try to set that standard of being like, no, we could be the best program in this conference, which has a new look for years to come.
I’ve never talked about it. Like, let’s go. We get to play another game. I mean, that’s what I said. Now you get to play for a championship, but like best team, just because you win a conference doesn’t make it the best team in the conference makes you, you won the most games in the conference. That’s why there’s so much volatility.
I mean, at the end of the day, I guess winning is the determining factor for best teams, you know, but I think what our goal is to be the very best version of ourselves. I’m going to say that from now until forever, and then people are going to get really bored of asking those questions, because I’m going to say the same thing for a long time.
Just be the very best version of us. After the game. I said, congratulations, we won. This is awesome. Celebrate. Who are we going to play next? I don’t even know if we’re in the title game. I don’t care. We’re going to play another game. Let’s be the best version of us when we play them.
And then following up on that, then what is the significance you would say of winning a conference championship?
Is it not to be the best team in the conference?
What is the significance of winning it?
I think it’s a reward for success, for finding ways to win, right? Finding ways. Best teams don’t always win. The most talented teams don’t always win, right? But the way we define sports is through winning. And if you can find ways to win that’s the reward, is winning.
Finding different ways to win. And I think that’s the fun part, is we’ve gotten here. We’re in a position to compete and win a championship. Not many people can say that at this time of year. Only two teams in our league can say that they’ve put themselves in a position to win a championship and that’s the significance, is it’s the about all the challenges to get to this point that you’re one game away from accomplishing something that people said couldn’t be done.
That’s significant, and I think that the significance is finding ways to win. I’ve never looked at it like, Oh, you’re the best team. You’re the worst team. Nobody really cares.
Who’s the team that won and repeat, repeat, repeat, finding ways, different ways to continue to win.
Are there any programs or coaches that you don’t have connections to at this point?
I actually don’t know. I don’t have connections to Utah. I don’t have connections to BYU. I don’t have connections to Kansas state.
I don’t have connections to most people to be honest. I just respect them from afar. I don’t have many, I don’t dislike many people. That’s just not my personality. Like I try to take something from everybody. Everybody’s gotten to the position that they are in because they’re really good at something.
What can you learn from everybody that you go verse and what can you take from everybody that you go verse and try to take a little bit of that into your own program from what you watch the Iowa State this year? And what’s the biggest challenge that they posed to you guys on Saturday?
Physicality, put a full back in, put a tight end into the boundary and we’re going to run toss G lead on 1st and 10. Let’s go stop it. And if you load the box, we have two big 2000-yard-wide outs.
We’re going to throw it too. So, play one high. We thought these guys play too high. We’re going to run G lead right at you.
And do it again and do it again and do it again and then find a different way to do the same thought process. There’s a clear identity and the best teams in the country have a clear identity and when you watch this team play, the toughness, the physicality across the board is the clear identity that they have in the program.
Do you guys do anything different just in terms of early kickoff? Do you guys do a walk through?
We’ll add a little bit. It’s a good question. Well, we usually do a walk-through Saturday morning, but with the early kickoff and the time change, our guys are already going to have to wake up at roughly 5:45 a.m. our time to adjust to this time change, which that’s part of it. So we’re probably going to have to move our walk through, shorten it and move it to Friday night, which we don’t normally do anything when we get to the hotel.
How rewarding is it knowing that the guys who started the culture shift with you, like Cam and X, that they’re able to experience success before they’re gone?
Yeah, it’s super cool to see that to see X come on these last two weeks and make critical plays. Super rewarding for him. We’re going to need more of those plays this week and to see Cams name on list to be in the top 10 for the Heisman is awesome. I mean, I think he’s number two or something in the entire country in yards from scrimmage right now.
I mean, that’s remarkable. I mean, when you talk about the Heisman Trophy, you talk about impact, right? I think it’s the most impactful player, the best player. I don’t know exactly what the clear definition is, and it goes back and forth a little bit, but I don’t know of a player who makes a bigger impact on a program.
He took a team that won three games, and now they’ve won ten, that takes on his exact identity of him as a person, which is passionate, intense, physical, tough. The team’s taken on that identity as a program, which has completely changed the trajectory of the program, and he’s put up unreal stats that I think he’s going to be one of a hundred people, potentially, in the history of college football to put up another stat.
I saw about rushing 2000 yards from scrimmage or something. One of the other guys I coached in the past. It’s like what he’s accomplished is something special, and I think he should be talked about for that. Whether he should win it or not. I mean, there’s two guys that are unbelievable right now. But whether he should be in the conversation, I don’t think that’s a question.
What gives you confidence that the culture can maintain after they’re gone?
Hopefully the retention of players. Your culture is your players. I am not the culture. The players are the culture. Right? And the retention of players is what keeps the culture alive. So, the retention of players, guys coming back, and then the recruitment of guys that want to fit this culture.
Not the recruitment of the best players, but the recruitment of the best players for us, which are two different things.
You’ve been a lot of different places, a lot of different elite programs in your career. Is this the most special thing you’ve been a part of in your football career this year?
Yeah, this is pretty cool. As a team, this is probably the coolest thing I’ve been a part of, watching Jordan Travis in my second year ago from a guy that didn’t think he could, wanted to move positions out of the quarterback room. To being a guy that people didn’t believe in to then being the savior was probably the most individual cool thing I’ve ever seen in my career was this kid completely transform his life into now a guy who plays on Sundays when he didn’t even think he was a quarterback at one time.
That was the most individually like for a player person to person gratifying thing I’ve ever seen. Second would have been the Cam scenario, which was a very similar situation to see a kid go from where he went from to like, Whoa, he’s in the Heisman race. This is the coolest thing I’ve ever been a part of from a team.
This is a special team. Like, this is a very, very unique and special football team that we have here.
What makes it so special and so meaningful to you?
I just think the guys and the work they’ve put in and the relationships they have with one another is unique in an era where a lot of things there’s different motives than there used to be.
I think our guy’s motive being winning, and like the competitive nature of like, I just want to win. That is like, that sounds so fundamental. But like, there’s so many other distractions now. And it’s not the guy’s fault. And there’s nothing wrong with those distractions that like, whoa, they just want to win?
What I’m excited for is because they had that mindset. I think they’re all going to be individually rewarded. And that I think is what college sports is about. It’s look, you can come together for a greater cause and then see individual reward at the same time. I think that’s the message that college sports can send out where other people say, all these kids are transferring all this.
I want to create that message of man; you can do this together and receive individual rewards. That’s what it’s meant to be. And I think our team has that mindset and I’m hoping to then give those individual awards and get these guys those individual awards and accolades and all the things they want individually because of that mindset that I’ve put together this year.
Kenny, you mentioned the 2000 scrimmage yards. Henderson did that in 2018. Obviously, the, um, how important is that to an offense and how ingrained is that in you? With Mike Norvell and what happened here with Marion Grice and D. J. Foster.
Yeah, I think any time that you’re running back can be a weapon out of the backfield.
It just creates another element. And I think we always, from now until forever, want to have a back who can become a pass catcher. Catch the ball out of the backfield, be a weapon and you want to give that dude the football. You want an elite back and I think that’s one thing that we’ll always have here is a back that can play on Sundays. You know, I’ve been blessed to coach a lot of those guys. I mean, a lot. Coach Aguano’s coached a lot, and I think this is one. I can say this with confidence, there are not many places better in the country right now to be a skill player. You’re a wide out or a tight end, you have a quarterback who’s going to play on Sundays, throwing you the ball for two years. If you’re a running back, you have four linemen that can return behind a guy who just was up for the Heisman. I don’t know a much better situation. Somebody could walk into from a skill position player than those two split in that situation.
Coach, it seems like your wide receivers blocking has been an emphasis this entire year. So I’m just curious from your perspective how that’s kind of evolved from Mississippi State to now.
Yeah, I mean, I have a question. Why do you think our wide receiver blocking is really, really good?
Heinz Ward, baby. When you have a guy who lived it and did it and smiled when he did it and blocked you into the cooler and then smiled again and then caught 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns. And he tells you, if you want the ball, you better block. You’re going to block. If he told me to block, I’d probably go block somebody.
Like, that’s just the respect you got to have for what he’s accomplished. And then, how he operates as a football coach. So, it’s that mindset that he’s instilled in that group is uniquely special.
With the, uh, change in schedule in the, uh, signing day, how does that affect? How you guys do things and one more thing on a already busy week?
It’s a lot going on. It just adds more stuff. How does it change how we do things? Like I tell our coaches, everybody’s got to recruit. Everybody knows recruiting is the lifeblood of the program. But, at the end of the day, it’s about your own players. And I always tell our guys that it’s always the priority and the guys who chose to come here. So yes, is there a time-of-day Wednesday? Yes. Do we have to recruit? Yes. Is the portal opening? Yes. Is that the backbone of the program? And we have to do that? Of course. But should that take one minute of time away from how you should prepare to pour everything into these players in this game?
Absolutely not. Because it’s our duty to be the best we can be for the guys who choose to be here. If you choose to be here, we’re going to pour everything we got into you. We’re not going to go and say, ah, you know what, this recruits here and I know you wanted to meet, but I’m going to go meet with this recruit because I’m worried about next year.
We’re going to pour everything we have into you if you choose to come here. And if you don’t choose to come here, then you don’t. But we’re going to pour everything we got into our players, repeat, repeat, repeat. And then whenever kids come here, pour everything we have into them. And that’s going to be our mindset.
It’s always about the kids on our roster. And I really believe if you treat your own people well, they’ll recruit for you.
I want to ask you about Shaman mater who’s matched all of his career numbers from three years at another program this season to go back to what you just said about scope positions.
What is he added to the offense and how would you describe his playing style both blocking and obviously catching the football?
He’s very versatile. He’s a big dude, but he’s very physical. He’s one of the best, if not the best blocking tied him in T Ferg up in Oregon. Two of the best blocking tight ends I’ve ever been around.
So, his physicality and toughness is unbelievable. And then his ability to stretch the field and catch touchdowns, catch screens. I joke about coach Roy. I’m like, man, we get in the red zone. Like it’s like, get him the ball time. Like golly, I need to block, block, block, block, touchdown. Like that’s nice. But it’s just he’s, he’s vital to the team and he’s great for the culture too. I mean, he loves ball. Absolutely loves it and he’s physical and physical at that tight end position, which is becoming a rare breed.
Iowa State cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) looks for pass as IU Indianapolis Jaguars forward DeSean Goode (2) defends during the second half in the NCAA men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — It’s not a matter of feel, it’s a matter of sight.
Or maybe both.
Either way, Iowa State’s forward Milan Momcilovic knows pretty quickly whether it’s going to be his night in terms of shooting success.
“I (see) the first couple go in and then obviously my confidence is sky high,” said Momcilovic, who shot 9-for-16 from 3-point range while his No. 6 Cyclones went 2-1 last week in the loaded Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawai’i. “And my mindset (improves) and we’ve got coaches running plays for me, so I see the first couple go in, and from there, I take off.”
The 6-8 sophomore from Pewaukee, Wis., enters Wednesday’s 7 p.m. Big 12-Big East Battle game against fifth-ranked Marquette (8-0) shooting an impressive 47.1 percent from beyond the arc. That’s an 11 percent hike from his freshman season, which, along with a handful of other factors, has helped ISU (5-1) climb to the fourth-best offensive rating by KenPom early this season.
“Everything comes down to activity level,” said Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team will face a top-five ranked team for the second time this season. “When he’s really active offensively, on the move, sprinting the floor, cutting, screening, moving, then shots come his way. I think at times last year, teams would focus on him, key on him, and there would be times that he’d me more stationary — not on the move as much. We want him on the move constantly, and that same activity level offensively, we want to carry over defensively, hand activity, guarding the basketball, fishing plays on the glass, all those things.”
The Golden Eagles rank sixth nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom, so ISU will face a similar challenge it encountered against No. 2 Auburn when it saw an 18-point first-half lead slip in an 83-81 setback on Maui. Marquette also is tied for seventh nationally in turnovers forced per game at 18, which will make efficient offense extra important for a Cyclone team that’s also adept at taking the basketball away from opposing teams.
“Auburn and Dayton (teams ISU played in Hawai’i) really try to pressure the basketball (and) Marquette’s really good at that — one of the best in the country at pressuring the ball and disrupting offenses and turning that into points,” Otzelberger said. “So I think playing against that pressure, even though there (are) only a few thousand people in the gym at the Lahaina Civic Center, it’s a very hostile environment. There’s a lot of energy in that building and when things aren’t going well, it can feel like a road game. So I think playing against that pressure and being tough with the ball will help.”
So will key contributions from the Cyclones’ three new front court players. Dishon Jackson, Joshua Jefferson and reserve forward Brandton Chatfield each bring a unique skill set to each game. Jackson’s a rim protector with soft hands who can both rebound and score. Jefferson’s a jack of all trades, an eager passer with extended range. Chatfield’s an accomplished offensive rebounder and hustle play specialist, so when he’s on the floor ISU’s experienced guards can enjoy a few extra looks at the basket.
“I think we all have something that we’re really good at, and when you put us all together, it really shines on the floor,” Jefferson said.
His less burly fellow forward Momcilovic is putting it all together on both ends of the floor, as well — and the best may be yet to come.
“It feels good because 47 percent is pretty good,” he said. “But going back to last year, I started out hot, too, so I’ve just gotta keep that going throughout the whole year.”
When Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham was the offensive coordinator at Auburn, he had a unique opportunity to take a few days to go out and study a college football program.
Of the 130 or so FBS programs to pick from at the time, Dillingham chose to come to Ames.
“I had the ability to go study at one program in the country,” Dillingham said during his Big 12 championship game press conference in Tempe. “I had two days that at that time, coach (Gus) Malzahn would let you go and study with the team. And I alluded to this first before (the) Cincinnati (game) because the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati was the linebacker coach at Iowa State, and I chose to go visit Iowa State. That was the program that I wanted to study from because I thought that they were overachieving at that time early in his career at a high level before he had built it up.”
The year was 2019, and Iowa State was coming off of an 8-5 season that ended with a trip to the Alamo Bowl against Washington State.
The move will come full circle when Matt Campbell and the Cyclones square off with Dillingham and Arizona State in Saturday’s Big 12 championship game.
“Now he’s built it up,” Dillingham said of Campbell’s program. “Now they’re achieving at a high level consistently. And, I wanted to go just study. And what I took away was the realness of the culture. I was like, man, he’s over here joking around with a dude, and then he gets to the front of the room and demands respect. And I’m like, man, this culture that he created, I feel like is sustainable. I feel like this is a winning formula.”
It’s paid off for the Sun Devils head coach, who’s in his second season at the helm of the Arizona State program.
Dillingham’s team started 3-0, and then finished the season with a 7-1 mark in its final eight games, beating three ranked teams in the process along the way.
The 10-2 season comes a year after Arizona State finished 3-9 with one of its wins being against Southern Utah.
“So all the X’s and the O’s I learned – and I studied that stuff – but I was really trying to get a vibe and a feel for how (Campbell) did create that culture,” Dillingham said.
It’s started to rub off on Dillingham, who’s one of the most unique college coaches in front of the microphone.
But the Campbell-ness in him rubbed off when he was asked later on what winning the Big 12 championship would mean.
“I mean, at the end of the day, I guess winning is the determining factor for best teams, but I think what our goal is, is to be the very best version of ourself,” Dillingham said.
Sound familiar?
“I’m going to say that from now until forever, and then people are going to get really bored of asking those questions, because I’m going to say the same thing for a long time,” Dillingham said, putting his own spin it.
The respect and similarities are all there between Dillingham and Campbell, and when the two passionate coaches square off Saturday, there are sure to be fireworks.
“It’s one thing, of course, to turn a program around another thing to repeat that for years to come,” Dillingham said. “Yeah, his culture and his realness- I think he’s one of the most just real people in the sport. I mean, you see the passion, emotion on the sideline like you see it like it’s not fake. It’s real.”
Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham addressed media members ahead of Saturday’s Big 12 Championship Game between Iowa State and Arizona State (11:00 a.m. ABC).
Dec 1, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets running back Kene Nwangwu (34) returns a kickoff for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images
Iowa State running back Kene Nwangwu has been signed to the Jets’ active roster, after he was elevated ahead of the team’s 26-21 loss to Seattle Sunday.
In his debut with New York, Nwangwu returned a kickoff for a touchdown – his fourth career return for a score.
“Making his @nyjets debut, here is Kene Nwangwu… And welcome to the Jets with a big time return for a touchdown!!”
@adamaminpic.twitter.com/FkToMDo8As
— The Montag Group (@TheMontagGroup) December 1, 2024
The former Cyclone is in his fourth year in the league, and will likely be serving as the team’s kick returner for the rest of the season.
New York’s next game will be played Sunday, December 8 as the Jets travel to Miami. The game will kick off at Noon CT and will be televised on CBS.
Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) against the Arizona Wildcats during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
When Iowa State takes the field against Arizona State in Saturday’s Big 12 championship game (11:00 a.m. ABC), it will be without its leading wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
According to the report from Sun Devil Source, ASU’s 247 site, Tyson was injured in Arizona State’s final regular season game during the third quarter, and had a sling on before the game was over.
Tyson corralled 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Sun Devils this season.
He is tied for second in the Big 12 in touchdowns and is sixth in the league in receptions.
Tyson had made a name for himself late in the season, going over the century mark in yards five times – including in each of the team’s final three games.
Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) celebrates after defeating the Arizona Wildcats during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
AMES — Media members picked Iowa State to finish sixth in the new-look Big 12 this season. As for Arizona State? The Sun Devils were slated to finish at the very bottom as a first-year team in the league.
So, naturally, AP-No. 12 Arizona State (10-2) and the 17th-ranked Cyclones (10-2) sat atop the conference standings after all the dust (and snow) settled early Sunday morning and will tangle for a Big 12 title this Saturday at 11 a.m. (ABC) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Both teams finished 7-2 in league play, as did BYU and Colorado, who failed to reach the league championship game because of tiebreakers.
So ISU gets its second crack at a Big 12 title in the Matt Campbell era — and this time, if the Cyclones win, they’ll reach the expanded College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. So the stakes and tension are both high, especially when one looks at five of the Sun Devils’ top players to know:
RB Cam Skattebo Former Alabama coach Nick Saban’s “favorite” college football player does it all with power and panache. The 5-11, 230-pound senior’s rushed for nearly 1,4000 yards for the second time in the past three seasons, and his 17 rushing touchdowns are tied for the second most among Big 12 tailbacks. Skattebo also ranks second on his team in catches (35) and receiving yards (a career-high 468). He’s scored at least one touchdown in eight of the Sun Devils’ past nine games — and he’s rushed for three touchdowns in each of his team’s last two wins. Skattebo’s rushed for 39 career touchdowns and caught seven touchdown passes in the past four years.
QB Sam Leavitt The 19-year-old from West Linn, Ore., boasts the highest season grade among freshmen (88.5) on either side of the ball who’ve played 400 or more snaps, according to Pro Football Focus College. Leavitt, who transferred from Michigan State in the offseason, has thrown a Big 12-low five interceptions while tossing 21 touchdowns to six different players. The 6-2, 200-pound redshirt freshman is also a Campbell runner, totaling 350 yards on 90 carries this season. He’s reached the end zone four times as a runner and has rushed for 40 or more yards five times this season. Leavitt’s thrown for 245-plus yards seven times this season — and his 275-yard, three-touchdown performance fueled a 24-14 upset in a Kansas State three weeks ago.
TE Chamon Metayer The 6-4, 255-pounder Cincinnati transfer has been an important target all season and ranks second on the team in touchdown catches with five. Three of the scoring grabs have come in the past four games — and his role will likely expand greatly because the Sun Devils’ leading receiver, Jordyn Tyson, is out because of an injury sustained in last week’s 49-7 rout of Arizona. Tyson’s totaled 1,101 receiving yards and ten touchdowns through the air, so expect the passing offense to lean on Metayer and Skattebo, while senior Xavier Guillory tries to replace Tyson as the top downfield receiving threat. Metayer’s an elite athlete who also starred as a basketball player in high school, so he should be eager to step into the spotlight.
S Myles Rowser The hard-hitting 6-1, 185-pound junior from Detroit leads the Sun Devils in total tackles (87) and solo stops (44). Rowser’s defended four passes but hasn’t snared an interception this season. The former New Mexico State transfer’s notched one sack this season and excels against the run while remaining solid in pass coverage. Rowser’s nickname is “Ghost,” and he serves as the perfect bookend to fellow transfer safety Xavion Alford, who’s second on the team in tackles with 75 and is tied for first in interceptions with two.
LB Caleb McCullough The 6-2, 225-pound senior from Oxnard, Calif., entered the program as a developmental player. He slowly became a special teams star and has now emerged as an anchor of Arizona State’s defense. He ranks third on the team in tackles with 68 and is tied for first in interceptions with two. Both of those key takeaways fueled an upset win over then-No. 16 Utah in early October.
Nov 26, 2024; Lahaina, Hawaii, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) shoots against Dayton Flyers guard Enoch Cheeks (6) in the first half at Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images
Iowa State dropped from No. 5 to No. 6 in the Associated Press Men’s Basketball Poll, released on Monday.
The Cyclones are one of nine Big 12 teams that either appear in the rankings or are receiving votes. Kansas remained at No. 1, while Cincinnati and Baylor were at No. 14 and No. 15, along with No. 17 Houston.
Arizona State, West Virginia, BYU and Texas Tech all received votes.
The full poll can be seen below
AP MBB Poll
Monday, Dec. 2, 2024
1. Kansas
2. Auburn
3. Tennessee
4. Kentucky
5. Marquette
6. Iowa State
7. Gonzaga
8. Purdue
9. Duke
10. Alabama
11. Wisconsin
12. Oregon
13. Florida
14. Cincinnati
15. Baylor
16. Memphis
17. Houston
18. Pittsburgh
19. Illinois
20. North Carolina
21. Oklahoma
22. Texas A&M
23. Ole Miss
24. San Diego State
25. UConn
The South Carolina Gamecocks compete against the Iowa State Cyclones in a Fort Myers Tip-Off Island Division game at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla., on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. South Carolina won 76-36. © Jonah Hinebaugh/The News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Following a 1-1 week with a loss to now No. 3 South Carolina and a win over Middle Tennessee State, Iowa State comes in at No. 20 in the latest AP WBB Poll.
The Cyclones are one of four Big 12 teams ranked in the top 25, joining No. 9 TCU, No. 13 Kansas State and No. 15 West Virginia.
Iowa State will face No. 17 Iowa in Iowa City next week as part of the annual Cy-Hawk Series.
Before that, the Cyclones have games against USC Upstate (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. ESPN+) and Central Michigan (Sunday, 12:00 p.m. ESPN+). Both games are at Hilton Coliseum.
The full poll can be seen below:
AP WBB Poll
Monday, December 2, 2024
1. UCLA
2. UConn
3. South Carolina
4. Texas
5. LSU
6. USC
7. Maryland
8. Duke
9. TCU
10. Notre Dame
11. Oklahoma
12. Ohio State
13. K-State
14. Kentucky
15. West Virginia
16. North Carolina
17. Iowa
18. Ole Miss
19. Alabama
20. Iowa State
21. Illinois
22. Louisville
23. Michigan
24. Michigan State
25. Nebraska
Others receiving votes: NC State 58, Georgia Tech 33, Stanford 28, Tennessee 16, Oregon 15, Florida St. 14, Richmond 13, Mississippi St. 11, Vanderbilt 8, Baylor 6, Utah 5, Harvard 4, South Dakota St. 4, Creighton 3, Minnesota 3.
Well, they’re back.
For the second time in the Matt Campbell era, Iowa State will play in a Big 12 championship game. It’s about to be an all-time week. Let’s dig into it.
The Arizona State matchupWhile crunching numbers over the last few weeks, it became pretty apparent that should the Cyclones make the trip back to Arlington, they’d face one of three teams: BYU, Colorado or Arizona State.
The intrigue with Colorado comes with coach Deion Sanders and the range of reactions fans have when he’s in front of the mic. The program has a bunch of flash and arrogance, and you’re playing against one of college football’s elite players (Travis Hunter) that will likely win the Heisman. (I’m team Ashton Jeanty, just don’t trust the voters).
BYU had done nothing this season except for coming up clutch in major moments and almost always having an answer. No team had been able to take the Cougars’ final punch until Kansas upended them in mid-November.
Yes, Arizona State has got an elite talent, too, in running back Cam Skattebo – who I’ve probably mentioned ad nauseum in this column. He’s a workhorse who is going to take it to Iowa State’s defense. It’s just a question of how much the Cyclones can limit the damage.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt has had an exceptional year as well, throwing for 2,444 yards and rushing for another 350. His 21-5 touchdown-interception ratio speaks for itself.
It was going to be a hard game regardless, and Iowa State looked night-and-day better with its rushing defense against Kansas State. I still love this matchup, though.
The next College Football Playoff Rankings revealI want to think that we’re going to see an intriguing College Football Playoff rankings reveal this week. I want to see what the committee does on a flat top 25 ranking between BYU and Miami, or what college football’s version of the bubble looks like.
I think everybody wants that, at least those that aren’t fans of an SEC team, but it’s turned into even more of a glorified AP Poll as this season has gone on. And yet every week, I turn it on thinking it might be different. And I’m mad when it isn’t.
People should be mad Tuesday night, when the bubble is filled exclusively with 9-3 teams out of the SEC and a Miami team that is closer to 7-5 than it is 10-2 for those that watched the games. Right behind them will be BYU.
Sometimes I wonder what it would look like had Utah, Oklahoma State, Arizona and Iowa State been the 1 and 2-loss teams at the end of the year. Would the rankings look different? Maybe, but not by much the way these conferences are shaped and these narratives have formed over the year.
I hope some day we, as an industry in college football, can stop comparing teams with the label of the conference as if they’re all made equal. Unfortunately, those days look far away, and you’ve got to do something…
How the season finished & what could the Big 12 do?Arizona State played six Big 12 teams with losing records on their schedule this season. Iowa State played five itself.
Of the four teams that finished 7-2, only one matchup occurred between a pair of them when BYU and Arizona State battled a week ago. That’s one reason the tiebreakers got as freaky as they did.
So what could the Big 12 do? I’ll go back to something I grew up with in what was called Bracket Busters.
The event, which former Missouri Valley Conference commissioner Doug Elgin had a hand in creating, had mid-major conferences match up top teams from their leagues to enhance resumes late in the season. On multiple occasions it played a hand in getting some teams into the tournament that would later make Final Four runs.
Why couldn’t the Big 12 work out something similar in football? Have the top four teams in the league face off in play-in games during ‘rivalry week.’
And before someone says that its more difficult to schedule football games than it is basketball, Coastal Carolina and BYU scheduled a game themselves in a 48-hour timespan. It can be done.
If the cards are going to be stacked against you, why not build a house out of the ones you’ve got?
Iowa State MBB debuts at No. 19 in NET RankingsMonday marked the first edition of the NET Rankings for the season and Iowa State slotted in at No. 19. Nine Big 12 teams are in the top 50, although it’s sure to change with how early we are in the season so far.
The new AP Poll dropped Monday as well, and man, does it set up a massive Wednesday – both at Hilton Coliseum and in the sport.
No. 6 Iowa State will take on No. 5 Marquette in what is perhaps the biggest non-conference game that Hilton Coliseum has ever seen. (But make sure you have an ESPN+ subscription to watch – ridiculous).
Here’s a look at the slate:
Wednesday, December 4
5:30 p.m. | No. 15 Baylor @ No. 25 UConn (FS1)
6:15 p.m. | No. 10 Alabama @ No. 20 North Carolina (ESPN)
7:00 p.m. | No. 5 Marquette @ No. 6 Iowa State (ESPN+)
7:30 p.m. | No. 1 Kansas @ Creighton (FS1)
8:15 p.m. | No. 2 Auburn @ No. 9 Duke (ESPN)
That goes without mentioning Wednesday’s National Early Signing Day.
Like I said, it’s a big week. Buckle up.
It was a night to remember at Jack Trice Stadium as more than 56,000 fans braved the frigid weather to watch Iowa State take on Kansas State in a Farmageddon game for the ages. The energy was electric in the stands as the Cyclones made history achieving a 10-win regular season. The evening showcased Cyclone pride at its finest. Relive the unforgettable moments with my photo gallery below.
Head coach Matt Campbell reflects and gives his thoughts on a historic 10-win regular season, what it means for his program and the team that accomplished it and more.
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) celebrates with fans after fans rushed to the field as Cyclones win 29-21 over Kansas State Wildcats in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — “I’m the guy who comes in early and leaves late.”
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell spoke those words to me in a one-on-one interview in 2019.
And he wasn’t just talking about himself. That devotion to “the process” has permeated his teams, past and present, and now the College Football Playoff-ranked No. 18 Cyclones find themselves back in the Big 12 championship for the second time ever — and the first time since Campbell helped lead them there while COVID ravaged the world one year later.
ISU (10-2) will face Arizona State (10-2) in Saturday’s 11 a.m. title tilt at At&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with a guaranteed spot in the expanded 12-team playoff hanging in the balance.
“I think it’s fitting that even this isn’t easy,” said Campbell, whose team needed to wait until 12:44 a.m. Iowa time to be sure it would play for a league crown after beating No. 24 Kansas State. 29-21, Saturday on senior night at Jack Trice Stadium. “We’re waiting ‘till the midnight hour (and them some) to figure out exactly what that will look like.”
So it’s the Cyclones and the Sun Devils for all the marbles — just as preseason pollsters predicted.
Not!
ISU was picked to finish sixth in the preseason media poll. Arizona State was tabbed to end up dead last in the recently-expanded 16-team league. Yet here they are, vying for conference supremacy and a CFP berth. The matchup itself speaks to the increasing unpredictable nature of college football, where NIL money, massive coaching contracts, and ever-shifting rosters thanks to the transfer portal culminate to make anything possible, season-to-season, and week-to-week.
“It has been a crazy journey to get to this moment,” said senior Cyclone safety Beau Freyler, who’s played hurt much of his career. “I couldn’t give more thanks and praise to my teammates and the coaching staff, and everyone (who’s) touched this program for all they’ve done to push us. It’s all them. That’s all I can say.”
ISU’s seniors made mammoth plays in Saturday’s win —and that trend started on the first play of the game.
**Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson fumbled by attempting a backwards pass and senior cornerback Myles Purchase** pounced on it at the Wildcats’ 27-yard line.
Six plays later, ISU quarterback Rocco Becht connected with senior receiver Jayden Higgins on a 15-yard touchdown pass that gave his team a 7-0 lead.
“That’s my brother,” said fellow senior receiver Jaylin Noel, who joined Higgins in the 1,000-yard receiving club this season on a later nine-yard touchdown pass from Becht. “To see us both accomplish what we have this season, it’s been very special, and there’ll be more to come.”
**Senior defensive end Joey Petersen — whose dad and brother also played at ISU — recovered Kansas State’s second fumble, which was forced by freshman safety Ta’Shawn James**. The Cyclones won the turnover battler 3-to-zero and are now plus-10 in that category this season.
“Honestly, I felt like we could have done better,” said Becht, who accounted for three touchdowns, two passing and one rushing. “The defense did a helluva job tonight stopping them, and we just couldn’t finish (all) the drives and execute. So I’ll be better next week and hopefully be a better leader for this team next week.”
**Senior cornerback Darien Porter** burst off the edge to block a 21-yard field goal attempt midway through the third quarter, giving him an impressive total of five blocked kicks and punts in his ISU career. The kick careened off of Porter’s helmet, and drew a raucous reaction from Campbell, who demonstratively waved his arms and pumped his fists.
“It was something that we noticed on film — a short edge,” Porter said. “So (we were) able to expose that. But even then, you think you’re gonna get there, but then you get there, and, ‘Wow, there it is.’ So (we were) just able to take advantage of that.”
Just as ISU plans to take advantage of another trip to “Jerry World,” where they came up slights short in a 27-21 loss to Oklahoma in the 2020 league championship game.
“The reality of it is, is there’s a championship game,” Campbell said. “And if you earn the right to be in it, we get In it, and then we’ve gotta go win it.”
Kansas State Wildcats cornerback Justice James (5) knocks out the ball ball from Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) during the first quarter in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images**
AMES – Iowa State’s defense stood tall staring across the field at the faces of Kansas State’s offense, while fans sat on the walls surrounding Jack Trice Stadium waiting to storm the field should the Cyclones finish off the Wildcats.
Kansas State failed to convert on fourth down in the closing moments, and after Rocco Becht knelt with the ball to give No. 18 Iowa State the 29-21 win, the storm was on.
Let’s talk about how they got there in game 12 of a 10-2 regular season.
Iowa State caught its breaksKansas State put the ball on the ground on the first play of the game.
Instead of the opposing team driving down the field for a touchdown on its first drive as has happened in more than half of Iowa State’s games, an errant pitch landed on the ground and found the hands of senior Myles Purchase.
That put some pop into a Jack Trice Stadium crowd that hadn’t been as loud as it usually is until Purchase made that clutch play.
It was later topped by a blocked field goal by Darien Porter, who worked his way onto the roster and has become the elite of the elite in the special teams category.
“We were going to have to make those plays,” coach Matt Campbell said. “Darien helps knock the ball out and cause a fumble and he also blocks a field goal – how about the night he had? Just incredible. I think it’s a testament again, probably fitting for this team to win that way and finish the regular season.”
That was Porter’s fifth career blocked kick, a number that won’t be bested by anyone soon, not just in Ames.
“Obviously it was a very emotional night,” Porter said. “To be able to do something like that on Senior Night, in the last game at the Jack… I’ll definitely remember that for the rest of my life.”
We’ll get to the safety, and these were all big breaks, but it came down to execution as it has frequently in the 10-2 season.
Fittingly, tonight, it sometimes came from seniors. Other times? It was the unsung heroes paying their own way to be on the team.
It’s about everyoneCampbell — who’s in his ninth season as Iowa State’s coach — has said on multiple occasions that he and his staff take critical time to evaluate every player on its roster, and maybe even more on the preferred walk-ons Iowa State brings in.
During the third quarter of Saturday’s game, Iowa State found its offense stalling, with each of its first pair of drives in the second half ending before the Cyclones reached the 50, one of ‘those guys’ stepped up again.
Facing 3rd and 9 on Iowa State’s 26-yard line, Rocco Becht found walk-on wide receiver Carson Brown for a 14-yard gain and a first down, extending the drive and salvaging some of the momentum lost by what ended up being Kansas State’s final touchdown.
“Man, it was awesome,” Campbell said. “Carson’s always been one of those guys that’s done just a really great job of growing in our program. He had a couple of really great moments and then took a step back a little bit two weeks ago – and now, man, he’s come back and I think it just shows his character and resolve. He’s worked really hard to put himself in position to be critical of this football team.”
The drive continued down the field for the Iowa State offense, before it ultimately came to a close on the Kansas State 7-yard line.
That field position, just a few plays later, turned into a game-changing safety on Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson, who was chased into throwing a bad ball by Jacob Ellis – another former walk-on.
“It was a great call by Coach Heacock,” Campbell said. “It was really, really good. It was a pressure – we were able to get somebody loose right through the middle of the offense. Again, those are the moments.”
That goes without mentioning guys like Rylan Barnes, who led the team in tackles during the West Virginia game, and Kyle Konrardy, the kicker that booted the field goal to beat Iowa.
Iowa State needed every play that it got out of the 101 players that saw the field in the regular season and make history in the way it did.
The defense throws the red flag to close it outWhen you see the red flag shown in auto racing, it typically means there’s been a wreck of some sort and also signals to drivers not involved to stop their cars.
Iowa State made the Wildcat offense do both.
In 12 fourth quarter plays, Kansas State netted one, single yard as it tried to complete the comeback.
Jontez Williams nearly had interceptions at multiple times. Ta’Shawn James probably played the best game of his career, laying a couple of big hits.
“I knew it was going to come down to us getting a stop,” senior defensive back and captain Beau Freyler said. “When the offense had the ball, I brought the defense up and I knew it’d be on us situation-wise. (I was) getting everyone’s minds right so we could really compete in that moment and finish the game.”
The group that was hampered beaten down throughout the year, and statistically down for a typical Heacock-led unit, was the one that closed it out.
“There are just huge moments,” Campbell said. “And then the ability to create a sack, we haven’t done that in a little bit here. I think those plays were huge for us. I thought we played great defense throughout the night tonight and really gave ourselves a chance to win a big football game.”
If there wasn’t enough chaos to be found in Iowa State’s first 12 games, Cyclone fans in and around Ames huddled aside TV’s hoping for a BYU win that would put their team into its second Big 12 championship game in the Campbell era.
Whether or not BYU could finish off Houston, it was a proper send-off to the senior class that Campbell credited to ‘saving the program.’
But BYU did, and the send-off for this senior class will be remembered for being as good as it gets.
Iowa State will play in the Big 12 Championship Saturday against No. 16 Arizona State.
Iowa State fans rush to the field as Cyclones win 29-21 over Kansas State Wildcats in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht took a wait-and-see approach. He said he might “peek” at his phone to see how No. 19 BYU was doing against Houston in an all-important Saturday nightcap after his 18th-ranked Cyclones’ 29-21 win over No. 24 Kansas State on senior night at a frost-framed Jack Trice Stadium.
But that’s it. His seniors deserved to be the center of attention after helping lead ISU (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) to its first 10-win season in program history — and fourth triumph over the Wildcats (8-4, 5-4) in the past five meetings.
“This team deserves what we did tonight,” the sophomore playcaller said. “The seniors deserve what we did tonight. People are gonna remember these seniors for a long time, because that 10-win season, it’s never been done, so this night’s for them.”
One of those seniors, wide receiver Jaylin Noel, appreciated the sentiment, but couldn’t resist the urge to scoreboard watch. Not when the stakes are this high. Not with what he and the relatively short list of seniors have enjoyed and endured during four (or more) seasons as a Cyclones.
“Oh, I’ll be watching it,” said Noel, who joined fellow senior Jayden Higgins in surpassing 1,000 receiving yards this season on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Becht in the second quarter. “It means a lot. Obviously it’s not guaranteed yet, but if it does happen and we get to go to the Big 12 championship it’s just going to show all the work this team’s put in throughout the year. Nobody’s given up. Nobody’s folded up their tents — even after the two losses in a row. To be able to bounce back and win three games in a row, and get to that 10-win threshold, it means a lot.”
It didn’t, as ISU head coach Matt Campbell routinely says, come easy. The Cyclones turned a pair of Kansas State fumbles in the first half into two touchdown drives that spanned 30 or fewer yards. ISU never trailed, but saw 10-point leads shaved to three-point edges twice before sealing the victory with a blocked field goal, a safety, and a final stand when the Wildcats’ Avery Johnson tried in vain to rally his team from deep in its own territory in the closing seconds.
“This is how you have to win at Iowa State,” said Campbell, whose team could play for a league title for the second time in his nine seasons at the helm. “You’ve gotta out tough people. You’ve gotta be the toughest mentally, and the toughest team that you can possibly be, and you’ve gotta be able to do the little things really well here. There’s never gonna be another way to do it, and if there is, God bless ‘em, whoever comes next, but the reality for us of being a tough, physical football team with a great mindset to go play as a team and for each other, I still believe that’s the way to win here.”
Becht completed just 13 of 35 passes for a career-low 137 yards and a pair of touchdown passes to Noel and Higgins. He didn’t turn the ball over and also rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown while convert on four of five fourth down situations.
“Rocco is a great leader ands for him to really just want to celebrate the seniors, it means the world to me,” said Noel, who has combined with Higgins for 2,081 receiving yards and 15 touchdown catches this season. “All year, he’s been a brother by my side, making sure I’m OK along the way, and vice versa. … I wouldn’t want anybody else as my quarterback.”
Campbell wouldn’t want anybody other than Jon Heacock to be his defensive coordinator, either. The Cyclones’ defense held the Wildcats nine points below their scoring average and linebacker Jacob Ellis recorded a 22-yard sack of Johnson that turned into a safety because of an intentional grounding call in the end zone. It was the only sack of the game for ISU, which won the turnover battle three-to-zero.
Cornerback Darien Porter also recorded the fifth blocked kick of his career when Kansas State attempted a 21-yard field goal midway through the third quarter — another “little” play that made a big difference to extend the Cyclones’ historic run this season.
“Being able to do something that hadn’t been done here as a senior class, that’s something that we set out as our mission before the season started,” Porter said. “So being able to accomplish that, it’s been great.”
No. 18 Iowa State’s 29-21 victory over No. 24 Kansas State completes their first 10-win season in program history. Listen to everything Rocco Becht, Beau Freyler, Darien Porter and Jaylin Noel give their thoughts about their historic night, th growth of this program and more.
Nov 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes cornerback Cameron Calhoun (4) and Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) play for a ball during the third quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
No. 18 Iowa State returns home for Senior Night against K-State Saturday (6:30 p.m. FOX) with hopes of a spot in the Big 12 championship game on the line. Here’s everything you need to know.
Game Day InfoNo. 18 Iowa State (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) vs. No. 24 K-State (8-3, 5-3 Big 12)
Location: Ames, Iowa
Stadium: Jack Trice Stadium (61,500)
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m.
TV: FOX (Connor Onion, Mark Helfrich)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Iowa State -2.5 (via Action Network updated Friday, 1:00 p.m.)
Over/Under: 51.5
Series ResultsIowa State leads the all-time series against Kansas State 53-50-4
Recent Results
2023: Iowa State 42, K-State 35 (Manhattan)
2022: No. 20 K-State 10, Iowa State 9 (Ames)
2021: Iowa State 33, K-State 20 (Manhattan)
2020: No. 17 Iowa State 45, K-State 0 (Ames)
2019: Kansas State 27, Iowa State 17 (Manhattan)
Players to watchThe wideouts
Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are one of two programs with a pair of 900+ yard receivers to this point in the college football season along with San Jose State. It’s senior night for the both of them, and Higgins is two touchdowns away from tying the season-best mark of 10, set by Allen Lazard in 2017. Noel can eclipse the 1,000-yard mark with 24 yards in this one.
Avery Johnson, quarterback (Kansas State)
Johnson is known for being a playmaker, showing some flashiness and getting the job done with his legs for the Wildcats for the past season. But for as well as he can be, Johnson has the tendency to turn the ball over at a higher rate than others. He’s got 19 touchdowns to nine interceptions on the year, and has fumbled the ball a few times this year. No matter who’s favor its in, Johnson will be one of the most impactful players in this game.
D.J. Giddens, running back (Kansas State)
When Johnson isn’t running with the football, it will be Giddens, who leads the Wildcats in rushing and has 1,271 yards on the season. Iowa State has done well with shutting down K-State running backs in previous seasons, but not with a hampered linebacker unit like it has had all year.
Keys to the gameGet the ground game going
Iowa State’s only had one rushing performance with a single player totaling 100 yards or more this year, and we all remember Snowmageddon. The Wildcats gave up 174 yards on the ground to Cincinnati, with 140 of them coming from running back Corey Kiner. It’d be a huge deal if Iowa State saw a second performance like that this week, especially with three running backs still being rotated.
Make the adjustments that Cincinnati didn’t
Kansas State was able to shred Cincinnati’s defense when it played them a week ago. With former Cyclone Tyson Veidt being the team’s defensive coordinator, and the Bearcats running the same defense used in Ames, Iowa State will at least have a look at what didn’t work. Maybe those adjustments that happen as games go on happen earlier this week.
Exploit the Wildcats
News broke on Friday morning that Kansas State may be without its leading receiver in Jayce Brown, but the Wildcat’s leading catcher will play even if he decides to enter the portal at the end of the year. I’d expect Iowa State’s trash talkers to be a bit louder there – and try to force Johnson into making the mistakes that we’ve seen him make this season. K-State turning it over is Iowa State’s best chance to win here.
In the Big 12
| Big 12 Standings | | Team | OVR | Big 12 | | No. 16 Arizona State | 9-2 | 6-2 | | No. 18 Iowa State | 9-2 | 6-2 | | No. 19 BYU | 9-2 | 6-2 | | No. 25 Colorado | 10-2 | 7-2 | | No. 24 K-State | 8-3 | 5-3 | | Baylor | 7-4 | 5-3 | | TCU | 7-4 | 5-3 | | Texas Tech | 7-4 | 5-3 | | West Virginia | 6-5 | 5-3 | | Kansas | 5-6 | 4-4 | | Cincinnati | 5-6 | 3-5 | | Houston | 4-7 | 3-5 | | UCF | 4-7 | 2-6 | | Arizona | 4-7 | 2-6 | | Utah | 4-7 | 1-7 | | Oklahoma State | 3-9 | 0-9 |
Note: The order in which teams are listed above does not factor in any tiebreaking scenarios, of which there are many.
Friday, November 29
Big 12 Week 14 schedule
Friday, November 29
No. 25 Colorado 52, Oklahoma State 0
7 p.m. | Utah @ UCF, FOX
Saturday, November 30
11 a.m. | Kansas @ Baylor, ESPN2
11 a.m. | Texas Tech @ West Virginia, FS1
2:30 p.m. | No. 16 Arizona State @ Arizona, FOX
5:00 p.m. | TCU @ Cincinnati, ESPN+
6:30 p.m. | No. 24 Kansas State @ No. 18 Iowa State, FOX
9:15 p.m. | Houston @ No. 19 BYU, ESPN
Nov 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) scores a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the first quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
AMES — Jayden Higgins casts his line, gazing out at the water as his lure descends.
Then, he waits.
It’s been a while since Iowa State’s leading receiver has unpacked his rod and reel to go fishing with teammate Jaylin Noel, but that ability to bide his time until there’s a chance at a big strike shifts easily from secluded ponds to sold-out football fields.
“The secret?” Higgins said in advance of Saturday’s senior night matchup with Kansas State. “You’ve just gotta be patient.”
Higgins became the seventh Cyclone ever to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a season last week at Utah, and he’ll look to add to that lofty total when his No. 18 (College Football Playoff) team (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) tries to tame the 24th-ranked Wildcats (8-3, 5-3) for the fourth time in the past five meetings.
Game time: 6:30 p.m. TV: Fox. The site: Jack Trice Stadium, where temperatures will dip into the low teens as ISU seeks its first 10-win season and a likely berth in the Big 12 championship game.
“We’re gonna have to play our best to go win a football game — a rival football game,” said Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell, who led his team to its first Big 12 title game appearance in 2020. “We know that, we understand that, and if we worry about any of that other stuff we can’t control, then it’s a waste of everybody’s time.”
That time is precious for Higgins, Noel, and several other Cyclone seniors who will play their last regular-season game at Jack Trice Stadium. They’re collective emotions gleaned from four-, five- and six-year college careers range from unbridled elation to unbearable heartbreak, but now they have a chance to make history — a goal they’ve highlighted all season.
“They’ve been here for the bad, they’ve been here for the good,” said redshirt sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht, who’s led his team to three game-winning touchdowns in the fourth quarter this season. “And, honestly, they couldn’t write a better story than going out the way we can on Saturday. I’ll be playing for them. They mean a lot to this team. Our culture and leadership is at a peak right now because of them.”
But being mired in a valley two seasons ago helps explain why ISU stands on the precipice of a potential College Football playoff berth and its first double-digit win season now. The Cyclones went 4-8 in 2022 — and six of those losses came by one score.
“I don’t think (that) team had the maturity to bounce back from (bad) things,” said senior center Jarrod Hufford, who will make his 45th consecutive start on Saturday. “The people on this team are committed to playing championship-level football, and when we’re not playing to that, it hurts.”
Kansas State craves an opportunity to inflict that type of pain on the Cyclones, who spoiled the Wildcats’ senior night last season on a snow-swept Bill Snyder Family Stadium field that tailback Abu Sama tore up with a 276-yard rushing, three-touchdowns performance.
“All those emotions — this is a tricky week,” Campbell said. “You talk through it early in the week. You talk through how you’re gonna handle it. Then you get ready to play your best football, because the best tribute we can give this team, the greatest tribute we can give this senior class, is to play our best 60 minutes of football this year.”
The secret to doing that? Patience.
Noel stands just 24 yards from joining Higgins as a 1,000-yard receiver this season. And his fishing buddy knows he’ll get there.
“He’s definitely going to join me,” said Higgins, who along with Noel forms the only FBS receiving duo with at least 975 yards apiece this season.
Maybe even on senior night, when the biggest catches beckon.
“I’ve never seen two less selfish wide receivers,” Campbell said. “(During) Tuesday’s practice they’re in team tackle (drills). These are two (NFL Draft-worthy) football players, two All-American-type football players, and they’re tackling the donut out at practice. I think that just tells you, man, what those guys have stood for. They’ve never been above the team.”
Nov 23, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson (2) passes the ball while being pressured by Cincinnati Bearcats defensive lineman Kameron Wilson (15) during the third quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
No. 18 Iowa State returns home for Senior Night against K-State Saturday (6:30 p.m. FOX) with hopes of a spot in the Big 12 championship game on the line. Here are our staff’s picks.
Chris Williams (8-3)
At its best, Kansas State might be the best team in the Big 12. The problem is that the Wildcats have just been pretty inconsistent this season. Iowa State’s offense rises to the occasion in a game that features a crappy matchup for the D. Iowa State 27, Kansas State 21
Rob Gray (8-3)
Last season, a snowstorm engulfed Manhattan and Abu Sama dashed through it, leading the Cyclones to victory. Saturday night, it will simply be cold as heck — and who knows what will happen. Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson may be the most talented mobile play caller the Cyclones have faced this season, and that’s a problem considering how much they’ve struggled against dual-threat performers. As usual, this one should go down to the wire. A late takeaway seals the outcome and ISU gets to 10 wins for the first time in program history. Iowa State 38, Kansas State 35
Connor Ferguson (9-2)
I was planning on picking Kansas State to win this game in a close one, at least until the Jayce Brown news broke on Friday. From the looks of it, the leading wideout for the Wildcats won’t be on the field. I don’t think this impacts much of the game itself – KSU is typically ground-attack first on offense. Iowa State will still have to find a way to slow down the Wildcats’ offense or force Avery Johnson into mistakes, but I do think this shifts the vibes slightly. Matt Campbell’s shown to have success with good teams against K-State, too. I’ll take the Clones by one. Iowa State 25, Kansas State 24
Jeff Woody (9-2)
You have one chance. One opportunity. To seize everything you ever wanted. Will you capture it? Or just let it slip. There won’t be a lot of sweaty palms (or really sweaty anything) with the game time temps, but I do think this Iowa State team manages to get a win. How it happens? No idea. But give me the Cyclones. Iowa State 24, Kansas State 20
Grant Mahoney (10-1)
I think the key to ISU winning is taking care of the ball, forcing Kansas State to turn the ball over, and winning the special teams battle. In Kansas State’s 3 losses, they’re averaging over 2.5 turnovers a game. In the 8 wins they’re averaging less than 1. Kansas State is also the top team in the conference at stopping the run, while being the 3rd best rush offense in the conference (behind UCF and KU). ISU will need to establish a run game to open up the pass, and limit KSU’s run game, forcing their “QB” to pass more than he wants. Containing him and forcing him to pass will be the key to ISU getting to their first 10 win history in program history. I’ve got plenty of PB&J beers on deck that I’ll be sipping slowly, watching the clones win a nail biter. Iowa State 27, Kansas State 24
Jackson Pence (9-2)
This is it. One game for all the marbles. A chance at 10 wins for the first time in program history and more importantly a chance at a Big 12 Title game appearance. I think Iowa State is ready to play this game. They know what the stakes are. The Cyclones offense is going to be key in this game. Rocco Becht can’t afford to make many mistakes in a game with this magnitude. The Cyclones defense will face another mobile quarterback in young star Avery Johnson. How will Jon Heacock and Co. slow him down enough? We will see. 3rd down will be big for the Cyclones on both sides of the ball. Can they sustain drives on offense and get off the field on defense? Should be a fantastic game. Iowa State 31, Kansas State 27
Iowa State football earned the 18th commitment to its 2025 recruiting class on Thanksgiving, just six days prior to the group’s early signing day set for Wednesday, December 4.
Kuol Kuol, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound offensive tackle that was originally committed to Purdue announced his decision to divert to Ames over his social media accounts.
COMMITTED#cyclones @DerekHoodjer @KelliFogt pic.twitter.com/0PCPZyJDHh
— kuol kuol (@kuolkuol2025) November 28, 2024
Kuol is rated as the No. 79 offensive tackle in his class by 247 Sports.
He chose the Cyclones over Purdue, Vanderbilt, Michigan State, Boston College, Coastal Carolina, Marshall, Army, UMass, Akron, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio) and Western Kentucky.
Below are some highlights and an interview Kuol did while he was still committed to Purdue.
The Centerville High School prospect out of Dayton brings the Cyclones’ class to 18, each of which are expected to sign their national letters of intent Wednesday.
Iowa State’s Kenzie Hare hit a 3-pointer to give the Cyclones the first points of Thursday’s showcase game, but it went downhill quickly as South Carolina rolled to a 76-36 win.
Following Hare’s three, South Carolina went on a 32-0 run. The Cyclones didn’t score again for over 15 minutes, with its next points coming with 4:01 to play in the second quarter.
“We struggled in everything we did,” coach Bill Fennelly said. “It was one of those games that you worry about as a coach. We played scared… we missed free throws, we missed layups. We’ve just got to figure some things out.”
Iowa State did start the third quarter on an 11-0 run, but couldn’t put much more than a dent in the already sizeable South Carolina lead.
“I think it just starts with our defense. We kind of came out with a different energy in the second half, and that opened things up on the offense – they have to guard Audi (Crooks) down low… We’ll get back to work.”
Audi Crooks led the team with 13 points on the day, while Hare was right there for the team high with 12 points herself. Emily Ryan finished with nine, and that trio combined to score 34 of the Cyclones’ 36 points.
“The most important thing we learned collectively is that we need to show up,” Crooks said on the Varsity Network app. “We can’t come out stronger in the second half than we did in the first… We kind of got exposed today.”
Lilly Taulelei had the other two points – just four of the 11 players that saw the floor scored points. This was also the first time in Addy Brown’s career that she was held scoreless.
“We knew the schedule would be this way. We lost the game, but we’ve got to figure out what we are about. We’ll see how we respond to practice.”
Iowa State will return to the floor on Saturday, to wrap up the showcase against Middle Tennessee State.
Algona’s Alex Manske attempts a pass during a football game at Lions Field on Friday, September 29, 2023 in Clear Lake. © Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State’s quarterback for the 2025 recruiting class will make things official on Wednesday, signing is letter of intent to play for the Cyclones.
For Alex Manske, the four-star prospect, his choice became clear when he was in College Station for a visit to Texas A&M.
“The moment that I knew when I wanted to commit to Iowa State was when I was down at Texas A&M. They had like, the biggest and nicest facilities. They have everything there. I was at Texas A&M and I was still thinking about playing for Iowa State. So, that was when I kind of knew and I think like two weeks later was when I committed.”
Manske is rated as the No. 25 quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class by 247 Sports’ composite scale.
He chose Iowa State over Iowa, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska and Pittsburgh.
“It’s just like everything about the program, honestly,” Manske said. “The coaching – I think Iowa State’s coaches are some of the best in the country both developmentally on the field, and also off the field they just really care about you as people.”
Manske grew up an Iowa State fan and played his high school football at Algona, where he led his team to a 6-0 start this season.
“I grew up an Iowa State fan, so I always dreamed about playing for Iowa State when I was a little kid,” Manske said. “That’s kind of hard to pass up when you’re so close to it, I would say.”
In the team’s seventh game of the year against No. 2 Humboldt, Manske helped Algona to the lead before exiting the game with an injury.
“When I hurt it, I knew I did something bad,” Manske said.
The quarterback had torn his UCL, an MRI confirmed, forcing him off the field for the remainder of the year.
Manske had surgery in mid-November and said that his recovery process was going well. He’s on track to be more than 100 percent when fall camp rolls around ahead of the 2025 season.
Although he’s been on the sidelines, Manske has gotten a front row seat to Iowa State’s 9-2 season so far, and is routinely there during games at Jack Trice Stadium watching his future team.
“It’s been really exciting, just because Iowa State’s not known to get the biggest recruits,” Manske said. “Just to see them have success with what they have just shows how good of a culture that Matt Campbell has built there. It just fires me up and I can’t wait to get down there.”
Manske will enroll early over the winter months and start his preparations with Iowa State quarterbacks coach Jake Waters and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser.
“Me and coach Waters text almost every day,” Manske said. “They’re just really fired up and I feel like both coach Waters and coach Mouser really believe in who I am as a player and want to see me develop. Coach Campbell’s always had a lot of great stuff to say.”
Manske will sign, along with 16 others, as part of the 2025 class this Wednesday, December 4.
“I just cant wait to get to work and show Cyclone Nation what kind of class we have. I think this class is really special and I can’t wait to show everyone that,” Manske said. “I can’t wait to go battle my butt off and get better down there.”
Nov 25, 2024; Lahaina, Hawaii, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger reacts to play as his team takes on the Auburn Tigers during the first half an NCAA college basketball game at Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images
All of Iowa State’s so-called “six starters” scored in double figures.
Sharpshooting forward Milan Momcilovic notched a career-high 24 points.
And the No. 5 Cyclones left the stacked Maui Invitational with a 2-1 record — and capped it with a 99-71 lambasting of Colorado to win the fifth-place game Wednesday in Lahaina, Hawai’i.
“I was really pleased with our guys on a quick turnaround,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said on the Cyclone Radio Network after his team improved to 5-1. “(I liked) how we shared the basketball, and we talked about, defensively, when we lock in with ball pressure, allowing us to get out in transition and really play for one another — I thought today’s a great team victory. Guys really shared the ball. That’s the way we want to play.”
The Cyclones — who edged Dayton, 89-84, late Tuesday after falling to No. 4 Auburn, 83-81, in Monday’s quarterfinal — turned 18 turnovers into a staggering 37 points. The Buffaloes (5-2) couldn’t recapture the magic that propelled them to a last-second upset win over No. 2 Connecticut on Tuesday and trailed by as many as 33 points to ISU, which shot 60 percent from the field.
“I think they played well against our pressure at first, but we’re gonna keep coming and coming and coming and eventually it will wear on you,” said Cyclone guard Curtis Jones, who scored 19 points off the bench for the second straight game. “We (were) creating some turnovers — I guess we had 18 of them, so we’re very successful when we can do that and get out and run.”
Momcilovic’s career scoring day came via an efficient 9-for-13 shooting performance from the field. He drained six of his nine 3-point attempts and added three assists. Leading scorer Keshon Gilbert chipped in 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting, which made him 19 of 26 from the field in the three-day event.
“He’s been efficient here,” Otzelberger said of Gilbert, who also dished out a game-high six assists. “He’s just played with such command of the game, such maturity, and shot the ball well. Finished, got his teammates involved. I thought this was a big step for him. He really played great.”
Star guard Tamin Lipsey responded with a 10-point, four-assist, and three-rebound performance after playing just 16 minutes while fouling out against the Flyers. The Ames native also snatched away four steals — his third game with three or more takeaways this season.
“(He’s) terrific,” Otzleberger said. “He’s not 100 percent out there. He’s a warrior. He plays through anything and everything. We need to get him some rest, but our guys derive so much confidence from him when he’s out there pressuring there ball, setting the tone for us, making plays. So just really proud of Tamin.”
Everyone on ISU’s nine-man rotation contributed at least a handful of big plays, including backup big man Brandton Chatfield, who didn’t shoot or score, but did grab five rebounds while starting forwards Dishon Jackson and Joshua Jefferson battled foul trouble.
“As we move forward, with the schedule in front of us and as we enter league play, you’ve gotta have great depth and bench production, and we proved here that we can have that.”
Next up for the Cyclones: A Big 12-Big East Battle-based matchup with No. 10 Marquette at 7 p.m. next Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum.
But before that, ISU’s coaches and players will enjoy one last day of fun in the sun.
“(This is) a great place to be and to spend some time doing some team-building things,” Otzelberger said. “And we’ll take advantage of that.”
Oct 26, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson (2) runs by Kansas Jayhawks defensive end Jereme Robinson (90) on his way to a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State’s defense has faced several dual-threat quarterbacks this season, and it’s struggled each time.
The No. 17 Cyclones have given up 140-plus yards rushing to opposing quarterbacks twice this season — and 68 or more yards in five of those matchups.
Enter Kansas State’s Avery Johnson, who may be the most dangerous running playcaller ISU will face this season in Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. (FOX) Big 12 regular-season finale at Jack Trice Stadium.
His arm and legs form a potential bulwark against what could be the Cyclones’ (9-2, 6-2) first 10-win season in program history — and the Wildcats (8-3, 5-3) are eager to knock ISU out of Big 12 title game contention.
“He’s such a talented runner and really a talented football player in general,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, whose team will likely reach the Big 12 championship game with a win on an ice-cold late November night. “You’ve got to use your wisdom from — we’ve played some really talented quarterbacks who could run. Where were we good? Where were we not good? How do you continue to evolve? And then (you) try to use some different things in practice just to replicate those things. But his speed, his athleticism, his talent, those are hard.”
Johnson’s scampered for 484 yards this season and his six rushing touchdowns trail star running back DJ Giddens by just one score. He’s coming off a 10-carry, 72-yard performance in last week’s win over Cincinnati, and he’s scored three rushing touchdowns in the past four games.
“He’s a real explosive player,” the Cyclones’ senior cornerback Myles Purchase said. “He’s able to break good runs with his feet and he can also throw the ball. So he definitely (presents) a challenge, a dual-threat player, but we’re gonna prepare for it the best way we can.”
ISU is locked in on curtailing Johnson’s production while amping up its own. The Cyclones are eager to take risks offensively in critical situations and lead the Big 12 in fourth down conversion rate at 82.4 percent.
“This is what you live for, November football,” ISU quarterback Rocco Becht said. “This is what everybody wants to play in. Meaningful games in November (are) special. My dad (former NFL veteran Anthony Becht), actually texted me that before the Utah game, so I wasn’t really thinking about that until then. It’s special to be in this place right now, and we need to embrace it and be in the present, because we might not ever get (this opportunity) again.”
Brock Purdy led the Cyclones to the Big 12 title game in the COVID-framed 2020 season, but Oklahoma spoiled that effort with a 27-21 triumph in Arlington, Texas. This ISU team will likely have a shot at a league championship if it can subdue the Wildcats. An external outcome or two may need to aid that aim, but the Cyclones more or less control their own destiny.
Are they focused on what could happen, however? No. Not publicly, anyway.
“I think one of the things that’s been so remarkable about our (senior) leadership is, yeah, nobody likes losing a game when you work as hard as you do, (but) nobody has pointed a finger,” Campbell said. “Nobody’s complained. We went back to work, and I think going back to work is the way through tough and trying times, and I think our seniors have led the way. They’ve given this group a chance to rebound and start to play its best football again in November.”
ISU will certainly need to be at its best in order to stop Johnson from spoiling its potential run to the league title game. It won’t be easy — and never is, but it is imperative if the Cyclones hope to keep making history as the month of November winds down.
“It’s gonna be a real good game, especially being senior night,” senior center Jarrod Hufford said. “We still have everything to play for. They still have everything to play for. It’s just gonna come down to who executes.”
Nov 26, 2024; Lahaina, Hawaii, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (2) defends Dayton Flyers guard Malachi Smith (11) in the second half at Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images
Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson compiled his most modest stat line as a Cyclone in Tuesday’s tense matchup with Dayton at the Maui Invitational, but when his team needed a big play, he delivered.
Jefferson did so multiple times in the second half, and completed a critical three-point play in the final 20 minutes to help No. 5 ISU hold off the Flyers, 89-84, Tuesday in Lahaina, Hawai’i.
“When they look at resumes, this game is gonna be really important,” Jefferson said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “(It) just showed the toughness that we have as a group. I’m just happy that we came out with the win and the perseverance that he showed tonight.”
Jefferson scored all seven of his points in the second half and snared his only steal of the game when Dayton had the chance to take the lead with 6:50 remaining. He also drained a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left to turn a one-possession lead into a five-point advantage.
“It’s a 40-minute game, so if things aren’t going right right away, later on, you’ve just gotta keep playing,” the 6-8 St. Mary’s transfer said. “Just making defensive plays — anything you can to dictate winning, I’m trying to do.”
ISU (4-1) will face Colorado in the tournament’s fifth-place game at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday Iowa time. The Buffaloes (5-1) beat two-time defending national champion Connecticut, 73-72, on a last-second basket. The No. 2 Huskies lost their second straight game in the final moments at Maui — highlighting how tough the field is in this vaunted event.
“This is such a great tournament,” Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team both trailed and led by as many as nine points to Dayton (5-2). “I’m not sure there’s ever been a stronger field here. And you know every game is gonna be a war — and we’ve already had two.”
ISU blew an 18-point lead in an 83-81 quarterfinal loss to No. 4 Auburn, and endured similar struggles on the defensive end against the Flyers, who coincidentally let a 21-point lead over No. 12 North Carolina slip in their opening game. Dayton shot 64 percent from the field in the first half and 58 percent overall.
Malachi Smith scored 22 points on 7-for-9 shooting to lead the Flyers.
Keshon Gilbert paced the Cyclones for the second straight game with 24 points. The senior guard and former UNLV transfer has drained 14 of his 18 field goal attempts on Maui and 18 of his 21 free throw tries. Fellow senior guard Curtis Jones added 19 points, with 12 coming in the second half.
“They’re smart, they’re tough, they’re competitive,” Otzelberger said. “Both guys really stepped up when we needed it.”
ISU overcame a rare sub-par performance from star point guard Tamin Lipsey, who scored six points in 16 minutes while battling foul trouble all night. He fouled out with 2:42 left and failed to record a rebound for the first time in his Cyclone career.
“Our bench, I thought, was the best it’s been so far this year,” Otzelberger said of his non-starters, who outscored their Dayton counterparts, 30-12. “Thought all those guys (who) came in were really impactful to bring us a win.”
Jones’ 19 points came off the bench. Brandton Chatflield added five points, Nojus Indrusaitis chipped in four, and Nate Heise scored two in reserve roles.
“Obviously, that (game against Auburn) was a tough one to lose,” said Heise, who also kept a key possession alive by tipping a rebound to a teammate. “But the good thing about these tournaments is you’ve got the next one the next day. We obviously want to keep winning and get two wins out of the tournament.”
Nov 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes cornerback Cameron Calhoun (4) and Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) play for a ball during the third quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Iowa State came in at No. 18 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, unveiled live on ESPN Tuesday.
The Cyclones are 9-2, and ranked as the second highest team in the Big 12, behind No. 16 Arizona State.
That’s a big point – because Tulane rolled in at No. 17 in the rankings, and stands as the favorite to claim the American Athletic Conference title.
The five automatic playoff bids go to the five highest ranked conference champion – so, it’s not technically a guarantee that a Big 12 championship would send the conference’s winner to the playoff. Although, it’s still likely.
Other Big 12 programs appearing in the rankings included BYU at No. 19, Kansas State at No. 24 and Colorado at No. 25.
The No. 18 Cyclones take on No. 24 Kansas State on Saturday in what could be a win-and-you’re-in game for a Big 12 championship slot at 6:30 p.m. on FOX.
CFP Rankings
Tues. November 26, 2024
1. Oregon
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Penn State
5. Notre Dame
6. Miami
7. Georgia
8. Tennessee
9. SMU
10. Indiana
11. Boise State
12. Clemson
13. Alabama
14. Ole Miss
15. South Carolina
16. Arizona State
17. Tulane
18. Iowa State
19. BYU
20. Texas A&M
21. Missouri
22. UNLV
23. Illinois
24. Kansas State
25. Colorado
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser spoke to media members Tuesday to preview this Saturday’s Farmageddon matchup between Iowa State and Kansas State (6:30 p.m. FOX).
Kansas State coach Chris Kleiman’s pregame press conference can be seen below, as well.
Iowa State’s Rocco Becht, Jayden Higgins, Jarrod Hufford & Myles Purchase spoke to media members Tuesday to preview this Saturday’s Farmageddon matchup between Iowa State and Kansas State (6:30 p.m. FOX).
Nov 25, 2024; Lahaina, Hawaii, USA; Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome (4) goes against Iowa State Cyclones center Dishon Jackson (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at Lahaina Civic Center. Auburn defeated Iowa State 83-81. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images
No. 5 Iowa State fell to No. 4 Auburn 83-81 in the waning seconds of its first round game at this week’s Maui Invitational.
In the nightcap, No. 12 North Carolina was able to complete a comeback against previously unbeaten Dayton, setting up a matchup between the Flyers and Cyclones tonight (7:30 p.m. ESPNU).
I pulled our intern Jackson Pence to preview this one with me.
The big takeaway from game 1FERG – I thought, without a doubt, that Dishon Jackson and Joshua Jefferson looked as impressive as they could have in that game.
As he’s done in practice a few times this year in mini-games the program participates in, Jefferson won the rebounding competition for the Cyclones. Along with it, you got a 9-10 mark from the free throw line from Dishon Jackson, who had a number of big plays in that one.
Obviously, on the other side of things, Iowa State gave up 50 points in the second half and allowed Auburn to storm back after being down by 18 points. Neither of those things can happen if this team wants to reach it’s full potential, but it was an uncharacteristic half on the defensive side.
PENCE – The biggest takeaway from game one is that Iowa State has a really fun and good basketball team. Not to say that they didn’t beforehand, but the Cyclones went toe to toe with a top 3 team in the country and lost on a buzzer beater.
Keshon Gilbert was the best player on the floor for both teams. He scored 23 points on an efficient 8-10 shooting. If he doesn’t get in foul trouble early in that game, the outcome may have been different.
The big question going into the Auburn game was if Dishon Jackson and Joshua Jefferson could hold their own against high-level bigs and competition. The transition from mid-major to high-major basketball is vastly underrated and they both proved right away that they can play at a high level. It is going to be fun watching them play in the Big 12.
What surprised you about Dayton?FERG – I thought the Flyers looked as complete as any team could look while giving up a similar comeback to the Tar Heels that Iowa State did Auburn.
While things were clicking, though, Dayton moved the ball around well, and hit a few big 3-pointers that can swing momentum in any game.
I thought Nate Santos, Dayton’s leading scorer, impressed, but was taken aback when I saw Amael L’Etang scored his 13 points in 12 minutes. He has some length that created problems and I’d be shocked if he doesn’t get more run time tonight.
PENCE – What impressed me the most about Dayton was how balanced they are in scoring the basketball. The Flyers had six guys in double figures in their opening round 92-90 loss to No. 12 North Carolina. They also knocked down an impressive 14 threes, shooting it at 43.8% (14-32) clip.
Iowa State will have to be quick on rotations because the Flyers will let it fly from anywhere on the court.
What intrigues you about tonight’s matchup?FERG – I think we’ll see Iowa State really attack the boards against Dayton. As Jackson says below, the Flyers didn’t commit many turnovers against UNC – a lot of opportunities were created on the boards during the Tar Heels’ comeback.
I’m also intrigued to watch what look we get from the Iowa State defense. There’s no doubt that T.J. Otzelberger will be challenging this group to get after it on that side of the ball after Monday’s final 20 minutes. Does that bring more turnovers? And, will it be enough to get you the win to setup a matchup against the back-to-back national champions in UConn? That’s the intrigue for me.
PENCE – How will the Iowa State guards turn Dayton over? The Flyers took care of the ball in the opening round game, only committing 10 turnovers against North Carolina. In the second half against Auburn, the Cyclones only turned the Tigers over five times. For Iowa State to be successful, they are going to have to be more disruptive on the defensive end.
The Cyclones also got outrebounded 21-10 in the second half. Look for that to be an area of improvement against Dayton.
Nov 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) celebrates a touchdown with teammates against the Utah Utes during the fourth quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
AMES — Carson Hansen’s mouthpiece almost hid his ear-to-ear grin.
Almost.
But the TV broadcast revealed the Iowa State’s sophomore tailback’s visible delight anyway.
Hansen had just completed a trick-play pass to former Cedar Rapids Prairie star Gabe Burkle in the late stages of the No. 17 Cyclones’ 31-28 win over Utah last Saturday in Salt Lake City — and the call itself drew smiles from ISU’s fans.
Call it gutsy, too risky, or a worthwhile gamble, but either way, the Cyclones’ first-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser’s fingerprints were all over it. And Hanson surged into the end zone on the following play from three yards out, helping ISU stave off an upset and remain very much alive in the Big 12 title race entering Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. (FOX) matchup with Kansas State at Jack Trice Stadium.
“We were working through (that play) all week, and just a great opportunity to do it,” Hansen said of his 26-yard pass to Burkle after the win. “(I appreciate) the trust from the coaches to be able to show that thing, and I really appreciate the O-line for always having my back and keeping me protected.”
Mouser will likely need to pull more tricks from his sleeve on Saturday against the Wildcats (8-3, 5-3), who relish a chance to knock the Cyclones (9-2, 6-2) out of Big 12 championship game contention. Kansas State is one of several teams in the league that retain faint hopes of playing for a conference title, as well, so expect the Wildcats’ best shot on a frigid night at Jack Trice Stadium.
“This sport’s hard,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, whose team has won three of the past four meetings with Kansas State after losing 11 of 12 games in the long-running series. “You’ve got to win in the moment, and you’ve got to be willing to sacrifice everything for these opportunities.”
Hansen did just that in a crucial moment last Saturday, hitting his tight end in stride to help avoid a bitter upset. He notched his 11th rushing touchdown out of the same formation on the following play.
“I taught him everything he knows,” Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht said, chuckling. “No, I’m joking. When the moment came, he was able to shine and do his job and execute it. We worked on it all week and, honestly, it wasn’t the prettiest all week, but tonight it was. So continuing to thrive in our detail and our precision, ultimately helped us win this game.”
So Hansen’s now 1-for-1 in his young career for 26 yards. His passer rating is set at a heady 318.4 according to ESPN, but his most important work will come in the running game. Hansen leads ISU with 560 rushing yards this season with 560, and he’s the only back to avenge 5.0 yards per carry. Home-run hitting fellow sophomore Abu Sama’s close behind at 4.8 yards per tote, but Hansen’s established himself as a trusted lead back, and that’s important for a Cyclone team that largely controls its own destiny in terms of its conference title chances.
“That’s what you want in November — meaningful games and everything to play for,” Becht said. “So this is gonna be our best week of practice. It needs to be.”
And who knows what kind of plays Mouser will dial up as the temperature drops into the low teens? Just expect some creativity, just like last Saturday.
“Coach Campbell told the team before (that play), ‘Greatness favors the bold,’” Mouser said. “I think it’s fun to be creative, and it’s fun to push the boundaries on things like that a little bit.”
Injury Update Campbell said safety Drew Surges — who’s missed the first 11 games because of injury — could be back this week, but senior captain and defensive lineman J.R. Singleton remains questionable, as does tight end Ben Brahmer.
“Singleton practiced today, so I think (that’s) really big,” Campbell said. “Brahmer (was) at practice today, so I think he’s probably close. We’ll kind of see where he is by Saturday game time.”
Campbell added that linebacker Cael Brezina will “probably not” be back on Saturday.
“That’s just kind of where we’re at today,” he said.
Nov 25, 2024; Lahaina, Hawaii, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) goes to the basket over Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images
Six minutes and nine seconds.
That’s how long it took for No. 5 Iowa State to relinquish a 16-point halftime lead to fourth-ranked Auburn in Monday’s Maui Invitational quarterfinal in Lahaina, Hawai’i.
The Cyclones (3-1) flummoxed the Tigers (5-0) in the first 20 minutes, but struggled to counter their second-half adjustments, eventually falling, 83-81, on star forward Johni Broome’s tip-in with 1.2 seconds left.
“We take a lot of pride in team defense,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said on the Cyclone Radio Network after the game. “Team rebounding and all those sorts of things. I think it’s a great game for those guys. We’ll be better for it, and, unfortunately, one more play and it can go the other way.”
Senior guard Keshon Gilbert shined for the Cyclones, scoring a game-high 23 points in 21 minutes while battling foul trouble most of the game. He made eight of his 10 field goal attempts, and six of his seven free throws, but turned the ball over in the closing seconds with a chance to win the game.
ISU’s defense then denied the Tigers’ Denver Jones on a last-second layup attempt, but Broome deftly used his fingertips to turn an offensive rebound into the game-winning basket as time expired.
Broome finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Auburn beat a fellow top-10 team for the second time this season and the Cyclones left the court shaking their heads, stinging from a loss that could have been a statement win early in the season.
“We’re a real connected group, so us not splintering in those times of adversity, we really came together, and we still gave ourselves a chance to win at the end of the game,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert’s two free throws with 38 seconds left gave ISU an 81-79 lead. Auburn’s Kelly Miles then tied the game with a driving layup and the Cyclones wound the shot clock down to 11 seconds before Broome strafed the ball away from Gilbert with 11 seconds left. Ten seconds later, Broome cleaned up the offensive boards to complete the Tigers’ comeback win — much to the chagrin of ISU, which never trailed until the 4:01 mark of the second half.
“Our team, we’re gonna fight to the end,” said transfer forward Dishon Jackson, who scored 13 points while going 9-for-10 from the free-throw line. “It doesn’t matter if we’re down 20 or up 20, we’re still gonna fight to the end. I think this is a great learning experience for our team, and I think we’re gonna come back stronger from this.”
Auburn outrebounded the Cyclones, 21-10, in the second half and crafted an 11-0 edge in second-chance points in the final 20 minutes. ISU outscored the Tigers 19-4 in points off turnovers but couldn’t get a takeaway when it mattered most at the end.
Curtis Jones added 14 points for the Cyclones and Milan Momcilovic chipped in 12. Joshua Jefferson added nine points and a team-high eight rebounds for ISU, which will face the loser of Monday’s late quarterfinal between No. 12 North Carolina and Dayton on Tuesday at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Both the Tarheels and the Flyers are ranked among KenPom’s top 40, so the Cyclones will face another stern test in a stacked tournament that started with Memphis’ 99-97 upset in overtime of second-ranked and two-time defending national champion Connecticut in the opening game.
“When you come in here, you’re competitive, you want to win every game, but we respect our opponents,” Otzelberger said. “We’ll use the feeling that we have — the frustration and disappointment that we have — to our advantage to bounce back tomorrow and play great. That’s what we’ll do.”
Nov 23, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson (2) waits for the snap during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts polished off a 9-1 season in 1906 with a 7-0 win over Drake on Nov. 29 in Des Moines. Kellogg’s Corn Flakes debuted the same year, and the first wireless radio transmission for entertainment purposes was broadcast that December.
One hundred and eighteen yards later, the Iowa State University Cyclones have finally matched that regular season high-water mark — and with a win on Saturday night over Kansas State at home, the first 10-win season in program history becomes a reality.
It will be bitterly cold. Jack Trice Stadium may or may not be sold out. The Matt Campbell-led No. 17 Cyclones (9-2, 6-2) are breathing rarefied air and poised to (likely) reach the Big 12 title game if they can knock off the talented but erratic Wildcats (8-3, 5-3). The game will be broadcast on FOX — and here are five Kansas State players to know before kickoff:
DE Brendan Mott The former Iowa City West standout has become a star for Kansas State. The 6-5, 244-pound senior leads the Big 12 in sacks with 8.5 and he notched his first career interception in last week’s 41-15 win over Cincinnati. Mott also recovered a fumble in the Wildcats’ 29-27 comeback win over Kansas. He pounced on Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels’ fumble with 3:44 left, which set up the game-winning drive. Mott’s efforts have helped Kansas State rise to second in the conference in sacks with 30 — more than double ISU’s league-low-tying 14. One of Mott’s three sacks last season came against the Cyclones.
QB Avery Johnson As the gifted 6-2, 192-pound sophomore from Wichita goes, so go the Wildcats. Johnson boasts an 18-to-3 touchdown to interception ratio in Kansas State’s eight wins. But in the three losses? Johnson completed just one touchdown pass while throwing six picks. He’s dangerous and dynamic with both his arm and his legs — a combination that’s given Iowa State’s defense fits this season. Johnson is second on the team in rushing yards with 494, and he’s scored six touchdowns on the ground. He has yet to throw for 300 yards in a game this season, but he rushed for 110 yards in a resounding 31-7 win over Arizona in September. Johnson’s also completed at least one pass of 40-plus yards in eight of the Wildcats’ 11 games, so he can make explosive plays in a variety of ways.
RB DJ Giddins Giddins has rushed for 1,200-plus yards two seasons in a row and has yet to fumble in his decorated career. He’s as reliable a back as you’ll find in the Big 12 and maybe in the country, and is averaging a career-high 6.5 yards per carry this season. Giddins rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown in last season’s 42-35 loss to the Cyclones — a solid effort overshadowed by ISU tailback Abu Sama’s 276-yard, three-touchdown performance. Giddins, a 6-1, 212-pound junior from Junction City, Kan., leads the Wildcats with seven rushing touchdowns this season. Five of those touchdown runs have come in the past five games.
WR Jayce Brown The 6-0, 179-sophomore from Fort Walton Beach, Fla., caught just one pass for 15 yards in last week’s win, but he’s come up big in the Wildcats’s two wins of three or fewer points this season. Brown snared six passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns in an impressive 31-28 win at Colorado — including the 50-yard game-winner. He also caught five passes for 98 yards in the Kansas win. Brown’s three touchdown catches this season pale in comparison to the nine compiled by the tight end trio of Garrett Oakley, Will Anciaux, and Will Swenson, but his 657 receiving yards dwarfs second-leading receiver (and Iowa transfer) Keagan Johnson’s total of 340 yards.
LB Austin Romaine The 6-2, 244-pound sophomore from Hillsboro, Mo., leads Kansas State in total tackles with 77, and he’s also forced a team-leading three fumbles this season. Romaine forced the key fumble recovered by Mott in the Kansas win, and he’s recorded 12 tackles twice this season. Romaine’s also notched two sacks and knocked down a pass this fall, making him one of the most disruptive players on the Wildcats’ defense.
Auburn Tigers center Dylan Cardwell (44) makes a post move on North Alabama Lions forward Corneilous Williams (3) as Auburn Tigers take on North Alabama Lions at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. © Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
No. 5 Iowa State (3-0) travels to the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii to take on the No. 4 Auburn Tigers (4-0) in the Maui Invitational on Monday night (8:00 p.m., ESPNU).
The Cyclones are making their third appearance in the prestigious Maui
Invitational (2024, 2018, & 1990), which is widely regarded as college basketball’s premier early-season tournament.
The field is featuring four top 10 teams—No. 2 UConn, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State, and No. 12 North Carolina. Iowa State and Auburn will mark the first-ever top 10 first-round matchup in tournament history.
The Competition No. 4 Auburn: The Tigers, led by head coach Bruce Pearl, feature a mix
of experienced seniors and exciting newcomers. Johni Broome is a
dominant senior center and pairs nicely with dynamic freshman guard
Tahaad Pettiford, a McDonald’s All-American. Veteran guards Denver
Jones and JP Pegues bring lots of scoring in bunches, while transfer Miles Kelly adds depth to a talented roster. With a balance of size, athleticism, and shooting, Auburn is poised to contend in the SEC and beyond and will be one of the favorites to win this tournament.
* No. 2 UConn: After back-to-back National Championships, the UConn
Huskies are poised for another strong season. Alex Karaban, the lone
returning starter from last year’s championship squad, anchors the team with his terrific shooting and All-American potential. Returning guard Hassan Diarra transitions into a starting role this season, bringing defensive tenacity and improved playmaking. He pairs well with transfer Aidan Mahaney (Saint Mary’s) who adds depth and scoring options. In the frontcourt, Tarris Reed Jr., a transfer from Michigan, dominates then paint with his interior presence with post moves and rim protection. The Huskies are once again in the hunt for another National Championship.
* No. 7 North Carolina: The Tar Heels are looking to build on last season’s
success, which included an Elite Eight run and an ACC regular-season title. They are led by veteran guard RJ Davis, who is one of the best players in the ACC, if not the country. Sophomore Elliot Cadeau has made a huge jump so far this season as a scorer. Transfers forwards Ven-Allen Lubin (Vanderbilt) and Cade Tyson (Belmont) add valuable experience, while highly rated freshmen Ian Jackson and Drake Powell provide additional talent and rebounding to a team that is in need of it after the departure of Armando Bacot.
* Michigan State: The Spartans are led by longtime coach Tom Izzo. Senior Jaden Akins (10.4 PPG, 36.4% 3PT last season) headlines their returning talent, while Nebraska Omaha transfer Frankie Fidler adds scoring versatility (20.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG in 2023-24). The frontcourt is led by Xavier Booker (6’11”) who brings physicality and rebounding to a smaller MSU squad.
* Memphis: Penny Hardaway is aiming to reclaim dominance in the AAC
after missing the NCAA Tournament last year despite a 22-10 record. Key
returning player Nicholas Jourdain emphasizes improved team chemistry and higher energy in practices compared to last season. New starters include former Cyclone and Longhorn Tyrese Hunter and Colby Rogers, with Jared Harris emerging as a standout freshman. Injuries to star center Moussa Cisse and others may test their depth early on especially in a tournament where teams play three games in three days.
* Colorado: The Buffaloes squad has shown promise early on this season as
they have raced out to a 4-0 start. With a mix of returning talent like Julian Hammond III and Javon Ruffin, as well as contributions from freshman forward Sebastian Rancik, Colorado emphasizes versatility and athleticism. Their defense has been solid so far this season, leveraging their size in the frontcourt, particularly from Bangot Dak but offensive consistency remains a work in progress. Colorado has also added key transfers, including Andrej Jakimovski, who brings veteran experience and shooting range from Washington State.
* Dayton: The Flyers are off to a promising start as a top contender in the
Atlantic 10. Despite losing key players like DaRon Holmes II, who averaged 20.4 points and 8.5 rebounds last season, Dayton has retained crucial contributors under head coach Anthony Grant. The Flyers emphasize balanced scoring, with important players such as Malachi Smith* averaging 10 points and 5 assists per game. Their defense has been effective, holding opponents to 37.9% shooting while dominating the boards averaging 39 rebounds per game. With a strong start to the season, the Flyers appear well-positioned for another NCAA tournament bid.
Iowa State’s Keys to Success1. Defensive Pressure: Iowa State ranks third nationally in adjusted defense
and excel at forcing turnovers (28% of possessions). They must maintain
intensity against elite offenses. Finding a way to turn teams over has been a key to the Cyclones’ gameplan under TJ Otzelberger.
2. Balanced Scoring: Curtis Jones leads the team with 15 points per game off the bench, supported by Tamin Lipsey (13.7 PPG) and Keshon Gilbert
(12.3 PPG). Secondary scorers like Milan Momcilovic must step up in high-pressure situations. Look for the Cyclones to assert their size advantage early in games with Dishon Jackson and Joshua Jefferson. Staying consistent will be huge for Iowa State.
3. Short-Term Memory: Iowa State is playing three games in three days, so
mental toughness and the ability to adjust quickly are critical. Demarion
Watson and Nojus Indrusaitis could get extended minutes early on.
4. Rebounding Battle: Against teams like Auburn and UConn, Iowa State
needs to have strong efforts from big men like Joshua Jefferson and Dishon Jackson down low. They have been very good at this so far this season.
The OpportunityBeyond the competition, Maui offers a chance for the Cyclones to play top notch competition early on in the season. This tournament is an early test for all eight teams, offering a glimpse of their potential heading into the season.
If Iowa State defeats Auburn, they’ll face North Carolina or Dayton in the
semifinals. A loss shifts them to the consolation bracket. Regardless, the Maui Invitational is an opportunity to cement their status as a national contender.
Nov 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) scores a touchdown against Utah Utes linebacker Johnathan Hall (3) during the second quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
For the second time ever, the Iowa State football program has nine regular season wins.
After beating Utah 31-28 on the road, the Cyclones have a chance to secure their first 10-win season in program history if they can beat Kansas State Saturday night in what will be the biggest game in the history of Jack Trice Stadium.
Is this really the biggest game ever at Jack Trice?There’s no contest. There has never been a bigger home game.
Iowa State (9-2, 6-2) will face the Wildcats (8-3, 5-3) for a chance to play in its second Big 12 championship game in program history.
It comes with a catch, and it’s a good one. Get to that game and win it, and you’re heading to the College Football Playoff for the firs time ever.
But back to the Utah game — and the play call that led to the Cyclones’ game-winning touchdown. It was a thing of beauty.
Can’t get over this dime from Carson Hansen pic.twitter.com/axIrDC6B32
— OutCYde the Lines (@OutCYdetheLines) November 24, 2024
I don’t know if I’d call Carson Hansen’s first career pass to Gabe Burkle the biggest play ever, but it’s certainly up there. I guess it’s dependent on where the Cyclones go from here.
The Big 12 ScenariosNine teams are still alive to make the Big 12 conference championship game. None of them – you’re reading that right – none control their own destiny to qualify.
However, here’s the scenario for Iowa State to qualify.
Iowa State is in the Big 12 with a win and one of these results, listed in most likely order:
- No. 19 BYU beats Houston
- West Virginia beats Texas Tech
- BOTH Cincinnati (vs. TCU) and Baylor (vs. KU) win
- Arizona beats No. 14 Arizona State
- Oklahoma State beats No. 23 Colorado
rankings are from Sunday’s AP Poll, official CFP rankings are out Tuesday
Fans will likely have some more clarity before kickoff on Saturday.
Big 12 Week 14 schedule
Teams Iowa State fans should root for listed first
Friday, November 29
11 a.m. | Oklahoma State @ No. 23 Colorado, ABC
7 p.m. | Utah @ UCF, FOX (result has no bearing to tiebreakers)
Saturday, November 30
11 a.m. | Baylor vs. Kansas, ESPN2
11 a.m. | West Virginia vs. Texas Tech, FS1
2:30 p.m. | Arizona vs. No. 14 Arizona State, FOX
5:00 p.m. | Cincinnati vs. TCU, ESPN+
6:30 p.m. | No. 17 Iowa State vs. Kansas State, FOX
9:15 p.m. | No. 19 BYU vs. Houston, ESPN
Cyclone women split the in-state games, bringing back debate on if men’s series should returnIowa State women’s basketball split its back-to-back, in-state games against UNI and Drake this week, and still came out at No. 15 in the rankings Monday.
Following the loss to UNI, Bill Fennelly had a quote that re-ignited the debate on whether or not the men’s programs in the state should play UNI and Drake, like they used to on an annual basis.
“These in-state games are hard. That’s why the men don’t play them.”
More from Bill Fennelly on tonight’s game: pic.twitter.com/EdHho0Ulco
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) November 21, 2024
Some didn’t like the timing of when Fennelly brought this up – and to those folks, I’d say you’re not paying close enough attention to the longtime coach. He’s long been on this side of the debate and has routinely expressed this opinion.
The games are hard. It’s for in-state pride. There’s a rivalry feel to them. The atmospheres in Cedar Falls, Ames and Des Moines (for Drake vs. Iowa) were different than the other games these teams will play in the first months of the season.
As for if the men’s programs should play – it’s a resounding yes for me, but with a caveat.
In the current system, beating a team that falls anywhere outside the top 100 in the NET rankings is more often than not the same as beating the team ranked dead last – or No. 364. My friends in Australia would call that rubbish.
It’s an absolute joke, and it needs to change. But you won’t hear that from the folks around the big schools until it stops rewarding them. There’s not a big enough incentive to play the games in the current makeup of college basketball.
But if you’re a fan out there who isn’t pushing for two more rivalry games to be on a schedule while claiming that you love college sports, I’d say you’ve lost your way. Give me more rivalries and big games – not less.
Men kick off Maui tonightThe Iowa State men tip off in Maui tonight in a top 5 showdown against No. 4 Auburn (8 p.m. ESPNU) in the program’s third trip to the prestigious Maui Invitational.
It kicks off a week filled with big matchups for Cyclone fans and opportunities for all three football and basketball programs.
Enjoy it with family, and I’ll see y’all on the other side.
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) celebrates with and forward Addy Brown (24) and guard Emily Ryan (11) after a game winning shot during the last second of the fourth quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State women’s basketball came in at No. 15 in the latest Associated Press Poll released on Monday.
The Cyclones are the third highest ranked team from the Big 12, just behind No. 9 Kansas State and No. 12 West Virginia.
TCU is also ranked at No. 17, while Baylor is receiving votes.
Iowa State’s next game will come against No. 4 South Carolina, which suffered its first loss of the season to newly No. 1 UCLA.
The full poll can be seen below.
WBB AP Poll
Mon. November 25, 2024
1. UCLA
2. UConn
3. Notre Dame
4. South Carolina
5. Texas
6. USC
7. LSU
8. Oklahoma
9. Kansas State
10. Maryland
11. Ohio State
12. West Virginia
13. Duke
14. Kentucky
15. Iowa State
16. North Carolina
17. TCU
18. Ole Miss
19. Illinois
20. NC State
21. Oregon
22. Iowa
23. Alabama
24. Louisville
25. Nebraska
Others receiving votes: Michigan 51, Michigan St. 25, Baylor 23, Vanderbilt 21, Stanford 17, Indiana 9, Tennessee 9, Florida St. 6, Miami 4, Richmond 4, Creighton 2, Harvard 1, Minnesota 1.
Having a unique perspective when covering the Iowa State Cyclones is the advantage of being a reporter who doubles as a photographer. For seven years, I’ve watched Kevin Dresser in his coach’s corner, up close and personal. Sitting across the mat, I’ve kept one eye on the action and the other on him.
Over time, I’ve come to recognize his mood just by his posture. Is he leaning forward, focused and intense? Is he slumped back, arms crossed and calculating? Are his veins popping with frustration, or does his emotion flicker only in his eyes? Understanding Dresser in these moments has become second nature: the signs are always there if you know where to look.
After the dual, Dresser admitted he had to bring himself down from big emotions to focus on analyzing his team. “I really sat there and I was more of an evaluator than anything. I really took that role tonight. I’m like, ‘Okay, how are you going to calm down, Dresser?’ Because it’s easy to get caught up in this crazy shit here. How are you going to calm down? I said, ‘You know what? I’m just going to be an evaluator.'”
Watching him throughout the night felt like a case study in his coaching style — angry and hungry during some matches, analytical and calm during others.
The dual began with freshman Adrian Meza putting the Cyclones on the board with a strong 5-1 decision at 125 pounds. Dresser’s shoulders were square, his body language relaxed. But by the time Evan Frost gave up two takedowns in the 133-pound match, Dresser leaned forward, his mouth pressed tight in frustration.
The top-10 showdown between No. 7 Anthony Echemendia and No. 4 Kyle Parco turned into a controversial match, riddled with challenges and rulings that earned Iowa an advantage. Dresser sat upright, his hands in his lap, visibly puzzled. His reactions mirrored the Cyclones’ rollercoaster of momentum throughout the night.
When Iowa State took a 12-6 lead following Paniro Johnson’s win by injury default at 157 pounds, Dresser seemed more focused than ever, his gaze sharp as he watched Connor Euton face No. 2 Michael Caliendo at 165 pounds. Euton’s aggressive start quieted the sellout crowd but an injury slowed him down, leading to a 12-7 loss. Dresser, however, kept a genuine smile on his face when breaking down the loss: “He’s pretty good. That was a good match.”
The middleweights shifted momentum away from Iowa State. At 174 pounds, Aiden Riggins, a Hawkeye transfer, was outmatched by Iowa’s Patrick Kennedy, giving up a major decision.
Drama is a staple of the Cy-Hawk dual, and it unfolded when Iowa substituted freshman Angelo Ferrari for No. 7 Gabe Arnold at 184 pounds. Even Ferrari admitted the decision was last-minute. Asked about the switch post-dual, Dresser said, “I was surprised he came out, yeah. I knew he was good. He’s a little better than I thought he was.” Ferrari’s dominance left Evan Bockman unable to find his offense, leading to an 8-2 loss.
At 197 pounds, Christian Carroll faced No. 2 Stephen Buchanan in a critical match but looked tentative. Dresser’s frustration was visible as Carroll stalled repeatedly and failed to score, losing decisively.
By the heavyweight match, Iowa State’s chances were gone. The Cyclones fell for the 20th consecutive time in the Cy-Hawk dual.
Dresser entered the press conference followed by a police officer, pausing for a drink of water before addressing the media. It made me wonder what kind of post-dual message he delivered in the locker room before the team boarded the bus back to Ames.
For seven years, I’ve not only been across the mat from Dresser but also across the media room from him in post-dual press conferences. Will he stride in, greeting everyone with a clap of his hands? Will he launch into an opening statement, or fix an intense gaze across the room and invite reporters to dive straight into questions?
His anger can simmer just beneath the surface — controlled but unmistakable. Saturday night was no exception. Dresser provided detailed insights on each match, as he always does, making him a fantastic interview. But there were moments when his frustration cracked through his half-smiles, laced with humor that felt more biting than lighthearted.
For example, when asked at what point during Carroll’s match he knew things were going south, his blunt reply landed with precision: “Yeah, when he got ridden for the whole second period, I figured that wasn’t good.”
Dresser’s opening statement also revealed a lot about his mindset: “I mean, in the seven years that I’ve been at Iowa State now, that’s the best Iowa team that we’ve faced, by far. You know, so credit to Coach Brands and the donor base. I mean, that’s the world we live in, right? So let’s just say it, right, congratulations to all of the people involved. That was their best team.”
Some on social media took this as genuine praise for Iowa. But knowing Dresser, I heard something more layered. Yes, he was crediting Iowa’s roster, but it wasn’t without throwing a few jabs about NIL and the transfer portal’s impact on college wrestling.
Even in defeat, it’s clear Dresser has a vision for his team and a determination to make adjustments. Soon enough, Cyclone fans will see the return of Dresser’s triumphant smile, throwing fists in the air as he has done so many times before.
No. 12 Iowa State faced off against No. 2 Iowa in another intense chapter of the Cy-Hawk dual in front of a sold out crowd in Iowa City. Emotions ran high both on and off the mat. Experience the ups, downs and defining moments of the night through my latest gallery below.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Emily Ryan and Audi Crooks addressed media members at Hilton Coliseum following their team’s 80-78 win over Drake.
Drake coach Allison Pohlman’s postgame press conference can be seen below, as well.
Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Emily Ryan (11) takes a shot over Drake Bulldogs forward Courtney Becker (32) during the first quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES – After suffering its first loss of the season against UNI on Wednesday, Iowa State was tasked with going into a second straight in-state rivalry game as Drake came to Hilton Coliseum.
And despite being outrebounded by the Bulldogs, coach Bill Fennelly’s squad was able to hit just enough shots, earning the 80-78 win while Audi Crooks’ final shot went through the net with 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock.
“The biggest thing was Drake’s effort,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “That’s the one thing… ‘I’ve done this a long time. I’ve never seen a female basketball player get a rebound above the rim – ever. And I’ve coached against Britney Griner. So, every rebound comes off below the rim, which means, ‘who wants it more? You or me.'”
Drake outrebounded the Cyclones 42-31, with 11 offensive boards that kept possessions alive in critical moments down the stretch.
It allowed Drake to get back into the game and tighten things up down the stretch.
“There were times tonight when there was one blue jersey against three white jerseys and the blue jersey got (the rebound),” Fennelly said. “That’s a credit to them. Sometimes it’s that we didn’t block out… well, no we didn’t, but sometimes they just played harder than us.”
During one possession in the fourth quarter, Drake secured three offensive boards in a row while Iowa State was clinging to a 69-68 lead.
Luckily, it didn’t bite the Cyclones.
“That one stretch where I think they had five in about 40 seconds, then you’ve just got to keep guarding and guarding and guarding, which means eventually, they’re going to score,” Fennelly said. “Luckily, the 11 offensive rebounds didn’t turn into a lot of points. That’s where we got lucky.”
Iowa State knows that it won’t be able to get away with that in its next game, and it nearly didn’t Sunday as Drake’s Katie Dinnebier scorched the net with 39 points on 13-16 shooting.
On Thanksgiving Day, the Cyclones will the defending national champions in South Carolina, which is coming off a blowout loss Sunday to No. 5 UCLA.
“That’s something that we need to put a big emphasis on, and the coaches are,” point guard Emily Ryan said. “We’ve got to put the work in and really take a lot of pride in going to get the ball. That’s something we really do need to work on and will be moving forward.”
Iowa State and South Carolina will tip off at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, on Fox.
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) celebrates with forward Addy Brown (24) after a game winning shot during the last seconds of the fourth quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Technically, Iowa State enjoyed two end-of-game options.
Either standout forward Addy Brown would take — and possibly make — a game-winning shot as the seconds wound down in Sunday’s tense matchup with Drake, or she’d pass it to star Center Audi Crooks down low.
But practically …
“Everyone in the gym knew where that ball was going,” senior point guard Emily Ryan said after Crooks’ layup with 0.3 seconds left beat the pesky Bulldogs, 80-78, before a crowd of 10,368 at Hilton Coliseum. “She said there were options, but let’s be real: the ball was going to Audi.”
Crooks again delivered, scoring her season-high 33rd point to help ISU (5-1) avoid a second straight loss against an intrastate rival.
“(It was) relief,” Crooks said. “I would have been so mad at myself if I would have missed that. But just to know that my teammates had enough confidence to keep throwing it in, it meant a lot.”
Crooks finished 15 of 25 from the field in 27 and a half minutes. Brown added 13 points and eight rebounds, Ryan contributed 11 points and a game-high 12 assists, and Kenzie Hare had 10 points, including three 3-pointers. The Cyclones led by as many as 10 points, but each time they threatened to pull away, the Bulldogs (2-3) answered. Star point guard Katie Dinnebier delivered most of them, draining 13 of 16 shots from the field en route to a 39-point performance one week after scoring 40 at Iowa. She also drilled eight of her 10 3-point attempts — despite ISU’s best defensive efforts.
“Like, from the jump they were in my shorts,” Dinnebier said. “Arianna Jackson, kudos to her, she did a great job defending and she was always right there.”
But Dinnebier made almost every shot anyway. She’s the second native Iowan to score prolifically against the Cyclones in the past five days. Northern Iowa’s Maya McDermott poured in 37 points in an 87-75 upset of ISU last Wednesday.
“I don’t want this to sound crazy,” the Cyclones’ 30-year head coach Bill Fennelly said. “It will sound crazy (but) I’m gonna say it anyway. … I’ve never had a week where I’ve gotten to see two better point guard performances than Maya McDermott and Katie Dinnebier (had). What Katie Dinnebier did today was absolutely incredible. I mean, we couldn’t guard her. You can’t go 8-for-10 from the 3-point line in the shootaround.”
Drake led by as many as six points in the first quarter, but ISU responded to build multiple two and three-possession leads. The Bulldogs bit back every time, though, and tied the game, 78-78, on Dinnebier’s backdoor layup with nine seconds left.
“I think that we did everything we possibly could except get a stop on that last possession,” Drake coach Allison Pohlman said.
The Bulldogs ourtebounded the Cyclones, 42-31, and outscored them 11 to five from the free-throw line. Neither team led by more than four points in a fourth quarter that featured five lead changes.
“It was one of the best games I’ve been a part of,” Fennelly said. “I thought both teams were tremendous. Played the game the right way, entertaining, nothing chippy, nothing stupid — just two teams playing basketball the way it’s supposed to be played, in my opinion.”
The game just happened to come down to the last shot, where ISU’s No. 1 option became the only option as the clocked ticked toward zero.
“You’ve gotta be willing to shoot it, and you’ve gotta be willing to miss it,” Fennelly said of Crooks’ game winner. “And Audi is the kind of kid willing to take that responsibility.”
Iowa State cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) goes for a layup between IU Indianapolis Jaguars guard Alec Millender (1) and guard Paul Zilinskas (0) during the first half in the NCAA men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Tamin Lipsey’s eager to be surprised.
Iowa State’s star point guard will likely loll on the beach a bit. A traditional luau could be on the team’s agenda. But Lipsey’s unsure of the No. 5 Cyclones’ off-the-court plans this week during the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawai’i — but is well aware that he and his teammates will face stern challenges on the court, beginning with Monday’s 8 p.m. matchup (ESPNU) with fourth-ranked Auburn (4-0).
“I guess we’ll have to see, but I’m looking forward to being there and hanging with my teammates,” said Lipsey, whose stripped away at least one steal in 69 of his 72 career games. “Enjoying the time, while still having that business mentality.”
ISU (3-0) could face two other top-10 teams in tenth-ranked North Carolina (3-1) and No. 2 Connecticut (4-0) while playing three games in three days. Other potential foes include Dayton, Michigan State, Colorado, and Memphis.
“I haven’t looked at the bracket as much, it’s just knowing, man, there (are) a lot of good teams there,” said Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who’s led his team to two Sweet 16 appearances in his three seasons at the helm. “Auburn is the only game that matters right now, and having tremendous focus on our preparation — what we need to do in practice and film, (mental things) that need to be on our mind to go be successful in that game.”
The Bruce Pearl-led Tigers feature five players averaging double figures in scoring — and 6-7 forward Chaney Johnson is averaging 12.5 points and 7.3 rebounds off the bench. Auburn already owns a top-10 win over Houston and boasts the nation’s second-most efficient offense, according to KenPom.
“They play fast they’re physical, they’re a great matchup for us,” said ISU guard Keshon Gilbert, who’s averaging a team-high seven assists per game. “I’m just looking forward to playing against them.”
Both the Tigers and the Cyclones rank among the top-five nationally in defensive efficiency. Auburn sits fourth nationally in opponents’ two-point shooting percentage at 39.1, and ISU leads the national in defensive turnover percentage (28.0).
“At this point, they’re probably playing as well or better than anyone in the country,” Otzelberger said of the Tigers. “So we’ve got respect for that and respect for the program, and yet at the same time, there (are) things we can do to impose our will and come out and be our best to put ourself in position to win the game.”
That, as always, starts with stringent on-ball defense. The Cyclones’ ongoing bedrock identity is based on making opposing offense’s miserable — and that won’t change in Maui or elsewhere.
“I’m excited to see us hit that head-on,” Otzelberger said. “I’m excited to see us welcome that and be better as a result.”
Losing two of three games in last season’s Thanksgiving tournament — the ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee, Fla. — serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly things can go south when playing high-caliber teams in November. The Cyclones opened that event with a comeback win over VCU, then lost to Virginia Tech before blowing a 21-point lead to Texas A&M in another setback.
“(It’s about) staying true to what we do as a team defensively,” said Lipsey, who leads ISU in scoring as 13.7 points per game. “Playing together is something that’s gonna be really important in these early-season tournament games. Teams are still trying to figure things out.”
Same goes for the beach-based itinerary, which will bring the Cyclones closer together however it shakes out.
“We’ll be able to learn a lot, come close together, and hopefully get a lot of wins,” Lipsey said.
Oct 12, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell speaks with the media after defeating the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
AMES — Playoffs?!?!? Iowa State’s not even going to talk about the potential of reaching the Big 12 championship game. Not when the No. 17 Cyclones lost two games in a row when they fell into the trap of looking ahead — a stumbling block they plan to avoid in Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. regular season finale (FOX) against Kansas State at Jack Trice Stadium.
“Whatever happens next week happens,” ISU quarterback Rocco Becht said after leading his team (9-2, 6-2) on a last-minute game-winning drive Saturday at Utah. “But we’re just focusing on winning against K-State (8-3, 5-3). Focusing on that to get that 10th win.”
The Cyclones have never won 10 games in a season and doing so would almost certainly cement a spot in the Big 12 title game. There are a handful of outlandish scenarios based on other team’s results that could muddle that equation, but ISU’s not concerned with what anyone else does. That tunnel-vision even applied to Saturday afternoon, when Kansas beat Colorado, and Arizona State outlasted BYU to lift the Cyclones back into league title contention.
Becht and tailback Carson Hansen — who rushed for two touchdowns in the 31-28 win over the Utes — both said they didn’t pay much attention to those scores. Honest.
“I was just focused in on the game and our job of going in and there and executing,” Hansen said.
That’s a sound strategy, especially when taking any other tack often leads to a loss amid the chaos that is the 2024 Big 12 season. A staggering nine teams still have at least a remote shot of playing for a conference championship, so expect the unexpected — and control what you can control.
“Everybody counted us out, I think, two weeks ago,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “We didn’t flinch, we didn’t waver, and we just (kept) fighting. We’ll be defined by who we are at the end of the football season,”“And we’ve got four more quarters to help define that, so we look forward to the opportunity.”
So do the Wildcats, who are one of those teams that retains a slim hope of playing for a conference title. Kansas State’s lost three of the past four meeting with the Cyclones, which adds an extra layer of motivation to the latest version of the so-called “Farmaggedon” game.
“(The seniors) have been the foundation for our program,” Wildcats coach Chris Klieman said after his team’s 41-15 win over Cincinnati. “They mean the world to me and I’d do anything for them. They’ve always had my back, (and) that is something that is so important when you’re going to have a player led program. The relationship between the head coach and those kids is so important.”
Sounds a little bit like Campbell, right? Iowa State’s head coach has lauded seniors such as Beau Freyler, J.R. Singleton and Jaylin Noel — all captains who have helped the Cyclones navigate choppy waters to record a modern-era team with nine regular season wins.
ISU’s poised to make history this week and beyond, but only if its collective mind doesn’t wander regardless of what could loom in the future.
“Unwavering,” Campbell said. “That’s the story that this group gets to write. Right now, they’ve got the pen and they continue to write the story, and I hope they’ll continue to write it the way they’ve got to ability to write it.”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and players Rocco Becht & Carson Hansen spoke following their team’s 31-28 win over Utah Saturday.
Nov 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) runs for a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the third quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Iowa State took down Utah 31-28 on Saturday in Salt Lake City to improve to 9-2 on the year and set up a big opportunity next week against Kansas State. Let’s dive into the takeaways.
Overcoming self-inflicted mistakes
Whether it was the muffed punt return, the blocked punt, or the pick six that went off the hands of an Iowa State receiver, it was far from a perfect game.
However, with each hit, the Cyclones took it in stride. That’s a trait required for great teams, and it certainly stuck out Saturday.
Defensive Adjustments
Iowa State’s defense had a number of adjustments to make throughout this one.
Utah tried to keep the ball on the ground, running 17 times with Micah Bernard, who was limited to 42 yards.
Jon Heacock’s group got thrown a curveball later on in the game, with fourth-string quarterback Luke Bottari coming in – and showing off his speed.
Bottari ended with 47 yards on the ground, many of which came on the drive where Utah took a 28-24 lead in the fourth quarter, but the defense came up big when it mattered.
Jayden Higgins seemingly had a big catch at every point Iowa State needed it. The senior ended the game with a team high nine catches, going for 155 yards.
It’s Higgins’ best game of the season so far, coming at maybe the best time it could in the first 11 games.
Despite ending with only two receptions, Gabe Burkle was another integral piece to the Cyclones’ passing attack – and for the second straight week.
They needed every bit of what they got, and more importantly escaped with the win and – nearly – controls it’s own destiny to reach the Big 12 championship game.
Here’s to the biggest Farmageddon game ever, and maybe the biggest game in Jack Trice Stadium history.
And who thought a late-game field goal would bounce Iowa State’s way?
Nov 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) is grabbed by his shirttail from Utah Utes cornerback Cameron Calhoun (4) during the third quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
They bumbled, fumbled, and stumbled with alarming regularity. They dominated the game statistically but needed a last-minute drive to win it. Such is life for the 2024 Iowa State Cyclones, who somehow overcame a pick-six and blocked punt for a touchdown to escape Utah with a 31-28 victory Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
ISU (9-2. 6-2) now largely controls its own destiny when it comes to reaching the Big 12 championship game, after previous leaders BYU and Colorado both sustained upsets earlier in the afternoon.
“The thing that’s really exciting about this group, is who they are and who they’ve become is really special. And it’s got a chance to become really, really special,” Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell said on the Cyclone Radio Network after the win.
ISU outgained the Utes (4-7, 1-7) 405 yards to 224. The Cyclones totaled 24 first downs to Utah’s nine. They converted eight of their 16 third-down chances against a Ute defense that led the country in that statistic entering the game — yet still almost hurt themselves so often that an upset loss remained possible until the end.
After quarterback Rocco Becht drove ISU on a 10-play, 75-yard game-winning touchdown drive capped by tailback Carson Hansen’s three-yard run with 1:31 left, the Utes’ last healthy quarterback, Luke Bottari, propelled his team to the Cyclones’ 36-yard line. But a 54-yard field goal attempt went awry, and ISU emerged victorious on the road for the seventh time in the past eight games.
“Everybody counted us out two weeks ago and we didn’t flinch, we didn’t waver,” Campbell said.
Becht completed 20 of 38 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown to Jayden Higgins, and a costly interception for a touchdown that gave Utah a 10-7 lead in the second quarter. Higgins surpassed 1,000 yards receiving this season via a nine-catch, 155-yard performance that included several drive-extending grabs that came in critical moments.
“I thought he was elite,” Campbell said. “Him and Rocco, they were so dialed in to each other on that last drive. … Late November and everything mattered the most, and those guys came through.”
Becht completed passes of 10 and 12 yards to Higgins on the game-winning drive — and the latter connection set up Hansen’s 26-yard trick play completion to tight end Gabe Burkle, who was tackled at Utah’s three-yard line. Hansen ran it in from there, notching his second rushing touchdown of the game and 11th of the season to provide ISU with its razor-thin winning margin.
“We were cooking that (pass play) up this week and it was something that was maybe, maybe not,” said Hansen, who finished with a game-high 57 rushing yards. “The coaches put in the trust in me and I put it out there for Gabe.”
The Cyclones possessed the ball nearly 12 minutes more than the Utes, but saw a muffed punt by Jaylin Noel turn into three points, while a blocked punt became a touchdown for the home team in the second half.
But as Campbell said, ISU “never flinched,” and when the game was on the line, the Cyclones delivered.
“I had no doubt that we were gonna go down there and score,” Becht said. “(Quarterbacks) coach (Jake) Waters said he had all the trust in me and I have all the trust in myself and my teammates to go down there and do it. It’s nothing else different — and better to do it in this stadium with this crowd. It was a fun one.”
No. 12 Iowa State once again comes short to the No. 2 Hawkeyes 21-15. That marks 20 straight for head coach Tom Brands over the Cyclones.
Head coach Kevin Dresser had some strong words about the team Iowa has put together this season, gave some insight into some of his takeaways from a tough loss and more.
Match-by-Match results:
125 Adrian Meza over No. 27 Kale Petersen, 5-1
133 No. 9 Drake Ayala over No. 5 Evan Frost, 11-7
141 Zach Redding over No. 31 Ryder Block, 5-4
149 No. 4 Kyle Parco over No. 7 Anthony Echemendia, 4-3
157 No. 10 Paniro Johnson over No. 1 Jacori Teemer, INJURY DEFAULT
165 No. 2 Mikey Caliendo over Connor Euton, 12-7
174 Patrick Kennedy over Aiden Riggins, 19-4
184 Angelo Ferrari over No. 15 Evan Bockman 8-2
197 No. 2 Stephen Buchanan over No. 20 Christian Carroll, 10-0
285 No. 4 Yonger Bastida vs. No. 13 Ben Kueter, 7-2
Nov 16, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes defensive tackle Tawfiq Thomas (95) dives at Utah Utes quarterback Isaac Wilson (11) in the second half at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Iowa State returns to the field on Utah’s Senior night to take on the Utes in the penultimate game of the regular season (6:30 p.m. FOX). Here are our staff’s picks.
Chris Williams (7-3)
Doesn’t this feel a little bit like the K-State game last year for Iowa State? The Cyclones appeared to hit rock bottom against Kansas and should be on an incline after last week’s win over Cincinnati. Utah is one of the worst rushing teams in college football, which is good for the Cyclones who struggle to defend it. Meanwhile, Colorado was able to pass all over the Utes last week. Iowa State 24, Utah 17.
Rob Gray (7-3)
Iowa State vs. Utah – If the Cyclones can stop the run, a path to 9-2 swiftly materializes. If they can’t, this is a four-quarter game, and ISU fans could end up disappointed. Expect the Cyclones’ defensive coordinator, Jon Heacock, to have a few tricks up his sleeve as his unit gets healthier and plays on the road for the last time this season. Quarterback Rocco Becht shines, wide receiver Jaylin Noel surpasses the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, and ISU escapes Salt Lake City with a win. Iowa State 27, Utah 17
Connor Ferguson (8-2)
Iowa State takes care of business this week against a hampered Utah team. Isaac Wilson gets pressured and tends to misfire on throws as the defense figures him out in this one. I was going to predict the score closer when I saw Utah’s helmets they’re rolling out, but Iowa State one-upped them with the script Cyclone logo returning. Iowa State 26, Utah 11
Jeff Woody (8-2)
Iowa State is the better team for the second week in a row. What that means is turnovers and time of possession make a HUGE difference. Based on Utah’s capacity for turnovers in their last 4 games, Iowa State wins both of those metrics and the game in a way that feels very similar to the Wear Virginia game earlier this year. Iowa State 27, Utah 14
Grant Mahoney (9-1)
Big game for both teams. Utah needs this to keep their bowl hopes alive and to send the seniors out with a win. ISU needs this to keep their CFP hopes alive. Utah will run the ball against ISU but I think they’ll get down early and be forced to throw and the turnovers will start to mount for them. Utah’s defense is decent but I think Rocco and the boys are cooking at the right time. I like the Clones in this one. Iowa State 27, Utah 20
Jackson Pence (8-2)
Everything is still on the table for this Cyclone team. Of course they need some bounces to go their way, but they aren’t impossible. The important thing is, they need to win and I love this matchup for Iowa State. Utah has been one of the more disappointing Big 12 teams this season, but they haven’t given up on the season. They are still very good defensively, they just can’t put points on the board on offense. Utes quarterback Issac Wilson is a true freshman and has not had the greatest year. Look for the Cyclones to go all out on stopping the run and force Wilson to throw against their talented secondary. I think the Iowa State offense will take its lumps easy in the game, but find a way to win down the stretch. Iowa State 24, Utah 20
This year marks the 88th meeting between Iowa and Iowa State in a series rich with history and intensity. Despite Iowa holding a strong lead in the rivalry, head coach Kevin Dresser shared his thoughts on the overall importance of this dual.
“Maybe you circle this dual twice instead of once. The Iowa-Iowa State dual is bigger than our coaching staff and their coaching staff. This thing has been around forever. I remember watching it as a kid,” Dresser said. “Last year we had 265,000 people watch it on ESPN, the flagship station, and over 15,000 sold tickets. That tells you that this dual meet is something special that’s been around for a long, long time. For me, as a coaching staff, it’s a great opportunity. We’re always making history.”
No. 12 Iowa State will enter a hostile Carver-Hawkeye Arena as the underdogs against No. 2 Iowa, and the Cyclones seem comfortable in that role.
Dresser emphasized the importance of determination: “We’re going to go into enemy territory, and we’re going to be the underdog, and that’s when you find out what you’re made of.”
Echemendia: Wrestling in Cy-Hawk Dual Is My Version of a Party“We don’t feel like underdogs against anybody,” Echemendia said. “We have a lineup full of guys ready to go to war. They’re going to be ready to put on a show.”
Echemendia will be competing in his first Cy-Hawk dual in Iowa City and is looking forward to the opportunity of a high-stakes match in front of the kind of crowd Carver-Hawkeye attracts.
“I grew up wrestling in Cuba with no crowds, so this is fun for me. This is how I have fun,” Echemendia said. “Being able to wrestle in front of 10,000 or 12,000 people here is going to be like a party or going to a bar for me.”
Christian Carroll: The Hunter MentalityChristian Carroll is pissed off, and he’s going hunting.
The freshman transfer, currently ranked No. 20, faces Iowa’s No. 2-ranked Stephen Buchanan at 197 pounds in one of Saturday’s marquee matchups.
While the rankings suggest a mismatch, Carroll’s reputation as one of the top prospects in the country last year tells a different story. He’s ready to prove the numbers wrong.
“I think on paper, I’m supposed to get majored or something,” Carroll said. “I have no worries, right? I’m the young buck, an up-and-comer, but that’s an awesome position to be in. I’m super-pumped to get after it.”
Carroll’s self-described “hunter” mentality has defined his approach to the season. While others might shy away from the pressure of such a high-profile matchup, Carroll thrives on it.
“I get to come in as the hunter. I have the No. 2-ranked guy in the country. I have no pressure. He has all the pressure. He’s the one who’s been in college for like seven years now. I’m the freshman coming in,” Carroll said. “They’re probably overlooking me. I’m excited to wrestle a full, hard seven minutes and make every second of that match tough.”
The significance of this match isn’t lost on Carroll. As a newcomer to one of college wrestling’s richest rivalries, he recognizes the weight of the moment.
“Its history,” Carroll said. “It’s the dual of the NCAA season. There isn’t a more rich history of collegiate duals than the Cy-Hawk dual. It’s what makes this sport so great. I think all the fans, everyone gets rowdy, you know, maybe some beer cans flying, whatever it is, right? I think it brings the best atmosphere in college wrestling.”
Key Matchups to Watch 149 pounds: No. 7 Anthony Echemendia vs. No. 4 Kyle Parco * 157 pounds: No. 10 Paniro Johnson vs. No. 1 Jacori Teemer * 133 pounds: No. 5 Evan Frost vs. No. 9 Drake Ayala * 197 pounds: No. 20 Christian Carroll vs. No. 2 Stephen Buchanan * 285 pounds*: No. 5 Yonger Bastida vs. No. 13 Ben Kueter
Can the Cyclones Do It?The Cyclones are stepping into one of the toughest environments in wrestling with something to prove. As they look to write the next chapter in this storied rivalry, all eyes will be on Carver-Hawkeye Arena to see if Iowa State can seize the moment.
The Hawkeyes are favored to win by 13, according to CircaSports.
FYI: Iowa State / Iowa wrestling line from @CircaSports. Dual this weekend. pic.twitter.com/pO522Wf1Od
— Chris Williams (@ChrisMWilliams) November 22, 2024
Looking at this dual up and down the lineup, it’s clear the Cyclones will need a lot of things to go their way to pull off the upset. That said, this is an incredible opportunity for a team full of young talent and veterans returning to action to face one of the best teams in the country in November. Iowa State is in the best position heading into this dual: they have nothing to lose. This is their chance to “wrestle free.”
Saturday can be considered a success if, regardless of the final score, all ten Cyclones can walk off the mat knowing they wrestled to the best of their ability for seven minutes.
Of course, a Cyclone win would be pretty kick-ass. Only time will tell.
How to watch the Cy-Hawk
WATCH: BIG+
Big Ten Plus will be offering a one-time PPV option for this year’s Cy-Hawk. This will help fans avoid signing up for a monthly/yearly subscription. It will cost $9.99. You can register by going here.
PxP: Hayden Hoxmeier; Analyst: Tim Johnson; Matside: AJ Reisetter
LISTEN: Varsity App // Cyclones.com
PxP: Joe Sinclair; PxP: Ryan Rohlk; Analyst: Nate Carr
PROJECTED MATCHUPS
No. 12 Iowa State (1-1, 0-0 Big 12) vs. No. 2 Iowa (3-0, 0-0 BIG)
125: Adrian Meza (7-0) or Kysen Terukina (0-0) or Osmany Diversent (5-1) vs. #27 Kale Petersen (2-0) or Joey Cruz (0-1)
133: #5 Evan Frost (1-0) vs. #9 Drake Ayala (2-1)
141: Zach Redding (0-2) or Jacob Frost (5-1) vs. #31 Ryder Block (2-1)
149: #7 Anthony Echemendia (2-0) vs. #4 Kyle Parco (3-0)
157: #10 Paniro Johnson (3-1) vs. #1 Jacori Teemer (2-0)
165: #9 MJ Gaitan (6-0) or Connor Euton (1-1) vs. #2 Michael Caliendo (3-0)
174: Aiden Riggins (0-2) vs. #10 Nelson Brands (2-1) or Patrick Kennedy (0-0)
184: #15 Evan Bockman (2-0) vs. #7 Gabe Arnold (3-0)
197: #20 Christian Carroll (1-0) vs. #2 Stephen Buchanan (3-0)
285: #5 Yonger Bastida (0-0) or Daniel Herrera (4-1) vs. #13 Ben Kueter (3-0)
*InterMat Indiv. Rankings (11/19/2024)
Wrestling lineup updates from Dresser:
125: Game time decision between Terukina and Meza
141: Game time decision between Redding and Frost
157: Paniro Johnson is good to go. Sounds like his tweak from Saturday isn’t anything to cause too much concern.
165: Game time decision…— Jacqueline (@JacquelineCord) November 19, 2024
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Arianna Jackson & Kenzie Hare spoke to media members Friday to preview her team’s upcoming matchup against the Drake Bulldogs on Sunday (2:00 p.m. ESPN+).
Iowa State linebacker Will McLaughlin (23) goes for a tackle against Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) during the fourth quarter at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © INirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State returns to the field on Utah’s Senior night to take on the Utes in the penultimate game of the regular season.
Game Day InfoNo. 22 Iowa State (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) vs. Utah (4-6, 1-6 Big 12)
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium (53,644)
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m.
TV: FOX (Chris Myers, Robert Smith)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Iowa State -7 (via Action Network updated Friday)
Over/Under: 42
Series ResultsIowa State leads the all-time series 4-1.
Recent Results
2010: Utah 68, Iowa State 27 (Ames)
1976: Iowa State 44, Utah 14 (Ames)
1975: Iowa State 31, Utah 3 (Salt Lake City)
1972: Iowa State 44, Utah 22 (Ames)
1970: Iowa State 16, Utah 13 (Ames)
Players to watchGabe Burkle, tight end (Iowa State)
The sophomore tight end led Iowa State in receptions against Cincinnati, coming up big with his best receiving game of the season. His 73 yards against the Bearcats essentially doubling his season total. Iowa State needs that production out of him in the passing game.
Will McLaughlin, linebacker (Iowa State)
The highly touted linebacker returned to the field after recovering from back surgery last week against Cincinnati. He was supposed to be on a pitch count, but ended up playing more than 30 snaps in Iowa State’s win. The Cyclones have talked about redshirting him, and still can as long as he appears in three or fewer games the rest of the way, but he should be on the field this weekend.
Micah Bernard, running back (Utah)
The Utes running back has been a force for the team all season, eclipsing 100 yards in four games. However, he hasn’t done that in over a month, with the last time coming against Arizona State. Bernard was limited last week out by Colorado, rushing for just 20 yards on 11 carries along with a lost fumble.
Lander Barton, linebacker (Utah)
The junior linebacker brings the size with a 6-foot-4, 236-pound frame while leading the Utes in tackles with 64 this season. Barton had one of his best games of the year a week ago in the loss to Colorado, securing a fumble and grabbing his first interception of the season.
Keys to the gameGet after the quarterback
It’s been a long season for Utah since an injury took out starting quarterback Cam Rising, but it’s been made longer with Isaac Wilson taking snaps for the Utes. When pressured, Wilson tends to misfire. He’s thrown for 11 interceptions to 10 touchdowns on the year – that’s where this Iowa State defense has got to capitalize.
Air it out
Colorado was able to throw for 340 yards last week on the Utah defense, scorching the Utes up and down the field while putting 49 points on the board. Iowa State can gain an advantage behind stars Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, but would really benefit to get the games out of tight end Gabe Burkle and freshman wideout Brett Eskildsen that it got against Cincinnati.
Just win
There’s 2 billion (ok, not really) scenarios in which Iowa State can make a trip to the Big 12 championship game in a couple of weeks, but that’s only if the Cyclones win their final two games. And food for thought – should Oklahoma State and Kansas win Saturday, the Cyclones will again control their own destiny.
In the Big 12
| Big 12 Standings | | Team | OVR | Big 12 | | No. 14 BYU | 9-1 | 6-1 | | No. 16 Colorado | 8-2 | 6-1 | | No. 21 Arizona State | 8-2 | 5-2 | | No. 22 Iowa State | 8-2 | 5-2 | | Kansas State | 7-3 | 4-3 | | Texas Tech | 6-4 | 4-3 | | TCU | 6-4 | 4-3 | | Baylor | 6-4 | 4-3 | | West Virginia | 5-5 | 4-3 | | Cincinnati | 5-5 | 3-4 | | Kansas | 4-6 | 3-4 | | Houston | 4-6 | 3-4 | | UCF | 4-6 | 2-5 | | Arizona | 4-6 | 1-5 | | Utah | 4-6 | 1-6 | | Oklahoma State | 3-7 | 0-7 |
Saturday, November 23
2:00 p.m. | Arizona (4-6, 2-5) @ TCU (6-4, 4-3) ESPN+
2:30 p.m. | No. 14 BYU (9-1, 6-1) @ No. 21 Arizona State (8-2, 5-2) ESPN
2:30 p.m. | No. 16 Colorado (8-2, 6-1) @ Kansas (4-6, 3-4) FOX
2:30 p.m. | Texas Tech (6-4, 4-3) @ Oklahoma State (3-7, 0-7) ESPN+
2:30 p.m. | UCF (4-6, 2-5) @ West Virginia (5-5, 4-3) ESPNU
6:00 p.m. | Baylor (6-4, 4-3) @ Houston (4-6, 3-4) Fox Sports 1
6:30 p.m. | No. 22 Iowa State (8-2, 5-2) @ Utah (4-6, 1-6) FOX
7:00 p.m. | Cincinnati (5-5, 3-4) @ Kansas State (7-3, 4-3) ESPN2
Iowa State women’s basketball has unveiled a new set of throwback (or fauxback) uniforms that will be in the rotation this year.
The new look features the ‘script Cyclones’ mark on the chest with gold trim around the jerseys.
Coming to Hilton Coliseum this Sunday
pic.twitter.com/ByKzoUwL0z
— Cyclone Basketball (@CycloneWBB) November 22, 2024
The script logo has taken off in popularity with the new men’s basketball uniforms that have a similar style in gold, and the football team’s use of the logo on its helmets this season.
The shorts for the women’s team also feature the classic, ‘running Cy,’ logo.
Iowa State will debut the new look on Sunday as it faces in-state rival Drake at Hilton Coliseum (2:00 p.m. ESPN+).
Nov 16, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jiquan Sanks (9) tackles Iowa State Cyclones tight end Gabe Burkle (84) in the second half at Jack Trice Stadium. The Iowa State Cyclones won the game 34-17. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — Want to see Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht’s eyes light up?
Bring up tight end Gabe Burkle’s name.
The former Cedar Rapids Prairie star has emerged as Becht’s prime third option in the passing game — and the 6-6, 260-pound sophomore led the No. 22 Cyclones in receiving yards with a career-high 73 in last week’s 34-17 win over Cincinnati.
“He’s a dawg,” said Becht, who hopes to connect with Burkle and his other pass catchers often when ISU (8-2, 5-2) faces Utah (4-6, 1-6) in Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. regular-season road finale (FOX) at Rice-Eccles Stadium. “The catch he made over the middle (last Saturday), it was a bad ball by me, and he made it. He made me look good, so he had a great day. He’s going to continue to get better with all those tight ends out.”
Like at linebacker, the Cyclones have been beset by injuries at tight end. Star sophomore Ben Brahmer’s been in street clothes for the past month after suffering a lower-body injury in the win over UCF. Oft-injured teammate Tyler Moore joined him on the sidelines after getting hurt two weeks ago, and fullback/tight end hybrid Stevo Klotz has been playing through pain all season.
Enter Burkle, who’s played significant snaps even when those other tight ends have been on the field.
“He’s still a young pup,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said of Burkle, who has 14 catches for 142 yards this season but has yet to reach the end zone. “I probably challenge him because I feel like he’s been here in our program forever, but he’s a redshirt sophomore and just a young puppy (who’s) still growing. We ask so much of Gabe. He’s so trusted that he starts on all the special teams. He was still, even before Ben got hurt, averaging 55 plays, 60 plays a game. So I think his role just took a different (turn) on Saturday — and none of those things surprised any of us because we knew he was a great pass catcher.”
Burkle caught a team-best-tying six passes last week on seven targets. His sure-footed route running and sure-handed ability to haul in catches help Becht thrive even when his top targets, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, draw double coverage. Utah’s given up the fifth-most passing touchdowns in the Big 12 this season, so expect his role to further expand under the lights in Salt Lake City.
“It definitely helped my confidence a lot,” Burkle said of his breakout performance against the Bearcats. “But I feel like building that up in practice, it starts with that first, and I just try to carry that over the best I can to the game.”
It’s unclear how long Brahmer and Moore will be out, but with their status shrouded in uncertainty, Burkle’s ability to both be productive in the passing game and block for the run game becomes increasingly important. He’s big, strong, and spry — and like Campbell said, still a “young pup” with a sky-high ceiling.
“I even went to ‘X’ and (posted), ‘Love seeing the tight ends have a great game,’” said Noel, who’s 65 receiving yards away from his first 1,000-yard season. “For him to step up in big moments like he did and make big plays, it was great for this team. Going into next year, that will only give him more confidence to keep growing and he’s gonna be a real player.”
Burkle’s burgeoning success is even attracting hometown fans who may root for the other FBS school in the state. As an Eastern Iowan, he takes that in stride — and welcomes all the support, even if some of it comes from folks who root against him at least one time each season.
“I get a lot of love from Cedar Rapids,” Burkle said. “Even though some of them are fans of the team out east, they’re still happy to see me have success over here. I get a lot of text messages, so it’s been great to feel the love from over there.”
The same goes for his quarterback from Florida, who will continue to count on him in crucial situations.
“He’s gonna be a big part of our offense the next few weeks,” Becht said.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Keshon Gilbert & Tamin Lipsey addressed media members before his team departs for next week’s Maui Invitational. The No. 5 Cyclones face No. 4 Auburn Monday (8:00 p.m. ESPNU).
Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Emily Ryan (11) defends as as St. Thomas Tommies’ guard Faith Feuerbach (5) looks for pass the ball during the first quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
CEDAR FALLS – Maya McDermott hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to give UNI a five-point lead over No. 8 Iowa State as part of a 13-0 run in Wednesday’s in-state rivalry game.
The energy shifted, and the Panthers looked like they knew they had something in what ended as an 87-75 win for UNI, its first ever against a top 10 team.
“Both teams had big opportunities to hit big shots in big moments,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “They made them, we didn’t.”
During parts of the game, it was as simple as that.
UNI’s trio of top scorers were as successful at the 3-point line as anyone rooting on the Panthers could hope. McDermott, who finished with 37 points, Kayba Laube and Elise Jaeger combined to go 11-15 from behind the arc.
“I think it was 53-45 and we had five straight wide open shots, (we) missed them,” Fennelly said. “One of them was a long rebound that turned into a 3 by them. They had a couple of kids that didn’t make a ton of shots but they made them at really big times and we just couldn’t recover from that.”
“I think it was again, a probably 4-minute spurt and then the end of the third quarter, it was a three point game. We missed two free throws and make two defensive errors and again, they make big 3’s and now it’s a 9-point game. We’ve got to clean that up obviously. In games like this, those two, three possessions, swing the game quickly.”
During the 13-0 run, Iowa State committed five of its 14 turnovers in the game, and went on a scoreless streak for over six minutes – something that showed in this team early in the season a year ago, as well.
Jaeger, a freshman forward for UNI that went 3-4 from the 3-point line with five rebounds, chalked it up to how much the Panthers wanted to win this.
“We wanted to win a lot more than they did,” Jaeger said.
UNI limited Audi Crooks in the first half, holding her to just six points in the opening frames before she finished with 22 points and 10 boards in a rally that came up short.
The Panthers did the same to Emily Ryan in the final two quarters. The point guard didn’t score in the final 20 and Iowa State committed 10 of its turnovers.
“They doubled her a lot,” Fennelly said. “They jumped passing lanes a little bit. I thought we took some shots that we shouldn’t have taken – some people that I think we could have made one more pass, but then you miss a couple and now its in your head. We missed some free throws. Sometimes you’re just like, ‘maybe I’m not going to pull the trigger when I should.’ Some of its really good defense. Some of its unlucky offense. That’s basketball. Certainly something that hurt us at the end of the third quarter.”
The Cyclones drop to 4-1 on the year with loss, and another in-state opponent coming in its next game.
“These in-state games are really hard,” Fennelly said. “That’s why the men don’t play them, and we do. Like I said before the game, this is a ridiculously stupid scheduling thing on my part, to play this game, but we want to do it, because it’s great for basketball in our state… We have a really tough game on Sunday. That was the last thing I told them – we’ve got to make a choice.
Iowa State will try and leave the result from Wednesay behind when it returns to the court to face Drake on Sunday (2:00 p.m. ESPN+).
Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Malik Verdon (7) punches the ball out from Cincinnati Bearcats’ quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) and forces a fumble during the first quarter in the week-12 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — It’s not complicated, but it is a problem.
That’s the universal response when discussing the Iowa State defense’s susceptibility to big plays in the run game.
The Cyclones (8-2, 5-2) enter Saturday’s 6:30 game at Utah (4-6, 1-6) as the only Big 12 team that’s allowed a rush of 80-plus yards this season. They’re one of three conference teams to allow a 70-yard run and one of two to yield multiple 60-yard jaunts.
So what gives? Again, it’s complicated, but being down multiple starter-level linebackers helps explain why.
“We’ve got stuff there to clean up, and a couple of those things I didn’t probably help them any in some of the calls,” said ISU defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, whose unit leads the Big 12 in points allowed at 18.6 per game despite the run game woes. “Everybody watches the week before and, man, if they find a play that works, they run it against you. So you rep them out. We always do that. I’ve been doing that for 40 years. You’ve just gotta keep getting reps at it and recognize what’s going on.”
The Cyclones’ rushing defense has led the league in two of the past four seasons — and ranked among the top three during that entire span. So it’s a combination of inexperience at key spots and ill-timed moments of miscommunication that has pushed ISU near the bottom of the conference in that category. And while the rushing defense has foundered, the pass defense has become elite. The Cyclones rank third nationally in that regard, allowing a paltry 153.4 yards per game through the air, which helps explain how they remain a top-20 scoring defense.
Case in point: Last week’s 34-17 win over Cincinnati. The Bearcats rushed for a robust 287 yards but passed for just 66.
“I think (it was) everyone doing their job,” senior defense end Joey Petersen said. “I think in past weeks we’ve been trying to do too much, so falling back on that just doing your job (mentality); not trying to do your job and the guy next to you’s job. Believe in him and believe in everybody around you that they’re gonna do their jobs, and you do your job the best you can.”
Utah ranks last in the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns (6) and is 12th in rushing yards per game (138.5), but it will likely try to exploit ISU’s rare difficulty in curtailing the running game.
“It’s all about fits in this defense,” senior cornerback Darien Porter said. “We have to be able to fit our gaps and get guys to the ball. So (it’s about) making sure we’re where we need to be when we need to be there. Just doing your job.”
That’s clearly a common refrain — and as the Cyclones get healthier on defense, that task becomes easier. The return of defensive lineman Dom Orange last week gave that unit a big boost since he can make an impact at nose guard and off the edge.
“I love the guy,” Petersen said. “Just for him to have success, it’s a big moral boost for everybody — seeing a guy just come in and destroying out there.”
And it’s not solely on the defense to “do their jobs.” ISU excelled in all three phases in last week’s win over the Bearcats, and that’s a recipe that must be replicated to win at Rice-Eccles Stadium and beyond. Four of Utah’s six losses have come by a combined 18 points — and the Utes are 120-40 all-time at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
“We have to be very detailed, especially in that environment,” said senior wide receiver Jaylin Noel, who’s just 65 yards shy of a 1,000-yard season. “If we can be detailed and do our job, then we’ll be great. But if we’re not doing the small detail things, that’s (how) we fall in those (close) games. So I feel like we’ve done a good job this year of being able to be detailed in the moment, and make the plays in the moment, and that’s what’s brought us to 8-2.”
Iowa State Cyclones tight end Stevo Klotz (49) celebrates with team mates after a touchdown against Cincinnati during the third quarter in the week-12 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State returned to the CFP Rankings Top 25 on Tuesday, following its 34-17 win over Cincinnati at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday.
The Cyclones come in at No. 22, with two weeks left in the regular season.
Iowa State is one of four Big 12 programs ranked in the poll, joining No. 14 BYU, No. 16 Colorado and No. 21 Arizona State.
Saturday’s game between No. 22 Iowa State and Utah will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on FOX.
The full poll can be seen below:
CFP Rankings
Tues. Nov. 19, 2024
1. Oregon
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Penn State
5. Indiana
6. Notre Dame
7. Alabama
8. Miami
9. Ole Miss
10. Georgia
11. Tennessee
12. Boise State
13. SMU
14. BYU
15. Texas A&M
16. Colorado
17. Clemson
18. South Carolina
19. Army
20. Tulane
21. Arizona State
22. Iowa State
23. Missouri
24. UNLV
25. Illinois
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and defensive coordinator Jon Heacock addressed media members ahead of his team’s upcoming game against Utah on Saturday.
Utah coach Kyle Wittingham’s press conference can also be seen below.
Nov 16, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Jacob Ellis (44), defensive back Darien Porter (10) and defensive back Malik Verdon (7) celebrate during their game with the Cincinnati Bearcats at Jack Trice Stadium. The Iowa State Cyclones won the game 34-17. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — A few months ago, Iowa State’s veteran defensive coordinator Jon Heacock described senior cornerback Darien Porter’s ceiling as “unlimited.”
Star sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht called the former Bettendorf star “a longer T.J. Tampa” — a flattering reference to the former Cyclone standout at corner and current Baltimore Raven.
So what has Porter done since then?
Just become PFF College’s highest ranked Power Four cornerback in single coverage with an impressive grade of 90.8 this season.
“Truthfully, I never thought I’d be in this position, literally, figuratively,” Porter said.
Fortunately for him and No. 22 ISU (8-2 5-2 Big 12), Heacock and his fellow coaches did — and Porter enters Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. road finale at Utah (4-6, 1-6) poised to enhance his NFL Draft hopes while boosting his team’s chances of remaining in conference title contention.
“I’m very grateful,” said Porter, a converted wide receiver and special teams ace who made his first career start this season. “Grateful for my teammates and my coaches for never giving up on me.”
Porter’s emergence as a lockdown corner has helped an already-talented Cyclone secondary become one of the stingiest units in the country. ISU’s allowing opponents to gain 153.4 yards per game through the air, which ranks third nationally among FBS teams. The Utes, meanwhile, have started three different quarterbacks this season and rank 14th in the Big 12 in points per game at 22.7. They’ve lost six consecutive games, but are always tough at home. Utah’s replete with playmakers on the defensive side of the ball, helping the team stay in games even as injuries have decimated the offense.
“This is bar-none the best defense that we will have played,” said Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell, whose team seeks to record nine or more regular-season wins for the first time in program history. “You look at their front seven, all fifth- and sixth-year seniors, some of the best defensive players in the country at their positions — man, you just look at this football team. Gritty, tough, and they’ve been through heck and back with injuries and they’ve been right there to win (most) of these football games.”
That’s the challenge Becht and ISU’s offense will face, but Porter and company should be able to rattle the Utes’ talented true freshman quarterback, Isaac Wilson. The former four-star recruit has thrown 10 touchdown passes while being picked off 11 times. He threw two touchdown passes and a career-high three interceptions in last week’s 49-24 loss at Colorado, and has been sacked two or more times in five consecutive games.
“We’re going down the stretch (where) our best players have to play their best football,” Heacock said.
That’s what Porter’s been doing all season for an ISU secondary that’s tied for eighth nationally in interceptions with 14. His three picks rank second on the team to fellow corner Jontez Williams, who has four. Safeties Jeremiah Cooper and Beau Freyler have two interceptions a piece, and Jamison Patton, Myles Purchase and Malik Verdon each have one.
Verdon missed most of the Kansas loss because of an upper body injury, but forced a fumble in Saturday’s 34-17 win over Cincinnati. And while he and other defenders such as linebacker Will McLaughlin and defensive lineman Dom Orange get healthier, the Cyclones may be without senior captain and defensive tackle J.R. Singleton, who left last week’s game with an arm injury.
“(He’s) probably up in the air right now,” Campbell said of Singleton, who he deemed questionable for Saturday’s game. “We were really worried it was gonna be season ending. It’s not. So that’s a huge win for J.R. and certainly a huge win for Iowa State.”
Porter just hopes he can help churn out some more big wins for the Cyclones as his senior season winds down. His future’s blindingly bright, but his eyes remain firmly focused on the present.
“It’s really hard to have patience,” Campbell said. “It’s really hard to not get the instant gratification of being the starter right away and to just keep pounding at your craft. Now, (he’s) a guy going to the Senior Bowl and is gonna be a top draft pick, and a guy that’s having an incredible senior year.”
Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel, Gabe Burkle, Joey Petersen & Darien Porter spoke to media members ahead of his team’s upcoming game against Utah (6:30 p.m. FOX).
Iowa State Cyclones’ forward Sydney Harris (25) goes for a shot between Southern Lady Jaguars’s guard Taniya Lawson (3) and Southern Lady Jaguars’s guard Jocelyn Tate (10) during the fourth quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday Nov. 10, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Sydney Harris entered the transfer portal twice.
Each time, Iowa State expressed interest in her, but the first time, she passed.
Harris wouldn’t make that mistake again when she sought a fresh start this season.
“They were my first visit and I committed on the visit,” said Harris, who hopes to help the No. 8 Cyclones (4-0) beat intrastate rival Northern Iowa (2-1) Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls. “So definitely should have (done) that the first time around.”
Harris — a 6-1 guard/forward from Edwardsville, Ill. — started her college career at Central Michigan, where she earned Mid-American Conference freshman of the year honors. Then she transferred to TCU for one season before delving into the portal again. ISU quickly convinced her that Ames would be her preferred destination, and she’s made the most of her third college stop.
“It was just a lot of deciding factors that I was looking for that all showed up in, like, the span of 48 hours,” she said.
Harris ranks third on the team in points per game at 11.0 despite coming off the bench. She’s shooting 58 percent from the field and a sizzling 53.8 percent from 3-point range in just 18.5 minutes per game. She’s provided a spark in each of the Cyclones wins — sinking clutch shots when the offense hits a lull, or snaring a steal to ignite a transition opportunity.
“She’s always been kind of a volume scorer,” said ISU head coach Bill Fennelly, whose team has won three straight in the series with the Panthers. “Her percentages have never been that high, but then again, a lot of times, you look at a kid (like her) — and they have to take hard shots because they’re the best player on the team, or they have to take the shot where the other kid (says), ‘Here, you take it.’”
Harris doesn’t operate under that type of pressure with the Cyclones, who feature a pair of stars in Audi Crooks (18.8 points per game) and Addy Brown (15.8 points per game). So she can ply her trade freely, drilling shots as needed while Crooks and Brown draw defenders. Harris can also augment their performances when she’s on the floor with them, making her ISU’s most versatile player in the early stages of the season.
“Coming off the bench is not easy, and obviously me and Addy Brown share a lot of minutes at the same position — and she’s one of my biggest hype dawgs,” Harris said. “Before the game she’s saying, ‘You’re gotta be ready. We’ve all have to be ready.’ It’s a team sport, so I can’t be mad that I’m not starting. … So just being able to produce and do what I can to help us win collectively is all that really matters.”
Especially on Wednesday against UNI, which has won two of the last three meetings with the Cyclones in Cedar Falls.
“If they don’t know it know, they’ll learn about two minutes into the game what they’re getting into,” Fennelly said. “I have a lot of respect for them.”
Iowa State cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (2) dunks the ball against the IU Indianapolis Jaguars during the first half in the NCAA men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson made just one mistake Monday night.
He failed to reward fellow big man Dishon Jackson for what would have been his only assist.
“I wanted to get it real bad,” said Jefferson, who recorded his first double-double as a Cyclone in an 87-52 rout of IU Indianapolis before a crowd of 13,615 at Hilton Coliseum. “Physical game, so you’ve just got to play through it and get the next one.”
Jefferson’s lone miscue went down as a turnover rather than a missed shot, helping him to finish a perfect 7-for-7 from the field en route to a season-high 16 point performance. The St. Mary’s transfer also grabbed 10 rebounds and doled out four assists as ISU improved to 3-0 on the season.
“His activity level defensively was tremendous,” Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger said of Jefferson, who also turned a steal into a fast break dunk. “His ability to pass the basketball at his size, especially inside out, is really good. He’s a very cerebral player. Tonight was what — when we recruited him, that was the standard that we set out for, and now it’s (about) doing it night in and night out.”
Jackson matched Jefferson’s 10 boards. Point guard Tamin Lipsey added a season-high 17 points and five steals. Fellow guard Keshon Gilbert had 11 points and eight assists, and another guard, Curtis Jones, led ISU with 20 points off the bench.
He scored 11 straight points for the Cyclones at one point and drilled four of his 10 3-point attempts, which actually brought his season percentage from beyond the arc down to 44.4 percent.
“I’m feeling good and confident and just really playing and not doing too much thinking,” said Jones, who notched his second straight 20-point game. “If I’m gonna shoot it, I’m just like, ‘I’m gonna let it go with unlimited confidence.’ So I really feel like that’s what’s propelled me to this good start.”
ISU led the Jaguars (2-3) by as many as 38 points and crafted an edge of 26-to-4 in points off turnovers. The Cyclones also outscored IU Indianapolis 32-to-14 in the paint and limited it to 28.6 percent shooting in the second half.
“How we want to play is be relentless defensively, pressure the ball, be disruptive, and then get out and go play in transition and share the basketball with one another,” Otzelberger said. “Felt like with each game we’ve played, we’ve improved in that area and it’s something we need to continue to be really mindful of.”
ISU won its first three games by an average of 33.3 points, but now the competition ratchets up sharply, beginning with a Maui Invitational matchup with fourth-ranked Auburn next Monday.
“Those are the games that are the most fun,” Jones said. “We went through a lot last year, knowing the Big 12 in itself, so it’s gonna be fun to go out there and play another top-five team. I’m really looking forward to it and we’ll prepare hard.”
Jefferson’s road back to a double-double has been an arduous one. The 6-8 junior’s most recent double-double came with St. Mary’s in a 64-62 win last February over arch-rival Gonzaga. Three games later, Jefferson was sidelined by a season-ending knee injury. He underwent surgery, transferred to ISU, and endured months of rehabilitation before being fully cleared for contact drills late this summer.
“Just getting back into the rhythm now,” Jefferson said. “It feels good to get running and rebounding the way I like to rebound. Just continue to do the physical things and I think that’s just gonna take our team to the next level.”
That’s been the plan all along, Otzelberger said.
“We believed that he could be a double-double guy and that should be what he strives for night in and night out,” Otzelberger said. “So regardless of what’s happened in the past, to me, he has that ability to impact the game the way he did tonight — and it’s my responsibility to demand that from him.”
Feb 28, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) and Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) battles Oklahoma Sooners guard Le’Tre Darthard (0) for a loose ball during the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — Forget the term “sixth man.” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger treats his top-six players as an extended starting lineup — and productive guard Curtis Jones stands squarely at the center of that philosophy.
“He’s found a way to understand that he’s a sixth starter for us,” Otzelberger said in advance of his No. 7 team’s matchup with Indianapolis at 7 p.m. Monday at Hilton Coliseum. “Very easily, he’s a starter. He’s going to play starter’s minutes for us, (and) that energy and spark that he’s able to provide is very unique. A lot of guys aren’t able to do that to the extent that he is.”
Jones started in the Cyclones’ season-opening romp past Mississippi Valley State, then came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points in an 82-56 win over Kansas City. He played 26 minutes in the opener and 29 minutes in game two. Forward Milan Momcilovic started in his place against the Roos — and drained his first four 3-point shots en route to a 16-point performance.
So Jones and Momcilovic unofficially share that “sixth starter” status, and neither minds if they take the floor at the opening tip, or come in at the first media timeout to furnish ISU with a jolt of energy.
“It’s big,” Jones said. “A lot of places that might cause (conflict) between maybe me and Milan, but I love Milan. Off the court, on the court, we just play well together. We’ve got a good connection, so I think it really helps us.”
Momcilovic is tied with guard Keshon Gilbert for the team lead in scoring at 13 points per game. Jones isn’t far behind at 12.5 points per game — and he and Momcilovic are both shooting 43 percent or better from 3-point range. So this “six starters” thing is working as well as it did last season when the Cyclones ended up reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
“Obviously, everyone likes to be starting,” Momcilovic said after the Kansas City win. “But we have so many guys on this team (and) if Curt staters on night, or whoever starts, it doesn’t really matter. We all play the same role. We’re all gonna get similar minutes.”
Subduing ego has been an important element of ISU’s return to national prominence under Otzelberger. The Cyclones have reached the NCAA Tournament in all three of his seasons at the helm after going 2-22 the previous season. And two Sweet 16 appearances in that span show that ISU has quickly reestablished itself as a top Big 12 contender.
“If I learned anything from the group that we had last year those guys patched hard throughout the course of the season and we got better,” Otzelberger said. “And as you continue to do that, different things present themselves. Different lineups can present themselves. We’re not locked into anything and it would be shocking to me if we have the same starting lineup for the rest of the year.”
So minutes — whether starting, or serving in a reserve role — will remain up for grabs. They’re earned, not given. And ISU’s “six starters” and beyond will carve out their roles a the season progresses; shoring up strengths, and diminishing weaknesses.
“Having that depth is sure good for our team this season,” first-team all-Big 12 point guard Tamin Lipsey said. “And having options is also super good.”
AMES — Utah entered its first Big 12 season as the prohibitive favorite to win the league. Dynamic quarterback Cam Rising returned, but quickly exited because of a season-ending injury for the second season in a row. The Utes’ fortunes then plunged into oblivion, promotion head coach Kyle Whittingham to lament recently that he had entered “the Twilight Zone.”
Utah (4-6, 1-6 Big 12) has lost six games in a row for the first time in Whittingham’s broadly successful 20-year tenure, and now must face a reinvigorated No. 22 Iowa State team (8-2, 5-2) that ended a two-game skid by beating Cincinnati.
Injuries have plagued both teams, but the Cyclones have found a way to record eight regular-season wins for the fourth time under Matt Campbell, despite missing several key players
Some of those players have returned, but that’s not the case for the Utes — so here are five of their (likely) healthy contributors to know in advance of Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. (FOX) matchup at Rice-Eccles Stadium:
WR Dorian Singer Fun fact: Singer counted Iowa State among his offers out of high school, but ended up walking on at Arizona instead. The 6-0, 181-pound senior from the Twin Cities spent two seasons with the Wildcats before transferring to USC in 2023. He then chose to make another change and joined Utah’s program, where he’s been a pillar of production on an otherwise erratic offense. Singer’s 49 receptions and 681 receiving yards far outpace his pass-catching teammates, but he made just his first touchdown grab of the season last week in the 49-24 loss at Colorado. Singer topped the 100-yard receiving plateau four times in his sophomore season at Arizona and has accomplished that feat just one time since — compiling 155 yards through the air in a 23-10 loss on Sept. 28 against his former team. He’s made four or more catches in seven of the past eight games, and has eclipsed 50 yards receiving in each conference game this season.
LB Lander Barton The former freshman All-American picked off Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders on his first pass attempt of last week’s game. It was the 6-4, 236-pound junior from Cottonwood Heights, Utah’s third career interception — and he returned one of his picks last season for a touchdown. So the Utes’ leading tackler clearly has a nose for the football, as he’s also broken up four passes, which ranks second on the team to disruptive defensive end Van Fillinger, who has five.
RB Micah Bernard The 6-0, 206-pound senior from Long Beach, Calif., missed all but two games last season because of injury, but he’s put together a career-best season in 2024 — becoming one of the Utes’ handful of consistent performers on offense. He’s rushed for 880 yards on 158 carries (a 5.6-yards per carry average, and has scored five touchdowns (three rushing, two receiving). Bernard was held to his lowest rushing total (20 yards) in two years in last week’s loss at Colorado, so he’ll be committed to rebounding on senior night in his last game at Rice-Eccles.
QB Isaac Wilson The 6-0, 200-pound true freshman from Draper, Utah, was pressed into duty when Rising went down with a season-ending injury for the second straight time. He’s one of three quarterbacks who have started for the Utes — and his results have been mixed. Wilson briefly lost his starting job to Brandon Rose, before he, like Rising, suffered a season-ending injury. So Wilson is “the guy” on Saturday, and his arm talent is undeniable, even as ball security has been an issue. Wilson’s thrown 10 touchdown passes to 11 interceptions and has been sacked multiple times in five straight games.
DE Van Fillinger The 6-4, 265-pound senior’s aforementioned five pass breakups are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his backfield exploits. Fillinger leads the Utes in tackles for loss (nine) and sacks (six). He’s recorded five or more sacks in three of the past four seasons despite battling a persistent foot injury. Fillinger’s also recovered two fumbles since 2023 and serves as the unofficial mayor of “Sack Lake City” — a monicker given to the defense because of its ability to get to the quarterback in recent years.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Sydney Harris & Alisa Williams addressed media members ahead of his team’s upcoming game against UNI, set for Wednesday (6:00 p.m. ESPN+).
The Cy-Hawk wrestling dual is set to showcase one of college wrestling’s heated rivalries, as No. 11 Iowa State takes on No. 2 Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 6 p.m.
Here’s how you can catch the action:
Iowa State announced on their Twitter/X, that Big Ten Plus will be offering a one-time PPV option for this year’s Cy-Hawk. This will help fans avoid signing up for a monthly/yearly subscription. It will cost $9.99.
This PPV purchase is only available via a desktop or laptop computer. While the dual can be viewed on mobile and connected devices, the purchase must be made on a computer.
You can register by going here and there will be an option to select the Iowa State vs. Iowa Wrestling PPV option when going through the sign up process.
The Cyclones enter Iowa City as clear underdogs against the No. 2 Hawkeyes, but the dual presents an opportunity for Iowa State’s young team to measure itself against one of the nation’s top programs early in the season. Facing a top-five opponent in a hostile environment like Carver-Hawkeye Arena is a proving ground that will test their grit and preparation.
I’ll have more content coming this week to preview the matchup and bring more insight into what to expect from Saturday’s matchup.
With over two weeks remaining until the 2025 class’s early signing day, Iowa State has earned its third commitment to the 2026 class.
Kaprice Keith, an ATH prospect from Nebraska, made the news official over his social media channels Monday.
legacy continues #KAPDMADE @CycloneFB @Cylights pic.twitter.com/T3VkkWIKbA
— 3 Kaprice Keith (@KapriceKeith) November 18, 2024
Iowa State was the first program to offer Keith, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound prospect that plays both wide receiver and strong safety at Bellevue West High School in Nebraska.
The Cyclones first offered Keith early as a sophomore, extending their offer in August of 2023.
“I feel like it was being ten toes down with the school,” Keith said. “They told me that they know offers were going to come and that I’m a great athlete. Just talking to them, they’re real honest and straightforward with me, so I feel like that’s where I want to be at. They took a risk on me when I was young, so I thought I should take a risk on committing this early.”
Keith is rated as the No. 2 prospect out of Nebraska, and had interest from Kansas State, Kansas, USC and Nebraska before committing to Iowa State without any other outside offers.
Keith is also the younger cousin to former Cyclone and current New York Jets running back Breece Hall.
Although, Hall told him to go through the recruiting process naturally, and never swayed him into choosing Iowa State.
“He was the first one to find out, and he was wondering when I was going to post it,” Keith said. “He has never been biased – he told me to have fun with the recruiting process. He knows it’s a thing and he knows this sport, but he was excited that I’d be going to Iowa State.”
Keith joins Colorado offensive lineman Mason Bandhauer and Minnesota offensive lineman Ethan Beckman as the early commitments to the 2026 class in Ames.
Iowa State’s staff plans on evaluating Keith further over the coming years before either party chooses a position for the young athlete.
“They told me they can find me whenever and to come down there and we’ll figure it out,” Keith said.
Until then, Keith is just happy to make his choice official.
“I feel blessed, if anything,” Keith said. “I feel like God put me in the right positions for this stuff – I’ve been working hard since I was little for things like this, to get school paid for. I love football and I’m really excited to be able to go to Iowa State.”
As part of a settlement between the NBA and Warner Bros. Discovery, the Big 12 Conference will see a number of games moved from ESPN’s streaming platform to linear television channels.
The deal will see 13 Big 12 football games and 15 Big 12 men’s basketball games per year moved from ESPN+ to TNT and TBS.
The sublicensing deal lasts six seasons and is part of litigation from WBD over the NBA’s decision to give future rights to ESPN, NBC and Amazon.
TBS and TNT will broadcast the 28 games during timeslots that would have included NBA games. Also, 10 of the 13 football games will be conference matchups.
The deal gives the Big 12 and extra TV partner and brings games that would otherwise be streaming exclusive to linear television.
“This is additive to what ESPN and FOX bring us. That’s why this is a great deal,” commissioner Brett Yormark said in a report from Yahoo Sports. “Any addition to both is complementary and will lead to more promotion and marketing around the Big 12 and conference brands.”
The deal begins at the start of the 2025 collegiate sports season in August. Iowa State is scheduled to open the year on week zero against Kansas State in Ireland on August 23.
Iowa State Cyclones tight end Stevo Klotz (49) celebrates after runs for a first down against Cincinnati during the third quarter in the week-12 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
For the fifth time in the last 95 years and fourth time in the last eight, Iowa State football has won eight games.
If that comes at a level of disappointment for some fans, that’s fair. It’s a product of how the year started as well as how much growth the program has gone through under Matt Campbell.
And the frustration is fair. The team that Iowa State went into the bye week with at 7-0 isn’t the team that showed up in the pair of weeks following it. It may be fair to say that it isn’t the team that showed up in the opening 29 minutes of Saturday’s 17-point win over Cincinnati.
But with two weeks to go, Iowa State still has everything to play for, a trip to the first 12-team playoff included.
Iowa State didn’t look the part of its 7-0 start, nor its 7-2 record during the first portion of that game, but once Cincinnati got the ball with a 10-7 lead and minute left on the clock, junior defensive lineman Domonique Orange was there to flip the script.
Domonique Orange woke these guys upOrange made three tackles in a row as part of the three-and-out, while grading out as the highest rated player for the Cyclones defense on Pro Football Focus.
A bad punt gave Iowa State the ball on the Cincinnati 38 and Iowa State got three points out of it.
In terms of momentum, that went a long way with the team going to the locker room for the halftime break.
A check on the defenseIowa State Cyclones linebacker Will McLaughlin (23) and defensive back Myles Purchase (52) celebrates after a fumble recovery by defensive team against Cincinnati during the fourth quarter in the week-12 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.The linebacking corps got Will McLaughlin and Jack Sadowsky back, but the defensive line room took a hit with the injury to J.R. Singleton at the same time.
Sadowsky played 13 snaps against Kansas, but had a season high 52 snaps this week. McLaughlin mentioned that a low-snap limit was the plan for him going into the game, but he ended up staying on the field for 36.
We likely won’t know the severity of Singleton’s injury until kickoff rolls around in Utah. However, gaining the returning experience at the depleted linebacker spot probably results in a net positive, despite one of the team’s most consistent guys in Singleton having to leave the game.
All things considered, with as hampered as the defense looked against Kansas and another opening drive touchdown for the opposing offense, giving up just 17 points to Cincinnati Saturday was a big W.
K.I.S.S.The old saying goes – at least how I was taught it growing up: keep it simple, stupid.
Iowa State has rolled out a plethora of complications in its offensive playbook this season. Some of them – like the rollout and touchdown pass to a wide-open Stevo Klotz Saturday – work to perfection.
Others like the set in the second quarter that featured backup quarterback Connor Moberly on the field for a direct snap to fourth string running back Aiden Flora, which was stopped at the line of scrimmage, don’t look as pretty.
There’s plenty of sets that have worked positively and negatively in offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser’s first year at the helm.
Myself and others have called for Iowa State to simplify its playbook earlier in the year, and that may have looked smart at one point this weekend, but I think that was proven wrong.
Iowa State found steady success Saturday with a number of rollouts from Rocco Becht.
Nov 16, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones tight end Gabe Burkle (84) runs after a catch against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Jack Trice Stadium. The Iowa State Cyclones won the game 34-17. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn ImagesWhile Ben Brahmer was out, Gabe Burkle stepped up and led the team in receiving yards while tying for the most receptions with six.
Not to mention, true freshman Brett Eskildsen grabbing a pair of first down receptions and looking the part of a third wide receiver Iowa State has needed to find all season.
The offensive line graded out with one of its best pass blocking games this year and Dylan Barrett recorded an 89.0 in the category – right on the doorstep of ‘elite.’
Granted, this all comes with the caveat that Cincinnati really didn’t blitz as much as others have against the Iowa State offense. Maybe that allowed the Cyclones to try the things that it did, like the wide receiver pass that was broken up before Eskildsen could make a play on it in the end zone.
There needs to be balance – and the consistency from those pass catchers will need to stick around for it – but Iowa State’s offense found something it had needed to coming into this game that can help itself in the next two. Simple or not.
Around the Big 12 There are 16 games left in the regular season with four contenders remaining to see who will play for a conference championship and holy sh–, these tiebreakers are confusing.
I’m getting ahead of myself…
On Saturday, Arizona State went into Manhattan and dominated Kansas State. The defense had Avery Johnson seeing ghosts in the pocket while Sam Leavitt and Cam Skattebo worked their way down the field eventually taking a 21-0 lead.
On the surface, it’s the little team that could in the Sun Devils proving they’re for real, but for tiebreaker purposes, it was probably the worst case scenario for the Cyclones.
Nov 16, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) hands off to running back Cam Skattebo (4) against the Kansas State Wildcats during the second quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn ImagesThen, BYU was downed by a 3-6 Kansas team that now looks like its playing the best football in the conference.
I’ll do my best to simplify things going forward – and may have a bigger one later this week, if not on Saturday night.
I’ve had MRed’s scenario machine bookmarked on my laptop since I started college in 2016 and maybe even before that. I love the attention its getting and wanted to link that below:
MRed’s conference tiebreaker machine
Here are some of the best case scenarios – all of which include Iowa State winning out. There’s a slim chance the Cyclones could drop one of these last two games and still make the Big 12 title, but it includes more chaos than I think even the Big 12 is capable of.
If BYU (which goes to Arizona State) and Colorado (which travels to Kansas for Senior day) both lose, Iowa State would be in as the No. 2 seed in a four-way tie taking on Arizona State. If the same happens, and ASU loses to Arizona, the Cyclones are in via a three-way tie with Colorado and BYU.
Another interesting path – if Arizona State beats BYU, but loses its rivalry game against Arizona, the Cyclones are in no matter what.
Iowa State is out in most cases when tying with Arizona State, but when more than two teams are involved, it’s tending to cater to the Cyclones.
There’s also a path that Cyclone Larry posted to Twitter/X, where Kansas State beats Cincinnati, and both Colorado & Texas Tech lose once more in either week, Iowa State would be in.
Feel free to play around with the simulator, and comment on social media or the CF forums any other fun ones, but so long as Iowa State wins against Utah, there will be a path to the Big 12 title game going into the final week.
That’s all fans asked for when I was growing up, and that should be enough to sell those final thousands of seats for senior night against K-State.
Over 52,881 fans witnessed Iowa State secure a convincing 34-17 win on Saturday night over Cincinnati. It was a night where grit and determination defined the Cyclones’ performance. From breakout contributions by the young guys to clutch plays by the teams veterans, Iowa State turned early struggles into an impressive second-half showing.
The Cyclones found their rhythm. The energy at Jack Trice Stadium was electric as what fans filled the stands celebrated a Big 12 victory.
Check out moments from the game in my photo gallery below.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members following his team’s 34-17 win over Cincinnati on Saturday. Listen to everything Campbell had to say about his team and they way they turned things around to have a dominant finish.
Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Will McLaughlin (23) and defensive end Joey Petersen (52) celebrate after a fumble recovery against Cincinnati during the fourth quarter in the week-12 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © INirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State linebacker Will McLaughlin hit his self-described “rock bottom” in August.
The 6-4, 240-pound junior faced his second surgery in three months. He couldn’t practice, let alone play, football, and staved off doubt and despair by leaning into his faith.
“This has been quite the year for me,” said McLaughlin, who made his long-awaited season debut in the Cyclones’ 34-17 win over Cincinnati Saturday at home. “It was groin surgery in June, back surgery in August. Sitting there in fall camp, that was probably rock bottom for me, one of the hardest times for me. But I was just reading my Bible, pouring into my faith, and without God, I definitely wouldn’t be here today.”
Healthy and humbled. Reinvigorated and refocused. Thankful and heartened.
Those words help explain how McLaughlin feels now as ISU sits at 8-2 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 play. He can finally contribute. The Cyclones’ decimated defense is finally getting healthier overall. And ISU can still compete for a conference championship — as long as it handles Utah on the road and beats Kansas State at home in the regular-season finale.
“The story is, every game, win or lose, somebody else is stepping in at a critical moment and playing great football for us,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “I’m really grateful for that and I appreciate that. And it’s a tribute to the seniors in that room that keep guiding the young guys in some special moments.”
And juniors, too. McLaughlin’s return helped steady a severely injured linebacking corps that has needed freshmen and redshirt freshmen to endure trial by fire while he healed, and standout Caleb Bacon, along with a handful of others, continue to mend from various maladies.
McLaughlin totaled four tackles and a quarterback hurry in his first game of the season — but his presence on the field transcended in-game numbers.
“To have a guy that, boy, as depleted as that room is and has been, to get a guy with that kind of ‘veteranness’ back on our football team — just communication, just the ability to bring awareness, and almost a sense of poise (was important),” Campbell said.
The Cyclones did lose senior captain and defensive tackle J.R. Singleton to an undisclosed injury in the second half, however, which bears watching even as ISU generally gets healthier on the defensive side of the football.
“Don’t know yet,” Campbell said. “I guess we’ll find out a little bit later this week.”
ISU found out Saturday it could rekindle some efficiency in the red zone after struggling to score touchdowns after promising drives in recent weeks. Quarterback Rocco Becht led the Cyclones to touchdowns on two of three trips inside the Bearcats’ (5-5, 3-4) 20-yard line. Becht threw for one touchdown to fullback/tight end Stevo Klotz and also ran for a score that sealed the win with 4:04 remaining.
Becht also hit true freshman receiver Brett Eskildsen for his first two career catches — and both extended scoring drives via third-down conversions.
“He’s a big piece of why we were continuing those long drives, because he was able to get the first down, get into that open space and get yards for us,” Becht said. “It was a big day for him. A young cat like that, it’s a great confidence builder for him, so hopefully we can see him (do more) in the future.”
It’s all hands on deck for ISU, which ended a two-game skid and will face the Utes (4-6, 1-6) on the road at 6:30 p.m. next Saturday. And no one is happier to be playing his part than McLaughlin, who needed to endure “rock bottom” to help guide the Cyclones to potentially even better days ahead.
“I’ve taken a lot of meaningful snaps here,” the former Harlan standout from Defiance said. “I’ve had a lot of really good coaches and players around me to help me become a really good player. I’m just trying to use some of that wisdom, I guess, to hope out some of those younger guys that did need to step up — and they played their hearts out.”
Iowa State Cyclones tight end Stevo Klotz (49) celebrates with team mates after a touchdown against Cincinnati during the third quarter in the week-12 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES —Unsung. Unknown. Unshaken.
Iowa State relied on a blend of well-established role players and freshly minted contributors to turn early tension into late elation in a convincing 34-17 win Saturday night over Cincinnati before 52,881 hardy fans at Jack Trice Stadium.
“I keep saying this,” said Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell, whose team improved to 8-2 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 play. “I feel like it’s the story, right? We just keep comin’ — and they come from everywhere.”
They came from Cedar Rapids, as sophomore tight end Gabe Burkle caught a career-high six passes for a career-best 73 yards.
They came from Frisco Texas, as true freshman receiver Brett Eskildsen turned his first two career catches into critical third-down conversions.
They came from Chaska, Minn., as hybrid fullback Stevo Klotz galloped 22 yards on a fake punt that extended a touchdown drive, and also caught a 26-yard scoring strike from quarterback Rocco Becht that gave ISU the lead for good early In the second half.
And it came from the usual suspects, as well, including Becht, who essentially sealed the triumph after jumping to catch a high snap and running for a 15-yard touchdown with 4:04 remaining.
“It was good knowing (late) that we could put a dagger in them and we can end it right now,” said Becht, who completed 24 of 33 passes for 234 yards and the touchdown to Klotz. “So I think our defense did a good job in that first half keeping us in the game when we weren’t at our finest. It’s definitely a momentum builder and hopefully we can use (that) in the next couple of weeks.”
The Bearcats (5-5, 3-4) pushed ISU into its heels early, driving 75 yards on 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead on tailback Evan Pryor’s 12-yard run on the opening possession of the game.
The Cyclones eventually took advantage of a poor punt to finish a game-tying drive with tailback Carson Hansen’s ninth touchdown of the season from two yards out.
Cincinnati inched ahead moments later with a 29-yard field goal and ISU’s offense continued to struggle — until defensive lineman Dom Orange asserted his dominance in the final minute of the first half.
The Bearcats saw Orange blow up three consecutive plays to force a punt with 35 seconds left. The kick spanned just 18 yards, which set Becht up to drive 20 yards on five plays to get the Cyclones into field goal range. Kicker Kyle Konrardy drilled the 52-yard field goal to make the score 10-10 at halftime. ISU reached the end zone immediately in the second half with the Becht-to-Klotz 26-yard connection and it would maintain the lead the rest of the way.
“I feel like from the beginning of the season to where we are today, this group has never flinched,” said Campbell, whose team snapped a two-game losing streak. “They’ve never backed down. They’ve never wavered. And, to me, that’s a such a credit to the senior leadership that we have on our football team right now.”
Those leaders helped the Cyclones stay resilient after a Hansen fumble in his own territory eventually turned into a 41-yard touchdown run by Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby. Becht responded by calmly leading a 15-play, 68-yard touchdown drive that spanned 7:33. It culminated in that oh-no high snap moment he leaped to grab before toting it into the end zone to make the score 27-17 with 4:04 remaining.
“I feel like whenever the ball’s in my hand I can make a play with it,” Becht said. “Fortunately, in that scenario, the line did block all their keys, and it made it easier for me even though it wasn’t a designed run by me.”
Nothing’s come easy for the Cyclones lately, but the defense did enjoy the return of experienced linebacker Will McLaughin, who had missed the previous nine games after undergoing back surgery in August.
“I love the game too much,” said McLaughlin, who notched four tackles and a quarterback hurry in his long-awaited return. “If I had to sit out the whole season, man, it’d be tough.”
Now he’s back — and even as senior captain and defensive tackle J.R. Singleton had to leave the game with an undisclosed injury — along with a handful of his cohorts on defense.
Unbroken. Unfazed. Unwilling to surrender.
“It was beautiful,” said safety Malik Verdon, who sat out most of last week’s loss to Kansas because of what he called a “small, small, small fracture” on his left arm. “We put the past behind us (and came) out here focused on winning the game, going 1-0 this week.”
Iowa State took care of business and defeated Big 12 foe, Cincinnati 34-17 at Jack Trice Stadium. Listen to everything Rocco Becht, Malik Verdon, Stevo Klotz and Will McLaughlin had to say when reflecting on the win.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
AMES, Iowa – No. 11 Iowa State (1-1, 0-0 Big 12) picked up its first win of the season, defeating Navy (1-3, 0-1 EIWA) 29-9 Friday night at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones won seven of the 10 matches, including five by bonus points.
At 125 pounds, freshman Adrian Meza earned a pair of takedowns in the first period and a takedown and four-point nearfall in the second en route to a 19-7 major decision over Garrett Totten. It was the first collegiate match for Meza, as he earned a victory by forfeit last week against Stanford. No. 5 Evan Frost gave up a first period takedown to Brendan Ferretti at 133 pounds, but bounced back for a 14-7 victory. Frost recorded a takedown in each period, including two in the final period, for the win.
Navy’s No. 9 Josh Koderhandt picked up a 3-2 victory over Zach Redding at 141, needing the point for riding time for the victory. The Cyclones got back on the winning track at 149 pounds, as No. 9 Anthony Echemendia beat Kaemen Smith 22-7 (6:02). Echemendia recorded four takedowns in the first period, one in the second and two more in the third for the technical fall. It was the 10th career technical fall for Echemendia.
Kane Naaktgeboren gave up a first period takedown, as he dropped a 4-2 decision to Navy’s Johnathan Ley at 157 pounds. Connor Euton notched five takedowns in the first five minutes of the match, as he beat Charlie Evans 20-5 at 157 pounds. It was the first victory of the year for Euton and the 10th technical fall of his career. At 174 pounds, No. 23 Danny Wask used a takedown in the each of the first two periods, as he beat Aiden Riggins 8-3.
In the marquee match of the night, No. 16 Evan Bockman used a takedown in the first period and one in the final :30 to beat No. 30 Daniel Williams at 184 pounds. Bockman improved to 2-0 this year with the 8-3 victory, while it was the 60th win of his career.
The reigning Big 12 Wrestler of the Week, No. 20 Christian Carroll earned a 14-6 victory at 197 pounds. Carroll finished with four takedowns in the match, including two in the second period, for the major decision. Freshman Daniel Herrera continued to put on a show in his young career, picking up his second technical fall at heavyweight in his two collegiate matches. Herrera had three takedowns in the first two periods en route to his 23-6 (6:31) major decision over Alistair Larson. He added four more takedowns in the third period.
The Cyclones held a 34-5 advantage in takedowns.
Up Next
No. 11 Iowa State is back in action Saturday, Nov. 23 at Iowa in an Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series showdown. First whistle from Carver-Hawkeye Arena is set for 6 p.m. on BIG+.
Match-By-Match Results
No. 11 Iowa State 29, Navy 9
125: Adrian Meza (ISU) Maj. Dec. Garrett Totten (NAVY), 19-7
133: #5 Evan Frost (ISU) Dec. Brendan Ferretti (NAVY), 14-7
141: #9 Josh Koderhandt (NAVY) Dec. Zach Redding (ISU), 3-2
149: #7 Anthony Echemendia (ISU) Tech. Fall Kaemen Smith (NAVY), 22-7 (6:02)
157: Jonathan Ley (NAVY) Dec. Kane Naaktgeboren (ISU), 4-2
165: Connor Euton (ISU) Tech. Fall Charlie Evans (NAVY), 20-5 (4:49)
174: #23 Danny Wask (NAVY) Dec. Aiden Riggins (ISU), 8-3
184: #16 Evan Bockman (ISU) Dec. #30 Daniel Williams (NAVY), 8-3
197: #20 Christian Carroll (ISU) Maj. Dec. Payton Thomas (NAVY), 14-6
285: Daniel Herrera (ISU) Tech. Fall Alistair Larson (NAVY), 23-6 (6:31)
Nov 9, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Kansas Jayhawks at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
Iowa State returns to Jack Trice Stadium to face Cincinnati Saturday in its penultimate home game of the 2024 regular season. Here are our staff’s picks.
Chris Williams (6-3)
Feels like a last stand for Matt Campbell’s team, which entered the season with the goal of winning a Big 12 championship. The injuries seem insurmountable on defense. I’m banking on the offense carrying Iowa State to a big win and keeping its title hopes alive.Iowa State 34, Cincinnati 28.
Rob Gray (6-3)
Cincinnati at Iowa State – The Bearcats feature a dynamic dual-threat quarterback in Brendan Sossby and two productive tailbacks in Corey Kiner and Evan Pryor. They’re strong up front on defense, but somewhat vulnerable in the secondary, which will put Cyclone offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser’s playcalling on center stage. If ISU’s offense can control the game, a comfortable win awaits. If not, this could go down to the wire. Iowa State 31, Cincinnati 20
Connor Ferguson (7-2)
It’s put up or shut up time for Iowa State, and as CW has mentioned a couple of times this week, Matt Campbell teams seem to do really well with their backs against the wall – guess it’s one of those Iowa State things. I think the Cyclone offense can move the ball Saturday, hopefully for them, should Ben Brahmer return. Iowa State 30, Cincinnati 27
Jeff Woody (7-2)
Iowa State needs to be able to run the ball to win. This defense, especially at linebacker, is so thin that you cannot allow Cincinnati to have a zillion drives, or they will capitalize on some mistakes. I think Sama and Hansen have big games this week and they are able to do that, but it’s not a blowout or a comfy win. Iowa State 31, Cincinnati 24
Grant Mahoney (8-1)
We’re gonna see what this ISU team is made of this week. There’s still a lot left to play for this year. Will Heacock bust out a new noticeable wrinkle in the defense? I sure hope so! Will Jaylin get at least 109 yards to to make him the 7th WR in ISU history to have a 1,000 yard season? I think he will. I think we see Brahmer back and the offense clicks en route to an 8-point ISU victory. Iowa State 31, Cincinnati 23
Jackson Pence (7-2)
This is a fascinating matchup for Iowa State. After last week’s disappointing loss to Kansas, what does Iowa State do going forward regarding all injuries. I have no clue. That’s what makes this game so fascinating. Will they tweak their defensive scheme a little bit? Will the offense go full shootout mode? No one knows. But regarding the injuries, it can’t get any worse right? Rocco Becht and the offense are going to have to win these games for Iowa State down the stretch. I’m not over the defense by any means, especially since they are the No. 1 defense in the Big 12, but there is only so much they can do with all the injuries piling up. I don’t think the defense will play anywhere close to the way it did last week, but I think they will give up some points to this Bearcat offense. The Cyclones get the win, but it’s a lot closer than we as fans want. Iowa State 41, Cincinnati 38
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) reacts after drawing an offside penalty on the Cincinnati Bearcats defense in the fourth quarter during a college football game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Cincinnati Bearcats Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at Nippert Stadium win Cincinnati. The Iowa State Cyclones won, 30-10. © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State returns to Jack Trice Stadium to face Cincinnati Saturday in its penultimate home game of the 2024 regular season.
Game Day InfoIowa State (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) vs. Cincinnati (3-2, 2-0 Big 12)
Location: Ames, Iowa
Stadium: Jack Trice Stadium (61,500)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
TV: FOX (Tim Brando, Devin Gardner, Josh Sims)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Iowa State -7.5 (via Action Network updated Friday)
Over/Under: 53.5
Series ResultsIowa State leads the all-time series 1-0.
Recent Results
2023: Iowa State 30, Cincinnati 10
Players to watchRocco Becht, quarterback (Iowa State)
Becht hasn’t had an ‘elite’ performance yet this season, at least by his standards. The redshirt sophomore missed a couple of throws during Iowa State’s loss to Kansas, and he’s the first to admit that. The Cyclones will need a big game out of him Saturday, and with how much he hates to lose, it wouldn’t come as a surprise.
Jeremiah Cooper, defensive back (Iowa State)
At this point, Jeremiah Cooper might be considered Iowa State’s healthiest defensive starter. The junior had a pair of pass deflections and nearly a pick in Iowa State’s loss to Kansas. He’s a treat to watch on any given week, but might have a bigger role Saturday.
Brendan Sorsby, quarterback (Cincinnati)
The sophomore has been one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 this season, throwing for 2,387 yards this year with 16 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He’s far more of a pocket passer, but will scramble when needed, rushing for 192 yards and another seven scores. He’s thrown picks in vulnerable spots, but Iowa State’s defense will have to push him into that if it wants to force any takeaways.
The Cincinnati running backs
Each of Cincy’s tailbacks are picking up yards with ease against anyone and everyone this season. Senior Cory Kiner has gone for 783 yards on 148 carries with three scores, while junior Evan Pryor has gained 350 yards with five touchdowns on just 40. Each of them average more than five yards per carry and Pryor is actually at 8.8 yards per rush. The defense will be tasked with slowing both down, and it may be a tall task.
Keys to the gameBring out something new
Whether its trick plays or something that’s not on film yet, bring it out for this one. Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator, Tyson Veidt, was Iowa State’s linebackers coach a season ago and had been here since the early days of the Campbell era. Throw something or some things at them offensively that Cincy hasn’t seen yet.
Turn it into a shootout
Along with that, Iowa State has got to rely on the offense this week. The defense is hampered, and that was clear against KU. This game has got to go through the offense for the Cyclones to succeed, unless a different defense shows up.
Cyclones vs. the World
The backs are against the wall this weekend. The Big 12 championship, which once seemed like it was sitting on the doorstep, is now just one or two losses away from falling out of reach. Iowa State has traditionally played its best ball under Campbell in these situations, and it will need to here.
In the Big 12
| Big 12 Standings | | Team | OVR | Big 12 | | No. 6 BYU | 9-0 | 6-0 | | No. 17 Colorado | 7-2 | 5-1 | | No. 16 Kansas State | 7-2 | 4-2 | | Iowa State | 7-2 | 4-2 | | Arizona State | 7-2 | 4-2 | | West Virginia | 5-4 | 4-2 | | TCU | 6-4 | 4-3 | | Texas Tech | 6-4 | 4-3 | | Cincinnati | 5-4 | 3-3 | | Baylor | 5-4 | 3-3 | | Houston | 4-5 | 3-3 | | Kansas | 3-6 | 2-4 | | UCF | 4-6 | 2-5 | | Arizona | 3-6 | 1-5 | | Utah | 4-5 | 1-5 | | Oklahoma State | 3-7 | 0-7 |
Friday, October 11
9:15 p.m. | Houston (4-5, 3-3) @ Arizona (3-6, 1-5), FS1
Saturday, October 12
11:00 a.m. | Utah (4-5, 1-5) @ No. 17 Colorado (7-2, 5-1), FOX
3:00 p.m. | Baylor (5-4, 3-3) @ West Virginia (5-4, 4-2), ESPN2
6:00 p.m. | Arizona State (7-2, 4-2) @ No. 16 K-State (7-2, 4-2), ESPN
7:00 p.m. | Cincinnati (5-4, 3-3) @ Iowa State (7-2, 4-2), FOX
9:15 p.m. | Kansas (3-6, 2-4) @ No. 6 BYU (9-0, 6-0), ESPN
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Audi Crooks and Sydney Harris addressed media members after their team’s 80-47 win over St. Thomas on Thursday.
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) takes a shot over St. Thomas Tommies’ center Jo Langbehn (34) during the first quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — She swished fadeaway jumpers in the lane. She finished at the rim with power. She deftly scored off the backboard with both hands.
In short, Iowa State’s sophomore center Audi Crooks fully showcased her “new bag” of offensive moves Thursday against St. Thomas, helping the No. 8 Cyclones (4-0) record a resounding 80-47 win before a crowd of 9,951 at Hilton Coliseum.
“I worked all summer, just perfecting those kind of counter moves,” said the 6-3 Crooks, who finished with a season-high 26 points on 12 of 17 shooting. “Things that people might not necessarily expect to see all of the time, just so in those moments, you can pull it out and get a bucket.”
TCU transfer Sydney Harris added 13 points while going 2-for-4 from 3-point range. The 6-1 junior is now 15-for-26 from the field (57.7 percent) and 7-for-13 from beyond the arc (53.8 percent).
“(Emily Ryan) is a great point guard and was able to catch me a few times in transition,” Harris said. “That was kind of what we were talking about, (when) we run the floor, they weren’t gonna be able to match up well.”
Addy Brown added 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting despite being sick, and Ryan dished out 13 assists for ISU, which built a quick 20-4 lead on the Tommies (2-1) and never looked back.
“The goal was to be 4-0 to start the season,” said veteran Cyclone head coach Bill Fennelly, whose team limited St. Thomas to 26.2 percent shooting. “Proud of where we are. Louts of work to do, obviously, but a good overall effort tonight.”
ISU sophomore Arianna Jackson drew primary guard duty on the Tommies’ leading scorer, Jade Hill, and held her to one field goal. Hill finished with eight points — 14 points below her average. Marquette transfer Kenzie Hare also guarded Hill at times, helping to limit her to 1-for-8 field goal shooting.
“I’m gonna shoutout (Jackson) and (Hare) tonight,” said Crooks, who added a game-high eight rebounds. “Locked up their leading scorer. They were huge, and that’s another big benefit for us as a team.”
Fennelly said Jackson and Hare both want to guard the opposing team’s most prolific player.
“I don’t know if I’d want either of those guys standing next to me knowing they’re gonna guard me,” Fennelly said. “They’re both committed to it. They both like it. They take pride in it.”
Hare, Fennelly added, has been working through a hip issue since she transferred to the Cyclones, so she has yet to unleash her array of offensive skills.
“(She’s) a baller,” Fennelly said. “She loves to hoop, man. She’s got a little ‘you know what’ to her. The kid can just really play. And when we got it going today for about six or seven minutes with (Ryan), Kenzie, and (Jackson) — that’s a pretty good perimeter game, which allows us to throw the ball to (Crooks) a lot better.”
St. Thomas chose to single-team Crooks most of the night and ISU took full advantage. But if fans thought they saw all of her “bag” on Thursday, they would be mistaken.
So what more can she do?
“I’m gonna say to be determined,” she said. “You’re just gonna have to wait and see. But definitely more of that mid-range (and) 3-point (shooting). Like I said, stay tuned.”
Mar 13, 2024; Washington, D.C., USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Jalen Warley (1) celebrates with Florida State Seminoles forward Baba Miller (11) after their game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Iowa State will have a transfer portal recruit in for a visit this weekend in former Virginia guard Jalen Warley, according to a report from CBS’ Jon Rothstein.
He’ll also visit Gonzaga this weekend.
Virginia transfer Jalen Warley tells me that he will visit Gonzaga on Friday/Saturday and Iowa State on Sunday/Monday.
A visit to Texas A&M has not been scheduled yet.
Averaged 7.5 PPG last season at Florida State and plans to redshirt this year.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 14, 2024
Warley, a 6-foot-7, 205-pound prospect left Florida State after three seasons to play at Virginia, but later decided to transfer after the retirement of head coach Tony Bennett.
The Philadelphia native averaged 7.5 points, 2.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game last year for Florida State.
Warley fits the mold of players we’ve seen over the years under coach T.J. Otzelberger, bringing a defensive presence to the floor.
He is expected to take another visit to Texas A&M, according to Rothstein’s report, as well.
Oct 19, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Beau Freyler (17) celebrates after his interception against the UCF Knights at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — Beau Freyler will make his 32nd consecutive start on Saturday for Iowa State.
And win or lose, it will hurt. The senior captain and safety has been banged up his entire Cyclone career — but just try removing him from the field. Freyler loves the Cyclones’ program so fervently that no amount of pain can trump the pride he carries with him each time he strides onto the field.
“I told him (last Saturday), there was a time he was making a call and he was not even — his arm wasn’t even moving at all,” said ISU quarterback Rocco Becht, who’s also Freyler’s roommate. “He was moving everything else and I’m like, ‘Dude, you’re crazy. Do you even feel it?’ And he’s like, ‘Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t.’ I’m like, ‘You’re a dawg.’ I love his energy. I love his mindset. If he just keeps leading that defense, we’re gonna be fine.”
Freyler’s defense will be sternly tested Saturday at 7 p.m. (FOX) when the Cyclones (7-2, 4-2) face Cincinnati (5-4, 3-3) at Jack Trice Stadium.
He stoically stood up and called last week’s defensive effort “unacceptable” after ISU fell to Kansas, 45-36. He also pledged to spearhead the effort to help his injury-plagued unit mend its flaws and finish the regular season strong.
“We’ve gone through adversity in years past, so it’s nothing new,” said Freyler, a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is considered the academic Heisman. “We just have to respond to it. That’s gonna tell the character of this team, how we respond to these losses, and how we play moving forward.”
Freyler’s experience and moxie will underpin that response. He’s a two-time captain and the unquestioned leader of the Cyclones’ defense. He’s snared six career interceptions and recorded 10-plus tackles in a game eight times.
In other words …
“Nobody will ever (fully) know what this kid has done and what he stands for,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, whose team seeks to record eight or more wins for the fourth time during his tenure. “I don’t even know if I could ever do it justice of the words that I can say (about) what he has meant to me and this program. What I would tell you is, we wouldn’t be where we are today, we wouldn’t believe with all our hearts that the best is yet to come, and we wouldn’t have played anywhere in the last two years like this team has without his leadership. So what he’s meant to us, words can’t explain it, and NIL doesn’t have enough money to put on it.”
Freyler shuns pity and embraces hardship. And even as the Cyclones’ defense has been forced to plug inexperienced players into several spots because of a spate of injuries, his steady and forceful hand continues to guide the group. ISU still ranks among the top 21 teams nationally in scoring defense (18.8 points per game) despite surrendering 35, 23, and 45 points in the past three weeks.
“(We) have a bond that’s unmatched,” fellow safety Jeremiah Cooper said. “I will forever be grateful for Beau, just because he led me through a lot of things, and now I’m with him leading the younger ones. But me and Beau are like brothers. That’s all I can say.”
That’s more than enough. Who knows how the Cyclones’ remaining games will go — or how many they’ll end up playing? It’s still mathematically possible to reach the Big 12 championship game, but the long list of walking wounded could cause those slim odds to narrow significantly.
And Cincinnati — like most of the teams in the Big 12 — is no pushover, so Freyler will don his pads and wince, narrowing his eyes and gritting his teeth, ready for another 60 minutes of football, eager to grind through the last whistle.
“We’ve lost two games in a row (and) that’s hard,” Campbell said. “But we’ve been through some really hard stuff in the last two years. This guy has been at the forefront, not 100 percent healthy, but 100 percent warrior. That’s what this sport’s about: leading people. And nobody’s done it as great as he has.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger addressed media members ahead of his team’s game on Monday against IU Indianapolis.
Nov 9, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) passes during the third quarter against the Kansas Jayhawks at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht turned 21 on Tuesday.
So on Monday night, he “celebrated” by poring over game videos, examining every angle of the Cyclones’ recent struggles and successes, determined to unlock the door to consistency.
But Becht’s assiduous efforts didn’t allow him to escape a little good-natured ribbing.
“We just sang ‘Happy Birthday,’ and tried to find different ways to make fun of him,” ISU offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser said.
All kidding aside, the Cyclones (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) are dead serious about ending a two-game slide on Saturday at 7 p.m. (FOX) against Cincinnati (5-4, 3-3) at Jack Trice Stadium.
And accomplishing that aim doesn’t fall exclusively on one side of the ball. All three phases must improve if ISU is to retain any hope of remaining a darkhorse in the league championship chase.
“I think it takes everybody,” Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell said. “It’s not just offense, it’s not just defense, it’s not just special teams. We’ve got to play together — and I think the great thing is when we play great team football, man, we’re really special. We haven’t been able to do that with (good) consistency the last two weeks, and probably the last three weeks to be the team we need to be, and play the way we want to play.”
The injury-ravaged defense has allowed opponents to average 35.3 in the past three games — its worst three-game stretch since the opening three games of the Campbell era in 2016. Becht’s seen two interceptions returned for touchdowns in that span — and another returned to the one-yard line. And a combination of ill-timed penalties, dropped passes and spotty pass-blocking has led to ISU’s offense sputtering often on the cusp of field goal range, or in the red zone.
So no one’s pointing fingers. The Cyclones are simply working to find solutions to their recent travails. It’s all they can do with three regular-season games remaining and all of their preseason goals mathematically within reach.
“Now it’s just focusing on game eight,” said Becht, who’s thrown 16 touchdown passes to seven interceptions this season. “Focusing on that now, and focusing on the rest in the future. I do feel like we were focusing on the future a little bit, so (we’re) just trying to get back to our fundamentals and focusing on one game at a time.”
From Becht’s perspective, that translates to dissecting every play — good and bad — from recent games and identifying the root cause for each of them. He’ll then apply that to game week preparations and in-game decision-making. With regard to his pick-sixes, Becht’s been a victim of circumstance at times. One of those balls bounced of the midsection of the receiver and into the defender’s arms. Another came with the Cyclones locked in full-bore comeback mode when pushing the envelope — and the football — into tight and perilous places becomes a necessary risk.
“I would say I’ve gotten unlucky on when the pick has happened and there’s just nobody around,” Becht said. “And honestly, it’s just finding a window and me just going out there and playing ball. … It sucks to give free points to the other team because (that) doesn’t help our defense at all.”
Mouser blamed himself for Becht’s interception that turned into a Jayhawks’ touchdown in last week’s loss.
“I put Rocco in a bad situation with what we called on first down,” Mouser said. “We lost yards on first down, so it’s second and long, which the defense is gonna expect you to pass. We pass it, it gets intercepted and it goes the other way. So I put that more on myself than I do on Rocco, and obviously there’s an execution piece of it — and he would probably tell you the other way on it.”
Yes, he would. Becht had no time to celebrate his 21st birthday because he’s wholly consumed by the desire to start winning football games again. So the work continues — and a night on the town can wait.
“We’ve got to figure out a way to stay consistent and finish drives,” he reiterated.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger announced Wednesday the signings of four preps for the 2025-26 season. The fourth signing day under Otzelberger, the class ranks as the best in school history. It is the second time in four recruiting cycles that Otzelberger has turned in a Top 10 class in the country.
The Cyclones signed Macari Moore (6-3 | Guard | Ann Arbor, Mich. | Huron), Xzavion Mitchell (6-6 | Forward | Oshkosh, Wis. | Oshkosh North), Jamarion Batemon (6-3 | Guard | Milwaukee, Wis. | Milwaukee Academy of Science) and Killyan Toure (6-3 | Guard | Pamiers, France | Brewster Academy).
The class is rated No. 8 nationally by 247sports and Rivals and No. 9 by ESPN. It is the top ranked class in the Big 12 by all three organizations.
Moore was the first to commit to the class, ranking as a Top 25 guard by 247sports and Rivals. He is ranked No. 134 overall by 247sports and is the second-ranked player from Michigan in the class. He helped Huron to a 23-5 record as a junior, which included a trip to the state semifinals. He played for The Family on the Nike EYBL Circuit this past summer. He led Huron to the district title with the go-ahead basket in overtime, a game in which he scored his 1,000th career point.
“Macari gets in the paint, making plays for himself and his teammates,” Otzelberger said. “He is a physical, downhill playmaking guard. He takes tremendous pride in being a physical, on-ball defender and he can rebound the basketball well from the guard position. He’ll make an immediate impact on our program with his character and work ethic.”
Mitchell is a consensus four-star recruit by 247sports, Rivals and ESPN. He is the 11th highest-ranked signee for Iowa State in the modern era. Mitchell is ranked No. 55 by Rivals, No. 70 by ESPN and No. 129 by 247sports. He is a Top 25 forward by 247sports and Rivals, while 247sports ranks him the No. 4 player in Wisconsin. He played for Team Herro on the Nike EYBL Circuit this past summer, while also participating in the NBPA Top 100 Camp. He was named the Nike EYBL Session II MVP, averaging 28.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.
“Xzavion is a versatile, big wing who has the ability to attack off the dribble,” Otzelberger said. “He has mismatch ability and can really help facilitate offense. He’s somebody that has been a great rebounder and defensively he has tremendous versatility with an ability to guard all positions on the floor. He’ll make an immediate impact on our program with his toughness and consistency.”
Batemon is a consensus four-star recruit by 247sports, Rivals and ESPN. He is the sixth-highest-ranked signee for Iowa State in the modern era. Batemon is ranked No. 41 by 247sports, No. 63 by ESPN and No. 92 by Rivals. He is the top-ranked player in Wisconsin from 247sports, while also ranking as the No. 5 guard in the country. He played for Power 5 on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit, averaging 22.2 points per game. He was 7-of-11 from downtown in a 92-77 win over Compton Magic.
“Jamarion has great long-range ability but is also terrific at attacking the closeout and getting downhill as a playmaker,” Otzelberger added. “He’s an elite scoring guard, who has range as soon as he steps on the court. He takes tremendous pride in guarding the basketball and picking guys up full court. He’ll make an immediate impact on our program with his discipline and daily focus.”
The latest Cyclone from Brewster Academy, Toure is originally from Pamiers, France. With his recent arrival to the United States, Toure is not in any national rankings, but is listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals. He played in the French ProA U21 League, averaging 10.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists for ASVEL Basket Lyon-Villeurbanne. He also participated in the 2023 NBA Basketball Without Borders Europe, where he earned Defensive MVP honors.
“Killyan is a dynamic, open court playmaking guard,” Otzelberger said. “He’s somebody who operates best in transition, seeing the play a step ahead. He takes tremendous pride in guarding the basketball and being disruptive. He’s proven to defend at a high level and has the maturity of playing high-level basketball overseas. His work habits and maturity will help him make an immediate impact on our program.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State women’s basketball and head coach Bill Fennelly announced Wednesday the signing of Class of 2025 members Reese Beaty and Freya Jensen. Beaty hails from Jamestown, Tennessee while Jensen is an international recruit from Denmark.
“We are excited to add Reese and Freya to the Cyclone women’s basketball family,” said Fennelly. “They provide more skill and versatility to add to our roster for next season.”
Reese Beaty · Guard · 5-8 · Jamestown, Tenn. (York Institute)
Beaty was the second-ranked prospect out of Tennessee for her class. A two-time team captain, Beaty has helped York Institute to an 87-17 record in the last three seasons with three appearances at the State Tournament, including a 2022 runner-up finish. As a junior, the point guard averaged 17.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Beaty is a multi-sport athlete for York Institute as well, claiming state titles in the shot put (2022, 2023) and discus (2023) and setting a TSSAA Class A State record in the shot with a mark of 42-9.25.
Fennelly on Beaty…
“Reese fits what we look for in a point guard. She is a talented player who has the toughness to play in a leadership role.”
Freya Jensen · Guard · 5-10 · Risskov, Denmark (Risskov Gymnasium)
Jensen is a two-year starter and a three-year player as she enters her fourth year for the Aabyhoj IF Senior Women’s Team. She has helped her team to a 4-1 start this season. Jensen was named “Young Talent of the Year” in the best Danish league in 2024. Competing for the 2024 U18 European Championship, Jensen averaged 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting a 35 percent clip from behind the arc. She has helped her team to championships at the 2024 Lundaspelen Tournament, the 2022 and 2023 Göteborg Tournaments and the 2023 Scania Tournament. She was named the MVP at each tournament.
Fennelly on Jensen…
“Freya is an outstanding shooter and scorer at all levels. She has played a lot of basketball at a high level internationally as well.”
Iowa State held its weekly media availability. Head coach Kevin Dresser broke down how the team is bouncing back after an upset loss against Stanford, what to expect from the Cyclones against Navy and Grandview and more. Evan Bockman gives insight into his weight drop to 184 pounds and his toughness. Daniel Herrera spoke about cracking the starting lineup and what it means to get this opportunity.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser addressed media members ahead of his team’s upcoming game against Cincinnati Saturday (7:00 p.m. FOX).
Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield’s pregame press conference is also posted below.
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht, fullback Stevo Klotz, defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim, and defensive back Tyler Onyedim addressed media members ahead of his team’s upcoming game against Cincinnati Saturday (7:00 p.m. FOX).
New University of Cincinnati football defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt speaks during a press conference at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. Veidt comes to UC from Iowa State. © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Iowa State’s first-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser harbors no illusions.
When his offense takes the field on Saturday night against Cincinnati, he’ll be trying to outmaneuver a longtime colleague, a great friend, and a first-year defensive coordinator in Tyson Veidt.
And?
“He’s gonna be trying to murder me on Saturday — and murder us,” said of Veidt, who was the Cyclones’ linebackers coach for eight seasons. “In a good way. He’s an awesome guy. (He’s) as competitive as anybody you’ll find, and we went against each other for a long time in practice, and I know how tenacious (he is) and how important football is (to him). He’s such a good football coach.”
Kickoff’s set for 7 p.m. The game will air on FOX. And Mouser’s and Veidt’s respective units will do battle again — but this time with much bigger stakes attached for the Cyclones (7-2, 4-2) and the Bearcats (5-4, 3-3).
“I know he’s gonna be aggressive and is probably gonna heat us up a little bit and force our guys to make some plays and pick some things up,” Mouser said. “(We’re) just trying to stay ahead of the chains, be efficient on offense, and sustain drives. That defense is made to make you drive the football.”
Mouser’s offense has generally moved up and down the field between the 30-yard lines successfully this season. The Cyclones rank eighth in the Big 12 in rushing offense (168.1 yards per game) and fifth in passing offense (271.4), but have struggled to turn opportunities inside the opponent’s 20-yard line into touchdowns, instead of field goals. ISU sits sixth in the league in red zone conversions (89.7 percent), but lags to 10th in touchdowns in those situations (64.1 percent). Veidt’s defense is allowing opposing teams to score touchdowns in the red zone just 50 percent of the time — an impressively low number that ranks third in the Big 12.
“(One) thing we need to work on is pre-snap penalties,” quarterback Rocco Becht said. “We saw that in the past two weeks and we’ve lost those games — and honestly, I don’t think we had a pre-snap penalty in the first seven weeks. So that’s something big we need to get better at, and it’s just the consistency to finish drives. We had a lot of three-and-outs (in Saturday’s 45-36 loss to Kansas), and that’s not like us.”
The Cyclones committed four pre-snap penalties in last week’s loss and three in the previous week in a 23-22 setback to Texas Tech at home. Two of those infractions — one in each game — came in first-and-goal situations, which further hampers efforts to get touchdowns in the red zone.
Couple those recent shortcomings with the startling amount of injuries on defense, and Mouser’s forced to strike a delicate balance as an offensive playcaller. ISU needs to possess the football for a significant portion of the game to allow the defense to collectively catch its breath, so there’s no easy answer when it comes to solving the Cyclones’ recent issues inside the 20.
“There’s a play here and a play there you’re gonna look back on, and either you made them or you didn’t,” Mouser said. “So I think within that, it’s sustaining the drive to help the defense, and then when you get down in the red zone, making those drives count, and not giving away points (that) put your defense under stress later.”
Veidt, of course, will do everything he can to put immense stress on ISU’s offense. He may be friends with all of his former Cyclone coaching colleagues, but on Saturday they’ll be bitter foes. That’s football, as the cliche goes — and how that battle of wits shakes out will help determine if ISU can end its two-game losing streak.
“As a friend, and somebody who cares about (Veidt) deeply, you couldn’t be prouder of what that (Bearcats) defense looks like, and what (it’s) playing like,” Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell said. “It will be a great challenge for us. Those kids are playing really hard for him. They believe in coach Veidt. You can tell. They play with his energy and his effort, so I’m just happy for him.”
INJURY “UPDATE” It’s unclear if any of ISU’s long list of injured players could return this week, but consider safety Malik Verdon and guard Dylan Barrett questionable. Verdon, who played with a club on his hand two weeks ago, played sparingly in last week’s loss to Kansas. Barrett traveled and dressed last week, but didn’t play.
“It’s too soon to tell,” Campbell said when asked if any players could come back this week. “Yeah, we’re going through it right now. The last four weeks have been really hard.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Milan Momcilovic & Dishon Jackson addressed media members following the Cyclones’ 82-56 win over Kansas City at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) takes a three-point shot against Kansas City during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball game at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Less than 30 seconds after recording his first steal, Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic nearly scraped off his second.
10:25 remained in the No. 7 Cyclones’ 82-56 win Monday over Summit League favorite Kansas City, and the sophomore forward poked a pass away, hoping he could chase it down for a fastbreak basket, but instead, it bounded off the court.
“Could have broke it for a dunk there,” the 6-7 sharpshooter said, smiling. “But it went out of bounds.”
That play exemplified how Momcilovic has worked to diversify his game. He’s hunting the 3-point shot more. He’s looking for opportunities off the dribble. He’s committed to playing better defense, and soar for more rebounds in an effort to become a complete player.
“He’s improved immensely,” ISU head coach T. J. Otzelberger said of Momcilovic, who scored 16 points and drilled his first four 3-point attempts. “His activity level’s great. Anticipation is better. He’s ‘jump walling’ at the rim. He has more of a commitment on the glass. Finishing possessions — it’s so important for us, so proud to see him make those plays.”
Curtis Jones led the Cyclones (2-0) with 20 points off the bench. He scored 16 of those points in the second half and went 7-for-11 from the field. Transfer forward Dishon Jackson added 13 points and six rebounds, and Keshon Gilbert dished out a game-high 10 assists while turning the ball over just once.
“I love how he played for his teammates and the shots that he got guys,” Otzelberger said of Gilbert, his leading scorer from last season. “He really got us some great looks out there.”
The visiting Roos (2-1) started fast, hitting their first three shots while taking an 11-9 lead. The Cyclones eventually responded with a 14-3 run fueled by two of Momcilovic’s 3-pointers to move in front, 29-16, with 2:52 remaining in the first half. ISU — which led by as many as 31 points — would maintain a double-digit edge the rest of the game as Kansas City shot 33.3 percent from the field and committed 16 turnovers to the Cyclones’ seven. Jackson scored eight of his team’s first 13 points to establish his presence early.
“I’m just trying to do whatever for the team to have success,” the 6-11 senior said. “I just want to win, so whatever I’ve got to do, I’m gonna do it.”
Momcilovic — who also grabbed five rebounds — started on Monday after coming off the bench in ISU’s season-opening rout of Mississippi Valley State. Otzelberger also tightened his rotation to eight players because of the problems the Roos could present. He said the Cyclones’ starting lineup — and how deep they delve into their bench — will hinge on matchups moving forward, but he remains comfortable with playing up to 10 guys on a given night.
“We’re just trying to get everybody to play to their strengths and the best of their abilities,” Otzelberger said. “I think at times with that first lineup with Curt (starting), we like him playing more like a facilitator (and) playmaker; a guy with the ball, keeping it on the move. You see (Monday), he had five assists and no turnovers. I think when he comes right in, that mindset is natural for him and then we need Milan outing right away. So it worked well for us.”
As for Momcilovic’s missed opportunity for a dunk? More will arise as the season shifts into high gear. But what type of dunk would he have delivered if that second near-steal had turned out as planned?
“Just a rim grazer,” he joked.
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) hands the ball off to Cincinnati Bearcats running back Corey Kiner (21) in the first quarter of a college football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and West Virginia Mountaineers, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. © Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — When you start the season 7-0, any loss seems catastrophic.
And for suddenly slumping Iowa State — which tumbled from the rankings after suffering its second straight loss last Saturday — doom and gloom has spread across the fanbase, just like the spate of injuries decimating the defense.
The Cyclones (7-2, 4-2) limped back to Central Iowa down several key contributors on that side of the ball, and given how their most recent loss — a 45-36 setback to Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium — played out, the sour mood surrounding the program is understandable.
But there’s still hope. ISU’s path to the Big 12 title game narrowed significantly but didn’t completely vanish. And if the Matt Campbell-led Cyclones can rebound in their final three regular season games, big things still beckon in the postseason, whether that includes a trip to Arlington or not. ISU’s an 8.5-point favorite (as of Monday afternoon) for Saturday’s 7 p.m. matchup (FOX) with improving Cincinnati (5-4, 3-3) at Jack Trice Stadium — and here are five Bearcats to keep an eye on in the game:
QB Brendan Sorsby The 6-3, 228-pound Indiana transfer’s been solid all season, but his interception returned for a touchdown last week against West Virginia proved to be the difference in a 31-24 loss. Sorsby’s completing 66.1 percent of his passes and has thrown for 16 touchdowns to just five interceptions. He’s also rushed for a team-leading seven touchdowns this season, so he’ll be a problem for an injury-plagued ISU defense that’s struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks. Sorsby’s failed to throw a touchdown pass in just one game this season — an impressive 24-14 win over Arizona State in which he ran for two scores. He’s been sacked three times twice this season, so a Cyclones defense that is tied for last in the Big 12 in that area with 12 may be able to create a bit more pressure on Saturday. Sorsby lost two fumbles last week, and one was returned for a touchdown, so ISU could get back on track in the takeaway department after forcing zero turnovers last week.
RB Corey Kiner (and Evan Pryor) The 5-9, 210-pound Cincinnati native is poised to post his second straight 1,000-yard season and is the Bearcats’ undisputed workhorse. Kiner’s carried the ball 148 times for 783 yards (a 5.3-yard per carry average) while rushing for three touchdowns. No other Cincinnati running back has toted the ball more than 40 times, but talented change-of-pace contributor Evan Pryor’s averaged a head-turning 8.8 yards over those carries. He’s also turned his modest workload into five rushing touchdowns. Pryor caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from Sorsby in the loss to the Mountaineers, so while Kiner remains the lead back, Pryor’s a perfect complement to him.
LB Jared Bartlett Last week must have been strange for Bartlett, who faced his former team, West Virginia, at his new home. The 6-2, 237-pound sixth-year player did his part against his former teammates, recording a season-high-tying seven tackles while notching a sack in his fourth straight game. Bartlett’s compiled 4.5 of his team-best 6.5 sacks in the past four games, and he’s dependable when dropping into pass coverage, as well. He’s the Bearcats’ second-leading tackler with 49 stops — three fewer than fellow linebacker Jake Golday, who’s forced two fumbles and recovered one. Bartlett’s tied for third on the team in passes defended with three.
DT Dontay Corleone The 6-1, 320-pound standout nose tackle nicknamed “The Godfather” owns 3.5 sacks this season and routinely occupies two blockers to free up his teammates to make tackles. Corleone’s yet to force a fumble this season, but he plucked out three footballs from opposing players in the previous two seasons while recovering two of those loose balls. Two of Corleone’s sacks this season came in an impressive 19-13 road win at UCF
WR Xzavier Henderson Henderson, who transferred from Florida two seasons ago, stands 6-3 and uses his length and speed to produce big plays. He leads the Bearcats in receptions (51) and receiving yards (620). He’s also caught four touchdown passes but hasn’t reached the end zone in the past four games. Henderson’s eclipsed 100 receiving yards three times this season and boasts 12 career touchdown grabs.
Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey (3) goes to the basket around Mississippi Valley State guard Greg Moore (10) at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
No. 5 Iowa State (1-0) will host the Kansas City Roos (2-0) on Monday night
inside Hilton Coliseum (7:00 p.m., ESPN+).
The Cyclones opened up the 2024-2025 campaign with a decisive 83-44 win over Mississippi Valley State. Keshon Gilbert led all scorers with 17 points and Tamin Lipsey tallied 16 in the win.
In their first two games of the season, Kansas City powered to
convincing wins over Hannibal-LaGrange (91-68) and Kansas Christian (124-36).
About the RoosThe Roos are a part of the Summit League and are under the direction of head coach Marvin Menzies.
Menzies is known for his disciplined and defensive approach. Kansas City emphasizes physical play and solid rebounding, trying to limit their opponents’ shooting percentages through tough nosed defense that
centers around its skilled forwards and shot-blockers.
The Roos lean on experienced scorers like senior guard Anderson Kopp and forward Melvyn Ebonkoli.
Kopp is a versatile guard at 6-foot-6 and has demonstrated scoring efficiency from deep, while the 6-foot-8 Ebonkoli adds inside strength and rebounding. As they look to slow the tempo and control the glass, the Roos’ primary offensive strategy revolves around setting up plays in the
half-court and finding open looks for their shooters and big men.
Another player to look out for is Jamar Brown. The 6-foot-5 senior was the leading scorer for the Roos last season and started his senior campaign with a 26-point effort in the season opener.
Kansas City’s defense is mainly man-to-man, using physicality and ball pressure to disrupt the opposing team’s offensive flow. In their game against Hannibal-LaGrange, they highlighted their shot-blocking ability and quick hands to generate steals, which will be tested by Iowa State’s faster tempo and high-energy ball movement.
For the Cyclones to be successful they’ll need to focus on quick transitions and strong perimeter shooting to keep Kansas City from settling into
their defensive sets and rotations.
Who stood out in the opener?In Iowa State’s season opener, several Cyclones made impressive contributions and deburts in the 83-44 victory over Mississippi Valley State. Senior guard Keshon Gilbert looks like he hasn’t skipped a beat since the end of last season. He showed his strong offensive efficiency and set the tone early by getting to the basket and finishing through contact.
His performance was closely followed by junior guard Tamin Lipsey, who not only scored 16 points but surpassed the 700-point career milestone. Lipsey also grabbed three steals in the game and that moved him up to eighth on Iowa State’s all-time steals list.
Newcomer Joshua Jefferson, a transfer from Saint Mary’s, made an instant impact in his Iowa State debut. He scored 10 points in the first half and also contributed four steals and six rebounds. He showcased his versatility on the offensive end and defensive instincts in the paint.
Milan Momcilovic came off the bench for the first time in his Cyclone career, to add 10 points, including two three-pointers. His shooting provided a valuable boost and will need to continue to bring that boost as the season roles on.
Iowa State’s perimeter scoring could be a pivotal factor this season.
With multiple newcomers stepping up on both ends of the court, Iowa State
displayed a promising depth and balance that could be crucial as they advance into tougher matchups in later November.
Nov 9, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) leaps over Iowa State Cyclones defensive end Tyler Onyedim (11) at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
Alright, Cyclones.
Iowa State’s had 36 hours to digest what happened in Kansas City on Saturday, with the team suffering a second straight loss and falling to 7-2.
Let’s talk about the Kansas game and what’s ahead.
Malik Verdon checked out of the game after playing five snapsFans should remember the 2023 Iowa State football season well. There were games when top defensive backs were not on the field, and Iowa State got carved up on that side of the football.
Think about Memphis’ offensive explosion in the Liberty Bowl in the absence of current Baltimore Raven T.J. Tampa and Malik Verdon. Go look at the Kansas game in Jack Trice where Jeremiah Cooper wasn’t on the field.
We’ve seen this before – an opposing offense keys in on, or sometimes simply takes advantage of an inexperienced player stepping in and it results in some big plays.
In this case, with Verdon taken out due to a hand injury, Kansas did exactly that, while implementing a really nice game plan that just beat Iowa State.
This defense is complex. It’s a reason that other teams have replicated it and a reason the system has been so successful over the years in Ames.
It requires defensive backs to play with a high attention to detail.
Redshirt freshman Ta’Shawn James got taken advantage of in that game. He wasn’t the reason Iowa State lost, nor was he the only one that got beat on some plays.
James is a young player, and the best way for him to get better is by being on the field. That’s the case for all the young guys.
The reality is that Iowa State has been dragged down all year by injuries. They were without defensive lineman Domonique Orange Saturday, too.
It’s hard to win when the top guys aren’t there. Trust Jon Heacock and his staff to do what they can to shore up this banged-up group, but unless they get some of those top guys back, it will be tough to make much improvment on the defensive side of the ball.
Bringing pressure Iowa State rushed four down lineman a few times during its first drive against Kansas – something that wasn’t seen again the rest of the game.
It was notably the only drive in the first half where the Jayhawks failed to score, and it begs the question on if the Cyclones may pivot with three games left before the postseason.
This season in particular, and also in more recent memory, Iowa State has not sustained the success it had early in the Jon Heacock era in stopping its opponents behind the line of scrimmage.
Brent Blum had the stat on Sunday’s episode of Williams & Blum.
Iowa State’s tackle for loss finish nationally by year
2017 – 15th
2018 – 24th
2019 – 27th
2020 – 17th
2021 – 38th
2022 – 55th
2023 – 80th
2024 – 110th
That was evident on Saturday, and the few times where Iowa State did down Kansas before it reached the line of scrimmage, it was due to the unit bringing pressure.
Coach Matt Campbell was asked why the defense didn’t pressure Kansas more, and he essentially amounted it to the unit being beat on early downs.
“It’s hard to pressure the quarterback on 2nd and 1,” Campbell said.
There’s no telling what Iowa State will do, but with injuries piling up, it needs to find answers quickly.
The case of Rocco BechtAs with what comes with any loss, some fans have started to question the redshirt sophomore quarterback that has led Iowa State’s offense the past two years.
But that’s not what was wrong with the offense Saturday – the one that scored 36 points with 461 yards.
Obviously, he wasn’t perfect – and it for sure can be argued that he hasn’t had a ‘perfect’ performance all year, but he shouldn’t have to be.
Becht missed on a couple of throws during the day. There’s the obvious overthrown on Stevo Klotz in the end zone, and another pair that were actually caught by Jaylin Noel that may have been touchdowns had he led his receiver a bit better.
But Becht finished with 383 yards Saturday. He had three touchdowns and had to force a pass that led to the pick six in the fourth quarter as he tried to lead a miraculous comeback.
Maybe Iowa State isn’t in that spot without the false starts it had Saturday. Maybe it looks different with tight end Ben Brahmer and left guard Dylan Barrett on the field.
Then, you’ve got to look at the blitz pickups and the issues there since the UCF game.
Point being, even with those hiccups and inconsistencies, Iowa State still put up the solid offensive performance it did Saturday.
Around the Big 12 The Cyclones’ Big 12 championship hopes certainly took a hit over the weekend.
With Colorado (5-1) and BYU (6-0) earning wins – both in rather controversial fashion, Iowa State no longer controls its own destiny to make the Big 12 championship game.
But there may not be a better conference to be in with the current situation than the Big 12 – more on tiebreakers and those situations later this week.
Utah’s Athletic Director dragged the Big 12 for a call late in the Holy WarWe watched this game after getting back to the hotel in Kansas City, and boy, did it live up to the billing.
It came down to a controversial defensive holding call as BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was thrown to the ground on 4th down, which would have given the win to Utah had the call not gone against them.
BYU ended up taking the automatic first down and driving into field goal range in four plays.
Now, there were made calls and missed calls throughout the game, and the one that went against the Utes was a pretty rough one to make in that spot.
After the game, Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan came down on the Big 12 Conference saying that he was, “Excited about being in the Big 12, but tonight I am not.”
Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan saying he’s “not happy” that Utah is in the Big12 directly after losing to their biggest rival BYU is the most little brother, Utah move of all time: pic.twitter.com/ntxG4X2eFT
— Sherman Young Jr. (@ShermStu_2) November 10, 2024
Had Harlan not come down on the Big 12, and had Utah fans not chirped at fans of the conference as much as they did before the season, folks may have been more sympathetic to his argument.
And I haven’t been able to really ‘confirm’ if this unsportsmanlike penalty was due to Harlan, but if it was… man, what a blow.
You know what would have been even funnier than whining about a legitimate holding penalty?
How about imagine if Utah did have a miracle touchdown return but it’s called back because the unsportsmanlike conduct was caused by Mark Harlan being on the field during the play? pic.twitter.com/Y40g5VnDxu— Greg Welch (@ArtDirectorBYU) November 10, 2024
BYU’s got Kansas at home in the late night window on Saturday, while Iowa State fans will be rooting for Utah to upend Colorado.
Colorado got another win in a heated game with Texas TechDeion Sanders and the Buffaloes got themselves another win, with plenty of tension surrounding the stadium.
There were fans throwing water bottles and tortillas, the BS with Colorado not wanting to work with a random T-shirt company in Lubbock leading up to it, and everything else that seems to accompany games against CU.
The most alarming thing in all of it is referees that can’t handle players celebrating when they make big plays.
Deion Sanders was livid that Texas Tech fans were throwing half full bottles and beer
The ref responded with: “Well your players are blowing kisses after they score”
pic.twitter.com/R5OrqTQMcv
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) November 10, 2024
Anyways, Colorado looks all the part of a team that’s built something and greatly improved. Arizona State is cooking something up and will be a big threat if Cam Skattebo is able to get healthy.
Along with the start of the basketball season, the madness should only be crazier the next three weeks. Buckle up.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Addy Brown & Audi Crooks addressed media members after their team’s 84-56 win over Southern on Sunday at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State Cyclones’ forward Addy Brown (24) takes a shot as Indiana State Sycamores forward Saige Stahl (13) defends during the second quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © NIrmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Teams devise elaborate schemes to deny Iowa State center Audi Crooks the basketball.
Few of those strategies tend to work, but the byproduct of that added attention affords skilled forward Addy Brown more open looks, which she fully took advantage of Sunday in the No. 8 Cyclones’ 84-56 win over Southern before a crowd of 10,097 at Hilton Coliseum.
“If they’re going to do that, then she’s gonna keep putting up numbers like the ones you’re seeing,” said Crooks, who like Brown, recorded a double-double against the overmatched Jaguars (0-3). “So I think that’s a very dangerous game to play.”
Crooks finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Brown scored a game-high 21 points while grabbing 10 boards. The 6-2 sophomore from Derby, Kan., went 8-for-9 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free throw line, and also chipped in four assists.
“I just got extra reps up after last game,” Brown said. “Didn’t make much last game — as a team we all kind of struggled, so kind of went back to the basics with my shot.”
ISU head coach Bill Fennelly often refers to Brown as one of the most underrated players in the women’s game. She’s tough. She’s versatile. She’s becoming a good defender. Couple those qualities with her pure shooting ability and it’s easy to see why Fennelly’s come to that conclusion.
“I keep saying the same thing,” said Fennelly, whose team improved to 3-0 after its third game in seven days. “It’s her third game of her sophomore year in college. So, tremendously talented, tremendously gifted from a basketball IQ sense, and you can tell. We’re lucky she’s on our team.”
Senior point guard Emily Ryan added eight points, 10 assists and five rebounds on a day she began by being honored at midcourt for becoming the Cyclones’ all-time assists leader last season. She now has 805 career assists — but Fennelly still wishes she’d shoot more.
“The thing with Emily that’s funny is, she’s in the gym all the time shooting,” Fennelly said. “I’m like, ‘You might as well go read a book or something, or go study, because if you’re gonna (spend) all that time shooting, why aren’t you shooting (much) in games,’” Fennelly said of Ryan, who hit two 3-pointers in Sunday. “But that’s not her nature. She’s smart. There’s a reason she’s the career assists leader here, and she’s looking at Audi and Addy, and she’s like, ‘I’m throwing it to them first.’ … But, yeah, she’s got to hunt her offense a little bit more.”
Her teammates wholeheartedly agree.
“She works so hard,” Brown said. “You always see her getting up extra reps, shooting before practice with a coach or somebody. So, yeah, when she’s open, we want her to shoot the ball.”
Ryan’s pass-first approach has perfectly suited the Cyclones’ program in her five years on campus — and now Brown and Crooks are among the chief beneficiaries.
“(Brown) is the perfect fit for how we want to play,” Fennelly said. “She’s a point forward, or whatever you want to call it. It’s like we have a two-quarterback system with Emily and Addy. And (Brown’s) a lot bigger and stronger than she looks. She’s a physical kid, so when we can get her on the block, that even adds to it. She’s just gonna keep getting better because the kid loves to play.”
Nov 9, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) passes during the fourth quarter against the Kansas Jayhawks at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — “Unacceptable.”
That unwelcome word formed a recurring theme for Iowa State senior captain and safety Beau Freyler in the wake of the No. 17 Cyclones’ dispiriting 45-36 loss to Kansas Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.
ISU (7-2, 4-2) simply couldn’t stop the formerly snake-bitten Jayhawks (3-6, 2-4) until late in the game — and that’s concerning for a banged-up team that watched its once-high hopes of reaching the Big 12 title game careen into pie-in-the-sky territory.
“It’s unacceptable what we did today,” Freyler said. “We’ve got to have the humility to look at our mistakes, look at the weaknesses of ourselves, individually and collectively, and just go back to work.”
That’s all the Cyclones can do, of course, after suffering their second loss in a row. The same issues — ill-timed penalties, failures to execute in key moments — bedeviled ISU yet again, but a potential get-well; game looms next Saturday night when Cincinnati (5-4, 3-3) comes to Jack Trice Stadium.
“There’s not gonna be a flinch in the locker room,” said Freyler, who had six tackles. “I can tell you that. Me and the leadership, we’re gonna hold everyone accountable to that. No moping around, no excuses, no complaining, because what we put on that film is who we are. So we’re gonna go back to work and get better.”
That’s been another ongoing theme in recent weeks. The Cyclones — down several starters on defense because of injuries — have struggled to play with the “detail and precision” required to turn a historic 7-0 start into something even greater in the all-important month of November. ISU fell behind by 25 points on Saturday and despite a late second-half surge that trimmed that deficit to 10 points with 11 minutes left, a win felt out of reach as the Jayhawks scored at will on six possessions in a row.
Just how many of those recent shortcomings can be fully fixed over the final three regular season games remains uncertain, but the Cyclones are committed to “getting better” even as it’s become unlikely they can compete for a conference crown.
“I guess we’re gonna find out,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, whose team is bowl-eligible for the seventh time in the past eight seasons. “You can sit here on Saturday night and say whatever you want, but the reality of what shows up next Saturday? I don’t think our kids quit at all. I think our kids kept climbing and the thing I love about our kids is we’ve got great character. We’ve got great leadership. We’ve got great coaching, but the reality of it is, who are you when things aren’t going great? And we’re gonna find out. I think our kids came out ready to play, but again, detail and precision against a team like this, you’ve got to be able to do it better.”
Some of that formula will hinge on the health of Campbell’s players. They’ve been playing second-, third-, and fourth-string linebackers because of injury most of the season. The secondary’s banged up. The defensive line is down a starter. Every Cyclone must look in the mirror and ask what more can they do? And how can they help others do the same with positive reinforcement? Doing that fueled ISU’s 7-0 start — and regaining that perspective may help it rebound to record its first 10 (or more) win season ever.
That goal remains fully attainable, even as a path to the league title game has narrowed significantly.
“All the work that you put in to get to 7-0, and then those two losses coming out like that, it’s tough to move on,” said quarterback Rocco Becht, who threw for a season-high 383 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. “But we have a bunch of leaders in our locker room (who) are resilient and are gonna put this aside. We’ll focus every day in and day out, and work on the next day, and go to the next game, focusing on play (after) play and continue from there.”
Nov 9, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) gets tripped by Kansas Jayhawks safety Taylor Davis (27) during the third quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel expected it would be “surreal” to play Kansas on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Kansas City native was right — but not in a good way for the No. 17 Cyclones.
Noel racked up 167 receiving yards and caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Rocco Becht, but long-struggling Kansas reached the end zone on four consecutive possessions Saturday and eventually cemented a 45-36 triumph that all but nixed ISU’s hopes of playing for a Big 12 title.
“I feel like we beat ourselves all the time in this (recent) stretch of games,” said Noel, who led the Cyclones with eight catches. “Even going back to UCF, when we won the game, we haven’t played how we wanted to. Small details are hurting ourselves and putting (us) in positions we shouldn’t be in.”
ISU (7-2, 4-2) put itself in a great position early, stitching together a seven-play, 99-yard drive capped by Noel’s 27-yard touchdown catch from Becht to go ahead, 7-0. But the Jayhawks (3-6, 2-4) responded by scoring points on six straight possessions to take a commanding 38-13 lead with 6:27 left in the third quarter.
Becht — who threw three touchdown passes and one interception returned for a score — tried to rally the Cyclones late. Tailback Carson Hansen reached the end zone from 11 yards out and Becht connected with running back Jaylon Jackson for a 27-yard touchdown to trim Kansas’ lead to 38-28 with 11:03 remaining.
So faint hopes remained — until ISU’s ensuing offensive possession. The defense forced the Jayhawks to punt for just the second time with 6:46 left, but an errant throw by Becht fell into the arms of Kansas cornerback Mello Dotson, who returned it for a 25-yard touchdown to make the score 45-28. Becht tacked on his second touchdown pass to Noel and hit receiver Jayden Higgins for the two-point conversion, but an onside kick attempt failed and the Jayhawks ran out the clock to secure their third straight win in the series.
“I can’t keep turning the ball over and giving them free points,” said Becht, who completed 24 of 37 passes for a season-high 383 yards. “Because that hurts our defense.”
And the Cyclones’ defensive unit is banged up at each level, which helps explain why they surrendered a season-high 45 points. Starting safety Malik Vernon played early, but a lingering upper body injury sent him to the sidelines. Four of ISU’s top linebackers have either been out the entire season, or missing in recent weeks, and nose guard Domonique Orange didn’t travel because of injury, head coach Matt Campbell said.
“It’s been a grind all year,” said Campbell, whose team suffered its second consecutive loss to fall out of a tie for second place in the conference standings. “We’ve kind of been in this (situation) for the majority of the season, and (we) played a team that’s got great offensive talent. You know they’re gonna make you pay. That’s where playing great team football has gotta come into play. We got an early lead and we just weren’t able to sustain it against this offense.”
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels threw two touchdown passes and rushed for one more. Jayhawks tailback Devin Neal rushed for 116 yards and two scores. Kansas converted on seven of its 13 third-down situations and the Cyclones’ depleted defensive front failed to record a sack.
“Personally, I didn’t play well enough tonight for us to win,” said senior captain and defensive tackle J.R. Singleton, who notched one of just two quarterback hurries. “I’ve just got to be better. All the leaders on defense, we’ve just got to be better.”
As for the offense? It certainly left points on the field — and most notably, when Becht failed to connect with a wide-open Stevo Klotz from four yards out midway through the second quarter.
“(I’ve) got to make the play in the red zone,” Becht said. “We haven’t been doing (well) in the red zone the last two weeks. I can’t miss throws like that, wide-open, so I’ve got to be better.”
So “the grind,” as Campbell noted, continues. ISU’s not talking about winning a championship anymore, even though it’s still mathematically possible. The Cyclones are laser-focused on next week’s foe at home, Cincinnati. It’s that tunnel-vision type of approach that led to a 7-0 start, and it’s what could get ISU back on track as the regular season nears its end.
“We’ve just got to come in tomorrow, no complaining,” Noel said. “Guys ready to go. Attack the weight room. Attack the film room. Just gotta be better at preparing throughout the week.”
Nov 9, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jeremiah Cooper (4) pushes Kansas Jayhawks wide receiver Quentin Skinner (0) out of bounds during the second quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
Iowa State dropped its second-straight game after starting 7-0 for the first time in modern history, falling to Kansas, 45-36, on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
As sloppy as it could lookThe Cyclones played their sloppiest half of the season at Arrowhead.
The defense allowed Kansas to average 10.9 yards per play in the opening 30 minutes. Kansas’ offense drove down the field with ease, scoring on every single drive it had the ball after it failed to score on its first.
When asked why the defense failed to create the pressure, coach Matt Campbell gave a brief, but firm answer.
“When it’s 2nd and 1, it’s hard to create pressure,” Campbell said. “So you’ve got to stop the run.”
The Cyclones were losing in the early downs, and it set up Kansas with shots to take advantage, which they used.
There were missed assignments like this one Ta’Shawn James had that left a KU wide receiver wide open.
KU 21, ISU 7 with 10:32 left in Q2 pic.twitter.com/q5RoxiUnnU
— Kansas Football (@KU_Football) November 9, 2024
There was a 62-yard reception to Quinten Skinner that came when Myles Purchase got burned by the Jayhawk receiver.
“We haven’t played how we wanted to,” wide receiver Jaylin Noel said. “We’re putting ourselves in positions that we don’t want to be in.”
The mistakes went for both sides of the ball.
Wide receiver Carson Brown was called for a false start penalty on a two-point conversion attempt, and Rocco Becht missed a wide-open Stevo Klotz that cost the team four points after it settled for a field goal.
“I can’t keep turning the ball over and giving them free points,” Becht said. “And I’ve got to make the play in the red zone. We haven’t been good in the red zone and that’s on me. I can’t miss throws like that – wide open. I have to be better.”
Not to mention, the Cyclones’ four penalties in the opening 11 minutes, which featured two false starts from tight end Gabe Burkle and a delay of game that came right after one of them.
“On that second drive, when we got a couple of penalties, that kind of killed our momentum for a little bit,” Becht said. “We just weren’t fundamentally sound. We didn’t have the detail and the precision that we needed. We started off hot, but we’ve got to stay consistent. That hurts our team and it hurts are defense, because we’re trying to get the momentum up for them, for them to play well.”
It’s got to look different for Iowa State – and forget whatever comes in the postseason here – it’s got to look different than that to win anything.
Time managementIowa State got the ball with a minute remaining in the first half, opting to use its first timeout of the game following a 16-yard reception to Carson Hansen after he was tackled in bounds.
It used its second, two plays later, on its next completion that went to Jayden Higgins for a six-yard gain.
That left the Cyclones with one time stoppage left with 37 seconds on the clock.
However, it only ran three more plays the rest of the half from offense – aside from the spike.
The Cyclones subbed in walk-on wide receiver Carson Brown after a short rush by Becht, with the clock running. It took 14 seconds to snap the ball and left just two seconds on the clock after the play – a 3-yard reception from Jaylin Noel – ended.
That’s with no attempt at a shot to the end zone – something that needs to be there, especially on stages bigger than this.
“We were right there – I thought we were more efficient in the red zone, for sure, today,” Campbell said. “I thought the ability for us to get a score right before (halftime) gave us some momentum.”
Iowa State has the talent on the outside of the field to take the shots to the end zone in those situations, and coming away with three instead of seven feels a lot bigger given what happened in the fourth quarter, not to mention with how the defense had been playing.
In a related category — punting while down 17 with 4:25 left felt like waving the white flag. When there are so many things needed to get the lead back, putting another ‘thing’ on top of it is a detriment.
Take the positives from the fast-paced offense in the fourth quarterThere weren’t a ton of positives to take from this one, but the way Iowa State played as it tried to rally back has to stick out.
Rocco Becht and the offense had a pair of touchdown drives that should get some second looks:
– Five plays for 75 yards in 2:21
– Six plays for 80 yards in 1:48
Things were working.
This team thrives when it’s put in fast-paced situations, whether out of necessity or not, and that may need to be something Iowa State looks at more often.
Becht was pressured again throughout the game, being sacked three times and brought down near the line of scrimmage.
That will be the focus for Iowa State going forward. The challenge becomes regaining the form that set it up for so much success, despite the goal of reaching the league title game growing much dimmer.
Even more than last week, this is where the leadership shows what it’s made of.
“There is not going to be a flinch in the locker room,” Freyler said. “Me and the leadership will make sure of that.”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and players Rocco Becht, Jaylin Noel, J.R. Singleton, and Beau Freyler addressed media members following their team’s 45-36 loss to Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday.
Iowa State Cyclones’ quarterback Rocco Becht (3) gets tackle by Kansas Jayhawks defensive line Caleb Taylor (53) during the fourth quarter at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
No. 17 Iowa State returns to the field after its first loss of the year to take on Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday (2:30 p.m. FS1). Here are our staff picks.
Chris Williams (6-2)
Bizarre to see a 7-1 team as only a 3-point favorite vs. a two-win Kansas team. That’s because the Jayhawks have been in every game this season and should have won many more. Reminds me a lot of the Cyclones two seasons ago.Iowa State 30, Kansas 27
Rob Gray (6-2)
The Jayhawks look like the 2022 version of the Cyclones, finding ways to lose in a variety of ways. But Kansas still has a dynamic (and recently resurgent) quarterback in Jalon Daniels, along with two productive running backs and three talented receivers. There’s a good reason Las Vegas initially pegged ISU as a 3.5-point favorite — and that number was down to 2.5 in various sportsbooks as we reached the middle of the week. ISU’s offense should be able to thrive, and the defense should do just enough to eke out a narrow win at a more-or-less neutral site at Arrowhead Stadium. Iowa State 31, Kansas 27
Connor Ferguson (7-1)
The loss could be everything Iowa State needed to refocus itself this season and on the other hand, Kansas is finding ways to lose week in and week out… this is the ultimate litmus test for where this season is going. The Cyclones need a win – and get one in close fashion. Iowa State 25, Kansas 19
Jeff Woody (7-1)
Kansas stacks up okay against Iowa State’s defense, with 2 of the best running backs in the conference and one of the best running quarterbacks. This has proven to be a challenge for ISU (see: UCF). But Iowa State also knows what’s at stake and what they have to do to make sure they don’t lose the opportunity in front of them. Clones don’t give up an opening drive TD, but do need to scrap to win a dogfight. Iowa State 31, Kansas 26
Grant Mahoney (7-1)
I have no confidence in this ISU team after last week. The offense looked out of sorts vs a bad Texas tech defense. The play calling was predictable. The team is dinged up every where. My only silver lining is that we haven’t seen a complete game out of ISU on offense defense and special teams yet. Kansas coming off a bye. 5 of their 6 losses have been one score losses. I feel like they found something against K State. Unfortunately I see ISU dropping their second game of the season. Kansas 28, Iowa State 24
Jackson Pence (7-1)
I don’t know what to think about this game. I’m also not sure what version of Iowa State we are going to see. How will this team respond after a tough, heartbreaking loss last week to Texas Tech? I have no clue. But I do think this Iowa State defense will be better. They cannot afford to get down early against this Jayhawks team, especially with an elite running quarterback in Jalon Daniels. I would love to see Iowa State start with the ball or take the ball if they win the coin flip. They need to have a fast start. There is no doubt that the offense has to be better. Hopefully they changed some things up and aren’t so predictable on 1st and 2nd down. This game will come down to the wire and I think Iowa State makes just enough plays down the stretch to pull this one out. Time to get rid of the Arrowhead Stadium curse. Iowa State 27, Kansas 24
Texas Tech Red Raiders’ running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs with the ball around Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Kooper Ebel (47) during the third quarter in the week-10 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock doesn’t mince words.
He’s blunt and to the point. Just the facts — even when they can be humbling.
“We had a shot the other night to try to close it out and we didn’t get it done,” Heacock said of last week’s 23-22 loss to Texas Tech. “So I think we’ve all taken that relatively personal.”
Plain. Simple. Honest. The Cyclones’ defense gave up a decisive touchdown with 19 seconds left against the Red Raiders, but its track record speaks for itself. And Saturday at 2:30 against Kansas in Arrowhead Stadium, expect a strong bounce back effort that should — as usual — furnish ISU (7-1, 4-1) with a robust chance of winning against the skilled but snake-bitten Jayhawks (2-6, 1-4).
“Obviously, it stinks to lose, but our message after the game was that everything, all our hopes and dreams, are still right there for us,” said linebacker Kooper Ebel, the team’s third leading tackler with 45 stops. “So, yeah, we just came back to work. Nothing’s changed. We’e back to work with the same mentality, the same goal.”
That, of course, hinges on winning every game and leaving nothing to chance. The Cyclones’ defense has yielded an early touchdown in four consecutive games, but always rose up late to help secure victory — until last week. And like Heacock said, the players took that personally.
“(Losing can) kind of help you refocus, recenter,” Ebel said. “We were living on the edge there for a little bit and happened to fall in the game. It happens. But we’re right back at work and there was a great sense of urgency (this week) at practice and we’re ready to roll.”
ISU’s defense still ranks ninth nationally in points allowed per game at 15.5. The pass defense sits third (146.6 yards per game) among FBS schools, and its 14 interceptions rank among the top five marks in the country.
The Cyclones also tend to tightly constrict opposing offenses as the pressure mounts, allowing an average of 6.6 points in the second half — and a mere 3.3 points in the fourth quarter. So consider last week’s late-game vulnerability to be an aberration instead of the start of a trend as ISU seeks to finish the regular season with four straight wins, which almost certainly would secure a spot in the Big 12 title game.
“I think this group has, since we’ve asked them to come back here in January, (had) the right mindset to try to change to try to change this whole thing, to get it going,” Heacock said. “They’ve done that. And that’s the one thing, when you lay your head on a pillow a night as a coach, man, are your guys and your staff — everybody — doing everything they can, and the answer is yes, we are. And yes, they are, and they have been since January. So those guys will rally up this team like they have.”
They’ll also face a Kansas team that’s hoping to rally down the stretch to win enough games to reach a bowl game. The Jayhawks are desperate, but so are the Cyclones, and that should be evident on both sides of the ball for a full 60 minutes (or more).
“We’ve got to come out fast and play better,” ISU quarterback Rocco Becht said last Saturday. “And that’s on all of us.”
Offense. Defense. Special teams. Every player on these units is taking the loss personally, but none more than Heacock’s charges, who have met and often exceeded an exacting standard in each the past eight seasons.
“We’ve got to play better football on our side,” Heacock said. “We’ve got to help ourselves a little bit, but we can do that. We’ve got to do a better job of that, but I love this group.”
Love breeds trust, and trust fuels performance. The Cyclones have ratcheted up expectations, but their margin for error has evaporated. That’s plain, simple and honest.
“What a great opportunity for us to showcase, are we who we would like to be?” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “And certainly the team we have the ability to become?”
Iowa State Cyclones’ guard Kenzie Hare (12) steals the ball from Indiana State Sycamores guard Savannah White (2) during the second quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — On a night when Bill Fennelly stood at midcourt to be honored for being in his 30th season as Iowa State’s head women’s basketball coach, his team proceeded to shoot 30 percent from the field — and still beat Indiana State by 22 points.
“Offensively, we set the sport back a lot tonight,” said Fennelly, whose eighth-ranked Cyclones (2-0) beat the Sycamores, 64-42, Thursday night before a crowd of 9,992 fans at Hilton Coliseum. “But I thought defensively we were really good. Really good. And when you shoot it the way we shot it tonight, we have to find something positive.”
Most of those feel-good moments came on the defensive end of the floor. ISU limited Indiana State to 25 percent shooting overall and a 3-for-19 mark from beyond the arc. The Cyclones outscored the Sycamores 50-26 over the final three quarters to not just survive, but thrive despite one of their chilliest shooting performances in recent memory.
“That’s the great thing about basketball,” Fennelly said. “There (are) other things you can do, and if you’re mature enough and committed enough to your teammates, my night tonight is I’m gonna defend, I’m gonna rebound, I’m gonna screen, I’m gonna pass, and the basketball gods usually reward you later with a med shot or something. So, last year, I’m not saying we wouldn’t have won this game. We certainly wouldn’t have won by (22), so, again, it’s a credit to the kids (and) it’s a credit to my staff.”
Star center Audi Crooks led ISU with 16 points and added eight rebounds — and 12 of those points came in the second half. Addy Brown notched a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds), and point guard Emily Ryan grabbed eight rebounds, doled out a game-high seven assists, and blocked two shots despite missing her only two attempts of the game.
“Coach (Fennelly) said this may have been one of the most poor offensive nights for Iowa State, but when that’s not going your way, you’ve got to create opportunities elsewhere,” said Crooks, who added three blocks. “And I think we locked up defensively and that’s kind of how we won the game tonight.”
Fennelly said last season — given his team was so young and gifted offensively — he focused on playing with pace and piling up the points. That’s still a point of emphasis, but now that ISU’s more experienced, he and his staff have demanded better defense in practice and in games. The players have responded and are stronger on-ball defenders capable of forcing a lot of turnovers. The Cyclones made Indiana State cough the ball up 22 times on Thursday — and 13 of those takeaways came off steals.
“If we could average that, you start looking at numbers and in close games, that swings things,” Fennelly said. “So that was kind of the goal, and kind of the benchmark we put in our defense.”
ISU possesses too many skilled shooters to suffer through many offensive performances like Thursdays, but nearly everyone struggled to find the bottom of the net except for TCU transfer Sydney Harris, who sank her first four shots and scored 11 points.
“Coach (Fennelly) always says when your number’s called, be ready,” Harris said. “And I was able to do that.”
Formerly injured transfer forward Lilly Taulelei did the same, scoring two points in the final 2:40 in her first game as a Cyclone.
“She will impact our team somehow, some way,” Fennelly said. “She really will.”
As for Fennelly’s big number 30? That milestone season is just getting started and the goals are as lofty as ever.
“It’s very, very nice (to be honored),” Fennelly said. “(It’s) something that’s very humbling, but I’m honored to be a part of this place as long as I have.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Audi Crooks & Sydney Harris addressed media members following the team’s 64-42 win over Indiana State.
We’re less than a month away from December’s early signing day (December 4), but Iowa State has made another addition to its 2025 recruiting class.
The Cyclones earned a commitment Thursday from Missouri defensive tackle Ka’Mori Moore, a former Oklahoma commit.
Iowa State was the first program to offer Moore back in April of 2022, and now secures his commitment the second time around.
The Lee’s Summit North High School prospect had offers from Nebraska, Michigan State, Memphis, Kent State, Toledo, UNLV, and Miami Ohio as well as Oklahoma and Iowa State.
Moore, a 6-foot-1, 295-pounder becomes the second player at the position in the recruiting class, joining B.J. Carter, out of Florida.
Five players in the class will be slated to play on the defensive line, with three others committed to Iowa State at the edge position.
This will give coach Eli Rasheed an amount of development options over the next few seasons – as well as depth needed in today’s college football with how frequent end-of-year transfers can be.
The 2025 class is now rated as the No. 58 class in the country with 17 prospects committed.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players addressed media members Thursday to preview his team’s upcoming game against Kansas City.
Ames, Iowa – Iowa State Athletics announced head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser has signed a four-year contract extension through June 30, 2029.
Dresser, who took over a 2-12 program, has transformed Iowa State wrestling into a top-5 team. Under his leadership, the Cyclones won their first Big 12 Conference title since 2009 and achieved their best NCAA Championship finish since 2010, a fourth-place finish.
Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard expressed enthusiasm for Dresser’s extension: “We are excited Kevin has agreed to a contract extension through 2029. Kevin and his staff have done a tremendous job revitalizing our wrestling program, and we look forward to continued success under their leadership. The success and excitement surrounding the program is exactly what we expected when we hired Kevin. He has more than delivered in helping us achieve that goal.”
When Dresser joined Iowa State, the program had scored just one point at the 2017 NCAA Championships. In his eight seasons, he has coached 10 Big 12 champions and 13 NCAA All-Americans, including Cyclone legacy David Carr, a four-time Big 12 champion and two-time NCAA champion.
Dresser has also changed the atmosphere at Hilton Coliseum. During the 2023-24 season, Iowa State averaged 6,690 fans per dual, ranking third nationally and marking its highest home attendance in the Big 12 era. For comparison, Senior Day attendance in 2017 was just over 2,000.
Dresser shared his gratitude in the team’s news release: “On behalf of my staff and our team, I want to thank Jamie (Pollard) and everyone in this department for helping us get to this point. College athletics is increasingly challenging, and this staff is committed to putting a great product on the mat every season. This will be a fun team to watch in 2024-25! We look forward to the future in Ames with great anticipation and to the challenge of winning at the highest level.”
Dresser’s coaching accolades at Iowa State include two Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2019 and 2024, as well as the 2019 National Wrestling Coaches Association Coach of the Year award. Most recently, he was named the 2024 Big 12 Coach of the Year.
The No. 6-ranked Cyclones are gearing up for their season opener against No. 20 Stanford. From freshmen stepping up to veterans refining their skills, this season opener will have a little bit of everything. Here’s what head coach Kevin Dresser, Anthony Echemendia, and Evan Frost had to say about the road ahead, growth in the offseason, and their dedication to building a powerhouse team.
On the Match Against StanfordEchemendia:
“I’m really excited. I look forward to every match. I don’t care if you’re ranked or not, I’m just going out there to wrestle hard for seven minutes and put on a show. Wrestling should be fun — even though it’s hard, you have to enjoy it.”
The No. 6-ranked 149-pounder is looking at a potential top-10 matchup this Friday. What did he have to say about his opponent, No. 10 Jaden Abas?
“Man, I’m not gonna lie to you. I know that he’s a good wrestler, but I never watch any of the guys that I have to wrestle against because when I go out there, I’m focused on doing my style. I’m chasing, I’m wrestling hard, and that’s what I always do. I just try to go out there and put on a show.”
Dresser:
“Well, we got our hands full this first Friday night. I can tell you, on paper, this is the toughest team we’ve ever started out with, and I think I’m in my seventh or eighth year of home openers. Really impressed with what Stanford’s done the last couple years. I think they’ve got potentially six out of 10 weights ranked in the top 20. It’s a lot for us to jump into right now, especially considering we’ve got a really young squad.”
On Growth and DevelopmentEchemendia:
“I scrap with everybody. Man, I literally scrap sometimes with a 174-pounder or a 165-pounder. I scrap with everybody because all these guys are super good. Sometimes you need to get different feels, and that’s what you get here in this room. Everybody is tough, and everybody wants to get better. I just try to get better every day and focus on the things that I can control in the moment.”
The 149-pounder was asked what he’s done to build off the success he had last season finishing as an All-American and Big 12 champion:
“Keep my head down, listen to my coaches and do what they tell me to do. Just show up every day. You know, that’s how you get better; you keep showing up. Some days are gonna be tough, and sometimes you’re dealing with things outside of wrestling that, you know, it’s kind of hard sometimes to manage both at the same time, but you just gotta keep showing up. That’s it.”
Frost:
“I worked a lot on my pace and offense, especially hand placement. I’m learning how to use my gas tank to its fullest, pushing harder than ever with the help of the coaches.”
Thoughts on a Young RosterEchemendia:
“I’m telling you, these freshmen are dangerous. They’re hungry, and they’re not going to take a step back for anybody. These guys wanted to be at Iowa State for a reason.”
Frost:
“It’s pretty exciting to see (the freshmen). Obviously, Iowa State’s developing. That’s what that’s showing. Iowa State’s coming off of fourth place last year. We’re becoming a contender team, and I think all of our guys believe it. Obviously, younger guys believe it. Those guys wrestle with a chip on their shoulder, and they wrestle really, really hard every time, throughout all the positions they get put in. I’m excited for those guys.”
Frost says the team isn’t focused on rankings and outside noise.
“We’re just going out there and wrestling really hard. We don’t really care about these other teams; we’re just going out there to wrestle hard and beat them. I don’t think we’re too focused on the top-10 team or top-five team matchup. We’re just going out there and wrestling how we wrestle.”
Friday’s lineup will feature three true freshmen in the starting lineup: Adrian Meza (125), Kane Naaktgeboren (157), and Daniel Herrera (285). Here’s what Dresser had to say about their debuts:
“I mean, you don’t get many times that you’re hanging your top-10 ranking on three true freshmen, so I think it says a lot about them. But you know, sometimes, as a coach, it’s a little scary. You like to have a little bit more maturity in there, but I got a lot of confidence in these three young guys.”
On the Power of a Competitive Training RoomDresser:
“We’ve got a really competitive room right now. The battle cry as a staff has been to make sure everyone is showing up and pushing each other. Hopefully, when they step onto the mat on Friday, it will feel easier than it does here in training.”
Updates About the Wrestle-Offs and Lineup DecisionsDresser:
“Well, right now it looks like we’re leaning towards redshirting Cody Chittum. He had a concussion, and he’s had a couple in the year, so we got him evaluated, and the evaluation was good, but they’re going to want to sit him for about four or five more weeks. Everything can change in a month, but right now, it’s going to be Anthony Echemendia at 149 (pounds) and Paniro Johnson at 157 (pounds). Then next year we’ll probably look at redshirting Casey (Swiderski).”
Here’s what Dresser had to say about putting together a starting lineup for Friday:
“You know, it wasn’t a perfect puzzle. I can tell you, the coaching staff, we’ve had hours and hours of meetings, of hypotheticals, and sometimes an injury — just an injury — will force your hand a little bit. And sometimes you’ve got guys that want to go down, and then, you know, we were surprised to find that Swiderski did want to go down when he started looking at the scenarios. Anthony was adamant he didn’t want to go down. So sometimes things work out in your favor.”
Wrestle-offs will continue as the team finalizes its starting lineup, with more changes and updates expected. Kysen Terukina, Osmany Diversent, Johnson, MJ Gaitan, Jacob Frost, Sawyer Bartelt, Nando Villaescusa, and Yonger Bastida have been held out until a later date.
In late October, it was announced Bastida suffered a slight knee sprain, which forced him to withdraw from the NWCA All-Star Classic. He anticipates returning on Friday, Nov. 15, for the dual against Navy.
Information for Friday’s DualThe dual is set for Friday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. CT at Hilton Coliseum. Fans are encouraged to prepare for a gold-themed event.
How to Watch:The dual will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Tom Kroeschell and Kyven Gadson on the call. You can also listen to the dual on the Varsity App/Cyclones.com where you can listen to Joe Sinclair, Ryan Rohlk and Nate Carr.
Projected Matchups:
125: Adrian Meza (0-0) or Garrett Grice (0-0) vs. #10 Nico Provo (0-0)
133: #5 Evan Frost (0-0) vs. #20 Tyler Knox (2-0)
141: Zach Redding (0-0) vs. Jack Consiglio (1-1) or Aden Valencia (0-0)
149: #6 Anthony Echemendia (0-0) vs. #10 Jaden Abas (2-0) or EJ Parco (0-0)
157: Kane Naaktgeboren (0-0) vs. Grigor Cholakyan (2-0)
165: Connor Euton (0-0) vs. #8 Hunter Garvin (1-1) or Zach Hanson (3-1)
174: Aiden Riggins (0-0) vs. #21 Lorenzo Norman (2-0)
184: #19 Evan Bockman (0-0) vs. Tye Monteiro (3-1) or Luke Duthie (2-0)
197: Christian Carroll (0-0) vs. #13 Nick Stemmet (1-1)
285: Daniel Herrera (0-0) vs. Jackson Mankowski (1-1)
FloWrestling Indiv. Rankings (11/5/2024)
*NWCA Team Dual Rankings (11/5/2024)
You can view the interview videos with Dresser, Frost and Echemendia here.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Kelsey Joens & Kenzie Hare addressed media members ahead of their team’s upcoming game against Indiana State set for Thursday (6:30 p.m. ESPN+).
Iowa State Cyclones running back Abu Sama III (24) was pushed out by Texas Tech Red Raiders’ defensive back C.J. Baskerville (9) near the goal line during the fourth quarter in the week-10 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Abu Sama showcased his power and speed. Each quick cut affirmed his trust in his blockers, as the sophomore Iowa State tailback sliced and diced through Texas Tech’s defensive front.
In short — even though the No. 17 Cyclones suffered their first loss of the season last Saturday — Sama looked like himself in the second half, bounding for 82 yards on nine carries after losing four yards before the break.
And that bodes well for ISU (7-1, 4-1) in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. Big 12 matchup (FS1) with Kansas (2-6, 1-4) at Arrowhead Stadium, and beyond.
“I think that part’s really exciting because I think we all know what his ability is, and what he brings to our football team,” said Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell, whose team seeks to end a two-game skid against the Jayhawks. “I think you see a guy that kind of gained some great confidence needed moving forward.”
Sama burst onto the scene as a true freshman last season with a 110-yard, two-touchdown performance in a win at BYU and a 276-yard, three-touchdown flourish in a snow-strewn triumph at Kansas State. Since then, he’s rushed for as few as four yards and as many as 101 yards while sharing time with fellow sophomore Carson Hansen and senior transfer Jaylon Jackson in the backfield.
Sama’s role could expand now, though, as Hansen — who’s rushed for seven touchdowns this season — continues to be limited by a lingering ankle injury, and Jackson’s been bottled up after breakout performances against Baylor and Houston.
“(Sama’s) always had a positive mindset, no matter what the outcome of the games have been for him,” star senior receiver Jaylin Noel said. “He’s done a great job keeping a smile on his face every day, coming to the facility, attacking the work he needs to get done.”
Hansen leads ISU in rushing with 444 yards, Sama is second with 377 yards on the ground, and Jackson’s contributed 341 yards. All three average between 4.6 and 5.5 yards per carry, helping the Cyclones to finally find some consistency in their running game. ISU’s rushed for 230-plus yards in four of its past six games and Kansas’ defense ranks 11th in the Big 12 against the run, allowing 158.4 yards per game.
So Sama and company could exploit the Jayhawks’ vulnerability and help revive a Cyclones’ offense that’s often sputtered and/or stalled inside the opponent’s 35-yard line in recent games.
“I feel like eventually it’s gonna be all of us; you’re gonna see me, you’re gonna see the other running backs in every game popping off at the same time,” Sama said. “Just going at it, blow for blow. That’s what we’re trying to work on, (like) with the whole team. I feel like if we can get everything together, then I feel like we can’t be stopped.”
Sama serves as ISU’s top big-play option, and even as he’s struggled at times this season, he’s broken off runs of 10-plus yards in seven of eight games. The 5-11, 210-pound Southeast Polk product didn’t even start playing the position until his senior year of high school and was initially recruited as a defensive back. So he’s still learning the intricacies of being a tailback, even as his on-the-job training occasionally produces jaw-dropping results.
“He’s such a young player at his position, and he’s got such an unbelievable spirit about who he is and what kind of teammate he is,” Campbell said. “He and Carson are roommates. Those two guys go everywhere together.”
Including the end zone — a patch of turf they hope to reach often on Saturday against the Jayhawks.
“We know what we want as a team, where we want to be at, and that’s what we’re working toward every day,” Sama said.
Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Carson Brown (32) runs with the ball for a touchdown during the fourth quarter in the week-10 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State football debuted at No. 17 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings release Tuesday.
The Cyclones are the second highest ranked team in the Big 12, behind the undefeated BYU Cougars.
Iowa State returns to the field Saturday to face Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium at 2:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.
The full set of rankings can be seen below.
2024 CFP Rankings
Initial seeds
Tues. November 5, 2024
1. Oregon
2. Ohio State
3. Georgia
4. Miami
5. Texas
6. Penn State
7. Tennessee
8. Indiana
9. BYU
10. Notre Dame
11. Alabama
12. Boise State
13. SMU
14. Texas A&M
15. LSU
16. Ole Miss
17. Iowa State
18. Pittsburgh
19. Kansas State
20. Colorado
21. Washington State
22. Louisville
23. Clemson
24. Missouri
25. Army
Iowa State Wrestling held its weekly media availability to preview the first dual of the season against Stanford. Head coach Kevin Dresser breaks down the teams progress in wrestle offs, injury updates and more. Evan Frost (133) and Anthony Echemendia (149) gave insight into their growth as individuals this offseason and their preparation for their first competition.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and defensive coordinator Jon Heacock addressed media members Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center ahead of their team’s upcoming game against Kansas on Saturday (2:30 p.m. FS1).
Kansas coach Lance Leipold’s pregame press conference can also be found below.
Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel, running back Abu Sama, tight end Tyler Moore and linebacker Kooper Ebel addressed media members ahead of their team’s upcoming matchup against Kansas set for Saturday.
Oct 12, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) makes a catch and runs up the sideline against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
AMES — Jaylin Noel stood in the Arrowhead Stadium stands, surrounded by his Park Hill High School teammates, cheering on his hometown Kansas City Chiefs.
The Iowa State standout senior receiver was a high school sophomore, but those memories remain vivid as he prepares to actually play in Arrowhead for the first time when the No. 17 Cyclones (7-1, 4-1) take on Kansas (2-6, 1-4) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (FS1) because the Jayhawks’ stadium is undergoing renovations.
“It was really cool,” said Noel, who hopes to help ISU rebound from its first loss of the season. “I think Alex Smith was the quarterback.”
That’s ancient history, of course, but the past informs the present for Noel, who shared a heartfelt message with his team after last week’s 23-22 setback to Texas Tech at home.
“The point of my message was, we’re not the same team as we were in the past,” Noel said. “So these points of adversity coming after a loss, in the past, we’d let that spiral and turn into two, three losses, but I think this team is different. And letting guys know that we are different in that we’re not going to let a moment of adversity stop us and hinder us from the goal we want to get to, which is the Big 12 championship. So learning from that adversity, which was the loss, and getting ready to go, going into KU this week (is important).”
Especially against a Kansas team that’s suffered five losses by an average of 3.2 points. Noel and several of his Cyclone teammates can relate. He endured ISU’s 4-8 season in 2022 that featured six one-score losses and produced a multitude of dispiriting what-if moments.
“They’re coming off a bye week and, obviously, have gotten an extra week of preparation,” Noel said. “Those guys are feeling a little bit fresher than they were — and they’re a good team. They’re very talented. Nobody’s looking past them at all.”
The Jayhawks return stars on the offensive side of the ball such as quarterback Jalon Daniels, tailback Devin Neal, and receivers Luke Grimm and Lawrence Arnold. Their top two cornerbacks — Mello Dotson and Cobee Bryant — are elite performers and the front seven ranks third in the Big 12 in sacks with 19. So it’s a bit of a head-scratcher that Kansas has only won two games, but it’s still primed to play the spoiler down the stretch, with matchups with the Cyclones, BYU, and Colorado looming on successive Saturdays.
“It’s a real challenge,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “It’s a team that’s got great ability and certainly has proven it can win big football games.”
So have the Cyclones, who are navigating through a spate of injuries that have reshaped their linebackers’ corps and affected snap counts at every other position.
Campbell said standout sophomore tight end Ben Brahmer — who was on crutches last weekend — practiced on Tuesday, as did linebacker Zach Lovett.
“I think those guys are creeping closer to being back,” Campbell said.
Starting offensive lineman Dylan Barrett may be even closer to returning, Campbell said, after missing two games with an ankle injury.
“How does he look by the end of the week? We’ll see,” Campbell said. “But I do think he’s a huge piece to our football team coming back.”
ISU will need every able body to contribute as the regular season slowly winds down. Four games remain, and if the Cyclones hope to add more than one game to their postseason schedule, the mistakes that cropped up on both sides of the ball in the past two outings must be eliminated.
“I think if you have a mentality of purpose and precision, then usually good things happen,” Campbell said.
ISU’s embodied that mindset most of this season, but must refocus for the first time in the wake of a loss. Hence, Noel’s postgame speech. And hence, his bedrock belief that the Cyclones will get back on track.
“Having joy for other people’s success has gone a long way into what we’ve been able to accomplish this year,” he said. “One loss doesn’t define us. We (still) have everything we want in front of us.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Tamin Lipsey & Joshua Jefferson addressed media members following their season opening 83-44 win over MVSU.
Iowa State cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) lays the ball around Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils’ guard Kendal Parker (12) during first half in the NCAA men’s basketball home opening at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Tamin Lipsey sank the fastbreak layup, then hit the deck.
Iowa State’s all-Big 12 point guard had been knocked into the hoop’s stanchion, but he popped up, saw he’d scored and — despite a slight wince of pain and no foul call from the officials — felt good about the painful two-point conversion.
“It’s a physical game, so I’m not going to ask for any calls,” said Lipsey, who scored 16 points on 5-for-7 shooting in the Cyclones’ 83-44 season-opening rout of Mississippi Valley State Monday at Hilton Coliseum. “We play physical on our end (so) I went up (and) at least I got the two points. That’s the thing that matters, so I was able to get up and get back on defense.”
ISU snared 16 steals from the Delta Devils, who won one game last season and is ranked last in the country by KenPom. Lipsey and fellow senior guard Keshon Gilbert — who scored a game-high 17 points — poked away three steals apiece. Transfer forward Joshua Jefferson led the Cyclones with four steals, but also shined in a variety of areas with 10 points and a team-high-tying six rebounds.
Jefferson and fellow transfer forward Dishon Jackson both started, and shot a combined 7 of 10 from the field while teaming up for 19 points and 12 rebounds.
“I think we mesh really well together,” Jefferson said. “We play off each other really good. We have a good relationship off the court so I think it just makes it very smooth when we get on the floor. We know how each other likes to play, so I think we’ll just continue to get better.”
Mississippi Valley State hung around early, trailing just 19-13 before ISU erupted with a 23-2 run that helped create a 44-21 halftime lead. The Cyclones gave up an uncharacteristic 16 points off turnovers while scoring 26 points off Delta Devils miscues, and struggled from 3-point range, sinking just 5-for-21 of their long range shots (23.8 percent).
“We got the win,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “(There are) a lot of things to work on. Offensively, we’ve practiced great with some rhythm and some flow, but it felt like tonight the ball didn’t move as well as it needed to. It kind of got stuck at times. So I think offensively we’ve got to be more intentional about moving it.”
Sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic started all 37 games last season, but served as the the sixth man on Monday. He drilled his first 3-pointer, missed the next five, then connected again from beyond the arc. He finished with 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting — but perhaps most importantly, grabbed five rebounds in 24 minutes.
“(That’s) important for us and he’s been committed to it,” Otzelberger said of the 6-8 Momcilovic, who averaged 3.1 rebounds per game as a freshman. “It’s something where he can bring that physicality defensively at his size. He’s added a lot of strength this offseason. He’s put the time in, so proud of him for how he went out and the efforts he made on the boards, and it’s something we’ll continue to count on him for, because it was great.”
As for Lipsey — who underwent offseason surgery on his shoulder — went to the floor eagerly and with regularity on Monday. That won’t change, nor should it. His trademark toughness helped the Cyclones reach the Sweet 16 last season and he’ll gladly incur plenty of bumps and bruises as his team seeks to mount another deep run this March.
“(He’s) amazing with the effort that he gives,” Otzelberger said. “The extra effort plays, how he flies around and puts his body on the line for his teammates, our program — obviously that certainly showed up. He made a lot of those plays tonight.”
Iowa State cyclones guard Nojus Indrusaitis (15) Hans on the basket after a dunk around Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils’ guard Kendal Parker (12) during first half in the NCAA men’s basketball home opening at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
No. 5 Iowa State opened the 2024-25 basketball season with an 83-44 win over Mississippi Valley State. Here’s what coach T.J. Otzelberger had to say.
On his biggest takeaways from the game
“We got the win. A lot of things to work on. Offensively, we’ve practiced great with some rhythm and some flow, and felt like tonight, the ball didn’t move as well as it needed to. It just kind of got stuck at times. So I think offensively, we’ve got to be more intentional about moving it. And, yeah, some of the things defensively, just again – first game, got the win.”
On Iowa State’s starting lineup
“That group’s had great synergy together. (Curtis Jones), probably since midway through last season, offensively has been really good. It’s had a good synergy.
Milan has been great great to practice as we brought him in as a cell with that group. So it’s what we’re going with right now. Certainly we have at least six guys, if not more, that we could easily start. And that could change at any point. But right now, that’s the lineup we feel like giving us the best energy to start the game.
On Milan’s
“It’s important for us, and he’s been committed to it. It’s something where he can bring us physically, defensively at his size. He’s added a lot of strength this off season. He’s put the time in and (I’m) so proud of him for how he went out and efforts he made on the boards, and some will continue to count on for because it was great.”
On Nojus Indrusaitis’ debut
“He had good energy. He’s a good basketball player. As a bigger guard, he can really drive the basketball and get the ball to his teammates… I thought it was a good performance for him – our lone true freshman. It’s great to see.”
On the newcomers at forward
“Those new guys, Dishon and Joshua, did a great job getting us started. They’re both really good, skilled players. (They) can score the basketball even better than what we saw tonight. I was pleased with how they played for the most part. We’ve got to continue to go into him, especially Dishon’s got to get touches in there. You know, Brandt, I think he had some nerves a little bit early, but he was awesome on the offensive glass. Overall, all three guys are really good players, and they’re gonna have a huge impact for us. But, you know, we got to continue to do the work, and those guys continue to climb.”
On Conrad Hawley’s injury late in the game
“Yeah it sounds like his shoulder popped out and (he got it) popped back in. He’s a tough kid and I’m sure he’ll be fine. Just something that he’s had an issue with. I think he’ll be fine moving forward.
Iowa State earned its second commitment to the 2026 recruiting class Monday in Prior Lake, Minnesota’s Ethan Beckman.
The three-star prospect announced his commitment over his social media accounts, and does not yet have a rating on 247 Sports.
So blessed to announce that I am committing to Iowa State University! I would like my family for providing me with everything I needed to get to this point. All glory to god
Roll clones! @RyanClanton @ISUMattCampbell @CoachXQuig @TrentSlattenow @PrepRedzoneMN pic.twitter.com/Efq1IkztGS— Ethan Beckman (@EthanBeckman15) November 4, 2024
The 6-foot-5, 330-pound offensive lineman is the second player at the position to commit to Iowa State in this class, which is notable as we’re still a month away from National Early Signing Day.
Beckman’s only other offer came from Kansas State, although he had received interest from Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Offensive line coach Ryan Clanton and the Cyclones now have four commits at the offensive line position over the next two classes with in-state recruit Will Tompkins, Idaho’s Sione Perkins, and fellow 2026 commit Mason Bandhauer.
With four scholarship freshman at the offensive line currently on the roster, Iowa State is building its depth at the position piece by piece.
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) and forward Addy Brown (24) celebrate after a basket during the second quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball home-opening win at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State star Audi Crooks scored within 10 seconds.
Her sharpshooting Cyclone teammates drained their first four 3-point attempts.
And so it went in No. 8 ISU’s season opener — a 96-56 drubbing of Chicago State — on Monday before a crowd of 9,983 at Hilton Coliseum.
“I thought the first quarter we were locked in and the things we asked them to do, they did it,” longtime Cyclones head coach Bill Fennelly said. “When you’re getting stops and you’re getting transition — and then in the half court, Addy (Brown) and Audi kind of took over the game. So, great start to the game and excited that we had that ability because she, times that’s not been our strength.”
ISU raced to a staggering 29-0 lead before the Cougars banked in a 3-pointer to beat the first quarter’s buzzer. Crooks scored 16 points in 18 minutes and Brown complied a line of 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists in less than 23 minutes. 10 of the 11 Cyclones who played scored, grabbed a rebound, or dished out at least one assist.
“It was super loud in there,” Brown said. “Lots of energy. So it was a fun day.”
Thousands of elementary school-aged children shrieked with delight as ISU bolted to a 52-point lead late in the third quarter before digging deep into its rotation in the final several minutes. Brown’s efficiency certainly pleased both the young and old in the crowd — and the 6-2 sophomore forward from Derby, Kan., also blocked three shots to match a single-game career high.
“She is as skilled, as talented, as any player at her position in the country,” Fennelly said. “And when her motor’s going — I mean, she can post up, she can shoot the 3. She’s a great passer. At times, she’s an engaged (and) motived defender, and once she does that, she’s pretty good. She walks that very fine line between confidence and cocky in a good way.”
Four different Cyclones scored in double figures, including true freshman shooting guard Aili Tanke, who drilled three of her four 3-point attempts and finished with 12 points in her first career start.
“I thought she was fantastic tonight, this morning, whatever time it is,” Fennelly said. “We’ve given every kid a lot of opportunities, and she has been the best, the most consistent, in that spot. She just knows what she can do, and I think she’s really comfortable playing with the other four (starters) that have a little experience. I think they all showed some good moments, but you’ve got to give her credit: when you’re a freshman and you start in this environment, you never know how it’s gonna go.”
Tanke almost didn’t believe it when Fennelly told her she’s be starting.
“It kind of felt like a dream,” the former Johnston standout said. “I was walking up the ramp and he was getting in his car, and he was like, ‘Tanke, are you ready for the game tomorrow?’ I was like, ‘Yeah,’ and he’s like, ‘Well, good, because you’re starting.’ My mouth just dropped. I don’t even think I said anything.”
The Cyclones (1-0) next game will be Thursday at 6:30 p.m. against Indiana State in Hilton. Fennelly said Mass transfer forward Lilly Taulelei could be available after missing some time with an injury, but if she can’t play, she’s still close to returning.
“That (will) be nice to have another body in the post,” he said.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Addy Brown & Aili Tanke addressed media members following their team’s 96-56 win over Chicago State Monday at Hilton Coliseum.
By Rob Gray, correspondent
AMES — “We’ll see.”
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell uttered those words in the wake of his team’s first loss last Saturday — a mistake-laden 23-22 setback to Texas Tech at home.
Campbell was referring to his team’s upcoming response to finally falling from the ranks of the unbeaten, and expects his senior leaders to help light the path forward as the Cyclones remain very much alive in the Big 12 title race.
“We’re kind of defined by how we respond to adversity, and I think that’s pretty much life in general,” Campbell said. “So this will be a great opportunity for this group to continue to grow.”
ISU (7-1, 4-1) is a three-point favorite against the Jayhawks (2-6, 1-4), and its fans could make Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. (FS1) matchup at Arrowhead Stadium almost feel like a home game.
Expect another tense game, regardless — and here are five Kansas players to know as the countdown to kickoff continues:
QB Jalon Daniels The 6-0, 220-pound junior from Lawndale, Calif., has throw six touchdown passes to just one interception in his past three games, but struggled mightily before that. The often-injured, but still dynamic dual-threat quarterback has also rushed for a touchdown in three consecutive games, and is coming off his best rushing performance (66 yards) of the season in the Jayhawks’ 29-27 loss to Kansas State two weeks ago. Daniels compiled an impressive 23 touchdown-to-five interception ratio in 2022 and 2023, but has thrown just 11 touchdown passes to nine interceptions in this topsy-turvy season. He’s racked up 60 touchdowns (42 passing, 18 rushing) throughout his career and, when healthy, can put up gaudy numbers against anyone.
CB Mello Dotson (and Cobee Bryant) Dotson — one of the bIg 12’s best cornerbacks — has made 36 consecutive starts, and is one of three Jayhawk defenders who have played 49 career games with the school. The 6-1, 190-pound fifth-year senior from Daytona Beach, Fla., has turned three of his seven interceptions over the last two seasons into touchdowns, and has also forced and recovered a fumble this season. Dotson leads the defense with five passes defended, ranks second in interceptions with three, and is third in total tackles with 34. Fellow senior cornerback, Cobee Bryant, leads the Jayhawks with four interceptions, and he’s forced a fumble this season, as well.
RB Devin Neal The 5-11, 215-pound senior from Lawrence, has been setting and chasing records all season and sits seven yards away form breaking the program’s all-time mark of rushing yards of 3,841 yards. Neal already broke Kansas’ record for total touchdowns by a non-quarterback (44), and his next touchdown run would give him the school record in that category with 42. Neal also ranks second all-time in career 100-yard rushing games with 17 — and his next jaunt into the end zone will give him that record, as well. Neal’s rushed for at least one touchdown in six of the Jayhawks’s eight games this season, and his backup, Daniel Hishaw Jr., is averaging a team-best 6.4 yards per carry.
WR Luke Grimm Grimm leads Kansas in receptions (38), receiving yards (429), and touchdown catches (five). The 6-0, 190-pound senior from suburban Kansas City has also rushed for for 133 yards on seven carries, so the guy the call “the Grimm Reaper” makes big plays in a variety of ways. He ranks second all-time with 22 career touchdown receptions and also is among the top seven receivers in Jayhawks history in yards through the air (2,211), and receptions (144). According to Pro Football Focus College, Grimm leads the nation in most targets without a drop this season with 55.
DL Jereme Robinson The 6-3, 255-pound senior from Montgomery, Ala., leads a strong Kansas front seven with 4.5 sacks, which matches his total from last season. The Jayhawks rank third in the Big 12 in sacks with 18 and Robinson along with fellow edge rusher Dean Miller (3.5 sacks) is a big reason why. Robinson also leads his team in forced fumbles with two, and is one of four Kansas defenders to have recovered a fumble this season.
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) gets sacks by Texas Tech Red Raiders’ linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) and defensive line Trevon McAlpine (95) during the fourth quarter in the week-10 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
No one ever said being a Cyclone fan was easy.
Iowa State finally suffered its first ‘L’ of the season to a good Texas Tech team after matching the best start in program history at 7-0.
There are far worse spots to be in, and we’ll get to that, but let’s dissect Saturday a bit more.
Starting games & finishing drivesFor the fourth straight game, Iowa State’s defense allowed a touchdown on its opponent’s opening possession.
For the seventh straight game, the Cyclone offense failed to score a touchdown on its opening drive.
What once was a trend has become a trademark.
“I think it’s just coming out slow,” defensive lineman Joey Petersen said. “I don’t really know the answer to that, but I think it’s just us coming out slow, maybe not fully prepared.”
There’s no easy explanation for it, because if there was, it would be fixed.
But this team has got to get out of the gates better.
On top of it, Iowa State was inside Texas Tech’s 35-yard line in nine of its 13 drives and came away with only 22 points.
It goes back to execution, avoiding mistakes, etc. It’s just got to be better.
Teams are blitzing moreWe saw some of this against UCF, but Texas Tech really went after the quarterback on Saturday night and it paid off.
Rocco Becht was sacked twice and it could have turned into more had his pocket avoidance not been as good as it can be.
In the last three games, Becht has been sacked seven times. That’s a steep hike compared to surrendering just two sacks in the opening five games.
Teams are starting to bring more pressure in the passing attack and they’re penetrating the offensive line.
I’m wary about using Pro Football Focus grades because of how inexact they can be on different types of play calls, but Gabe Burkle and Tyler Moore graded out at 21.5 and 17.1, respectively, in pass blocking. That’s out of 100.
Iowa State needs its ‘A players’There has to be a reset, and it starts with the ‘A players.’
Iowa State can’t have drops from wide receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins. Each had drops that could have resulted in big plays.
The Cyclones can’t have a first half that Abu Sama had running the ball – and for how rough the first 30 minutes were, he about made up for it with the last 30.
Regardless, that first 30 can’t be what it was.
Senior offensive lineman Jarrod Hufford was called for three penalties, while grading out as the team’s second best pass blocker on Pro Football Focus.
The two downfield penalties tanked his overall grade, and that can be chalked up to risks of running RPO’s, but the false starts can’t happen either.
The ballhawks flocked to the ballIf there’s a silver lining to come out of this one, it’s in the defensive backs room.
Texas Tech starter Behren Morton had thrown three interceptions all season coming into Saturday’s game.
Iowa State picked the Red Raider off twice in the first half alone, and would have had a third if a penalty not extended Texas Tech’s go-ahead touchdown drive.
Darien Porter’s pick stands out as impressive. Myles Purchase had a great game in coverage and also had an interception, and Malik Verdon made two huge plays in the fourth quarter.
All things considered, those guys balled out.
Everything is still out front in the Big 12Iowa State made its bed in the first seven games.
Usually that’s used with a different connotation, but it holds truth here.
The Cyclones are 7-1 after their first loss, one that feels as debilitating as any that fans have seen over the last nine seasons.
But it’s also the best spot it can be in – and the best record the program has ever had through eight games.
With Kansas State suffering its second Big 12 loss, the Cyclones should* still control their own destiny to secure a spot in the Big 12 championship game.
I’ll have a bigger explainer on tiebreakers from the entirety of the conference this week – just root for Texas Tech to beat Colorado.
Oh, and Cam Skattebo did Cam Skattebo things again in Stillwater.
…
How much do you hate losing? That’s what we’ll find out in the coming weeks.
Iowa State Cyclones football team enters the field before the game against Texas Tech in the week-10 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – No. 17 Iowa State will host Cincinnati on Nov. 16 at either 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. at Jack Trice Stadium in what will be a key Big 12 Conference showdown. The television network and official time will be announced at a later date.
The Cyclones (7-1, 4-1) face Kansas (2-6, 1-4) this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
To purchase tickets to the Cincinnati game, click here.
Aug. 31 NORTH DAKOTA (FS1) W, 21-3
Sept. 7 at No. 21 Iowa (CBS) W, 20-19
Sept. 21 ARKANSAS STATE (ESPN+) W, 52-7
Sept. 28 *at Houston (FS1) W, 20-0
Oct. 5 *BAYLOR (FOX) W, 43-21
Oct. 12 *at West Virginia (FOX) W, 28-16
Oct. 19 *UCF (FS1) W, 38-35
Nov. 2 *TEXAS TECH (HC) (ESPN) L, 22-23
Nov. 9 *#at Kansas (FS1) 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 16 *CINCINNATI (TBD) 6 or 7 p.m.
Nov. 23 *at Utah
Nov. 30 *KANSAS STATE
Dec. 7 Big 12 Championship Game
Dec 22, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils guard Donovan Sanders (3) dribbles the ball against Baylor Bears guard Dantwan Grimes (12) during the second half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
No. 5 Iowa State kicks off the 2024-2025 home schedule Monday night against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils (7:00 p.m., ESPN+).
The Cyclones are coming off one of the best seasons in program history finishing 29-8 overall with a Big 12 Tournament championship as well as a second trip to the Sweet 16 in three seasons under coach T.J. Otzelberger.
About the Delta DevilsThe Delta Devils, a team out of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), are coming off a challenging season where they finished 1-30 overall. They return several key players but face a tough task in competing with Iowa State’s size and athleticism.
Under the leadership of third year coach George Ivory, the Delta Devils play a fast-paced style that emphasizes athleticism with a pressing defense designed to disrupt their opponents; rhythm. Last season, the team struggled with defense (353rd) and scoring efficiency (362nd) per the KenPom rankings.
They also ranked low in offensive production, but with several key returning players and new additions, Ivory’s team hopes to make some improvements this season.
Notable players include senior forward Walter Hamilton, who brings strength and rebounding capability to the frontcourt and senior guard Markell Petro, brings experience and defensive skills that can help stabilize the backcourt.
Another impactful player is Donovan Sanders. The 5-foot-11 guard was the second leading scorer for the Delta Devils a season ago averaging 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. The senior guard known for his ability to crash the boards from the top of the key and bring energy on the offensive end of the court.
Junior guard Antonio Sisk is an impact transfer from Dallas College Cedar Valley. The 6-foot-1 guard is an athletic slasher and is likely to contribute on offense with his quick driving ability and fast-break potential.
Offensively, Mississippi Valley State will likely rely on transition play and quick ball movement to exploit mismatches, but their outside shooting remains a wildcard. Defensively, they lean on a high-pressure, man-to-man approach, forcing turnovers and aiming to control the tempo.
Their schedule this season includes tough non-conference games, where they will face Power 4 teams like Texas, Missouri, Kansas State, BYU, Utah, and LSU, giving the team a chance to build toughness before entering SWAC play.
Impact Newcomers for Iowa StateIowa State boasts a more balanced roster this season, with several key returners and a handful of newcomers expected to make an immediate impact.
Dishon Jackson (redshirt senior, center): The 6-foot-11 center, brings size and defensive ability to Iowa State, enhancing the Cyclones’ frontcourt presence.
After transferring from Charlotte, where he averaged 11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in the 2023-24 season, Jackson is expected to provide shot-blocking and rebounding skills while contributing as a dominant interior scorer.
He is known for his physical play and high free throw percentage (72%), Jackson’s experience and defensive versatility make him a crucial strength as Iowa State seeks dominance in the paint after the losses of Hason Ward, Robert Jones, and Tre King to graduation.
Joshua Jefferson (junior forward): The 6-foot-9 forward brings versatility and experience after transferring from Saint Mary’s. In his previous season with the Gaels, he averaged 10.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting an efficient 46.9% from the field.
Known for his agility and consistent scoring, Jefferson adds interior strength and rebounding to Iowa State’s frontcourt. Defensively, he has shown strong awareness, averaging 1.2 steals per game, making him a valuable addition who can contribute on both ends of the court as a reliable presence in the paint.
Nate Heise (redshirt senior guard): The 6-foot-5 transfer from Northern Iowa, is expected to bring strong a defensive force and competitive energy to Iowa State this season. Known for his relentless approach on defense, Heise has demonstrated a knack for guarding the opponent’s top player and is comfortable with physical, high-stakes play—a skill he developed under UNI coach Ben Jacobson.
Offensively, he was Northern Iowa’s leading scorer last season, averaging 13.5 points and adding 6.5 rebounds per game.
Heise’s shooting ability, particularly from three-point range, will give Iowa State added scoring options on the perimeter. His familiarity with Iowa State assistant coaches Kyle Green and Erik Crawford, both formerly at Northern Iowa, helped make Ames an attractive transfer destination for him and helped solidify his fit in Otzelberger’s system.
Brandt Chatfield (redshirt senior forward): The 6-foot-10 forward transferred from Seattle University and brings efficient scoring and rebounding prowess to the Cyclones this season. Chatfield was highly productive at Seattle, averaging 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game on a terrific 60.1% shooting from the field.
His hard work and athleticism are what caught the eyes of coach T.J. Otzelberger. His experience and skill set are expected to complement the Cyclones’ physical style of play under Otzelberger.
Nojus Indrusatis (freshman guard): The 6-foot-5 true freshman shooting guard brings versatility and an elite shooting touch to the Cyclones. He can score from all three levels, at the rim, mid-range, and beyond the arc, where he hit 43% of his three-point attempts last season for Brewster Academy.
Indrusaitis has consistently excelled against elite competition, including in tournaments like the Nike EYBL Peach Jam, where he showcased his scoring, rebounding, and playmaking skills. This past summer, Indrusatis won gold with Team Lithuania in the FIBA U-18 European Championship, as a high-energy and impactful player, he’s expected to add depth to Iowa State’s talented backcourt.
What to watch forControl the Glass: Iowa State should be able to dominate the rebounding battle, especially with Jackson and Jefferson patrolling the paint. Mississippi Valley State’s defensive rebounding struggles will give Iowa State second-chance opportunities if they stay aggressive on the boards.
Pressure on the Perimeter: Mississippi Valley State’s reliance on perimeter shooting is one of their few avenues to remain competitive. Iowa State’s defense will look to put pressure on their guards and limit open looks, forcing the Delta Devils to find alternative scoring options. Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert were great at that a season ago.
Capitalize on Turnovers: Mississippi Valley State averaged over 15.9 turnovers per game last season, making them vulnerable against the Cyclones’ tenacious defense. If the Cyclones can force turnovers and convert them into points, they’ll establish a commanding lead early.
This matchup presents a clear opportunity for Iowa State to flex its depth and size advantage. Fans may not learn much about the Cyclones with Mississippi Valley State ranking last in Division One in the KenPom rankings, but it will be great opportunity to see Iowa State on the court for the first time this season.
Iowa State guard Curtis Jones poses for a portrait during Iowa State men’s basketball media day at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in Ames. © Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — A puzzled Curtis Jones shook his head and looked at the basket.
The Iowa State guard’s 3-point shots refused to fall early last season after he transferred in from Buffalo.
It didn’t make sense. So Jones — who shot 21.4 percent from long-range in his first seven games last November — simply kept working, trusting he’d shine when it mattered most.
“I was happy that it came around for me because I work hard, and I felt like it had to come up at some point,” said Jones, who hopes to keep up his sharpshooting ways in Monday’s 7 p.m. season opener against Mississippi Valley State at Hilton Coliseum. “So it felt really good when things started to turn around. In the moment, I just tried not to get too down, and stay confident in myself. I didn’t get this far for no reason.”
Jones shot a sizzling 10-for-19 from beyond the arc in the NCAA Tournament — and scored a season-high 26 points in the Cyclones’ narrow 72-69 loss in the Sweet Sixteen to Illinois in Boston. The 6-4 senior from Minneapolis eventually became one of ISU’s most consistent performers on both ends of the floor last season — even while serving as a sixth man most of the time. So expect more of the same this season as the fifth-ranked Cyclones seek to mount an even stronger tournament run after winding through the winter months.
“He’s probably been the most consistent player in our program over the last two years, day in and day out, so even last year when it wasn’t going his way in games, I saw what was happening in practice, and we had belief in what he could do,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who has led his team to two Sweet Sixteens in his first three seasons. “So even though he didn’t shoot the ball great to start the season, he found ways to impact winning; getting assists, getting steals, making plays for teammates.”
That’s the M.O. for the Cyclones’ big three in the backcourt. Tamin Lipsey returns as one of the nation’s steals leaders. Keshon Gilbert will reprise his role as one of ISU’s most dynamic scorers. Add in standout forward Milan Momcilovic’s wide-ranging game and several talented transfers, and it’s clear that this Cyclone team is built to weather the storms that inevitably pop up throughout a long regular season.
“I think we all as human beings, you learn the most when adversity sets in,” Otzelberger said. “When things aren’t going you’re way. When you’re in foul trouble, or your shot’s not falling, (or) maybe you’re not playing as much as you like. How do we come together in those moments? I think that’s one of the big separators from teams that have so-so years, to teams that have great years. That’s something that will continue to build, grow, and do, but it takes a lot of hard work each and every single day and being intentional to do that.”
Jones personified those qualities last season for the Cyclones and plans to showcase them again in his final season at Hilton.
“I’m looking forward to just winning games again,” he said with a smile. “(There’s) really no better feeling than winning big games. College basketball isn’t easy, so that’s the biggest thing I’m looking forward to, just going out there and competing.”
Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell hi-fives with fans as entering the field before the game against Texas Tech in the week-10 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Feel it. Flush it. Forget it.
In Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell’s football program, there’s no brooding, grousing, nor gnashing of teeth.
The Cyclones grind on — even after absorbing the effects of Saturday’s 23-22 loss to Texas Tech, which knocked them from the ranks off the unbeaten.
“We’ve got big goals,” said senior defensive end Joey Petersen, who notched a career-high seven tackles and his second sack of the season in the setback. “We’ve got high expectations, high standards. And I feel like tonight we didn’t really play to those. So learning from it and going into (Sunday) with humility, and then just flushing it like we do every game — you’ve gotta flush the wins, you’ve gotta flush the losses.”
ISU (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) committed a season-high eight penalties against the Red Raiders (6-3, 4-2), converted just 5-for-17 third down opportunities, and gave up the game-winning touchdown with 20 seconds left.
This one, as standout quarterback Rocco Becht said, “hurts,” but the Cyclones’ long-term goal of playing for a Big 12 championship remains — as long as they win their last four regular season games, or get ouse help along the way.
ISU’s now tied with Colorado for second in the conference standings with idle Colorado, as No. 17 Kansas State suffered an upset loss at Houston to fall into a tie for fourth place with Texas Tech.
“I (couldn’t) care less if we’re undefeated,” said Becht, who threw for 299 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on Saturday. “I just want to win a Big 12 championship for this team, so however we need to do that, that’s the way we’re gonna do it. So while I’ve gotta be better, a lot of guys — we’ve just gotta be more on point, and we’ll get better from it.”
That remains to be seen, of course, with a game next weekend against struggling, but talented Kansas looming at Arrowhead Stadium. The Cyclones can’t lose multiple turnovers as they have in consecutive down-to-the-wire games, nor can they fail to execute when the game’s on the line as they did in the final two minutes on Saturday.
The only way those recent travails can be addressed and solved is by looking at why they’ve been happening, and adjusting accordingly.
“You own it,” Campbell said. “You grow from it and you move forward. I think the reality of it is, you’re gonna lose football games. That’s part of the journey, but how you respond is no different than how you respond when you win. That’s the great thing about our program. We don’t flinch with results. We look at the process. Where can we be better? And let’s do a great job of understanding accountability to what maybe didn’t allow us to be our best in the moment. Whether we won the game or lost the game, (I would have) had a similar message (for the team), to be honest.”
If and when the Cyclones can rectify those detail-oriented issues, they’ll likely need to do it with a banged-up team down three starting-caliber linebackers, their top tight end in Ben Brahmer — who was on crutches on Saturday — and a handful of other prime contributors.
“It’s been a huge stress on everybody,” Campbell said of the spate of injuries that have beset his team since spring ball. “It’s not an excuse, because we’ve been able to respond to it, but the reality of it is, I think anytime you’ve got a rash of situations that we’ve had, it’s been a major challenge for our football team. Our kids have done a great job of responding to it. That was not the issue tonight. Our detail was the issue.”
Petersen said that issue led him to feel “heartbreak” in the moment. Hence his feel it, flush it and forget it mantra, given that all of the Cyclones’ primary season-long goals remain within reach.
“Everything we want is still ahead of us,” he said. “It’s gonna be a hard road and it’s always been a hard road. So it’s just moving forward, keep learning and keep growing.”
Nov 2, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Coy Eakin (8) catches a pass in front of Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Myles Purchase (5) at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
As rain rolled into Jack Trice Stadium and day turned to night, it looked like fate was giving No. 11 Iowa State every opportunity to flip the cards in what turned into a 23-22 loss.
The Cyclones had their chances, but couldn’t convert on enough of them to overcome Texas Tech.
“We beat ourselves,” defensive back Myles Purchase said. “We made a lot of mistakes. We had ill-advised penalties and stuff that we have to take control over. The things that we can control, we have to be able to control – like not making penalties like that.”
The Iowa State defense had the Red Raiders facing 3rd and 10 from its own 14-yard line in the third quarter. Jayden Higgins, who finished with 140 yards on 10 catches, had scored just before halftime to give the Cyclones a 13-10 lead.
Jontez Williams then picked off Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton, who had thrown three interceptions all season before Saturday.
It would have been Morton’s third pick of the game, but defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim was flagged for ‘hands to the face,’ giving Texas Tech the first down.
The Red Raiders went on to complete a 98-yard drive to take a 17-13 lead late in the third quarter.
“There (were) a lot of mistakes made,” defensive lineman Joey Petersen said in a somber voice, still fully digesting this group’s first loss of the year. “A lot of shooting ourselves in the foot.”
On the ensuing drive, Iowa State was moving the football, when wideout Jaylin Noel found space and caught a ball for what would have been a 20-yard gain.
But senior offensive lineman Jarrod Hufford was flagged for being too far down field.
The teams got together during the TV timeout before the fourth quarter. Shortly after, Abu Sama gave the stadium hope it hadn’t felt for much of the game, scampering to the 1-yard line while making defenders miss in the most improbable fashion.
After a review, Iowa State would get the ball on first and goal, with one yard to gain to find paydirt.
Senior fullback Stevo Klotz was called for a false start, and the Cyclones would settle for a field goal.
“I think it was due to just detail to precision and lack of mental- we had a lot penalties today, more than we’ve ever had,” quarterback Rocco Becht said. “That hurt us a lot. I think everybody needs to look at themselves in the mirror and just see what they need to figure out.”
That’s just a sampling of the eight penalties that cost Iowa State 59 yards in the one-point loss.
“Some of those (penalties) hadn’t been called (this year),” coach Matt Campbell said. “We’re going to have to get it corrected because it’s close enough to whatever it is or it isn’t, that it put us in a really tough spot. From our end of it, we’ve got to coach better. That starts with the head football coach, and then we have got to execute better.”
Just like that, 7-0 turns to 7-1 and the next six days become ever so more important as Iowa State prepares for its next game against Kansas.
There’s no room for error, now, especially with preseason goals as lofty as making the first 12-team college football playoff.
“We’re fine, honestly,” Purchase said. “It’s a loss, but a loss isn’t going to deter our season all the way. We still have everything in front of us. We still control our own destiny. The leaders in the locker room are keeping everybody’s heads up.”
This is where the captains – and other leaders in the room – can shine the most.
“It’s really important,” Purchase said of leaders on the team. “We’ve got a lot of young guys that are playing that haven’t been in these situations before, and the people that have been in the situations have to be able to pick these guys up. It’s really important.”
While postgame press conferences were going on, No. 17 Kansas State fell to 4-2 in Big 12 play after being upset by Houston.
There’s no telling what either result will do for the national perception of the league as the initial CFP rankings are revealed Tuesday, but the difference in room for error with a loss and a win is as large as one game could get at this point.
Regardless, Iowa State will play in the Big 12 championship game if it wins its final four games to to end the regular season.
“You don’t want to play that way, especially to start November, and we did,” Campbell said. “We’re going to have to own it. We live with it and we grow with it. Hopefully, we’ve got enough courage about ourselves to correct it and move ourselves forward.”
That courage is what this season will come down to, and this team’s response to its first loss as a group will be the biggest part in it.
Texas Tech Red Raiders football team celebrates after winning 23-22 over Iowa State Cyclone in the week-10 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State’s tempted fate throughout Big 12 play with its sluggish starts.
That troubling tendency finally caught up with the No. 11 Cyclones on Saturday as Texas Tech — a two-touchdown underdog — also crafted a strong finish to strut out of a sold-out and rain-drizzled Jack Trice Stadium with a 23-22 win.
“When you leave it to chance, right, and you don’t do your job with great precision and detail, it’s tough,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, whose miscue-plagued team, (7-1, 4-1) sought its first 8-0 start in the program’s 133-year history. “Unfortunately that’s what we did tonight enough that it got us burnt.”
ISU had taken a a 22-17 lead on walk-on wide receiver Carson Brown’s 44-yard touchdown catch with 2:20 remaining, but the two-point conversion pass from quarterback Rocco Becht failed.
The Red Raiders then marched down the field in 1:47 and eventually scored the game-winning touchdown on Tahj Brooks’ five-yard run with 20 seconds left.
“I always have a feeling (about) our defense that they’re going to go out and get the stop, but unfortunately, I missed the two-point conversion that could have helped us out at the end of the game,” said Becht, who completed 23 of 39 passes for 299 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. “That hurts a lot. But you’ve got to live with those decisions, and flush it away, and come back next week.”
Texas Tech (6-3, 4-2) snapped a two-game losing streak during which it allowed an average of 47 points. Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton drove his team 71 yards in less than two minutes to drop the Cyclones from the dwindling ranks of the unbeaten.
Brooks rushed for 122 yards to keep his season-long string of 100-yard games alive.
“I would just say we beat ourselves,” said ISU cornerback Myles Purchase, who grabbed his first career interception late in the first half to set up Becht’s first touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins. “The penalties and just not making plays on the ball — I would say it’s just on us, honestly.”
The Cyclones entered Saturday leading all FBS teams for fewest penalty yards per game at 25.1. ISU more than doubled that number with 59 penalty yards against the Red Raiders — and several of this infractions came in pivotal moments.
“It’s disappointing,” Campbell said. “Obviously you don’t want to play that way at the start of November and we did. So we own it. We live with it. We grow from it. And hopefully we’ve got enough courage about ourselves to correct it and move ourselves forward.”
Higgins hauled in 10 catches for 140 yards while making his seventh touchdown grab of the season. Darien Porter and Purchase both intercepted a pass. Brown’s only catch of the game came on a third-and-13 situation, but the defense — which had been strong since the first quarter — couldn’t hold late as it so often does.
“I think the reality of it is is it’s a chess match at the end of the game, and you’re trying to put the defense in the best situation to be successful,” said Campbell, whose defense still held the Red Raiders’ 13 points below their previous 36.2-point scoring average. “They made one more play than we were able to defend, but I thought our kids did a lot of really good things there. Again, our detail and precision was off a little bit.”
That’s just enough to send the Cyclones tumbling to their first loss of the season, but as Campbell often says, his team will be defined by how it finishes, not any single game — regardless of outcome — along the way.
“This game will not define us in any way, shape or form,” Campbell said. “And the reality of it is, how we respond to it, and the team we become through it is what will define the 2024 Iowa State Cyclone football team. I think this gives us a great chance, for the first time, to now have to respond to the adversity of loss. What’s that look like? How do we grow from it? Man, do we have the same character that I would expect us to have going forward? We’ll see. What a great opportunity to grow.”
Iowa State suffered their first loss of the season in game against Texas Tech. Listen to everything head coach Matt Campbell had to say immediately after the game in the post-game press conference.
Iowa State suffered their first loss of the season in a 23-22 loss to Texas Tech at home. Listen to everything Rocco Becht, Myles Purchase, Joey Petersen and Jayden Higgins had to say post-game.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Reagan Wilson & Aili Tanke addressed media members Friday at Hilton Coliseum ahead of Monday’s season opener against Chicago State (11:00 a.m. ESPN+).
Oct 19, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) throws a pass during their game with the UCF Knights at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones beat the Knights 38 to 35. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
No. 11 Iowa State returns to the field after a bye week to face off with Texas Tech for its annual homecoming game at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday (2:30 p.m. ESPN). Here are our staff’s predictions.
Chris Williams (6-1)
I like the fact that Iowa State is coming off of a bye here. The quarterback spot has gotten headlines, but Tech has injury concerns in the secondary and on the offensive line. I think the Raiders will put up some points early but like Iowa State comfortably win late.Iowa State 45, Texas Tech 24.
Rob Gray (6-1)
The Red Raiders defense is one of the worst in the country statistically-speaking, but it does force plenty of turnovers. Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht must be sharp and he should be as his team tries to avoid another slow start and get to 8-0 for the first time in program history. If ISU’s defense can slow down talented Texas Tech tailback Tahj Brooks and his backups, a comfortable win should materialize. Iowa State 38, Texas Tech 21
Connor Ferguson (7-0)
Iowa State puts the ball in the air as Rocco Becht has his most efficient game of the season, throwing for multiple touchdowns as the offense rolls. The Cyclones give up some points between Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks and a combo of quarterbacks the Red Raiders put on the field to try and catch Jon Heacock off guard. Iowa State 30, Texas Tech 15
Jeff Woody (7-0)
Don’t expect the Clones to come out flat. This team will be healthy (or healthier) than they’ve been in a while. But more importantly, they understand what is in front of them, they understand what it takes to achieve their goals, and the only way to do that is to win every game in front of you. Tech can score, but they can’t stop a nosebleed. The teams trade punches until Heacock finally nails down what Tech wants to do and the Cyclones run game re-emerges for a late sleeper-hold win. Iowa State 41, Texas Tech 27
Grant Mahoney (7-0)
I think stopping Tahj Brooks will be a tall task and he may get his in this game, but ultimately I think the ISU defense gets enough stops, forces enough turnovers, and a rested Rocco and Co. carve up the Texas Tech defense putting ISU at 8-0 for the first time in school history. Iowa State 34, Texas Tech 17
Jackson Pence (7-0)
The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for the Iowa State. The Cyclones are finally starting to get “healthier”, and that bodes well against this stout Red Raider offense. Texas Tech has the worst scoring defense and pass defense in the Big 12 and that sets up great for Taylor Mouser and Co. The Cyclones need to get out to an early lead and make Tech try and beat you down the field, which is a tough task against that Iowa State secondary. This game will be close at halftime, but I think the Cyclones pull away in the second half, much like they did against Baylor. The Cyclones move to 8-0 for the first time in program history. Iowa State 45, Texas Tech 27
Oct 19, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jontez Williams (3) celebrates after his interception to seal the game against the UCF Knights at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones beat the Knights 38 to 35. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
No. 11 Iowa State returns to the field after a bye week to face off with Texas Tech for its annual homecoming game at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday (2:30 p.m. ESPN). Here’s everything you need to know for Saturday’s game.
Game Day InformationNo. 11 Iowa State (7-0, 3-0 Big 12) vs. Texas Tech (5-3, 3-2 Big 12)
Location: Ames, Iowa
Stadium: Jack Trice Stadium (61,500)
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN (Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Taylor McGregor)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Iowa State -13.5 (via Action Network updated Thursday)
Over/Under: 56.5
Series ResultsTexas Tech leads the all-series with Iowa State at 13-8.
Recent Results
2022: Texas Tech 14, Iowa State 10 (Ames)
2021: Texas Tech 41, Iowa State 38 (Lubbock)
2020: Iowa State 31, Texas Tech 15 (Ames)
2019: Iowa State 34, Texas Tech 24 (Lubbock)
2018: Iowa State 40, Texas Tech 31 (Lubbock)
Players to watchCarson Hansen, running back (Iowa State)
Hansen had limited carries in the second half after an explosive start in Iowa State’s 38-35 win over UCF two weeks ago. The bye-week gave players time to heal up and Hansen had three-straight 90-plus yard games going into the last one. We’ll see if his impressive streak keeps up.
J.R. Singleton, defensive line (Iowa State)
Iowa State got carved up by a dual-threat quarterback in its last game against UCF, and the best defense this week, should Texas Tech true freshman Will Hammond see the field, is getting after him. Singleton is one sack away from a career high and wants to get to 8-0 as much as anyone in JTS this week.
Jontez Williams, defensive back (Iowa State)
The Iowa State defensive back has the longest streak in the country for interceptions in consecutive games, having one in each of the Cyclones’ Big 12 matchups this season. The Cyclones have 12 interceptions on the year, and there’s no doubt Williams will be hunting for another one Saturday.
The quarterbacks (Texas Tech)
It may be gamesmanship at the end of the day, but that’s what Iowa State is facing after the circumstances of Texas Tech’s loss to TCU. The Red Raiders made a quarterback change at halftime, citing an injury to regular starter and predominant pocket passer Behren Morton in the loss. True freshman Will Hammond, a former four-star prospect known to put his legs to use, relieved Morton and nearly led Texas Tech to victory. Although Joey McGuire says nothing is structurally wrong with Morton’s non-throwing shoulder (where the injury occurred), don’t be surprised if Hammond sees some playing time.
Tahj Boyd, running back (Texas Tech)
The Red Raider running back has been one of the best in college football this season, and has yet to fail to reach the century mark in a single game this year. Whatever the Cyclones did in Morgantown to slow down the Mountaineers rushing attack will be needed this week.
Chapman Lewis, defensive back (Texas Tech)
The sophomore defensive back leads the Red Raiders with three interceptions this season. He missed a pair of games for Texas Tech but returned on Saturday and grabbed another interception.
Keys to the gameDon’t be surprised
Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock isn’t one to be caught off guard, nor does the unit typically show those traits on the field. As I said earlier, Iowa State can’t be caught off guard if a dual threat Will Hammond takes substantial snaps this weekend. That’s only more likely because of how UCF looked. The bye week should help the cause in slowing down a rushing quarterback, but you can never feel too safe.
Air out the ball
Texas Tech comes into this game with the worst passing defense in the FBS. The Red Raiders allow 308.3 yards per game in the air, and gave up 344 to TCU quarterback Josh Hoover last week. If Becht can settle in early, the Cyclone offense could have itself a day.
Play it loose
Whether players and coaches say they pay attention or not, the national hype has been built around Iowa State’s 7-0 start. That brings pressure – one mistake could be the difference between 8-0 or 7-1, and that’s massive when it comes to a 12-game season. Iowa State’s got to play to the crowd and remember to stay loose as each game gets bigger than the last while stacking wins up like this.
Around the Big 12
| Big 12 Standings | | Team | OVR | Big 12 | | No. 9 BYU | 8-0 | 5-0 | | No. 11 Iowa State | 7-0 | 4-0 | | No. 17 Kansas State | 7-1 | 4-1 | | No. 23 Colorado | 6-2 | 4-1 | | TCU | 5-3 | 3-2 | | Texas Tech | 5-3 | 3-2 | | Cincinnati | 5-3 | 3-2 | | West Virginia | 4-4 | 3-2 | | Arizona State | 5-2 | 2-2 | | Baylor | 4-4 | 2-3 | | Houston | 3-5 | 2-3 | | Arizona | 3-5 | 1-4 | | Utah | 4-4 | 1-4 | | UCF | 3-5 | 1-4 | | Kansas | 2-6 | 1-4 | | Oklahoma State | 3-5 | 0-5 |
Saturday, November 2
2:30 p.m. | Texas Tech (3-2) @ No. 11 Iowa State (4-0), ESPN
2:30 p.m. | No. 17 Kansas State (4-1) @ Houston (2-3), FOX
2:30 p.m. | Arizona (1-4) @ UCF (1-4), FS1
6:00 p.m. | Arizona State (2-2) @ Oklahoma State (0-5), FS1
7:00 p.m. | TCU (3-2) @ Baylor (2-3), ESPN2
Iowa State’s Addy Brown (24) takes a shot against Central College during the first quarter in an exhibition game at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesdays, Oct. 30, 2024, in Ames, Iowa © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – The sophomore dynamic duo of Addy Brown and Audi Crooks were recipients of preseason honors from The Athletic.
Crooks was named a Preseason Second-Team All-American while Brown was tabbed the outlet’s Preseason Breakout Player of the Year. Crooks has also earned Preseason All-Big 12 and Preseason AP All-America Honorable Mention accolades ahead of the 2024-25 season.
The Algona, Iowa native averaged 19.2 points and 7.2 rebounds as a true freshman last season while recording the highest usage rate in the Big 12. She broke several Iowa State freshman records including points, made field goals and made free throws in a season. Her 258 made field goals also broke the all-time Cyclone single-season record.
Brown had one of the most well-rounded seasons in program history as a freshman. The Derby, Kansas native is the only player in program history to record 400 points, 250 rebounds and 150 assists in a season.
She was also one of only two players in a Power 5 conference last season to reach the feat. Also a threat from beyond the arc, Brown cashed in 52 triples while shooting over 38 percent from 3-point range. She earned Big 12 All-Freshman Team accolades following the conclusion of the 2023-24 regular season.
Iowa State will officially open the regular season Monday morning against Chicago State. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. in Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Curtis Jones & Dishon Jackson addressed media members ahead of their season opener set for Monday, November 4 against Mississippi Valley State (7 p.m. ESPN+).
Oct 19, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Darien Porter (10) and Iowa State Cyclones defensive lineman J.R. Singleton (58) celebrate during their game with the UCF Knights at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell spent almost three minutes answering the question in detail.
It hinged on the phrase “competitive endurance” — a term he didn’t coin, but one that’s come to frame each of his nine seasons while leading the program.
Some of his teams have possessed that elusive quality. Some haven’t. But the 2024 Cyclones (7-0, 4-0) seem to fully embody the concept as they prepare to face Texas Tech (5-3, 3-2) in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. Big 12 matchup (ESPN) at a likely sold-out Jack Trice Stadium.
“I think the reality of having enough humility to first and foremost know that, man, there’s a lot going on,” said Campbell, whose 11th-ranked team seeks its first 8-0 start in program history. “There’s a lot challenging these young people right now, and challenging our coaches and everybody else. And I think having the ability to kind of take a step back and a sense of, man, let’s treat the person first before we attack the team, and attack this week’s game. If we don’t think about it in those steps, then I think we misstep. And believe me, as the leader, I’ve misstepped plenty of times because you’re so excited about the result, but the reality of it is, if those things aren’t aligned, you’ve got no shot.”
That’s where leadership comes in — at every level of Campbell’s program. Winners don’t chase individual accolades. They revel in the success of their teammates, which in turn, enhances their own. And in an age where the transfer portal, NIL money, and the latest, greatest thing apparently reigns supreme, ISU’s managed to “stay the course,” and now finds itself on the precipice of history.
“You’ve got to have that competitive endurance to get to where you want to be,” sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht said. “Especially if you want to go undefeated and potentially be in the Big 12 championship. If you don’t have that, you can’t get there.”
But what is it exactly? That’s hard to pin down precisely. It applies to the minutiae of life as well as the crossroads moments where success meets failure, and one snaking fork forms the thin wavy line of demarcation. It’s also what the Cyclones must provide on Saturday against a Red Raiders team smarting from two straight losses, but talented enough to turn that competitive endurance into a 60-minute-span of collective exhaustion.
“What team do we become in November?” Campbell said. “We’ve done a lot of firsts here that haven’t been done and that’s all awesome. But the reality of it is, you’re defined by how you finish, and what you do to finish this thing out.”
The Cyclones have gone 4-0 in November just once during Campbell’s tenure. That came amid COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and led to a first-ever Big 12 title game appearance and first-ever New Year’s Six Bowl win. ISU went 2-2 in November the following season and matched that .500 mark in the month in 2023 — proving that “competitive endurance” must be earned, not merely sought.
“We’ve got big games coming,” said Campbell, whose team has attained bowl eligibility for the seventh time in his nine seasons. “Our kids have done a great job of putting ourselves in position to play important games in November, and we’re gonna have to demand to get ourselves better, and I think that’s the great challenge in front of this team right now.”
It’s also a challenge they fully plan to meet, even as injuries pile up and the stakes spiral upward.
“I think our senior leadership has been great,” said senior cornerback Darien Porter, who holds the third-best coverage grade nationally at his position (89.7) according to PFF College. “But it takes a lot (from) our young guys, too, to accept that leadership. A lot of credit to (them), but (as) seniors, we wanted to change how Iowa State football has been historically. We wanted to be different and do something different around here. It took a lot of responsibility for us, but a lot of the guys have fallen in, doing what they have to do.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State will honor former Cyclone and Olympic Gold Medalist Tyrese Haliburton on Saturday, March 1, during Iowa State’s game against Arizona. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. at sold-out Hilton Coliseum.
With Haliburton and his family in attendance, Iowa State will honor him with a halftime ceremony that will include his banner being dropped as an Olympic Gold Medalist. Haliburton is the eighth Cyclone to win a Gold Medal at the Olympics and the first in men’s basketball.
The first two-time NBA All-Star in Iowa State history, Haliburton was one of five Cyclones who played men’s basketball in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The five Cyclones playing in the Olympics was the second-most of any program in the country.
Haliburton and Team USA earned the eighth Gold Medal of the professional era for the United States, while it was the fifth-straight Olympic Games that Team USA brought home the gold.
Playing in just 22 games before suffering a season-ending injury in 2019-20, Haliburton earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors. He also earned all-district honors from USBWA and NABC, while being named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. When his season ended, he was sixth in the Big 12 in scoring (15.2), second in FG percentage (50.4), first in assists (6.5), first in steals (2.5), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3), third in 3FG percentage (41.9) and 13th in rebounding (5.9).
Haliburton is in his fifth NBA season, including his third with the Indiana Pacers. He finished third in NBA Rookie of the Year voting in 2021 and was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2024. He led the league in assists with 10.9 per game last season.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Addy Brown and Alisa Williams addressed media members following the team’s 105-53 win over Central Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State’s Reagan Wilson (22) takes a three-point shot over central College Jasmyn Williams (3) during the first quarter in an exhibition game at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesdays, Oct. 30, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES – Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly didn’t waste any time trying out different rotations in the Cyclones 105-53 exhibition game win over Central Wednesday.
All 11 players saw action on the floor in the first quarter, and Fennelly rolled out a lineup entirely of newcomers to the floor before the first quarter media timeout.
“We did kind of what we wanted to do in the game – play everyone 16-20 minutes,” Fennelly said. “We got combinations in that we wanted and we felt it was a really good day for us.”
It was mostly business-as-usual for a top 10 ranked Iowa State group expected to have no problem with a division 3 team, but a pair of Cyclones made their presences felt for the first time at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State got an extremely efficient game out of post Alisa Williams, who recorded a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double.
“I told her to get out there and be a monster tonight and look for her own,” forward Addy Brown Brown said of her teammate. “Sometimes she likes to play a little selfish and look for the pass first. I thought she was a monster tonight.”
The LSU transfer sat out last season, but has got some extra time on the floor with UMass transfer Lily Taulelei sitting out with an injury.
From the sounds of it, she’s made the most of it in practice, too.
“She was rotating in with (Taulelei) when LT got hurt,” Fennelly said. “To her credit, she saw an opening and flew through it… She might be the most surprising, positive thing for our team since we started practice. The last two weeks, she’s been really, really good.”
So far, Williams had just spent time at the No. 5 spot in the post, but Fennelly says they will experiment with her at the No. 4 spot moving forward.
“She’s going to impact our team,” Fennelly said of Williams. “We’re going to have to be creative and find other ways to get her in the game besides subbing for Audi (Crooks). We haven’t tried her at the No. 4 spot yet, but we’re going to do that. She deserves to play more, and the goal is to get your best five players in the game at any given time. And, I think it’d be hard to say she’s not one of our best five players at certain times.”
Iowa State’s got another point guard on its roster, too, in Noblesville, Indiana’s Reagan Wilson.
The true freshman made the most of her time on the floor, showing off plenty of speed and agility while running the point.
The point guard took advantage of a (just barely) team-high 21 minutes on the floor, scoring nine points on three triples with four assists and two boards.
“She’s more than made the case,” Fennelly said of Wilson. “She’s going to play. I think what you saw tonight from her, and (fellow freshman Aili Tanke). They know what they’re doing – they’re very smart… I think Reagan has the best role model in Emily Ryan… What you saw tonight is what we see in practice.”
While Wilson was running the point, Tanke finished with three triples of her own, and looked comfortable in her first game in a Cyclone uniform.
If there was anything the returning players showed the most improvement at, it would be with ball movement.
The Cyclones assisted on 31 of their 42 made field goals with sophomore Addy Brown finding seven of the passes.
It won’t be as seamless against better competition, but all things considered, it’s a good sign for any team.
Iowa State officially opens the season Monday, as it faces Chicago State (11 a.m. ESPN+) for its annual school-day game.
Oct 12, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Rylan Barnes (41) pressures West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Garrett Greene (6) during a pass during the second quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
AMES — There’s an art to picking rocks.
You look for one bigger than your fist, then pluck it from the rich soil. It’s a tedious and time-consuming process — and no stone is left unturned.
“Anything bigger than that might mess up the combine,” said farm kid-turned-starting Iowa State starting linebacker Rylan Barnes. “So you try to get all those out. It’s not very fun. Long days. But, you know, anything to help out.”
Barnes — a walk-on and former West Hancock standout from Britt — is poised to make his third consecutive start when the No. 11 Cyclones (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) take on Texas Tech (5-3, 3-2) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) at a fully-packed Jack Trice Stadium.
The 6-3, 235-pound redshirt freshman began the season buried well down the depth chart, but rapidly rose to the surface because of his grit and dogged work ethic, and a spate of injuries that sidelined three of the Cyclones’ top linebackers.
“I just think we’ve been fortunate to have great young men that have great character picking up rocks,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, whose team has never started a season 8-0 in its 133-year history. “I would say, like, he’s been the rock (recently). I think we were uneasy for a while, and when he stepped in and kind of became the rock — I mean, the way he’s played has been, not just like, he’s playing. He’s playing really good football for us. He’s strong. He’s physical. He’s powerful at the point of attack. He’s a really good dropper in terms of pass coverage. I feel like he’s a guy that’s just really continued to get better.”
Barnes’ ascent from afterthought status to key contributor has helped the Cyclones’ defense navigate choppy waters as projected starting linebackers Caleb Bacon and Will McLaughlin have missed all or mostly all of the season because of injuries. Another top linebacker, Carson Willich, has been out since spring ball, so players such as Barnes and true freshman linebacker Beau Goodwin have necessarily emerged as ISU comes off its second bye week of the season.
“Maybe some guy shows up like Rylan Barnes, who you might not expect on defense, but he does well on the scout team all week, and you have a chance in a competitive drive situation where he does well versus your starters or your twos, and that’s a guy you’ve got to find a way to get on the field,” said Cyclones first-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, who’s seen similar developments on his side of the ball with walk-on receiver Carson Brown making some big plays in critical moments.
Barnes has consistently graded out higher according to Pro Football Focus College, attaining a solid 71.9 mark in ISU’s comeback 38-35 win over UCF two weeks ago. He’s credited with five quarterback pressures this season and three hurries. He’s totaled 17 tackles in the past two games by minding his gaps and staying in position.
“All the guys that work with the linebackers, they do a great job of preparing us,” said Barnes, an agricultural studies major. “And once we get to that moment, you know what your job is, and all you’ve got to do is execute.”
ISU’s defense will be tested by the Red Raiders, who average a Big 12-best 38.1 points per game. But the Cyclones counter with the nation’s ninth-best scoring defense, which is allowing a meager 14.4 points per game. Barnes’ unexpected but crucial contributions help to keep opposing offenses off-kilter — and his small-town upbringing serves as a point of pride as his snap count grows.
“It’s great coming from a small town because a lot of the time we’re representing the guys that didn’t get a shot,” Barnes said. “So I think we take a tremendous amount of (pride) in being out there on the field, being on the biggest stage, and showing everyone what small towns can do.”
Barnes doesn’t have to pick up rocks anymore. The rest of his family handles that task. He can focus on uplifting his teammates, and helping the Cyclones approach previously unattainable heights.
“When our story is over somebody here, I hope this is a story that resonates,” Campbell said. “Man, what was this era about, of reaching your full potential and becoming the best version of yourself? I feel like Rylan’s a guy that’s certainly living that moment right now.”
Iowa State women’s basketball isn’t quite at full strength yet, but fortunately the season doesn’t start officially until Monday.
The Cyclones will play an exhibition game Wednesday night at Hilton Coliseum (6:30 p.m. no TV) against Central in a tune-up for a highly anticipated year, with both star point guard Emily Ryan and Marquette transfer Kenzie Hare on pitch counts.
“She’s on a pitch count – her and Emily Ryan both are,” coach Bill Fennelly said. “It’s what the smart people say ‘a return to play protocol.’ They’ll both play, but they’ll be limited. If it was a regular season game, they would still be limited.”
Iowa State will also be without Massachusetts post Lilly Taulelei, who is rehabbing an ankle injury.
Players battling injuries hasn’t forced the Cyclones’ hands in changing rotations, but with four proven newcomers, the team has practiced with quite a few different looks.
One of those looks comes in sophomore Addy Brown playing the post, although that one is due in part to Taulelei’s absence.
“We’re experimenting with it. Because, some teams that we play, Audi (Crooks) will have a little bit of trouble guarding in space. It’s largely because of the depth we have in the wing. We want to have another option. When we scrimmaged (Green Bay) on Saturday, both teams agreed that no one was going to foul out, and Audi had four fouls two minutes into the second quarter… It’s just another option, especially with (Taulelei) out. It just gives us something unique and I think Addy can handle it.”
Fennelly said the Cyclones constructed their roster knowing Ryan, returning sophomore Arianna Jackson, and incoming freshman Reagan Wilson would be at the point guard position. At the post, it’s Crooks and Taulelei.
“The other (spots), we’re just spinning them through, trying to give them a chance,” Fennelly said. “Everyone’s had a lot of opportunities to show what they can do, and that’s what we’ve tried to do in practice… We’re just (scrimmaging) more than we ever have.”
The rotation is the biggest concern for Fennelly right now.
“I think the biggest thing is still trying to find our rotation, and trying to figure out how we’re going to manage the point guard position until Emily (Ryan) can get fully back, and just continue to figure out where to play people,” Fennelly said. “The good news is we have a lot of kids that can play. The bad news is we haven’t had enough people step forward and take control of spots, but that’s OK. We’ve practiced really hard.”
The other part for Iowa State to figure out – or wait to come naturally – is the team’s 3-point shooting.
The Cyclones don’t have a single guard on the roster who shot worse than 37% from behind the arc a season ago.
In practice, they haven’t seen a day where all of the long distance shots are finding the net, but that isn’t a concern yet and likely won’t be for a few games into the season.
“Our numbers have not been great – which, you can look at that a number of ways,” Fennelly said. “I’m not worried about it, mainly because they all have a track record of making shots. It’s not anything that – we haven’t had one of those days in our scrimmages where we’re making 50 percent of them. The shots we’re taking are good ones and we’ll continue to do that. I’m worried about a lot of things, but that’s not one of them right now.”
There’s plenty to figure out with just a handful of days left in the off-season, but that’s just what Iowa State wanted to find after its Round of 32 loss to Stanford that ended the last campaign.
The No. 8 Cyclones take the court at Hilton Coliseum for the first time this year on Wednesday.
Oct 5, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones tight end Benjamin Brahmer (18) celebrates after a touchdown against the. Baylor Bears at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Iowa State played in five-straight weeks following its last bye week, reaching a 7-0 record after its win against UCF, and looks to be healthier next time it hits the field Saturday (2:30 p.m. ESPN).
Head coach Matt Campbell says that it’s the healthiest his team’s been since potentially its September game at Jack Trice Stadium against Arkansas State.
“Obviously, the week off (came at) such a pivotal time for our football team,” Campbell said. “I think when you look at us, we’ll probably be close to as strong as we’ve been since probably the start of the Arkansas State game, which is huge – to be able to at least get to that point – I thought was really big for our team.”
The Cyclones lost star tight end Ben Brahmer to an injury during their win over UCF the last time on the field, and thought it could be a serious sting to their offense.
However, Brahmer’s tests came back positive, and he could see the field again as soon as this week.
“Ben’s situation probably was the biggest win of Saturday night that we had,” Campbell said. “It didn’t look great on Saturday, but as we were able to get X-rays and MRI’s and all of those kind of good things – and man, we’re going to get Ben back. Even to the point where potentially this week – we’ll see if that’s the case – he was out at practice today and was able to do some things, which I thought was really beneficial.
“I think if it’s not this week, it will be week-to-week from there,” Campbell said of Brahmer’s injury. “I’m really excited about where he’s at and obviously, he’s such a critical piece to our football team.”
As far as the rest of the offense goes, it’s expected that both running back Carson Hansen and wide receiver Jayden Higgins are freshened up after the week off from playing.
“There’s a lot of guys you could see at the end of the UCF game – where Jayden was limping, a couple of linemen were limping, the running backs were you know, banged up,” quarterback Rocco Becht said. “That bye week was huge. It came at a good time for us. Everybody got healthy last week. Obviously, we didn’t put anyone through absolute hell, but we did our part and everybody coming into this week feels good. We had a good practice today.”
The group hit hardest at the position this year has been with the Iowa State linebackers.
Starters Caleb Bacon, Carson Willich and Will McLaughlin have each missed significant time with injuries sustained in week 1 or before the season.
“(Caleb) Bacon is trending in a really positive way,” Campbell said. “I think there’s hope that maybe as we get to December, that a guy like Caleb can get himself back on the football field.”
Bacon was hurt during the season opener, but could return depending on how late Iowa State’s season goes. Campbell said something similar of Willich, who tore his ACL in the spring.
“I think Carson Willich is in the same boat (as Bacon),” Campbell said. “I think more of probably in a December or January timeline.”
Campbell also says that of those three, McLaughlin is the closest to being healthy.
“I think the guy of that group that is closest to returning is Will McLaughlin,” Campbell said. “I think Will is a guy that hopefully some time in this block here, that we get a chance to get Will back on the football field.”
Oct 26, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton (2) runs the ball against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton left the Red Raiders’ game on Saturday against TCU with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder.
He was relieved in the second half by freshman quarterback Will Hammond, but coach Joey McGuire says the team’s banged-up players should be ‘good to go’ for Saturday’s game (2:30 p.m. ESPN).
“We’re a little banged up,” McGuire said. “But we also feel like all of those guys that are ‘questionable,’ I don’t see any of those questionable guys not being able to play on Saturday. So, it’s good that we’re going to get those guys back.”
McGuire said that he and his staff were worried about a break, but didn’t find anything wrong after Morton was forced out of the game Saturday.
“I haven’t talked a lot about injuries and doing that, but I will tell you that nothing structurally is wrong with (Morton’s) non-throwing shoulder,” McGuire said. “He’s got a lot of movement back in it.”
Morton has thrown for 2,063 yards and 17 touchdowns so far this season as the Texas Tech starter.
He’s more of a pocket passer, and has only thrown three interceptions through eight games for the Red Raiders.
“We’ll see how he feels (Tuesday) and if he’ll practice (Tuesday) or practice Wednesday,” McGuire said. “We feel really good about that. We were nervous if it was a break, (but we) couldn’t see anything. So, structurally, he’s good to go in his non-throwing shoulder.”
In the absence of Morton, Hammond was 10-15 with 121 yards and a touchdown through the air, along with eight rushes for 16 yards and a score on the ground.
The former four-star prospect has been known to put his legs to use in his time before Texas Tech, too.
“I thought he played very well against TCU,” Iowa State defensive back Darien Porter said. “He had a great first drive. Obviously, it’s tough getting thrown in there like that, but we’ll be prepared. It will be a great challenge for us – our secondary.”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser addressed media members Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center in Ames ahead of this Saturday’s game against Texas Tech (2:30 p.m. ESPN).
Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire’s press conference from the week can also be seen below.
Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly and players Addy Brown and Arianna Jackson previewed their team’s Wednesday exhibition game against Central (6:30 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum, no TV).
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht, offensive lineman Tyler Miller, linebacker Rylan Barnes and defensive back Darien Porter addressed media members Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center in Ames ahead of this Saturday’s game against Texas Tech.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht has earned a spot in the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2024 and is officially in the running for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
Becht has been outstanding leading the Cyclone offense this season, paving the way for ISU’s first 7-0 start since 1938. Through seven games, Becht has thrown for 1,712 yards and 11 touchdowns and is completing passes at a 61.3% clip.
The Wesley Chapel, Fla. native has thrown a touchdown pass in 11-straight games dating back to last season and has thrown for 250-plus yards in five games this season, including three straight. Becht has also made good use of his feet to extend plays and pick up key first downs on the ground. He has four rushing touchdowns this season.
Still just a sophomore, Becht has been at his best when it’s mattered most this season, delivering two game-winning drives when ISU has gotten the ball trailing with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
At No. 21 Iowa, Becht marched the Cyclones 42 yards in 0:28 to set up a game-winning field goal with 0:06 left. Becht came through in crunch time once again against UCF when he led the Cyclones on an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown drive in 1:18, capped by a quarterback sneak with 0:30 remaining in the game.
No. 11 Iowa State is back in action Saturday, Nov. 2 at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN when they host Texas Tech for homecoming. Tickets are still available, here.
Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2024
Drew Allar, Penn State
Luke Altmyer, Illinois
Rocco Becht, Iowa State
Carson Beck, Georgia
Max Brosmer, Minnesota
Bryson Daily, Army West Point
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech
Quinn Ewers, Texas
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
Eli Holstein, Pitt
Josh Hoover, TCU
Blake Horvath, Navy
Will Howard, Ohio State
Kevin Jennings, SMU
Avery Johnson, Kansas State
Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
Maddux Madsen, Boise State
John Mateer, Washington State
Jordan McCloud, Texas State
Kyle McCord, Syracuse
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Chandler Morris, North Texas
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
Jake Retzlaff, BYU
Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Tyler Shough, Louisville
Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
Caden Veltkamp, Western Kentucky
Cam Ward, Miami
Hajj-Malik Williams, UNLV
Ben Wooldridge, Louisiana
Sep 21, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive safety CJ Baskerville (9), defensive lineman Harvey Dyson III (33) and defensive back Macho Stevenson (12) celebrate after stopping Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images
AMES — Don’t believe the stats.
That’s Iowa State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser’s message to his unit as the No. 11 Cyclones (7-0, 4-0) prepare to face Texas Tech’s bottom-of-the-FBS-barrel pass defense in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) Big 12 game at Jack Trice Stadium.
“I think it’s a really, really talented secondary and there (have) been a lot of broken plays that have kind of led to that,” Mouser said of a Red Raiders’ defense allowing 308.3 yards passing per game. “I think the stats are a little bit skewed in terms of what the pass defense is, because they make a lot of plays.”
Mouser makes a good point. Even though Texas Tech (5-3, 3-2) is allowing more passing yards per game than any other team in the country by a fairly wide margin, it does have a penchant for forcing opposing quarterbacks into making costly mistakes. The Red Raiders are tied for 16th nationally and third in the Big 12 in interceptions with 10 — and defensive backs C.J. Baskerville and Chapman Lewis have three apiece. So even though Texas Tech’s secondary’s been scorched for a Big 12-worst 19 pass plays spanning 50-plus yards, ISU quarterback Rocco Becht must be prudent while seeking opportunities to connect with top receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins on deep balls.
“They’re a team that does a lot of different stuff, on the back end and up front,” said Becht, who hopes to help the Cyclones start 8-0 for the first time in program history. “So they can confuse the line a bit, but I feel like we had a good practice (Tuesday) with scout guys giving us good looks. They’re fast. They’ve got a guy (in Baskerville) who has been there a while and knows the defense pretty well, and they have some pretty good corners we’re gonna go against, and we’ve just got to be able to play our game and have precision and detail — and for me to be on it. To just be on my game.”
The Red Raiders have lost two straight games and blew a 17-point lead in last week’s 35-34 loss at TCU. They also lost veteran starting quarterback Behren Morton to an upper body injury in the first half, but after positive medical reports, it’s within the realm of possibility he could play against ISU. If he can’t, true freshman Will Hammond will get his first start after going 10 of 15 for 121 yards and a touchdown while losing a costly late fumble against the Horned Frogs.
“They’ve had injuries (at the quarterback position in the past) and have had to persevere, and they have — even on Saturday,” said Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell, whose team is a 14-point favorite. “I’ve been so impressed with (Morton), and then he goes out. And (after) halftime, the first drive, (Hammond) goes 9-for-9, right down the field for a touchdown. This young freshman comes in and I think it just says how well-dedicated they are to teaching their system.”
That’s also true on the defensive side of the ball, where the stats don’t necessarily lie, but they do obscure how disruptive the Red Raiders can be.
“They’re a very opportunistic defense, so you have to be very specific on when you’re gonna push the ball downfield, and you have to make sure you take advantage of it, or they’ll take advantage of it and take the ball the other way,” Mouser said. “So I think it’s a really talented unit. I know the statistics might not say that necessarily, but I don’t get caught up in that and we don’t get caught up in that.”
INJURY UPDATE Campbell said among the three experienced linebackers his team’s been missing most — if not all — of this season, junior Will McLaughlin is the closest to coming back.
“I think Will is a guy that hopefully within this block here, that we get a chance to get him back on the football field,” Campbell said of McLaughlin, who’s made more career starts (16) than any other linebacker on the roster. “I think that would be huge for Will and obviously a huge lift for our football team as well.”
Campbell also reiterated that sophomore tight end Ben Brahmer’s injury sustained in the win over UCF two weeks ago is not as severe as initially feared, and there’s an outside chance he may be able on Saturday.
“We’ll see if that’s the case,” Campbell said. “But (if) it’s not this week, I think it will be week-to-week from there.”
Oct 26, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State fell out of the Associated Press top 10 during its second bye week and is now tied at No. 11 with Clemson, which tumbled two spots while idle. The Matt Campbell-led Cyclones (7-0, 4-0) are now the Big 12’s second-highest-rated team behind fellow unbeaten BYU (8-0, 5-0), which climbed to No. 8 after a 37-24 win at UCF.
All of these rankings matter little, though, as ISU and the Cougars — along with No. 17 Kansas State and No. 23 Colorado — top the shortlist of conference title contenders.
Next up for the Cyclones: Suddenly struggling Texas Tech, which established itself as a dark horse pick to win the league before successive losses to Baylor and TCU.
The banged-up Red Raiders (5-3, 3-2) could field a highly-regarded but first-time starting quarterback in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) matchup with ISU at Jack Trice Stadium, so expect plenty of surprises — and here are five red-and-black-clad players to watch before (and after) kickoff:
RB Tahj Brooks The 5-10, 230-pound senior is an old-school workhorse out of the backfield. Brooks has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in each game this season — and in 16 of the past 19 games dating back to early last season. He also rushed for between 95 and 98 yards in those three sub-100-yard efforts, so he’s one of the most consistent backs in the country and will likely be leaned on against the Cyclones. Brooks ranks third in the Big 12 in rushing yards (925) and rushing touchdowns (nine). He’s also carried the ball 29 more times than Arizona State standout Cam Skattebo, who ranks second in the league in that category. Brooks has rushed for 37 touchdowns in his career — a lofty number that would rank No. 2 all-time at ISU (behind Breece Hall’s 50 rushing touchdowns).
WR Caleb Douglas The 6-4, 205-pound junior from Missouri City, Texas, spent two seasons at Florida before transferring to Texas Tech. He’s one of the Red Raiders’ top big-play threats in the passing game and ranks second on the team in touchdown catches with four. Douglas — along with Josh Kelly and Coy Eakin — forms a high-performing receiving trio that can challenge opposing defenses in various ways. Kelly leads Texas Tech in receptions with 60 and receiving yards with 609. Eakin has scored the most receiving touchdowns (six), but Douglas is averaging 118.3 receiving yards over the past three games. He’s snared nine catches in each of the past two games and provides his quarterback with a big sure-handed target in third-down situations.
QB Will Hammond (or Behren Morton) Morton sustained what Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire tentatively deemed a collarbone injury in the first half of last week’s 35-34 loss at TCU and wore a sling in the second half of that game. It’s unclear, as of Monday afternoon, if the veteran can make a semi-miraculous recovery to play Saturday in Ames, but Texas Tech has lots of confidence in his backup, Will Hammond, who went 10-for-15 for 191 yards and one touchdown in the second half against the Horned Frogs. Hammond, a true freshman, was a consensus four-star recruit who ranked among the top 15 prospects at the position according to all the major recruiting services. The 6-2, 205-pounder from Austin has also been efficient in limited duty despite losing a fumble in last week’s loss.
LB Jacob Rodriguez Rodriquez leads Texas Tech in tackles with 70 and is coming off an injury redshirt season. The 6-1, 230-pound junior from Wichita Falls, Texas, has forced two fumbles and recovered one. He’s tied for the team lead in passes defended with three, and before joining the Red Raiders, he played on the offensive side of the ball at Virginia.
S C.J. Baskerville Baskerville’s another Texas-based talent who found his way back to his home state after spending two seasons at San Diego State. The 6-3, 210-pound senior made an immediate impact last season, becoming the highest-rated player on the Red Raiders’ defense, according to Pro Football Focus. This season, Baskerville’s been even better. He’s tied for the team lead in interceptions with three and also ranks third in total tackles with 44.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Iowa State junior point guard Tamin Lipsey has been named to the Bob Cousy Award Preseason Watch List, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday.
Lipsey is one of four players from the Big 12 named to the 20-member watch list. A returning AP Honorable Mention All-American, Lipsey was a finalist for the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year, the Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year and the Lute Olson National Player of the Year awards last season.
The annual Bob Cousy Award, named after the Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard, celebrates its 22nd year by highlighting the top point guard in Division I men’s college basketball.ADVERTISING
Lipsey also got it done in the classroom, being named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Team. He was also selected to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team after leading the Cyclones to their sixth Big 12 Championship. He was also named an NABC First Team All-District selection, named to the All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team last season.
Lipsey averaged 12.4 points, 4.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 steals in his sophomore campaign. He was one of 17 players in the country, and the first in Big 12 history, to average those numbers since 1996-97. Lipsey had a school-record steal streak of 34-straight games snapped this season. It was the second longest streak in the country. He has a steal in 66 of the 69 games he has played.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, November 1. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2025 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committee for the Bob Cousy Award is composed of top men’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2025 Cousy Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center).
Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include Tristen Newton, Connecticut (2024), Markquis Nowell, Kansas State (2023), Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois (2021), Ja Morant, Murray State (2019), Jalen Brunson, Villanova (2018), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011), and Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s (2004).
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball senior point guard Emily Ryan has been named to the Nancy Lieberman Award watchlist, announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday. It is the third time in her career that she has been featured on the award’s watchlist after receiving votes the last two seasons.
Ryan will return for her fifth and final season of eligibility as one of the most prolific point guards in collegiate women’s basketball. After sitting out the first nine games of the 2023-24 season due to injury, she quickly impacted a young Iowa State squad upon her return and helped the Cyclones match the best start to Big 12 play in program history with a 6-0 conference record. Beginning in late January, Ryan connected on 34-consecutive free throw attempts and matched the 65th-longest streak in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history.
A 2024 Big 12 All-Tournament team selection, Ryan broke the conference tournament record for career assists (64) and set an Iowa State women’s basketball record for career assists following her 10th dime in the quarterfinal victory over Baylor. She has now pushed the all-time mark to 782 assists. She enters the 2024-25 season as one of three active NCAA Division I women’s basketball players to record at least 150 assists in at least three seasons and she is the only active player to post the mark in four seasons. In the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Ryan passed out 14 assists to go along with 18 points for her fourth double-double of the season. She also posted a career-high 36 points against No. 2-seed and fourth-ranked Stanford in the second round, finishing 6-of-9 from 3-point range and 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Iowa State plays an exhibition contest against Central on Wednesday, October 30 before opening the regular season on Monday, November 4 against Chicago State.
Oct 26, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson (2) runs by Kansas Jayhawks defensive end Jereme Robinson (90) on his way to a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
Depending on the age of your children, maybe don’t tell them about the ‘no longer,’ top 10 Cyclones that fell to No. 11 over the bye week.
They don’t need to know that being a bigger brand team gets more of a cushion from the elder AP Poll writers tasked with the duty of assigning the numbers that appear next to a team’s name on TV. Again, age dependent.
The rankings will sort themselves out, though. All these guys can do is keep winning — and welcome to Monday Musings.
Buckle upBeginning on Saturday, Iowa State’s top four programs (football, men’s and women’s basketball, and wrestling) are all ranked in the top 10 — and will play 23 events over 29 days, including the Maui Invitational. The women will face the defending national champion, South Carolina, on Thanksgiving in Florida, the Cy-Hawk dual wrestling meet takes place in three and a half weeks, and football’s biggest in-conference rival, Kansas State, comes to town just outside that 29-day window for the Nov. 30 regular-season finale.
So this is a good kind of busy — and buckle up, as it all starts with the Iowa State women’s basketball exhibition against Central College of Pella on Wednesday.
The start times are getting on everyone’s nervesAnd I get more confused every week.
This is your reminder that daylight savings time ends over the weekend, and while I hate basically every aspect of the one hour ahead, one hour back annual event, it’s the week most apt to have a banger in the late-night window.
This week? Zero FBS games are kicking off after 7:00 p.m. CT.
Last week, had it not been for Nebraska giving Ohio State a scare, there were no marquee games in the early TV window.
Sure, you had big brands in Ole Miss and Oklahoma, but the Sooners might be the worst team in the SEC.
Then you have the undefeated service academy playing Notre Dame on a neutral field lose by 37 – and play that at Navy. I got to visit that stadium a year ago and it’s a beauty. But still, boring.
I’m not an expert on how these are assigned by any means, but in a world where everyone is chasing numbers, they are making less sense by the week.
What the bye week will do for Iowa StateIt’s going to remain to be seen until the Cyclones hit the field on Saturday.
We only know what we will be told during press conferences about the injuries hampering the Iowa State linebacker room.
And what’s to make of Ben Brahmer and Carson Hansen on the offensive side of the ball? That’s without mentioning others who have gotten banged up over the year.
The hope is the bye week came at the right time and these guys will ultimately be on the field the rest of the way. We’ll know more Tuesday.
Around the Big 12Kansas State extended its win streak over Kansas in the waning minutes
The Wildcats pulled out another game in this series – their 16th straight win in the rivalry. Time is running out for America to feel bad for them, too, college basketball’s around the corner.
For Kansas State, Avery Johnson is proving to be a formidable player – especially when not turning the ball over. He went 19/34 with 253 yards and two touchdowns to get out of there with a win.
The final third of the season sets up nicely for KSU. They’ll face Houston with a bye week afterwards going into three games against Arizona State, Cincinnati and Iowa State to close out the year. Those Arizona State and Cincy games are in Manhattan, too.
The closer we get, it seems that Farmegeddon ’24 will have all of the stakes tied to it.
Meanwhile, the Jayhawks have had the lead in the fourth quarter of every game they’ve played this season, with the exception of its loss to TCU, which KU led with 2:07 remaining in the third quarter.
Yet, they’re 2-6.
Was I the only one perplexed by the play calls on KU’s final drive? The camera angle was pretty tough on seeing where receivers ran – if they were more than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage, they were off-screen – but it felt like they called four “all go’s” off the new video game and told quarterback Jalon Daniels to run for his life.
A Kansas win could have helped out the Cyclones, but it is what it is.
BYU remained undefeated and had no trouble with UCF
The week after UCF gave Iowa State a scare, BYU ran away – don’t read into that either. It wasn’t too long ago that the Cougars did everything they could to give Baylor a shot to upend their season in Waco.
However, that’s still an impressive win from BYU and the Cougars look almost every part of a top 10 team.
The Cougars are on the higher end of the country in turnovers lost this year, with two fumbles being lost against UCF. Yet, they’re still at No. 17 in the country in turnover margin – they’ve forced opponents into 18 takeaways in eight games this year.
For reference, Iowa State is at No. 7 in the country, giving up six all on interceptions and forcing 15.
It would be fascinating to see these two in Dallas, but we’re a ways away – the Holy War is next week after bye weeks for both teams.
Texas Tech dropped another one, but Will Hammond made his debut
The Red Raiders saw true freshman Will Hammond enter the game in relief of an injured Behren Morton at the quarterback spot.
Will Hammond. STUD
pic.twitter.com/7KhN9qrn8r
— Barstool Texas Tech (@barstoolttu) October 26, 2024
The four-star prospect held offers to Tennessee, Texas A&M, Penn State, Oregon, Oklahoma State, UTSA, Houston, and Auburn before signing with Texas Tech last December.
I really thought Tech was going to run away with this game, especially after this touchdown run from Hammond.
Hutto’s own Will Hammond runs the TD in for Texas Tech.
True freshman is in for an injured Behren Morton.
: FOX pic.twitter.com/mxgBS4sKZn
— Noah Gross (@noah_gross27) October 26, 2024
But Tech’s pass defense was on full display – Joey McGuire’s squad ranks dead last in the country allowing 308.3 yards per game through the air.
Running back Tahj Brooks finished with over 100 yards again, as he’s done in every game this year.
Expect a run-heavy attack from Texas Tech this Saturday, and hope the Cyclones can exploit the Red Raiders’ defense through the air.
In other games…
Colorado took down Cincinnati and both teams came away looking impressive to this point with bye weeks to get some rest.
Neal Brown and West Virginia got back to .500 and have a road trip against the Bearcats on the horizon.
Oklahoma State is winless in Big 12 play and doesn’t face a team with a losing record of the rest of the season barring what happens to Texas Tech this month.
Try telling someone that at the beginning of the season – it would be a lot less believable than Utah not making it to the conference title.
Good win, Houston.
…
Anyways, hope y’all took a breath over the bye weekend.
It’s about to get even more entertaining around these parts.
Iowa State football added a 6-foot-8, 290-pound offensive lineman in Sione Perkins to its 2025 recruiting class.
The Idaho prospect made the news official over social media after being offered by Iowa State over the weekend.
I am grateful and humbled to announce my commitment to @CycloneFB! Thank you @RyanClanton @ISUMattCampbell for believing in my potential. A huge thank you to @CoachTodd68 @clutchjames and @Coach_Taufalele for the coaching and mentorship! All glory to God! Love you Mom & Dad… pic.twitter.com/bH38mbsrlo
— Sione Perkins (@SionePerkins) October 28, 2024
Perkins had offers from Montana, Idaho and Eastern Washington, before receiving his offer from Iowa State.
This is typical for the staff in Ames – saving some scholarships for players that impress on senior tape.
Perkins gives the Cyclones their second commitment to the group on the offensive line, joining Cedar Falls’ Will Tompkins.
The 2025 Iowa State class now sits at 16 commitments, with December 4’s Early Signing Day just over a month away.
Iowa State Football moved to No. 11 in the latest Associated Press poll, following a bye week over the weekend.
The Cyclones are now tied with Clemson at the 11 spot, and were jumped by BYU, which is now the top ranked team in the Big 12.
The conference now has four teams represented in the poll, with Colorado joining the ranks after a win over Cincinnati.
The full poll can be seen below.
AP CFB Poll
Sunday, Oct. 27
1. Oregon
2. Georgia
3. Penn State
4. Ohio State
5. Miami
6. Texas
7. Tennessee
8. Notre Dame
9. BYU
10. Texas A&M
T-11. Iowa State
T-11. Clemson
13. Indiana
14. Alabama
15. Boise State
16. LSU
17. Kansas State
18. Pittsburgh
19. Ole Miss
20. SMU
21. Army
22. Washington State
23. Colorado
24. Illinois
25. Missouri
Others receiving votes: Vanderbilt 41, Memphis 34, Tulane 28, Navy 23, Louisville 5, Arkansas 4, UNLV 4, Louisiana-Lafayette 3, South Carolina 1.
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Women’s Basketball
Big 12 Media Days took place in Kansas City to preview the 2024-25 season. Listen to everything head coach Bill Fennelly, Addy Brown, Audi Crooks and Emily Ryan had to say.
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Men’s Basketball
Big 12 Media Days took place in Kansas City to preview the 2024-25 season. Listen to everything head coach TJ Otzelberger had to say about the Cyclones.
Sep 29, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (19) during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson got 42 snaps on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.
In those snaps, he was targeted by quarterback CJ Stroud one time.
He made the most of it.
The former Iowa State star receiver, currently in his second season with the Texans after being selected in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, was lined up in the slot as his squad faced a critical third-and-10.
He was across from All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander, 2:41 remained on the clock and his 5-1 Texans were at the 23-yard line, trailing 21-19.
As Stroud was immediately flushed out of the pocket to his right, Hutchinson adjusted his route, mirrored Stroud’s steps and made a diving catch one yard beyond the first-down marker.
He got up, brushed himself off and signaled first down. It was, to be sure, the biggest play of the game for the Texans up to that point.
And though it didn’t ultimately lead to a Houston win (after the Texans kicked a field goal to take the lead, the Packers would kick a game-winning field goal as time expired ), it certainly did something for Hutchinson’s cred in the locker room and beyond.
“That was huge for me,” Hutchinson said. “Just to have that trust from 7 (Stroud) in a crucial part of the game, and to help out the team in doing whatever I can to win a game. Sometimes that’s going to be catching it, sometimes blocking, sometimes special teams. Today I had the fortune to have a chance, and I was able to capitalize on it.”
Hutchinson has four catches for 45 yards in Houston’s seven games, and he’s seen his playing time increase following the injury to Texans top receive Nico Collins.
Hutchingson said the play in question was a result of his work on the practice field.
“We work on the scramble drill every Wednesday,” Hutchinson said. “At that point, I was just trying to find the green area and be on the same page as CJ was. He placed the ball perfectly, where the defender couldn’t get it and I could.”
Collins, one of the league’s top receivers before going down with a hamstring injury in week five, will miss at least a few more weeks after being placed on the injured reserve list. Hutchinson knows this could be his time to shine.
“It’s important in the sense that he’s one of the guys that’s ahead of me in the rotation,” Hutchinson said. “I wish he wasn’t injured, but it’s definitely an opportunity for me to step in and help this team out any way I can.”
While he’s busy fighting for snaps, targets, even a roster spot, Hutchinson isn’t so overwhelmed that he can’t appreciate the experience of being a professional football player.
“My mom is actually from Monroe, Wisconsin,” Hutchinson said. “So I knew all about Lambeau Field. I was super excited about playing here. She wasn’t able to make it up, but I had plenty of family on my mom’s side that were able to come up. It was super nice. The stadium and the atmosphere were incredible. Anytime you get the chance to play in a legendary stadium like this, you’ve got to take the opportunity to soak it in.”
It takes just a brief mention of Iowa State to bring a large smile to Hutchinson’s face.
“I was in the hotel room Saturday night watching the game and I was freaking out,” Hutchinson said. “Now I see what it means when people say the Cyclones can take years off your life. I was stressing hard, pulling my hair out. But they got it done.
“That was a game they probably needed. They needed one of those close games where you don’t necessarily play perfect ball but you pull out anyway.”
Hutchinson said he’s got plenty of pride in his alma mater’s 7-0 start to the 2024 season.
“They deserve it,” Hutchinson said. “I was lucky enough to be what I believe was a key piece of that program. Just to see Iowa State doing so well, to see coach Campbell, to see some of the players that I played with, it’s amazing. I keep rooting them on. I still don’t like the close games, but if it means a win, then all the stress is worth it.”
Hutchinson’s Texans will look to get back on the winning track Sunday when they host Indianapolis.
Iowa State’s 285-pound wrestler Yonger Bastida poses during the university’s wrestling media day at Lied Recreation Athletic Center on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — “The past is the past.”
That’s the motto Iowa State’s standout senior heavyweight Yonger Bastida adopted for his final season — and for good reason.
The talented Cuban transplant powered through an undefeated regular season in 2023-24 en route to a Big 12 championship. Bastida expected to win an NCAA title to cap off a perfect season, but instead, he suffered a last-second loss in the quarterfinals and a subsequent defeat in the blood round that kept him off the podium.
“I feel like I learned a lot about myself,” said Bastida, who achieved All-American status in 2022. “How to come back — and now I’m ready. My mind’s already stronger than last year; everything I went through last year. So that’s what is new: I’m mentally prepared.”
Bastida’s one of four current Cyclones who have earned All-American honors. Evan Frost, Anthony Echemendia, and Casey Swiderski ascended the podium at nationals last season, while former star David Carr won his second NCAA crown as ISU notched its best finish at nationals (fourth) since 2010. Swiderski competed at 141 pounds last season to allow the Cuba-born Echemendia to shine at 149, but those two — along with several other Cyclones — could be on a collision course this season. ISU’s second round of wrestle-offs is slated for 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 2, with more coming after the No. 10 Cyclone football team’s 2:30 p.m. game that day against Texas Tech. And head coach Kevin Dresser expects the competition at several weight classes to remain stern well past the Nov. 8 season opener against Stanford.
“We’ve got some options this year, so we’re gonna play a lot of cards,” Dresser said. “Especially this first month, we’re gonna play a lot of cards and see what the best team is.”
Bastida took stock of the hand he was dealt at last year’s NCAAs and eventually emerged reinvigorated. Humbled but undeterred. Disappointed but not downtrodden.
“He fell on his face on Friday at the NCAA Tournament and I’m sure he licked his wounds for a while,” Dresser said. “But when we got back together as a team (in late May) he has been outstanding. We’ve thrown a lot of challenges at him, so I know he’s hungry right now.”
Bastida’s also enjoying having another Cuban on the team in freshman Osmany Diversent, a two-time Junior Pan-American Games champion.
“I’m here for him and he’s here for me, too,” Bastida said. “For example, what happened to me last year, I told him (about it), and he said, ‘You know, this is wrestling.’”
Bastida’s teammate, Paniro Johnson, is simply happy to be wrestling this season. The talented 149-pounder from Erie, Pa., was suspended last season by the NCAA after being charged in the state’s now-embattled probe into sports gambling, but that suspension’s been reduced. Johnson now retains three full seasons of eligibility but must sit out two matches this season.
“I feel like Casey feels like he’s the best in the room, Anthony feels like he’s the best in the room (157-pounder (Cody) Chittum feels like he’s the best in the room, I feel like I’m the best in the room,” Johnson said of a deep and decorated group of ISU middleweights. “That fight makes it competitive and it’s got us all growing really, really fast.”
The same goes for Bastida, who clung to one motto from his past. His foes must “survive” a bout with him because of his unrelenting attacks.
“You guys are gonna see a better Yonger,” he said.
Iowa State Wrestling held their annual media day in the Harold Nichols Wrestling Room. Listen to Yonger Bastida (285), Christian Carroll (197), Evan Bockman (184), Evan Frost (133), Casey Swiderski (149) and Paniro Johnson (157), Kysen Terukina (133).
Iowa State Wrestling is just a short few weeks away from starting the new season. Iowa State held their annual media day in the Harold Nichols Wrestling Room to preview the upcoming season.
Head coach Kevin Dresser broke down where the starting lineup stands, expectations for the new season and more.
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball has sold out of reserved section season tickets for the 2024-25 season. 3,350 tickets were sold as part of the reserved season ticket sale in the lower bowl at Hilton Coliseum. General admission season tickets are still available for purchase here.
“Once again, Cyclone Nation has shown to be the best fans in the country,” said head coach Bill Fennelly. “All of us associated with Cyclone women’s basketball appreciate your continued support and look forward to another season of Hilton Magic.”
Single-game pre-sale for season ticket holders and Cyclone Club donors is available now. Single-game public on sale will begin on Wednesday, October 23 at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.com.
Click here on Wednesday to go to the public on sale. Iowa State is one of three programs (UConn, Tennessee) to rank in the top 10 nationally for home game attendance in each of the last 24 seasons (does not include 2020-21 season).
In the nine seasons prior to Coach Fennelly’s arrival in Ames, the Cyclones averaged 628 fans per contest. Since his arrival 29 seasons ago, he has seen attendance grow to over 10,000 fans every game. Iowa State hosts Central College on October 30 for a preseason exhibition contest before welcoming Chicago State to Hilton Coliseum on Opening Day (November 4). The Cyclones will host seven additional non-conference games before opening the Big 12 slate on New Year’s Day against Kansas.
Oct 19, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Abu Sama III (24) runs the football against the UCF Knights at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones beat the Knights 38 to 35. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
The following is a press release Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – No. 10 Iowa State’s Nov. 2 Homecoming game against Texas Tech (5-2, 3-1) at Jack Trice Stadium will kick off at 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN.
The Cyclones are 7-0 for the first time since 1938 and 4-0 in conference play for the first time in school history.
To purchase tickets to the Texas Tech game, click here.
Aug. 31 NORTH DAKOTA (FS1) W, 21-3
Sept. 7 at No. 21 Iowa (CBS) W, 20-19
Sept. 21 ARKANSAS STATE (ESPN+) W, 52-7
Sept. 28 *at Houston (FS1) W, 20-0
Oct. 5 *BAYLOR (FOX) W, 43-21
Oct. 12 *at West Virginia (FOX) W, 28-16
Oct. 19 *UCF (FS1) W, 38-35
Nov. 2 *TEXAS TECH (HC) (ESPN) 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 9 *#at Kansas
Nov. 16 *CINCINNATI
Nov. 23 *at Utah
Nov. 30 *KANSAS STATE
Dec. 7 Big 12 Championship Game
All times central.
*Big 12 Conference Game
at Kansas City, Mo. (GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium)
#
Oct 19, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jontez Williams (3) celebrates after his interception to seal the game against the UCF Knights at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones beat the Knights 38 to 35. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
A 38-35 win over UCF … the Cyclones stayed undefeated, and in the top 10. As Matt Campbell said in his postgame speech to the team, “The black jerseys believe.”
Let’s muse.
Iowa State has to be better, and this team knows thatThe Cyclones allowed UCF to rush for 9.1 yards per carry. Quarterback Rocco Becht threw two picks. Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel each had critical drops.
The slow motion replay of players walking alongside and not jumping on the ball that was dropped before the end zone line on the UCF interception was the epitome of that game.
Those guys shouldn’t take heat for that, and likely had gotten more had the result been different, but they know they can’t afford mistakes like that in other games.
It was the wakeup call – and managing to win the wakeup call is what top 10 teams do.
“Winning in the margins”A phrase that’s been screamed from the mountain top by this program over the years – and one that would have been echoed by frustrated fans – again – had the result been different.
But Chris Andringa tweeted a really peculiar set of stats I wanted to include here.
“Winning in the Margins”
Fewest Penalties/Gm: 3.29 (2nd in FBS)
Fewest Pen Yds/Gm: 25.14 (1st)
TO Margin/Gm: +1.29 (T-8th)
Fumbles Lost: 0 (T-1st; 1 of 4)
Interceptions Gained: 12 (T-6th)— Chris Andringa (@cjandringa) October 20, 2024
I’m old enough to remember when David Montgomery not fumbling for a whole season was one of the stories of the year – that still wasn’t a damn fumble in the ’17 Liberty Bowl, by the way.
To be in the top half of the country in all of those is winning in the margins. Being in the top 10 in each stat is a characteristic of a great team – and they’ve got one in Ames.
Clock managementI think we’ve seen Iowa State on both sides – good and bad – of the clock management game plenty of times in the Campbell era.
There are philosophical differences here and there on what that really means to coaches and fans alike, sure, but Saturday might have been this group’s best.
It sure as hell is in recent memory, even if mine is a bit dinged up this week.
Iowa State’s defense stopped R.J. Harvey in the backfield on 1st and 10 with 4:29 to play.
Campbell held his timeouts, and Jacurri Brown took off for a 20-yard rush on the ensuing play.
UCF ran the clock, and took a delay of game that left 2:59 remaining.
Harvey went for 12 yards and took the clock down to 2:14 on the next play – and Campbell had the restraint to hold his timeouts, again.
UCF picked up the first down – and really, Campbell used the two-minute timeout as a fourth timeout. He played it perfectly, and it timed out perfectly, to give No. 3 over 100 seconds to play with.
He only needed 78. That was winning in the margins.
Are we talking about Jontez Williams enough?I mean, for real.
The jump he has made from his freshman to sophomore seasons is the one coaches dream of.
Williams had just three pass breakups all season a year ago, and now you look up and see four consecutive games with interceptions to kick off Big 12 play for Iowa State.
Jontez Williams has had an interception in four straight games, making him the fifth player in program history to do so. The one he had tonight helped seal the win over UCF. pic.twitter.com/AG3CIudf2C
— Reina Garcia (@ReinaGarciaTV) October 20, 2024
I don’t take a bunch of stock in Pro Football Focus grades, but he had the best grade overall of anyone on the field defensively in 41 snaps at an 85.9. His coverage grade was an “elite” 90.1.
The Florida native has the longest active streak in the country and is making ball-hawking plays routinely.
“Honestly, it was awesome, but I’ve seen him make that play so routinely, that it doesn’t really make me go crazy,” defensive lineman and captain J.R. Singleton said. “I know that’s a crazy play to make, but I think you guys have got to understand how great he is, and how good his technique is.”
I grew up being told that you have to have a relentless will to win when you run the No. 3.
Granted, that was car racing, but both of the guys wearing it on this team have no shortage there.
Mr. BrightsideOK, real quick, it seems that there is a big debate on the socials about this song and Matt Van Winkle is the only guy on the planet vehemently distraught that this song is a thing.
I remember hearing it at parties – right around that time David Montgomery was protecting the football – for the first time.
My friends were shocked I hadn’t heard it and I couldn’t exactly pinpoint if I had known it was a thing at the time.
Then you hear about it being a song about getting over an ex that’s in love with someone else, and it makes even less sense.
But damn, it does get the kids going.
And that’s probably the point here – as the black uniforms do the players. Don’t get wrapped up in what it is, just let the fun stuff happen.
In the Big 12 There are six teams in the Big 12 that either 3-1 in conference play or better, but I will be leading with Arizona State.
The Sun Devils were trying to complete a comeback against Cincinnati in the fourth quarter of a 24-14 loss.
Both of their final two drives ended in missed field goals, and coach Kenny Dillingham, who’s become must-watch TV, has called for open tryouts at the kicking position for anyone on ASU’s campus during the team’s bye week.
Kenny Dillingham said that ASU will be hosting kicking tryouts on Monday:
“Our kicking game is atrocious. If you can kick and you’re at Arizona State, email me. We’re going to have kicking tryouts on Monday … I’m dead serious.”@DevilsDigest pic.twitter.com/tUsrZDP4Wi
— Justin LaCertosa (@LaCertosaSports) October 19, 2024
Students in Tempe have been out on the practice fields, and although there was a half-baked apology from someone on Dillingham’s account, the tryouts are happening.
As expected pic.twitter.com/mXylYjkbmu
— Barstool ASU (@tempebarstool) October 20, 2024
I would like to apologize in my post game press conference I talked about our kicking game like I do offense / defense. However the kicking game is always directed at one player. I should not have done that and I apologize. This team’s losses will always 100% fall on myself.…
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) October 19, 2024
Stumbled upon this kid – who appears to have just worked on kicking and punting as a hobby over the years – and I’m declaring him as leader in the clubhouse.
I would love to tryout for the @ASUFootball team. I am a kicker, punter, place holder and have been trying to walk onto the team for three years now and I love kicking and putting in the work. @KennyDillingham if you give me a tryout I promise I won’t disappoint @RisingSunDevils… pic.twitter.com/cl0j4qVfbN
— Nolan Krinsky (@NolanKrinsky) October 19, 2024
A bonus – here’s your weekly Cam Skattebo highlight. I’m not sure what I will do for this column next week without him on the field.
Cam Skattebo is rated E for everyone!
This is an absurd touchdown run.
pic.twitter.com/C8XEEDTcUI— Anthony Totri (@Anthony_Totri) October 19, 2024
OK, so Cincinnati looks like its putting some of its pieces together. The Bearcats are 5-2 and face a fellow 3-1 Big 12 team in the nightcap on Saturday with Colorado (9:15 p.m. ESPN).
Former Iowa State linebackers coach and current Cincy defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt is getting the job done. That game Saturday will be the real litmus test.
Colorado has gotten every break it could in the Big 12 schedule so far.
UCF was at its worst when they faced the Buffaloes and y’all remember the pair of hail mary’s they needed to beat Baylor.
This week, CU got to beat up on a spiraling Arizona team, who’s head coach wasn’t even in the stadium 45 minutes before kickoff.
Brent Brennan was meeting with boosters outside the stadium 45 minutes before kickoff. While I appreciate the effort, there seems to be a major disconnect in yet another aspect of the program/administration. 45 minutes before kickoff and outside the stadium is insane.
— Jason Scheer (@jasonscheer) October 20, 2024
We’ll get to preface the game of the week in Cincy-CU with a loser-leaves-town in Arizona vs. West Virginia in Tucson (5 p.m. FS1).
Oklahoma State took BYU to the wire in similar fashion to what UCF did in Ames.
The Cougars as chaotic as it gets and really fun to watch. It felt like every pass was going to be intercepted watching this game, but there are playmakers and a kickass atmosphere thriving down there in Provo.
Cougars wideout Darius Lassiter made moves and trotted into the end zone with seconds on the clock to give BYU a 7-0 record.
The Cougars don’t play any of the five other teams in the league with 3-1 starts or better, but with the way it’s going, that chaos could go either way in this league.
I do think Jacurri Brown is the real deal after seeing him in Ames this week – BYU and UCF could play a fun one (2:30 p.m. ESPN) at the bounce house this week.
Somehow, Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State are 0-4 in Big 12 play, and they didn’t look out character making this game as close as it was.
Garret Rangel got the start at quarterback for Oklahoma State, and played a really good first half before having to be taken out with a collarbone injury.
Ollie Gordon made his moves and Alan Bowman was solid during his time on the field, but that defense has a lot of holes. The Cowboys get Baylor – which is coming off a big win – in Waco this week (2:30 p.m. ESPN+).
Speaking of Baylor, who saw this one coming?
The Bears knock off a previously undefeated Texas Tech on the road, putting up 59 points on the Red Raiders in what felt like a Kliff Kingsbury coached Red Raider defense.
Despite the loss, it’s still Joey McGuire’s best start in Lubbock with five wins in the opening seven games.
Tech’s schedule played out nicely and I called for them to have six wins at a minimum when they came to Ames and they’ll go for that mark against TCU this week (2:30 p.m. FOX).
K-State takes rolls in Morgantown
Man, do the hits just keep coming for West Virginia. Quarterback Garrett Greene left the game at halftime after taking a big hit while trying to tie the game late in the second quarter.
Avery Johnson looks to be coming into his own, too, right before K-State tries for a 16th win in a row against KU.
And Utah?
So much for ‘running the Big 12,’ eh.
Oct 18, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton (6) and forward Alanna Smith (8) celebrate their teams win after game four of the 2024 WNBA Finals against the New York Liberty at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
The clock struck midnight on Bridget Carleton’s breakout season in the WNBA as the Minnesota Lynx were upended by New York 67-62 in overtime in game 5 of the WNBA Finals.
During the season, Carleton had become an every-day starter with the Lynx and averaging 9.9 points per game for the team.
The former Cyclone averaged 33.2 minutes per game this season – her sixth in the league.
Carleton tallied three points, six rebounds and two assists in the loss Sunday, but earned her team a spot in Game 5 Thursday night.
Carleton clinched the win for the Lynx in Game 4, nailing two free throws with two seconds remaining to give Minnesota the 82-80 lead and force Game 5.
Although the goals of a championship came up short, Carleton proved herself this season, and there are plenty of Cyclones proud of that.
Iowa State earned its first commitment to the 2026 recruiting class on Sunday in offensive lineman Mason Bandhauer.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound prospect and son of former Iowa State player Todd Bandhauer announced his commitment over social media.
Bandhauer chose the Cyclones over offers from Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Kansas, Mississippi State, Boston College, Oregon State, Washington State, Wyoming and Colorado State.
The Fort Collins, Colorado prospect is rated as the No. 3 player in the state in his class, and also slots in as the No. 35 offensive tackle in the latest 247 Sports recruiting rankings.
It’s fitting that Ryan Clanton’s group claims the first commitment to the 2026 class – Iowa State has had its deepest offensive line in the Campbell era this season and has added a plethora of talent at the position since he arrived.
Saturday night at Jack Trice Stadium was unforgettable. A heart-pounding, electric atmosphere filled the air.
With just 30 seconds left, Rocco Becht raced into the end zone, sealing the Cyclones’ victory and making the team 7-0 for the first time since 1938. The final score, 38-35, will undoubtedly haunt the Central Florida, who came so close to upsetting one of the top teams in the conference.
It wasn’t the prettiest win but it was a satisfying win. It was a win we’ll look back on or a long time. Relive the magic from start to finish in the gallery below.
AMES — He galloped for a handful of key this-down conversions. And he stutter-stepped and stiff-armed his way to a few fourth-down conversions. Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht exhibited an ability to run the football at a level that likely surprised a lot of Cyclones fans — and each carry loomed large in Saturday’s tense, but thrilling 38-35 win over UCF at a sold-out Jack Trice Stadium.
“We had a few QB-designed runs but not all of those rushing yards were QB-designed,” said Becht, who rushed for a career-high 97 yards and the game-winning touchdown to send ISU (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) into its second bye week still tied atop the league standings. “So I just kind of let (loose) and played the game and played it like backyard football. It eventually did help us out on third downs and fourth downs and as long as it helps the team out, and keep moving he ball, I’ll keep doing it.”
Becht’s quick-cutting ability — whether designed or improvised — adds a new and necessary wrinkle to the Cyclones’ offense, which totaled a season-high 530 yards. ISU also overcame a slew of miscues, including two costly interceptions by Becht that turned into eventual touchdowns. The Cyclones’ defense gave up 354 rushing yards — the most in a win since at least 1996. So these are heady times for ISU, which danced on the razor’s edge of defeat all night before making all the critical plays needed in the final four minutes.
“Our seniors have powerful stories,” said Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell, whose team is 7-0 for the second time in program history — and the first time in 86 years. “And their stories are of resolve, toughness and character. When that group has a powerful story to tell and they demand a standard of excellence in the program, then you get what you saw tonight, and that’s a really courageous football team.”
It’s also a banged-up football team, so ISU’s second and last bye week of the season comes at a good time. Standout sophomore tight end Ben Brahmer left the game after sustaining a lower-body injury and stood on crutches on the sideline in the second half. The Cyclones have played 11 different linebackers because of injury and several other key players are dealing with minor physical ailments that have limited their productivity.
“I think a lot of (Brahmer’s situation) was precautionary, which I think, hopefully, we dodged a bullet,” Campbell said. “Obviously Ben’s critical to our football team and a huge piece of it, but I think some of those guys stepped up and played really good tonight, but I don’t think it’s serious.”
So what is serious? ISU’s ongoing Big 12 title hopes. The Cyclones are tied with BYU at 4-0 in league play and will face Texas Tech (5-2, 3-1) coming off the bye week. The Red Raiders fell for the first time in conference play on Saturday against Baylor.
“If we want to be a great team at the end of the season, (we) have to get better,” Campbell said. “You can’t give up 300 yards rushing. You can’t throw two pick-sixes. Those things aren’t what champions do, but you’re ability to respond to it’s awesome. Now come back and practice and continue to get ourselves better — those are things that are gonna be fun to watch this team keep growing.”
That’s true for everyone on ISU’s roster, and it’s particularly true for Becht, who threw those aforementioned two pick-sixes (though one was ruled down at the Cyclones’ one-yard line). Backyard football can take center stage when a team’s trust and belief form a bulwark against adversity. No game is out of reach, but no game is a gimme, either. That’s where the “resolve, toughness, and character” Campbell spoke of comes in, and so far, it’s carried ISU to dizzying heights.
“I think mental toughness is my superpower,” said Becht, who threw for 270 yards in the win. “I think that’s my biggest strength that I have and that just comes with reps in practice and the way I grew up.”
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) reacts after made a first down against UCF during the first quarter in the week-8 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © NIrmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
No. 9 Iowa State finished a 14-point comeback, 38-35 win over UCF Saturday to improve to 7-0 on the year and 4-0 in Big 12 play.
The Cyclones needed an 11-play, 80-yard drive with 98 seconds left on the clock to – finally – punch in the go-ahead score. And, as they say…
Let’s get to the takeaways.
Digging the holeIowa State didn’t get punched in the mouth against UCF – it dug its own hole, and it was the biggest one its had to dig out of all year.
The Cyclones trailed 28-14 after a three-and-out on offense and a blown play from the defense leading to the Knights’ third touchdown of the game.
Iowa State left no room for error, and a blocked PAT made the win even less likely, but here we are.
Quarterback Rocco Becht started the game 6-18 on completions with a pick-six, before finishing 8-13.
Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel both had drops and the defense gave up three, 50-plus yard rushes that put UCF either in the end zone or right by it.
A poor performance by a banged up Iowa State defenseIowa State’s lack of healthy players on the defensive side of the ball showed itself Saturday more than it had all season.
UCF’s R.J. Harvey and Jacurri Brown carved up the Cyclones like Halloween had already arrived.
Harvey finished with 196 yards on the ground and Brown added another 154 – the Knights averaged 9.1 yards per rush in the game overall.
The number of injuries at both the linebackers spot and elsewhere on the field.
“We’re hanging on by razor’s edge physically right now,” coach Matt Campbell said. “To watch our kids have the endurance and the physical wherewithal to finish that game and play the way they did – I just told our kids, ‘I couldn’t be prouder of what they did.’ I think there’s been great belief in our locker room since I got here in January.”
Rocco Becht, the rusherBecht had his worst game of the year throwing the football, but more than made up for it as a rusher.
The sophomore leader at quarterback usually makes plays happen with his arm, but on Saturday, Becht was running for his life to extend drives throughout the night.
“My challenge to him a couple of weeks ago was that I really felt like, if we can get somewhere between 25 and 35 yards in him rushing the football – and with no turnovers – we’re going to win a lot of football games,” Campbell said. “I guess he doubled the yardage or quadrupled it, and turned it over a couple of times, so it kind of even things out.”
More than half of Becht’s rushing attempts ended in either first downs or touchdowns.
Get a load of these rushing attempts and the result of the play each time Becht tucked the ball and ran.
3 yards on 4th and 3 for a first down
23 yards on 1st and 10 for a first down
1 yard on 1st and 10
3 yards on 4th and 1 for a first down
2 yards on 2nd and 6
20 yards on 2nd and 10 for a first down
2 yards on 3rd and 1 for a first down
7 yards on 3rd and 10
1 yard for a touchdown
9 yards on 3rd and 8 for a first down
6 yards on 4th and 3 for a first down
6 yards on 2nd and 10
8 yards on 3rd and 4 for a first down
5 yards on 2nd and 2 for a first down
6 yards on 2nd and 14
8 yards on 2nd and 2 for a first down
3 yards on 2nd and goal
1 yard on 2nd and goal for a touchdown
It was fitting the game-winner came by No. 3 on the ground.
Is the future brightest for Carson Hansen at running back?That’s how it felt after Hansen’s 57-yard touchdown that put the Cyclones on the board in the first quarter.
After Hansen’s second touchdown of the game, he had totaled 80 yards on five carries, seemingly well on his way to his first 100-yard game.
However, the sophomore tailback only took four more rushes the rest of the night, and was limited in his time on the field through the second half.
“Carson got dinged up,” Campbell said. “He was dinged up coming into the game. We were concerned about his health – he had a couple carries – he just physically couldn’t do it anymore. Like I said, we’re hanging on by a thread right now.”
He finished with nine carries for 91 yards and two scores.
Ben Brahmer injuredIowa State tight end Ben Brahmer was hurt after taking a hit late in the second quarter.
Brahmer left the game favoring his left leg and did not return to the game. The standout player had a full brace on along with crutches on the sidelines for the rest of the game. Obviously, the hope is he uses the bye week to heel up.
“I don’t think it’s serious, but we’ll see,” Campbell said. “I think I’ll know a lot more next week and obviously, when we see each other again, I’ll have an update. But, I think a lot of it was precautionary – hopefully we dodged a bullet. Obviously, Ben is critical to our football team.”
Getting that win right before the second bye weekWith the victory, Iowa State keeps its momentum going and record unblemished.
“As much as you just want to steamroll everybody, this was probably the best time for this to happen,” defensive lineman J.R. Singleton said. “So, we can take a deep breath, get our guys healthy and also go to work. Winning six games in a row – or well, now seven – some guys can get complacent, but I feel like with the way we won tonight, there’s no complacency.”
“Since I’ve got here, we’ve lost so many games like that,” Singleton said. “Honestly, I was just tired of losing like that. There was no option of losing that crossed my mind. It’s definitely huge to win like that – to keep the momentum going, but also on the film to be honest with ourselves – and oh, maybe the team we play next is going to take advantage of that. They won’t let you get away with that error.”
Now it heads into its second bye week, with some time to rest before its five games that stand between it and a trip to another Big 12 championship game under Campbell.
“It helps a lot for us to have a bye week at this point,” Noel said. “We’re going to need it. We’re going to have to take advantage of this bye week and take care of our bodies. We’ve got a tough, six-game stretch coming up.”
The next time Iowa State takes the field, it will be ranked in the top 10 with an undefeated record in November.
…
Survive and advance.
Oct 19, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) celebrates after scoring late in the game to beat the UCF Knights at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones beat the Knights 38 to 35. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht joked early this week that all he wants to do when he runs the ball is gain four yards every time.
But Saturday night against UCF, a one-yard plunge would suffice.
Becht’s short run to the end zone with 30 seconds left helped the No. 9 Cyclones cement an odds-defying 38-35 comeback triumph — and make his team 7-0 for the first time since 1938.
“I knew I was gonna score,” said Becht, whose team is 4-0 in Big 12 conference play for the first time ever. “There was no doubt. I was going in there with all I had and we had the look we had, and (quarterbacks) coach (Jake) Waters told me in the helmet, ‘Go get this. Go win it.’ I just put my pads down and did it for this team.”
The Jack Trice Stadium crowd of 61,500 erupted. A 14-point second-half rally was nearly complete, and after a successful two-point conversion and cornerback Jontez Williams’ interception in the closing seconds, ISU could collectively exhale — and take stock of matching the program’s best start in hits 133-season history.
“The (team’s) leadership, the resolve, I think, just showcased itself,” said Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell, who watched Becht drive his team 80 yards in 1:18 to win the game. “I don’t think there (are) a whole lot of words that probably can put what happened (in perspective), but it’s a credit to our kids believing and executing in critical moments. Sometimes a game doesn’t go the way you want it to. It certainly didn’t tonight, but I thought our ability to just have resolve and kind of hang in there — it’s kind of what you had to do.”
ISU trailed 35-27 with 11:38 left after Becht’s second interception set up Knights tailback R.J. Harvey’s one-yard run. But ISU’s defense stiffened as Becht went to work. A promising drive fizzled out in the red zone, so Cyclones kicker Kyle Konrardy drilled a 30-yard field goal to make the score 35-30 with 8:53 left. The defense eventually got the stop it needed with 1:48 left when it forced UCF (3-4, 1-3) to punt and set the stage for Becht’s heroics. Then Williams — who has intercepted a pass in four straight games — sealed the win to keep ISU tied with BYU atop the conference standings.
“I barely heard the crowd,” Williams said. “But I was just looking at my teammates, loving those guys. Those guys give me all the confidence in the world to go out there and play.”
Becht completed 20 of 46 passes for 270 yards — 226 of which came in the second half. He also rushed 20 times for a career-high 97 yards and two touchdowns. Cyclone tailback Carson Hansen rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns before suffering an apparent injury Campbell doesn’t think is severe. ISU receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins tallied 153 and 58 yards through the air, respectively, and Higgins snared a 12-yard touchdown pass from Becht.
The Cyclones — who gave up a staggering 354 rushing yards — outgained the Knights 172 yards to 71 in the fourth quarter and won their eighth straight regular-season game dating back to last season.
“It literally just comes down to the belief and the love we have for each other,” said senior captain and defensive tackle J.R. Singleton. “(And) not just the belief we have for each other as players, but (also) the belief and love we have for the coaches, which I think is really hard to do in this day and age, because coaches are just trying to move on just like players are just trying to get money. So, you know, what we have here is special.”
None of that is lost on Becht, who endured his least efficient game as a Cyclone passing-wise, but shined with his arms and legs when it mattered the most.
“It feels good going into a bye week,” said Becht, whose team is off until a Nov. 2 home date with Texas Tech (5-2, 3-1). “Momentum is big for us. We needed that win. We needed that tough win, you know, that adversity.”
Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell celebrates after a touchdown against UCF during the first quarter in the week-8 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell talks becoming 7-0 after 38-35 win against UCF. Plus, injury updates and thoughts headed into the bye week.
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova
Iowa State’s Rocco Becht, JR Singleton, Jaylin Noel and Jontez Williams breakdown their thoughts following Iowa State’s 38-35 win over UCF.
Oct 12, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) runs for a touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the fourth quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
No. 9 Iowa State returns to Jack Trice Stadium as a top 10 team to take on UCF. Here’s everything you need to know for Saturday’s game.
Game Day InformationNo. 9 Iowa State (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) vs. UCF (3-3, 1-2 Big 12)
Location: Ames, Iowa
Stadium: Jack Trice Stadium (61,500)
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports 1 (Trent Rush, Spencer Tillman)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Iowa State -13.5 (via Action Network updated Friday)
Over/Under: 49.5
Series ResultsThis will be the first meeting between Iowa State and UCF in the programs’ histories.
However, both teams’ fan bases had some fun on Twitter when the Knights first joined the league, dubbing this game the new ‘Civil Conflict’ rivalry, which was originally named for UCF’s series against UConn.
Players to watchCarson Hansen, running back (Iowa State)
The sophomore running back exploded in Iowa State’s win over west Virginia last week, going for 96 yards and three scores. There’s no telling which running back breaks loose for the Cyclones on any given week, but Hansen is going for his third-straight, 90-yard performance.
The wideouts – Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel (Iowa State)
Higgins and Noel are the only wide receiver duo in the country that each has over 500 yards on the season through six games. To put that into perspective, Iowa State has had just six 1,000-yard receivers in program history. Without a true third wideout establishing themselves so far, it’s possible that both of them hit that milestone – look for either to have a big catch or two again Saturday.
Rylan Barnes, linebacker (Iowa State)
The walk-on linebacker from Britt, Iowa nearly led the Cyclones in tackles against the Mountaineers. With the amount of injuries Iowa State has faced at the linebacker spot, players like Barnes have stepped up where they’ve been needed, and he might be having the best year out of all of them.
Jacurri Brown, quarterback (UCF)
The former Miami transfer came into UCF’s game against Cincinnati during the third drive and never exited. The Knights went away from former starter K.J. Jefferson this week and freshman E.J. Colson started against Cincy. Iowa State will have a matchup with a fifth-straight dual threat player at the position, assuming it’s Brown. He rushed 16 times in the Cincy game and was 13-20 for 207 yards through the air.
R.J. Harvey, running back (UCF)
Harvey came into the season as one of the most hyped-up players in the Big 12 at the running back spot and has proven himself. Harvey ranks No. 11 in the country in yards per game, averaging 116.5 this season. He’ll be the best running back Iowa State has faced since Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, who ran it for 187 yards against the Cyclone defense.
Mac McWilliams, defensive back (UCF)
The Knights’ senior defensive back that has remained steadfast on the field, collecting eight tackles and a forced fumble in the last pair of games. UCF has had a number of players leave for the portal, and will look for others to step up in leadership roles as the year goes on.
Keys to the gameSlow down the run
It’s no secret that UCF can run the football behind R.J. Harvey and any of its dual threat quarterbacks. The Knights are the No. 4 rushing offense in the country, averaging 268 yards per game thus far. It could turn into a low-possession game, so Iowa State must make the most of its opportunities and continue to play complimentary football against the best all-around rushing attack its faced all year.
Make them quit
The rushing game has been the one constant for the Knights this season, who started out 3-0, but have since gone on a three-game losing skid amidst a number of mid-season transfers set to leave the program. If the Cyclones can get out to a hot start early for a change, it could make this group quit – that’s the goal for Matt Campbell & co., who are separated from a 7-0 mark at the bye week by 60 minutes at ‘The Jack.’
In the Big 12
| Big 12 Standings | | Team | OVR | Big 12 | | No. 9 Iowa State | 6-0 | 3-0 | | No. 13 BYU | 6-0 | 3-0 | | Texas Tech | 5-1 | 3-0 | | No. 17 Kansas State | 5-1 | 2-1 | | Arizona State | 5-1 | 2-1 | | Cincinnati | 4-2 | 2-1 | | Colorado | 4-2 | 2-1 | | West Virginia | 3-3 | 2-1 | | Arizona | 3-3 | 1-2 | | UCF | 3-3 | 1-2 | | Utah | 4-2 | 1-2 | | TCU | 3-3 | 1-2 | | Houston | 2-4 | 1-2 | | Oklahoma State | 3-3 | 0-3 | | Baylor | 2-4 | 0-3 | | Kansas | 1-5 | 0-3 |
Friday, October 18
9:15 p.m. | Oklahoma State (0-3) @ No. 13 BYU (3-0), ESPN
Saturday, October 19
11:00 a.m. | Arizona State (2-1) @ Cincinnati (2-1), ESPN+
2:30 p.m. | Houston (1-2) @ Kansas (0-3), ESPN+
3:00 p.m. | Colorado (2-1) @ Arizona (1-2), FOX
3:00 p.m. | Baylor (0-3) @ Texas Tech (3-0), ESPN2
6:30 p.m. | UCF (1-2) @ No. 9 Iowa State (3-0), Fox Sports 1
6:30 p.m. | No. 17 Kansas State (2-1) @ West Virginia (2-1), FOX
9:30 p.m. | TCU (1-2) @ Utah (1-2), ESPN
Oct 12, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) runs the ball during the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Chris Williams (5-1)
Two red zone turnovers doomed UCF last week, but they moved the ball a lot better when messing around with quarterbacks. I don’t expect Gus Malzahn’s team to be a finished product when it comes to Ames, as there appears to be some culture problems amongst all of their transfers this year. But this is the type of team – with its slog style of play — that can keep things somewhat close. Iowa State 27, UCF 14.
Rob Gray (5-1)
UCF at Iowa State – The troubled Knights — who have lost seven players to the transfer portal since the season started — boast the nation’s fourth-best rushing offense, which averages 268 yards per game, and have been stringy against the run defensively (91.2 yards per game allowed). Usually, that means the team’s having success, but excelling at the line of scrimmage hasn’t stopped UCF from suffering three straight losses. The Knights have enough top-end talent to challenge the No. 9 Cyclones as 13.5-point underdogs, but not enough to avoid a fourth consecutive loss. Iowa State 27, UCF 17
Connor Ferguson (6-0)
Iowa State flummoxes inexperienced UCF quarterback Jacurri Brown and limits running back R.J. Harvey enough to take the lead in the first half. The Cyclones don’t look back and roll into the second bye week with a 7-0 record. Iowa State 32, UCF 11
Jeff Woody (6-0)
This is basically just the West Virginia game again, this time at home. But I think Garrett Greene is a better quarterback than what UCF has. How the Knights will try and attack the ISU defense is anyone’s guess. We’ll find out in the first 2 drives, then Iowa state shuts the door. It’s close for the first half, just like every other game this year, but Iowa State runs and hides. Iowa State 38, UCF 20
Grant Mahoney (6-0)
UCF is coming in on a 3 game skid, but don’t let that fool ya, these guys are good. UCF brings in the best rush defense ISU will have faced thus far, giving up on 91 YPG on the ground (next closest opponent ISU has faced is Iowa at 96 YPG). Their pass defense, however, is abysmal. Giving up almost 250 YPG, ranking 102 out of 133 teams, the worst FBS pass defense ISU has faced thus far. This will also be the best rush offense ISU has faced – as UCF is currently the #4 team in the country at 268 YPG. Jacurri Brown, a run-first 7th Floor Crew U transfer, will get his second career start at QB for them, but we may see multiple QBs for UCF in this game. The key to this game, much like the WV game, is stopping the run and forcing the QBs to throw the ball. I think we see Rocco cook and the Cyclones roll to improve to 7-0 heading into a much needed bye week. Iowa State 31, UCF 17
Jackson Pence (6-0)
This is a tricky spot for Iowa State. After a huge win at West Virginia last week, this has let down written all over. But not for this team. UCF has moved on from KJ Jefferson and in steps Jacurri Brown. Brown has the potential to hurt Iowa State in the run game as well as Knights running back RJ Harvey. I think Iowa State jumps out early to a 10-0 lead and never looks back. UCF might cover but the game will never be in doubt. Clones move to 7-0 into the much needed bye week. Iowa State 31, UCF 14
Oct 7, 2017; Norman, OK, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Landen Akers (82) congratulates Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Kyle Kempt (17) after defeating the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — David Montgomery nodded approvingly. Allen Lazard followed suit, locking eyes with his new starting quarterback. Suddenly, twice-transferred and long-overlooked quarterback Kyle Kempt clutched the keys to Iowa State’s offense, and instead of white-knuckling them, he calmly positioned them to click perfectly into place, igniting a program-changing upset.
The date: Oct. 7, 2017.
The foe: No. 3 Oklahoma.
The outcome: A Kempt-led 38-31 comeback triumph in Norman that proved then-second-year head coach Matt Campbell could make the previously unthinkable eminently attainable.
“They’re sitting there trusting you and (Campbell) on Thursday is sitting there telling me, ‘We’re gonna put you in a position to win the game,’” recalled Kempt, now a quality control assistant coach for No. 9 ISU (6-0, 3-0), which hopes to make history again in Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. Big 12 matchup (FS1) with UCF (3-3, 1-2) at Jack Trice Stadium. “I’m thinking at the time, ‘Man, I’m just trying not to screw this up,’ but here the head coach is telling me, No, you’re gonna put us in position to win the game. You’re one of these 11 guys.’ It just went to show (me), like, man, if that guy has faith in me, I can have faith in myself.”
Faith forges trust. Unlikely heroes (like third-string walk-on linebackers) emerge from the shadows. And the term “underdog” becomes a badge of honor, not a dismissive swipe of the hand. Kempt’s career was cut short by an injury and, as a redshirt senior in 2018, he was eventually replaced by a guy named Brock Purdy. But he’s been a part of the program ever since, serving as a graduate assistant and now in a quality control capacity for the Cyclones’ potent passing game.
“I would say he has the toughest job on the field with us quarterbacks because if we have a bad play or a good play, he’s the one that’s got to keep us level-headed, and consistently play through the failures and the ups and down,” said ISU standout sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht, who hopes to help his team start 7-0 for the first time since 1938. “So I love Kyle. He’s just been there for me the whole time.”
Kempt is the on-field liaison for quarterbacks coach Jake Waters, who communicates with Becht via in-helmet electronics. The trio — along with longtime Campbell staffer and first-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser — form a brain trust that expertly navigates the mental and physical challenges playing the quarterback position entails. Kempt’s experience in guiding the 26-point underdog Cyclones past the Sooners seven years ago merges with his keen mind for the game. It’s his job to comb through football at all levels for potential new plays and present them at staff meetings.
“It builds staff cohesion,” Kempt said of the collaborative approach Mouser instills in the room. “Every voice is valued and it does matter. No idea is too outlandish. No idea is too simple. And it helps us, especially as young coaches, to grow and learn the game from different perspectives.”
From a competitive perspective, ISU’s program has never been better. The Cyclones are 13.5-point favorites on Saturday against the run-heavy Knights, but they’ve never shed their underdog mentality. And for good reason. ISU exceeded expectations in 2020 by reaching the Big 12 championship game and notching its first New Year’s Six bowl win over Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. The Cyclones then failed to meet high expectations in 2021, losing five one-score games en route to a 7-6 finish. As for this dream-like season? Stay tuned. The suspense is palpable, but so is the faith and burgeoning trust.
“We’re just trying to go out there and get a win for each other,” Becht said. “No matter what the noise says on the outside, or what the people say on the outside, we’re trying to play for each other as a team.”
Just like in 2017, when Kempt helped make history, planting ISU’s flag squarely on the Big 12 contenders’ map.
“I think Kyle’s been an incredible story every step of the way,” Campbell said. “Just like (defensive coordinator Jon) Heacock’s been, just like (defensive line) coach (Eli) Rasheed has been and how coach Mouser has been — Kyle’s been. And the word that keeps coming to (me) is servant-leadership. From the very start, that’s really who he’s been.”
Mar 28, 2024; Boston, MA, USA;Iowa State Cyclones forward Hason Ward (24) reacts after a basket against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the semifinals of the East Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Former Iowa State star Hason Ward has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the defending NBA Champions Boston Celtics.
The Celtics are signing Hason Ward to an exhibit-10 contract, per sources. The big man, who played high school ball at Central High School in Springfield, was on Iowa State’s Sweet 16 squad last season after starting his college career at VCU.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) October 16, 2024
An Exhibit 10 deal is a minimum-salary, one-year contract that doesn’t count against the cap unless Ward makes the regular season roster.
In his final season with the Cyclones, Ward played in 28 games, averaging 15.9 minutes per game. He averaged 6.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 62.8% from the field.
Ward has spent time with the Sacramento King Summer League team and the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) before signing with the Boston Celtics.
East Rutherford, NJ — October 14, 2024 — Christian Benford of Buffalo takes down Allen Lazard of the Jets in the second half. The Buffalo Bills came to MetLife Stadium to play the NY Jets. The Jets played their first game under new interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich.
Cyclones in the NFL had another great week, kicking off with Brock Purdy on Thursday Night Football and ending the week with the New York Jets trio on Monday Night Football.
Brock Purdy was outstanding once again for the San Francisco 49ers. In their 36-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks, Purdy was 18-28 for 255 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He also collected a 129.3 passer rating which was second best in week six.
He completed two of his three touchdown passes to former Hawkeye tight end George Kittle.
Purdy to Kittle! Heck of a connection.#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/bUsneMjzJk— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024
KITTLE’S SECOND TD.#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/cazUyfOFf4— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024
After agreeing to a two-year $18.25 million extension earlier in the week, David Montgomery went out and recorded his eighth straight touchdown run in the regular season.
Montgomery tallied 12 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns in the Detroit Lions’ 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
David Montgomery stays on his feet for the TD!
: #DETvsDAL on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/GaSgaYdTxz— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2024
The effort by David Montgomery on this TD run
: #DETvsDAL on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/J0x8zGi0EH— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2024
Allen Lazard had another stellar performance for the New York Jets on Monday night. He finished with 114 yards on six receptions and one long touchdown catch.
ANOTHER AARON RODGERS HAIL MARY.
: #BUFvsNYJ on ESPN/ABC
: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/F8OMUzAW9l— NFL (@NFL) October 15, 2024
Lazard is now tied for the NFL lead in receiving touchdowns with five this season.
One more angle because we can. https://t.co/rQS2PJt239 pic.twitter.com/9wISOyfhen
— NFL (@NFL) October 15, 2024
Breece Hall got back to his normal ways on Monday night rushing for 113 yards on 18 carries while also catching five passes for 56 yards.
Breece Hall goes 42 yards!
: #BUFvsNYJ on ESPN/ABC
: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/1WSizWkvzS— NFL (@NFL) October 15, 2024
Will McDonald IV continues to make his presence known as he recorded two tackles including a strip sack and tackle for loss.
McDonald IV is tied for second in the NFL in sacks with seven on the year.
Eyioma Uwazurike played in his first game of the season for the Denver Broncos. It is his first game played since the 2022 season. He recorded 4 tackles in their 23-16 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Talked to #Broncos DL Eyioma Uwazurike about first regular-season game since 2022 season. Was “excited” to find out was active for 1st time this year. “It felt good to be able to help my team out..It’s something I’ve been doing all my life..I don’t think there was any rustiness.”
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) October 14, 2024
Charlie Kolar and Xavier Hutchinson both played but did not record any stats. T.J. Tampa and Anthony Johnson Jr. both did not play according to pro football focus.
Cyclones in the NFL Week 5 schedule
Thursday, Oct. 17
7:15 p.m. | Denver (Uwazurike) @ New Orleans, Prime
Sunday, Oct. 20
12:00 p.m. | Detroit (Montgomery) @ Minnesota, FOX
12:00 p.m. | Philadelphia @ New York Giants (Johnson Jr.), FOX
12:00 p.m. | Houston (Hutchinson) @ Green Bay, CBS
3:05 p.m. | Las Vegas @ Los Angeles Rams (Hummel), CBS
7:20 p.m. | New York Jets (Hall, Lazard, McDonald IV) @ Pittsburgh, NBC
Monday, Oct. 21
7:15 p.m. | Baltimore (Kolar, Tampa) @ Tampa Bay, ESPN & ABC
On Practice Squads
New Orleans Saints – Michael Jacobson
New York Jets – Kene Nwangwu
Washington Commanders – Julian Good-Jones
Dec 29, 2023; Memphis, TN, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) and wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) react after a touchdown during the first half against the Memphis Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins is one of a handful of highly productive Power Four conference pass catchers without a drop this season.
So … did he know that?
“No, I didn’t,” the 6-4 senior said, smiling. “I just give all the credit to the coaches and then (quarterback) Rocco (Becht) getting me the ball — just drawing up different plays for me and putting me in situations to succeed.”
Higgins enters Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. (FS1) Big 12 game between the No. 9 Cyclones (6-0, 3-0) and UCF (3-3, 1-2) with 39 catches on 49 targets this season, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). And his ability to both stretch the field and sure-handedly haul in jump balls has prompted teammates to compare him to former ISU star Xavier Hutchinson of the Houston Texans.
“(It’s) their competitive endurance, honestly,” fellow senior standout Jaylin Noel said last week. “They’re hungry to go compete each weekend and even throughout the week. Just to be able to go attack the ball the way those guys do, it’s really special.”
Noel’s no slouch in that regard, either. He leads the Cyclones in receiving yards with 528, yards per catch (18.2) and he also has zero drops this season. Noel and Higgins both rank among the top nine in PFF’s offensive ratings this season, and both are on track to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards — a feat only six ISU players have accomplished in program history. Hutchinson joined that club as a senior in 2022 and Higgins fell 17 yards short of that lofty number last season.
So how can Higgins and Noel both thrive as de facto No. 1 receivers simultaneously?
“I think it’s just the play calling that (offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser) brings to the table and how (that) gets the ball to those guys in different scenarios,” said Becht, who has 10 touchdown passes and three interceptions this season. “Because we’re not trying to just get the ball to one guy the whole game. We want to disperse the ball and make it harder for the defense to cover all the guys.”
Enter Eli Green, the North Dakota State transfer. One of his two catches in last week’s 28-16 win at West Virginia — his first since the season opener — came on a critical third down conversion. Walk-on Carson Brown’s also made some key plays in the passing game to augment Higgins’ and Noel’s big numbers.
“You never know when somebody’s gonna make the big catch,” Becht said. “That’s why everybody needs to be prepared for the moment.”
Becht and his top receivers will try to patiently pierce an improving Knights’ defense that ranks 12th in the Big 12 against the pass (246.0 yards per game) and second against the run (91.2 yards per game).
So even though UCF has lost three straight games, it maintains an ability to stay multiple and flexible defensively, which may or may not open up more one-on-one opportunities for Higgins and Noel, who can shine outside or attack from the slot.
“I think the friendship of those guys has been probably what’s spearheaded a lot of the success,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, whose team is 6-0 for the first time since 1938. “I think if you ask Rocco what allowed him to get off to a great start a year ago, it would have been those two guys’ confidence in each other, and their character and friendship, I think, really helped Rocco get off to a great start and give him confidence.”
Couple that confidence with the humility to share the spotlight and the perfect recipe for a scintillating start to the season emerges. The fact that Higgins and Noel each have zero drops merely highlights how the Cyclones continue to operate with nearly zero margin for error if they hope to reach the Big 12 title game and make history by hoisting that gleaming trophy for the first time.
“We’re trying to change the mindset of this school,” Higgins said. “We’re trying to win the Big 12 championship. It means a lot to us, and every week, we’ve got to give it our best.”
AMES — Uniform fanatics unite!
Tuesday night, the No. 5 Iowa State men’s basketball team announced on social media that the Cyclones will wear “Dribbling Cy” 1990’s-era throwback uniforms in the 2024-25 season.
A short video on X titled “The Return” showed several Cyclones, including Tamin Lipsey, Keshon Gilbert, Curtis Jones, and Milan Momcilovic wearing the new threads, which will be worn occasionally this season.
T.J. Otzelberger‘s squad will open the season at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4 against Mississippi Valley State at Hilton Coliseum.
Oct 12, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach celebrates after a touchdown during the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
The head coaches have completed their weekly pregame press conferences ahead of Saturday’s game between No. 9 Iowa state and UCF set for 6:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) at Jack Trice Stadium.
Here are the big takeaways.
UCF’s quarterback situationAfter starting the season with Arkansas transfer K.J. Jefferson, the Knights made a change at the quarterback spot in their game Saturday against Cincinnati.
Freshman E.J. Colson started Saturday’s game – a 19-13 home loss to Cincinnati – and led the first two drives of the day.
That’s when sophomore Jacurri Brown, a transfer from Miami, entered the game and never got taken out, finishing 13-20 for 207 yards with a touchdown and 84 rushing yards on 16 carries.
UCF coach Gus Malzahn said everything except Brown having the reigns on Saturday during his presser.
“We’re still working through it, but he will be the first to take snaps with the first team (Tuesday),” Malzahn said. “We’ll see how that goes moving forward, but I was real pleased with the way he responded. The moment wasn’t too big for him, for the first time being out in real action. Those other two times were really just kind of mop up. I thought he did some really good things. He gave a spark to our offense.”
If it is indeed Brown on Saturday, it will be the fifth-straight, dual threat quarterback that the Cyclone defense has faced.
“EJ, I thought did some good things for his first rodeo, too, but Brown will be the first to take snaps (Tuesday) in practice,” Malzahn said.
When asked if Jefferson was still being considered for the spot, Malzahn said, “We’ll see.”
Tablets helping outIowa State coaches on both sides of the ball have spoke this season about utilizing tablets on the sidelines during games and how big of a help its been to making in-game adjustments.
It’s part of a new rule implemented by the NCAA that allows coaching staffs to use the devices on the sidelines during games.
Defensive coordinator Jon Heacock spoke about what it’s done for the team on Tuesday.
“You can fix stuff, and I think the (tablets) help you a ton,” Heacock said. “What’s happening now with (tablets) on the field – I think you can make some good adjustments. I think the biggest thing is you don’t find when something happens – you can fix a problem. Or you don’t run yourself out of a defensive call, perhaps. ‘Man, it didn’t work.’ Well, why didn’t it work? Was it bad schematically, or were we a gap away or whatever. So, you can go back and run that defense, and I know in the past, sometimes, we might run something we put in during the week and call it once when it didn’t work. Then, it’s out. We can’t do that (anymore).”
Hindsight is 20-20, but maybe we should have made a bigger deal out of the NCAA approving the use of tablets when Heacock is involved as a coach.
It’s no wonder his in-game adjustments look as good as ever.
“I think you can make adjustments – a lot more are being made probably now than used to be made,” Heacock said. “I think the thing that you probably end up doing, speaking for myself, is probably throwing some of the stuff out, and finding the things that really work for your guys and are finding success with. And – who’s in the game, that’s part of it, too.”
Starting games off slowlyIowa State has had its fair share of challenges starting games, and just getting out to a hot start offensively in general.
It’s a problem coach Matt Campbell knows the team needs to fix, but he still feels confident about his squad in the ensuing 45 or 50 minutes.
“I do think our kids understand the value and I think that’s something I’d tell you – we have to be better, because we won’t continue to win football games if we can’t put together 60 full minutes of good football,” Campbell said. “But, I would also say that you have to have a mindset that no matter how you plan to get off to a great start or not get out to a great start, the reality of it is, things are going to happen. You have to have great leadership in the moments and great character to (say) the game isn’t over until it’s over.
“I’ve seen other teams and have been a part of other teams where you had success, and you couldn’t handle that either early in games,” Campbell said. “I think the one great thing this team has had all season is a great mindset on how to play: one moment at a time, one play at a time, one situation at a time, and really have the ability to zero-focus on that. Our efficiency can be better on some of those things, but I think our mindset has been right.”
That mindset may have showed itself in each of Iowa State’s four wins over power-conference opponents – having the ability to make plays no matter the scoreboard and remain unaffected by momentum is a big part of what has led to the 6-0 start.
Pay attention to Iowa State’s play calls on its first drive on offense and see if there are any adjustments there this week.
Not a ton of clarity on the injury frontCampbell didn’t give a ton of clarity on injuries to certain players this week. Here’s what he had to say:
“I think all of those guys are really close,” Campbell said. “Where you are at in the season right now – you’ve just got some guys that are banged up. Hopefully, as we continue on, we can get some of those guys back. I do think Cael (Brezina) was really close to playing last Saturday – I would expect him to be a lot closer to playing this coming Saturday. Dylan (Barrett) is in the same boat – not a season-ending injury or anything like that. We’ll see how he progresses this week as we kind of prepare and just continue to track our football team.”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and defensive coordinator Jon Heacock addressed media members Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center in Ames to preview their upcoming game against UCF (6:30 p.m., FS1).
UCF coach Gus Malzahn’s pregame press conference can be seen below, as well.
Iowa State’s Rocco Becht, Jayden Higgins, J.R. Singleton and Beau Freyler addressed media members Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center in Ames to preview their upcoming game against UCF (6:30 p.m., FS1).
Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell and his players take the field before the game against Arkansas State on Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State’s first 6-0 start in 86 years comes with an asterisk attached.
Why?
The No. 9 Cyclones have trailed in the second quarter in four of those games, but lockdown second-half performances have turned all but one of those wins into double-digit triumphs.
Next up: Struggling UCF (3-3, 1-2 Big 12), which enters Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. matchup (FS1) with ISU (6-0, 3-0) on a three-game skid. Seven Knights have entered the transfer portal, but stars such as running back R.J. Harvey and wide receiver Kobe Hudson remain, forming a potent duo that could initially put the conference-leading Cyclones’ defense on its heels early yet again.
“I really wish we’d play (well) at the beginning and get off the field on third downs, and we just have not,” said ISU defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, whose unit is tied with Ohio State for fifth nationally in points allowed per game (11.0). We’re playing some really good football teams. We’re playing teams that are having success and can move the football on offense and we’re gonna play another one this Saturday.”
Harvey leads all Big 12 backs with nine rushing touchdowns and averages 6.4 yards per carry. Hudson leads the conference in yards per coach at 20.7 and has caught three touchdown passes. UCF benched Arkansas transfer quarterback K.J. Jefferson last week and fellow transfer Jacurri Brown — another dual-threat talent from Miami — is expected to make his first start on Saturday.
“It’s the Big 12,” ISU senior defensive tackle J.R. Singleton said. “Everyone has electric QBs and he has a huge arm. I mean, all three of their quarterbacks are bigger bodies, can run and take off and have really big arms, so it’s gonna be a real challenge for the defensive line to stop them.”
The Cyclones’ defense, in turn, will provide stern resistance that relentlessly ratchets up as the game progresses. ISU’s allowed foes to score a mere 26 points in the second half and just 13 points in the fourth quarter on a pair of late touchdowns in double-digit wins.
The Cyclones’ rank among the top 15 defenses in the country in passing yards allowed (fifth, 145.7 per game), interceptions (tied for fifth, 10), and total yards allowed (15th, 285.3). But ISU has struggled to get off the field on third downs, allowing opponents to convert on a startling 42.4 percent of those situations — an area that must improve if this historic run is to continue.
“I’m kind of the perfectionist, the bad guy in the building, but I just think we’ve got a lot of missed assignments we’re still having,” Heacock said. “We’re missing tackles out in space that would eliminate some things. We’ve not been good in situational football (or) third downs.”
But there’s an asterisk attached to ISU’s few defensive shortcomings, as well.
“We’ve been playing extremely hard,” Heacock said. “We have laid our hearts out there — let me say that. Our guys have laid their hearts out there on that field, and that gives you the best chance (to win).”
Heacock said his defense has yet to play “great football” and the same could be said of the Cyclones’ offense early in games. ISU is averaging a scant two points in the first quarter in Big 12 play, but that number balloons to 18.7 points per game in the second half.
So if there’s one underlying feature of this ISU team, it’s resilience. There’s never any panic or sense of alarm. That’s true on both sides of the ball, whether at home or on the road.
“(Head coach Matt) Campbell says it all: ‘Who’s gonna be the most desperate team on Saturday?’” said star sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht, who boasts a 10-to-three touchdown-to-interception ratio this season. “And I feel like we’ve been the most desperate team out there just because we remember our history and have our scars from the past. So remembering those games and the way (they) ended, we don’t want that to happen again.”
That’s why 6-0 isn’t a rallying cry. It’s a stepping stone along an always-perilous path — no matter the hype or level of national attention.
“We won’t continue to win football games if we can’t put together 60 full minutes of good football,” Campbell said.
Iowa State women’s basketball became the lasted athletics program at the school to enter the top 10 in the Associate Press’ rankings.
The Cyclones debuted at No. 8 in the preseason poll, released on Tuesday.
Coach Bill Fennelly’s group is ranked the highest out of any Big 12 program in the poll, in front of No. 12 Baylor, No. 13 Kansas State and No. 16 West Virginia. TCU and Utah also received votes.
Iowa State will face No. 1 South Carolina on Thanksgiving (12:30 p.m., FOX) as well as No. 2 UConn on December 17 (7:30 p.m., FS1) during its non-conference schedule.
The Cyclones open the year with an exhibition game against Central on Wednesday, October 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum.
AP WBB Poll
Preseason, 2024-25
1. South Carolina
2. UConn
3. USC
4. Texas
5. UCLA
6. Notre Dame
7. LSU
8. Iowa State
9. NC State
10. Oklahoma
11. Duke
12. Baylor
13. Kansas State
14. Ohio State
15. North Carolina
16. West Virginia
17. Louisville
18. Maryland
19. Florida State
20. Ole Miss
21. Creighton
22. Kentucky
23. Nebraska
24. Alabama
25. Indiana
Others receiving votes: Iowa 37, TCU 30, Utah 24, Illinois 23, Stanford 17, Michigan St. 16, Gonzaga 16, Vanderbilt 12, South Dakota St. 7, Miami 4, Tennessee 3, Fairfield 3, Middle Tennessee 3, Georgia Tech 2, Syracuse 1, Princeton 1.
UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) leaps over the pylon to score a touchdown during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 5, 2024. © Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Another week, another milestone. Iowa State (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) has reeled off six consecutive wins to start a season for the first time since 1938. That leather-helmet-bound Cyclones team started 7-0, though — so a win Saturday night over foundering UCF (3-3, 1-2) won’t add any layers of history to this season’s already historic run. An ISU victory would, however, keep the Cyclones firmly embedded as the odds-on favorite to not only reach the Big 12 championship game but win it. As usual, winning is unlikely to come easy despite the Knights’ recent struggles. UCF boasts the Big 12’s best running game (268 yards per game), and ISU’s depth issues at linebacker aren’t going away anytime soon. Kickoff is set at 6:30 p.m. and the game can be seen on FS1. So … here are five Knights to know going into what could be another Jack Trice Stadium sellout:
RB R.J. Harvey The 5-9, 208-pound senior hometown hero has helped UCF stay in games during its recent three-game skid, but his production has waned since a hot start to the season. Harvey’s only rushed for one touchdown in the past three games after striking for eight in the first three games. He’s still averaged around five yards per carry during the losing streak — and has increasingly become a big-play threat in the passing game. Harvey’s caught at least one pass spanning 20-plus yards in each of the past four games and nearly achieved his first 100-yard receiving game in the blowout loss to Colorado on Sept. 28 at home. The Orlando native ranks 10th nationally in rushing yards per game at 115.7 and is the most well-rounded back the Cyclones will face in the regular season.
WR Kobe Hudson The 6-1, 200-pound senior from Pine Mountain, Ga., is one of the Big 12’s most incendiary downfield targets and has averaged 20-plus yards per catch in each of the past two seasons. Hudson’s on pace to set single-season career highs in catches and receiving yards, so even as the Knights’ quarterback situation has become unsettled, his production hasn’t dipped. Hudson secured a season-high seven catches in last week’s 19-13 loss to Cincinnati and he scored his team’s lone touchdown. He’s notched multiple touchdown grabs in four conference games since 2023 and scored two touchdowns in UCF’s 35-34 win over TCU. Hudson tied for 11th nationally last season with four catches spanning 50 or more yards.
QB Jacurri Brown (or K.J. Jefferson or E.J. Colson) Jefferson — an experienced and prolific transfer from Arkansas — was benched last week, paving the way for E.J. Colson to start against Cincinnati. He completed one of four passes for negative-six yards and took a sack, so he was promptly benched for Brown — who’s also a transfer player. The former Miami Hurricane put together a solid performance, completing 13 of 20 passes for 207 yards and the one touchdown to Hudson. He also rushed for 84 yards and is expected to get first-team reps all week in advance of the trip to Ames. Sacks have been a problem for each of UCF’s quarterbacks. Jefferson absorbed 13 sacks before being replaced and Brown was taken down three times in last week’s loss. The Knights are tied for 14th in the Big 12 in sacks allowed with 17 and rank 12th in passing offense at 205.8 yards per game.
LB Deshawn Pace The 6-2, 220-pound senior made waves in the offseason by transferring in-conference from Cincinnati. Pace leads UCF in total tackles (28) and solo stops (21), but had a season-low one tackle in last week’s loss to his former team. Expect the veteran to bounce back this week, as he’s recorded multiple tackles in every other game since the 2020 season. Pace also leads the team in interceptions with two.
DE Nyjalik Kelly The 6-5, 250-pound junior notched a career-high seven tackles in last week’s loss and leads the Knights with two sacks this season. Kelly, another transfer from Miami, was a consensus four-star recruit out of high school and compiled four sacks for the Hurricanes as a true freshman.
Iowa State men’s basketball slotted in at No. 5 in the season’s first Associated Press poll, released on Monday.
The Cyclones are one of five teams out of the Big 12 Conference ranked in the top 10 of the poll.
Kansas opens at No. 1 along with Houston at No. 4, Baylor at No. 8 and Arizona at No. 10. Cincinnati was also ranked at No. 20.
Iowa State will face its first opponent from the poll in its fourth game of the season, when it faces No. 11 Auburn in the opening round of the Maui Invitational.
The tournament also includes No. 3 UConn and No. 9 North Carolina.
Iowa State will open the season on Monday, November 4 against Mississippi Valley State at Hilton Coliseum (7:00 p.m. ESPN+).
AP MBB Poll
Preseason, 2024-25
1. Kansas
2. Alabama
3. UConn
4. Houston
5. Iowa State
6. Gonzaga
7. Duke
8. Baylor
9. North Carolina
10. Arizona
11. Auburn
12. Tennessee
13. Texas A&M
14. Purdue
15. Creighton
16. Arkansas
17. Indiana
18. Marquette
19. Texas
20. Cincinnati
21. Florida
22. UCLA
23. Kentucky
24. Ole Miss
25. Rutgers
Others receiving votes: Illinois 92, St. John’s 91, Xavier 73, Texas Tech 58, Wake Forest 37, Kansas St 30, Michigan St. 29, Ohio St. 29, Michigan 19, BYU 14, Oregon 12, McNeese St. 11, Miami 11, Boise St. 9, Saint Louis 9, Clemson 9, Providence 9, Mississippi St. 6, VCU 6, Wisconsin 5, Saint Mary’s 5, Louisville 4, UAB 4, Ark Little Rock 3, Grand Canyon 3, Arizona St 2, San Diego St. 2, Princeton 2, High Point 1, Maryland 1.
Oct 12, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) throws a pass against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Wake up and tell your kids about the top 10 Cyclones.
For the sixth time in program history, Iowa State appears in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll.
Iowa State’s AP Poll Top 10 appearances
2021, week 2: No. 9
2021, week 1: No. 7
2020, week 15: No. 8
2020, final: No. 9
2002, week 9: No. 9
That’s the entire list, and from the best I can tell, Iowa State wasn’t a 12-point favorite in the game it played after these appearances. Not to mention, the pair of basketball programs and wrestling team that could join football in the coming weeks.
We’re in special times right now. Let’s talk about the weekend.
Jon Heacock’s defense continues to flummox opposing offensesAnd it’s doing so in unorthodox ways.
Former Cyclone running back Jeff Woody – who’s become a terrific analyst over the years – put up a video showing three defensive linemen all rushing to the same side of the offensive line to force West Virginia’s Garrett Greene to the left side of the field.
Iowa State has outscored their opponents 103-26 in second halves this year because defensive coordinator Jon Heacock is insane. pic.twitter.com/qdRY5snlIM
— Jeff Woody (@jwoody32) October 13, 2024
It’s a tremendous look into the things this unit is doing, and it may not be a direct result from the depth it has needed to use at the linebacker spot, but it’s helping alleviate the amount of injuries the Cyclones have had there.
As for some normalcy we’ve seen with Heacock defenses over the years, Iowa State is getting better as games go on.
The Cyclones are outscoring opponents 103-26 in the second half of games this season, essentially pitching shutouts in four of six games if your excluding garbage time.
Iowa State’s deepest offensive line of the Campbell era kept it goingStarting left guard Dylan Barrett went down with an injury in the game, and that would spell trouble in previous years in the Campbell era. Second-year player Trevor Buhr came in to substitute and didn’t miss a beat.
Running back Carson Hansen reached the end zone three times, and although it wasn’t a 200+ rushing yard game, the offensive line kept things serviceable.
There’s still a lot of season left, but offensive line coach Ryan Clanton’s group is holding it down.
We’ll know more on the severity Barrett’s injury – and others’ – on Tuesday.
Rocco Becht had his best game of the yearThe Cyclones’ redshirt sophomore had gotten off to some uncharacteristic starts to games earlier in the season and looks to be hitting his stride at the right time.
Becht ended the game at 18-26 with 265 yards and a touchdown, which went 60 yards and looked easy for wide receiver Jaylin Noel.
The quarterback went into Morgantown and took what was his while his dad was inducted into the opposing team’s – which didn’t offer him – hall of fame. It doesn’t get much better than that.
pic.twitter.com/6Lh3SIjrjX
— Rocco Becht (@RoccoBecht) October 13, 2024
Around the Big 12 Kansas State avoided a collapse and snuck out of Boulder with a win.
The Wildcats had a 10-point lead and the ball on Colorado after picking off Shedeur Sanders in the fourth quarter, but still surrendered the lead late to the Buffaloes.
Thanks to a two-touchdown, 121-yard game from sophomore wideout Jayce Brown, K-State avoided the disaster the below selfie may have created had they lost.
An obliging Avery Johnson takes a selfie with a Colorado fan #EMAW pic.twitter.com/dt3TicnuFN
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 13, 2024
BYU has come out as a real contender for the Big 12 championship, and it almost still feels surprising. The Cougars’ 5-7 mark a season ago didn’t help and I think many around here have vivid memories of Iowa State’s 45-13 win in Provo a year ago. However, with an undefeated conference mark and what is proving to be an impressive win over SMU at the halfway mark, this team has everyone’s attention.
PARKER KINGSTON DOES IT ALL!!!#CollegeFootballpic.twitter.com/MccYzMIbmv
— Pick 6 Pack (@Pick6PackFB) October 12, 2024
The BYU defense is relentless in pressure and forced Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita into three interceptions as it took care of business and gave its offense room to operate. Sophomore wideout Parker Kingston had only one catch in the game, but accounted for two touchdowns in the victory, throwing for another score on a trick play that worked to perfection. The Cougars are doing everything right, and will be favored against Oklahoma State and UCF before the Holy War. They’ve got a bye week going into that one, too.
As for Arizona, the ‘Cats fall to 3-3 in their second-straight disappointing performance since they knocked off Utah. They are my Jekyll-and-Hyde Big 12 team of the year right now, just above the fan base that claimed it would run the conference in its first year.
Let’s talk about Utah, why not?
The Utes played their Halloween game three weeks early on Friday night in a 27-19 loss to Arizona State.
Whoever they put out there at quarterback was dressed in costume as veteran quarterback Cam Rising, but it wasn’t the same player that solidified the team as a top 25 group or Big 12 contender.
Sixteen for 37 with 209 yards and three interceptions – I could guess 100 quarterbacks in college football trying to blindly guess who had that line without sniffing Rising.
It’s evident that the injury that kept him out of Utah’s last three games is even more serious than previously thought. Utah gets TCU and Houston in back-to-back weeks before its second bye, so at the very least, its got a bit more time here, but the clock is ticking.
I buried the lead in this game, and I need to apologize for that.
Last week, I compared Cam Skattebo to Dale Earnhardt capturing crowds in the 1990’s, but maybe that was the wrong comparison.
Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo with one of the best runs of the season. Just ridiculous contact balance pic.twitter.com/DuW3Z4GH7E
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) October 12, 2024
This guy is putting Arizona State – a team that was picked to finish last in the league with a combined six wins over its past two seasons – he’s the story in every game, no matter the week.
It’s Donny Schatz in the early 2010’s – he won again on Saturday, by the way.
If you haven’t sat time aside to watch Skattebo, who finished with 156 yards and two scores against Utah, yet this year, get on it. They’ve got Cincinnati in the 11 a.m. timeslot Saturday.
And watch this video of Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham after his first win over a top 25 team as a head coach. It’s college football at its best.
Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham pulled off the upset then disappeared into the night in a mob of students
pic.twitter.com/YjqqUqzCOV
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 12, 2024
I called the UCF – Cincy game this week a ‘loser leaves town,’ game, but the Bearcats are flirting with a bowl game at 4-2 despite a tough schedule ahead.
The Knights meanwhile benched Arkansas transfer KJ Jefferson in favor of Miami transfer and former four-star quarterback Jaccuri Brown. Brown started for the team in its Gasparilla Bowl loss to Georgia Tech, but hadn’t seen the field at all since the opening two weeks in garbage time.
The encouraging aspect here is that Brown, who was 13-20 for 207 yards passing with 16 rushing attempts for 84 yards.
If the Iowa State defense was going to get a new quarterback thrown at it, a dual threat player at the position for the fifth-straight game and a game of film on him is the best it could ask for.
The Cyclones just need to take care of business on Saturday night and make it to the bye week.
Oct 12, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell celebrates with quarterback Rocco Becht (3) after defeating the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Iowa State moved into the top 10 following its 28-16 win over West Virginia in a 6-0 start to the season.
The Cyclones are ranked No. 9 in the newest Associated Press top 25 poll, released on Monday.
Matt Campbell’s team is the highest ranked in the Big 12, with BYU at No. 13 and No. 17 Kansas State coming in behind it. This is the third-straight week the Cyclones have spent as the highest ranked Big 12 team in the league.
This is also the first time Iowa State was ranked in the top 10 since the 2021 season.
The full poll can be seen below:
AP CFB Poll
Sun. Oct. 13, 2024
1. Texas
2. Oregon
3. Penn State
4. Ohio State
5. Georgia
6. Miami
7. Alabama
8. LSU
9. Iowa State
10. Clemson
11. Tennessee
12. Notre Dame
13. BYU
14. Texas A&M
15. Boise State
16. Indiana
17. Kansas State
18. Ole Miss
19. Missouri
20. Pittsburgh
21. SMU
22. Illinois
23. Army
24. Michigan
25. Navy
Others receiving votes: Vanderbilt 68, Nebraska 62, Arizona St. 39, Oklahoma 36, Washington St. 32, Iowa 29, Texas Tech 18, Syracuse 13, Arkansas 13, Utah 7, Louisville 6, Southern Cal 5, Liberty 2, UNLV 1.
Oct 12, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) calls out a play against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the fourth quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
West Virginia wore black, in a first-ever “Coal Rush” event Saturday night against No. 11 Iowa State at home.
The Mountaineers marched down the field to take a 7-0 lead with a nearly eight-minute touchdown drive to start the game, but after that, all the steam settled over the Cyclones’ sideline.
The final score: ISU 28, West Virginia 16.
And the waning moments?
Just a few thousand Mountaineers fans remained in Milan Puskar Stadium as the game clock drained — and the Cyclones improved to 6-0 for the first time since 1938.
“I think our kids had great poise early,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “It’s a great football environment, and I think our (approach) was the louder they get, the harder we play. I think our kids did that. I think we settled in.”
ISU quarterback Rocco Becht completed 16 of 28 passes for 265 yards and a 60-yard touchdown to Jaylin Noel. Tailback Carson Hansen rushed for 96 yards and three touchdowns.
The Cyclones forced two turnovers — interceptions by Jontez Williams and Jamison Patton — to help seal their unprecedented sixth straight conference road win.
“If we want to be the team we want to be, we’re going to need to do (little) things at a really high rate,” Campbell said.
ISU converted nine of its 14 third-down chances and wide receiver Jayden Higgins eclipsed the 100-yard receiving barrier for the second time as a Cyclone.
Becht shined on a night when his dad, Anthony, was inducted into the West Virginia Hall of Fame. Anthony starred as a tight end for the Mountaineers before embarking on a strong NFL career.
“I thought we settled into the football game, a lot of young guys playing on defense to start the game,” Campbell said.
Iowa State’s head coach didn’t delve into big-picture thinking after the tough road win — for good reason.
The Cyclones (6-0, 3-0) may be the Big 12 Conference’s front runners (along with BYU), but no hiccups are allowed as they seek to eventually reach the league title game.
“If we’re gonna be the team we want to be, we’ve got to execute at a early high rate,” Campbell said.
ISU did just that against the amped-up Mountaineers, who totaled almost 600 yards of offense in last week’s blowout win at Oklahoma State.
The Jon Heacock-led Cyclones’ defense held them to 354 yards on Saturday — with lots of that yardage coming late in the game.
“I think that’s one of the great things about being in a system that you know and you’re really confident in, is you’ve got the ability to make adjustments,” Campbell said. “I think that we’ve been in this system long enough that we know what our answers are, and as the game goes on, w put our kids in the best situation possible.”
Jontez Williams grabbed an interception for the third straight game. Noel tied Breece Hall and Hakeem Butler for the most 50-yard-plus (seven) touchdown receptions in school history since at least 1971.
The Cyclones are 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 2020 and the third time in school history.
“I think we’ve been in this system long enough that we know what our answers are,” Campbell said. “And as the game goes, how do we put our kids in the best situations.”
That’s 6-0 for now, with a home date with UCF looming. ISU is riding high for good reason, because it controls its own destiny, and is finding consistent success on the ground.
“If we want to be the team we want to be, we’re going to have to be able to (run the ball) at a really high rate,” Campbell said.
Oct 12, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) runs the ball for a touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
No. 11 Iowa State traveled to Morgantown Saturday, coming away with a 28-16 win and its first 6-0 start since the 1938 season.
Let’s get into some takeaways.
Defensive injuries are still pulling punchesIt may feel like this is a conversation every week, but that’s the reality we’re in, right now. Iowa State has a group of banged up linebackers and some nagging injuries all around its defensive unit, but they’ve still found a way.
Linebacker Jacob Ellis went down with a lower body injury during the first quarter, and didn’t return to the game, but the Cyclones never wavered.
With a trio of guys from small, in-state high schools, the Cyclones found a way to hold West Virginia to 10 points, and get the dub…
Those guys are stepping upNo matter what position Iowa State has found itself in this year, there have been unsuspecting names rising to the occasion.
It goes beyond guys like Kooper Ebel, who has remained steadfast at the linebacker spot while others battle injuries or the running back room that is performing no matter who’s on the field.
On Saturday, it was true freshman Beau Goodwin – a late add to the 2024 recruiting class out of Kingsley-Pearson High School. He had a pair of big TFL’s on the same drive to help slow down the West Virginia offense.
Walk-on Rylan Barnes was second on the team with nine tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss in his second game on the field.
Jamison Patton earned his first interception as a Cyclone, stopping a West Virginia drive in a one-possession game.
“I was just in the right place at the right time, just doing my job and the ball came to me,” Patton said on the Varsity Network broadcast after the game.
And don’t forget about Jontez Williams, who has an interception in three games in a row – helping his team win another turnover battle this year.
— By the way, are we not talking about new linebackers coach Colby Kratch enough? He’s overcome more adversity than someone could imagine during his first year on the job.
That same type of mentality can be applied to the running back room.
The Carson Hansen gameTonight it was Carson Hansen.
He got overshadowed a bit by Jaylon Jackson a week ago, but his three trips to the end zone made sure that he wouldn’t be Saturday. Hansen finished with 96 yards on 20 carries along with the three scores.
Iowa State has played three backs all season at the position, and each has had their day on different weeks.
This staff may not deviate from the three-headed monster approach in future weeks, but it’s a positive sign that Hansen looked as good as he did, regardless. He was an every down back on Saturday.
That reflected on the stat sheet, too. Jackson had 19 yards on 12 carries while Abu Sama got six yards on two attempts. They weren’t going away from No. 26.
Progress in the search for a third wideoutIn other things that have been brought up almost weekly this year, Iowa State still hasn’t found its third real standout guy at wide receiver, but it may be closer after tonight.
North Dakota State transfer Eli Green found a 12-yard reception to convert on 3rd and long, and then got the ball again on the ensuing play taking the ball 34 yards downfield.
The pair of plays helped Iowa State’s drive that put the Cyclones up 21-10 in the fourth quarter, ultimately leading to the win.
That’s not to say all its problems are solved, but it is progress
Walk-on Carson Brown had a reception once again, and Isaiah Alston has had plays on the field – just not catches to come with.
The search is still far from over, but it made more progress tonight than it has in the past three games.
…
Iowa State could have preseason top 10 teams in men’s basketball, women’s basketball and wrestling in the next few weeks.
Things are good right now, and the only thing standing between Iowa State and it’s next bye week is a 3-3 UCF team.
Oh, and an extra stat: Iowa State repeated three uniform combinations in road games for the first time in the Matt Campbell era – the last time the Cyclones repeated three combinations in home/road games, Brock Purdy led the team to a Fiesta Bowl in the all-black’s.
Enjoy this one, I’ll have more in Musings bright and early on Monday.
“I thought our kids really had great poise early,” head coach Matt Campbell said. “It’s a great football environment, I think we knew that… Our mantra was, ‘the louder they get the harder we play.'”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and players Rocco Becht, Carson Hansen and Kooper Ebel spoke to media members following their team’s 28-16 win over West Virginia Saturday.
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs for a first down against Seattle Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Former Cyclone running back David Montgomery has agreed to a new deal with the NFL’s Detroit Lions.
The news of the two-year extension was first reported by Adam Schefter.
Lions RB David Montgomery reached agreement on a two-year, $18.25 million extension that contractually ties him to Detroit through the 2027 season, per source. The deal includes $10.5 million in new guaranteed money.
Montgomery had two years left on his current deal. Detroit… pic.twitter.com/lixf2HbZdS
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 12, 2024
Montgomery’s contract extension is worth a total of $18.5 million and includes $10.5 million worth of guaranteed money.
It keeps Montgomery in Detroit through the 2027 season.
Montgomery has rushed for 271 yards on 63 attempts this year for the Lions, scoring four touchdowns for the team.
During his career in the league, he’s recorded 12, 100+ yard rushing games.
The Lions’ next game comes on the road against Dallas on Sunday, October 13 at 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.
Iowa State men’s basketball earned its latest commitment Saturday in 2025 guard Killyan Toure.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound prospect announced his commitment over Instagram.
Iowa State men’s basketball has earned a commitment from 2025 guard Killyan Toure (@killyan_toure) out of Brewster Academy (where future teammate Nojus Indrusaitis played)
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound prospect completes Iowa State’s 2025 recruiting class. pic.twitter.com/kAXXY17Dew
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) October 12, 2024
Toure will play this season at Brewster Academy, where freshman Nojus Indrusaitis played his final season of prep ball.
The Cyclones are the only D1 program to officially offer Toure, according to 247 Sports, and use his commitment to fill the final spot in their 2025 recruiting class.
Toure joins guards Jamarion Batemon and Macari Moore, as well as forward Xzavion Mitchell – each of which are rated in the top 130 of the class by 247 Sports – as members of the 2025 class.
Below is some of Toure’s highlights from his junior year.
Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jontez Williams intercepts a pass against Baylor during the third quarter at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
No. 11 Iowa State faces West Virginia Saturday (6:30 p.m. FOX) in its third Big 12 game of the season. Here are our staff’s picks.
Chris Williams (4-1)
Iowa State hasn’t seen the schedule that West Virginia has. I question how much heart this Oklahoma State squad the Mountaineers bullied last week was playing with. Feels like a coin-toss game. Give me the good guys.Iowa State 27, West Virginia 24
Rob Gray (4-1)
The Mountaineers’ running back duo of Jahiem White and C.J. Donaldson — along with dual-threat quarterback Garett Greene — will sap the Cyclones’ strength on the defensive side of the football, but I’m convinced that the Cyclones will continue to deploy a balanced attack offensively. Toss in Ben Brahmer, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel’s big play capabilities in the passing game — and in Noel’s case, the return game — and ISU looks to keep its dream season alive. The Cyclones do all the right things in the margins and escape Morgantown with a crucial win. Iowa State 27, West Virginia 24
Jeff Woody (5-0)
The game has the inverse feel of the Will Grier WVU game with Iowa State being the favored team. But the difference is Iowa State has the past experience of being the one doing the upsetting. WVU is going to come out flying. But there’s too consistent of a game plan for the Cyclones to keep them down for long. Iowa State comes back in the 3rd and holds on in the 4th. Iowa State 30, West Virginia 24
Connor Ferguson (5-0)
Woody took my uniform inverse deal I was going to write 500 words about so I’ll keep it somewhat brief. West Virginia hasn’t beaten a great team yet, and that version of Oklahoma State was nowhere close to one. Iowa State’s defense is able to again limit a dual threat quarterback and the Cyclones pull away late. Iowa State 29, West Virginia 20
Grant Mahoney (5-0)
I don’t know what to make of this game – I think it’s a prove it game for both teams. ISU is 5-0 but hasn’t really played a good offense, so are they for real? WVU is 3-2 and their two losses are to two undefeated teams but their 3 wins are from a 2-3 FCS team, they snuck past an abysmal 1-5 Kansas team at home, and beat a 3-3 Oklahoma State team (after a bye week), whose defense is among the worst in the country (130 out of 133) – but currently have the 4th best odds to win the conference, so are they for real? If ISU can get up early and force WVU to pass the ball, I like ISU’s chances. If WVU gets up early and they get that raucous “Coal Out” crowd behind him, ISU could suffer their first loss of the season. Iowa State 38, West Virginia 27
Jackson Pence (5-0)
This is by far Iowa State’s biggest test of the year to this point in the season. The Cyclones are the better team, but when you factor in the Mountaineers’ home-field advantage and black-out night game, this game is 50-50. I worry about the health of the Cyclones defense, especially true freshman linebacker Cael Brezina. But one thing I don’t worry about is the Iowa State offense. It still feels like they have another gear to reach. Higgins and Noel each have a long touchdown catch and the Cyclone offense stays hot. The defense will give up some points, especially on the ground, but Heacock and Co. rally late to force a turnover or two and Iowa State stays undefeated at 6-0. The last time that happened… it was 1938. Iowa State 38, West Virginia 31
Iowa State point guard Emily Ryan released a video Thursday in which she discusses her battle with an eating disorder for World Mental Health Day.
In her post she said: “Proud to share my story. Forever grateful to everyone who helped me through it all.”
Proud to share my story. Forever grateful to everyone who helped me through it all #WorldMentalHealthDay https://t.co/XVnqfgndwN
— Emily Ryan (@ryan_emily11) October 10, 2024
In the video, Ryan said the Iowa State medical staff expressed their concern about her eating habits and the changes they were seeing to her body. Because of this, Ryan missed the first nine games of the 2023-24 season due to the eating disorder. When she returned, she expressed still struggling off the court.
Ryan said during this offseason she spent 88 days at a treatment center in Denver. In the video she said, “It took a long time but I finally came to the understanding that being sick wasn’t my fault, and eating disorders are real, complex illnesses.”
Check out the full video below to learn more about Ryan’s journey.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, help is available.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to someone you trust or seek professional support. Below are resources where you can find help:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 988 for confidential support 24/7.
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained counselor.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline: Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or visit nami.org for information and resources.
For resources on disordered eating, call the National Eating Disorders Helpline at 800-931-2237 or text NEDA to 741741.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
IRVING, Texas – A pair of Iowa State men’s basketball players have earned preseason honors from the Big 12 coaches. Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert were each named to the 10 player All-Big 12 Preseason Team, with Lipsey named to the first team and Gilbert to the second. The Cyclones were picked to finish third in the league behind Kansas and Houston.
The pair were each named All-Big 12 last season, with Lipsey being named to the first team and Gilbert to the second team. Lipsey and Gilbert, along with Milan Momcilovic, were named to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team, where Gilbert was named the MVP as the Cyclones won the title for the fifth time in the last 10 years.
Only four players in the country averaged at least 12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game last season, with Lipsey and Gilbert accounting for two of the four. They were the first duo in NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball history to each average those numbers in the same season. ADVERTISING
Iowa State opens the 2024-25 season Nov. 4 against Mississippi Valley State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+ at Hilton Coliseum.
Preseason Big 12 Poll
- Kansas (9 first-place votes) – 215 points
- Houston (5) – 211
- Iowa State (1) – 194
- Baylor – 185
- Arizona (1) – 179
- Cincinnati – 140
- Texas Tech – 135
- Kansas State – 133
- BYU – 116
- TCU – 90
- UCF – 83
- Arizona State – 64
- West Virginia – 62
- Oklahoma State – 46
- Colorado – 37
- Utah – 30
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team
Caleb Love, Arizona
LJ Cryer, Houston
J’Wan Roberts, Houston
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
- unanimous selection
Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team
Norchad Omier, Baylor
Jeremy Roach, Baylor
Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State
Dajuan Harris Jr., Kansas
Coleman Hawkins, K-State
Preseason Player of the Year: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
Preseason Co-Newcomer of the Year: Jeremy Roach, Baylor
Preseason Co-Newcomer of the Year: Coleman Hawkins, K-State
Preseason Freshman of the Year: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
Iowa State graduate transfer Jalen Travis (72) blocks downfield in a 43-21 win over Baylor. Photo courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications.
AMES — Princeton University’s picturesque campus sprawls across 600 acres. Stately trees dot the landscape, and architectural wonders abound. The prestigious Ivy League school was founded in 1756, so the campus is steeped in history — a feature that Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell appreciated when he took a tour with Princeton graduate transfer offensive tackle Jalen Travis.
“It was incredible,” said Campbell, who has seen the 6-7, 340-pound Travis help enliven the No. 11 Cyclones’ improving offensive line heading into Saturday’s 7 p.m. Big 12 matchup (FOX) with West Virginia (3-2, 0-2) in Morgantown. “Obviously, for me, history (is important), and I think I’d just gotten done watching (the Academy Award-winning film) ‘Oppenheimer’ — and a lot of that took place on (that) campus, so it was incredible.”
Campbell felt the same about Travis, both as a football player and human being. From a football perspective, Travis has been a revelation, helping ISU (5-0, 2-0) shine in both run blocking and pass protection. From a human perspective, Travis is deeply committed to helping others. He founded the Just Action Coalition, a nonprofit in his home state of Minnesota “aimed at promoting substantive youth engagement in policy-level advocacy on the local and state levels.” When Travis’s football career finally winds down, he plans to attend law school and focus on criminal defense and public defense law.
“It’s truly where my heart’s at: Helping people with a lot of the privileges and tools that I’ve gained along the way, obviously with that Princeton education at my back,” Travis said. “But coming to Iowa State, it’s an opportunity to explore that football side to the end.”
What a time to begin and complete that one-year mission that may eventually land him in the NFL. The Cyclones seek their first 6-0 start since 1938 and look to begin Big 12 play with a 3-0 mark for the first time since 2020. ISU’s top-five scoring defense, which is allowing a mere 10 points a game, stands as one reason for ISU’s current success, but fielding a deeper and more athletic offensive line has also spurred its hot start — and adding Travis to that mix made a deep and immediate impact.
“I don’t know if there’s a lot that guy can’t do,” said the Cyclones’ first-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, whose Rocco Becht-led unit is scoring 31.2 points per game this season. “He’s so smart and so athletic, and he’s like a zombie out there. He wants to eat everybody’s heart right out of their chest — and you’ve met (offensive line coach) Ryan Clanton, and you see what guy (he) is. So just the physical presence that guy has, and how dominant he could be, and how good he is in pass protection, he injects a lot of confidence into me and our offense.”
ISU must be poised and confident in all three phases to topple the resilient Mountaineers. But with big-play pass catchers such as Ben Brahmer, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel dotting the field, along with ball-hawking defensive backs such as Jeremiah Cooper, Beau Freyler and Jontez Williams patrolling the secondary, the Cyclones have “earned the right to be confident,” as Campbell often says.
“It’s cool, obviously, being a 5-0 team, and (being congratulated) on campus, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do,” Noel said. “It will be better when we go on campus after we win a Big 12 championship.”
That’s easy to say and tough to do. And that’s why Travis chose to join ISU’s program. The Cyclones are equipped to contend for a league title because of who they are and how they do things. All as one. No ego attached.
“The biggest that stood out to me about coach Campbell compared to the rest of the coaches I was recruited by (out of) the portal was his commitment to the person,” Travis said.
They — along with Mouser — rekindled that connection on that Ivy-draped tour of the Princeton campus, and it’s grown stronger from there.
“I told Jalen in this journey, don’t pick us because you want to go to the NFL,” Campbell said. “Pick us because you want to come here and make an impact. Come here because you want to be a great senior leader. Come here because you want to help us grow as a program, but equally, maybe we can help you not just as a football player, but continuing with your purpose in life.”
Oct 5, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) catches a pass against the Baylor Bears at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones beat the Bears 43 to 21. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Game Day InfoNo. 11 Iowa State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) @ West Virginia (3-2, 2-0 Big 12)
Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
Stadium: Milan Puskar Stadium (60,000)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
TV: FOX (Tim Brando, Devin Gardner, Josh Sims)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Iowa State -3 (via Action Network updated Thursday)
Over/Under: 50.5
Series ResultsIowa State trails 12-10 in the all-time series between the two programs.
Last 5 games
2022: Iowa State 31, West Virginia 14 (Ames)
2021: West Virginia 38, No. 22 Iowa State 31 (Morgantown)
2020: No. 12 Iowa State 42, West Virginia 6 (Ames)
2019: Iowa State 38, West Virginia 14 (Morgantown)
2018: Iowa State 30, No. 6 West Virginia 14 (Ames)
Players to watchJayden Higgins, wide receiver (Iowa State)
The dynamic wide receiver is going for his eighth-straight game with a touchdown this weekend after he caught another in the Baylor game. He’s still yet to go under 65 yards receiving in a game this year. And a bonus – Mel Kiper released his new NFL Draft rankings and has Higgins as the No. 8 player in this class – take it all in over the rest of the season. Iowa State has a special talent here.
Jalen Travis, offensive line (Iowa State)
The Cyclones transfer from Princeton on the offensive line has made his presence felt after injuries kept him off the field for the first three weeks of the season. If Iowa State’s rushing game is there as it has been, the 6-foot-7, 340-pounder will be one to watch this week.
The Iowa State linebackers
I’ve referenced the position group before in this series during this portion of the article, but it’s for a different reason this week. Cael Brezina is battling an injury that kept him largely out for the second half of the Baylor game. Meanwhile, Iowa State kept Jack Sadowsky off of the field due to redshirt eligibility, according to coach Matt Campbell. That’s why fans saw walk-on Rylan Barnes perform during the final 30 minutes of that game. There’s no telling who’s on the field this week until after kickoff.
Garrett Greene, quarterback (West Virginia)
The dual threat QB has shown that he can get it done on the ground with ease this season. Excluding the Penn State game, Greene has rushed for 49 yards or more in every game this season, collecting three touchdowns on the ground. He does have the tendency to turn the ball over, throwing four picks to his seven passing touchdowns, so far. Look for the Cyclone defense to make him throw.
Hudson Clement, wide receiver (West Virginia)
Greene’s favorite target – Clement leads the Mountaineers in receptions with 17 catches on the year and is averaging 17.4 yards per catch in five games this season. When the passing game is working for WVU, he’s involved.
T.J. Jackson, defensive lineman (West Virginia)
West Virginia’s standout on the defensive line has racked up 3.5 sacks and 20 tackles on the season. Jackson had a fumble recovery against Penn State and none of his sacks came against the depleted Oklahoma State team the Mountaineers faced Saturday. Iowa State’s offensive line will be keyed up against him.
Keys to the gameGet out of the gates
Iowa State has tended to be a slow starting team thus far in the 2024 season – and that will bite this team if it happens at the wrong time. With Morgantown rowdy for a top 15 team in its own stadium and a rushing attack that can bleed the clock, it could be more imperative than ever for the Cyclones to score early.
Contain the dual-threat quarterback
For the fourth-straight game, Iowa State’s defense will line up against the best dual-threat quarterback its faced this season. It sets up well for the typical college defense, but the Cyclones have a number of players that have been dinged up in recent weeks. However, that hasn’t hindered the team yet – it’s very much been a deep defense that has managed to perform no matter who’s on the field. If that continues and the Cyclones limit Greene like they have other opponents, this game becomes much more winnable.
Utilize your run game
Iowa State is on its best three-game rushing stretch in nearly a decade behind one of its deepest offensive lines in the Matt Campbell era. If the Cyclones can get the most out of two of its three backs this week – no matter which it may be – while playing with a lead, they could make quick work of the Mountaineers.
In the Big 12
| Big 12 Standings | | Team | OVR | Big 12 | | Texas Tech | 5-1 | 3-0 | | No. 11 Iowa State | 5-0 | 2-0 | | No. 14 BYU | 5-0 | 2-0 | | Colorado | 4-1 | 2-0 | | West Virginia | 3-2 | 2-0 | | No. 16 Utah | 4-1 | 1-1 | | No. 18 Kansas State | 4-1 | 1-1 | | Arizona State | 4-1 | 1-1 | | Arizona | 3-2 | 1-1 | | Cincinnati | 3-2 | 1-1 | | UCF | 3-2 | 1-1 | | TCU | 3-3 | 1-2 | | Houston | 2-4 | 1-2 | | Oklahoma State | 3-3 | 0-3 | | Baylor | 2-4 | 0-3 | | Kansas | 1-5 | 0-3 |
Friday, October 11
9:30 p.m. | No. 16 Utah (4-1, 1-1) @ Arizona State (4-1, 1-1), ESPN
Saturday, October 12
2:30 p.m. | Cincinnati (3-2, 1-1) @ UCF (3-2, 1-1), ESPN2
3:00 p.m. | Arizona (3-2, 1-1) @ No. 14 BYU (5-0, 2-0), FOX
7:00 p.m. | No. 11 Iowa State (5-0, 2-0) @ West Virginia (3-2, 2-0), FOX
9:15 p.m. | No. 18 Kansas State (4-1, 1-1) @ Colorado (4-1, 2-0), ESPN
Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell gets a greeting from fans during Spirit Walk before Iowa State and Baylor football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Matt Campbell deflected praise when he tied, then passed, Dan McCarney to become Iowa State’s winningest head coach earlier this season.
He shuns talk of the Cyclones’ 5-0 start — its best mark through five games in a season since 1980.
But Campbell embraces the “hard” truth that ISU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) hasn’t won an outright conference championship in its 133-year history. In fact, he can’t stop talking about that painfully long drought when he’s meeting with his players and thinking of his team’s fans.
“I think the message is, nobody’s done it here,” Campbell said in advance of Saturday’s 7 p.m. (FOX) game between the No. 11 Cyclones and West Virginia (3-2, 2-0) in Morgantown. “And nobody’s ever been able to sustain it over the course of an entire season.”
ISU came close in 2020, advancing to its first-ever Big 12 title game against Oklahoma before falling 27-21. And Campbell leans into that 133 number to inspire his current Cyclones to trample obstacles and shatter self-perceived limitations. He doesn’t reference it lightly, either, as maintaining a singular focus on what lies immediately ahead remains his mantra.
“I think we have always been very process-oriented here, rather than being very outcome-oriented,” said Campbell, whose team is a three-point favorite against the tough-minded Mountaineers. “That’s really where we’ve tried to live.”
Now ISU attempts to survive its toughest Big 12 test to date in an effort to become 6-0 for the first time since 1938. West Virginia came back to beat Kansas at home in their lightning-interrupted conference opener, then went on the road to trounce Oklahoma State 38-14 last week. The Mountaineers feature the Big 12’s third-most productive rushing offense, averaging 223 yards per game.
“West Virginia will be another level of excitement,” said Campbell, who is 4-3 all-time against the Mountaineers. “They’ve got a phenomenal team. They’ve got one of the greatest fan bases in the country in terms of the pride they have for their (team).”
The Cyclones counter with the league’s best scoring defense (10.0 points allowed per game), passing defense (133.6 yards allowed per game), and total defense (271.6). ISU also possesses two of the Big 12’s most productive wide receivers, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Higgins has caught a touchdown pass in a program-record seven straight games. Noel is tied for the conference lead in receptions spanning 40 or more yards with five.
“We’re always continuing to push each other, trying to figure out what we can get better at,” said Noel, who is averaging 18.8 yards per catch this season. “He pushes me to be my best every day because I know he’s gonna bring his best every day. Just to play with a guy like that — so talented — is an honor. Being able to, first, play with a guy like (former Cyclone star and current Houston Texan) Xavier Hutchinson and a guy like Jayden Higgins, it’s special.”
So is hearing that number 133. Not to dwell on it, but to recognize how difficult it’s been for ISU to win an outright conference title.
“(Campbell) says it every day: 133 years,” Noel said. “We honestly haven’t won (anything) here at Iowa State, but the teams in the past that have allowed us to get to this point, we appreciate them, and we’ve learned from them. We just want to remind ourselves every day that it’s been 133 years and nobody’s ever done it, and why not us to be the team to go do it now?”
Why not, indeed. But the Cyclones must surmount the numerous stumbling blocks lurking behind and within each of their final seven regular-season games. That’s why ISU embraces the “hard.” It can’t be dodged, but it can be tamed.
“One of the things that’s been a real joy for us being here is giving our fan base something to believe in,” Campbell said. “At first, I thought it was only giving our kids something to believe in until you really got here and understood the value of this community that has constantly showed up to support (us).”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
IRVING, Texas – Tipoff times and TV designations for the 2024-25 Iowa State men’s basketball season have been released by the Big 12 Conference.
Iowa State’s first three games will all tipoff at 7 p.m. and air on ESPN+. Following the Maui Invitational, Iowa State will host Marquette in the Big 12/BIG EAST Battle, tipping off at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Cyclones will face Omaha in the first of two games airing on CBS Sports Network, with tipoff set for 12 p.m. Iowa State’s Big 12 opener at Colorado will also air on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m.
Iowa State will once again welcome the crew from CBS to Hilton Coliseum, as the game against Baylor on Jan. 4 with air on CBS at 1 p.m. Iowa State will also be honoring the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 teams that weekend. The Kansas Jayhawks come to Hilton Coliseum for a Jan. 15 game at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
The Cyclones will play back-to-back games on ESPN’s Big Monday, traveling to Arizona for a 9:30 p.m. tipoff on ESPN on Jan. 27, while playing the following Monday at Kansas for an 8 p.m. tipoff.
Arizona makes a trip to Hilton Coliseum for a Saturday night game at 8 p.m. on ESPN March 1. The regular season finale at Kansas State will air on CBS with a 12:30 p.m. tipoff.
The Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship will be held at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. from March 11-15.
A complete schedule, including non-conference games, can be found here.
2024-25 Season Ticket Information:
New Season Tickets – Demand for season tickets continues to be strong. We expect a variety of seating options will be available for Cyclone Club members and public ticket buyers. To join the waitlist please click here.
Single-Game Tickets – A public ticket on sale has been set for Wednesday, October 23. Current men’s basketball season ticket holders and Jr. Cyclone Club members and their families will have an exclusive presale. Detailed information will be shared with these groups in October.
Should you have questions in regard to requesting season tickets please contact the Iowa State Athletics Ticket Office by phone at 888-478-2925 or by email at tickets@iastate.edu.
2024-25 Iowa State Basketball Schedule
Nov. 4 – Mississippi Valley State (Stripe Hilton) – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Nov. 11 – Kansas City – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Nov. 18 – IU Indianapolis – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Nov. 25 – Auburn (Maui Invitational) – 8 p.m. – ESPNU
Nov. 26 – North Carolina or Dayton (Maui Invitational) – 2:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN2
Nov. 27 – Maui Invitational – TBD – ESPN/ESPN2
Dec. 4 – Marquette (White Out!) – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Dec. 8 – Jackson State – 5 p.m. – ESPN+
Dec. 12 – at Iowa – TBA – TBA
Dec. 15 – Omaha – 12 p.m. – CBS Sports Network
Dec. 22 – Morgan State – 12 p.m. – ESPN+
Dec. 30 – at Colorado – 8 p.m. – CBS Sports Network
Jan. 4 – Baylor (2000/2001 MBB Reunion) – 1 p.m. – CBS
Jan. 7 – Utah – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Jan. 11 – at Texas Tech – 1 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN2
Jan. 15 – Kansas – 6 p.m. – ESPN2
Jan. 18 – at West Virginia – 4 p.m. – ESPN+
Jan. 21 – UCF – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Jan. 25 – at Arizona State – 1 p.m. – ESPN+
Jan. 27 – at Arizona – 9:30 p.m. – ESPN
Feb. 1 – Kansas State (White Out) – 1 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN2
Feb. 3 – at Kansas – 8 p.m. – ESPN
Feb. 8 – TCU – 12 p.m. – ESPN+
Feb. 11 – at UCF – 6 p.m. – ESPN+
Feb. 15 – Cincinnati (Color-It-Cardinal) – 3 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN2
Feb. 18 – Colorado – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Feb. 22 – at Houston – 1 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN2
Feb. 25 – at Oklahoma State – 7 p.m. – ESPN+
March 1 – Arizona (Gold Rules!) – 8 p.m. – ESPN
March 4 – BYU (Stripe Hilton) – 8 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
March 8 – at Kansas State – 12:30 p.m. – CBS
March 11-15 – Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship
(All Times Central)
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – The Big 12 announced the league schedule for the 2024-25 women’s basketball season on Wednesday afternoon. The Cyclones’ slate will feature nine linear television selections. Cyclone fans can still purchase season tickets here. Single-game public on sale will be announced at a later date.
Iowa State will make its first appearance on national television on Thanksgiving Day, facing defending national champion South Carolina at 12:30 p.m. on FOX. The Cyclones will also face 2024 Final Four participant UConn with coverage on FS1 during the non-conference slate.
National broadcast coverage in conference play begins with Iowa State’s December 21 matchup with Oklahoma State on ESPN2. The Cyclones take on West Virginia on January 19 in a game that will air on either FOX or FS1.
Both of Iowa State’s matchups with preseason league-favorite Kansas State will be covered by ESPN networks. The game in Manhattan on January 30 will be aired on ESPN while the season finale in Ames (March 2) will be televised on ESPN2.
TCU makes the trek to Ames on February 2 in a game that is set to air on FS1. ISU will appear on FOX again when it travels to Baylor on February 22.
The full 2024-25 schedule with networks and times can be found below.
October 30 – Central College (Ex.) – 6:30 p.m.
November 4 – Chicago State – 11:00 a.m. – ESPN+
November 7 – Indiana State – 6:30 p.m. – ESPN+
November 10 – Southern – 2:00 p.m. – ESPN+
November 14 – St. Thomas – 6:30 p.m. – ESPN+
November 20 – at UNI – 6:00 p.m. – TBD
November 24 – Drake – 2:00 p.m. – ESPN+
November 28 – South Carolina (Fort Myers Tip-Off) – 12:30 p.m. – FOX
November 30 – Middle Tennessee (Fort Myers Tip-Off) – 12:30 p.m. – Women’s Sports Network
December 3 – USC Upstate – 6:30 p.m. – ESPN+
December 8 – Central Michigan – 12:00 p.m. – ESPN+
December 11 – at Iowa – TBD – TBD
December 15 – Eastern Illinois – 5:00 p.m. – ESPN+
December 17 – UConn (Basketball Hall of Fame) – 7:30 p.m. – FS1
December 21 – *at Oklahoma State – 4:00 p.m. – ESPN2
January 1 – *Kansas – TBD – ESPN+
January 5 – *Utah – 4:00 p.m. – ESPN2
January 8 – *at Arizona State – TBD – TBD
January 11 – *at Arizona – TBD – TBD
January 14 – *Texas Tech – 6:30 p.m. – ESPN+
January 19 – *at West Virginia – 12:00 p.m. – FOX/FS1
January 22 – *BYU – 6:30 p.m. – ESPN+
January 25 – *UCF – 4:00 p.m. – ESPN+
January 30 – *at Kansas State – 7:30 p.m. – ESPN
February 2 – *TCU – 3:00 p.m. – FS1
February 5 – *at Cincinnati – 5:30 p.m. – ESPN+
February 8 – *Colorado – 5:00 p.m. – ESPN+
February 15 – *at Kansas – 4:00 p.m. – ESPN+
February 19 – *Houston – 6:30 p.m. – ESPN+
February 22 – *at Baylor – 1:30 p.m. – FOX
February 25 – *at UCF – 6:00 p.m. – ESPN+
March 2 – *Kansas State – 3:00 p.m. – ESPN2
Bold Indicates Home Game
*Big 12 Conference Game
Iowa State guard Nate Heise talks to media during an interview at the Sukup Practice Complex on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES – When Nate Heise entered the transfer portal following his fourth season at Northern Iowa, he jumped at the opportunity to remain in the state of Iowa and play his final season of college basketball with Iowa State.
“He’s going to be fun to watch,” said Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team is expected to be ranked in the preseason top-10. “He’s fun to have in practice every day. We challenge him and he rises to that challenge.”
Heise averaged 13.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season. The Minnesota native added 18 blocks while shooting 35.6 percent from the 3-point line.
“I think it’s right place-right time, because a decade ago, I’d be done with college right now,” Heise said. ” It worked out well for me that I had a couple of extra years to play and an opportunity when I was in the (transfer) portal to come here. It was kind of a no-brainer for me.”
Heise spent four years under UNI coach Ben Jacobson, something that is evident in the way he’s practiced as he’s transitioned to Iowa State’s program.
“We’re fortunate that when he comes into our program, he’s got so many great habits that coach Jacobson built with him,” Otzelberger said. “And then he has all of those competitive things that he brings to the table every single day.”
That experience has elevated the Iowa State program already.
“He’s really elevated the play overall and the competitive spirit within our building, because he’s been very well coached at Northern Iowa,” Otzelberger said. “He had a tremendous coach in Ben Jacobson. He’s been very well schooled.”
At UNI, Heise earned third-team all-MVC honors in his final season with program and helped the Panthers to the 2022 NIT.
He thinks playing in the Missouri Valley Conference helped prepare him for what he’ll see this season in the Big 12.
“I think the Valley, compared to a lot of the other mid-major conferences is more similar to the Big 12 than most of them I would say,” Heise said. “Just because of the physicality and stuff like that.”
Otzelberger described Heise as a fierce competitor.
It’s a trait he’s built in himself, going back to his youth basketball days.
Having a sister, Taylor, who won women’s college hockey’s version of the Heisman Trophy (the Patty Kazmaier Award) two years ago, didn’t hurt either.
“Ever since I was a little kid – after tournaments we would lose at, I’d have a meltdown a lot of times,” Heise said. “That competitiveness started at a young age with siblings or competition at times.”
That competitiveness translates to his prowess on the defensive side of the ball, something he had to develop at UNI in order to see the floor.
“It was weird, because in high school, it really wasn’t what I was known for. I really didn’t play that good of defense,” Heise said. “I think it was more of a choice at that time. When I got to college, it was how I was going to get on the court. I wanted to play as much as I could, so I knew that was the way.
“After a while, I kind of picked up on it pretty quick and realized that I had the athleticism and the capabilities physically to do it,” Heise continued. “Then it just came with learning some instincts, figuring that out and putting an emphasis on that.”
The 6-foot-5, 212-pounder rose to that challenge as Otzelberger and his staff hope he can do in Ames.
It’s something that assistant coach Kyle Green saw firsthand while he was on staff with the Panthers during Heise’s earlier seasons.
“He wants to guard the other team’s best player,” Otzelberger said. “He’s proven always to get rebounds, loose ball, and make-effort based plays. Physically he likes to win his matchup.”
If Iowa State can use him as they want to, he’ll see the court a lot.
There aren’t many players – especially transfers – that come in for one season and can be utilized with versatility, but Heise fits that mold.
“He’s somebody that has great versatility out there,” Otzelberger said. “He can play with a lot of lineups and a lot of combinations.”
It could be just the piece that Iowa State needs to take the next step as program, but both parties will say they’re taking it one day at a time.
If Heise continues to rise to those challenges set by the Iowa State staff, they’ll have a tough time keeping him off the floor.
“He’s been a huge positive for us and we’re going to continue to demand that that stays true going forward,” Otzelberger said.
Mar 28, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) dribbles the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the semifinals of the East Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
AMES — The alarm rings at 5:55 a.m.
Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic wakes up but doesn’t immediately stir. His morning workout begins at 6:30, and he lives a stone’s throw away from the Sukup Basketball Complex, so he can take his time as he settles into his pre-practice routine.
“At six, (I) brush my teeth, get ready,” the bulked-up, 6-8, 225-pound sophomore said on Wednesday’s media day at Hilton Coliseum. “(I’m) on the road at 6:09 and I get there at 6:10.”
Momcilovic’s diligent attention to detail before sunrise is borne out of necessity. Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s devotion to sharply defined daily habits places heavy demands on his players. A team breakfast comes at 7:30, and an intense practice immediately follows. This is how Otzelberger has built ISU’s program into a consistent winner: There’s no deviation. No shortcuts. The likely preseason top-10-rated Cyclones know what they’re in for — and quickly learn to relish the early-morning rigors that eventually yield late-night wins.
“For the most part, when we start to talk to (incoming players), we’re at the point where we’re saying, ‘Do not come here if you’re not ready for this,’” said Otzelberger, who has guided ISU to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 in two of the past three seasons. “‘If you’re not built for this and you don’t want to be challenged every day and you don’t want to be demanded from and you don’t want to be held accountable, go somewhere else and we’ll play against you.’”
Otzelberger’s assembled a deep and talented roster fully bought into his exacting regimen. Standout guards Keshon Gilbert, Curtis Jones, and Tamin Lipsey all return — and along with the sharpshooting Momcilovic and high-flying Demarion Watson — form a skilled and experienced core augmented by four transfers (Brandton Chatflield, Nate Heise, Dishon Jackson, Joshua Jefferson), one redshirt freshman (the 7-1 J.T. Rock) and one true freshman (Nojus Indrusaitis).
The Cyclones reeled off 29 wins last season — the second-most in team history — and went 18-0 at Hilton Coliseum. They’re expected to soar to greater heights in 2024-25, and adopting those exacting daily habits serves as the springboard to any success they’ll encounter in the stacked, new-look Big 12.
“It’s good to know you’re getting to work before everybody,” said Gilbert, who led ISU in scoring last season at 13.7 points per game and ranked second on the team in assists (4.2) and steals (2.0).
It still took awhile for the former UNLV transfer to adjust to the demanding early-morning schedule — and when he learned that Rock, who redshirted last season, sets his alarm for 5:40 a.m., he was taken aback.
“That’s crazy,” he said. “I probably get up at like 6:10 and I’ll probably lay there a little bit and (gather) my thoughts; sit on the side of the bed, look down, and then get up.”
Lipsey’s alarm chimes at about the same time Gilbert’s does. The Ames native and honorable mention All-American is used to the crack-of-dawn wake-up call as he enters his third season in the program.
“Around eight hours of sleep is pretty good, so I try to go to bed, or at least starting winding down, around 10-ish,” said Lipsey, who led the Cyclones in assists (4.9), steals (2.7) and 3-point accuracy (39.1 %) last season’s. “Some days I’m even more tired. (Tuesday), we had a tough practice and I was in bed by 9-9:30. So it makes it easier to go to bed when you have a long day of hard work.”
ISU’s all-out efforts in the early morning understandably breed exhaustion. They also form a defense-driven framework that bedevils Big 12 opponents. The pressure ramps up and never relents for the Cyclones, who led the country in adjusted defensive efficiency last season according to KenPom.
“We’re just winning games,” said the versatile Jones, who sets two alarms each morning — one at 6:10, and another at 6:19. “Looking forward to that again and looking forward to giving (the fans) another great season.”
None of that, of course, is guaranteed, but those early-day habits make anything possible.
“We can’t skip a day,” Momcilovic said. “We’ve gotta get our workouts in. We’ve gotta get rest for our bodies. We’ve gotta do everything to make sure that when the season comes that we’re ready, and we’re gonna be thriving at the right time.”
Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger hosted his annual media day press conference Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. Player interviews can be seen below, as well.
Oct 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton (6) works around Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey (4) during the first half of game five of the 2024 WNBA playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Former Cyclone Bridget Carleton and the Minnesota Lynx are headed to the WNBA Finals.
With an 88-77 win in Game 5 of the semifinals, Minnesota clinched its spot in a 3-2 series victory and advance to take on the New York Liberty in the best-of-5 championship series.
Carleton netted a series high 17 points in game 1 of the semifinals and is averaging more than 30 minutes and 10.0 points per game for the Lynx as they chase their first championship since 2017.
New York won the league regular season championship with a 32-8 record and clinched home court advantage over the Lynx, who finished 30-10.
Game 1 of the finals will be on Thursday night and the full schedule can be seen below.
WNBA Finals Schedule
All times CST
Thurs. Oct. 10 | Minnesota @ New York (7 p.m. ESPN)
Sun. Oct. 13 | Minnesota @ New York (2 p.m. ABC)
Wed. Oct. 16 | New York @ Minnesota (7 p.m. ESPN)
Fri. Oct. 18 | New York @ Minnesota (7 p.m. ESPN)
Sun. Oct. 20 | Minnesota @ New York (7 p.m. ESPN)
Audi Crooks stands for a photo during Iowa State Women’s Basketball media day at Hilton Coliseum, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024.© Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Audi Crooks confidently gripped the guitar, positioned her fingers on the neck, and strummed the strings melodiously.
A video of this musical interlude for Iowa State’s star sophomore center exists on longtime Cyclones assistant coach Jodi Steyer’s phone. It played out last summer in Italy, before Crooks had logged a single minute — let alone her eight double-doubles — while helping ISU’s youth-laden team advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.
Steyer asked Crooks how long she’d been taking lessons. The answer surprised her.
“She was (like), ‘No, I taught myself,’” Steyer recalled during Tuesday’s women’s basketball media day interviews at Hilton Coliseum. “And I thought she was gonna say five or six years ago, but she said five or six months ago. She puts her mind to something and she’s extremely talented in everything she does.”
The 6-3 Crooks — one of four unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selections last season — brings that creativity and curiosity to the court. And she’s not alone. Crooks is one of four returning sophomores who stayed in tune during last season’s surprising surge, and as long as fifth-year senior point guard Emily Ryan’s serving as the group’s conductor, the Cyclones will continue to hit high notes throughout a 2024-25 season brimming with big expectations.
“I think, obviously, we want to go back to the Big 12 Tournament and finish it off this year,” said Crooks, who averaged 19.2 points and 7.8 rebounds last season. “We came up short last year, so I think that’s definitely a team goal, (and) we want to make the ‘Big Dance’ and make a good run.”
All the pieces are in place to keep those lofty expectations within reach. Fellow sophomore forward Addy Brown became the first ISU player to record 400 points, 250 rebounds and 150 assists in a single season. Skilled perimeter shooters dot the roster, including Marquette transfer guard Kenzie Hare, who shot 42.5 percent from 3-point range last season. Add in returning guards Arianna Jackson and Kelsey Joens, along with other high-level transfers and incoming freshmen, and the Cyclones’ veteran head coach, Bill Fennelly, will have a difficult time divvying up minutes.
“This is the first year I’ve been at Iowa State — and I’ve been here a couple of years — (that) we have 12 players and every single one of them I could tell you I could put in a game tonight,” Fennelly said.
Fennelly also asked all of his players to write down how many minutes they hoped to play this season and let’s just say some of those players will be disappointed.
“The number added up to 390,” Fennelly said. “Well, there’s only 200 minutes in a game, so, I mean, that’s a good thing. So now it’s about competition and how do you impact winning? They all understand that and they’ve all done a good job so far.”
One area for improvement Crooks and Brown identified is defense. The Cyclones allowed a Big 12-high 69.1 points per game last season and whittling that number down will be important as the team’s goals spiral upward.
“Our coaches didn’t give us much of an option, to be honest with you,” Brown said of shoring up the defensive end. “I’m going to put it bluntly, but, I mean, we push each other every day in practice and a lot of it is just communication.”
So ISU will try to avoid discordant notes, while Ryan deftly sets the tempo.
“Last year, nobody expected us to do much of anything, let alone take the No. 2 nationally ranked team (Stanford) to overtime and almost win,” Crooks said. “It was just a great experience overall, and a lot to learn from.”
Iowa State Cyclones guard Emily Ryan (11), forward Addy Brown (24) and guard Hannah Belanger (13) celebrates after winning 96-93 over Kansas State Wildcats in double over-time of a NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Feb.14, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.
AMES – Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly has said in the past that Emily Ryan saved his job.
And that may be an understatement.
“She saved my life, probably, let alone my job,” Fennelly said about the team captain and starting point guard on Tuesday at the program’s annual media day.
Ryan enters her fifth year in Ames in one of the most unique roles not only Iowa State’s program has ever seen, but maybe college basketball as a whole.
The Kansas native has appeared in 119 games in an Iowa State uniform, starting 109 of them. Eight of those games where she didn’t start came when she was battling back from an injury last season, the other two coming from her freshman year.
Ryan slotted into the captain role when she elected to stay at Iowa State while some teammates entered the transfer portal to pursue opportunities elsewhere following the 2022-23 season.
“Emily Ryan is – and I don’t like to say, ‘the best,’ – because that’s not fair to former players,” Fennelly said. “But I’ve never been around anyone better as a leader. As coaches, we talk about how it’s always about the team and we’re just talking, ‘it’s we over me,’ and usually it isn’t that way (for some players). It usually isn’t that way – that’s exactly the way it is for Emily.”
And Ryan earned her way into that role, remaining there as a voice during her fourth year in the program, leading the Cyclones as they battled No. 2 Stanford to the brink in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament.
It’s due to Fennelly’s belief in his starting point guard.
“It comes from the amount of belief and the amount of confidence coach Fennelly has instilled in me,” Ryan said. “He trusts me and so that helps other people trust me as well. He’s given me the opportunity to use my voice and he’s super receptive on feedback we have – it’s a two-way street… it’s something that’s really empowering and allows us to be really successful.”
The leadership from Ryan helped the Cyclones into the Big 12 tournament championship game for the second-straight year.
“I saw coach Campbell mention something about Beau (Freyler) could be a head coach at Iowa State some day,” Fennelly said. (Ryan) is in the same boat.”
Her guidance was a big factor in teaching a group of freshmen what the program was about – especially one that had to learn to play the point guard role when she didn’t expect to in college.
“Emily Ryan is the best to ever do it,” Arianna Jackson said. “Just knowing that I can get two years with her is really awesome. I think I learned so much last year under her, especially playing point guard when I didn’t think I was going to have to. Just stepping into that position was helpful with her ear on the sideline and just knowing she could talk to me at any moment – even in practice now, she’s talking to me all the time.”
Now, the Cyclones embark on a season where they will start ranked nationally as a top 10 team.
They’ve got one of the best posts in the country in Audi Crooks and another budding star in Addy Brown, along with a supporting cast with players that Fennelly thinks could each play today if the team had a game.
“When you come to practice, whatever she says – everyone, and I mean everyone, listens to her,” Fennelly said of Ryan. “It’s not just the players. It’s the coaches, the trainers, the managers… she’s just got that ability because everyone knows it’s sincere. There’s nothing phony about her. She loves what this is about and I think her fifth year is something we’re all lucky that she decided to take.”
The expectations are there because of the program that Fennelly and the rest of the team have built in Ames, but they were elevated when Ryan announced she’d return for her fifth season.
Now, it’s on her group to fill them.
“I get myself in trouble because I say what I think too much,” Fennelly said. “I wouldn’t trade Emily Ryan for anyone. Anyone.”
Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Quentin Taylor (24) and Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Malik Verdon (7) takes down Baylor Bears wide receiver Josh Cameron (34) during the third quarter in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
No. 11 Iowa State takes on West Virginia Saturday in Morgantown as Iowa State chases its first 6-0 start since 1938. Here are the takeaways from Tuesday’s press conference.
Injuries on the defenseAs I wrote Saturday night, Iowa State had seven defensive starters either injured in its game against Baylor or not playing entirely.
Coach Matt Campbell said Tuesday that he and his staff feel a lot better than they did Saturday.
“We’re a lot better today probably than where we felt we were Saturday,” Campbell said. “Cael (Brezina) was out there at practice today, which was great to see – I didn’t know if we thought that would happen. (Darien Porter) was back to full-go, which was a positive.”
Campbell said he’s still uncertain if Brezina will be on the field in Morgantown.
“On Cael – I would say it’s not a guarantee he’ll be ready (for Saturday), but I think he’s a lot closer than we thought he would be, so we’ll keep navigating that as we get through the week,” Campbell said.
There is still a question mark at the linebacker spot with true sophomore Jack Sadowsky.
The Illinois native started the first four games of the season, but did not play on Saturday against Baylor.
“We’re kind of trying to navigate exactly what to do with (Sadowsky),” Campbell said. “We’re, I think, in limbo of ‘do we redshirt him or do we not,’ just because he didn’t get that opportunity a year ago. I think we’re trying to be wise more than we were trying to do anything else. I think Jack is such a great team player – I think he wants to do what’s best for the team. Obviously, if (Brezina) wouldn’t go, he’d be a guy that will certainly be ready to go and help us play great football.”
This is a point to note, because in past years, Campbell has said that his staff doesn’t pay a ton of attention to the four-game redshirt rule and tries its best to put the best players on the field.
We’ll know more on it Saturday, as a depleted linebacker corps – which continues to perform no matter who’s on the field – lines up in Morgantown.
“It’s part of football,” Campbell said. “It’s why you try to build your team with depth – obviously it’s challenging, but it’s provided some guys with some great opportunities to play. A little bit of credit goes to coach (Kolby) Cratch. I think he’s done such a really good job of kind of keeping the standard of, ‘we’re going to keep playing good football because we have a lot of really good players.’ I think we felt like there was a lot of depth in that linebacker room before the season started. It’s just an area right now that’s gotten hit and the next guy up has had to go in and play good football.”
Getting out to quicker startsA major point of improvement Iowa State is aiming to get better at is coming out to fast starts in games.
The Cyclones found themselves down 13-0 to Iowa, went into halftime at Houston with a slim, 3-0 lead and got down 14-3 against Baylor Saturday after a 4th and 2 attempt fell short on the first drive.
It’s hit home with new offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser.
“Even still, the last two weeks, there are still a lot of calls that are still lingering in my mind of things that I wish I would have called differently to get us out to a better start in short yardage situations,” Mouser said. “The defense did such a good job this last week, because we didn’t hold our side of the bargain early.”
Mouser said that Iowa State can find its way there by simplifying its play calls early in games, even if he wants a few back.
It might be a necessity for the Cyclones this week – West Virginia got out to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter in its win over Oklahoma State last week.
“I think just finding things that our guys are confident that we can go in and play fast,” Mouser said. “Houston, Baylor and West Virginia – those defenses can be so different. (It’s about) how can we keep it simple and allow our guys to play fast and play confident and know they can execute.”
Jing – Iowa State’s Power T formationIowa State lined up in a Power T-esque formation on Saturday against the Bears, and although it didn’t net positive yards, it’s a new-age wrinkle on classic Campbell sets.
“We’ve had a couple of different names for it – we just call it ‘Jing,'” Mouser said. “We start in a different formation, and shift to Jing and get to that. They didn’t line up exactly in the defense that we thought they would, so it didn’t work. We have a couple of different heavy formations that we can get into whether that’s in the stack or in the T, so it kind of allows us to be felxible based on what we’ve called it. It’s evolved a little bit through the years with coach Campbell in what that’s look like and who’s been at different spots.”
The playcalling duties are largely left to Mouser, but running backs coach Tyler Roehl and offensive line coach (and former UNI offensive coordinator) Ryan Clanton have brought their own twists on things.
“I think it allows you to be really flexible just with the personnel options we have at tight end, receiver and the running backs,” Mouser said. “Within that, it can be really easy to chase ghosts or feel like you have so many options where you’re like, ‘OK what’s really the best thing that we could do here to get a yard.'”
Tight end Ben Brahmer added that Mouser installed the tight end delay that fans saw Saturday during the week leading up to the game in practice.
Don’t expect this to be the end of unique looks the Cyclones roll out – and there could be a little bit of ‘something different’ every week with the minds that are on this staff.
Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jontez Williams (3) intercepts the ball against Baylor during the third quarter in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State cornerback Jontez Williams sensed danger, then glanced upfield at Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson, who cocked his arm and zeroed in on a target in the end zone.
Williams abandoned his man and sped toward the open receiver, closing the gap rapidly before leaping for a touchdown-saving interception. It was a savvy play by the 5-11, 200-pound sophomore — and it also quelled any hope that the Bears could inch back into the game in the No. 11 Cyclones’ 43-21 win last Saturday at home.
“I saw him let go of the ball and I went to go get it,” said Williams, who hopes to make similarly key plays in Saturday’s 7 p.m. (FOX) Big 12 matchup between ISU (5-0, 2-0) and West Virginia (3-2, 2-0) in Morgantown. “I felt like that was mine, you know?”
Williams is one of five Cyclones defensive backs to snare at least one interception this season. He’s tied for the team lead with fellow corner Darien Porter and safety Jeremiah Cooper with two picks. Safeties Beau Freyler and Malik Verdon have one interception apiece, so clearly there’s a competition for takeaways in that deep secondary room.
“Sometimes those conversations happen,” said Williams, who ranks fourth on the team in solo tackles with 12. “But it’s really, who’s gonna make the play in the moment — and if it comes to you, you’ve gotta make it. Once it does happen, yeah, we do make those jokes. One might have two, one might have three, but we’re all trying to work to get one.”
ISU’s tied for 10th nationally in interceptions with eight and tied for sixth among FBS teams with a plus-1.40 per game turnover margin. So the Cyclones’ ball-hawking identity is well-established — and it dates back to last season when they tied for 10th in the country in interceptions with 16. They’ll face a gritty, ground game-driven Mountaineers team that has struggled to create turnovers, checking in at a tie for 14th in the Big 12 with a minus-0.6 per game mark. West Virginia’s forced just five total turnovers this season, but quarterback Garrett Greene’s been solid with ball security, throwing just four interceptions. The 5-11, 200-pound senior’s produced ten total touchdowns this season (seven passing, three rushing), and may be the most skilled dual-threat quarterback ISU has faced this season.
“(He’s) an elite quarterback,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, whose team seeks its first 6-0 start since 1938. “He’s tough. He’s gritty. And I think every game he’s played in since he’s been the (starting) quarterback at West Virginia, they’ve had a chance to win.”
The Cyclones opened as three-point favorites, so Las Vegas’ oddsmakers expect a tense game. And winning the turnover battle yet again may be the key for ISU, as slowing down the Mountaineers’ top-15-ranked running game will likely prove difficult.
West Virginia rushed for a staggering 389 yards last weekend in Stillwater — and three different players, including Greene, ran for 77 yards or more.
“Man, there’s a sense of toughness and pride in everything they do,” Campbell said. “So I really just think they’ve played great team football. They’ve had chances to win every one of the games they’ve played.”
ISU’s chances hinge on the type of plays Williams made in last week’s win. His snap count grew when Porter had to sit out against Baylor and fellow cornerback Myles Purchase went into the tent to be evaluated by medical staff for a potential concussion. He passed that test and returned to the game — and Porter, Campbell said, should be available against West Virginia after a one-game absence. Williams’ role will continue to expand, though, and he’s emerged as one of the Cyclones’ most-improved players.
“He was a guy that when you talk about January, February, March, April, May, those months were nobody gets to see the byproduct of the time, effort and energy you put into your craft — he was elite, and stepped up with some great leadership,” Campbell said. “He led by example with how he came to work every day, (and was) usually the last guy to leave most nights. When I was leaving, that guy was still in here training.”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser addressed media members at the Stark Performance Center in Ames Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s game at West Virginia (7 p.m. FOX).
West Virginia coach Neal Brown’s pregame press conference can be seen below as well.
Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel, Ben Brahmer, Jalen Travis and Jontez Williams addressed media members Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s game at West Virginia (7 p.m. FOX).
Oct 5, 2024; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Garrett Greene (6) hands off to running back CJ Donaldson Jr. (4) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the fourth quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State is 5-0 for the first time since the prime time soap opera “Dallas” gripped TV viewers, and Dolly Parton sang about working “9 to 5.” It’s been 44 years since the Cyclones (who are also 2-0 in Big 12 play) carried that mark into week six — and it’s been 86 years since ISU emerged from its sixth game with a spotless record. So these are heady times for the cardinal and gold-clad faithful, but surging West Virginia (3-2, 2-0) aims to provide a reality check. The Mountaineers own a comeback win over Kansas and dominated Oklahoma State on the road, 38-14, last Saturday, so they’re bursting with confidence heading into Saturday’s 7 p.m. meeting with the No. 11 Cyclones, which will air nationally on FOX. Here are five West Virginia players to know in advance of the intriguing matchup:
RB C.J. Donaldson The Mountaineers’ workhorse in the backfield furnishes the thunder alongside big-play back Jahiem White’s lightning. The 6-2, 238-pound junior heads his team in carries (71), rushing yards (361) and touchdowns on the ground (five). White’s rushed for four touchdowns and averages 6.3 yards per carry to Donaldson’s 5.1, so they’re a dynamic duo for a West Virginia team that ranks third in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game at 223.0. Donaldson rushed for a season-high two touchdowns in last week’s rout of Oklahoma State and is trusted to grind out the necessary yards when the field shrinks and opposing defenses load the box. He led Mountaineers backs in touchdown runs last season with 11 and has reached the end zone at least once in 13 of his past 15 games.
TE Kole Taylor The 6-7, 255-pound senior from Grand Junction, Colo., doesn’t compile gaudy numbers, but tends to make winning plays when they’re needed the most. Taylor is tied for the team lead with two touchdown grabs this season — and his latest score came in the closing minutes of a 32-28 comeback win over Kansas. He’s one of veteran quarterback Garrett Greene’s most trusted targets and is also a skilled blocker. Taylor’s recorded multiple receptions in eight straight games dating back to last season and led West Virginia tight ends with four touchdowns in 2023.
QB Garrett Greene Greene saw some of the first action of his career in mop-up duty of a 42-6 loss to the Cyclones in 2020, and will make his first start against ISU this weekend, as the two teams haven’t met since 2022. The 5-11, 201-pound senior from Tallahassee, Fla., was one of five West Virginia players to earn the “Iron Mountaineer Award” entering this season, so his toughness is well established even as his accuracy has continued to be an issue. Greene has completed 57.1 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns and four interceptions, but provides added value with his legs. He scored a combined 29 touchdowns last season (16 passing, 13 rushing) and that trend carried over to this fall. Greene rushed for a season-best 86 yards in last week’s win over Oklahoma State and notched his third rushing touchdown of the season. He’s broken off a run of 20-plus yards in each of the past four games, so the Cyclones may place a spy on him to limit his productivity in that area. NOTE: Greene got injured in last week’s win, and his status as of Monday afternoon, for this week is uncertain. If he can’t go, sophomore Nicco Marchiol will get the start.
LB Tyrin Bradley Jr. The 6-2, 255-pound former transfer ranks third among West Virginia linebackers with 23 total tackles this season, but excels in augmenting the defensive line’s push by rushing the quarterback off the edge. Bradley serves as a Swiss Army knife of sorts for the Mountaineers’ defense. The senior boasts 1.5 sacks, one interception and a forced fumble that he recovered to seal the potential season-saving comeback win over Kansas in the team’s Big 12 season opener.
WR Hudson Clement The 6-1, 198-pound sophomore is a former Randy Moss Award winner, which honors West Virginia’s best high school wide receiver. Clement’s only caught one touchdown pass this season but is a constant big-play threat who’s averaged over 21 yards per coach in the past two games. He tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions last season with four.
Iowa State has flipped former Northern Illinois wide receiver commit Dyllan Malone after offering the 2025 prospect over the weekend.
Malone, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound player, had previous FBS offers from Miami Ohio, NIU, Illinois State, Western Illinois and Lindenwood.
The Illinois native becomes the 15th commit to the 2025 class, joining West Des Moines Valley’s Xzavion Robinson and New Jersey’s Karon Brookins.
Malone is also the second NIU commit that Iowa State flipped in the class, along with legacy get LaMarcus Hicks II.
The Cyclones utilized their first bye week getting organized on late gets they could find in the 2025 class, and have already landed two ahead of the second bye week.
Iowa State Cyclones running back Jaylon Jackson (12) celebrates with Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) after a touchdown against Baylor during the fourth quarter in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State is 5-0, knocking on the door of the top 10 and in the driver’s seat of the Big 12 Conference all after wearing white-and-black jerseys at home for its first ever white-out game.
Those around in 1980 may still not believe it. Let’s muse.
Jaylon Jackson & the rushing game
If it wasn’t the white-out game, it would be remembered as Jaylon Jackson’s.
The Eastern Michigan transfer rushed for over 100 yards for the first time in his career, which spans three schools over five seasons, and looked as good as ever.
Jackson took 15 carries in the game, rattled off a 50-yard rush for the second week in a row and brought home two, impressive touchdown runs.
JAYLON (ACTION) JACKSON CAN’T BE STOPPED!!! @CycloneFB pic.twitter.com/7kls8TnCdT
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 6, 2024
The shiftiness on this TD run by Jaylon Jackson @CycloneFB pic.twitter.com/vianP6hb95
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 6, 2024
Jackson was RB1 on Saturday. Carson Hansen played one of his best games as a Cyclone for the second time in five games rushing for 97 yards.
But fans shouldn’t give up on Abu Sama.
The former Southeast Polk star didn’t have a good game against Baylor, finishing with 17 yards on eight attempts. He was not the starting back that he has been and proven to be for this team in the past — and that’s O.K.
The Cyclones are in the midst of their best three-game rushing stretch in the Matt Campbell era, totaling 237 yards against Arkansas State, 240 against Houston and 265 on the ground in the Baylor win.
Young players are going to progress, and it’s never a linear path to see a player’s best. Sama can bounce back, but it’s good for the Cyclones to play running back by committee.
Jayden Higgins
For the seventh straight game, Iowa State wideout Jayden Higgins found his way to the end zone.
Maybe for the same amount of games in a row – it could be more, but my memory is foggy on it – fans watched Higgins dominate a 1-on-1 battle on his way to a big reception.
Higgins has finished with 65 yards or more along with a touchdown in every game so far this year.
He may be Iowa State’s biggest star when it’s all said and done this season, and it says a lot considering Jaylin Noel has even more yards through the air so far.
Enjoy watching these guys, who are both in the top 40 in the country in receiving, the rest of the way. They are doing special things.
There still isn’t an established ‘third receiver,’ but Ben Brahmer can do
Behind Higgins and Noel, the Cyclones still haven’t found that third wideout to step up.
It’s a tad concerning – the only true wideout to catch a pass in one of the games against power opponents was walk-on Carson Brown with his pair of receptions against Houston. That came in a game where Noel was battling cramps and didn’t play in the second half.
Whether that needs to change, or Iowa State can sustain success without receivers behind the top two, Ben Brahmer continues to show that he’s a dominant force when he’s catching balls.
The 6-foot-7, 250-pound tight end can block with the best of him, but showed that he’s the toughest player on this team and one of the hardest in the league to tackle in his pair of receptions Saturday.
He doesn’t need to average five receptions a game for the offense to move the ball – that’s obvious – but the more Iowa State can get it to him in certain situations, the better.
Excellent play design and beautiful execution from Becht to Brahmer for the first touchdown of the night! pic.twitter.com/5KNT9TiIob
— OutCYde the Lines (@OutCYdetheLines) October 6, 2024
I wanted to throw this in that a few pointed out – Mouser put his own twist on the tight end delay that some NFL teams, including the 49ers, have ran in recent years. It was as much of a great design as it was Brahmer muscling it into the end zone.
It’s clear that @T_Mouser has been watching some Kyle Shanahan film https://t.co/32aSfnn3dt pic.twitter.com/vFgs1xATIp
— OutCYde the Lines (@OutCYdetheLines) October 6, 2024
Defensive depth & those guys in Ames that are stepping up
Campbellhas echoed the mantra of players-formations-plays over the years, but that’s the opposite of what this defense is going through right now. Iowa State had seven players either taken out of the game after getting banged up or missing it entirely on the defense Saturday.
I’ll have more on injuries Tuesday – I don’t want to speculate – but walk-on redshirt freshman Rylan Barnes played almost the entire second half against Baylor. And Barnes looked the part.
The defense is banged up everywhere, but it almost seems like no matter who fills into spots is taking off with ease.
And there are walk-ons or former walk-ons all over the field making plays for this team. It’s a testament to the work that Derek Hoodjer and the attention to detail that Campbell & Co. take when evaluating walk-ons.
It’s a great thing for the Cyclones, but that second bye week can’t come soon enough.
Around the Big 12 West Virginia wallops OSU
Iowa State’s next opponent – West Virginia – made a statement against an Oklahoma State team I was already out on. They ran away with this one. Iowa State’s defense will have to be ready to contain another dual threat quarterback in West Virginia’s Garrett Greene. It’s set up pretty interestingly for Jon Heacock’s unit, actually. I’d say each quarterback the Cyclones faced in their last three games was a better one than in the game previous. However, Greene is on a different level than the others. He ran for 86 yards against Oklahoma State and 87 in the game prior against Kansas. Backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol came in and rushed it seven times for 46 yards against OSU, too. That will be a matchup to watch Saturday.
Arizona finds a way to hand Tech another W
Texas Tech picked up its fifth win of the year in the nightcap on FOX against Arizona. The Red Raiders ended up getting the win after dominating the first half and later forcing a fumble from Arizona’s star wideout Tetairoa McMillan. I was worried about my Tech pick after the Washington State game, but it seems like Joey McGuire’s squad is well on its way to being 7-1 when it rolls into Ames.
The Wildcats, on the other hand, continue to puzzle me. They put up the right numbers as a team – the passing attack is lighting it up – but are finding ways to drop games. The 3-for-14 third down conversion rate is the most telling stat here. Arizona has a matchup with undefeated BYU in Provo Saturday in what is great Big 12 slate.
FUMBLE AND TEXAS TECH HAS IT! @TexasTechFB pic.twitter.com/bDCeohOBrO
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 6, 2024
There hasn’t been a further fall from grace than UCF has had in its past two games.
The Knights were on the door of being ranked in the top 25 before getting swallowed by Colorado at home and now dropping a game to what has been an embarrassing Florida team. No matter how the Knights finish the season, that’s Florida’s best win to date this year – and that should say a lot. UCF trailed 24-3 at the half, K.J. Jefferson was unimpressive and the season outlook there is a lot different than it was. UCF has a ‘loser leaves town’ game with Cincinnati before facing Iowa State and BYU in back-to-back weeks.
Houston is making TCU look like that
There were four or five times where I looked across the room and said those words while watching Houston take down TCU in Fort Worth. The Cougars were 17-point underdogs to the Horned Frogs and haven’t traditionally faired well in that series – I believe the stat was 1-10 in their last 11 matchups. I’m interested to see what Houston does after its bye week when its on the road at Kansas. I don’t believe the last pair of games for UH was simply the Cougars figuring things out or Iowa State catching them early enough in the year. I’ll have more on them later this month, but that’s a fun win for Willie Fritz’s new program.
I saved my favorite Big 12 topic for last. I cannot get enough of Cam Skattebo.
The work-horse, 5-foot-11 battering ram that powers the ASU offense like a big block Chevrolet motor was as dominant as Dale Earnhardt in the Sun Devils’ win over Kansas. Taking 25 carries for 186 yards, Skattebo helped the Sun Devils to the four-win mark, which they haven’t seen since 2021, and that’s just in five games. He’s also on freaking special teams making tackles like this!
All the yards are great!!! But this is all about THE TEAM!! Love this @camskattebo5 #LIFERS pic.twitter.com/Y15fOphsTs
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) October 6, 2024
It’s a feel-good story for Arizona State, and I’ll have my eyes glued to their matchup against Utah at home this Friday.
For Kansas, it’s the opposite, and the schedule won’t do them any favors. I don’t think the Jayhawks are far off at all. It isn’t the KU of the past and anyone that thinks so may get a wake-up call from this group. However — it is going to be an ugly record at the end of the season in Lawrence. KU still faces Kansas State, Iowa State and BYU – and that’s just in a three-game stretch in which the only ‘home’ matchup in it comes at Arrowhead in a game where there will be plenty of Cyclone fans. There may not be three more wins on the schedule for Kansas, let alone the four it needs to – maybe – reach a bowl game.
…
I’ll leave y’all with coach Mac, and make sure you get off to a good start to your week.
Elite Locker Room Vibes pic.twitter.com/WExz3GVjj1
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 6, 2024
In front of a sellout crowd, Iowa State took down the Baylor Bears 43-21 in Saturday night’s Big 12 matchup. The Cyclones are officially 5-0 for the first time since 1980.
Relive the magical night in my latest photo gallery below.
Iowa State running back Jaylon Jackson (12) jumps into the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of a victory over Baylor at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State moved up to No. 11 in the latest AP Poll after defeating Baylor 43-21 on Saturday to move to 5-0 on the season.
The Cyclones are the highest ranked team in the poll from the Big 12 Conference, along with No. 14 BYU, No. 16 Utah, and No. 18 Kansas State.
The full poll can be seen below.
AP CFB Poll
Sun. October 6, 2024
1. Texas
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon
4. Penn State
5. Georgia
6. Miami
7. Alabama
8. Tennessee
9. Ole Miss
10. Clemson
T-11. Iowa State
T-11. Notre Dame
13. LSU
14. BYU
15. Texas A&M
16. Utah
17. Boise State
T-18. Kansas State
T-18. Indiana
T-18. Oklahoma
21. Missouri
22. Pittsburgh
23. Illinois
24. Michigan
25. SMU
Others receiving votes: Southern Cal 98, Nebraska 51, Navy 43, Army 33, Vanderbilt 26, Arkansas 17, Washington St. 8, Iowa 8, Texas Tech 7, Syracuse 6, Washington 4, Louisville 4, Colorado 3, Kentucky 1.
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) passes the ball over Baylor Bears safety DJ Coleman (33) during the first quarter in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.© Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State Rocco Becht acknowledged the bait, then calmly ignored it.
“So, what does it mean to be 5-0 for the first time since 1980?” he was asked after the No. 16 Cyclones’ dicey-early but decisive-late 43-21 win Saturday night over Baylor at a sold-out Jack Trice Stadium.
“It must means that we’ve gotta win this next one,” said Becht, who threw for 277 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. “5-0 is awesome and I’m gonna keep saying it, but we’re 0-0 right now and we just need to go game by game.”
Next up: A Big 12 test under the lights against West Virginia (3-2, 2-0) on the road — and Becht’s unwilling to provide any bulletin board material. He’s too smart for that.
“Going to Morgantown, it’s a hornet’s nest, so we’ve gotta continue with our process and our precision and just have a good week of practice,” Becht continued.
That hype-free approach has propelled the Cyclones (5-0, 2-0) to the top of the league standings. It’s also spurred hope that this ISU team can stitch together a “special” season that requires a singular focus on what lies immediately ahead, not potential future outcomes.
“We talked about last year how that team was a true team,” said Becht, who’s thrown multiple touchdown passes in eight of the past nine games. “I didn’t think it could get any better, but I think it has. We’ve got a lot of young guys stepping up (who have) been playing really big for us, so continuing to improve those guys — it’s gonna be huge.”
Also big for ISU: Developing consistency in the running game. The Cyclones surpassed 200 rushing yards for their third straight game for the first time since the 2021 season and speedy, but slight 5-7, 180-pound senior transfer tailback Jaylon Jackson is a big reason why. Jackson juked and jetted 51 yards on one rush on Saturday and topped the 100-yard mark for the first time as a Cyclone. He also notched his first two rushing touchdowns in his ISU career while fellow back Carson Hansen also nearly breached the 100-yard plateau.
“I don’t think (anything’s) really just changing,” Jackson said. “I just think that we’re getting comfortable with the speed of the game each and every week and just being able to adjust, that’s what you’re seeing.”
The Cyclones’ ninth-year head coach Matt Campbell is seeing his team “buy in” from the stars who headline the roster to the walk-ons who undergird it.
Case in point: Late in the first half on Saturday. ISU trailed Baylor 14-12 and backup defensive end Myles Mendeszoon surged through the Bear’s punt protection to block a kick. Walk-on defensive back Caden Matson scooped it up and ran 25 yards for his first career touchdown, setting a game-altering tone after a slow start for the Cyclones, who trailed 14-3 early.
Special teams have become a strength for ISU and Campbell said it embodies his team’s character. Matson, unsurprisingly, agrees.
“It’s the dirty work that nobody wants to do,” the former Humboldt star said. “And that’s why I think a lot of the time the walk-ons get their shot on special teams, because they do the dirty things that a lot of guys don’t. There’s no glitz and glamour there. It’s literally just about attitude and effort. There’s precision, obviously, too, and Campbell’s 100 percent right that that’s truly a true (indicator) of the character of your team. If you really get your guys to buy in on special teams and care about it, then, I mean, you’ve got a special team. And we have that.”
Just how special that team — and teams — will be as October eventually fades into November and bigger tests lurk ahead is uncertain. That’s why being 5-0 doesn’t define the Cyclones. Being “all in” does.
“I think our kids, at least right now, have bought into that process,” Campbell said. “So when you’ve watched them have the resiliency in the moment through our football games — and don’t let negatives turn to, all of a sudden, you can’t get out of it, those things are really rewarding to watch.”
Head Coach Matt Campbell gives his initial thoughts on Iowa State’s 43-21 win over Baylor. Plus, Iowa State is 5-0 for the first time. since 1980.
Oct 5, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell celebrates with defensive back Caden Matson (43) during their game against the Baylor Bears at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State walk-on defensive back Caden Matson watched the football spin, then made chase, zeroing in as it bounded — against all wobbly odds — right into his hip pocket.
The HUmboldt native’s first career blocked punt recovery for a touchdown hung in the balance Saturday night against Baylor and two words popped into his head in the critical moment: “Oh, God.”
“It kind hopped and kind of caught — it sat right in there,” said Matson, whose subsequent 25-yard jaunt to the end zone in the No. 16 Cyclones’ 43-21 win over the Bears created a mammoth shift in momentum late in the first half. “It was kind of meant to be, a little bit, so, yeah, it was cool.”
Refreshing, too.
ISU — which is 5-0 for the first time in 44 years — trailed 14-12 at the time.
Reserve defensive end Myles Mendeszoon powered past obstacles to block the punt. Matson, a former Humboldt star, did the rest, giving the Cyclones their first blocked punt recovery for a touchdown since 2004, when LaMarcus Hicks scooped up Ellis Hobbs’s deflection and scored.
It also gave ISU it’s second game-changing special teams play of the season, joining walk-on kicker Kyle Konrardy’s game-winning 53-yard field goal in the 20-19 win at then-No. 21 Iowa.
“The ‘who’ is what’s even more rewarding,” said Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell, whose team overcame a spate of injuries during the game. “Caden Matson has kind of been just a warrior for this program, and a kid that just keeps showing up. (He) obviously gets the touchdown but we felt like there was an opportunity maybe to take a shot (at a punt block) in the game.”
The results of that “shot” served as a spark for ISU quarterback Rocco Becht, who completed 16 of 25 passes for 277 yards, two touchdowns, and one costly interception at Baylor’s goal line with 27 seconds left in the first half. Thirteen of those completions went to Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, who combined for 214 receiving yards. Higgins also secured a jump-ball 11-yard touchdown throw from Becht that essentially sealed the win late in the third quarter. Higgins extended his program record for consecutive games with a touchdown catch to seven — and eclipsed 100 receiving yards for the first time this season.
“There (are) some guys that are just, you know, human erasers,” Becht said of Higgins. “And (he’s) a human eraser show. Whenever the ball’s up in the air, he’s either going to get it or it’s going to be a PI. So just continuing to get that guy the ball, we’re going to keep winning games.”
Same goes for transfer tailback Jaylon Jackson, who turned 15 carries into an ISU-career-high 170 yards and two touchdowns. Carson Hansen added 97 yards on the ground to the Cyclones’ season-high total of 265 as his team averaged a head-turning 7.7 yards-per-play.
“The other running backs were kind of giving me a little mess (because) I hadn’t scored a touchdown yet,” said the 5-7, 180-pound Jackson, who’s sprung 50-yard runs on foes in two straight games. “I told them I wanted to be here in this type of environment.”
A sold-out whiteout-clad crowd of 61,500 created that atmosphere and ISU — despite some early miscues — responded, recording its most lopsided win in the series over the Bears since 2001. The Cyclones’ offense eclipsed the 500-yard mark in a game for the first time in three years and the defense held Baylor scoreless in the last 17 minutes of the game.
“I appreciate our team not panicking when it was a little bit, maybe, not the start we probably want to have in the football game,” Campbell said. “Our kids understood we need to play 60 minutes.”
Cornerback Jontez Williams added another highlight with a touchdown-saving interception in the end zone. ISU’s offense produced nine plays spanning 20 or more yards, but special teams play spurred the Cyclones the most after falling behind 14-3 early.
“Special teams is really definitive of the character of your team in a lot of ways, right?” said Campbell, whose team will play under the lights at surging West Virginia (3-2, 2-0) next Saturday in Morgantown. “I know we talked a lot before the season started, ‘What makes this team unique?’ At least so far, there’s been a great buy-in value from the top of the roster to the bottom of the roster.”
Matson knows where he stands in that pecking order — and he’s cool with that. Thrilled, actually.
“Everybody just puts their head down and grinds,” he said. “It literally doesn’t matter who it is. It’s not like we’re treated differently or anything. We just go out there and execute the way we’ve been coached.”
Oct 5, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Caden Matson (43) scores on a blocked punt from Baylor Bears punter Palmer Williams (not shown) during the second quarter at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Iowa State got down early, but responded on all fronts in a 43-21 win at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday. Let’s talk about it.
Iowa State got punched early, but responded with unsung heroes and ‘elite special teams’
Iowa State’s first drive of the game ended with Abu Sama getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage on 4th and 2.
By the start of the second quarter, four defensive starters were hurt – Darien Porter didn’t even play in the game. Kyle Konrardy missed an extra point, too.
Iowa State got punched in the mouth – and the hits weren’t done coming – but, boy did they respond.
Trailing 14-12, Jeremiah Cooper broke up a Baylor pass on third down. The Bears had moved the sticks once, but were quickly handing the ball back to Iowa State, who had the crowd behind them.
That’s when fourth-year defensive end Myles Mendeszoon got his hands on the Baylor punt. Caden Matson – a redshirt sophomore walk-on from Humboldt – picked up the ball before running it in for the score, giving the Cyclones their first lead of the game.
“The who is what’s even more rewarding,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said. “It was awesome… Caden Matson has just kind of been a warrior for this program – a kid that just keeps showing up, that obviously gets the touchdown. We felt like there was an opportunity to take a shot in the game.”
The special teams unit nearly came out with a fumble recovery later in the game, too. There’s a reason Baylor coach Dave Aranda called Iowa State’s special teams play ‘elite,’ on Tuesday.
They’ve been rock solid, so far.
“Special teams is really definitive of the character of your team in a lot of ways,” Campbell said. “I just feel like for us – our kids, no matter what your role… are ready to step up when their number gets called. This team gets that from top to bottom.”
Campbell has always stressed the importance of making sure he had the right players filling out the entirety of his roster. He stresses that every walk-on is ‘preferred,’ and there are examples everywhere that they are finding ways onto the field.
Along with Matson, redshirt freshman linebacker Rylan Barnes played the entirety of the second half in relief of Cael Brezina. Not to mention the still-redshirt-for-nowin Konrardy at kicker.
Wide receiver Carson Brown caught two passes last week at Houston, too. Iowa State is finding success no matter who’s on the field.
It’s the players-formations-plays montra that this staff has preached since the early days.
A dinged-up defense
Iowa State saw seven of its 11 usual starters on the defensive ball either taken out of the game or down on the field for an extended period of time due to injury.
As mentioned, defensive back Darien Porter missed the game entirely, and Cael Brezina didn’t return for the second half.
We’ll find out more on Tuesday of the pair, but Campbell offered that Porter was a game-time decision for Saturday.
Myles Purchase was ordered to the concussion tent, but was approved to come back into action.
J.R. Singleton, Ikenna Ezeogu, Domonique Orange and Malik Verdon each exited the game with injuries during the first half, but all of them re-entered the game later on.
Despite this, the defense stepped up, with players stepping up to fill in throughout the night.
After Baylor started 3-3 on third down conversions, the Bears went 1-10 after, allowing the Cyclones to extend their lead and pull away.
“Even in some of those plays, I thought ‘gosh, we were a hair off,'” Campbell said. “A lot of those plays came in the passing game. I really just thought that our ability to hang in there and make the corrections we needed to make (paid off). It wasn’t a change of scheme, and we didn’t really do much different in terms of what we did different, it was more so how we were doing it.”
Jaylon Jackson
The talented running back transfer from Eastern Michigan forced this staff to put him on the field. He was simply too good during the off-season and fall camp periods to ignore it, giving the Cyclones a third running back in their rotation.
On Saturday, the senior rushed for 100 yards for the first time in his collegiate career.
“He’s been pretty consistent, honestly for the whole season,” Campbell said. “I thought he was electric last week, and man, has he just continued to grow. It’s been really pleasant to see him, and obviously he had a couple of pretty great runs in the game, but I think he’s shown all season he can do that.”
Jackson helped turn the tide of the vibes at the Jack. His 51-yard rush in the second quarter eventually led to Ben Brahmer’s touchdown to make it a 14-12 game.
It was the loudest the crowd had gotten to that point, and played a big role into flipping the energy into Mendeszoon’s blocked punt.
“It was just amazing to watch,” Jackson said. “It was one of the best games I’ve been a part of… it just boosts my confidence. I’ve been looking for a game like this since I’ve got here. Tonight was that night. Shoutout to the O-line and my teammates.”
Had it not been ‘the white-out game,’ this would be remembered as Jackson’s breakout night and that could be a big thing going forward in Ames.
The white-out
Iowa State fans delivered on the white-out front. About 90 percent of the crowd at Jack Trice Stadium showed up in white and Iowa State’s alternate uniforms popped under the lights.
I know some of y’all are skeptical of the totality of the fan base’s ability to pull off color-outs – there have been some less-than-perfect attempts in the past. But the Cyclone faithful did their job Saturday night.
This Iowa State crowd >>>> pic.twitter.com/douAZk5mYt
— College Football Live (@CollegeFBonX) October 5, 2024
The uniforms popped, the crowd impressed and the Cyclones get out with a 5-0 start.
“That was crazy,” Jackson said. “Definitely one of the loudest games I’ve ever been in.”
Iowa State players breakdown Iowa State’s 43-21 win over Baylor at home to go 5-0 for the first time since 1980.
The No. 16 Iowa State Cyclones will be coming out with a new look on Saturday (6:30 p.m. FOX) at Jack Trice Stadium for their night game against the Baylor Bears.
Iowa State will be rocking a white helmet with its black logo package – something fans have seen in the past – but this time, with a new helmet.
Script for Saturday@CycloneEQUIP pic.twitter.com/ymcnvSnxiJ
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 4, 2024
The new helmets will feature a white shell, with the vintage ‘Cyclones’ script logo set in black on the side.
It’s a unique twist on what appears to be Iowa State bringing the vintage logo back into modern usage, along with its new gold basketball uniforms.
Some screengrabs of Iowa State’s new gold basketball uniform ls with the vintage script “Cyclones” wordmark. pic.twitter.com/J9KTraJ16W
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) September 24, 2024
The helmet will also feature a stripe, although its unclear from the photos shared if the stripe fades out on the top of the lid, or goes completely down the bottom of the helmet.
The equipment room Twitter account first teased the new look when it posted a video taking the block, ‘I-State’ logo off of the side of the helmet.
pic.twitter.com/LmT4QajDGd
— Cyclone Equipment (@CycloneEQUIP) October 3, 2024
This is the first time Iowa State will wear white helmets with black accents since the 2021 Cy-Hawk game, a 27-21 loss to Iowa.
The Cyclones also rocked the same uniform and helmet combo in a 49-24 win over TCU in 2019.
Iowa State junior running back Breece Hall dives after a loose ball against Iowa in the Cy-Hawk Series football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. © Bryon Houlgrave/The Register via Imagn Content Services, LLCFans are encouraged to wear white to the game, as Iowa State debuts its new white version of the black & white branding coach Matt Campbell brought to the program.
pic.twitter.com/NSSUvLfda2
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 3, 2024
Jack Trice Stadium will also feature black-and-white logos on the field, as it did for Iowa State’s 37-30 win over No. 18 Oklahoma in 2020.
pic.twitter.com/RgK40pi7vd
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 4, 2024
Donor Parking lots for the game will open at 10:00 a.m. while grass lots are open to the public at 12:30 p.m. for the 6:30 p.m. kickoff.
By Rob Gray, correspondent
AMES — The bass line bumped, deep and resonant, building musical tension until finally, Freddie Mercury broke in and yelled, “Let’s go!”
And the beat thrummed on from there. Queen’s classic song, “Another One Bites the Dust,” proved to be an instant hit — and on Oct. 11, 1980, it spent its second week atop the Billboard singles chart.
The same day, Iowa State thumped Kansas State, 31-7, to stand 5-0 for the first time since 1938, thrilling a crowd of 50,163 who linked that song to the Cyclones’ historic hot start.
Now, 44 years later, 16th-ranked ISU (4-0, 1-0) finds itself one win from that 1980 high-water mark: Riding a cresting wave of momentum and hitting all the right notes entering Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. Big 12 matchup with Baylor (2-3, 0-2) at Jack Trice Stadium.
“The first thing that comes to my head when I think of that, the last time we were 5-0, I’d probably say my dad — he wasn’t even born yet,” said Cyclones tailback Jaylon Jackson, who rushed for an ISU career-high 96 yards in last week’s 20-0 win at Houston.
Jackson laughed heartily as that dawned on him, but then his smile faded, his eyes narrowed, and his voice deepened.
“I think we have a chance to do something special,” he said flatly.
That opportunity will extend past the ornery Bears if and only if the Cyclones don’t lose focus and continue to execute at a high level in all three phases of the game. Baylor’s smarting from two one-score losses to undefeated league foes Colorado and No. 17 BYU, but has proven it can compete with anyone.
“They have not been rewarded the last two weeks, maybe, with a win, but, boy, how they’ve played, especially their ability to come storming back in some of those football games — the mentality the toughness, we’re gonna get a really, really good football team, maybe the best team we’ve played all season coming in here,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “(I have) a lot of respect for them.”
So there’s no theme song of sorts for these Cyclones, outside of the obscure adopted anthem “Juicy Wiggle.” ISU’s drumbeat comes from popping pads in practice and sharp whistles syncopating arduous drills. Precision and detail’s the mantra, always and forever, and the Cyclones have shined in those areas most of the season — especially on defense.
ISU ranks fourth nationally in scoring defense, allowing a scant 7.3 points per game. What three teams rank higher in that area? No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Ohio State, and No. 4 Tennessee. That puts the Cyclones in elite company, but Baylor’s fleet of fast and experienced wide receivers will give ISU’s highly-touted secondary its sternest test of the season.
“Those guys have the experience,” veteran Cyclones defensive coordinator Jon Heacock said. “So they’ve got to play at the highest level they can play.”
Same goes for ISU’s offense, which struggled to finish drives in the first half last week at Houston, but scored 17 unanswered points in the second half. That late success stemmed largely from a strong rushing attack as the Cyclones racked up more than 235 yards on the ground for the second straight game behind their three-tailback rotation of Jackson, Abu Sama and Carson Hansen. The trio may need to be equally or more effective against the Bears, who boast the nation’s 20th-best pass defense, which could make it difficult for ISU quarterback Rocco Becht to compile big numbers.
“They’re not really in the wrong places a lot of times,” Becht said.
The Cyclones opened as 13.5-point favorites over the Bears, but that number dwindled to 11.5 as the countdown to a fireworks-filled game night continued. ISU plans a “white-out” for the FOX-televised game. A drone show will delight fans at some point and then, yes, fireworks will pepper the late night sky regardless of the outcome.
And maybe the Cyclones will soar to 5-0 for the first time in nearly half a century, but their goals spiral much higher on the program’s history chart.
“We want a lot more than to be 5-0,” ISU senior defensive tackle J.R. Singleton said. “We want to be the first team in 133 years to do something special here. We want to bring a Big 12 championship back to Ames, Iowa.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Coming off a runner-up finish at the 2024 Big 12 Championships, Iowa State has been picked to finish second in the Big 12 for the 2024-25 season according to the poll of conference coaches. Coaches voted on the awards and poll and were not allowed to vote for their own team. The Cyclones were picked as a close second behind preseason favorite Kansas State as the Wildcats edged out ISU by two points and one first-place vote. Iowa State and Kansas State are set to meet twice during the regular season with the first matchup to take place on January 30 in Manhattan. After a stellar freshman campaign, sophomore Audi Crooks was a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 Preseason team. Crooks averaged 19.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 58 percent from the floor to lead all NCAA Division I freshmen. Her efforts earned her AP All-America honorable mention, WBCA Regional Finalist recognition and a unanimous selection for First-Team All-Big 12 in 2024. Full results of the preseason poll and list of awards can be found below. 2024-25 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
- Kansas State (7), 211 points
- Iowa State (6), 209 points
- Baylor (2), 194 points
- TCU, 185 points
- West Virginia (1), 184 points
- Utah, 149 points
- Arizona, 136 points
- Kansas, 128 points
- Colorado, 113 points
- Texas Tech, 84 points
- Oklahoma State, 80 points
- BYU, 59 points
- Cincinnati, 56 points
- UCF, 54 points
- Arizona State, 51 points
- Houston, 27 points
(first-place votes)
2024-25 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Audi Crooks, Iowa State
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
JJ Quinerly, West Virginia*
Sarah Andrews, Baylor
Aaronette Vonleh, Baylor
Katilin Peterson, UCF
S’Mya Nichols, Kansas
Serena Sundell, Kansas State
Hailey Van Lith, TCU
Gianna Kneepkens, Utah
2024-25 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
2024-25 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason Co-Newcomers of the Year
Aaronette Vonleh, Baylor
Hailey Van Lith, TCU
2024-25 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason Freshman of the Year
Tabitha Betson, Colorado
Iowa State will try for its first 5-0 start since 1980 on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium, facing the Baylor Bears in its second Big 12 game of the season.
Game Day InfoNo. 18 Iowa State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) @ Houston (1-3, 0-1 Big 12)
Location: Ames, Iowa
Stadium: Jack Trice Stadium (61,500)
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m.
TV: FOX (Tim Brando, Devin Gardner, Josh Sims)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Iowa State -12.5 (via Action Network updated Thursday)
Over/Under: 45.5
Series ResultsIowa State trails Baylor 12-10 in the all-time series between the two programs.
Last 5 games
2023: Iowa State 30, Baylor 18 (Waco)
2022: No. 17 Baylor 31, Iowa State 24 (Ames)
2021: Baylor 31, No. 14 Iowa State 29 (Waco)
2020: No. 17 Iowa State 38, Baylor 31 (Ames)
2019: Baylor 23, Iowa State 21 (Waco)
Players to watchCarson Brown, wide receiver (Iowa State)
Brown, a walk-on from Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, was one of three wideouts that caught passes for Iowa State in the win over Houston. As the Cyclones continue their search for wide receiver No. 3 behind Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel,
Kooper Ebel, linebacker (Iowa State)
In his first season as an everyday starter, Kooper Ebel is (somewhat) quietly tied with Beau Freyler for the team lead in tackles. With 27 over four games, Ebel has stepped up valiantly and it’s come up big in the absence of injured linebackers for the Cyclones – that’s not to say he wasn’t going to start this season regardless. Ebel’s a true talent and is showing great signs early in his career in Ames.
The defensive backs (Iowa State)
Baylor poses the most talented skill players Iowa State has seen so far this season. It will be a potent test for thelesser experienced defensive backs like Jontez Williams and Darien Porter, but neither have shown signs they can’t handle it. Look to see how aggressive this unit is in attacking the Baylor pass-catchers.
The rushing game (Baylor)
Baylor has ran four different running backs for 31 carries or more this season, but it’s hardly been a running back-by committee approach thus far. Bryson Washington took the rock for 13 of Baylor’s 16 carries against BYU, but totaled just 31 yards. Returning starter Richard Reese was injured after having two carries against Colorado and didn’t play in Provo, as is true with sophomore Dawson Pendergrass. In fact, quarterback Sawyer Robertson leads the team with 4.9 yards per carry. Coach Dave Aranda did not give any health updates on the running backs during his press conference, but there’s no telling who Iowa State will line up against.
Josh Cameron, wide receiver (Baylor)
The wideout has been Baylor’s most consistent threat on offense this season. Robertson has been able to find Cameron 16 times for 267 yards and a team-high three touchdowns. He’s already approaching his production numbers from the last pair of seasons and it feels like the junior is hitting his stride.
Garmon Randolph, linebacker (Baylor)
Although he didn’t play in Baylor’s last game, Aranda says the senior linebacker in Randolph should be back on the field for the Bears. In four games, the 6-foot-8, 280-pounder has totaled 12 tackles and a team-high 2.5 sacks for the Bears. He’s one to keep away from Rocco Becht Saturday.
Keys to the game Don’t give Baylor hope
Although the Bears are 2-3, their results have been more of the unique stories in the Big 12 this season. The Bears were downed by Utah by just nine points, nearly completed a 21-point comeback against BYU and Colorado needed a pair of hail mary attempts just to force overtime. The kicker is that Baylor went 0-3 in those games, but the message stands. The Bears are close to figuring it out, and they may be a different team once they do. Iowa State can’t let up in this one.
Win the second half
Matt Campbell called Baylor the best team in the Big 12 at playing in the second half – and he might be on to something. In Baylor’s last game – a 34-28 loss to BYU – the Cougars scored touchdowns on each of their first four drives, then didn’t end a drive with a touchdown the rest of the game. The Baylor defense shutout Utah in the second half in a 23-12 loss, as well.
Make Sawyer Robertson beat you
Baylor had three possessions in the fourth quarter of its loss to BYU to take the lead, with two ending in turnovers and another resulting in a pick six. For whatever reason, Robertson and Co. can move the ball until things get tough, and Iowa State’s defense will want try and make it that way. This matchup also sets up well with Robertson having a bit of rusher in him – with the Cyclones facing a pair of dual-threat quarterbacks in their last two games.
In the Big 12
| Big 12 Standings | | Team | OVR | Big 12 | | No. 17 BYU | 5-0 | 2-0 | | Colorado | 4-1 | 2-0 | | Texas Tech | 4-1 | 2-0 | | No. 16 Iowa State | 4-0 | 1-0 | | Arizona | 3-1 | 1-0 | | West Virginia | 2-2 | 1-0 | | No. 18 Utah | 4-1 | 1-1 | | No. 20 Kansas State | 4-1 | 1-1 | | UCF | 3-1 | 1-1 | | Cincinnati | 3-2 | 1-1 | | TCU | 3-2 | 1-1 | | Arizona State | 3-1 | 0-1 | | Oklahoma State | 3-2 | 0-2 | | Baylor | 2-3 | 0-2 | | Houston | 1-4 | 0-2 | | Kansas | 1-4 | 0-2 |
Friday, October 4
6:30 p.m. | Houston (0-2) @ TCU (1-1), ESPN
Saturday, October 5
3:00 p.m. | West Virginia (1-0) @ Oklahoma State (0-2), ESPN2
6:30 p.m. | Baylor (0-2) @ No. 16 Iowa State (1-0), FOX
6:45 p.m. | UCF (1-1) @ Florida, SEC Network
7:00 p.m. | Kansas (0-2) @ Arizona State (0-1), ESPN2
10:00 p.m. | Texas Tech (2-0) @ Arizona (1-1), FOX
Sep 28, 2024; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver Josh Cameron (34) makes a touchdown catch against Brigham Young Cougars cornerback Therrian Alexander III (24) during the second half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
No. 16 Iowa State faces Baylor Saturday (6:30 p.m. FOX) in its second Big 12 game of the season and first ever white-out football game at Jack Trice Stadium. Here are our staff’s picks.
Chris Williams (3-1)
Iowa State should win this game by double digits. But as Dave Aranda’s seat is smoldering, Baylor is two possessions away from being 2-0 in Big 12 play with impressive wins over Colorado and BYU. Talent wise, Iowa State is better than Baylor but this isn’t a black and white conversation. If the Cyclones play like they are capable, they win comfortably. I think the Bears will show up and this will end somewhere in the middle. Iowa State 30, Baylor 21
Rob Gray (3-1)
Baylor at Iowa State – It’s been a wild and demoralizing two weeks for the Bears, who blew a 14-point lead in an eventual 38-31 overtime loss at Colorado, then fell behind, 21-0, to No. 17 BYU last weekend before mounting a furious rally that fell short in a 34-28 setback. The No. 16 Cyclones, meanwhile, have routinely overcome occasional struggles by making key plays in critical moments to race to their first 4-0 start in 24 years. So what happens Saturday night? More of the same for both teams. ISU’s defense will bow up, as usual, and a balanced offensive effort will keep the beleaguered Bears at bay. Iowa State 31, Baylor 16
Connor Ferguson (4-0)
Iowa State rides the white-out momentum into a hot start in this one and shuts down a Baylor offense that’s came up short in big moments throughout the season. Iowa State 23, Baylor 6
Jeff Woody (4-0)
Baylor is gonna make some plays and this will be the most complete offense ISU has faced all season. But the defense is up to the task. The offense has some fits and starts, but ultimately, ISU is too complete a team that executes too well for Baylor to pull one out on the road. Iowa State 34, Baylor 20
Grant Mahoney (4-0)
Iowa state seems dinged up in a couple x-factor positions. Aranda is fighting to keep his job and has nothing to lose (expect his job). I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Baylor try some trickery to to try and pull off the upset. This will be the best offense/QB ISU’s stout defense has faced this season. If ISU crushed Baylor, I would expect Aranda to be fired. If that happens, him and I will be sharing a pitcher of beer on Cy’s patio after the game. Iowa State 24, Baylor 18
Jackson Pence (4-0)
This game has ‘trap game’ written all over it for the Cyclones. While Baylor is 0-2 in conference play, they are only a Hail Mary and 1st down away from being 2-0. So the Cyclones will have to play better than they did against Houston to beat the Bears. It’s going to be an amazing atmosphere at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday night and I think the Cyclones will get the job done to move to 5-0 for the first time since 1980. Rocco Becht breaks his slow start drought and never looks back. Baylor keeps it close, but the Cyclones pull away in the second half. Iowa State 27, Baylor 17
Iowa Hawkeyes’s quarter Cade McNamara (12) passes the ball around Iowa State Cyclones defensive line J.R. Singleton (58) during the first quarter in the Cy-Hawk series at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Triobune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — He might point at the Jack Trice Stadium crowd to elicit a reaction. Or look to the sideline with a mischievous grin. Iowa State defensive tackle, J.R. Singleton, doesn’t have a sack dance per se, but each time he takes down a quarterback, he has a strategy to make the tackle for loss mean much more than mere yardage.
“Just a little flex, a little yell,” said Singleton, who hopes to create more havoc in the backfield in Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. (FOX) Big 12 home opener between No. 16 Iowa State (4-0, 1-0) and Baylor (2-3, 0-2). “That’s kind of just what I try to do, you know, get the crowd going, get the sideline going.”
Singleton — a 6-2, 305-pound fifth-year senior from Gurnee, Ill. — entered the season with 3.5 career sacks, but he’s nearly doubled that number by striking for a team-leading three sacks in four games. The Cyclones have pressured opposing quarterbacks more frequently and effectively this season, averaging 2.25 sacks after ranking 11th in the Big 12 in 2023 with an average of 1.62.
What explains the marked uptick?
A combination of defensive coordinator Jon Heacock’s well-crafted schemes, a more experienced and explosive line, and — perhaps most importantly — a skilled and disciplined secondary that’s tied for 10th nationally with seven interceptions.
“It definitely helps the defensive line to have an elite secondary like we do,” Singleton said. “It gives us probably half a second more to get to the quarterback.”
That split second can contain the play of the game, or at least a spark that helps determine the outcome. Heacock combines “affect” and “effect” to flummox opposing quarterbacks and set the stage for takeaways and/or sacks.
“I just think there (are) two different concepts there,” the veteran coach said. “You’re trying to physically disrupt him, get him off his spot, sack him, pressure him, and then mentally, you’ve got to be able to affect him and get into what is the coverage when the ball’s snapped? What are they playing? What are they gonna play? You’re trying to just get to him mentally and physically. That’s who you’re competing against. When you coach defense, you’re always competing against the quarterback.”
Enter Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson, who’s made three straight starts after dynamic Toledo transfer Dequan Finn sustained a shoulder injury. Finn remains out this week, but Robertson is similarly skilled as both a thrower and a rusher. The 6-4, 220-pound junior from Lubbock compiled a career-high 324 passing yards and four total touchdowns in last week’s 34-28 loss to No. 17 BYU, but he also threw two interceptions while absorbing three sacks.
“Everybody knows, (who) watches film on them, that they’re a really good team,” said ISU safety Jeremiah Cooper, who snared his seventh career interception in last week’s 20-0 win at Houston. “They come out and they play really hard. They’ve got great skill positions, a great quarterback, so it’s gonna be a great test for us.”
So far, the Cyclones have furnished all the right answers en route to their first 4-0 start since 2000. Especially on defense, where that blend of press coverage and amped-up pressure despite deploying a three-man front has placed ISU among the top five teams in FBS in points allowed per game (fourth, 7.3) and average passing yards yielded (second, 102.5).
“They’re going to make it so you have to have the discipline to put a 10-play drive together, where you’re not forcing a ball, or you’re not putting the ball at risk trying to get it forward, or you’re not having a holding call, or a false start,” Bears head coach Dave Aranda said in his weekly news conference. “I think that philosophy has treated them well, so they kind of choke you out slowly.”
Enter Singleton and his fellow pass rushers, who are more than happy to apply those constrictive maneuvers when the chance arises.
“Yeah,” Singleton said with a grin. “I think we can be pretty dynamic.”
David Montgomery was the talk of the town on Monday Night Football, in large part due to this 40-yard reception in which he put a defender on the ground to extend the play.
David Montgomery my god pic.twitter.com/ZqO1TtbeJP
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) October 1, 2024
Montgomery finished with 40 yards on the ground on 12 carries and has now scored a touchdown in seven straight regular season games for Detroit.
Brock Purdy completed the day 15/27 for 288 yards and a touchdown to former Iowa tight end George Kittle, as the 49ers got back on track in a 30-13 win over New England.
After throwing the touchdown, Purdy made sure to tell his mom, ‘hi,’ before celebrating with his teammates.
Brock Purdy called out to @gkittle46 mid play and then said hi to mom @49ers pic.twitter.com/9iz0GgavFH
— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2024
Allen Lazard shined for the New York Jets despite the 10-9 loss to Denver Sunday.
Lazard led New York with five receptions in the game, going for 58 yards. He also somehow got hit for a penalty for this? Some things never change in the no fun league.
Allen Lazard got flagged for doing finger guns pic.twitter.com/5YkeJmN5Ql
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) September 29, 2024
Denver zeroed in on Breece Hall in this game, holding him to four yards. Will McDonald IV recorded a quarterback hit and Enyi Uwazurike was inactive for the Broncos.
Xavier Hutchinson did not record a stat in the Texans’ 24-20 win over Jacksonville, but did get to see some Iowa State staff members when the team was there to face Houston.
Here’s Hutchinson talking to a reporter Friday.
Xavier Hutchinson on stepping up IF Tank can’t go and his plans with Iowa State in town. #HTownMade pic.twitter.com/ragY7LmjIu
— Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) September 27, 2024
T.J. Tampa officially made his NFL regular season debut for the Baltimore Ravens in the team’s 35-10 win over the Buffalo Bills.
Tampa finished with one tackle and fellow Cyclone Charlie Kolar also played in the game.
Jake Hummel recorded one tackle in the Rams’ 24-18 loss to the Chicago Bears, but did finish with a 90.7 Pro Football Focus grade, for what its worth.
*Week 4 Inactives*Broncos – Enyi UwazurikeGiants – Anthony Johnson Jr.
Cyclones in the NFL Week 5 schedule
Sunday, Oct. 6
8:30 a.m. | New York Jets (Hall, Lazard, McDonald IV) vs. Minnesota, NFL Network
12:00 p.m. | Buffalo @ Houston (Hutchinson), CBS
12:00 p.m. | Baltimore (Kolar, Tampa) @ Cincinnati, CBS
3:05 p.m. | Las Vegas @ Denver (Uwazurike), FOX
3:25 p.m. | Green Bay @ Los Angeles Rams (Hummel), CBS
3:25 p.m. | New York Giants (Johnson Jr.) @ Seattle, CBS
Bye Weeks: Detroit (Montgomery)
On Practice Squads
New Orleans Saints – Michael Jacobson
New York Jets – Kene Nwangwu
Washington Commanders – Julian Good-Jones
Sep 28, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Jaylon Jackson (12) runs with the ball during the fourth quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
AMES — Each time a defender looks down on Jaylon Jackson dismissively, he smiles inside.
The Iowa State transfer tailback’s been overlooked and underestimated throughout his long and winding college football career.
And the 5-7, 180-pound fifth-year senior wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I just kind of take that as a challenge,” said Jackson, who leads the No. 16 Cyclones (4-0, 1-0) with a 5.7-yards-per-carry average entering Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. Big 12 bout (FOX) with Baylor (2-3, 0-2) at Jack Trice Stadium. “I’m always open to challenges and I know I’m blessed, so I just go out there and do what God gave me the ability to do.”
Jackson’s quick-cutting speed has helped him carve out a role in ISU’s three-back rotation alongside Abu Sama and Carson Hansen. He’s also adept at patiently following his blocks and rarely rushes for negative yardage. That’s allowed the two-time transfer to become the Cyclones’ most consistent back — and it’s also helped the team record back-to-back 200-yard rushing games for the first time since doing so three times in a row behind Breece Hall in 2021.
“When you talk about Jaylon, the word is hungry,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, whose team aims for its first 5-0 start since 1980. “He’s come in here with a hunger to grow and get better every day. And I think you guys had asked during spring ball, like, ‘Who has flashed?’ He was a name that I constantly brought up.”
Jackson’s ability to exploit slivers of daylight augments Sama’s big-play capacity and Hansen’s effectiveness in short-yardage situations and the passing game. That’s why Campbell expects all three to see significant snaps for the foreseeable future: They all do different things exceedingly well.
“It’s (about) earning the right to play and all three of those guys have shown that they can do their job really well,” Campbell said. “Our team hasn’t skipped a beat when any of those three guys have been in the game — and you could even talk about Dylan Lee and some other guys, (who) have gotten in the game and been able to be successful, as well.”
Jackson said honing his game under first-year assistant head coach/running backs coach Tyler Roehl, who implores his backs to be “the hammer” instead of the “nail.”
Jackson and his teammates are happy to oblige, forming a potent three-pronged threat that’s impossible to separate — for now, at least.
“It’s awesome having that depth in that room,” ISU quarterback Rocco Becht said. “Every single time somebody makes a good play, that next guy just wants to make an even better play. So having competitiveness in that room is what’s leading them to have these good rushing yards and that’s a credit to our offensive line, as well.”
It’s also a credit to the bond Hansen, Jackson and Sama have built while sharing the workload out of the backfield. Sama’s averaging 5.6 yards per carry — and shed blocks while bursting free for a 77-yard touchdown run in last week’s 20-0 win at Houston. Hansen rushed for two touchdowns the previous week in the rout of Arkansas State. Jackson, oddly enough, is the only ISU back who has yet to reach the end zone this season, but he’s been stopped behind the line of scrimmage just three times in his 33 carries — and is coming off a 14-rush, 96-yard performance against the Cougars.
“What he brings is a maturity of being in different places, seeing different cultures, but also a maturity of having success on the football field,” Campbell said of Jackson. “(He knows) what it looks like to take care of your body and what it looks like to prepare for practice every day. I think he’s brought that to that room, which has been really rewarding to watch. And he’s been an unbelievable senior for us on top of being a really good football player.”
In other words, he’s a “hammer” — and no longer overlooked. Not by his teammates and coaches, anyway. And likely not by Baylor, which ranks seventh in the Big 12 in rushing defense, allowing 141.2 yards per game.
“I feel like I’ve been overlooked my whole life,” Jackson said. “So that’s how I try to play: with a chip on my shoulder.”
Sep 28, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) throws the ball during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
The coaches had their press conferences Tuesday, here are some things to look for going into Saturday’s game between No. 16 Iowa State and Baylor (6:30 p.m. FOX).
Room for improvement on defense?
Iowa State ranks top 5 nationally as a defense and is coming off of a shutout win over an in-conference program.
However, this coaching staff believes there is still room for growth with the unit.
“You’ve got to have flexibility and adaptability to what you do, but you also have to have a great foundation to who you are,” head coach Matt Campbell said. “And I think that’s one of the great things about our defense – we know who we are to (the) root and yet, each week, we’ve got the ability to be really multiple in what we do and how we do it. At the end of the day, our guys got to be able to continue to play good football. I would say – and I’m sure Jon (Heacock) would say the same thing, like, we still are really far away from being the defense that we want to be.”
With John Klosterman being out for the foreseeable future, having the versatile unit that Heacock has helped build over the years is continuing to pay dividends.
If defensive back Drew Surges returns, it will only be a positive, too.
But walking out of an in-conference shutout with a, ‘lot of room for improvement,’ mentality is a big deal – that should excite fans.
“There’s been great moments for us, but we can even be better,” Campbell said. “There were even some moments you obviously (saw) through the game on Saturday where we thought, ‘man, we need to be better, and want to be better.’ So I think that hunger on top of it is really rewarding to watch. Because I think our guys know that, and I think they have the same mentality.”
Rocco Becht’s start to the season
It hasn’t been a disastrous start to the year for Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht, but there have been a few more incompletions than he’s used to.
Although his completion percentage is up from a season ago, there are some passes that Becht wants back – and most came in the first half of Iowa State’s four games.
“There’s a point right now where I’m just like off throwing right now,” Becht said. “So, I’ve got to figure out my areas that I need to fix. I thought I did a good job of that this weekend and these past couple of days with (quarterbacks) coach (Jake) Waters and some of the trainers just figuring out what’s going on. I’ll be good.”
It’s nothing fans will fret about – and Becht has rebound well in the latter portions of games during the 4-0 start – but it’s become something to monitor as the season goes on.
Carson Brown throws his name in the WR hat
In-state walk-on Carson Brown put his name into Iowa State’s wide receiver bucket as it searches for its No. 3 player at the position.
Brown had two receptions for 18 yards in the team’s win over Houston, and was the only receiver not named Jaylin Noel or Jayden Higgins that caught a pass in the game.
“I’ve just went through the process every week being ready for my moment,” Brown said. “I feel like I struggled at the start with special teams, but once I got on the offense, I got very comfortable with stuff like that.”
Brown has made an impact on the offensive staff – one strong enough that wide receiver’s coach Noah Pauley was pleading to keep him in the room.
“We moved him around even this spring,” Campbell said. “I had him at corner most of the spring practice (period) because I was trying to find a role for him on special teams. And I think that’s the thing that probably exploded first for him is he was a really good special teams football player, and we felt like could be a great player as we went back into fall camp. And this is a tribute to coach Pauley. I think Coach Pauley had such a high regard of Carson and said, ‘man, I want to get him back at receiver. I really think he can help us.’ And I think that tutelage, confidence, success that he had in fall camp – the word for him is consistency.”
“Consistently over the last year and a half, (Brown has) shown up in a really powerful way,” Campbell said. “Whether it’s winter conditioning, whether it’s been spring practice, whether it’s special teams, he kept showing up and again, being rewarded for college football is about your moment, right? And you’re going to get it.”
Expectations moving forward
Iowa State is eyeing its first 5-0 start to a season since 1980, and no matter what is said inside the locker room, there’s no telling how players may handle the expectations.
The staff can preach about the opportunity to go 1-0 every Saturday, but if Iowa State keeps winning, those expectations will continue to change and the hype will rise along with it.
“Well, yeah, you don’t know how they’re going to handle it – I mean, they’re 18-to-22 year-olds,” Campbell said. “I think the great thing about what we’re trying to do is consistently become the best of us that we can be, because that’s what it’s going to take. And unfortunately, our sport is is extremely humbling, right? I mean, as soon as you think you figured it out, you’re going to get humbled really fast. It’s just too competitive. There’s too many good teams, too many good situations, and you know, you got to be hungry, and you got to be a team that’s willing to sacrifice everything it takes.”
After 5-0 comes six, and that could just as easily turn to seven – and with that will come rankings with more eyes than ever on the Cyclones.
Now, that record isn’t guaranteed and there’s no telling if this team will make it there or not, but the reality is that there in a spot to make it there.
It’s even less predictable how these players will handle it, but the staff will tell you that their confident they can.
“Are you mentally tough enough to really show up every day and be your best – and, you know, shoot, that’s hard for the coaches to do, let alone ask an 18-to-22 year old,” Campbell said. “It’s a global challenge to our whole program, and whether you’re 0-4 or 4-0, it really doesn’t matter this time of year, because none of it’s going to matter until the end of the football season. Great teams are defined in November and December – not in September and October.
“You’re just trying to pound away and grow and become your best along the way,” Campbell said. “So hopefully our kids are tough enough to understand that. We’ll see if we got that kind of leadership this year.”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and defensive coordinator Jon Heacock addressed media members Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center in Ames.
Baylor coach Dave Aranda’s press conference can be seen below.
Sep 28, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones linebacker John Klosterman (22) is assisted off the field during the second quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell updated media members Tuesday on where his team was at on the injury front ahead of Saturday’s Iowa State-Baylor game at Jack Trice Stadium (6:30 p.m. FOX).
Fullback/tight end Stevo Klotz: He’s doing a lot better according to Campbell. Klotz traveled to Houston but wasn’t quite ready to play. Campbell said he’s close to ready to ‘rock and roll for the weekend.’
Wide receiver Jaylin Noel: The senior wideout didn’t play for a majority of the second half in Saturday’s 20-0 win over Houston, but Campbell said that was due to cramping and that he’ll be good to go Saturday.
Linebacker Will McLaughlin: “Will is working to be back. I expect him back, but he’s still not ready to be back yet. I think he’s closer than further away to being back on the (field).”
Linebacker John Klosterman: “John’s in a tough spot. We still don’t know exactly the depth of it. John will not play this weekend. I would say that he’d be out for the foreseeable future. Whether that’s season-ending or not, we’ll probably figure out by the end of the week.
Defensive back Drew Surges: Campbell said that he thinks Surges is close to coming back and that his hope is that he will be available Saturday. Surges did not travel to Houston, but did practice last week and this week.
Iowa State’s Rocco Becht, Jaylon Jackson, Carson Brown, J.R. Singleton and Jeremiah Cooper addressed media members Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center.
Jeremiah Cooper video still uploading.
Iowa State has flipped defensive back prospect LaMarcus Hicks II from Northern Illinois, the class of 2025 prospect announced Monday.
The Cyclones had Hicks II on campus during the team’s 52-7 win over Arkansas State two weeks ago, and he made his choice official over his social media channels.
@Coach_Broom @ISUMattCampbell @CycloneFB #Cyclones pic.twitter.com/eZo6rWxKm6
— LaMarcus Hicks II (@LamarcusHicksII) September 30, 2024
The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder was set to stay in-state, but commits to Iowa State two weeks after being offered by the Cyclones.
His father, LaMarcus Hicks, played two years at Iowa State as a defensive back before a two-year stint with the Detroit Lions in the NFL.
Hicks II becomes the 14th commitment to Iowa State’s 2025 recruiting class and the first to join Deon Broomfield in the cornerbacks room.
Below are some of LaMarcus Hicks II’s highlights.
pic.twitter.com/bfle9ZWYR9
— LaMarcus Hicks II (@LamarcusHicksII) August 4, 2023
Sep 21, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Sawyer Robertson (13) reacts after losing in overtime against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State currently leads all Big 12 teams in the AP rankings at No. 16. The Cyclones’ head coach, Matt Campbell, is now the program’s all-time leader in wins with 57. So encouraging numbers have continued to pile up for ISU (4-0, 1-0), which faces reeling Baylor (2-3, 0-2) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in its Big 12 home opener at Jack Trice Stadium.
The game will be broadcast nationally on FOX, and fans are urged to wear white clothing to create “white out” visual conditions. There will also be a drone show and fireworks — but that’s just window dressing for a matchup spotlighting programs heading in different directions.
The Bears have lost seven consecutive conference games and the Cyclones seek their first 5-0 start since 1980. So, with no further ado, here are five Baylor players to know in advance of Saturday’s game:
QB Sawyer Robertson The well-traveled 6-4, 220-pound junior from Lubbock, Texas, entered the season as the Bears’ No. 2 quarterback, and he likely expected to remain a backup until former Toledo star Dequan Finn suffered a rib injury in a 23-12 loss at Utah on Sept. 7. Finn — the MVP in the MAC last season — hasn’t returned, and it’s unclear how much longer he’ll be out. So Robertson’s started the past three games and has showcased a strong arm and dual-threat capabilities. He’s scored three of Baylor’s seven rushing touchdowns and is completing 60.2 percent of his passes. He’s thrown six touchdown passes to two interceptions — and both of those picks came in last week’s 34-28 home loss to No. 22 BYU. Robertson also threw for a career-high 324 yards against the Cougars and rushed for a touchdown in his third consecutive game.
WR Josh Cameron Cameron delivered a breakout performance against BYU, notching career highs in catches (seven), receiving yards (125), and touchdown grabs (two). That spike in production made him the Bears’ leader in receiving yards (267), receptions (16), and touchdown catches (three), but that status could change as seniors Ashtyn Hawkins, Hal Presley, and Monaray Baldwin remain key components of the passing game. Cameron distinguishes himself from his fellow wide receivers by being an elite punt returner. The 6-1, 218-pound junior from suburban Austin leads the Big 12 and ranks sixth nationally in that area, averaging 19.3 yards per return, but doesn’t field kickoffs. That’s because lightly-targeted fellow receiver Jamaal Ball is ranked second in the country in kick returns at 36 yards per attempt, and one of those went for a touchdown.
LB Matt Jones The burly sixth-year senior leads Baylor in tackles with 43 and has defended two passes while notching one quarterback sack. Jones is an imposing figure at 6-4 and 246 pounds and also led the Bears in tackles last season with 82 — and 11.5 of those stops were for loss. He’s also loomed large against ISU a couple of times in his long career. Jones notched four tackles and a pass breakup in his team’s 31-24 win two seasons ago against the Cyclones in Ames. He also totaled a then-career-high five tackles in a 31-29 win over ISU in 2021. Jones saw a string of three straight games with double-digit tackles snapped in last week’s loss to BYU.
LB Keaton Thomas The 6-2, 224-pound sophomore complements Jones’ power with raw athleticism to cause problems against the run and the pass. Thomas — a NJCAA first-team All-American last season — leads Baylor in solo tackles with 30 and has recorded at least six stops in each game. He compiled nine solo tackles and two sacks in the Bears’ stunning 38-31 overtime loss at Colorado and totaled 12 tackles in the early-season, non-conference loss at Utah.
RB Bryson Washington Baylor’s struggled to run the ball consistently well and ranks 11th in the Big 12 a rushing yards per game at 146.4. Washington — a 6-0, 203-pound redshirt freshman — appears to possess the most upside at the position and leads the Bears with 158 yards on the ground. He’s also one of four Baylor running backs to notch a single touchdown run this season.
Iowa State men’s basketball earned its first commitment to the 2027 recruiting class before anyone’s committed for 2026.
Josiah Harrington, a 6-foot-4 guard out of North Scott, made his choice official ahead of the start of his sophomore season.
“Staying close to home was a big part of it,” Harrington said. “I always knew from the jump that I wanted to stay close to home. Then just the relationships that I built with the coaches – they just felt right when me and my family talked about it.”
Harrington was on a visit and attended practice Thursday – and it made all the difference in his choice at a future school.
The in-state prospect was overtly impressed with the Iowa State coaching staff and what the practice looked like to him.
“It was crazy – it was super high energy and super intense,” Harrington said. “It wasn’t anything specific, but it was like (seeing) the whole practice in general kind of sealed the deal for me.”
Harrington discussed it with his family and high school coach, ultimately announcing his choice Friday.
The coaching staff’s overall dealings with its players and the culture around it further helped cement his future in Ames.
“It was how the coaches had the players’ backs and how they’re on them all the time with how they can make them better,” Harrington said. “How they challenge the players – and that’s all I want in a coach. That’s what I need for myself as a player. They’re all a family, and that really stuck out to me.”
Harrington chose the Cyclones over offers from Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma and Northern Illinois.
During his freshman season at North Scott, Harrington led the team with 13.3 points per game as well as a 46.5 percent clip from the 3-point line. He started 22 out of 23 games for the team.
“It feels great to be committed and know that I already have a family for college and stuff,” Harrington said. “My goal now is to keep getting stronger and working hard and just be able to be the best player I can when I enter college and step into the Cyclone basketball program.
The Big 12 Conference has released its kickoff times for next week’s league games, with No. 16 Iowa State and West Virginia set for an 7:00 p.m. CT timeslot in Morgantown.
FOX will have the coverage, marking the second-straight week that the Cyclones are on the national channel in prime time.
Iowa State will face Baylor on Saturday trying for its first 5-0 start since the 1980 season in Ames.
Below is the full schedule and released kickoff times as of the time of this article.
2024 Iowa State Football Schedule
08/31 | vs. North Dakota, Win 21-3
09/07 | @ Iowa, Win 20-19
09/21 | vs. Arkansas State, Win 52-7
09/28 | @ Houston, Win 20-0
10/05 | vs. Baylor, 6:30 p.m. (FOX)
10/12 | @ West Virginia, 7:00 p.m. (FOX)
10/19 | vs. UCF, TBD
11/02 | vs. Texas Tech, TBD
11/09 | vs. Kansas, TBD (Arrowhead)
11/16 | vs. Cincinnati, TBD
11/23 | @ No. 18 Utah, TBD
11/30 | vs. No. 20 Kansas State, TBD
Sep 28, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) celebrates with wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) after a touchdown reception during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Iowa State’s offense might have played its worst half of the season on paper during the opening 30 minutes on Saturday in its 20-0 win over Houston.
After the opening drive ended in a field goal, Iowa State’s next four series ended in punts. That won’t fly in most games the rest of the way, if any, but it wasn’t like the Cyclones were far off.
Nonetheless, they escaped Houston with a win, looking overwhelmingly like the better team, and move to 4-0 for the first time since 2000.
“I think some of the maturity of this football team is that there was no panic – and there has not been panic,” coach Matt Campbell said. “I think our coaches did a really good job of teaching through the football game. I thought we made some really good adjustments throughout it. To me, it felt like we were in control of the game, we were just off by a hair. We’d like to start a little bit faster, and we’ve got to figure out ways to do that better, but I think our ability to just hang in there and keep playing is the mark of our team so far.”
Despite the lackluster halftime score, Iowa State was the only FBS team to shut out its opponent this week, earned its first shutout conference win since 1971 and won its fifth-straight Big 12 road game.
To put that into perspective, the Cyclones won seven Big 12 road games total from 2005 to 2015 – the year before Campbell, who is now the all-time leader in program wins – arrived. Let’s get in to what happened.
Iowa State has been a running back-by committee team so far this year.
That’s not to say that these numbers won’t change, but the Cyclones have been regularly running their trio of guys in the backfield to compliment its passing game one third of the way through the regular season.
Abu Sama leads the way with 40 carries and 225 yards after picking up his 77-yard touchdown Saturday. Carson Hansen has rushed it 26 times for 114 yards, but leads the team with two rushing touchdowns to his name.
And then Jaylon Jackson is there, seemingly forcing his way into the mix since arriving on campus, with 188 yards on 33 rushes. Even after Sama’s big run, Jackson is averaging the team-high 5.7 yards per carry so far.
Each of those guys took a handoff during the first seven plays of the Cyclones’ opening drive Saturday.
The young linebacker core continues to impress.
True sophomore Kooper Ebel led the way for Iowa State with nine tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. True freshman Cael Brezina was up there, too, finishing with 2.5 TFL’s and seven tackles on the day.
The group limited Houston’s pair of quarterbacks to 9-16 with 72 yards on the day – Donovan Smith contributed 71 of those through the air.
Those two were flying around and it kept Houston at bay for 60 minutes.
Although, an already thin linebacker room may have gotten thinner. John Klosterman went down with an injury in the first quarter and didn’t return to the field.
“We’re dinged up,” Campbell said. “We’ve been dinged up. For me, the most impressive piece of it is those next guys up. They keep stepping up and making critical plays.”
We’ll have more on Klosterman Tuesday at the weekly press conference.
A-players made A-plays
The 3-0 lead going into the second half only transpired to its final 20-0 number because of Iowa State’s stars stepping up.
Whether it was the pair of interceptions from Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez Williams, Sama’s big run or Higgins’ sixth straight game with a touchdown, the big-name guys did what they were supposed to do: stand out.
“I think, for me, the fun thing tonight is man, all the A-players made critical plays in critical moments,” Campbell said. “You talk about on defense – the play Malik (Verdon) makes… Those are the guys tonight that stepped up. And I thought Rocco (Becht) did a really great job. There were some things that they didn’t do that maybe we thought they were going to do and his ability to adjust within the game was great to see.”
Around the Big 12The Big 12 is living up to its billing as the conference with the most parity.
If Baylor’s last two games are any indication, there will be nothing normal about Saturday’s game at Jack Trice Stadium where the Cyclones will try for their first 5-0 start since 1980.
The Bears allowed BYU to get out to a 21-0 lead before they came storming back, trimming their deficit to 34-28 early in the fourth quarter.
Down the stretch, Baylor failed to execute moving the ball down the field, ultimately dropping its third game of the year. Don’t take the Bears lightly, though. They’ve been right there all year.
KU football takes Arrowhead pic.twitter.com/xMcGAr30Kj
— 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 (@TheManhatterKSU) September 28, 2024
Kansas’ nightmare season saw another chapter as the Jayhawks fell to 1-4 in a loss to TCU.
Quarterback Jaylon Daniels continues to look less and less like the player he was in previous seasons. He finished 15-34 for 179 yards with one touchdown and a pick in the 38-27 loss.
This isn’t the same KU that was winning 1-2 games a season for a decade, but the record isn’t pretty and its running out of room for error to salvage anything about this year at 1-4 through five games.
The Jayhawks run into Arizona State, who’s coming off of a bye week, on Saturday.
Colorado played its most complete game of the Deion Sanders era in a dominant win over UCF — in the Bounce House.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders was great again throwing 28-of-35 for 290 yards, three touchdowns and a pick.
It’s asinine that Travis Hunter isn’t higher in the Heisman rankings right now. He again forced a turnover with an interception on defense and finished with 89 yards on nine receptions on the other side. Maybe some day that award will be what it used to be, but I’ve grown more sour on it during the last few weeks.
Colorado gets a bye week out of this game – and sits in a tremendous spot at 4-1 before Kansas State’s in town. UCF, meanwhile, will prep for an in-state rivalry against Florida in a game I’m very excited to watch.
Utah was handed it’s first loss of the season while Isaac Wilson and Co. were stifled at home by Arizona.
After that big win over Oklahoma State, I thought the Utes had figured out their formula without Cam Rising heading the reigns, but it looked more like the team we saw in the weeks leading up to that one. They aren’t the same without Rising. Who knows what’s going on with his health.
Arizona used its bye week following the loss to Kansas State well, and gets its inaugural Big 12 season back on track. They’ll get Texas Tech at home this week.
…
This has been Monday Musings and I’ll leave you with this – the No. 16 Cyclones will host their first white-out game on the gridiron on FOX prime time in six days going for their fifth-straight win to start the season. It’s a good time to be a Cyclone.
Sep 28, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jontez Williams (3) celebrates after an interception during the fourth quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Iowa State football has moved to No. 16 in the latest Associated Press Poll, released on Sunday, following its 20-0 win over Houston.
The Cyclones become the highest ranked team in the Big 12 after Utah was upset by Arizona on Saturday night.
The other Big 12 conference teams ranked in this week’s poll includes BYU at No. 17, Utah at No. 18 and Kansas State at No. 20.
The full poll can be seen below:
AP Poll
Sun. Sep. 29
1. Alabama
2. Texas
3. Ohio State
4. Tennessee
5. Georgia
6. Oregon
7. Penn State
8. Miami
9. Missouri
10. Michigan
11. USC
12. Ole Miss
13. LSU
14. Notre Dame
15. Clemson
16. Iowa State
17. BYU
18. Utah
19. Oklahoma
20. Kansas State
21. Boise State
22. Louisville
23. Indiana
24. Illinois
25. UNLV
Others receiving votes: Arizona 106, Pittsburgh 42, Nebraska 30, Boston College 18, Iowa 17, James Madison 13, Oklahoma St. 8, South Carolina 8, Rutgers 7, Kentucky 6, Navy 6, SMU 4, Army 2, Colorado 1.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell’s press conference following a 20-0 win over Houston on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Sep 28, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) celebrates with wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) after a touchdown reception during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Iowa State entered Saturday night’s Big 12 season opener at Houston seeking its first 4-0 start since 2000.
Las Vegas oddsmakers crowned the No. 18 Cyclones double-digit road favorites — and their head coach, Matt Campbell, stood one victory away from the program’s all-time wins record.
But the struggling Cougars (1-4, 0-2) clawed up that feel-good script early before ISU (4-0, 1-0) seized control in the second half to record a convincing 20-0 victory at TDECU Stadium.
Campbell now owns 57 wins as ISU’s coach — one more than Dan McCarney — and his wife and kids were flown to Houston to surprise him after the historic triumph.
“Coach Mac has been such a great mentor to us, so to even be in the same spectrum as him, I’m really grateful,” Campbell said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “We wouldn’t be here without him and his support, and the former players, what they’ve meant to our current players, it’s been really special.”
The Cyclones notched their fifth straight conference road victory dating back to last season — a feat never previously accomplished in program history. They also blanked a conference foe on the road for the first time since 1971 despite nursing a meager 3-0 lead at halftime.
“We kind of started out a little slow in the beginning, but it was a big emphasis to come out there and do better in the third quarter,” safety Malik Verdon said.
Cue ISU star receiver Jayden Higgins, who broke the school record by catching a touchdown pass in his sixth consecutive game. Higgins’ 12-yard leaping grab on a deftly thrown ball by quarterback Rocco Becht put the Cyclones ahead, 10-0, with 2:12 remaining in the third quarter. He finished with a game-high eight receptions for 79 yards.
“Rocco just threw a great pass, ultimately,” Higgins said. “It’s awesome to be in the history books, (and) hopefully we can continue to do great things and, hopefully, I can continue to score touchdowns this year.”
Becht completed 17 of 28 passes for a season-low 153 yards. Tailback Abu Sama — thanks to a game-sealing 77-yard sprint to the end zone in the fourth quarter — topped the 100-yard mark for the first time this season. Fellow back Jaylon Jackson nearly did the same, but ended up with 96 yards on 14 carries — including a 50-yard run that helped set up a score.
“We complement each other really well,” Jackson said of ISU’s backfield. “We just continue trying to get better each and every game.”
The Cyclones eclipsed 235 rushing yards for the second straight game and outgained Houston 393 yards to 241. The defense allowed the Cougars to convert just one of their 10 third down opportunities and forced three turnovers. Verdon forced a fumble linebacker Jacob Ellis recovered to set up a field goal. Cornerback Jontez Williams intercepted a pass in the end zone on Houston’s most promising drive of the game and safety Jeremiah Cooper notched his seventh career interception late in the game to allow the offense to run out the clock. ISU now owns 10 takeaways this season — a number topped by just two FBS games entering Saturday.
“We just wanted to come out and play our game; play harder for longer,” Williams said. “That was the main goal, just to go out there and attack those guys.”
It took a while to achieve that goal, but the Cyclones now enter next Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. home game against Baylor (2-3, 0-2) with a chance to start 5-0 in a season for the first time in the modern era. And guess who will be there? McCarney, who was already scheduled to speak to ISU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams next weekend.
“I’ve felt nothing but respect and love when I go back to games, and I know that starts with Matt Campbell,” McCarney told me a week and a half ago. “He’s about as genuine as the day is long. He’s authentic. He’s a gift to all of us (who) love Iowa State.”
No. 18 Iowa State took down Houston 20-0 Saturday to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2000.
Here are some takeaways from the game, in quick hit form.
Rocco Becht had some misfires early.
The sophomore quarterback was 4/9 in the first quarter and just missed a touchdown ball to tight end Tripp Walsh on Iowa State’s first drive of the game.
The slow start extended to the entirety of the offense, and Iowa State went into the halftime break with a slim 3-0 lead.
If a slow start happens again against Baylor, it may be time for concern, but ultimately the Cyclones escape Houston with a 4-0 record – a big, big win.
Three running backs played substantial snaps for Iowa State in this one.
In the first seven plays, each of the trio took handoffs in a drive that went down the field.
Carson Hansen lived up to his “receiving back” label, and both Abu Sama & Jaylon Jackson rattled off big runs that helped put this game away. It’s evident the Cyclones are rolling with three running backs for the time being, and it’s working.
Iowa State’s already thin group at linebacker got thinner on Saturday. John Klosterman was injured with an apparent leg injury during the first quarter and never returned to the game. He had been backing up Jacob Ellis at the Sam linebacker spot.
Jayden Higgins picked up a touchdown reception for a program-record sixth straight game.
At times during Saturday’s game, Higgins felt like a cheat code for the Iowa State offense. The talented wideout looked as good as he has all year, catching eight passes for 79 yards. Iowa State fans are watching a NFL talent in No. 9
Malik Verdon iced the game with that forced fumble.
Say what you will – Houston wasn’t going to score in this game. As bad as the Iowa State offense looked in the first half, the defense shined in certain occasions. Not long before the fumble, Houston elected to punt while facing a 4th and 11 on the Iowa State 39. Even when the Cougars were the closest they had been to the end zone, Jontez Williams picked off a pass. Give Verdon a game ball – that pushed the Cyclones over the edge.
Lastly, Matt Campbell becomes the winningest coach in Iowa State history.
Campbell’s 57th win comes as the Cyclones move to 4-0 for the first time since he took over as head coach. In his ninth season, Campbell and Co. continue to hit achievements and have a great thing cooking in Ames right now. For this group, bring on Baylor.
First team all-state wide receiver Dylan Stecker has had a preferred walk-on offer to Iowa State for while now, and was recently on a visit for the team’s 52-7 win over Arkansas State.
“It’s always good to get down there,” Stecker said. “I have had (the PWO offer) from them for a while now. They’ve been positive conversations – the whole coaching staff is genuinely good people. Derek Hoodjer has given me some really good advice – and they’ve all been saying, ‘really to just keep doing your thing, play on Friday nights and get it done.’ So that’s what I’m focusing on.”
The Spirit Lake prospect has put up big numbers this year, leading the team with 365 yards on 19 receptions with seven touchdowns.
During his junior year, Stecker finished the season with 996 yards on 53 receptions with 14 touchdowns to his name.
The 6-foot-4.5, 205-pound prospect, has earned scholarship offers from both Northern Iowa and South Dakota.
His twin brother, Ethan, is committed to Iowa State under scholarship as a member of the 2025 recruiting class.
“I’m obviously really happy for him,” Dylan said. “I couldn’t be happier. It’s just another piece of the puzzle – it’s competition. You’ve just got to let it motivate you.”
Both of the twins compete as multi-sport athletes in both basketball and track.
Stecker is focused on performing on the field this year and knows that the stats will come, but after his team success.
“The coach here at my high school is a great guy – he couldn’t be better,” Stecker said. “We both know my stats aren’t born – team wins are. Stats will come with team wins, but I need to do what my team needs first and foremost.”
Iowa State, the defending Big 12 Champions, has released its 2024-25 wrestling schedule.
Iowa State Wrestling Schedule
Nov. 8 – vs. Stanford
Nov. 15 – vs. Navy
Nov. 23 – at Iowa
Dec. 6 – Dec. 7 – Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
Dec. 15 – vs. North Dakota State (Humboldt)
Dec. 21 – Collegiate Duals
Jan. 8 – at West Virginia
Jan. 11 – Virginia Duals
Jan. 19 – Cyclone Open
Jan. 24 – vs. Oklahoma
Jan. 26 – vs. Oklahoma State
Feb. 7 – vs. Arizona State
Feb. 9 – vs. Pittsburgh
Feb. 14. – at South Dakota State
Feb. 16 – at Northern Iowa
Feb. 22 – at Missouri
Mar. 8 – Mar. 9 – Big 12 Championships
Mar. 20 – Mar 22 – NCAA Championships
Here is what head coach Kevin Dresser had to say in a news release:
“We’re really excited about how this season’s schedule came together. I think we have some exciting and challenging matchups for our fans to come see in Hilton and our road schedule should prepare us nicely for March. This squad has the opportunity to build on last season and has the potential to do some special things. We’re excited to get rolling!”
Iowa State’s schedule features 10 opponents who had a top-25 finish in the 2023-24 season.
Thoughts on the schedule:
- Oklahoma State enters this season in an interesting position. The great John Smith retired so there’s a new sheriff in town in Tulsa named David Taylor. He’s put together an impressive coaching staff and has been killing it in the offseason recruiting talent. It’ll be interesting to see how this new era looks in action. This will probably be Iowa State’s biggest threat in the Big 12 conference.
- Humboldt Showdown will feature Big 12 foe North Dakota State. Coach Dresser loves to bring a story to a dual and a special feature of his schedule for the past three years has included a dual in his hometown. This season that will take place on Dec. 15 against the Bison. I am curious to find out if there is a connection or if this was the opponent that worked best in the schedule. Regardless, it’s a unique experience in the same high school gym Dresser grew up competing in.
- Arizona State is officially a member of the Big 12. Head coach Zeke Jones has done a fantastic job making this program a true top contender. Despite losing some guys in the offseason, I think they’re still entering the Big 12 ready to make a statement. Iowa State has had some fun matchups against this team so it’s officially more interesting now with the Big 12 race on the line. I look forward to welcoming the Sun Devils to the tundra in February.
- Collegiate Duals and the Cliff Keen Invitational will make for great entertainment during the winter slump in December. Iowa State returns to Las Vegas for the Cliff Keen as the defending champions and we’ve seen the Collegiate Duals bring us great action in the past.
Iowa State also announced the dates for their wrestle-offs. These have been a great opportunity for fans to see how the team matches up against each other prior to the season starting. They will be held on the main floor of the Leid Rec Center on Oct. 13 and Oct. 19.
Houston Cougars quarterback Donovan Smith (1) throws a pass in the second quarter of the College Football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. © Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
No. 18 Iowa State opens Big 12 play Saturday with a road matchup against Houston (6:30 p.m. Fox Sports 1). Here are the CycloneFanatic Staff Picks for Saturday.
Chris Williams (2-1)
Love the Clones here. And I’d much rather be playing Willie Fritz’ young program in September compared to November. Iowa State 27, Houston 13.
Rob Gray (2-1)
First-year Houston head coach Willie Fritz — as Iowa State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser said this week —“has won everywhere,” so he’ll likely rebuild the Cougars program into a contender. They’re certainly a far cry from where it’s at right now, and it took a massive step back in last week’s 34-0 loss at Cincinnati. But Houston does have athletes and an above-average defense that could make it tough on the Cyclones early. I still expect ISU to cover with a balanced offensive performance and another takeaway-packed defensive effort. Iowa State 27, Houston 9
Connor Ferguson (3-0)
Iowa State’s young linebackers continue to perform against rushing quarterbacks and limit Houston offensively. The Cyclones come out throwing the ball and establish an early lead in route to a second-straight blowout victory and a 4-0 start. Iowa State 37, Houston 0
Jeff Woody (3-0)
I feel like this game is one where Houston is going to make some plays. Fritz is a good coach and they do have talent. ISU just has more of it, more time playing together, and currently a higher standard of quality across four quarters. Iowa State wins in a game that doesn’t ever feel in doubt. Iowa State 31, Houston 13
Grant Mahoney (3-0)
Donovan Smith has a short leash and gets replaced after he throws a pick on Houston’s third possession. His replacement gives Houston a little life but Heacock and Co. LLC., clamp down and shut them down in the second half. Iowa State 38, Houston 10
Jackson Pence (3-0)
Can this year’s Iowa State team take that next step that teams in years past couldn’t? I think they can. Houston played terribly last week in a 34-0 loss at Cincinnati. So they will be better than they were a week ago. If the Cyclones come in with a good game plan, execute, and avoid turnovers, this is likely a three-touchdown game. Rocco Becht throws a pair of touchdowns to Higgins and Noel and the 3-headed monster at running back with Abu Sama, Carsen Hansen, and Jaylon Jackson run for 150+ yards. Jon Heacock and Co. remember what happened when they faced Donavon Smith three years ago and shut him down from the beginning. It sets up for a magical night at Jack Trice Stadium against the Baylor Bears next Saturday. Iowa State 31, Houston 13
Iowa State men’s basketball has earned an early commitment from in-state shooting guard Josiah Harrington.
The 6-foot-5 prospect in the 2027 class chose the Cyclones over offers from Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma and Northern Illinois.
Harrington is the first commitment for Iowa State in both the 2027 and 2026 recruiting classes – he doesn’t yet have a rating on 247 Sports.
On3 Sports tabs Harrington, a North Scott High School product, as the No. 40 player in the 2027 class.
The Cyclones first offered Harrington early this month and he announced his commitment on Thursday.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications and the Big 12 Conference:
IRVING, Texas – The conference portion of the 2024-25 Iowa State men’s basketball schedule has been released by the Big 12. Tipoff times and TV designations will be announced at a later time.
Iowa State will open the 20-game league schedule Dec. 30 at Colorado. A former Big 8/Big 12 rival, the Cyclones will face the Buffaloes in a conference game for the first time since March 2, 2011. The Cyclones will open the home portion of the league slate Saturday, Jan. 4 against Baylor.
The Cyclones will host league newcomer Utah on Jan. 7, as the Utes make their first trip to Ames since Dec. 20, 1936. Iowa State is set to host Kansas on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Iowa State will have an extended stay in Arizona late in January, as the Cyclones face Arizona State on Saturday, Jan. 25 and Arizona on Monday, Jan. 27. The game against the Wildcats on Monday night is the only Big 12 game on the slate for the day.
The Cyclones will welcome the Kansas State Wildcats later that week in Hilton Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 1 before traveling to Kansas on Monday, Feb. 3. The game in Lawrence is the only Big 12 game on the schedule that night. Iowa State travels to defending Big 12 Regular Season Champion Houston on Saturday, Feb. 22.
The last two home games on the schedule for the Cyclones are Arizona on March 1 and BYU on Tuesday, March 4. Iowa State closes the regular season Saturday, March 8 at Kansas State.
The Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship will be held at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. from March 11-15.
A complete schedule, including non-conference games, can be found here.
2024-25 Season Ticket Information:
New Season Tickets – Demand for season tickets continues to be strong. We expect a variety of seating options will be available for Cyclone Club members and public ticket buyers. To join the waitlist please click here.
Single-Game Tickets – A public ticket on sale has been set for Wednesday, October 23. Current men’s basketball season ticket holders and Jr. Cyclone Club members and their families will have an exclusive presale. Detailed information will be shared with these groups in October.
Should you have questions in regard to requesting season tickets please contact the Iowa State Athletics Ticket Office by phone at 888-478-2925 or by email at tickets@iastate.edu.
2024-25 Big 12 Basketball Schedule
Dec. 30 – at Colorado
Jan. 4 – Baylor
Jan. 7 – Utah
Jan. 11 – at Texas Tech
Jan. 15 – Kansas
Jan. 18 – at West Virginia
Jan. 21 – UCF
Jan. 25 – at Arizona State
Jan. 27 – at Arizona
Feb. 1 – Kansas State (White Out)
Feb. 3 – at Kansas
Feb. 8 – TCU
Feb. 11 – at UCF
Feb. 15 – Cincinnati (Color-It-Cardinal)
Feb. 18 – Colorado
Feb. 22 – at Houston
Feb. 25 – at Oklahoma State
March 1 – Arizona (Gold Rules!)
March 4 – BYU (Stripe Hilton)
March 8 – at Kansas State
Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell enters the field with team before the game against Arkansas State in the week-4 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. *© Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images*
Game Day InfoNo. 18 Iowa State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) @ Houston (1-3, 0-1 Big 12)
Location: Houston, Texas
Stadium: TDECU Stadium (40,000)
Kickoff: 6:00 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports 1 (Eric Collins, Spencer Tillman)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Iowa State -12
Over/Under: 43
Series ResultsThere have been no previous matchups between Iowa State and Houston.
Players to watchRocco Becht, quarterback (Iowa State)
This might come off as an obvious choice, but it will be interesting to see what Becht puts on the field on Saturday. He hasn’t yet had a complete performance where he was ‘on’ the entire game – and that’s not to say he’s been bad by any means. There’s still room to improve for the already proven redshirt sophomore and that’s a great thing for this team.
J.R. Singleton, defensive lineman (Iowa State)
The Iowa State captain has two sacks this year already and could end up with more on Saturday. Keep an eye on the defensive line in this in this one with the likes of Kenard Snyder, Domonique Orange, and Singleton going after quarterbacks that don’t air it out as much as other conference foes.
The quarterbacks (Houston)
Cougars coach Willie Fritz stated in his press conference Tuesday that both Donovan Smith and Zeon Chriss will see the field on Saturday. Each of them has the tendency to run the football – even in passing situations. Chriss has only attempted five passes all year. Smith has thrown it a tad more, although he still ran the ball 10 times during Houston’s Big 12 opening loss to Cincinnati. Smith is coming off of a shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, but is being considered as 100 percent healthy, despite the quarterback battle.
Michael Batton, linebacker (Houston)
Houston’s leader in tackles on the defense is known for flying around the field. Batton has totaled 29 tackles in four games this year for the Cougars as well as two sacks and a fumble recovery. The defense is this team’s strength and finding ways to neutralize the top talents will be at the front of Iowa State’s game plan.
Keys to the gameProtect the ball
Iowa State has seen Houston’s defense go after fumbles at the end of plays on film – and they’ve been preparing for it. Both Rocco Becht and Jayden Higgins referenced that in media interviews this week. It’s imperative for Iowa State to protect the football and avoid giving Houston any momentum.
Take the crowd out of the game
There may not be more of an integral time to have a hot start out of the gates than in this game. A Saturday night Big 12 opener on the road against a coach known for his developmental traits is a difficult spot in any situation. This Houston team could break through at any moment. Take the crowd out of the game and establish a lead early on.
Get to the quarterbacks
No matter which quarterback is on the field for the Cougars, Iowa State’s defensive line will be going after them. Houston has allowed 13 sacks already this year and with this pair scrambling as much as they do, there will be more opportunities to pick them up.
In the Big 12
| Big 12 Standings | | Team | OVR | Big 12 | | No. 10 Utah | 4-0 | 1-0 | | No. 22 BYU | 4-0 | 1-0 | | UCF | 3-0 | 1-0 | | Cincinnati | 3-1 | 1-0 | | Colorado | 3-1 | 1-0 | | Texas Tech | 3-1 | 1-0 | | West Virginia | 2-2 | 1-0 | | No. 18 Iowa State | 3-0 | 0-0 | | Arizona | 2-1 | 0-0 | | No. 20 Oklahoma State | 3-1 | 0-1 | | No. 23 Kansas State | 3-1 | 0-1 | | Arizona State | 3-1 | 0-1 | | Baylor | 2-2 | 0-1 | | TCU | 2-2 | 0-1 | | Houston | 1-3 | 0-1 | | Kansas | 1-3 | 0-1 |
Saturday, September 28
11:00 a.m. | No. 20 Oklahoma State @ No. 23 Kansas State (ESPN)
11:00 a.m. | No. 22 BYU @ Baylor (FS1)
2:30 p.m. | TCU @ Kansas (ESPN+)
2:30 p.m. | Colorado @ UCF (FOX)
6:00 p.m. | No. 18 Iowa State @ Houston (FS1)
7:00 p.m. | Cincinnati @ Texas Tech (ESPN2)
9:15 p.m. | Arizona @ No. 10 Utah (ESPN)
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) celebrates with his team on the sideline during the fourth quarter in a week-4 NCAA football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — When the stars seemingly align early in a football season, it’s tantalizing for fans to look ahead. Wistful wishes meet flights of fancy and suddenly, daydreams alight.
For example, Iowa State (3-0) enters Saturday’s 6 p.m. (FS1) Big 12 season-opening game at Houston (1-3, 0-1) as a 13-point favorite.
The Cyclones seek their first 4-0 start in 24 years — and a panoply of possibilities accordingly arrange themselves in connect-the-dots fashion if they beat the struggling Cougars.
But therein lies the rub: The word “if.” ISU head coach Matt Campbell’s program is built on the word “now,” where a dogged commitment to details and precision dictates the nature of future scenarios, and the path to success always perilously traverses what he calls “the rough side of the mountain.”
“College football is hard,” said Campbell, who is currently tied with Dan McCarney as the Cyclones’ all-time wins leader with 56. “The mentality to sustain success, it’s hard in our business, it’s hard in your business, it’s hard in anybody’s business. And that’s why it’s hard to win. Will we, can we continue to have a winning mentality? I don’t know. You hope that you continue to pound away at the fabric of what we’ve built ourselves on and that’s really great habits every day and great focus and coming in and trying to get better, but to say you can do that, or how easy is it? It’s exhaustingly hard.”
That’s true today. It will remain true — win or lose — on Saturday. The Cyclones are 3-0 for the second time in the past three seasons, but that’s no guarantee that those stars stay aligned instead of falling from the sky. ISU started 3-0 in 2022 and proceeded to lose eight of its nine conference games, with six gut-wrenching outcomes determined by one score.
That unsavory experience isn’t lost on ISU’s sophomore starting quarterback Rocco Becht, who redshirted that season. He’s not thinking about potentially being 4-0. He’s simply utilizing every moment in practice to improve — and assisting others in the same mission.
“I actually didn’t even know about that stat,” the reigning Big 12 freshman offensive player of the year said. “I would say that we’re just going into every single week playing our game and not thinking about who’s playing us. … So, just playing our game each and every Saturday and, you know, we’ll worry about the record and the stats at the end of the year.”
Speaking of stats, ISU rates markedly better than Houston in virtually every measure. That’s one reason the Cyclones have won every game so far, while the Cougars have found ways to lose each game outside of a rout over winless Rice. Depth and talent usually win out — but a lack of focus can negate that edge quickly.
“I think last week in the Big 12 (there were) seven games and only one team won on the road,” said Campbell, who remarkably led his team to four straight conference road triumphs toward the end of last season. “Like, it’s hard. It’s hard to win football games anywhere. It’s hard to win in this conference, (and) hard to win on the road. So, it’s all (about) great lessons that you’re trying to teach and I think the one benefit that our kids do have, is we have some veterans who have been through ‘hard.’ They’re been through success and failure and hopefully have the wisdom to be able to learn from it and grow from it and be able to share that wisdom with their teammates along the way.”
So ISU’s younger players would be wise to seek the counsel of one of the team’s three permanent captains this season, senior safety Beau Freyler. He’s not gazing at the stars. He’s grounded in the grit-based work that eventually forms clusters of them.
“Just taking it one game at a time,” he said, leaning on that well-worn, but apropos cliche. “I think it’s huge to create momentum for ourselves going into Big 12 play — starting off strong. So being able to practice and prepare to put ourselves in the best possible situation for Saturday, that’s really the mindset right now.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State women’s basketball 2024-25 Big 12 schedule dates were announced by the conference Thursday morning.
Iowa State will play UCF, Kansas and Kansas State twice (home and away) and every other Big 12 opponent once, as announced by the league earlier this fall. Opponents were selected based on a combination of geography, historical results and a poll of the coaches to best balance the schedule in terms of travel and competitiveness.
League play begins Saturday, Dec. 21 at Oklahoma State and concludes Sunday, March 2 against Kansas State. The regular season will be followed by the 2025 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship, which will take place in Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center for the second consecutive season from March 5-10.
ISU matched its best start to conference play in program history with a 6-0 record in 2023-24, defeating Oklahoma State, Kansas, BYU, No. 24 West Virginia and No. 4 Baylor before TCU forfeited a late January contest. Iowa State finished fourth in Big 12 regular season play with a 12-6 record and earned a double bye into the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Championship. The Cyclones went on to defeat No. 5-seed Baylor and No. 1-seed Oklahoma for their second-consecutive appearance in the title game.
Iowa State will host its first Big 12 contest on New Year’s Day, welcoming Kansas back to Hilton Coliseum to kick off the new year. The Cyclones will face conference newcomer Utah in Ames on Jan. 5. Cyclone fans can purchase season tickets here. Single-game public on sale will be announced at a later date.
Iowa State’s full Big 12 slate can be found below.
Iowa State Women’s Basketball Big 12 Schedule
Dec. 21 – at Oklahoma State
Jan. 1 – vs. Kansas
Jan. 5 – vs. Utah
Jan. 8 – at Arizona State
Jan. 11 – at Arizona
Jan. 14 – vs. Texas Tech
Jan. 19 – at West Virginia
Jan. 22 – vs. BYU
Jan. 25 – vs. UCF
Jan. 30 – at Kansas State
Feb. 2 – vs. TCU
Feb. 5 – at Cincinnati
Feb. 8 – vs. Colorado
Feb. 15 – at Kansas
Feb. 19 – vs. Houston
Feb. 22 – at Baylor
Feb. 25 – at UCF
March 2 – vs. Kansas State
Jun 25, 2024; Belmont Park, New York, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton (6) at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Former Cyclone Bridget Carleton and the Minnesota Lynx are headed to the WNBA Semifinals.
The Lynx defeated Phoenix in Game 2 of their first round matchup Wednesday 101-88 to secure a 2-0 series sweep.
Carleton finished Wednesday’s game with 12 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and a steal while playing 36 minutes on the floor.
Across the two games, Carleton totaled 24 points, 10 boards, 8 assists and 3 steals.
The Lynx will take on the Connecticut Sun in the second round of the WNBA Playoffs on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Iowa State University is partnering with Daktronics, to bring a significant upgrade to Cyclone Athletics venues across its campus according to a release from the company.
The installation involves 23 LED displays totaling more than 20,000 square feet, will enhance the game-day experience for fans of various sports,
including basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, wrestling, soccer, track and field, football, softball, and swimming and diving.
“We are anxious to unveil our new video displays in many of our facilities this fall and believe that Cyclone fans will enjoy an enhanced game-day experience thanks to the state-of-the-art technology upgrades these systems will provide,” Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said in the release. “We believe that our new video displays, coupled with the installation of new audio systems in all of our venues this year, will take our game-day experience to a whole new level.”
The majority of the upgrades are scheduled to be completed in 2024, with the remaining installations finished by 2025. This substantial investment in LED technology aims to improve the overall fan experience, enabling Iowa State Athletics to provide up-to-date visuals and audio enhancements across all its venues.
Hilton Coliseum upgradesHilton Coliseum received a significant upgrade with a new center-hung display designed to offer a 360-degree viewing experience for fans. This main video display will measure approximately 15.5 feet high and 113 feet, with a 3.9-millimeter pixel spacing for clear imagery. For fans sitting closer to the action, two displays underneath the center-hung will provide additional viewing content.
In addition to the main displays, a long ribbon board will be installed around the seating concourse. This ribbon board, along with four corner displays, each will feature 10-millimeter pixel spacing as well as five LED scorer’s tables, that will be placed around the court, offering flexibility in arrangement for different events.
Jack Trice Stadium upgradesFans at Jack Trice Stadium can look forward to impressive upgrades in 2025, with four new LED displays enhancing the gameday experience. The north end zone display will measure approximately 36 feet high by 157 feet wide, while the south end zone display will be 36 feet high by 79 feet wide.
Both displays will feature improving resolutions compared to the previous ones. Two ribbon displays will also run along the seating front. These displays will complement the main end zone screens, showcasing graphics, animations, and sponsorship content.
Upgrades at other Iowa State Athletic venuesIn addition to Hilton Coliseum and Jack Trice Stadium, Daktronics is enhancing several other athletic facilities on campus.
Cyclone Sports Complex (Softball): Set for installation in 2025, this display will measure 14.5 feet high by 26.5 feet wide, with 10-millimeter pixel spacing.
Beyer Hall (Swimming and Diving): An LED display measuring 11.5 feet high by 21 feet wide with 5.9-millimeter pixel spacing will be installed.
Cyclone Sports Complex (Soccer): A display measuring 15.5 feet high by 27.5
feet wide will feature 10-millimeter pixel spacing.
Lied Recreation Athletic Center (Indoor Track and Field): The facility will
receive a display measuring 11.5 feet high by 21 feet wide with 5.9-millimeter pixel spacing.
With these installations, Iowa State’s Athletics Director, Jamie Pollard, expects Cyclone fans to enjoy a significantly enhanced game-day experience, thanks to the upgraded visuals and improved audio systems.
The new technology will not only refresh older installations but will also bring a modern feel to the environment at each venue.
Iowa State had one of its major tight end targets in the 2026 class in town over the weekend for the team’s game against Arkansas State.
Waukee tight end Evan Jacobson was in attendance Saturday in the latest trip to Ames for the four-star, in-state prospect.
“The visit was awesome,” Jacobson said. “It was good to be back in Ames and be around with coach Mouser and coach Campbell and the whole staff. And to see that Game Day atmosphere and a big time game by the tight ends – that was fun as well.”
Jacobson is rated as the No. 1 prospect in the state for the 2026 class as well as the No. 8 tight end in the class by 247 Sports.
The Cyclones have also targeted the No. 4 rated tight end in the class in Ian Premer, and feel like they’re in a great spot with both prospects.
“Me and coach Mouse talk all the time,” Jacobson said. “We’re texting almost every day I’d say. We’re on the phone a ton. We have a really good relationship and I feel really comfortable with him.”
Jacobson’s recruitment has exploded since the Cyclones became his first offer in March.
Kansas, Kansas State, Colorado, LSU, Arkansas, Auburn, Missouri, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, Florida State, Louisville, and Miami have all offered Jacobson since.
“It’s been a lot of fun – a blessing for sure,” Jacobson said. “I’m just playing the game I love and it’s been cool to have the success with it.”
Evan’s older brother, Michael, played basketball at Iowa State and transitioned back to football during his post-collegiate career.
Now, in his fourth year in the NFL, Michael is on the practice squad as a tight end for the New Orleans Saints.
“It’s been super cool just to see the little success he’s had,” Jacobson said. “Obviously, getting to be on a practice squad – there’s not a lot of spots in the NFL… I’ve just been able to learn a ton from him. He’s helped me out a bunch.”
Jacobson hasn’t narrowed down his list at all, but look for Iowa State to be in the mix as things go forward.
“Right now, I don’t have any kind of rankings like that, but obviously they’re a hometown program, my brothers went there, I have a really good relationship with the staff. I’ll definitely be continuing my recruitment with them.
Iowa State Cyclones defensive line Domonique Orange (95) and linebacker Jack Sadowsky (33) attempt to tackle as North Dakota Fighting Hawks running back Isaiah Smith (29) runs for first down during the fourth quarter in the season-opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Domonique Orange used to be good friends with the fast food window.
Greasy burgers? He ate plenty of them. Even greasier fries? Super-size ‘em. And the requisite sugar-laden sodas? He serenely slurped them down.
The Iowa State defensive tackle’s less-than-healthy eating habits didn’t diminish his power or speed as a freshman. But Orange’s stamina? They certainly didn’t help in that area, as playing just a handful of snaps left him huffing, puffing and shuffling to an extended stay on the sideline.
“Freshman year, I’d be able to play 15 to 20 snaps per game,” said the slimmed-down and powered-up Orange, who hopes to shine for the No. 18 Cyclones (3-0) in Saturday’s 6 p.m. Big 12 season opener (FS1) at Houston (1-3, 0-1). “Now I’m able to play however many they want me to, so it’s been great being able to do that.”
The 6-4 Orange tipped the scales at 350 pounds as a freshman. He began adhering to healthier habits as a sophomore, paring his weight down to 335. Now, as a junior, Orange — a.k.a. “Big Citrus” — weighs in at a relatively lithe 325 pounds, and he’s an interior anchor on an ISU defense that ranks ninth nationally in points allowed per game at 9.7.
“I think Dom is certainly trending,” Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell said. “(He’s) a guy that, in my opinion, has just grown so much off the field.”
Not in size, as noted above, but in spirit. Orange’s ability to bowl over multiple offensive linemen clears the way for others to surge into the backfield for sacks, or fill gaps to prevent big plays. ISU’s averaging 2.67 sacks through three games this season — one more than they did all of last season. Orange’s growing rep count is one reason for the considerable uptick, but rapid growth in an injury-plagued linebackers room has also helped.
“We had really young linebackers at the beginning of the year,” Orange said. “I feel like now they understand how to play the game of football. I’m just saying that college football is totally different from high school football, so they’re finally understanding (how to) kick it into gear.”
The Cyclones’ defensive front finally chipped in a stingy performance against the run in last week’s 52-7 win over Arkansas State, allowing just 64 yards on 35 carries. That stifling effort came on the heels of allowing an average of 174 yards on the ground in the first two games.
“D-line wise, he had a slow start,” said Orange, who has six tackles this season. “I mean, me personally, I feel like everyone had a slow start, so we (made) a couple changes on the D-line, and I feel like we’ve got it now. Now we understand what it takes to be a great defense.”
But now it’s time to prove that against a Big 12 offense — albeit a struggling one. Houston averages a meager 13 points per game, which ranks last in the league by a wide margin. The same holds true for the Cougars in terms of total offense, where they’re averaging 294.3 yards per game — 70 fewer yards than 15th-place Baylor. Neither of those statistical shortfalls, however, will make Orange and his fellow Cyclone defenders overlook Houston.
“They’re not a team to play with, honestly,” Orange said after noting that the Cougars narrowly lost at No. 21 Oklahoma earlier this season. “(But) we’re really confident going into (this) game. We’re ready.”
Orange is equally prepared to build even healthier habits as his third season in the program wears on. The fast food window may not be a stranger, but it’s no longer a frequent destination.
“A lot more greens and a lot less fast food,” said Orange, who credited ISU’s strength coaches and nutrition staff for his big change. “I think for anybody, transforming fat into muscle is difficult. It took me a little minute to understand that, hey, this isn’t gonna be easy. It’s gonna be ups and downs. It’s gonna be hard. So for me to be able to make that change, transform my body completely, it’s a great accomplishment for me.”
Sep 19, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (10) runs with the ball for a touchdown against New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (23) and cornerback Alex Austin (28) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
It was another action packed week for Cyclones in the NFL, kicking off with the New York trio showing out on Thursday Night Football.
Allen Lazard got the scoring started Thursday, and made some first-touchdown bettors happy with his early score.
Allen Lazard in for the touchdown on Thursday Night Football! #CyclonesInTheNFL pic.twitter.com/fTQaSypUUT
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) September 20, 2024
Lazard finished with 48 yards on three receptions, while Breece Hall caught four balls for 29 yards.
Hall also picked up a rushing touchdown as well as 54 yards on the ground in 16 attempts.
INSANE Rushing touchdown by Breece Hall! #NYJets pic.twitter.com/KGXw8O7tGd
— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhifer) September 20, 2024
Will McDonald IV continued his hot start to the season with a pair of sacks and a tackle for loss, bringing his total to five sacks on the year.
Will McDonald IV leads the way on another @Nyjets sack. #JetUp#NEvsNYJ on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/QGbJ0wnnqv— NFL (@NFL) September 20, 2024
David Montgomery picked up another rushing touchdown for the Lions with 105 yards on 23 carries as well as 17 receiving yards on three receptions.
Since he joined Detroit, Montgomery has 14 touchdowns to his name – the most in the NFL during that timeframe.
DAVID MONTGOMERYTOUCHDOWN#OnePride | #NFL
pic.twitter.com/XsrubDyccU— Holy Roller NFL (@HolyRollerNFL) September 22, 2024
Brock Purdy continues to impress in San Francisco, finishing 22-30 for 292 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
Of his eight incompletions, six passes were dropped as the Rams rallied to secure the 27-24 win. Jake Hummel did not record a stat, but was not listed on the inactive list.
Brock Purdy with his first touchdown of the day! #CyclonesInTheNFL pic.twitter.com/Wv3Z7iHHai
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) September 22, 2024
Charlie Kolar had one of his best regular season performances, collecting 30 yards on this reception. He finished as one of the five highest rated Ravens players by PFF grades on the day.
Lamar Jackson finds Charlie Kolar off the play fake for a big gain!
: #BALvsDAL on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/Ho6q6G5Enf— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
Xavier Hutchinson did not record a stat in the Texans’ 34-7 loss to the Vikings, but did speak to media members after the game.
MINNEAPOLIS – #Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson on learning from this setback of a loss to #Vikings @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/1LXhR9Q01h
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 22, 2024
Week 3 Inactives
Broncos – Enyi Uwazurike
Ravens – T.J. Tampa
Giants – Anthony Johnson Jr.
Cyclones in the NFL Week 4 schedule
Thursday, Sep. 26
7:15 p.m. | Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants (Johnson Jr.), Prime
Sunday, Sep. 29
12:00 p.m. | Denver Broncos (Uwazurike) @ New York Jets (Hall, Lazard, McDonald IV), CBS
12:00 p.m. | Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans (Hutchinson), CBS
12:00 p.m. | Los Angeles Rams (Hummel) @ Chicago Bears, FOX
3:05 p.m. | New England Patriots @ San Francisco 49ers (Purdy)
7:20 p.m. | Buffalo Bills @ Baltimore Ravens (Kolar, Tampa), NBC
Monday, Sep. 30
7:15 p.m. | Seattle Seahawks @ Detroit Lions (Montgomery), ABC
On Practice Squads
New Orleans Saints – Michael Jacobson
New York Jets – Kene Nwangwu
Washington Commanders – Julian Good-Jones
Remember when we thought the home opener was hot? Iowa State’s final non-conference game of the season really gave us a run for our money.
Ames was scorching hot, but that didn’t stop fans from packing the stands to watch the Cyclones crush the Red Wolves with a dominant 52-7 victory. Iowa State put out that they still had 55,000 fans in attendance!
Despite the heat (which I’ve complained about more than a few times), I felt the same excitement I had when I first picked up my camera for Cyclone Fanatic. No pressure for the perfect shot, just capturing the little moments you won’t see on TV—along with some of the many fun highlights from the game.
Enjoy reliving Saturday’s game through these memorable moments.
PHOTO GALLERY
Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell reacts after a touchdown against Arkansas State during the first quarter in the week-4 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State will face off with Houston in its Big 12 opener on the road Saturday night.
Here’s what we learned from Tuesday’s pregame press conferences …
Iowa State’s offense is prepared for Houston’s turnover-forcing tactics
The No. 18 Cyclones are ready for the tactics Houston’s defense has put on film ahead of this weekend’s game.
“Those guys – they fly around,” Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht said. “What we saw was, whenever we get the ball in a wide receiver’s or running back’s hands, those defensive players are taught to hit that ball out and they’ve done that a couple of times. So just holding onto that ball – especially me in the pocket – knowing that they’re coming after it is going to be big.”
Coach Matt Campbell has long preached the importance of winning the turnover battle and Cyclone fans and players alike know it can swing a game in either direction.
“Not only the young guys, but also the veterans in the group, too – just protect the ball,” wide receiver Jayden Higgins said. “Whether Rocco’s throwing it or we’re running it, just protect the ball at all times.”
The I-formation plays stem from Coach Tyler Roehl’s NDSU days
Iowa State fans have seen the Cyclones line up in the I-formation for the first time in a long time this season at Jack Trice Stadium.
They pulled it out a little in the season opener against North Dakota and it again showed up last weekend against Arkansas State.
To the casual fan, it might come off like another card out of first-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser’s back pocket. However, that subsect of the new-look playbook came out of running backs coach Tyler Roehl’s time at North Dakota State.
“I call it, ‘Crazy Man 2’ – that’s a Tyler Roehl special there – the goalline, stack-I craziness there,” Mouser said. “I love it. It’s something that we haven’t done a lot of. He, obviously, has a lot of experience running it at North Dakota State. When he got here, we watched a lot of what they did and I felt like we had a lot of the personnel to do a lot of that stuff. He’s obsessed with that kind of stuff – him and (offensive line coach Ryan Clanton).”
That’s been a cohesive point for this young Iowa State staff, which includes former offensive coordinators in both Clanton and Roehl, as well as a college star in quarterbacks coach Jake Waters.
It’s part of where the fake QB sneak came from that Iowa State ran on Saturday.
“They dial up a lot more than what we do, and we kind of tone it down a little bit to find the stuff that will fit,” Mouser said. “He does an awesome job of coming up with that kind of stuff and making it look easy. He instills a lot of confidence in our guys with it.”
Houston will continue to play two quarterbacks
Cougars head coach Willie Fritz said during his press conference that both Donovan Smith and Zeon Chriss will see the field against the Cyclones. .
“They’ve both done some good things,” Fritz said. “It might be crystal clear to some people, but to me, I’ve seen some good things and some things not so good. We’re going to play both those guys and we’re going to give them both opportunities and show us what they can do. We’ve got to play better with the other 10 guys.”
Both quarterbacks have the tendency to run. In last week’s game against Cincinnati (a 34-0 loss for the Cougars), Smith ran the ball 10 times for 27 yards.
After checking in during the third quarter, Chriss — a Louisiana transfer — led three drives, rushing the ball eight times for 27 yards and completing 2 of 5 passes in his 17 plays in the game.
“We really haven’t seen Zeon have the opportunity to do a bunch of stuff,” Fritz said. “I think he had five pass attempts on Saturday. But, I’ve seen – you look at two games ago (against Oklahoma), I thought Donovan played pretty well. But we’ve got to play better at all of the spots.”
Houston was also limiting Smith’s number of throws earlier this season. Smith is recovering from surgery to his throwing shoulder after a torn labrum kept him out of a majority of the spring action for the Cougars.
Fritz said that he isn’t under the restriction anymore and that Houston was letting him take Sunday’s and Monday’s off from throwing the ball.
Iowa State will do what it can to avoid looking at the big picture
Last time an Iowa State team started 3-0, it ended up going 4-8.
That message was heard loud and clear inside the locker room, especially during the Cyclones’ early bye week.
“What we’re focused on is winning the next game and also just knowing our history,” Becht said. “Last time we were 3-0, we only won one conference game that year. So just understanding that and coming in with urgency each and every day (is what we’re focused on).”
Houston comes into the game with blowout losses to UNLV and Cincinnati on its 1-3 resume but did play Oklahoma to a 16-12 result.
Fritz’ resume speaks for itself, too.
It’s easy to say that a team won’t overlook an opponent or doesn’t pay attention to what’s in front of it, but this quote from Matt Campbell Tuesday really resonated to the ability and challenges sustaining success comes with.
“I don’t think it’s easy,” Campbell said. “I mean, man, it’s not easy in the NFL. I just watched the Houston Texans play the Minnesota Vikings, and that wasn’t easy. And, you know, those are professionals, right? We’re all 49ers fans, and it’s not easy for them right now. The reality of it is sport is hard. College football is hard. The mentality to sustain success. It’s hard in everybody’s business.”
Campbell noted that road teams went 1-7 last week in the eight games that involved Big 12 Conference teams.
That’s why it’s hard to win,” Campbell said. “Can we continue to have a winning mentality? I don’t know. You know you you hope that you continue to pound away at the fabrics of what we build ourselves on, and that’s really great habits every day, and great focus and coming in and trying to get better. But to say you can do that, or how easy is it? It’s exhaustingly hard, and it’ll only continue to be exhaustingly hard because it’s hard to win football games.”
The Iowa State coach will become the winningest in program history with a win against Houston.
“I think Coach Mac, just knowing the longevity that he had here, knowing what he took over when he got here, and then his ability to take the program from where it was to where he took it during his tenure, was really impressive,” Campbell said. “Just the ability to find people that can can be a guidepost. And not only has he been a guidepost, he’s been an unbelievable mentor. He’s been He’s meant the world to our alumni, and he’s meant the world to our coaching staff and our kids here. And so anytime he’s around our program, we cherish and really appreciate what he’s done.”
Jayden Higgins stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht described star receiver Jayden Higgins as “a five-year-old off the field.”
And he meant it as a compliment.
“He’s like a little brother to (fellow top receiver) Jaylin Noel,” said Becht, who hopes to lead his 18th-ranked team (3-0) to a Big 12 season-opening win Saturday at 6 p.m. (FS1) at Houston (1-3, 0-1). “Jaylin is probably the big brother to Jayden. If you ask him that, he’ll probably get (ticked) off, but he’s like a five-year-old outside of the facility. Joking around with him is always fun. He always tends to make me laugh and make the team laugh. He’s kind of like the jokester on this team.”
Higgins is no joke, however, as a route runner and sure-handed target. He’s caught a touchdown pass from Becht in five consecutive games, tying former Cyclone greats Todd Blythe and Ty Watley for the program record. He also forms one of the Big 12’s top receiving duos with Noel, who saw a streak of four straight games with a touchdown catch snap in last weekend’s 52-7 win over Arkansas State.
“They’re my outlet,” said Becht, who averaged 15.8 yards per completion while playing two and a half quarters in the rout of the Red Wolves. “Whenever something’s going bad, I look for them to go make a play and go up for the ball because they make me right sometimes, and I love them for that.”
Higgins returns that love via hotly-contested jump-ball situations Becht expects him to win. The 6-4 former transfer from Eastern Kentucky usually does — and for good reason. Higgins was also a star basketball player and when asked if he played well above the rim, he smiled.
“Of course,” he said. “Of course.”
Higgins essentially said the same thing when ISU’s coaches asked him to join the program in 2023. The first Cyclone coach he met in person? First-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, whose creative play calling has been on full display early this season.
“His energy is contagious,” Higgins said of Mouser, who drew up a successful fan quarterback sneak-turned-24-yard passing play in last week’s win. “It feeds (into) the offense.”
Higgins and his fellow receivers also take pride in their blocking ability, so seeing ISU’s backs rack up a season-best 237 yards on the ground last weekend deepened his belief that the offense can be potent week in and week out.
“The run game is definitely dynamic,” said Higgins, who leads ISU in catches (17) and touchdown grabs (three). “I feel like we can do that almost any game we play.”
The Cyclones will need robust production on the ground and through the air to pierce the Cougars’ solid defense. Houston — which lost its conference opener, 34-0, last week at Cincinnati — ranks fourth in the Big 12 in pass defense (146.0 yards per game) and sixth in rushing defense (123.5).
“They have a lot of talent,” Mouser said. “They’re gonna get it going there. (Cougars head coach Willie) Fritz has done a great job there and he’s won everywhere, so they’re gonna be really good.”
The Cyclones seek to stunt Houston’s growth process for at least one more week, of course, and Higgins’ prowess in the passing game will be integral in that gambit. He’s totaled 55 or more yards receiving in each game during his touchdown-scoring streak and will continue to serve as one-half of Becht’s “outlet” on Saturday and beyond.
“Whenever I make a bad pass, but he catches it, I’m always going over to him and saying, ‘Sorry,’ and he’s like, ‘Get out of here., I know.’” Becht said. “So having that guy on the field having that joking ability within the game, it just calms me down.”
Higgins stays calm by maintaining supreme confidence behind that joke-cracking facade. He knows what he can do — and what he will do when given the chance. So whether or not his touchdown streak extends to six games is immaterial to his season goals.
“That’s cool,” Higgins said. “But I’m just trying to help the team win. If I have to score a touchdown or go out there and block all game, that’s just what I’m trying to do for the team.”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser addressed media members ahead of the team’s upcoming matchup against Houston set for Saturday (6:00 p.m. Fox Sports 1).
Houston coach Willie Fritz’s press conference is below as well.
Iowa State’s Rocco Becht, Jayden Higgins, Domonique Orange and Beau Freyler previewed Houston on Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center in Ames.
Sep 14, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Donovan Smith (1) walks off the field after a win over the Rice Owls at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sean Thomas-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State is riding high. Houston is down in the dumps. So it’s not remotely surprising the No. 18 Cyclones opened as 12.5-favorites in Saturday’s 6 p.m. (FS1) Big 12 season opener against the Cougars in their first-ever road trip to TDECU Stadium.
ISU is 3-0 for the second time in the past three seasons and Houston (1-3, 0-1) suffered a humbling 34-0 defeat last Saturday at Cincinnati.
First-year Houston head coach Willie Fritz — who built Tulane into a non-Power Four powerhouse — saw his team regress after taking No. 21 Oklahoma down to the wire in Norman and pounding Rice, 33-7. The Cougars are very much a work in progress, which makes them a team the Matt Campbell-led Cyclones should handle with relative ease.
“Should” is the operative word here, however.
Conference play reveals hidden flaws and unexpected perils — and ISU hasn’t started a season with a 4-0 mark since 2000. So with that in mind, here are five key Houston players to know in advance of Saturday’s game:
QB Donovan Smith Cyclone fans will likely remember Smith from his freshman season at Texas Tech. And those aren’t fond memories, as Smith recorded the first 300-yard passing game of his four-year career in a 41-38 setback in Lubbock in 2021. It’s been a mercurial ride for the 6-5, 235-pound senior from Los Vegas ever since. He transferred to Houston last season and threw for 225 or more yards in all but three games, but this season, he’s thrown for more than 200 yards just once — in the Cougars’ 16-12 loss at Oklahoma. Smith completed 24 of 28 passes for 260 yards in that game, so he tends to be at his best on the big stage and will be eager to reprise his role as a villain against ISU.
WR Joseph Manjack IV According to his bio, Manjack IV’s sports hero is former Pittsburgh Steelers great (and shampoo ad icon) Troy Polamalu, so toughness is clearly one of the Tomball, Texas native’s positive traits. But Manjack’s game hinges on his speed and elusiveness, which he’s showcased for three seasons as a Cougar after spending one season at USC. The 6-3, 205-pound junior is Houston’s top playmaker at receiver and averages 14.2 yards per catch. He’s caught two of Smith’s three touchdown passes, including a 44-yard scoring strike at Oklahoma that gave the Cougars a chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but the ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed. Manjack also caught a 52-yard pass in last week’s blowout loss at Cincinnati.
LB Michael Batton The 6-1, 220-pound senior describes himself as “relentless,” and it’s easy to see why. Batton’s journey to Houston wound through three other FBS programs and a stint in junior college, as well. The Katy, Texas native leads the Cougars in tackles this season with 29 and he also leads the team in quarterback sacks (two) and fumble recoveries (one). Batton amassed a career-high 10 tackles in last week’s loss to Cincinnati and both of his sacks came in the narrow loss against the Sooners in Norman. His strength is stopping the run, but the Cyclones will be well aware of his presence when opportunities to blitz arise.
RB Stacy Sneed The 5-11, 180-pound junior from suburban Dallas is the only Cougar running back to rush for a touchdown this season. His one scoring run came in the rout of Rice. Sneed averaged a robust 11.7 yards per carry in that game, but he’s been held to 3.3 yards per tote or fewer in Houston’s other three games. His bookend in the backfield, Re’Shaun Sanford II, leads the Cougars in rushing yards with 156, but Sneed’s not far behind with 142. They’re both strong downhill runners hampered by uneven offensive line play.
DB A.J. Haulcy Haulcy’s shined as a safety for his hometown Cougars since transferring in last season and earning honorable mention Big 12 defensive newcomer of the year honors. The 6-0, 215-pound junior ranks second on the team in tackles with 28 and leads Houston with three passes defended. He returned his lone interception this season 48 yards.
Iowa State Cyclones forward Robert Jones (12) and Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) celebrate during the second half against Kansas Jayhawks in the Big-12 conference showdown of an NCAA college basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.
The following is a press release from the Big 12 Conference:
CBS Sports and the Big 12 Conference have expanded their partnership by significantly increasing the number of Big 12 men’s college basketball games across the Network’s platforms. The multi-year deal, which runs through the 2026-27 season, is through a sublicense agreement with ESPN.
As part of its extensive regular-season schedule, CBS Sports already broadcasts a minimum of six Big 12 men’s college basketball games annually on CBS, with those games streaming live on Paramount+. This new agreement adds 20 games per year to air on CBS Sports Network to bring the total number of Big 12 men’s basketball games to at least 26 per season across CBS Sports platforms.
“CBS Sports continues to be the home for big-time college basketball and we are excited to expand our long-standing relationship with the Big 12,” said Dan Weinberg, Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports. “The Big 12 is one of the nation’s signature basketball conferences with marquee schools, student-athletes and coaches along with a rich history in the sport. This is a tremendous opportunity to add 20 high-quality games from a premier conference to our schedule and we are thrilled to increase the number of Big 12 basketball games across our CBS Sports platforms.”
“Growing our presence on CBS Sports will deliver Big 12 basketball to even more fans across the country,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “The additional nationally televised games will continue to grow our brand as the best conference in college basketball and showcase the elite student-athletes and programs from our 16 institutions.”
CBS Sports will begin its 44th consecutive season presenting college basketball this fall with approximately 300 regular-season games across CBS and Paramount+, as well as CBS Sports Network, including 15 automatic bids to the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tournaments. CBS Sports has been the broadcast home of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament since 1982, including a partnership with TNT Sports since 2012.
Iowa State Cyclones running back Aiden Flora (35) celebrates with team mates after a touchdown against Arkansas State during the fourth quarter in the week-4 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Saturday could not have gone better for Iowa State.
The home team dismantled the visiting Sun Belt school, a ton of young players got on the field for the first time and the cardinal and gold rolled to its third straight win. In total, 83 Cyclones got on the field – a staggeringly high number.
It’s all systems go, but nothing is guaranteed.
It’s the second time in three seasons Iowa State has started 3-0, but the last team to do so ended 4-8. Rankings don’t mean anything on the field, but there is only one Big 12 team higher in the top 25 than the No. 18 Cyclones.
The way the Cy-Hawk game turned out made the bye week spot as integral and advantageous as it could be. And the coaching staff utilized it perfectly.
Obviously, they got right back to work, but it allowed the group to reset and get players healthy with another ‘warmup game’ before Big 12 play starts. Pair that with facing what might be the worst team in the league in your opener, and Iowa State is really easing into the bigger games of the season.
Let’s talk about this group, some more.
This might be Iowa State’s deepest offensive line in the Matt Campbell era.
I’d like to see more against bigger opponents before declaring that, for sure. There’s a reason it says, ‘might.’ However, seeing Jalen Travis and Deylin Hasert back on the field was a great step to removing that ‘might’ by season’s end.
Travis looked great, albeit against the Red Wolves, and Hasert held his own when he was on the field. Both playing as much as they did should say their health is back to near 100 percent, at the very least.
If the versatility in each lineman learning every position holds true, coach Ryan Clanton’s group could do some big things.
The offensive line’s prowess Saturday especially showed in Iowa State’s rushing attack.
The Cyclones rushed for 237 yards against Arkansas State with seven players contributing on the ground game. Tight end Ben Brahmer said that it was the best the run game has looked all of this season and last.
“If we’re able to control the run game like I said, that will get those safety’s and linebacker’s eyes messed up,” Brahmer said. “They’ll focus on the wrong thing and then we can slip any of our targets out there. We have so many that can go make a play, like you saw today.”
Iowa State is 43-14 in the Campbell era when out-rushing its opponent. Take that for what its worth.
The defensive backs got their hands on the football again this week and that’s a great trend moving forward.
Call turnover battles lucky or not – either way, when Jeremiah Cooper and Malik Verdon are picking off footballs, things are going right.
Matt Campbell emphasizes that ‘margin,’ and it could become a difference between good and great for these guys.
I think we’ll learn a lot more about this group against Baylor – and I’m cautious of this Saturday night matchup with Houston… but Iowa State is in a driver’s seat. We’ll see who they’re racing in a few weeks.
Around the Big 12 On Saturday, I watched the tail end of the college football Saturday with a bunch of Hawk fans at Dingus – the greatest bar in the world (don’t let anyone tell you different).
The crowd was full of disgust. I heard words of the quarterback situation, how pompous Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck was, and one guy even came up to me to say Chris Hassel sucks. It was glorious.
Before I left, I caught the end of the Colorado-Baylor game and boy, did the Big 12 have a day.
I’ll start with Iowa State’s next opponent in Houston.
The Cougars put on another embarrassing performance being downed 34-0 by a Big 12 team that finished 3-9 last year in Cincinnati.
Quarterback Donovan Smith had an interception and a fumble in the first 10 minutes of the game. Cincinnati could run a semi truck through the gaps created against the Houston defensive line.
Houston just looked outmatched.
We’re either looking at Jekyll-and-Hyde team, or the bottom of the barrel in the Big 12 here.
Then we go to Kansas State, and I thought Houston would be hard to tackle. Even with a slim 6-0 first half lead, it felt like Kansas State was in control of this game.
That all changed when BYU recovered a D.J. Giddens fumble and took it in for the score (and lead) with 68 seconds remaining in the first half. Two plays later, Avery Johnson threw a pick straight to a BYU linebacker. A 6-0 lead turned into a 17-6 deficit in two minutes and it still got worse for K-State.
There was a pick on the first series of the second half, another BYU touchdown, and a 90+ yard punt return after Parker Kingston misjudged the ball and turned it into a home run return.
You are not going to see a better punt return for a TD than this one from BYU pic.twitter.com/yLLOyoJ5XH
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) September 22, 2024
The Cats were already dead, but BYU Football’s Twitter account closed the coffin with a tweet that read “Live Mas.” If you know you know.
Live Más. pic.twitter.com/O5htfC4xwm
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 22, 2024
The Wildcats need to reset quickly before Oklahoma State comes to town this week.
Without Cam Rising, Utah put up against Oklahoma State.
Isaac Wilson played his best game yet, even if he threw two picks. I think that might have been the surprise of Saturday, at least for me.
The Utes hadn’t looked like a complete team without Rising, yet. It was night and day until Saturday – but rest assured they’ve got dawgs over there. And that showed.
Oklahoma State trailed 22-3 before a late rally, but there will be little room for error for the loser of this week’s game in Manhattan.
In other games, TCU took a really bad loss to SMU and coach Sonny Dykes got ejected against the program he used to coach. Texas Tech ended the Arizona State honeymoon phase.
And Colorado… I’ll let the videos tell the story because that place is just a damn roller coaster riding on the edge of the rails.
HE DROPPED IT
Colorado was THIS CLOSE to scoring a late touchdown pic.twitter.com/jlwPADMLN2
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 22, 2024
ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
COLORADO WITH A TOUCHDOWN IN THE FINAL SECONDS @CUBuffsFootball pic.twitter.com/8niJ6NPK8t
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 22, 2024
TRAVIS HUNTER FORCES THE FUMBLE FOR THE COLORADO WIN @CUBuffsFootball pic.twitter.com/9HIumwyqCl
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 22, 2024
Baylor had every chance to put that game away, and missed a kick with just over two minutes remaining that would have made it a two-score game.
Be thankful for Kyle Konrardy – for a third straight week.
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24), Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7), and Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton (6) watch a free throw Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. © Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
Former Cyclone Bridget Carleton has earned the nickname, ‘Big Shot,’ as the 2024 WNBA season has transpired.
The Canadian standout hit another big shot on Sunday as the Minnesota Lynx opened their WNBA Playoffs with a 102-95 win over Phoenix.
BRIDGET “BIG SHOT” CARLETON DOES IT AGAIN
Clutch bucket may have sealed the deal for the @minnesotalynx in Game 1
MIN-PHX | #WNBAPlayoffs presented by Google pic.twitter.com/Mu4U91Y9Xz
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 22, 2024
Carleton finished with 12 points in the Lynx’ win, adding six rebounds and four assists while shooting 4-8 from the field.
In her sixth year in the league, Carleton has emerged as a star for the Lynx this year, playing 35 minutes during Game 1.
Minnesota will face Phoenix with a chance to advance to the semifinals Wednesday in Game 2 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Head Coach Matt Campbell on the sideline during Iowa State’s game against Arkansas State at Jack Trice Stadium. Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic
Listen as head coach Matt Campbell reflects on tying for most school wins with Dan McCarney, his team’s performance in dominant win over Arkansas State and looks ahead to kicking off Big 12 action.
Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell enters the field with his team before the game against Arkansas State in the week-4 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES —Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell could stand alone atop the program’s all-time win chart after Saturday’s Big 12 season-opener at Houston.
And he’ll say virtually nothing about it.
That’s Campbell’s modus operandi: Deflect praise and focus on the work.
It’s also how the former Cyclone coach he’s tied with for wins at 56 — Dan McCarney — operated when leading the program, so it should surprise no one that Campbell seeks to downplay any individual milestone. There’s too much at stake for the No. 18 Cyclones to bask in any momentary accolades.
“This is not about any individual,” said Campbell, whose team enters conference play with a 3-0 mark for the second time in the past three seasons. “To be able to be at one place with so many great people for as long as I have, I’m just grateful for that.”
Now let’s delve into something Campbell is eager to talk about: His ISU team’s potential. The Big 12 slate will be rugged and unpredictable, and two of its expected top contenders — Kansas State and Oklahoma State — lost on Saturday. Conference newcomer and favorite to win the league, Utah, beat the Cowboys in Stillwater without star quarterback Cam Rising, who is recovering from another injury. BYU used defense and special teams to trounce the Wildcats in Provo — flipping the script on Chris Klieman’s typically fundamentally sound team.
So Campbell’s taking nothing for granted as the Cyclones seek to open league play with a win against an erratic Cougars team that nearly won at Oklahoma, but was crushed by Cincinnati, 34-0, in its conference opener.
“To win in the Big 12 is hard,” Campbell said. “And to win week in and week out is really hard. It’s gonna take everything we’ve got. I think the challenge for us is can we continue to keep getting better? Can (we) keep improving? Can (we) continue to show up?”
ISU certainly did that last Saturday against Arkansas State, routing the Red Wolves, 52-7, and decisively winning in all three phases of the game. The offensive line added depth and skill when Jalen Travis and Deylin Hasert — both of whom hadn’t played in the first two games because of injuries — returned and performed well. The Cyclones played eight different offensive linemen in the first half alone and that group paved the way for a season-high 237 rushing yards. ISU’s defense totaled four sacks and four takeaways while holding Arkansas State scoreless until the closing minutes.
So it was a complete effort, but the Cyclones are still far from a complete team. That’s what’s exciting for Campbell and his players alike. There’s massive room for growth as ISU seeks to fully ensconce itself in the Big 12’s top tier of contenders.
“I think I’m just really trying to enjoy the moment and the guys that I’m around,” said senior defensive end Joey Petersen, who notched one of those four sacks against the Red Wolves. “I think coach Campbell’s done a really great job of getting really good people around here, whether that’s coaching staff or support staff or our teammates. So I think he’s done a really great job and it just makes all of our leaves easier and more enjoyable.”
Still, Campbell always stresses that nothing comes easy at Iowa State, especially once Big 12 play hits.
Case in point: The 2022 season. The Cyclones started 3-0, but went 1-8 in the conference season while losing six one-score games. So winning the first three games isn’t necessarily a harbinger of what’s to come. Nothing’s guaranteed. Adversity will come and tension will mount. That nine-game journey through Big 12 play starts Saturday at 6 p.m. in Houston (FS1) — and nothing that’s happened before will matter once that clock starts ticking.
“Obviously, we’ve got to go on the road, which isn’t easy to do,” Campbell said. “And it’s really hard to win conference games on the road, so it will be a great challenge for us next Saturday.”
Iowa State’s running back Jaylon Jackson runs with the ball against Arkansas State during the first quarter in the week-4 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State moved up to No. 18 in the latest Associated Press poll release, following its 52-7 win over Arkansas State Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.
The Cyclones are one of seven Big 12 programs that are either ranked or receiving votes in this week’s poll, and are the second highest ranked team from the league.
Utah came in at No. 10, Oklahoma State was at No. 20, and BYU jumped to No. 22 after beating the now-ranked No. 23 Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday. UCF received three votes and Arizona received two.
The full poll can be seen below:
AP CFB Poll
Sunday, Sep. 22, 2024
1. Texas (44)
2. Georgia (13)
3. Ohio State (5)
4. Alabama
5. Tennessee
6. Ole Miss
7. Miami
8. Oregon
9. Penn State
10. Utah
11. Missouri
12. Michigan
13. USC
14. LSU
15. Louisville
16. Notre Dame
17. Clemson
18. Iowa State
19. Illinois
20. Oklahoma State
21. Oklahoma
22. BYU
23. Kansas State
24. Texas A&M
25. Boise State
Others Receiving Votes: Washington State 67, Indiana 63, Boston College 55, UNLV 53, Pittsburgh 37, Nebraska 25, Iowa 24, James Madison 11, South Carolina 7, Liberty 4, Arkansas 3, UCF 3, Arizona 2, SMU 2, Navy 1
AMES, Iowa – No. 20 Iowa State’s Sept. 28 Big 12 Conference opener at Houston has been scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. It will be televised on FS1.
It will be the first meeting between the Cyclones and Cougars.
The Cyclones are 3-0 this season entering Saturday’s game against the Cougars (1-3, 0-1).
Aug. 31 NORTH DAKOTA (FS1) W, 21-3
Sept. 7 at No. 21 Iowa (CBS) W, 20-19
Sept. 21 ARKANSAS STATE (ESPN+) W, 52-7
Sept. 28 *at Houston (FS1) 6 p.m.
Oct. 5 *BAYLOR
Oct. 12 *at West Virginia
Oct. 19 *UCF
Nov. 2 *TEXAS TECH (HC)
Nov. 9 *#at Kansas
Nov. 16 *CINCINNATI
Nov. 23 *at Utah
Nov. 30 *KANSAS STATE
Dec. 7 Big 12 Championship Game
*Big 12 Conference Game
at Kansas City, Mo. (GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium)
#
Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) battle for a few yards as getting a tackle Arkansas State Red Wolves safety Websley Etienne (12) during the first quarter in the week-4 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa State made quick work of Arkansas State on Saturday, running the Red Wolves out of Ames in a 52-7 win. Here are some of my top takeaways.
Aggressive playcallingIowa State opened up its playbook a bit against Arkansas State, contrary to what fans at Jack Trice Stadium saw during the season opener.
On the opening series, facing 4th and inches on its own 34, the Cyclones lined up under center and let quarterback Rocco Becht sneak his way across the line.
The offense ran three under-center, quarterback sneaks in the first quarter, before faking a sneak in the second quarter that saw tight end Ben Brahmer streaking down the middle of the field.
“We had that in the gameplan all week,” Brahmer said. “We kind of set it up with a few sneaks before that, and it was a good throw by (Rocco)… I knew it was coming at some point, so that was pretty exciting.”
It fooled the Arkansas State defense, and Brahmer saved Becht with a one-handed, diving catch up the field.
On top of it, there were a number of different looks as far as offensive sets went, and Darien Porter got his hands on a punt.
The special teams unit in AmesThe special teams unit is something that really hasn’t been talked about much so far this season, save for the Konrardy kick – and that should be considered a positive.
However, the group looked stout against Arkansas State.
Jaylin Noel was able to return three punts for sizeable yardage, and ended the game averaging 20 yards per return. His longest return stretched 34 yards.
There were a pair of kicks that didn’t look great in the fourth quarter well after the game had been decided, but between Porter’s blocked punt and a solid-looking punt return it has been a big win for the Cyclones with that unit this season.
Plus, Kyle Konrardy was perfect on the day going 7-7 on extra points and a field goal.
The defense swallowed up Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen RaynorIowa State’s defense never let Jaylen Raynor get comfortable.
The young unit swarmed the backfield, sacking Raynor and backup Timmy McClain four times throughout the game.
“That was just preparation – being able to prepare for someone that is able to run and throw,” Malik Verdon, who picked up his first interception of the year, said. “We just had to make sure we respected what he was.”
Raynor wasn’t going anywhere, and Arkansas State never salvaged any of the momentum available.
The dual-threat quarterback finished 5-16 with 68 yards and two interceptions before he was replaced by backup Timmy McClain.
“I wouldn’t say our best is out, but our best is to come,” Verdon said of the defense. “Being able to play with the offense and defense both clicking at the same time was nice. We’ve got to be able to continue that.”
Carson Hansen makes the most of some extra run timeThe sophomore running back had his most productive game as a Cyclone Saturday, collecting two touchdowns and 58 yards on nine rushes.
“In that backfield, there’s a lot of guys that ran the football well today,” coach Matt Campbell said. “There’s a lot of competition consistently back there and I think we’re really fortunate those guys push each other so much.”
Abu Sama finished with 30 yards while Jaylon Jackson rushed for 53 – it was the first time Iowa State had scored five rushing touchdowns since its 66-10 win over Texas Tech in 2016.
“Carson has just been – he was really injured for the most part of last football season,” Campbell said. “For him to finally be healthy, we’re really proud of him. It’s exciting to watch him move forward and I think he’ll be a key piece to our football team if we want to play at the level that we have the ability to play at.”
Connor Moberly in as QB2For the second time this season, true freshman Connor Moberly entered the game as Iowa State’s backup quarterback.
Moberly entered the game on Iowa State’s second drive of the third quarter, and looked the part in his first true plays at the position – he solely handed the ball off when he was on the field against North Dakota.
“I thought it was positive,” Campbell said. “Obviously you have to take care of the football and we didn’t do that as well as we needed to, but I thought he was able to handle the offense and get great experience. That’s part of playing quarterback – getting that experience. And it was great to get him in a situation where he could maneuver the team.”
The former SE Polk star was 5-7 with 49 yards through the air, and rushed for 36 yards on four attempts during the game.
It’s safe to say now that Moberly is the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart.
“We’re fortunate,” Campbell said. “We have some really good quarterbacks here. We’ve got JJ (Kohl), we’ve got ‘Mobes,’ and we’ve got a lot of young guys that are really talented. It’s a constant challenge and a constant, ‘got to come to practice,’ and earn the right to play Saturday. Connor’s certainly doing that right now.”
Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) celebrates with his team after a touchdown against Arkansas State during the third quarter in the week-4 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.© Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Gaping holes opened up. Carson Hansen dodged and darted through them. Iowa State’s powerful tailback then bulldozed any resistance Arkansas State attempted to muster, surging for two touchdowns in the No. 20 Cyclones’ dominant 52-7 win Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.
“It’s something you dream about as a kid, going out there and getting your fist touchdown,” said Hansen — one of four ISU players to rush for a touchdown against the Red Wolves (2-2). “I credit all of it to the O-line because they blocked great this week and they practice their (tail) off week in and week out.”
Three Cyclones (3-0) scored five rushing touchdowns — their most in a game since surging into the end zone six times in a 66-10 win over Patrick Mahomes-led Texas Tech on Nov. 19, 2006 at home.
“If we’re able to control the run game, that will get those (defensive backs) and linebackers’ eyes messed up and focused on the wrong thing,” said tight end Ben Brahmer, who caught three passes for 73 yards. “And then we can slip any of our targets out there. We’ve got so many guys who can go make a play like you saw today.”
Several promising true freshmen played valuable snaps, including wide receiver Dominic Overby, quarterback Connor Moberly, and tailback Dylan Lee — who scored the Cyclones’ fourth rushing touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Rocco Becht also turned a sneak into a one-yard touchdown and true freshman Aiden Flora scored on an eight-yard run with 24 seconds left.
“There (are) a lot of guys who ran the ball real well today,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, who tied Dan McCarney for the most wins in program history with 56. “There’s a lot of competition consistently back there and we’re really fortunate those guys push each other. And Carson, he was really injured for (a lot) of the last football season and for him to be healthy — I think you’re really starting to see a really healthy football player and a really confident football player.”
The Cyclones scored on eight of their 12 possessions and emerged from nonconference play unscathed for just the second time in Campbell’s nine-season tenure.
Becht completed 11 of 18 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns — one to Jayden Higgins and one to tight end Tyler Moore, and was intercepted once. Higgins hauled in a 16-yard dart from Becht late in the first half to extend his program record-tying string of consecutive games with a touchdown to five.
ISU’s defense forced three turnovers as safeties Jeremiah Cooper and Malik Verdon both snared interceptions and former Iowa City High standout John Klosterman recovered a fumble.
Verdon looked like he had a chance to convert a pick-six, but was forced out at the Arkansas State 16-yard line after scampering 38 yards.
“Man, I was really close,” Verdon said. “But I’m gonna get it back next time. I just got a little tired, so I had to step out of bounds and let the offense score real quick.”
ISU eclipsed the 50-point mark for the first time since a 59-7 win three years ago at Kansas. The Cyclones rushed for 237 yards overall — a gaudy number that breeds both optimism and confidence heading into next weekend’s Big 12 opener at Houston.
“We’ve got a lot to prove,” Campbell said. “(We’ve) got a lot of work to do and obviously when you get into conference play, you want to be creating some momentum for yourself. I feel like we were able to do some of that at times today.”
Iowa State Cyclones running back Dylan Lee (2) celebrates with tight end Benjamin Brahmer (18) after a touchdown against Arkansas State during the fourth quarter in the week-4 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State tight end Ben Brahmer’s eyes lit up when the play came in. The Cyclones already led Arkansas State 17-0 late in the first half of Saturday’s 52-7 romp at Jack Trice Stadium — and facing a third and one situation, quarterback Rocco Becht faked running a sneak. Brahmer slipped down the middle of the field instead and Becht hit him for a sprawling one-handed 24-yard grab that set up fellow tight end Tyler Moore’s second career touchdown.
“I knew (that play) was coming at some point,” said Brahmer, who made three catches for 73 yards as his 20th-ranked team improved to 3-0. “So I was pretty excited.”
That bit of trickery has been in the playbook for a while, ISU head coach Matt Campbell said, so when offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser chose to implement it, he winced and smiled simultaneously.
“When coach Mouser called that, there was this brief second for me of, like, pause,” said Campbell, who is now tied with Dan McCarney for the most wins in program history with 56. “This is why it’s nice to have young guys calling plays sometimes because the old guys almost shiver in their spine,” Campbell said of his 33-year-old offensive play-caller. “But it’s also great to have great guys make great plays, like I told coach Mouser, I think that catch was one of the most incredible catches I’ve seen.”
Mouser didn’t need to be very creative most of Saturday, as the Cyclones racked up 127 rushing yards in the first half alone en route to a 31-0 halftime lead. ISU’s defense forced four turnovers and nearly notched its first shutout win since 2020, but the Red Wolves (2-2) finally managed to score a touchdown with 4:53 remaining.
“It really doesn’t matter,” said Cyclone safety Malik Verdon, who grabbed one of his team’s two interceptions on Saturday. “A win is a win. We played good team offense and defense — and special teams, can’t forget about that. But it’s not a big deal.”
PORTER’S PAW Speaking of special teams, ISU’s senior cornerback Darien Porter continues to shine in that area. The former track star notched his fourth career blocked punt in the first half that set up the Cyclones’ first touchdown drive of the game.
“To be able to do that, you have to have elite fundamentals and detail in what you do,” Campbell said of Porter, the nation’s active leader in blocked punts. “You can’t have a misstep. You’ve gotta be precise. You’ve gotta be able to be right there at the right (time) — and it looked like a perfect snap and a perfect punt to be honest with you. I think the get-off time was 2.0 (seconds), which is standard, and I think Darien was 1.95 (seconds), which is pretty darn good.”
ETC. ISU held Arkansas State to 182 total yards, marking the ninth time Jon Heacock’s defense has limited a foe to fewer than 200 yards. … Cyclone senior receiver Jaylin Noel caught two passes for 49 yards and has recorded at least one reception in 35 straight games. That’s the fourth-longest streak in school history and fourth-longest active streak nationally.
Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) takes the field in game against Arkansas State at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic
The Iowa State Cyclones secured a 52-7 win over Arkansas State to close out the non-conference season undefeated. Listen as Joey Petersen, Carson Hansen, Ben Brahmer and Malik Verdon breakdown their thoughts on the win and the team’s performance.
Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell leads his team onto the field in the season-opening football game against North Dakota at Jack Trice Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Could have been a telemarketer calling. Or an old friend. Maybe even a fan.
So Dan McCarney stared briefly at the unknown number illuminated on his phone, and, as usual, Iowa State’s all-time winningest head football coach answered.
The voice on the other line that day in 2016? Freshly hired Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell.
“I didn’t know who was calling,” said McCarney, who could see Campbell tie his record of 56 wins at ISU after Saturday’s 1 p.m. game between the No. 20 Cyclones (2-0) and Arkansas State (2-1) at Jack Trice Stadium. “I had no idea. I get a lot of those. Sometimes it might be a drunk friend from the past, (or) a drunk fan from the past. You get late calls sometimes and I’ve never been shy about answering the phone and always continue the conversation depending on who it is, but that was completely out of the blue. It was just so welcoming and made you feel really good.”
Campbell shared a clear message with McCarney: He wanted him around the program. He wanted his former staff and players around the team. He yearned to pay homage to what McCarney had done to turn around a forlorn ISU program before — and he’s humbled to be approaching McCarney’s 18-year-old record in just his ninth season at the helm.
“What he was able to build here laid the foundation for everybody following him to really have a chance to have true success,” Campbell said this week. “I think you’re just grateful that’s you’re able to be at one place for as long as we’ve been able to be here, and I would say any success we’ve had is because we’ve had great coaches and, obviously, great players along the way.”
That list includes players such as Seneca Wallace, Reggie Hayward and Ellis Hobbs in the McCarney era. And players such as David Montgomery, Brock Purdy and Breece Hall in the Campbell era. Now the Cyclones seek to reach new heights this season behind star quarterback Rocco Becht and other standouts — and worrying about records is the farthest thing from their minds this week.
“We circle every single team on our schedule and we also circle the bye weeks,” said Becht, whose team is coming off its first of two bye weeks this season. “We know that there’s a good percentage of teams that come out of their bye week and lose that net game, so that was the big conversation for us this past week — having that sense of urgency. Having that confidence and urgency to come out and play on Saturday is gonna be big.”
Whether or not that leads to Campbell matching McCarney’s milestone for wins on Saturday is uncertain, but it does elucidate the Cyclones’ greater goals. ISU seeks a return to the Big 12 title game for the first time since 2020 and at this point in the season, several teams appear capable of doing that.
So why not the Cyclones, who could emerge from nonconference play unscathed for just the second time in Campbell’s eight-plus season tenure?
“We’re gonna fight and we’re gonna keep fighting,” linebacker Kooper Ebel said.
That mentality permeated the McCarney era and he’s pleased to see it become a hallmark of Campbell’s teams.
“How do you not cheer for a guy like that?” McCarney said. “And there (are) a lot of similarities, I think, to what we’ve tried to do at Iowa State and there are some differences, but just the way he’s done it — for all of us who love that place, when you have a head coach tha you know, for anyone that touches that program, they respect him, they care about him deeply? It’s just a great feeling as a head coach to know that people care about you that much and I know Matt knows that because he’s built that reputation.”
So when Campbell ties his record, McCarney will call him. And when he breaks it? He’ll also offer his congratulations. Their bond transcends winning and losing — even as the former entwines them in the record book.
“I have not missed (coming to) a game since Matt was the head coach,” said McCarney, who will attend next month’s home game against Baylor. “I’ve been back every fall. I never miss and I think I’ve only watched one loss, so I may not be a good luck charm, but good things happen when I come back to Ames.”
Iowa State extended one of its latest scholarship offers to a player who was already committed to another school.
Defensive line coach Eli Rasheed told 2025 Bowling Green commit Dior Garner that the Cyclones would have a scholarship available for him.
“They wanted me to get up for a spring practice, but I couldn’t make it up because it’s a 10-hour drive. I had a good relationship with coach Rasheed and talked on the phone three weeks ago. He was just telling me what he liked and what he wanted to see in my first three games.”
The 6-foot-4, 275-pound prospect had committed to Bowling Green over the summer, but has since gotten offered by both Kansas State in July and now Iowa State during its bye week.
Before committing to Bowling Green, Garner had other FBS offers from Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Miami (Ohio), Marshall, James Madison, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, and Temple.
“I really expected other schools to just fall out,” Garner said. “But Kansas State reached out to me and offered me, too. They liked my film… but I was already talking to Iowa State here and there. I hadn’t talked to them since I committed, but coach Rasheed told me that the offer was going to come and that I just had to keep playing.”
Iowa State originally discovered Garner two years ago when defensive coordinator Jon Heacock saw the McKinley High School recruit during a combine, but the offer hadn’t come yet.
“They wanted to get to know me and that they didn’t want to just hand out offers,” Garner said. “He talked to my Mom and really wanted to get to know more about me.
Iowa State wanted to get Garner to campus this spring, but head coach Matt Campbell ended up attending a practice during his team’s bye week.
Coincidentally, Garner and his team were preparing to face Perry High School, where Campbell played his prep ball, that Friday.
“The conversations have been great,” Garner said. “They just wanted me to get to know more about their program and more about what they’re doing. They’re a top 20 team in the country and they’re looking to compete for a Big 12 championship and the playoffs.
Garner said he’s hoping to get on campus following his high school season, once playoffs are wrapped up. His team’s in action every Friday and it’s a 10-hour drive from his hometown to Ames.
This could come down to Iowa State and its biggest Big 12 rival, and may not be a commitment that is settled until well near signing day (Wed. December 4).
“We’ve just been talking about ways that I can fit in the scheme and keep building trust in that relationship,” Garner said. “They want me, when I get there, to be able to come into their rooms when things get hard and still feel comfortable.”
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell watches warmups ahead of the Cy-Hawk game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Game Day InfoNo. 20 Iowa State (2-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Arkansas State (2-1, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m.
TV: ESPN+ (Richard Cross, Taylor McHargue, Tori Petry)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Iowa State – 21.5 (As of 9/19)
Over/Under: 51.5
Series ResultsThis is the first ever meeting between Arkansas State and Iowa State.
Players to watchJaylon Jackson (RB, Iowa State)
Iowa State will look to exploit an already weak Arkansas State rushing defense in this game. Two weeks ago, in the Cy-Hawk win, Jackson showed prowess in his ability to make the most out of the five handoffs he got, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Expect him to collect a few more carries this Saturday.
The offensive line
There’s not truly one position to watch here – with both Jalen Travis and Deylin Hasert returning from injury, there’s no telling what Iowa State might send out as it tries to find its ideal lineup. There will be some rotations that are tried, especially if the score ends up lopsided, but the diehards will want to check out this group early.
Corey Rucker (WR, Arkansas State)
The junior wide receiver is averaging 15.6 yards per reception and leads Arkansas State with 265 yards so far this year. If that’s not enough to jump off the page, he averaged 19.6 yards per catch last season and is emerging into a star for the Red Wolves. If Arkansas State finds the end zone Saturday, it may be by way of Rucker.
Trevian Thomas (S, Arkansas State)
Thomas leads the Red Wolves with two interceptions this season – and that’s a defense that forced Michigan into throwing three picks in its game at the Big House last week. Thomas is fourth on the team in tackles and will be tasked with trying to stop Rocco Becht and the Cyclone receivers this week.
Keys to the gameRun the Iowa State way
This is a slogan that women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly has often echoed during his tenure at Iowa State – ‘playing the Iowa State way.’ For this game to be a success and not just a win over a lesser team for the Cyclones, it must execute at its strengths well. Arkansas State allows 233 rushing yards per game – that’s ranked at No. 127 in the country. If Iowa State’s run game is where the staff wants it, it should have no trouble in the ground game this week.
Win the turnover battle
Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor has thrown three interceptions to his three touchdowns this season, despite lighting up the passing yards with 712 through the season so far. The dual threat quarterback will be a good test to Iowa State’s young linebackers – and the Red Wolves’ quarterback has been sacked five times this season already. If the defense can disrupt Raynor and force some turnovers, the comfortable blowout that fans want should follow right behind it.
Avoid the injury and tie the record
Iowa State fans saw linebacker Caleb Bacon get hurt during the team’s season opener against North Dakota. There’s no way to truly eliminate the possibility of injury, but with the Big 12 opener looming next week, it’s imperative that the depth pieces get as much run time as possible here. Grab an early lead, get the starters out early and celebrate coach Matt Campbell tying Dan McCarney for the Iowa State career wins record.
| Big 12 Standings | | Team | OVR | Big 12 | | UCF | 3-0 | 1-0 | | No. 12 Utah | 3-0 | 0-0 | | No. 13 Kansas State | 3-0 | 0-0 | | No. 14 Oklahoma State | 3-0 | 0-0 | | No. 20 Iowa State | 2-0 | 0-0 | | Arizona State | 3-0 | 0-0 | | BYU | 3-0 | 0-0 | | Arizona | 2-1 | 0-0 | | Baylor | 2-1 | 0-0 | | Cincinnati | 2-1 | 0-0 | | Colorado | 2-1 | 0-0 | | Texas Tech | 2-1 | 0-0 | | Houston | 1-2 | 0-0 | | Kansas | 1-2 | 0-0 | | West Virginia | 1-2 | 0-0 | | TCU | 2-1 | 0-1 |
Saturday, September 21
11:00 a.m. | Houston @ Cincinnati (FS1)
11:00 a.m. | Kansas @ West Virginia (ESPN2)
1:00 p.m. | Arkansas State @ No. 20 Iowa State (ESPN+)
2:30 p.m. | Arizona State @ Texas Tech (FS1)
3:00 p.m. | No. 12 Utah @ No. 14 Oklahoma State (FOX)
4:00 p.m. | TCU @ SMU (The CW)
7:00 p.m. | Baylor @ Colorado (FOX)
9:30 p.m. | No. 13 Kansas State @ BYU (ESPN)
Iowa State’s Rocco Becht (3) congratulates teammate Jayden Higgins (9) after his touchdown during the Cy-Hawk game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — What do current Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht and former Ducks play caller Bo Nix have in common?
Well, obviously all three are (or were) standout college players, but their stat-based kinship runs deeper than that.
Gabriel, Becht and Nix are the only three FBS quarterbacks to record six or more completions of 50-plus yards since Nov. 11, 2023, and Becht’s accomplished that rare feat in six consecutive games dating back to last season.
Next up: Saturday’s 1 p.m. nonconference finale against Arkansas State at Jack Trice Stadium — and Becht aims to accumulate more explosive plays as the No. 20 Cyclones seek to start the season 3-0 for just the second team since head coach Matt Campbell took over the program in 2016.
“It’s just an all-team thing,” Becht said. “The line has to do its job. The receivers have to go out there and run the right route and catch the ball, and ultimately I have to get the ball to them.”
Sounds simple, but it’s not. Gabriel owns nine completions of 50 or more yards since last Nov. 11. Becht’s tossed seven such long passes in that span and Nix did it six times before moving on to the NFL. And all of those elements Becht touched on — strong pass protection, crisp route running, and patience in the pocket — converge because of the trust built between Becht and ISU’s offense.
“I think one thing about Rocco is he has such a great understanding of the game of football and, at times, (he’s) directing protections and helping that group out,” said Campbell, whose team is a 22-point favorite against the Red Wolves (2-1). “I think Jarrod Hufford’s ‘veteran-ness’ at center — his ability to be an anchor in there, I think those two have been a really good one-two combination in terms of our protection game, and really kind of setting us up for success.”
The Cyclones’ top receivers, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, take it from there. Those seniors have each caught one touchdown pass in each of the past four games — becoming one of just five receiving duos to do that since 2019. Noel leads ISU with six 50-yard plays since the start of last season and Higgins owns three receptions of 50-plus yards in that span.
So their star power is well-established, but the Cyclones still need to find their best third and fourth options in the passing game while simultaneously seeking consistency in the running game.
Two transfer receivers — Eli Green and Isaiah Alston — could emerge as potent options downfield along with redshirt freshman Beni Ngoyi and tight end Ben Brahmer, who has been banged up early in the season. Becht’s confident that depth will be developed to complement the Abu Sama-led running game and make ISU’s offense even more explosive.
“(As) transfers, it’s hard for them to get in a flow those first two games, especially at a higher (level) program than they were at,” Becht said of Green and Alston. “I go back to last year (when) Jayden had a first couple of games (to adjust), so just letting those guys get in the rhythm, get in the flow of things and understanding the offense a little bit more — that’s why this bye week was so beneficial.”
The Cyclones are coming off their first of two bye weeks and will face an Arkansas State defense that’s allowing just 176.7 passing yards per game while snaring four interceptions to three touchdowns allowed.
“They’re a team that’s fast,” Becht said. “They fly around to the ball. So just being able to stay on my reads, trust my progression and my process, I think I’ll be fine.”
One of the reasons the Red Wolves have been solid against the pass is their inability to stop the run. Arkansas State’s giving up an average of 233 rushing yards per game, which is tied for 128th nationally. So it’s possible ISU can shore up its running game on Saturday as well — while still ensuring that Becht and his receivers can continue piling up big gains when the opportunities arise.
“It’s a group effort,” Becht said. “And when everybody’s on the same page, we can produce good football.”
Iowa State Cyclones running back Jaylon Jackson (12) runs with the ball between North Dakota Fighting Hawks quarterback Jett Sutton (33) and North Dakota Fighting Hawks defensive back Tyler Erkman (9) during the third quarter in the season opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024, in Ames, Iowa © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State will return to the field Saturday (1:00 p.m. ESPN+) following an early-season bye week that gave its roster a chance to take a breath.
Here are five things to look for from the Cyclones (2-0) against Arkansas State (2-1) after Tuesday’s round of press conferences.
Offensive lineman Jalen Travis and Deylin HasertIowa State offensive linemen Jalen Travis and Deylin Hasert each missed the first two games of the season due to injury.
However, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell expects both to be available to play on Saturday.
“I think both will be available,” Campbell said. “It certainly looks like we’re trending that way right now. Both of those guys got reps the last two weeks and I think both are on a really good progression. I don’t know if I would say they’re at full-strength, but I think they’re really close to it. So, I think both guys would certainly be available.”
Travis has plenty of hype behind him, being a well-heralded offensive lineman during his time at Princeton. Hasert has shown promise, too.
But the competitions at both of those positions are still being ironed out.
“Obviously, that’s going to be a battle,” Campbell said. “That offensive line played, I thought really well, last Saturday and is continuing to grow. To me, there’s great competition at every position.”
“You’ve got left tackle with James (Neal) and obviously getting Jalen (Travis) back, and certainly at left guard with what Trevor Buhr has done, and really pushing what that looks like at center,” Campbell said. “There’s great competition at right guard obviously with Deylin right now with where he’s at – certainly pushing Brendan (Black). Then Tyler Miller and Tyler Maro (at right tackle) – both those guys have played, so to me, I still think we’re kind of where we were at the beginning of the season. It’s early, and we’ve got to see what’s the best combination.”
That’s not to say there won’t be more movement at the offensive line positions throughout the rest of the season – coach Ryan Clanton has always been of the mindset to put his best five players on the line and teach every one of them each position.
Arkansas State picked off Michigan three times last SaturdayArkansas State’s defense picked off Michigan’s offense three times on Saturday, even forcing the No. 18 Wolverines to make a change at quarterback.
Rocco Becht and the Cyclones are well aware of the Red Wolves’ opportunistic pass defense.
“I watched the game,” Becht said. “They’re a team that’s fast – they fly around to the ball. Just being able to stay on my reads, and trust my progression and process, I think I’ll be fine.”
Becht threw an interception against Iowa, but limited the turnovers to one and hopes to keep that trend going this week.
“They like to run a lot of basic cover 4,” Becht said. “They’ll sprinkle in some blitzing and some cover 3, we’re just going into it trying to find the right plays and the right concepts to go up against this team, and find ways to get the ball up and have our receivers go make plays.”
Jaylon Jackson should get some more run timeRunning back Jaylon Jackson only took four rushing attempts in Iowa State’s season opener against North Dakota, before he came in during the Cy-Hawk game and averaged 5.2 yards per carry in the process.
The 26 yards Jackson rushed for in Iowa City played a pivotal role in getting Iowa State the win, and may result in some more attempts for the transfer product this week.
“Boy, I thought he was electric in that game,” Campbell said. “I think Jaylon’s deal has been really fun. He really started spring ball with a bang. I would have told you midway through spring that he was one of our most impressive players in spring practice. He kind of got dinged up and missed the second half of spring ball, and then came back and had a really good fall camp.”
Iowa State will want to avoid as many injuries as it can already, but with the amount of swapping in and out that goes on with the running backs position, it’s not hard to imagine Jackson’s carries reaching double digits on Saturday.
“I think what (Jackson) brings is number one – he brings great maturity,” Campbell said. “Number two – he certainly has been in multiple offenses. He’s had to play in different systems, so I think his confidence in our system has just grown from fall camp to where we are right now. He’s got the ability to make one vertical cut, and he can make you miss. He’s a great football player in space and he’s got great speed… he’s a guy that can add a lot of value to the offense.”
Young guns Kooper Ebel & Cael Brezina standing outIowa State has had its biggest adversity within the program come with three of its leaders at the linebacker position suffering longer-term injuries that will hold them out for a majority of the season.
But the leadership off the field from redshirt junior Caleb Bacon, junior Will McLaughlin and redshirt sophomore Carson Willich is paying dividends for a young group that is still coming into its own.
“That group has had just a warrior spirit, really, in terms of outs its responded,” Campbell said. “I think the first point is, you’ve got to talk about the guys that are injured and how they’ve been elite coaches. What Carson Willich has done and how he’s been coaching that group. Literally, Caleb (Bacon) was sitting in the hospital bed and Cael (Brezina) is sitting in the room going through practice film with him. To watch those guys and watch Will McLaughlin, and the value of playing as a young freshman, helping those guys from a mentality standpoint.”
Sophomore Kooper Ebel tied for second on the team, finishing with six tackles in the Cy-Hawk win.
Freshman Cael Brezina wasn’t fazed by having green dot (play-calling) duties despite only having a couple of days to practice in a new position to himself, either.
“It’s been really rewarding to watch and it’s been rewarding to watch the guys who have played just continue to grow and get better,” Campbell said. “Kooper (Ebel’s) gain from week 1 to week 2 – I think he made a huge jump in his play and his confidence, obviously. Cael really wasn’t playing that position, so you throw him in with two practices to get ready for obviously that opponent and that environment – I thought the courage to do it and then progress throughout the football game was really huge.”
Campbell went on to mention Jacob Ellis – who had been kept off the field with injuries during the last two seasons – now getting his own opportunity, too.
The hope is that the young talent continues to develop and improve this week.
“Now to be able to get another week of practice and kind of get some time to get engrained in that position – it’s going to be fun to watch,” Campbell said.
Will a third receiver emerge?In the 2023 season, Iowa State standout wide receiver Jayden Higgins finished with less than 31 yards in three of his first four games. That only happened one more time during the final nine games of the year.
The hope for Cyclone fans is that something similar can happen to further compliment both Jaylin Noel and Higgins at the position.
There’s a grace period early on, though, that redshirt freshman Beni Ngoyi, transfer junior Isaiah Alston (Army), and transfer junior Eli Green (North Dakota) will go through.
“One of the guys is a young guy in Beni and then the other two are transfers,” Becht said. “Having them be transfers coming in, it’s hard to get into a flow in those first two games – especially at a higher level than where they were at. I go back on where Jayden had those first couple of games – it’s just letting those guys get in the rhythm, get in the flow of things and understanding the offense a little bit more. That’s why this bye week was so beneficial for us – to find that third guy.”
That period got addressed over the bye week according to Becht.
“I think that’s why the bye week was another beneficial week for us, finding guys to step up and finding that third receiver for us,” Becht said. “I’m pretty sure that we’ll see on Saturday if those guys are able to step up and become that third receiver.”
Arkansas State Red Wolves wide receiver Corey Rucker (7) scores a touchdown against Northern Illinois Huskies defensive back Jacob Finley (20) in first half action in the Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday December 23, 2023. © Mickey Welsh / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Blink and you’ll miss them.
Arkansas State’s offense — which 20th-ranked Iowa State will face Saturday — moves at such a brisk pace, the term “tempo” seems an inadequate description.
“They’re really like (the Big 12) was when we first got here,” said the Cyclones’ veteran defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, whose unit is tied for second in the Big 12 in points allowed per game at 11.0. “(It’s) 100 miles an hour and see how many plays they can run.”
The Red Wolves (2-1) are tied for fourth nationally in offensive plays this season with 234, but there’s a reason they’re 22-point underdogs to ISU (2-0).
Arkansas State averages a meager 4.84 yards per play, which ranks 117th among FBS teams. And in last week’s 28-18 loss at No. 18 Michigan, the Red Wolves didn’t score a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter and averaged just 2.3 yards per rush, so playing fast doesn’t always equate to piling up yardage and points.
Still, the quick pace could challenge the Cyclones’ defense, especially at linebacker, where key players such as Caleb Bacon and Will McLaughlin remain out for the foreseeable future.
“They’ve got a great quarterback,” redshirt freshman linebacker Kooper Ebel said. “They’ve got great depth at running back. We’re taking them very seriously.”
As ISU should, despite being a three-touchdown favorite. Arkansas State could play two quarterbacks — Jaylen Raynor and Central Florida transfer Timmy McClain — and both can extend plays with their athletic ability. McClain threw two late touchdown passes against the Wolverines and Raynor racked up 317 passing yards and a touchdown in a comeback 34-31 season-opening win over Central Arkansas.
“(Raynor’s) a great quarterback — he can throw it, he can run it,” sophomore cornerback Jontez Williams said. “I just feel like we’ve gotta contain him in the pocket and play good defense.”
Doing the latter has been a staple for Heacock’s defenses for the past seven-plus seasons. The Cyclones have allowed opponents to average more than 23 points per game just once since 2016 — and have ranked among the top three in the Big 12 in scoring defense for seven straight seasons.
“Our guys have a lot of heart, a lot of grit,” Heacock said.
ISU doesn’t have a lot of experience at linebacker, however, but that group grew significantly from the week one win over North Dakota to the week two win at Iowa. Now they’re coming off their first of two bye weeks refreshed and refocused for a five-week sprint to the next off-week.
“I’d say that everyone’s elevated,” said Ebel, who has 12 tackles this season. “And I would also say that those guys who are injured — Caleb Bacon, Carson Willich, Will McLaughlin — they have not taken a step back either in regards to recovery and even football-wise, too. They’re great leaders in our room and they will continue to do that. They’re playing big roles every week, whether you see it on the field or not.”
What Ebel and his healthy cohort at linebacker hope to show on the field this week is their ability to thrive against Arkansas State’s fast-paced offense. Against one or two quarterbacks. Against playmakers such as Corey Rucker at receiver, who can stretch the field offensively and in the return game.
“It certainly challenges us differently than we’ve been challenged this season,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “They’re gonna play in space. They’re gonna play with athleticism. They’re impressive.”
INJURY UPDATE Campbell said offensive linemen Jalen Travis and Deylin Hasert — who missed the first two weeks because of injuries — should be available on Saturday. “I don’t know if I’d say they’re at full strength, but I think they’re really close to it,” Campbell said.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and defensive coordinator Jon Heacock addressed media members Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center in Ames.
Arkansas State typically hosts its press conferences on Wednesday. Video will be posted when it is made avaialable.
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht, offensive lineman Tyler Miller, defensive back Jontez Williams and linebacker Kooper Ebel addressed media members on Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center in Ames.
Sep 15, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New York Jets defensive end Will McDonald IV (99) tackles Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) for a loss during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
A former Cyclone defensive lineman played his best game as a Jet and a running back caught a 26-yard touchdown pass – that was only one game.
Here’s everything from the former Cyclones in week 2 of the NFL season:
Will McDonald IV played the best game of his NFL career, finishing with three sacks and four tackles total, along with a forced fumble in the New York Jets’ 24-17 win over Tennessee.
McDonald IV becomes the first Jets player with three sacks in a game since 2019 and also the first Jet to finish with three or more sacks plus a forced fumble since 2015.
Will McDonald doing Will McDonald things pic.twitter.com/c086sxvvnE
— Derek Duke (@DerekDuke25) September 15, 2024
In the same game, Breece Hall told quarterback Aaron Rodgers to get him the ball if there was a linebacker lined up on him.
“I screwed up the clock and we called a timeout. And Breece comes over and goes, ‘”Hey throw me a go ball if there’s a backer out there.’ .. and that’s basically how it went.”
Aaron Rodgers breaks down the Breece Hall touchdown play: pic.twitter.com/RmoYlWr6zy
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) September 15, 2024
Rodgers delivered, and so did Hall.
Breece Hall is an ALIEN. WHAT A CATCH. Plays like this is why he will GET PAID PAID. pic.twitter.com/YeesVmaM6e
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 15, 2024
Hall finished the game with 14 rushes for 62 yards on the ground, and 52 yards on seven receptions with the receiving touchdown. Fellow Cyclone Allen Lazard caught two receptions for 11 yards, as well.
Oh, and Hall earned himself an extra appointment on Monday.
Caught a touchdown and got that drug test text this morning
— Breece Hall (@BreeceH) September 16, 2024
Brock Purdy finished 28-36 with 319 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked six times in San Francisco’s 23-17 loss to Minnesota.
Brock Purdy scrambles to make the completion! #CyclonesInTheNFL pic.twitter.com/aPDk5Yloxz
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) September 15, 2024
So far in his career, Purdy is 14-0 in the regular season against NFC teams not named the Vikings. He’s now 0-2 against Minnesota.
Purdy also currently leads the league in passing yards with 550.
Running back David Montgomery rushed for 35 yards on 11 carries in Detroit, punching in a touchdown on the team’s only redzone score in the 20-16 loss to Tampa Bay.
The Lions scored a TD once on seven Red Zone trips in yesterdays game. They ran 13 passing plays to just 7 run plays, with the lone touchdown coming on a David Montgomery run.
Run the football for the love of Gawd, run the Got damn football. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/GcpyCNk9ar
— Eazy (@SpeakEZsports_) September 16, 2024
Tight end Charlie Kolar caught one pass for four yards in the Ravens’ 26-23 loss to Las Vegas. T.J. Tampa did not play in the game.
Wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson did not make a reception in the Texans’ 19-13 win over Chicago on Sunday Night Football.
Linebacker Jake Hummel recorded one tackle for the Los Angeles Rams in the team’s 41-10 loss to Arizona.
Other Inactives not previously mentioned
Anthony Johnson Jr. – New York Giants
Enyi Uwazurike – Denver Broncos
Michael Jacobson (New Orleans), Kene Nwangwu (New York Jets), and Julian Good-Jones (Washington) remain on practice squads.
Sep 14, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Arkansas State Red Wolves quarterback Jaylen Raynor (1) throws against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State’s final nonconference opponent of the season — Arkansas State — could eventually be featured prominently in the Cyclones’ record books.
But why?
ISU head coach Matt Campbell stands one win away from tying Dan McCarney for the most wins in program history (56), and his No. 20 team enters Saturday’s 1 p.m. matchup with the Red Wolves as 21.5-point favorites.
So Vegas fully expects the Cyclones (2-0) to record a significant win fairly easily, but Arkansas State (2-1) won’t be intimidated after playing in Michigan’s “Big House” last Saturday.
The Red Wolves boast enough talent — particularly on defense — to make it a stressful afternoon for ISU, and with that in mind here are five of those crimson-colored canines to watch on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.
QB Jaylen Raynor (or Timmy McClain) Raynor, a 6-1, 205-pound sophomore, is athletic and boasts a strong arm but has been inconsistent through three games this season. He’s completed 57.1 percent of his passes for three touchdowns and three interceptions and was replaced by McClain late in last week’s 28-18 loss at Michigan. McClain — who’s played at both South Florida and Central Florida in his well-traveled college career — threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter as the Wolverines plumbed the depths of its roster after building a 28-3 lead. So is there a quarterback controversy in Jonesboro? Probably not, but head coach Butch Jones at least has an experienced option at the position if Raynor struggles. Both Raynor and McClain are potent playmakers who can extend drives with their legs, so ISU’s injury-plagued linebackers’ room must be at its best in order for the defense to get off the field.
S Trevian Thomas The 5-11, 196-pound senior led the Red Wolves in tackles last season with 91 and has already matched his 2023 interceptions total with two — including one last weekend in Ann Arbor. Thomas ranks second on the team in solo stops with 11 and has a penchant for making big plays. His first career interception in 2022 turned into a 27-yard touchdown and he also returned a fumble for a 91-yard touchdown last season. Thomas helps headline an opportunistic defense that boasts five takeaways this season, including three interceptions against Michigan.
WR Corey Rucker Rucker’s a prodigal son of sorts who transferred to South Carolina in 2022, suffered a season-ending injury after catching one 52-yard touchdown pass, and returned to Arkansas State last season. The 6-0, 214-pound junior leads the Red Wolves in receptions (17), receiving yards (265) and touchdown catches (two, tied with fellow receiver Reginald Harden Jr.). Rucker was held to a modest stat line of four catches for 26 yards in the loss at Michigan, but erupted with a nine-catch, 179-yard performance in the Red Wolves’ 34-31 season-opening win over intrastate rival Central Arkansas. Rucker caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Raynor with three seconds left and is a proven playmaker and former FWAA freshman All-American.
DE Jayden Jones The former Southern Methodist transfer leads Arkansas State in sacks this season with two and also recorded a season-high four tackles against Michigan. The 6-5, 262-pound junior totaled just 16 tackles in his first two seasons and zero sacks, but he did force a fumble as a Mustang in 2022. He helps form a strong front seven complemented by defensive tackle Nate Martey (10 tackles, one batted-down pass this season), and linebackers Marvin Ham and Charles Willekes, who rank second and third on the team in tackles with 23 and 22, respectively.
RB Zak Wallace The study 6-0, 226-pound super senior from Benton, Ark., has struggled this season, totaling 124 yards on 34 carries (3.6-yards-per-carry average) and two touchdowns through three games. But Wallace’s track record points to great productivity. He racked up 31 rushing touchdowns in his final two seasons at FCS Tennessee-Martin and ranked second on the team last season with 594 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Wallace has been playing college football since 2019 and rushed for more than 1,000 yards in the 2021 season.
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) passes the ball around Iowa Hawkeyes’s defensive back Jay Higgins (34) during the second quarter in the Cy-Hawk series at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Triobune / USA TODAY NETWORK
Bring on Arkansas State.
It’s Matt Campbell, so when it comes to actually learning about injuries, we might not learn much in Saturday’s non-conference finale. But my eyes will be on offensive linemen Jalen Travis and Deylin Hasert as well as linebackers Will McLaughlin and Cael Brezina.
All four of them have battled early season injuries and Iowa State is hoping to get them back for its Big 12 opener. If any of them play substantial minutes Saturday, it’s a good sign.
Arkansas State went to the big house and intercepted Michigan quarterback Davis Warren three times, but ultimately couldn’t move the ball until garbage time.
On 25 attempts, the Red Wolves rushed for a total of 58 yards – keep an eye on that defensive line on Saturday.
The goal for Iowa State this week will be winning comfortably and staying healthy.
Around the Big 12The path to the end of this season may have gotten a lot clearer this week.
Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (4) stiff arms his way past Mississippi State Bulldogs cornerback Brice Pollock (14) at Mountain America Stadium on Sept. 7, 2024, in Tempe.I told y’all about Cam Skattebo last week and was again graced with the workhorse running back clinching a win for Arizona State. Skattebo had two touchdowns, three receptions and 62 rushing yards against a tough Texas State team that was probably playing it’s biggest game in program history. The Sun Devils are 3-0 and don’t look like the easy out they were during back-to-back 3-9 seasons.
Kansas State Wildcats wide receiver Jayce Brown (1) avoids a tackle from Arizona Wildcats defensive back Genesis Smith (12) during the second quarter of the game at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Friday, September 13, 2024.On Friday, Arizona got its welcome to the Big 12 moment in a 31-7 loss in Manhattan. After taking a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, the Wildcats didn’t score again. That’s a tough pill to swallow for Arizona, especially when wideout Tetairoa McMillan gives you 138 yards. They’ll have a bye week to swallow this loss and then line up against Utah – it might be the least enviable spot of of anyone in the league — but, hey, at least last Saturday’s loss doesn’t count in the Big 12 standings.
Sep 13, 2024; Kansas City, Kansas, USA; UNLV Rebels offensive lineman Tiger Shanks (70) celebrates after the go-ahead touchdown late in the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Children’s Mercy Park. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn ImagesUNLV out-dogged Kansas on Friday in that picturesque soccer stadium in Kansas City. The Jayhawks watched the Rebels roll down the field on an 18-play, 75-yard drive with the exclamation point touchdown at the two-minute mark. Jalon Daniels looked great when he wasn’t throwing the football. He’s got three passing touchdowns and six interceptions to go with it so far this year. The daunting part of KU’s schedule doesn’t come for a few weeks, but if they don’t adapt here, it might turn into a long season in Lawrence.
Sep 14, 2024; Logan, Utah, USA; Utah Utes defensive tackle Junior Tafuna (58) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Utah State Aggies at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn ImagesIt’s still hard to say who the toughest team remaining on Iowa State’s schedule is, but one thing is for sure – it isn’t Utah when Cam Rising is on the bench. The Utes trailed Utah State 14-3 before finding the end zone for the first time in the second quarter. They will need Rising on Saturday against Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
Sep 14, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers safety Zae Jennings (17) reacts after a 38-34 loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Image ImagesWith 3:16 to go, West Virginia led Pittsburgh 34-24 on the road in the backyard brawl. The Panthers forced a 3-and-out and marched down the field en route to a game-winning touchdown in another comeback win. It’s a tough 1-2 start for West Virginia.
For what it’s worth, the schedule is shaping up quite nicely for Iowa State. Three of the top four teams I ranked as the hardest opponents for the Cyclones showed a lot of weaknesses this week. Even though things can change, it’s hard not to be optimistic going forward for these guys in Ames.
A bonus I want to throw in here is how strong Bridget Carleton has been for the Minnesota Lynx this season. She had a team-high 19 points in the team’s win over the 31-7 New York Liberty Sunday. With two games remaining, Minnesota has wrapped up the Western Conference regular season championship. The playoffs begin Sunday, September 22.
Iowa State became the 19th FBS program to offer Ohio safety Kaden Gebhardt earlier this week.
The four-star prospect is rated as the No. 17 safety in the country by 247 Sports and the Cyclones are joining an extensive offer sheet.
“It’s definitely exciting getting the Iowa State offer,” Gebhardt said. “Historically, they have a really good defense – and they actually run the same defense as we do at our high school, so it fits me really well.”
The Olentangy High School product now holds offers from Iowa State, Penn State, Oklahoma, Purdue, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Duke, Indiana, Illinois, Arkon, Miami (Ohio), Middle Tennessee State, and Iowa – which just offered Gebhardt Friday.
The high school junior has visits scheduled to Oklahoma this week (against Tennessee – Sep. 21), Purdue (against Nebraska – Sep. 28), Penn State (for its whiteout game against Washington – Nov. 9), and a pair of games at Wisconsin (against Penn State – Oct. 26 & Oregon – Nov. 16).
“It’s great,” Gebhardt said of his extensive offers. “It’s definitely a good feeling to have a lot of options. I’m just going to keep working.”
That only rules out Iowa State’s home games against Arkansas State and Cincinnati as conflicts for Gebhardt’s schedule.
Safeties coach Deon Broomfield is the primary recruiter.
“I liked him a lot,” Gebhardt said. “He seems like a really good coach. We had a great conversation and I’m excited to meet him in person.”
There’s a long ways to go in the recruiting process here, but the talented defensive back could end up on campus before season’s end.
Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel (13) runs to the endzone to score against Iowa during the Cy-Hawk game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
After this week’s bye week, Iowa State football will have face 10 more opponents in the regular season in the next 11 weeks.
Here’s a power ranking of the games that lie ahead for the Cyclones:
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Arkansas State (Home)Arkansas State Red Wolves quarterback Jaylen Raynor (1) is pursued by Northern Illinois Huskies defensive end Raishein Thomas (4) in second half action in the Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday December 23, 2023.Be wary of this spot in the rankings for Arkansas State. I don’t think Iowa State is getting a pushover Sun Belt team here like it did when it trounced an eventual 5-7 Louisiana Monroe, 72-20, in 2019. Arkansas State was a perennial winner under Blake Anderson, who’s now at Utah State. Butch Jones now enters year 4 at the helm and the Red Wolves had the top-ranked recruiting class in the conference in 2022. On Saturday, ASU will travel to Michigan before making the trip to Ames.
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Houston (Away)Houston Cougars quarterback Donovan Smith (1) throws a pass during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Houston Cougars at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.Houston was poised to take the No. 10 spot after it got ran off of its home field in the season opener against UNLV. While the Rebels were slated to have a good year, Houston looked incredibly mismanaged and lost in its season-opening loss. It saved itself with last week’s game against Oklahoma (a 16-12 loss). The Cougars looked completely different. It’s still early and OU may have overlooked the Cougars, but this should still be Iowa State’s ‘easiest’ road game left on the slate.
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Cincinnati (Home)Cincinnati Bearcats defensive back Derrick Canteen (10) reacts to making a stop on 3rd down in the first quarter of the College Football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Pittsburgh Panthers at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.Cincinnati gave up 22 unanswered points to Pittsburgh at home to suffer its first loss of the season on Saturday. The Bearcats are coming off of a 3-9 season in which they had just one Big 12 conference win. Former Iowa State linebackers coach Tyson Veidt is leading the defense there. This program still has some building to do in the grand scheme of things and Iowa State drawing them before Utah could pay some dividends.
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Baylor (Home)Sep 7, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Dequan Finn (7) scrambles out of the pocket against the Utah Utes during the fourth quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn ImagesBaylor was getting ran off of the field as many suspected would happen at Utah — at least until quarterback Cam Rising left the game with an injury. The Bears salvaged a 23-12 result in the loss, but like Cincinnati, they have a ways to go. Iowa State should be favored in this game by double digits.
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Texas Tech (Home)Sep 7, 2024; Pullman, Washington, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Cameron Dickey (33) scores a touchdown against the Washington State Cougars in the second half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Washington State Cougars won 37-16. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn ImagesI made a bold prediction before the season started that by the time Texas Tech came to Ames for Iowa State’s Homecoming game, the Red Raiders would be 6-2 at worse. I thought there was a real possibility that Tech could be 8-0. However, in two weeks they’ve been bullied by an essentially conference-less Washington State and taken to overtime by Abilene Christian. There’s still plenty of time for the Red Raiders to improve, but there’s no bye week to take a rest. Texas Tech faces North Texas this week before starting Big 12 play the next weekend.
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UCF (Home)Sep 7, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn ImagesIowa State fans should be thankful this game isn’t in Orlando at what UCF fans call, ‘the Bounce House.’ UCF looks to have an electric offense and prides itself on its homefield advantage. Although, the Knights are 2-5 in their last seven road games. If this was a tier list, they’d be at the top of this tier, but I think there’s some space between UCF and Kansas.
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Kansas (Neutral, Arrowhead)Sep 7, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) scrambles during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn ImagesIowa State fans will flock to Arrowhead Stadium to see the Cyclones face Kansas this November, which could be an advantage in this one. KU got taken down by Illinois over the weekend when it went away from the run. The last two games in this series have been down to the wire, and Iowa State fans will remember Jaylin Noel’s touchdown on the sidelines that got called back. This will be a revenge-type game for this group.
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West Virginia (Away)Sep 7, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Garrett Greene (6) is interviewed after defeating the Albany Great Danes at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn ImagesWest Virginia presents the biggest test for Iowa State before the bye week that separates this season’s final five games. The Mountaineers return quarterback Garrett Greene, who helped the team to a 9-4 record a season ago. It’s too early to tell whether WVU is a spot too high or too low on this list, especially with the blowout loss it suffered to Penn State, but this is certainly the biggest spot over the next five games.
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Kansas State (Home)Aug 31, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson (2) passes the ball during the third quarter against the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY SportsDepending on how the rest of the season goes, this Senior Night Farmageddon could be one of the biggest in the series’ 107-year history. The Wildcats had a close battle with Tulane this week and face No. 20 Arizona (will not count as a Big 12 game because it was previously scheduled) on Friday. Kansas State brought a lot of hype into this season, and if it can perform, this season finale could be a matchup that decides a Big 12 title game tiebreaker.
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Utah (Away)Sep 7, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising joins the team to sing the “Utah Man” fight song after the game against the Baylor Bears at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn ImagesUtah has to be the No. 1 team on this list – the Utes have a number of potential future NFL players on its roster – but it comes with the caveat of the health of quarterback Cam Rising. This is a different team when QB1 isn’t on the field and it leaves a big question mark to what this game will look like in Salt Lake City.
Iowa State’s remaining schedule w/power ranking
Sep. 21 | Arkansas State (No. 10)
Sep. 28 | @ Houston (No. 9)
Oct. 05 | Baylor (No. 7)
Oct. 12 | @ West Virginia (No. 3)
Oct. 19 | UCF (No. 5)
Oct. 26 | Bye
Nov. 02 | Texas Tech (No. 6)
Nov. 09 | vs. Kansas (No. 4)
Nov. 16 | Cincinnati (No. 8)
Nov. 23 | @ Utah (No. 1)
Nov. 30 | Kansas State (No. 2)
Iowa State’s Paniro Johnson, left, wrestles Pennsylvania’s Doug Zaph at 149 pounds during the third session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Friday, March 17, 2023, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. © Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Eleven more former athletes from Iowa State and Iowa have joined a group of 26 athletes in a lawsuit that accuses the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation of violating their constitutional rights by using warrantless searches in a sports gambling investigation, according to a report from WHO.
The Iowa State athletes joining the lawsuit include former wrestlers Paniro Johnson, Carter Schmidt, Corey Cabanban, Sam Schuyler, Nate Schon, Drew Woodley, football’s Jeremiah Trey Mathis III and track & field’s Cameron Jones
Others joining the suit include Terry Roberts, Brennan Swafford, and Evan Schuster.
The group is seeking unspecified damages for losses they claim happened due to losses of playing time caused by an illegal investigation.
The plaintiffs were added to the suit were given authority to join it by Eyioma Uwazurike, via Sandy Law Firm and Palmer Perlstein.
The group is arguing that the geofence used by the Iowa DCI equates to a warrantless search.
Some athletes in the group pled guilty to underage gambling, while others weren’t charged at all, but still suspended from their respective sports.
The full list of athletes involved in the suit can be seen in the above linked report by WHO.
Iowa State linebacker commit Will Hawthorne had himself quite the weekend.
On Friday, Hawthorne led Gilbert to a 36-18 win over Carroll, while rushing for 201 yards. The next day, he was in Iowa City watching his future school beat its premier, in-state rival.
“It’s definitely exciting,” Hawthorne said. “As a senior on the team, I’ve seen all of these other juniors and sophomores grow on both the weight room and the field – even just maturing as high school guys. It’s fun to be out there as the older guy, because I can take that role model part of that leadership role. Most of the guys look up to me, and I really enjoy that… it’s fun to lead the guys, especially with me not seeing the sideline very often.”
Hawthorne added one of the three receptions completed in the game (quarterback Ethan Rash finished the game 3-5 through the air) as well as 4.5 tackles during the game.
The Gilbert senior is rated as the top linebacker in the state by 247 Sports, and committed to Iowa State over Nebraska when decision day came earlier this summer.
Saturday, he got to Kyle Konrardy’s eventual game-winning field goal in Iowa State’s 20-19 Cy-Hawk win.
“I was with my whole family – my parents, my brother and his girlfriend were all there,” Hawthorne said. “It was a fun watch, I can’t lie. “I loved the field goal at the end because Kinnick got so loud, and once it went through the uprights, it was so quiet.”
Hawthorne paid close attention to Cael Brezina, who’s one year older than him, and the rest of the Iowa State linebackers during the game.
“It showed adversity,” Hawthorne said. “There were so many people out and I think Sadowsky even got hurt on special teams. They just had to go through so many guys and guys had to step up. I thought it just showed how resilient that linebacker room is. Cael Brezina played great – I was always watching him. He’s really talented and a big guy, too. That was really exciting for me to watch gives me even more confidence in the talent I’ll have around me when I get (to Iowa State).”
Hawthorne will keep his focus on the field, as he tries to help Gilbert to a playoff spot and whatever comes with it.
The Tigers won their first six games a year ago before dropping the final three – they take on Mason City at home on Friday.
“It’s great to start out hot, but it’s not about how hot you are at the beginning of the season,” Hawthorne said. “It’s about if you can keep that momentum in the back half of the season and make it into the playoffs.”
Iowa State’s Kyle Konrardy (97) kicks the game-winning field goal against Iowa during Saturday’s Cy-Hawk game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy has been named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
The redshirt freshman from Dubuque, Iowa connected on two crucial field goals in the fourth quarter in a 20-19 come-from-behind victory at No. 21 Iowa on Saturday. His biggest kick was a game-winning 54-yarder with six seconds remaining to give Iowa State its second consecutive victory inside Kinnick Stadium.
The Cyclones trailed 13-0 at the half and 19-7 with 4:47 left in the third quarter. Konrardy, who had no field goal attempts in Week 1 against North Dakota and missed a 41-yard attempt on the first half’s final play against Iowa, was instrumental in the comeback against the Hawkeyes, adding a 46-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
Konrardy’s 54-yard field goal tied Grant Mahoney (2009) for longest field goal by a Cyclone against Iowa.
Iowa State is off with a bye this weekend but returns to Jack Trice Stadium against Arkansas State on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.
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Iowa State’s Darien Porter (10) shakes hands with Iow’s Jay Higgins (34) and Luke Lachey (85) after the coin toss at the CyHawk game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State defensive back Darien Porter has been named the East-West Shrine Bowl’s Co-Breakout Defensive Player of the Week, given weekly to an all-star game eligible defensive player that displayed the most NFL traits that week.
Porter had a big day in Iowa State’s 20-19 road victory over the No. 21 Hawkeyes, snagging the first two interceptions of his career to became just the third player in ISU history to have two interceptions in a game against Iowa (Larry Crawford, 1980; David Sims, 2009). He is one of seven FBS players nationally, and the only Big 12 player, with two interceptions in a game this season.
Porter’s first interception came at the ISU 25-yard line to prevent a Hawkeye score in the third quarter while the second came on Iowa’s Hail Mary attempt to end the game.
The Bettendorf, Iowa native also broke up a pass on a key Iowa two-point conversion in the fourth quarter which eventually allowed Iowa State to win by a point.
Porter finished the game with two tackles.
Iowa State is off with a bye this weekend but returns to Jack Trice Stadium against Arkansas State on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.
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Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht (3) is greeted by fans after defeating Iowa in the Cy-Hawk game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht has been named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 for Week 2.
It marks the second time in Becht’s career he has been named to the Great 8 list.
Becht led Iowa State to a 20-19 comeback victory at No. 21 Iowa Saturday. The Cyclones trailed 13-0 at halftime, and 19-7 with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter but left with their second consecutive win in Kinnick Stadium.
The Wesley Chapel, Fla. native made several key plays late in the game, first when he found Jaylin Noel for a 75-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to cut the ISU deficit to 19-14. Becht later found Noel again for a 30-yard completion with less than 30 seconds remaining to set up the game-winning 54-yard field goal.
Becht started the game 11-of-19 for only 72 yards and an interception but finished strong, going 12-of-16 for 200 yards and two touchdowns to engineer the comeback. His final stat line read 23-of-35 for 272 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
The winner of the Davey O’Brien Award National Quarterback of the Week will be announced Tuesday at 11 a.m. (CT).
Iowa State is off with a bye this weekend but returns to Jack Trice Stadium against Arkansas State on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.
Davey O’Brien Great 8: Week 2
Rocco Becht, Iowa State
Quinn Ewers, Texas
Ethan Hampton, Northern Illinois
Blake Horvath, Navy
Cade Klubnik, Clemson
John Mateer, Washington State
Jordan McCloud, Texas State
Kyle McCord, Syracuse
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Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu (26) runs for a touchdown as Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) chases during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Former Iowa State running back Kene Nwangwu has signed on to the New York Jets’ practice squad, according to report from Tom Pelissero.
Former #Vikings KR/RB Kene Nwangwu is signing with the #Jets practice squad today, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 9, 2024
The former fourth round draft pick has played the entirety of his career with the Minnesota Vikings but was cut from the team before the start of the 2024 NFL season.
Nwangwu also had a short stint with the New Orleans Saints but reportedly failed a physical and was put back on waivers.
The All-Pro kick returner will join three former Cyclones – DE Will McDonald, WR Allen Lazard, and RB Breece Hall – on the Jets team.
New York opens up their season against Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers tonight at 7:15 p.m. for Monday Night Football on ESPN and ABC.
Sep 7, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) scrambles with the ball against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht has been given one of the Manning Award’s eight Stars of the Week.
College football fans can follow the Manning Award on social media (@ManningAward) to vote for what they think was the best performance from this past weekend. After voting closes on Wednesday at 9 a.m. (Central), the top vote-getter will be announced as the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.
VOTE HERE!
Becht led Iowa State to a 20-19 comeback victory at No. 21 Iowa Saturday. The Cyclones trailed 13-0 at halftime, and 19-7 with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter, but left with their second consecutive win in Kinnick Stadium.
Becht started the game 11-of-19 for only 72 yards and an interception but finished 12-of-16 for 200 yards and two touchdowns to engineer the comeback. His final stat line read 23-of-35 for 272 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
After Iowa scored a touchdown to take a 19-7 lead late in the third quarter, Becht found Jaylin Noel on the next play for a 75-yard touchdown pass to pull ISU back to within five points. It was Iowa State’s second-longest play against Iowa since 1971.
The Cyclone offense got the ball back one final time trailing 19-17 and the Wesley Chapel, Fla. native delivered a critical 30-yard completion to Noel with 29 seconds to go to set up the game-winning 54-yard field goal.
Iowa State is off with a bye this weekend but returns to Jack Trice Stadium against Arkansas State on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.
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Iowa State’s Benjamin Brahmer (18) points forward after getting a first down during the Cy-Hawk game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State fans celebrated a big win on Sunday and will get to take a breath now with the week off.
Let’s muse.
The Cy-Hawk is back in Ames and Iowa State’s got the week offSaturday’s game was something special for the Cyclones. I’ll try to not regurgitate anything that I wrote in my postgame takeaways article here, but give that a read for more from this one.
I thought the defense showed more potential than anyone realized going forward this season.
In that piece, I referenced Darien Porter, who may have played the best game of his career, as well as Myles Purchase’s play on the defensive side.
The same is true for freshman linebacker Cael Brezina, who made his Iowa State debut while running the communications for the defense in the absence of Caleb Bacon. He totaled five tackles and had an assist on a tackle for loss in a big moment.
Throw in Beau Freyler and Jeremiah Cooper – two all-Big 12 talents that have proven to rise to the occasions in big games.
I’m leaving out a slew of names that had played some of their better games of their careers on Saturday in Iowa City. The execution was nearly flawless for the unit in the second half, which is where I’m going with this.
Domonique Orange certainly fits that category, and probably Jacob Ellis, too.
If Iowa State can get that from these guys, especially the younger ones that tend to improve more as a season goes on, this could turn into one of the most memorable defenses in my lifetime. I look forward to diving deep into the numbers later this season.
I think Jaylon Jackson showed a lot in this game in limited touches.
I sent a tweet or two about him on Saturday – in five carries, Jackson totaled 26 yards and finished with 5.2 yards per carry. Jackson was shifty, turning two-yard rushes into five, six or seven. When Iowa State hits the field again with Arkansas State, I hope he gets some more touches. There’s potential there.
Iowa State is back in the top 25 for the first time since 2021, ands that’s a big deal with the upcoming opponents on the table. The Cyclones should be double-digit favorites in each of their next three games.
I’ll leave you with this: It has now been 2,194 days since Iowa last beat Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium.
Around a chaotic week in the Big 12Boy, did Oklahoma State get some breaks in that game. The Cowboys escaped with a 39-31 win over Arkansas in double overtime Saturday. They got back into the game in the fourth quarter on a muffed punt, missed a field goal in overtime and still got it done. It’s at least a good result for the Big 12.
The Cowboys did however lose star linebacker Collin Oliver to an injury, which will sideline the standout player for what could be the rest of the year. Mike Gundy said he thinks it’s a season-ender. He had 73 tackles and 6 sacks last year for the team, and Saturday had this pass rush that forced a pick.
Arizona survived another scare. For the second week in a row, the Wildcats were battling a lower level opponent further into the game than is comfortable. Northern Arizona went into halftime with a 10-6 lead. Arizona took the lead on its first drive of the second half after forcing a 3-and-out, eventually winning 22-10.
There were mixed reviews all around on Arizona over the off-season – and now we’re heading into week 3 and still don’t really know what to think about this team. Friday night’s matchup between the Cats and No. 17 Kansas State will be one to watch.
I still think KSU is a real contender in this league despite the close game it played against Tulane this weekend. Avery Johnson’s 15-23, 181-yard, 2-touchdown performance seems solid, but I haven’t had a chance to go back and watch that one.
Speaking of teams we don’t know what to think of, Houston was hanging around with Oklahoma this weekend after being ran off the field by UNLV in its season opener.
It’s too early to tell what Oklahoma will do this season, and the Sooners very well could have overlooked Houston, but it was without a doubt a redemption performance for the Cougars. They take on Rice and make a trip to Cincinnati before the Cyclones come to town.
Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo runs the ball like his life depends on it. The Sun Devil ran for 262 and picked up another 35 receiving. Sam Leavitt showed some athleticsim and grit despite an ugly 10-20 69 passing yards line. He rushed for 68 yards and had both of ASU’s offensive touchdowns.
The stadium was pretty dead after ASU took its 27-3 lead in the third quarter, and they let Mississippi State back into the game. At one point, a MSU wideout ran by three linebackers on his way to a score.
ASU escaped, and Skattebo iced it. They may have a test up next on Thursday against a Texas State team that steamrolled Jeff Traylor and the UTSA Road Runners – a real G5 power that is rebuilding after the last few seasons.
Cam Rising’s got injury trouble again with a hand injury that could limit him in the next few weeks. Utah was rolling against Baylor until Rising left the game. They face Utah State this week, but travel to Oklahoma State for week 4.
Illinois took down Kansas and sent the Jayhawks out of the top 25. I was surprised KU didn’t stick to the ground game more. Quarterback Jalon Daniels threw three picks and Illinois was able to get away with the win.
There was a bit of a fluky muffed punt that Illinois recovered in its own end zone – and apparently the rules changed on these because they credited Illinois with a touchback and it got to keep possession of the ball. I’m not a fan of that one, but let me know what you think.
Elsewhere in college footballThe biggest upset of the day was in Cheney, Washington.
The Drake Bulldogs got paid $285,000 to play a road game at FCS power Eastern Washington and walked away with a double-overtime win. It pales in comparison to the $1.4 million that Northern Illinois got for playing Notre Dame, but EWU has over 60 scholarships more than Drake. Todd Stepsis and the Bulldogs are favorites to win their conference again and make a return trip to the FCS Playoffs.
If you would have told me as a kid that a crowd of Nebraska fans would be cheering on the Cyclones from Memorial Stadium…
Husker fans enjoyed yesterday’s Cy-Hawk result pic.twitter.com/kienCvjXGe
— Jackson Pence (@JacksonLPence) September 8, 2024
Alright, it’s the bye week now. Sit back and take a breath.
Sep 7, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive end Ikenna Ezeogu (88) reacts after the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Iowa State is back into the AP Poll at No. 21 this week, following its 20-19 win over Iowa in Saturday’s Cy-Hawk game at Kinnick Stadium.
This is the first time Iowa State has been ranked in the poll since 2021.
The Cyclones are one of five Big 12 teams ranked in the poll, joining No. 12 Utah, No. 13 Oklahoma State, No. 14 Kansas State and No. 20 Arizona.
Following a bye week, Iowa State will return to the field September 21, to face Arkansas State in the program’s Hall of Fame Weekend (1:00 p.m., ESPN+).
AP Poll
Sun. September 8, 2024
1. Georgia
2. Texas
3. Ohio State
4. Alabama
5. Ole Miss
6. Missouri
7. Tennessee
8. Penn State
9. Oregon
10. Miami
11. USC
12. Utah
13. Oklahoma State
14. Kansas State
15. Oklahoma
16. LSU
17. Michigan
18. Notre Dame
19. Louisville
20. Arizona
21. Iowa State
22. Clemson
23. Nebraska
24. Boston College
25. Northern Illinois
Others receiving votes: Illinois 101, Boise St. 77, Texas A&M 68, Syracuse 63, Memphis 38, Washington 27, Iowa 24, Kansas 22, Vanderbilt 18, South Carolina 10, Liberty 9, Wisconsin 9, UNLV 7, North Carolina 7, California 3, BYU 2, UCF 1, TCU 1.
Darien Porter stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
IOWA CITY — Iowa State has three permanent captains this football season: Safety Beau Freyler, wide receiver Jaylin Noel, and nose guard J.R. Singleton.
They rotate in one other captain each game — and this week’s selection, cornerback Darien Porter, charted the route to Saturday’s stirring 20-19 comeback win at No. 21 Iowa with two game-changing interceptions.
“The ultimate team player here for the last six years is the guy that makes the play that swings the tide,” said Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell, whose team beat the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium for the second straight time. “The most selfless, most incredible human on our football team, and that guy makes the play that swings the tide.”
Actually, Porter made two such plays. One — his first interception — set up the offense’s first touchdown drive of the game in the third quarter. The second sealed the triumph as Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara tried and failed to complete a Hail Mary pass as time expired. ISU walk-on kicker had just drilled a 54-yard field goal moments earlier — helping to punctuate a second-half surge that should send the Cyclones into their first bye week of the season with bolstered confidence and even higher expectations.
“Nothing ever goes straight to success,” said Campbell, whose team overcame an array of ill-timed penalties and quarterback Rocco Becht’s red-zone interception while falling behind 13-0 at halftime. “You’re gonna have failures. You’re gonna have blips. But the great teams, man, the special ones, they can have those down moments and get right back on the road to success. For our kids to be able to show that in this environment against this football team, it’s really impressive this early in the season.”
So what’s next? Again, a bye week. But in two weeks the Cyclones will wrap up their nonconference slate with a home date with Arkansas State, then begin the nine-game gauntlet of Big 12 play.
ISU is 2-0 for just the third time in the Campbell era — and beat Iowa for just the second time in his ninth season leading the program.
“It just puts into perspective what type of team we have,” said Noel, who caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from Becht and totaled a game-high 133 receiving yards. “The heart we have to go and come back against a team like that — they’re a good team. We always respect those guys and for us to be able to come in here into a beehive, as I’ve said before, and win a game like that, it gives us the momentum to keep growing, stay curious, learn what we can get better at and go attack our next opponent.”
Becht’s first touchdown pass, a three-yard connection with receiver Jayden Higgins, came on the heels of Porter’s first pick. But Becht’s most impressive throws came under extreme pressure on a final scoring drive that spanned a mere 28 seconds. He’s now thrown 14 touchdown passes and just two interceptions in his last six games — a trend that must continue if the Cyclones hope to contend for a Big 12 title.
“I just kept my poise throughout the game and trusted my teammates and trusted my coaches to put me in the best situations possible,” Becht said.
Porter stood tall as one of those teammates — and if he continues to be a skilled playmaker on the back end, ISU’s likelihood of playing meaningful games in November will spike significantly.
“Our mindset is just to keep playing, regardless of where they are on the field, how long the drive is, just keep playing,” said Porter, who also broke up an Iowa two-point conversion attempt late in the third quarter to further help secure the victory. “Being able to hold them to field goals (in the first half) was obviously really big for our team today.”
NOTES Safety Malik Verdon compiled a career-high 13 tackles, including nine solo stops. … Campbell notched his 55th win at ISU — and is one win shy of tying Dan McCarney for the most in program history. … Noel is the first Cyclone receiver to open the season with consecutive 100-yard receiving games since Allen Lazard accomplished the feat in 2016.
Iowa State players celebrate with the Cy-Hawk trophy after defeating Iowa Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
What. A. Finish.
Iowa State’s Kyle Konrardy split the uprights on a 54-yard field goal in the waning seconds of his team’s 20-19 win over Iowa Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.
The Cyclones moved to 2-0 in improbable fashion and happily bring the Cy-Hawk trophy back to Ames. Here are some of my main takeaways from the big win in the Big Game.
Not think.When asked after the game about his mental routine before attempting a kick, redshirt freshman Kyle Konrardy had a short answer.
“Not think,” Konrardy said. “Not think. That’s it. Just go out there, not think and just do what you do.”
He didn’t need to. The redshirt freshman who had missed his first kick of the game – and his career – at the end of the first half just did what he did best.
Iowa State’s got lots of confidence in him, too, because of what Konrardy has shown during practices leading up to the season.
“I didn’t flinch much when we missed it,” coach Matt Campbell said of Konrardy’s missed field goal. “Because it was like, man, the kid didn’t get a chance to kick a field goal last week, right? And so I was just glad that it was still a two-score game… I just have such faith in him. I watched this guy kick a 64-yarder in fall camp.”
Konrardy isn’t currently on scholarship – he’s paying his own way to attend classes and be the kicker in Ames. That will change, though. Matt Campbell confirmed that after the game.
Cyclone fans won’t forget his name soon.
Now that the obvious one’s out of the way…
Iowa State stole this winIf someone were asked to script a worse start to the game for Iowa State, it would challenge Hollywood’s best writers. It’d be damn tough for anyone to put together.
Movement on the offensive line on back-to-back plays took the Cyclone offense from a 3rd and 2 to 3rd and 9 with Rocco Becht snapping the ball in his own end zone.
Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson ran 27 yards into the end zone untouched four plays later and the Hawkeyes quickly took a 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing drive, a second snap infraction on a 3rd and 2 look moved the Cyclones back. They failed to convert, punted it away and Becht threw an interception on the team’s third drive that gave Iowa the ball at the Iowa State 12.
Iowa outgained Iowa State 196 yards to 101 in the opening 30 minutes along with its defense blanking the team in cardinal and gold.
Up until Porter’s interception, there wasn’t a feeling that Iowa State could claw itself back into the game – not with how Iowa plays and what it had shown to that point.
Becht looked off. The run game wasn’t working. Iowa could seemingly explode with a big rush from Johnson – who averaged 7.5 yards per carry – at any time.
Iowa State was down and out, and that’s what makes that win so satisfying for this group.
“There was never any sense of quit at all,” said wide receiver Jaylin Noel, who totaled 133 receiving yards — with 40 coming on that game-winning drive.
Rocco Becht’s second halfThe comeback started with Becht’s second half, where he looked much more like his normal self that fans in Ames saw last season.
Becht was 11-19 with 72 yards and an interception up until Porter picked off his first ball of the day.
He finished completing 12 of his last 16 passes totaling 200 yards with a touchdown to Jayden Higgins and a 75-yard bomb to Jaylin Noel.
“Having the poise and the competitiveness to go out there each drive, especially for (my teammates),” Becht said. “I think coach Campbell just told us to trust and stay loyal to each other.”
Darien Porter’s six-year road to stardomWhen Porter arrived at Iowa State in 2019, he was in the wide receivers room next to Noel.
On Saturday, he secured two interceptions. One that swayed the momentum of the game and another that clinched the win.
“That’s the craziest part,” Noel said of Porter turning from receiver to a starting defensive back. “Just for him to go in every day and hone his craft – that’s the type of person he is. He’s one of the most talented people on our team, the most athletic… I always try to tell people I’m the fastest but this guy… really just goes in and goes to work every day. It’s really a testament to his work ethic.”
Porter, a Bettendorf native, has been a standout special teams player for the Cyclones for the last five seasons while waiting for his shot.
It’s fitting that he got it in the Cy-Hawk game.
“The game really swung from there,” Campbell said of the Porter interception. “Our game captain today, Darien Porter, right? I mean, the ultimate team player here for the last six years is the guy that makes the play that swings the tide. The most selfless, most incredible human on our football team, and that guy makes the play to swing the tide.”
Myles Purchase saved the Cyclones from being down three scores at halfIf it wasn’t for Purchase, Iowa State could have found itself down 21-0 at halftime.
The decorated senior defensive back was on the coverage for three different 3rd down-passing attempts in the first half alone. Two would have been Iowa touchdowns.
“It was a collective effort,” Purchase said. “We got to the red zone a couple of times there. It’s ‘bend, don’t break.’ When they get to the red zone, you’ve got to always try to hold them to three (points). We were really good at doing that today and it paid off in the end.”
Iowa finished the game 6-17 on 3rd down conversions and totaled 19 passing yards in the second half.
2-0 into the bye weekIowa State has goals of reaching the College Football Playoff. It’s not a secret – both Noel and Jayden Higgins are on our YouTube channel saying as such during media day.
This win doesn’t get them there, right? But the ramifications and impact out of Saturday’s Cy-Hawk game could pay huge returns.
The Cyclones had no business clawing their way back into that game, and that’s the same case with the improbable drive down the field with 29 seconds on the clock.
“To me, there’s no greater win than that,” Campbell said. “That’s what we do. We teach 18-to-22 year olds mental toughness, and the game teaches us physical toughness. And so, the greatest joy that I feel like we get out… the real win is when you see young men respond to adversity.”
Now, they’re 2-0, with a bye week to regroup ahead of the final 10 games. The next pair of games are against Arkansas State and a Houston team that opened the season getting throttled at home by UNLV. After that, a home game against Baylor, which went 3-9 last season.
Iowa State is in an advantageous spot to have its hottest start in the Campbell era – and that was true even before Saturday’s game.
Now, the Cyclones have a ‘never-give-up,’ win on top of it, and that will only help improve the relentlessness they’re coached to have.
Two down, 10 to go.
Sep 7, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones place kicker Kyle Konrardy (97) reacts with teammates after kicking a game-winning 54 yard field goal late during the fourth quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
IOWA CITY — “Not think.”
Those anxiety-easing words accompany Iowa State’s first-year starting placekicker Kyle Konrardy onto the field each time he aims to split the uprights.
So when he strode onto the Kinnick Stadium turf to attempt a potentially game-winning 54-yard field goal with nine seconds left Saturday against No. 21 Iowa, the redshirt freshmen didn’t flinch. Instead, the walk-on from Dubuque delivered an almost walk-off win in the Cyclones’ stunning 20-19 comeback before a slack-jawed crowd of 69,250.
“Just got to do my job,” said Konrardy, who helped ISU (2-0) overcome a 13-0 halftime deficit and notch their second win in the past nine meetings with the Hawkeyes. “We talk about practicing and performing all the time, so I went out there like I practiced and we performed.”
“Wow,” went the mutters in the press box as Konrardy’s kick crept through the uprights with six seconds remaining, capping a scant 28-second scoring drive. And — whoa — the Hawkeyes still clung to a last-gasp hope with one second left. But Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara’s Hail Mary attempt from the ISU 49 was intercepted by Cyclone senior cornerback Darien Porter, who slid to a stop and raised his arms in jubilation.
“It’s a great feeling, especially in a game like this that means so much to all of us,” Porter said. “It feels good to positively impact the game in multiple different ways.”
It was Porter’s second interception of the day — and the first one was equally significant.
Iowa (1-1) appeared poised to effectively seal the game early in the second half, but Porter picked off McNamara at ISU’s 25-yard line to keep hope alive. Then Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht, in turn, finally gave his offense life.
Becht racked up 205 of his game-high 272 receiving yards in the second half while guiding ISU to a pair of touchdowns after the break. His first touchdown pass — a three-yarder to Jayden Higgins — came right after Porter’s first interception and made the score 13-7. His second — a 75-yarder to Jaylin Noel — made the score 19-14 and set the stage for two Konrardy field goals in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference.
“I told him right before he walked out there that this is just like practice,” said Becht, who connected with Noel on two passes spanning 40 yards that set the stage for Konrardy’s heroics. “Because he hits those all the time in practice and he has no doubt. So I just tried to clear his mind and make it seem like it was practice and he got the job done for us.”
So did Noel, who caught five passes for a game-high 133 yards, and Higgins, who caught a game-best eight passes for 68 yards.
“It means a lot,” said Noel, who also played a key role in the Cyclones’ 10-7 win at Kinnick two years ago. “Just a testament to my teammates, really, not quitting. Coming back — we’re down 13-0 coming out — and there was never any sense of quit at all.”
Iowa, meanwhile, left points on the field despite building leads of 13-0 and 19-7. Running back Kaleb Johnson enjoyed a banner day, amassing 187 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.
McNamara completed 13 of his 29 passes for 99 yards. Iowa averaged 5.4 yards per play in the first half, but just 3.5 yards per play in the second. Standout linebacker Jay Higgins picked off Becht at the Cyclones’ 12-yard line late in the first quarter, but the Hawkeyes settled for one of two Drew Stevens’ first-half field goals despite the prime field position.
“Both teams had opportunities,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Credit to them for fighting back the way they did. But, yeah, they all sting first of all. I guess given the choice between losing a game like this or just getting blown out — I think I’d rather be in a competitive game. But it hurts, regardless.”
The Cyclones’ comeback was the program’s second-largest in the Cy-Hawk series, behind the Seneca Wallace-fueled 36-31 win in 2002. Becht, meanwhile, passed Wallace for seventh on ISU’s all-time touchdown passes chart with 27. And Konrardy — who missed a 41-yard field goal in the first half — etched his name in Cy-Hawk lore by not thinking and merely “performing.”
“I can’t coach kicking,” said Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell, who improved to 2-6 all-time against the Hawkeyes. “If somebody can, I’d love to see it. I can’t, but I can at least understand mentality. You have to have an elite craft, and that’s what Kyle’s shown.”
Iowa State’s Kyle Konrardy, Jaylin Noel, Myles Purchase, Rocco Becht & Darien Porter addressed media members at Kinnick Stadium following their team’s 20-19 win in Saturday’s Cy-Hawk game.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members at Kinnick Stadium following his team’s 20-19 win in Saturday’s Cy-Hawk game.
Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell reacts during the second quarter in the Cy-Hawk series at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Triobune / USA TODAY NETWORK
Kyle Konrardy missed the first field goal he had attempted in his college career on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium, but he made the one he needed to in Iowa State’s 20-19 win over No. 21 Iowa.
The redshirt freshman out of Dubuque split the uprights on a 54-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining in the game to give his team the win.
Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel caught a punt to set up his team’s final drive of the game with 29 seconds remaining.
Two plays later, Noel was streaking down the sidelines with the ball, eventually being tackled at the 38-yard line.
After tight end Ben Brahmer was tackled inside the boundary on the ensuing play, quarterback Rocco Becht spiked the ball and the Cyclones elected to kick it.
The win is Iowa State’s second straight victory at Kinnick Stadium.
After a bye week, Iowa State will return to the field to face Arkansas State at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, September 21 (1:00 p.m. ESPN+).
September 8, 2012; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclone players Jake Knott (20) , Jeff Woody (32) and David Inving (87) carry the Cy-Hawk off the field after the beating the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa State defeated Iowa 9-6. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
It’s Cy-Hawk week, and the Cyclone Fanatic staff is giving their picks for this Saturday’s game between Iowa State and North Dakota (2:30 p.m. CBS).
Chris Williams (1-0)
I had Iowa State winning this game going into the season, but the injury situation has me spooked. The Cyclones have it in them to win this one on the road. But I know the Ferentz staff is going to see the hole in Iowa State’s defense. Nobody is better at winning ugly than Iowa. You have to give the edge to the home team. Iowa 20, Iowa State 17.
Rob Gray (1-0)
Iowa State’s top receivers, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, will be a problem for Iowa’s secondary, but a third (and possibly fourth) good option for quarterback Rocco Becht must emerge for him to put up big numbers. Running the ball will likely be difficult and the Hawkeyes’ balanced offense should tax a Cyclone defense that’s depleted at linebacker. Points — as always — will be at a premium, and home field (despite ISU’s recent success at Kinnick) tips the scales. Iowa 20, Iowa State 17
Connor Ferguson (1-0)
Iowa State hasn’t had much success in this series during the past decade, but I don’t believe they’ve had a quarterback as prepped to win in this series than Rocco Becht has shown in the last handful of games he’s played. The Cyclone offense is able to move the ball and avoids turnovers, but there will still be some weird play or series that changes this game. Iowa State 18, Iowa 11
Jeff Woody (1-0)
This is strength (Iowa D) vs strength (Iowa State O) and question mark (Iowa State D) vs question mark (Iowa O). Can Iowa State not shoot themselves in the foot to take advantage of this fairly even matchup? I say yes. Rocco has a day and ISU wins an all-timer. Iowa State 26, Iowa 20
Grant Mahoney (1-0)
I didn’t get much from either teams first game, other than Jaylin Noel, Jayden Higgins, and Rocco Becht are DAWGS and Iowa fans started booing their offense after the first few 3 and out drives of their game. I think ISU leads 14-9 at half, Iowa scores on one of their first drives to open the second half to go up 16-14. No one scores again until Kyle “cash money” Konrardy hammers home a 52 yarder as the clock expires, giving the clones a 17-16 victory in an all timer, returning the CyHawk trophy to its rightful home. Iowa State 17, Iowa 16
Jackson Pence (1-0)
This is such a tough game to pick. I’d be lying to you all if I said I’m not leaning towards Iowa more than what I was three weeks ago. I’m not totally confident in Iowa State’s defense, specifically against the run with all the injuries. But I am confident in Rocco Becht and the passing game. His ability to stretch the field is what will win Iowa State this game. Higgins, Noel, and company will have to find the holes in Iowa’s elite defense to keep drives alive. If the Cyclones can avoid turning the ball over and the traditional special teams mishaps in this game, Iowa State can pick up their second Cy-Hawk win in the last three seasons.
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) hi-fives with fans after winning 21-3 over North Dakota in the season-opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Rocco Becht calmly did the math. Then Iowa State’s quarterback fully shouldered the blame.
The Cyclones had just lost, 20-13, to Iowa last season and Becht had seen an intercepted pass returned for a touchdown.
So the seven-point loss could be pinned on him — and he did the pinning.
“I wasn’t down on myself,” said Becht, who will make his second career Cy-Hawk start against the Hawkeyes Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (CBS) in Kinnick Stadium. “I was coming back the next day wanting to grow and get better from it because I know I’m better than that. I felt like I did that throughout that season, continued to take care of the ball.”
Forget feelings. The statistics bear Becht’s self-assessment out. The 6-1, 210-pound sophomore from Wesley Chapel, Fla., has been a portrait of efficiency lately — and enters Saturday’s big game boasting a 12-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio over the past five games. He’ll face an Iowa defense that’s picked off an ISU quarterback at least once in the past four meetings and he knows what he’s up against.
“They do disguise a few things on the back end, so they do a lot of things, but they’re really disciplined,” Becht said. “We’re gonna have to find those windows, those holes.”
That’s easier said than done against a Hawkeyes defense that allowed just eight passing plays to span more than 30 yards last season, which tied for first nationally. Iowa’s ranked among the top-six FBS teams nationally in scoring defense in four of the past five seasons, but will be tested by Becht and his top two playmakers at receiver, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins. That potent duo combined for 16 catches in last year’s Cy-Hawk game.
“A lot of times they try to out-physical guys,” Higgins said of Iowa’s secondary. “So things like blocks, finishing catches and things like that, it’s very important to be physical.”
That’s true in all three phases of the game for the Cyclones:
**On special teams, Iowa’s enjoyed a decided advantage in recent Cy-Hawk games. The Hawkeyes blocked two punts in ISU’s most recent win — a 10-7 nail-biter that hinged on a remarkable 99-yard touchdown drive — but Cyclones cornerback and special teams star Darien Porter** aims to turn the tables.
“Obviously there (are) gonna be moments in the game on special teams to go make a play,” said Porter, one of six known ISU players to have blocked three or more kicks in his career. “I’m looking forward to it, especially going up against a unit like them.”
**Defensively, the Cyclones’ line and linebackers must be strong against the run while still disrupting the Hawkeyes’ passing game. They’ve done that the past three meetings, allowing an average of 186 yards per game, but injuries to linebackers Caleb Bacon and Will McLaughlin** will make it difficult to remain that stingy.
“Their O-line is really physical, they play whistle to whistle,” ISU nose guard JR Singleton said. “They run the ball, they run the ball, and then they try to throw the ball over your head. They do really well with the schematics that they’ve been taught, so it will be a really good challenge for us.”
Speaking of challenges, Becht noted earlier this week that the Cyclones “love them.” He then expanded on that.
“We love this matchup,” the reigning Big 12 offensive freshman of the year said. “It’s gonna show who we really are.”
Becht’s already shown who he is multiple times in his young career — starting with taking the blame, rightly or wrongly, for last season’s Cy-Hawk loss.
“To me, the humility that when it goes wrong, you have the courage, whether it’s your fault or not, to stand up and you take the arrows, and when it goes great, you give everybody else credit — and nobody did (that) better than Brock Purdy,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “But I would say Rocco is cut out of that same cloth.”
His teammates agree.
“I don’t think it was his fault, of course,” Higgins said. “I don’t think the team thought it was his fault, but for him to be able to say that, it just shows a lot about his character.”
The following week, in an otherwise disturbing 10-3 loss at Ohio, Becht showed Campbell something else.
Becht played through an illness and vomited at halftime. Campbell, to put it mildly, was concerned.
“‘Holy smokes, we’re in trouble,’” Campbell recalled thinking. “But then when I saw him come back out and he was in the game — I thought we were gonna go with JJ (Kohl) to start the second half, and when I saw (Becht) run out on the field, I’m like, ‘Man, this guy’s pretty special. He’s a tough cookie.’ And again, when it’s really hard and you’re not at your best, and the ability to respond — and like I said, I think the team rallied around him in that second half and I think everybody knew when we got on the plane — as gut-wrenching as that loss was — we’re gonna be all right. We’ve got really great people ready to rock and roll.”
Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Beau Freyler (17) gets tackle by North Dakota Fighting Hawks tight end Jaden Norby (43) after an interception during the third quarter in the season opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024, in Ames, Iowa © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
Game Day Info
Iowa State (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) @ Iowa (1-0, 0-0 Big 10)
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
TV: CBS (Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, Jenny Dell)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Recent Results
2023: Iowa 20, Iowa State 13
2022: Iowa State 10, Iowa 7
2021: No. 10 Iowa 27, No. 9 Iowa State 17
2019: No. 19 Iowa 18, Iowa State 17
2018: Iowa 13, Iowa State 3
Players to Watch
Rocco Becht, redshirt sophomore quarterback (Iowa State)
I’ve keyed in Rocco Becht to be a player to watch in most, if not all of my content this week both here at C.F. and in Hawkeye Report’s Behind Enemy Lines story that their so gracious to have me for. Becht has improved significantly at protecting the football since his last Cy-Hawk game. In his last nine on-field performances, Becht has just three interceptions. Turnovers are massive in rivalry games, especially in this series.
Cael Brezina, freshman linebacker (Iowa State)
The freshman linebacker will make his first career start for the Cyclones Saturday, after an injury kept him off the field in the season opener. Iowa State is without two starting linebackers, and Iowa will try to attack that unit. The 6-foot-3, 240-pounder is just one of the six linebackers that will likely play in this game, but it will be a big one to start off his career in Ames with.
Beau Freyler, senior defensive back (Iowa State)
Big plays dictate results in this series, and no player in a Cyclone uniform is more prepped to create one than Beau Freyler, at least that’s what defensive coordinator Jon Heacock will say. Freyler nearly stopped North Dakota’s only scoring drive with an interception last week and later came up with another pick to help keep the Fighting Hawks at bay. It typically isn’t the suspected heroes in this series, but don’t be shocked if Freyler is one.
Sebastian Castro, redshirt senior defensive back (Iowa)
The Hawkeye defensive back had the pick six that changed the game on Rocco Becht last season in Ames. Becht is the first to say just that, too. Castro was third on the team in tackles a year ago for the Cyclones behind linebacker duo Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson. Keeping the ball away from all three could be a major player in Saturday’s result.
Reece Vander Zee, freshman wide receiver (Iowa)
The Rock Rapids, Iowa native and Central Lyon High School star burst onto the scene his Hawkeye debut last week, leading the team with five receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Outside of tight end Luke Lachey’s six receptions, each of those stats were team highs. Yes, those numbers came against an FCS Illinois State, but those are eye openers for an Iowa offense who’s receivers have struggled in years past. He was a top 10 recruit in the state and I don’t believe that performance was all that much of an outlier.
Aaron Graves, junior defensive lineman (Iowa)
Another in-state product that started his season off with a bang. Graves currently leads the nation in sacks after collecting three in Iowa’s 40-0 win over Illinois State. That’s improved from 2.5 sacks during the entirety of his sophomore season a year ago.
Keys to the game
Don’t make the mistake
The inevitable turnover that leads to the biggest touchdown of the game – whether it happens in a fumble at the goal line like it did in 2022 or if it’s a pick-six that we saw last year… this game becomes monumentally harder to win if there’s a mistake like that. Finding the balance between being aggressive and protecting the ball will be integral.
Open things up early
Iowa hasn’t seen Iowa State open up the offense dramatically in Cy-Hawk games under coach Matt Campbell, at least in recent years. Get the ball in the air in the first quarter with the stout cast of this offense’s arial attack going to work. That might be the one thing Iowa isn’t ready to see out of Iowa State – at least it would be if I had to pick.
Win on first and second down
Iowa State captain Beau Freyler said after Saturday’s game that the defense didn’t attack enough on first and second down against North Dakota. One drive stretched 88 yards over 23 plays and took up the first 12 minutes of the second quarter where the defense couldn’t get off the field. Such a drive would make this Saturday’s game a lot less winnable for the Cyclones.
| Big 12 Standings | | Team | OVR | Big 12 | | Utah | 1-0 | 0-0 | | Kansas State | 1-0 | 0-0 | | Oklahoma State | 1-0 | 0-0 | | Iowa State | 1-0 | 0-0 | | Arizona | 1-0 | 0-0 | | Kansas | 1-0 | 0-0 | | Arizona State | 1-0 | 0-0 | | Colorado | 1-0 | 0-0 | | UCF | 1-0 | 0-0 | | Cincinnati | 1-0 | 0-0 | | TCU | 1-0 | 0-0 | | Baylor | 1-0 | 0-0 | | BYU | 1-0 | 0-0 | | Texas Tech | 1-0 | 0-0 | | West Virginia | 0-1 | 0-0 | |
Friday, September 6
6:00 p.m. | BYU @ SMU (ESPN2)
Saturday, September 7
11:00 a.m. | Arkansas @ Oklahoma State (ABC)
11:00 a.m. | Kansas State @ Tulane (ESPN)
11:00 a.m. | Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati (ESPN2)
2:30 p.m. | Iowa State @ Iowa (CBS)
2:30 p.m. | Baylor @ Utah (FOX)
5:00 p.m. | Albany @ West Virginia (ESPN+)
5:30 p.m. | Sam Houston @ UCF (ESPN+)
6:00 p.m. | Kansas @ Illinois (FS1)
6:30 p.m. | Colorado @ Nebraska (NBC)
6:45 p.m. | Houston @ Oklahoma (SEC Network)
7:00 p.m. | Long Island @ TCU (ESPN+)
9:00 p.m. | Northern Arizona @ Arizona (ESPN+)
9:00 p.m. | Texas Tech @ Washington State (FOX)
9:30 p.m. | Mississippi State @ Arizona State (ESPN)
Iowa State hosted highly touted 2026 quarterback prospect Nathan Bernhard on a visit during Saturday’s season opener against North Dakota.
The Ashland, Ohio native is now a four-star prospect by the 247 Sports composite rating, and chose to kick off his visit schedule with a trip to Ames this week.
“It was good to be out there and keep building a relationship with the coaches and everything,” Bernhard said. “They’re good people there. The culture there is great – that’s something they really have going for them. It’s good to go there and see their coaching style and everything and see the game atmosphere.”
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound prospect holds offers from Louisville, Missouri, West Virginia, Penn State, Duke, Indiana, Michigan State, Toledo and Akron, alongside Iowa State.
Bernhard wanted to check out Jack Trice Stadium, making his first game day visit to Ames as he starts his junior year of high school.
“The fact that they were playing North Dakota and there was still a packed house – still over 60,000 people there,” Bernhard said. “That shows that the people there care. There will be people there for the big games, but there’s actually people there for every game and actually a supportive fan base.”
The young quarterback prospect has visits scheduled for Louisville this week in their matchup with Jacksonville State and Missouri when they face Boston College the week after.
Bernhard’s primary recruiter in Ames is quarterbacks coach Jake Waters.
“He’s a great guy – he’s played the position and then he’s also an Iowa guy,” Bernhard said. “He seems like he wants to stay in Iowa. He’s been at Iowa State for quite a few years – there’s some coach stability there not just with him, but with the whole staff really.”
The staff’s stability is a sticking point for Bernhard.
“It’s not something that I’d necessarily be picky for, because it’s not really common in today’s game – but it is something that sticks out for them that’s different for a lot of other places,” Bernhard said.
He says that he won’t narrow down his choices in programs until after the end of the season, but Iowa State is remains square in the mix as it searches for its quarterback commit for the class.
Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell leads the team to enter the field before the game in the season opening football at Jack Trice Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024, in Ames, Iowa © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State football hosted its weekly press conference ahead of the Cy-Hawk game on Tuesday — and here are five things I took away from it.
Iowa has a new offensive coordinator, but its philosophy appeared unchanged in last Saturday’s season opener.
The Hawkeyes scored 34 points in the second half to beat Illinois State, 40-0, and they still wat to ground and pound on offense while adding a few new wrinkles for quarterback Cade McNamara in the passing game.
“The philosophy is the same,” Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter said of Iowa’s offense. “How they do it may be a little different with a new coordinator, obviously, but it’s a very talented, and veteran group too. They’re going to come out and block hard on the offensive line, block hard on the perimeter, and try to get the ball in the hands of their playmakers – and they’ve got plenty of great ones.”
That sets up what could look like a similar game as we’ve seen in the recent seasons, but expect some twists from both first-year offensive coordinators in Iowa’s Tim Lester and Iowa State’s Taylor Mouser.
“They’re showing a little more R.P.O. than they have in the past, so being able to take advantage of that and trying to steal a possession (is something we’re looking at).” Porter said.
Iowa will try to exploit Iowa State’s lack of experienced depth at linebacker.
With Iowa State missing two of its starting linebackers in Caleb Bacon and Will McLaughlin because of injuries (Bacon had sugery on Sunday and will be out for a while), expect for the Hawkeyes to try to exploit the inexperience.
Kooper Ebel won the starting job at the WILL linebacker spot over the offseason, but wasn’t a regular starter a year ago. Meanwhile, freshman Cael Brezina is slated to be back after missing the season-opening 21-3 win over North Dakota with an injury.
The Cyclones’ normal, eight-player group rotating at the position is down to six and that’s without the head signal caller for the group in Bacon.
Iowa State showed a weakness on first and second downs in the immediate drive following Bacon’s injury Saturday, but improved throughout the rest of the game.
Look for Iowa to try and find ways to attack there, especially running the ball to create third-and-manageable situations. It’s the most vulnerable spot for Iowa State going in to Saturday’s game.
Expect more tight end usage for Cyclones Saturday.
Iowa State tight end Ben Brahmer was targeted twice on Saturday, and no other Cyclone tight ends were thrown to on Saturday.
Campbell said after the game that Brahmer was limited because of being dinged up late in fall camp, but still able to play limited snaps. That limit should be lifted this week, and with tight ends coach Taylor Mouser heading the offense, expect more usage at that position.
“They know what the game plan looks like,” Mouser said. “There was a lot of tight end stuff on there that we didn’t get to just for the lack of possessions that we had and the lack of snaps that we had.”
Brahmer’s statline was as uncharacteristic as it gets for the 6-foot-7, 250 pound talent. Iowa State will look to him and possibly Gabe Burkle to pick up some drive-continuing, chunk plays at Kinnick Stadium.
Players know the game, importance of limiting turnovers.
Cy-Hawk Series games have a unique way of swinging momentum on two or three big plays that can come at any time.
Quarterback Rocco Becht said that it was his pick-six from a year ago that changed the outcome of the game in Ames.
“I felt like last year, take away that pick-six, and we’re in the game – it’s a tie game,” Becht said. “This year, I’m just focusing on taking care of the ball. That’s my biggest priority – and putting it in the hands of the all-stars we have on this team.”
They’ve got to avoid interceptions, and Becht improved in that area throughout the year.
Going back to the BYU game last season, Becht has 12 touchdowns and just one interception in his last five games on the field.
“If we have three-and-outs, we’re not going to win this game,” Becht said. “We’re going to need to sustain long drives and continue to hone in on the details and decisions on each drive.
Iowa State’s offense likes this matchup, but knows it can beat itself if not careful.
The Cyclones know what they’ve got in this matchup, and that’s as big of a positive as fans can hear from the offense going in.
“They’re one of the best (defenses) in the country for a reason,” Becht said. “It’s a challenge, but we love challenges. We love this matchup. It’s going to show who we really are and we just want to go out there and do our jobs the right way.”
As is this series, the opportunities will be there for the taking at the most unexpected times.
Saturday, Iowa State’s goal is to take advantage of them, and the key to the game may just be as simple as that.
“Their defense is so good and so disciplined,” Mouser said. “Very rarely are they out of place, and they’re certainly not as exotic of a defense as we saw last week. I think for us, we have to play disciplined football. That defense does such a good job of making you beat yourself – and we have here at Iowa State on offense. It’s cost us a lot at times. We need to be a lot better there.
“For us, it’s waiting for your opportunities against this defense to try and take advantage of what they give you, and when they do you have to make the best of your opportunities,” Mouser said.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser addressed media members Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center ahead of Saturday’s Cy-Hawk game.
Kirk Ferentz’ pre-game press conference will be uploaded here when it is made available.
Iowa State Cyclones’ linebacker Caleb Bacon (50) celebrates with teammates after a quarterback sack during the first quarter in a Big 12 football showdown at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Injured Iowa State linebacker Caleb Bacon is not only Rocco Becht’s teammate. He’s also the Cyclone quarterback’s roommate and good friend. So Becht’s been texting Bacon well-wishes as he recovers from surgery to mend a lower leg injury that will keep him off the football field for the foreseeable future — and the message is clear: Bacon’s value as a leader is as important as ever. More important, maybe.
“We still need him on the sidelines (and) in the meeting rooms,” said Becht, who will face Iowa for the second time as ISU’s starting quarterback Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Kinnick Stadium. “He’s a good leader for the linebackers and we have a lot of young ones, so he’s gonna need to help them out, lead them and help them get prepared for this game and the following games.”
Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell confirmed Tuesday that Bacon — who totaled 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks last season as a reserve — will be out for “a while” because of an injury sustained in the 21-3 season-opening win over North Dakota, but it’s possible he could return at some point this season.
“Honestly, the best news that we could have heard on Saturday is what we got,” Campbell said.
Still, Bacon’s absence for the final three quarters of Saturday’s win highlighted his vital importance to the defense. ISU gave up 174 rushing yards to the FCS Fighting Hawks and will face a Hawkeye offense intent on establishing a strong rushing attack each week.
“It’s definitely a blow to lose a guy like Caleb,” said Cyclone senior defensive lineman J.R. Singleton, who recorded one of his team’s two sacks last weekend. “Being a nose guard, I have a really good relationship with Caleb and he’s an electric player. But we’ve got some really good young guys that are gonna be able to step up and I think they’re gonna do a great job. I think you’re gonna see it this Saturday and (throughout) the rest of the season.”
Time will tell, but Campbell said he liked what he saw from ISU’s remaining linebackers last Saturday.
“I’m really optimistic about what that group’s got the ability to become,” he said.
Former starter Will McLaughlin is also injured and won’t be back to face Iowa — and possibly for quite a bit longer. But there’s at least some good news on the injury front for the Cyclones, as talented true freshman linebacker Cael Brezina is slated to return after missing the season opener, and both offensive linemen who were out last Saturday (Deylin Hasert and Jalen Travis) practiced on Tuesday.
“That doesn’t mean they’re going to play, but I think they are at least trending in that direction,” Campbell said.
It will be difficult for the Cyclones’ defense to trend more favorably with Bacon firmly locked into recovery mode, but sophomore Jack Sadowsky — who started all 13 games last season — will replace Bacon at MIKE linebacker. Kooper Ebel will flank him at WILL linebacker and Jacob Ellis or Brezina is expected to start at the SAM spot, while John Klosterman and Zach Lovett should remain in the rotation, as well.
“You never like to lose players, but, again, that’s a room we thought was really talented from top to bottom and had a really good fall camp,” Campbell said. “The depth of that room will be tested a little bit early on, but I think we all have great confidence in that room.”
Iowa State’s Rocco Becht, J.R. Singleton, Darien Porter, Jayden Higgins and Jeremiah Cooper spoke to media members Tuesday about this week’s Cy-Hawk game.
Iowa State will be without two of its starting linebackers in this week’s Cy-Hawk game (2:30 p.m. CBS). Here’s what coach Matt Campbell had to say about each of the questionable players statuses Saturday.
Linebacker Caleb Bacon: Bacon had surgery on Sunday to attend to lower leg injury and will not play in Saturday’s game. There is still a possibility that Bacon can return to the field for the Cyclones before season’s end.
Linebacker Will McLaughlin: Will not play in Saturday’s game, and will take advantage of the bye week coming up to further heel up. Campbell said he expects McLaughlin back sooner rather than later.
Linebacker Cael Brezina: Did not play in Iowa State’s 21-3 win over North Dakota on Saturday, but is expected to be on the field and ready to go against Iowa. He dressed for the season opener, but the staff kept him out of the game to give him more time to heel.
Offensive linemen Jalen Travis & Deylin Hasert: The pair of offensive lineman each sat out of Saturday’s season opener. Campbell said both players practiced Tuesday, but that doesn’t mean either will play Saturday.
Darien Porter stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel dazzled fans with his strong hands and fluid speed in his team’s 21-3 season-opening win over North Dakota last Saturday. Fellow receiver Jayden Higgins did the same whenever the Cyclones needed a big play. And quarterback Rocco Becht showcased the explosiveness and efficiency he’s known for, averaging 13.4 yards per completion and throwing for two touchdowns — one each to Higgins and Noel.
So the Cyclones’ established stars fully lived up to their respective billings in week one, but it’s the players who operate in relative obscurity who often determine a season’s fate and several less-known contributors will be key in week two against intrastate rival Iowa at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (CBS) in Iowa City.
“I think our greatest growth — I’ve always felt this way — is between week one and week two,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said.
In that vein, here are five (among several) Cyclones who have improved considerably from last season to this season and must continue to do so this weekend and beyond.
Cornerback Jontez Williams The 5-11, 200-pound sophomore from Starke, Fla., led ISU in tackles in the season-opener with 11. That nearly doubled his previous career output (6) and showed that Williams is ready to shine at corner along with Myles Purchase and Darien Porter this season now that T.J. Tampa’s in the NFL. Williams did draw a flag for pass interference in the game, but otherwise his coverage was solid and should keep getting better.
“He is an elite performer,” Campbell said. “And I think the consistency that he comes to work with every single day allows him to have great confidence.”
Cornerback/special teams star Darien Porter Campbell’s repeatedly said that Porter’s special teams prowess alone could land him in the NFL. Now the former track star from Bettendorf — and converted wide receiver — has fully mastered the techniques to excel at cornerback, too. The 6-4, 200-pounder made his first career start in last Saturday’s win and provided taut coverage as well as a big special teams play when he downed a Jace Gilbert punt at the Fighting Hawks’ three-yard line.
“We should also talk about his performance because he was elite,” Campbell said.
Kicker/punter Jace Gilbert The 5-11, 205-pound sophomore from Marlow, Okla., has provided the Cyclones’ program with a portrait of perseverance throughout his career, and even though he’s not a starter, he’s carved out an important role this season after redshirting in 2023. Gilbert’s ISU’s designated short-yardage or “pooch” punter and both of his punts last Saturday were downed inside the 20-yard line. The Cyclones’ former starter as a true freshman also kicked off once for a touchback, so his value to the team has shot upward since last season. And fun fact: Gilbert made his first career field goal attempt in ISU’s 10-7 win over the Hawkeyes two seasons ago.
“We don’t give up on people in our program,” Campbell said of Gilbert, who went 7-for-13 on field goals as a freshman. “What that young man has done — and obviously what he overcame was hard as a freshman.”
Running back Carson Hansen The 6-2 sophomore’s bulked up to 220 pounds and will be ISU’s No. 1 short-yardage option at tailback. Hansen shined in that area last Saturday, providing a pair of tough runs for third-down conversions and he’s also a skilled pass catcher. Hansen complements home-run hitter Abu Sama perfectly and his ability to shine in pass protection will make him a prominent player against Iowa and beyond.
“Just to see him grow — to grow mentally, to grow physically — a lot of it’s a mindset,” said first-year assistant head coach/running backs coach Tyler Roehl.
Wide receiver Jaylin Noel It’s important to circle back to Noel, who recorded his first 100-yard receiving game since the 2022 season in the win over North Dakota. He may already be a star, but he’s still markedly improved both as a pass catcher and a leader in the locker room.
“He has, from year one to year four, been one of the most complete football players we’ve had in our program during my time here,” Campbell said.
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) passes the ball against North Dakota during the fourth quarter in the season opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024, in Ames, Iowa © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
We’ve reached the end of week 1 of the 2024 college football season. Iowa State is 1-0 and the in-state rivalry lies ahead.
And this is the return of Monday Musings.
The elephant in the room lies with Caleb Bacon’s injury that sent him out of the game. So who will step up at the linebacker spot?
Iowa State got run from both redshirt junior Zachary Lovett and sophomore Jack Sadowsky in Bacon’s absence Saturday.
The pair combined for three tackles in the game, but coach Matt Campbell was pleased with what he saw from them.
“Both, I thought, stepped in,” Campbell said. “How well did they play, what’s that look like… I thought both those guys made some plays that were really impressive.”
Sophomore Kooper Ebel and redshirt sophomore Jacob Ellis each played consistently throughout the day at the other linebacker spots combining for 13 tackles. Redshirt sophomore John Klosterman was on the field, too, and his quarterback hurry led to Beau Freyler‘s interception — the only turnover in the game.
Even if any news comes out on Bacon’s injury before Tuesday, there will still be a number of question marks going into Saturday’s Cy-Hawk game.
Freshman Cael Brezina was out with an injury, too. Whether or not he will be able to go this week will have a big impact on Iowa State’s depth – the difference in having one body out and two is pretty steep. Let alone, one being a leader on that side of the ball.
Iowa State’s defensive focus will be locked on to improving in opening downs.
The Cyclones gave up 295 yards to North Dakota and allowed 11 third down conversions. The main reason being small, chunk plays that UND was executing on first and second down.
“I think we’ve got to go win on first and second down,” Freylersaid after the game. “With the running game, I think we gave them a little too much and just put ourselves in hard situations on third down. We’ve got to play tighter coverage on third down as well. All those things are things we can work on and I’m excited to get back and work on those things… we’ve just got to get more vertical and play a little bit faster.”
With a slew of young players making up for the absence of Bacon, this will be a driving point during practices over the week. It’s certainly the biggest area of concern right now.
A performance like that in Iowa City would play right into the Hawkeyes’ hands. It’s got to improve in the next six days.
Iowa State started the season with fireworks on its season-opening offensive drive.
Quarterback Rocco Becht found Jaylin Noel, on an ill-advised throw, but the star wideout brought it down. On the next play, Becht found Jayden Higgins to complete the two-play, touchdown drive.
Can’t stop watching this
@NoelJaylin13 pic.twitter.com/XzJKw1mrPT
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) September 1, 2024
Finding them will be a focus for Becht and the Cyclones. The pair combined for 210 of Becht’s 267 yards through the air.
“There’s some throws accuracy-wise that I want back,” Becht said. “Just knowing when it’s man and where my players are – where my stars are – just getting them the ball and letting them play. There’s a couple throws that I probably should have hit those guys, but a win’s a win. We’re going to celebrate this for another hour and then move on.”
That was never a secret, and although Iowa State’s offense didn’t put too much on film, there was an aggressiveness there that wasn’t around much last season.
There’s going to be more where that came from, too.
“That’s (offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser) for you, that’s what he brings to the table,” Becht said. “He’s aggressive. He’s unique, and we’re going to keep doing that all season long.”
After four overthrows in the opening quarter of play, Becht recorded only two incompletions in the final three quarters.
Campbell said tight end Ben Brahmer was limited during the game, and Abu Sama exited with a possible leg injury, as well. Both are expected to be on back on the field Saturday.
Aside from that, it was business as usual for the offense, and it didn’t go very deep in the playbook either. We should see a lot more ‘Mouser’ this week.
The special teams played a nearly flaw-free game – when was the last time Iowa State could say that?
Kyle Konrardy was perfect on extra points in his debut as the starting kicker. Noel returned a punt. Jace Gilbert even came on for a pair of punts and pinned North Dakota deep on one with Darien Porter‘s help.
Less news is good news for that group.
Elsewhere in the Big 12, there weren’t any major upsets, but there were still some surprises.
UNLV trounced Houston in the Cougars’ home opener under new head coach Willie Fritz, who arrived after a successful stint at Tulane. Iowa State has a bye week following the Cy-Hawk game and a home matchup against Arkansas State before opening Big 12 play at Houston.
Colorado has pair of superstars in Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, but the rest of the team didn’t look as intimidating in the team’s 31-26 win over NDSU. Shiloh Sanders could have been called for more undisciplined late hit penalties than he did, and Deion Sanders doubled down on his decision to pass in an opportunity to run clock to secure the win.
Deion Sanders on his decision to throw the ball on the last drive: pic.twitter.com/NsjDxFYA8K https://t.co/cMIGi9SJZI
— Covers (@Covers) August 30, 2024
Saturday may have looked boring to some fans in Ames, but it was an easier time for fans than what Arizona had against a New Mexico team coming off of a loss to FCS power Montana State. The Wildcats had 16 missed tackles on defense, which tied a season high from a year ago as they struggled to put the Lobos away until the fourth quarter. The offense looked the part, though, scoring on 10 of its 12 drives while Tetairoa McMillan recorded 304 yards on 10 receptions with four touchdowns.
We also got our first look at UCF, and Arkansas transfer K.J. Jefferson at quarterback. He got out to a slow start, and finished at 7-14 with 164 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Running back R.J. Harvey wowed with 142 yards on the ground.
During the game, UCF posted a video of wide receiver Myles Montgomery on the bench following a touchdown. Now, the game was out of reach so maybe this will be misplaced, but I could see something like this being turned into a meme should a player record one of these and mess up later on. Maybe I’m wrong.
@datboymyles_ https://t.co/s4rniZi9hl pic.twitter.com/m1p6GB9GmZ
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) August 30, 2024
In other games… TCU looked like it was trying to lose at times against Stanford, Texas Tech was taken to overtime by Abilene Christian (and outscored 17-6 in the fourth quarter!), and West Virginia fell flat against No. 8 Penn State.
Nonetheless, it’s week 1, and it’s easy to overreact to things – we’ll see if the blips on the radar turn to trends in weeks 2 and 3.
Now, it’s Cy-Hawk week.
Iowa State opened their season by hosting North Dakota at Jack Trice Stadium. The scorching hot game didn’t stop fans from filling the seats to the brim and cheering on the Cyclones in their 21-3 win over the Fighting Hawks.
Enjoy a look back at all the special moments.
Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) makes a catch between North Dakota Fighting Hawks defensive back Antonio Bluiett (22) and Tyler Erkman (9) during the first quarter in the season-opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Jaylin Noel’s family members took out their phones and shared the image.
The photo shows Iowa State’s star receiver engulfed by two North Dakota defenders as his quarterback, Rocco Becht, hoisted the football his way.
Somehow, Noel fought for the ball and won on the 54-yard strike that opened the Cyclones’ 21-3 season-opening win over the Fighting Hawks — and the photographic evidence detailing the degree of difficulty momentarily stunned him.
Then he smiled.
“It’s actually pretty crazy,” said Noel, who led all receivers with eight receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown. “It’s pretty cool.”
ISU’s season opener proved to be pretty tense for three quarters against a North Dakota team that’s advanced to the FCS playoffs in four of the past five seasons. And Big plays like Noel’s must come in bunches next Saturday when the Cyclones face No. 25 Iowa in Kinnick Stadium. ISU’s beaten the Hawkeyes just once in the past eight meetings and struggled defensively against the Fighting Hawks, allowing 295 total yards.
“We didn’t get off the field,” Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell said. “And until you watch the video, you can’t say, man, what went will and what didn’t go well. I thought what did go well was in the heat of the moment — the critical moment(s) — we were able to win those battles when it mattered most.”
For examlple, ISU secured the only takeaway of Saturday’s game when backup linebacker John Klosterman, a former standout at Iowa City High, hit North Dakota quarterback Simon Romfo on a pass attempt on the first drive of the second half. Klosterman’s hurry sent the ball sailing directly to teammate Beau Freyler, who intercepted it at his own 15-yard line.
“I was kind of surprised it was just coming right to me, honestly,” the all-Big 12 senior safety said. “After I saw it — we saw it on the (tablet on the sidelines) — I told him he gets half the interception.”
Fair enough — and that’s not the only positive that came out of a sometimes shaky defensive performance. The Cyclones cycled through its three-deeps at most positions in Saturday’s win, so several players gained valuable experience. That came out of both necessity and design, as ISU lost standout linebacker Caleb Bacon to an apparent lower leg injury in the first quarter. His status this week is uncertain, which is also the case for offensive linemen Jalen Travis and Dylan Hasert, as well as linebackers Cael Brezina and Will McLaughlin, none of whom played on Saturday because of assorted “bumps and bruises,” Campbell said.
“I think (Brezina will) definitely be a guy that’s going to be available next week, so it will be good to get some bodies back in that linebackers room for sure, too.”
The Cyclones’ offense shined most on Saturday, averaging 7.4 points per play while possessing the ball almost 16 fewer minutes than the Fighting Hawks did. Becht completed 20 of his 26 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns. Three of his passes spanned 20 or more yards and despite sailing a few throws, he played turnover-free football for the fourth time in the past five games dating back to last season.
“Obviously, we wanted to do a little more,” Becht said. “It was kind of a weird game time of possession-wise. In those types of games we’ve got to be consistent on each one of (our) drives because we didn’t have a lot (of them).”
ISU will have to do a lot more on both sides of the ball to have a chance to beat Iowa on the road. And big plays like Noel’s grab will be essential if the Cyclones are to emerge from Kinnick Stadium with a victory for the second straight time.
“We know we’re going to go into a beehive, you could say, and those guys are gonna be ready,” Noel said. “We’ve just got to get our bodies right, get in the film room and prepare, because those guys are good. We know what they’re capable of so we’ll be ready to go.”
Iowa State had a few explosive plays, and only gave up three points in Saturday’s 21-3 win over North Dakota, but it hardly felt like a complete game to open the season for the Cyclones.
Instead of a comfortable win where depth pieces got some run, Iowa State saw a star player go down for at least one game because of an injury, stalled out drives that the offense will need to eliminate later this year and one third down conversion after another being made during North Dakota’s 23-play, 12-minute and 24-second drive down the field.
It was nothing close to perfect, and it’s left the program hoping that the biggest improvement indeed will come in the next seven days.
“Our biggest growth – I’ve always felt this way – is between week one and week two,” coach Matt Campbell said.
Iowa State’s defense didn’t attack enough on first and second down, which led to the drawn-out drive that chewed up 80 percent of the second quarter according to linebacker Beau Freyler.
That will be something Iowa State zeroes in on during the week in preparation for the Cy-Hawk game – a drive like that would yield a much different level of momentum there.
“I think we’ve got to go win on first and second down,” Freyler said. “With the running game, I think we gave them a little too much and just put ourselves in hard situations on third down. We’ve got to play tighter coverage on third down as well. All those things are things we can work on and I’m excited to get back and work on those things… we’ve just got to get more vertical and play a little bit faster.”
Although that drive was nearly ended with an exclamation mark, on a near-interception by Freyler, that was eventually overturned.
Earlier this week, defensive coordinator Jon Heacock said that Freyler was a guy that makes big plays when the moments get bigger. That’s exactly what he went on to do, picking off North Dakota quarterback Simon Romfo on the opening drive of the second half and returning the pick 24 yards.
Rocco Becht overthrew his receivers four times, but still finished the game 20-26 for 267 yards and two touchdowns.
Chalk it up to the blood pumping a bit more than usual in his first game environment in eight months and move on.
Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins started the game off with fireworks and finished with a combined 210 yards on 13 receptions with no drops. That went as expected.
Outside of a few of those third down incompletions that could have extended drives, things went smoothly for new offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser in his debut game in the position.
“I think he did a great job,” Campbell said of Mouser. “Honestly, I thought there was a great balance to what we wanted to do. I thought we drove the ball with great consistency, we were 5-10 on third down. I really thought he had a great game. Again, we talked about this, that whole collection of staff, I think that’s one of the great benefits. It was great communication throughout the game on that side. I thought those guys made some good adjustments within the game, too. So it was impressive.”
The Cyclones did it without putting anything they didn’t need to on film, which is nothing new in season openers against lesser competition in the Campbell era.
In his debut as starting cornerback, Jontez Williams led the team in tackles. Sometimes that can be a negative – a signal of receivers catching balls frequently on a defensive back – but Williams was one of the best defensive players on the field during the game.
On top of it, former starting field goal kicker Jace Gilbert came in for a pooch punt that pinned North Dakota deep, and Matt Campbell praised his performance, calling it, ‘elite.’
“I think one of the great stories for me to tell some day is the Jace Gilbert story,” Campbell said. “We don’t give up on people in our program.”
For Cyclone fans, it wasn’t the most fun game ever, and there’s the Caleb Bacon injury, but you survive and advance and get out with a game one win.
“All in all, win number one,” Campbell said. “And onto game number two, for sure.”
Head coach Matt Campbell gives his thoughts on 21-3 win over North Dakota in season opener and gives a status update on Caleb Bacon.
Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell talks to the team during warm-up in the season-opening game against North Dakota at Jack Trice Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Thirty-eight seconds.
That’s how long it took Iowa State to score a touchdown on its season-opening drive Saturday against North Dakota.
Cyclones fans rejoiced, expecting the nearly 30-point blowout Las Vegas oddsmakers predicted to be swiftly afoot.
But soon they were sulking. The Fighting Hawks responded by putting together an astonishing 23-play, 88-yard drive that spanned 12 minutes and 24 seconds and resulted in a field goal. ISU — down star linebacker Caleb Bacon, who was injured on special teams — still won comfortably, 21-3, but the defense struggled to get off the field all day as a crowd of 56,148 looked on at Jack Trice Stadium.
“I thought we played really good football,” said Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell, whose team won its fourth consecutive season opener. “There (are) some things in the first game you want to clean up. We want to be a little bit better on third down on the defensive side of the football. We had a couple penalties in the red zone that maybe (prevented) a chance to score, but I thought all in all, with all the things that were kind of against us today, with som of the injuries, I thought some kids stepped up.”
Bacon suffered an apparent leg injury while helping in punt coverage early in the game. He did not return and was eventually carted off to the locker room.
“We’ll know more tomorrow,” Campbell said. “Obviously, we’re hoping it’s not significant. I I don’t that it is or is not right now, but we’ve got a laundry list of guys coming out of (fall) camp that just had bumps and bruises, dinged up.
That list included offensive linemen Jalen Travis and Deylin Hasert, and linebackers Cael Brezina and Will McLaughlin, so ISU needed to drill down the depth chart at those positions.
“I think what I’m most excited about is the amount of guys that stepped up and I thought played pretty good football,” Campbell said.
ISU quarterback Rocco Becht completed 20 of 26 passes for 267 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. He averaged 13.4 yards per completion and has now thrown 12 touchdowns to just one interception in his last five games dating back to last season.
“I feel like there were some throws, accuracy-wise, that I want back,” Becht said. “And just knowing when it’s man and where my players are, where my stars are — just giving them the ball and letting them, you know, play.”
Noel finished with a game-high eight catches for 135 yards and the touchdown and notched the fourth 100-yard-plus game of his four-year career.
“Just (Becht’s) poise out there kept the whole offense poised,” Noel said. “(He made) sure we made timely plays. Some drives didn’t end how wanted them to, but he was still on the sideline making sure guys were good and ready to go.”
The Cyclones led, 14-3, at halftime despite allowing the Fighting Hawks to convert on 11 of their first 15 third-down situations. That’s a number — along with allowing 174 yards on the ground — that must be dramatically improved immediately, as ISU enters Cy-Hawk rivalry week in advance of next Saturday’s game at No. 25 Iowa.
“I think we need to win the rushing game,” said safety Beau Freyler, who snared an interception. “We gave them a little too much, so they had some easier third-down situations.”
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic
Iowa State secured the win over North Dakota 21-3 in season opener. Listen as Rocco Becht, Tyler Onyedim, Beau Freyler and Jaylin Noel give their thoughts on the teams performance. Plus, Connor Ferguson caught up with former Cyclone Anthony Johnson Jr. who was in town supporting the Cyclones.
Game Day Info
Iowa State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. North Dakota (0-0, 0-0 Missouri Valley)
Time: 2:30 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports 1 (Eric Collins, Spencer Tillman)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Players to Watch
Rocco Becht/the Iowa State quarterbacks
Iowa State’s quarterback Rocco Becht returns for his second season at the helm in Ames and if he takes a positive step after a long off-season of training, it could make for a special year for Cyclone fans. Although if things go according to plan, Cyclone fans will see less of Becht and more of backups J.J. Kohl and Connor Moberly. The program is really high on Moberly – a 2025 recruit that joins Iowa State out of Southeast Polk. Kohl earned similar praise last off-season and was battling for the starter’s job right down to the wire. They should each see some reps in this one.
Ben Brahmer, Iowa State tight end
North Dakota coach Bubba Schweigert even referenced it in his pregame press conference. It’s going to be tough for North Dakota to match up with the 6-foot-7 frame Ben Brahmer brings to the table. Brahmer will own the size advantage and it wouldn’t surprise me to see a touchdown from him in this one.
Bo Belquist, UND wide receiver
As a wide receiver and team captain, Belquist is the heart of this North Dakota group, with over 2,000 career receiving yards to his name and plenty of experience to go along with it. Belquist is a multi-time all-American and is just 10 receptions away from setting the NCAA Division 1 record for most catches in a career.
Simon Romfo, UND quarterback
UND is starting a quarterback in this game that has only thrown two career passes in Simon Romfo. The program had a late departure to the transfer portal, but Romfo has been preparing in camp position battles to take the helm as the starter. “He knows how to win, he knows how to control a game, and I think Coach Fruechte saw that and liked that,” Belquist told ValleyNewsLive. “He played really well this fall camp. He controlled the ball, didn’t have too many turnovers, just played smart.”
Three Keys to the game
1. Zero in on the new guy
Iowa State’s defense can be slightly more aggressive in this one – facing an FCS offense that is being commanded by a rookie quarterback in his first game. Don’t anticipate the four-down linemen look that has been talked about to show itself a ton – the Cyclones could take things more traditionally here. However, the three-down look has given plenty fits to opponents.
2. Don’t let UND get hope
The universal key to defeating FCS programs is keeping their hopes of a win away from them any chance they get. Preventing big plays and getting early stops can turn this game into a blowout, and that’s where the starters get off of the field.
3. Stay Healthy
Obviously, this is a goal that Iowa State will have in any game it plays, but it couldn’t be more true early in the season. The Cy-Hawk game is next week, and will also be aided by a bye week just after, but it’s imperative Iowa State does what it can to avoid injuries that could linger in coming weeks.
Big 12 standings
No. 12 Utah, 1-0 (0-0)
No. 22 Kansas, 1-0 (0-0)
Colorado, 1-0 (0-0)
UCF, 1-0 (0-0)
No. 21 Arizona, 0-0 (0-0)
Arizona State, 0-0 (0-0)
Baylor, 0-0 (0-0)
BYU, 0-0 (0-0)
Cincinnati, 0-0 (0-0)
Houston, 0-0 (0-0)
Iowa State, 0-0 (0-0)
No. 18 Kansas State, 0-0 (0-0)
Oklahoma State, 0-0 (0-0)
TCU, 0-0 (0-0)
Texas Tech, 0-0 (0-0)
West Virginia, 0-0 (0-0)
Thursday, Aug. 29
No. 12 Utah 49, Southern Utah 0
No. 22 Kansas 48, Lindenwood 3
Colorado 31, North Dakota State 26
UCF 57, New Hampshire 3
Friday, Aug. 30
TCU @ Stanford (9:30 p.m. ESPN)
Saturday, Aug. 30
No. 8 Penn State @ West Virginia (11:00 a.m. FOX)
South Dakota State @ No. 17 Oklahoma State (1:00 p.m. ESPN+)
Towson @ Cincinnati (1:30 p.m. ESPN+)
North Dakota @ Iowa State (2:30 p.m. FS1)
UT Martin @ No. 18 Kansas State (6:00 p.m. ESPN+)
Tarleton State @ Baylor (6:00 p.m. ESPN+)
UNLV @ Houston (6:00 p.m. FS1)
Abilene Christian @ Texas Tech (6:30 p.m. ESPN+)
Southern Illinois @ BYU (7:00 p.m. ESPN+)
New Mexico @ No. 21 Arizona (9:30 p.m. ESPN)
Wyoming @ Arizona State (9:30 p.m. FS1)
Welcome to game week for the first time of the 2024 season.
The Cyclone Fanatic staff gives their picks for this Saturday’s game between Iowa State and North Dakota (2:30 p.m. Fox Sports 1).
Chris Williams
Iowa State 41, North Dakota 10
Iowa State’s defense will give North Dakota all sorts of problems. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a defensive touchdown by the Cyclones in the first half. Iowa State cruises and coasts into Cy-Hawk week.
Rob Gray
Iowa State 41, North Dakota 10
The Fighting Hawks have become a formidable FCS program, but they must replace most of their offensive and defensive lines. That spells trouble, as the Cyclones have depth in both of those areas, and if North Dakota loads the box, ISU quarterback Rocco Becht will wreak havoc.
Connor Ferguson
Iowa State 35, North Dakota 5
The Cyclone offense comes out firing with its familiar stars and supporting cast, but keeps things rather simple ahead of next week’s Cy-Hawk game. Iowa State’s defense has no troubles with a UND quarterback that has just two on-field passes to his name.
Grant Mahoney
Iowa State 37, North Dakota 6
Rocco Becht throws for three touchdowns and Iowa State will find another touchdown somewhere else on the field. I think Kyle Konrardy kicks three field goals and the Cyclones roll.
Jackson Pence
Iowa State 49, North Dakota 10
The Fighting Hawks are a solid FCS program, making it to the FCS playoffs four out the last five seasons. Iowa State has had a tendency to start slow under Matt Campbell, but with all the returners on both sides of the ball, the Cyclones should look to hit the ground running to start the 2024 season. Rocco Becht throws for 250+ yards and Campbell calls off the dogs in the second half as they rest up for the Hawkeyes next week.
Iowa State earned its first commitment to the 2026 recruiting class on Thursday in Carlisle guard Maci Comito.
Comito averaged 22.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for Carlisle last season, and enters her junior year with the team this winter.
The 5-foot-10 prospect chose Iowa State over offers from Drake, Butler, Belmont, DePaul, Marquette, Bradley, Eastern Illinois, South Dakota, Utah State, Cleveland State and Fairfield.
Iowa State opens its 2024-25 season on Monday, November 4 against Chicago State.
Greetings Cyclones!
We made it, welcome to game week! It’s the best time of year to hang out with 61,500 of the Cyclone Nation to watch Coach Campbell’s team take on the new look Big 12.
Support of the We Will Collective has had a direct impact on the excitement leading into this season. I hope you feel an extra sense of pride when the Cyclones take the field on Saturday.
The NIL world in college athletics is changing rapidly by the week, but the one constant is the need to stay competitive with our peers and increase funding.
This past off-season we had multiple Cyclone Football players receive contract offers of more than $500,000 and everyone stayed for considerably less than that amount.
Those amounts are only going to go up as the NIL world matures and schools get more sophisticated with their support. Our best way to spread the word is through you. So when you are at your tailgate or with friends at Jack Trice Stadium, reiterate the importance of supporting We Will.
We are extremely grateful for Cyclone Nation’s continued, loyal support. We have gone from raising $700,000 in year one to $1.8 million in 2023 to a goal of more than $5 million this season.
It’s hard to nail down exactly where that puts us relative to our peers, but based on the intel from our coaches, we are in the lower third of the Big 12 in NIL support and significantly falling behind some of the powerhouse schools in other conferences.
We have several ways you can support our efforts. The most direct way is to make a direct donation or sign up for a monthly, recurring donation/membership. For the next 30 days, we have a kick-off We Will Give challenge with a donor that is matching up to $200,000 of all funds raised.
We are integrating a creative, new way to engage the power of our charitable partners by giving a small percentage of the amount raised through this website (wewillgive.com) back directly to those local organizations. This helps fulfill our mission of impacting our area as well as spreading the word about the positives of NIL far beyond our Cyclone Nation base. Click this link at wewillgive.com to check out our special programming and incentives for this challenge and please share with your networks.
Donating directly to us like you could in the past through our website or continuing to be a We Will member is also just as impactful!
We are very mindful of the increased costs it takes to be a Cyclone fan, but not investing in this area during this time would put our coaches at a large disadvantage of keeping their championship rosters intact.
And don’t forget about our numerous collaborations to make your tailgates a little bit more enjoyable as you’re supporting the Cyclones with each purchase.
More than anything, I want to thank you. Thank you for choosing to be a Cyclone and for choosing to support in this way. We may not have a bunch of oil tycoons at Iowa State like some of our Big 12 peers, but we have all of us. And that is going to make the success this season even sweeter. See you at the Jack.
Go Cyclones!
Brent
Nov 11, 2023; Provo, Utah, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) calls a play against the Brigham Young Cougars in the first half at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Rocco Becht stood in the tunnel and took stock of the moment. Mere minutes separated him from his debut as Iowa State’s starting quarterback in last season’s opener against Northern Iowa. His heart raced. His pulse pounded. But Becht didn’t fight the swirl of emotions that beset his brain and body.
Instead, he embraced them, took a deep breath, and confidently trotted onto the field.
“I think I was, like, nervous as hell,” Becht said with a smile in advance of his 14th career start in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. season-opener against North Dakota (FS1) at Jack Trice Stadium. “This year, I don’t think I’m nervous. I think I’m just anxious and getting ready for the game — wanting to get to the game and play against another team instead of our defense. I think I’m just excited to be out there.”
A fine line crisscrosses anxiety and excitement, but Becht deftly straddled that razor’s edge of emotion last season, eventually becoming the Big 12’s offensive freshman of the year. His confidence grew commensurately with earned trust from his teammates, and once Big 12 play began, Becht played like a veteran.
So what does the skilled sophomore do for an encore? Raise the bar, of course.
“Rocco came into last fall, I think, earning confidence along the way,” said Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell, whose team enters Saturday’s game as a 27.5-point favorite. “I think that Rocco now has enough banked confidence to come in and almost take a bit of a leadership role within the football team, especially on the offensive side of the football. And obviously, when the quarterback is the guy that has the leadership intangibles, and he sets the tone for everybody around him, usually you have a chance to grow into something on the offensive side that can be really successful.”
Becht’s already established an explosive foundation for an ISU offense that returns its top three receivers (Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel and Ben Brahmer) from last season. He was one of two Power Four quarterbacks last season to pierce a defense with six passes spanning 60-plus yards and helmed an offense that ranked third nationally in scoring drives lasting a minute or less (eight).
“Ultimately, it just comes down to the type of person you are,” said Higgins, an Eastern Kentucky transfer who amassed 983 receiving yards while scoring six touchdowns in his Cyclones debut last season. “Rocco is just a great person. being around him is awesome Talking to him is great. Anything you ever need from him, he’s there, and that plays a huge part in being a good leader.”
That also comes with experience. Becht said he felt he truly came into his own last season in the Big 12 season-opening win over Oklahoma State. He completed 27 of 38 passes for a then-career-high 348 yards and three touchdowns that day, but finished the season even stronger, throwing 10 touchdown passes and just one interception in the final four games of 2023.
So what does he do for an encore? Dig deeper into the playbook to attack any eventuality.
“I want to make it harder for myself,” Becht said. “I don’t want to just go through the basics.”
That means seeking out challenging situations in practice — or merely encountering them when Campbell inserts “chaos” with a sharp chirp of his whistle. More than ever, ISU’s head coach has devised ways in practice to set up his players for failure so he can determine how they’ll respond in real-time situations. And more than ever, Becht stands center stage in that adversity-filled arena, eager to engage with each taxing scenario.
“Just being able to do that in practice, in fall camp, and having those situations handed to us to prepare us for the season is gonna be huge,” Becht said.
So Becht’s not concerned about encores. He’s not “nervous as hell” anymore. He’s simply confident in his ability to steer a potentially high-octane offense onto an opportunity-filled, 12-game open road.
“Going out there with a steady head and a level mind,” Becht said. “We’ve just got to go out there and do our job.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball alumni Stephanie Soares (2022-23) and Ashley Joens (2019-2023) have signed contracts to continue their respective professional careers overseas.
Soares is set to join AZS AJP Gorzow Wielskopolski in Poland while Joens has signed with Whai Basketball in New Zealand. Soares is in her first season of WNBA play with the Dallas Wings while Joens played with the Wings, Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury a season ago.ADVERTISING
Despite her shortened season due to injury in 2023-24, the Sao Paulo, Brazil, native made an immediate impact for ISU. Soares averaged 14.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game for the Cyclones, reaching double figures in 11 contests and recording eight double-doubles.
Her season-high of 23 points came in wins against UNI and Michigan State. Soares pulled down 20 rebounds against West Virginia, recording the sixth 20-rebound game in school history.
Soares came to Iowa State after a standout career at The Master’s University, where she was a two-time NAIA Division I Player of the Year. In 2021-22, she averaged 20.5 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.7 blocks, en route to leading the Mustangs to a 32-4 overall record. Soares was also named the WBCA NAIA Player of the Year.
Ashley Joens left Iowa State following one of the most decorated careers in program history. She’s a three-time recipient of the Cheryl Miller Award, a four-time unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection and a two-time WBCA All-American.
The Iowa City native, who started all 158 games in her career, finished as Iowa State’s all-time leading scorer with 3,060 career points and was just the 14th player in NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball history to reach 3,000 points.
She averaged 19.4 points per game in her career to break the school record and rank eighth in Big 12 history during her senior season. Joens exhibited the ability to score at all levels during her career, connecting on 344 career 3-pointers (fifth in Big 12 history) and making 740 free throws (third in Big 12 history). She shot 83.1 percent at the charity stripe.
Joens also dominated the glass, collecting 1,391 career rebounds and recording 65 career double-doubles.
In her career, Joens was recognized with 13 Big 12 Player of the Week honors, the second-most in Big 12 history behind only Baylor’s Brittney Griner.
In 2022-23, Joens poured in 21.6 points and pulled down 9.7 rebounds. She was named Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship Most Outstanding Player after averaging 26.7 points and 11.0 rebounds in leading the Cyclones to the tournament title. She scored 30 against Baylor, 22 against Oklahoma and 28 in the championship game against Texas.
Aug 17, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu (26) runs the ball as Cleveland Browns cornerback Vincent Gray (31) tackles him during the first quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Former All-Pro KR Kene Nwangwu has found a new home with the New Orleans Saints after being cut from the Minnesota Vikings on the NFL’s annual “Cut Day”.
pic.twitter.com/f45GdEPI4Q Kene Nwangwu adds nice RB depth and helps that he’s an All-Pro kick returner
— Joe Horns Cell Phone (@JoeHornsPhone) August 28, 2024
Nwangwu appeared in nine games last season for the Vikings as the team’s kick returner and is the only player in the NFL to have 3 or more kick return touchdowns since 2021.
Nwangwu collected 380 yards on 15 kick returns for the Vikings last season, and had 920 yards during the year before when he was healthy for the whole year.
The Saints start their 2024 campaign at home against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, September 8th (12:00 p.m. FOX).
Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Beau Freyler (17) celebrates with teammates after an interception during the fourth quarter in the Jack Trice Legacy Game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — They’re both two-time captains. They’re both all-Big 12 caliber performers. And now Iowa State safety Beau Freyler and wide receiver Jaylin Noel can finally look forward to taking the field side-by-side — not merely locked up against each other in practice.
“We’re ready to go,” Noel said of the Cyclones’ season opener against North Dakota at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (FS1) at Jack Trice Stadium. “It couldn’t come fast enough. It felt like it took forever to get here, but now we’re here.”
Almost, anyway. Defensive lineman J.R. Singleton joins Noel and Freyler to form ISU’s permanent trio of team captains this season. The Cyclones’ players voted on the matter — and one additional player will be selected from a “pod” late each week to be a fourth captain.
“I think the voting, to have two back-to-back captains in Beau and Jaylin — and I would say overwhelmingly, probably the most votes two young men have had in the voting process,” said ISU’s ninth-year head coach Matt Campbell, whose team seeks to win its fourth straight season opener. “I think it (also) says a lot about J.R. Singleton and his growth in our program. He’s our spiritual leader (and) his consistency to grow through hard things that have come his way has been really impressive.”
That crucible-based quality permeates each of the Cyclones’ three senior captains. Freyler and Noel test each other each practice and as the competition heightens, their bond as leaders deepens.
“(The receivers) push me to be better and push others to be better, so I’ve got nothing but respect for them,” said Freyler, who led ISU by a wide margin with 107 total tackles last season. “It’s fun and exciting that we’re not going against them on Saturday and we can just cheer them on instead of competing every single day, for sure.”
The Cyclones’ receivers could give Freyler and his defensive teammates plenty of reasons to cheer on Saturday. The No. 22 (FCS coaches’ poll) Fighting Hawks return three starting linebackers, but lack experience on the defensive line and in the secondary. ISU boasts a potent 1-2 punch at receiver in Noel and Jayden Higgins, but the Cyclones’ stable of pass catchers runs deep — despite the loss of senior Daniel Jackson to a lower leg injury in fall camp.
“I think it’s gonna be a surprise every week for us as a receivers group,” said Higgins, who racked up 983 receiving yards last season while scoring six touchdowns. “I feel like we can all go out there and make plays.”
ISU’s defensive backfield shares the same sentiment. Cornerbacks Darien Porter, Myles Purchase and Jontez Williams will all see significant snaps, and the high-performing safety trio of Freyler, Jeremiah Cooper and Malik Verdon is fully healthy for the first time since last season’s opener. Cooper snared five interceptions last season, while Freyler grabbed three, and Verdon picked off two despite missing the final four games because of injury.
“I think we’ve all done a great job of preparing this offseason, putting in that work,” Freyler said. “So I’m confident in whoever steps on the field, for sure.”
Campbell said earlier this summer that Freyler — a first-team Academic All-American — serves as an “anchor” for the Cyclones’ defense and embodies “a warrior spirit.” But how does his defensive coordinator, Jon Heacock, describe him?
“He loves hard stuff,” Heacock said. “The harder it gets, the better Beau plays. When it gets really tough, Beau plays his best and that’s a ‘warrior’s spirit.’”
ISU’s fans obviously hope there aren’t too many hard things to navigate on Saturday as 27.5-point favorites. But Freyler, Noel and Singleton are poised to help their teammates weather the storms that will inevitably pop up throughout the regular season — and possibly beyond. That’s what captains do, after all.
“Guys have pushed each other,” said Noel, who led the Cyclones with seven touchdown catches last season. “I feel like that’s been the most important thing for our growth this season. We know what we’re capable of.”
After being cut following a productive preseason, former Cyclone Anthony Johnson Jr. has found a new spot with an NFL team.
Johnson Jr. will head to the New York Giants, who picked him up off of waivers from Green Bay.
Giants claimed Packers S Anthony Johnson Jr., 7th round pick last year who started 4 games.
Surprising add to a S room that is largely set in stone, but he was an unlikely cut and played well last year. Hopefully another solid contributor! pic.twitter.com/ErBHyiWCiD
— Strickly NFL (@StricklandNFL) August 28, 2024
Johnson Jr. appeared in 14 games with the Packers last year, totaling 26 tackles as well as an interception.
The Giants open up the season at home against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 8 (12:00 p.m. FOX).
Iowa State’s Rocco Becht, Jayden Higgins, Tyler Onyedim & Beau Freyler took questions from media members ahead of Saturday’s season opener between the Cyclones and North Dakota (2:30 p.m. FS1).=
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and defensive coordinator Jon Heacock addressed media members in Ames on Tuesday ahead of this weekends season opener against North Dakota (2:30 p.m. FS1). North Dakota coach Bubba Schweigert’s weekly press conference can be seen below as well.
Iowa State football head coach Matt Campbell talks to the media during the program’s football media day at Stark Performance Center on Friday, August 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.© NIrmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — The excitement level spikes. The adrenaline flows more freely. Mistakes emerge that must be corrected.
It’s finally game week for the Iowa State football team, and as the atmosphere changes, head coach Matt Campbell and his staff endeavor to ensure nothing else does in terms of his team’s preparedness and attention to detail.
“That’s the whole mentality of this program,” Campbell said in advance of the Cyclones’ season-opener at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (FS1) against North Dakota at Jack Trice Stadium. “Your mindset day in and day out for the last six months should match what Tuesday practice in the fall looks like — week one, to week six, to week 12. The great teams that I’ve been around, they’ve had the same mindset every single day.”
So there’s no mental shift for ISU as it transitions from fall camp to the regular season — except that now the players will be cheered on by 60,000-plus fans.
“The energy in the Jack — me personally, I love playing in Jack Trice (Stadium),” said junior defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim, one of six Cyclones whose 13 career starts all came last season. “It should be really fun, really exciting. I love the energy. Ready to go.”
ISU and North Dakota have never met on the football field, but the Fighting Hawks’ rise though the FCS ranks over the past several years has been impressive. They reached the playoffs in 2023 and return skilled starters at key positions, but are less experienced on the offensive and defensive lines and at quarterback. And despite being prohibitive favorites this Saturday, Campbell and his staff know that danger and adversity often lurk in those on-paper mismatches in week one.
Case in point: Last Saturday’s “week zero” game between No. 10 Florida State and Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland. The Yellow Jackets were double-digit underdogs, but upset the Seminoles, 24-21, on a last-second field goal.
“Football’s hard to replicate,” Campbell said of the inevitable rust often evident early in the season. “Eleven-on-eleven, it’s really hard to replicate the environment and game day experience. So, man, how you tackle in the first game, how you handle the pressure of some of these guys in new roles — and all of a sudden, now there (are nearly) 70,000 people here and there’s this great environment and great experience. I think all of those things are unknown.”
North Dakota’s biggest unknown is its quarterback, Simon Romfo. He beat out last season’s backup during fall camp, but nearly all of his college football statistics are sandwiched into mop-up duty in one game. The 5-11, 190-pound junior completed both his passes and rushed for two touchdowns in last season’s 49-10 win over Western Illinois.
“He’s a skilled guy,” Cyclones veteran defensive coordinator Jon Heacock said. “He’s athletic. He’s tough. And those guys present problems, too. They run the football, you know, quarterback runs. It’s stuff we’ve prepped for and studied all summer, and we’re just trying to figure out the balance to where it’s all gonna be.”
Therein lies the uncertainty in week one of any season. That’s why Campbell hopes nothing changes in how his players approach each practice — even as the cheers and hoopla will soon surround each Saturday as “the lights come on.”
“Now there’s a result,” Campbell said. “A tangible result to the time, the effort, the energy that you spend into it. Not all results will be great, and how you respond to it is defining of who you are and who you’ll become.”
Sep 16, 2023; Boise, Idaho, USA; North Dakota Fighting Hawks quarterback Tommy Schuster (2) pitches to wide receiver Bo Belquist (1) against the Boise State Broncos during the first half at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Iowa State returns the most production of any FBS team this season.
The Cyclones’ week one foe — North Dakota — is breaking in a new starting quarterback and features more than 30 new players on its roster.
So it’s not surprising that Las Vegas oddsmakers tabbed ISU as a 27.5-point favorite to win early this week, but it is worth noting the Cyclones have struggled at times in their season openers under ninth-year head coach Matt Campbell.
ISU has won by 21 and 32 points in its past two season openers, but went 3-3 in its first game of the season earlier in Campbell’s tenure.
The bottom line: Week one can be a bumpy ride for the Cyclones — especially when facing a Missouri Valley Football Conference team eager to knock off an FBS school.
With that in mind, here are five Fighting Hawks to watch against ISU beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (FS1) at Jack Trice Stadium:
WR Bo Belquist The 6-1, 185-pound fifth-year senior isn’t big, but he does have a penchant for making timely, winning plays. Belquist eclipsed 100 yards receiving in three wins last season and led the team with 5.5 receptions per game. He caught six touchdown passes last season and has reached the end zone 20 times in his storied North Dakota career. Belquist will serve as one of the team’s captains for the second straight season, so is clearly one of the top leaders. He’s also the Fighting Hawks’ lone representative on the voluminous Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist and led his team in plays spanning 20 o more yards last season with 12.
LB Wyatt Pedigo Pedigo may be North Dakota’s top all-around defensive player and can be a disruptive force against both the run and the pass. He led the FCS in fumble recoveries (4) last season and also forced two fumbles. The 6-0, 230-pound senior also led his team in total tackles (72), tackle for loss (7.5) and sacks (4.0) last season. Pedigo also picked off two passes as a sophomore, so he has a nose for the football and isn’t intimidated by FBS programs. Two of his fumble recoveries and one of his forced fumbles came in a loss at Boise State. Pedigo also racked up a season-best 10 tackles against the Broncos.
QB Simon Romfo The 5-11, 190-pound junior beat our returning backup quarterback Trey Feeney for the starting job this fall, which prompted Feeney to announce he’ll be transferring. That made the quarterback position extremely thin for the Fighting Hawks, but Romfo impressed coaches with his running prowess, throwing accuracy, and decision-making abilities as they sought to replace record-setting sixth-year senior Tommy Schuster, who transferred to Michigan State. Romfo went 2-for-2 through the air in a blowout win last season over Western Illinois, and also rushed for two touchdowns. His hometown is listed as Calvin, N.D. — population 15 according to U.S. Census data.
RB Gaven Ziebarth Ziebarth started just three games last season while battling injuries, but still led the team in rushing yards with 700. The 6-0, 205-pound junior averaged 6.5 yards per carry last season, which ranked second among MVFC running backs. He also rushed for nine touchdowns in 2023, which tied for sixth-best in the conference. Ziebarth is also one of several Fighting Hawks who tend to rise to major challenges. His career-best 156-yard performance came in a 49-24 rout of perennial FCS power and intrastate rival North Dakota State. Ziebarth will split carries with senior Isaiah Smith, who ranked second on the team in rushing yards last season with 594.
LB Malachi McNeal The 6-0, 220-pound junior is one of three returning starters at linebacker — and all three are among the team’s captains. McNeal ranked second to Pedigo in total tackles (68), solo stops (43) and tackles for loss (7.0) last season and also blocked a punt in the win over North Dakota State. McNeal ranked third on the team in sacks with 3.0 last season and recorded a career-high 11 tackles in a 27-0 loss at Northern Iowa.
Iowa State football has posted its annual depth chart release, with Saturday’s matchup with North Dakota (2:30 p.m. Fox Sports 1).
The program typically releases its depth chart ahead of every season opener and doesn’t make any public changes to it moving forward through the season.
Iowa State has released its official depth chart ahead of Saturday’s season opener. pic.twitter.com/m0aoQUOPyg
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) August 26, 2024
Redshirt freshman Beni Ngoyi alongside Army transfer Isaiah Alston are listed as the third ‘starters’ at the wide receiver spot. Ngoyi had himself an impressive off-season and caught a big pass in last year’s AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
At the running back spot, Eastern Michigan transfer Jaylon Jackson is listed as the third player in the room. Expect to see Jackson returning some kicks this year, too.
The clarity at the offensive line positions is still lacking, but fans will get their first look at the group of five up front on Saturday.
Sophomore Kooper Ebel has established himself as the starter at the will linebacker spot, and the Cyclones have some depth there with returning starter Jack Sadowsky at the same spot.
As previously reported on the CycloneFanatic premium forum, Kyle Konrardy will handle the field goal duties for the team to start things off. He pushed Chase Contreraz hard last year and has performed well during fall camp scrimmages.
The 2024 football season is upon us, and that means recruitment for the 2026 class will start to heat up this fall.
Here are nine prospects to keep an eye on for Iowa State fans as in-game visits start and a recruiting class begins to be built.
Ian Premer, tight end (Great Bend, Kansas)
6-foot-5, 210 pounds
Premer is rated as the No. 4 tight end in the 2026 class, and has caught the attention of a number of high-profile programs. Over the summer, Premer attended camp at Iowa State in part due to his relationship with tight ends coach and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser. Premer’s offer sheet includes Kansas State, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Colorado, Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Missouri, Florida, Arkansas, Auburn, Nebraska, Oregon, Wisconsin and Stanford. He may be Iowa State’s highest priority target.
Evan Jacobson, tight end (Waukee, Iowa)
6-foot-7, 220 pounds
Another tight end to keep an eye out for – Jacobson has Iowa State ties already. His older brother, Michael Jacobson, was a standout basketball player in Ames and just wrapped up a preseason with the New Orleans Saints. Evan’s the top rated 2026 prospect out of Iowa, and has had his offer sheet explode with scholarships up from Kansas State, Kansas, Colorado, LSU, Ohio State, Penn State, Missouri, Texas A&M, Auburn, Arkansas, Florida State, Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, Louisville, Minnesota, Miami, and Wisconsin.
Kasen Thomas, Linebacker (Sioux City, Iowa)
6-foot-2, 195 pounds
An in-state linebacker out of Bishop Heelan – so far it’s Iowa State and Iowa as his two scholarship offers. Thomas is rated as the top linebacker in the state by 247 Sports. Thomas has also seen interest from defending national champion Michigan, although it’s early in his recruitment.
Dreshaun Ross, ATH (Fort Dodge, Iowa)
6-foot-4, 195 pounds
A highly* touted multi-sport athlete. Ross is billed as a top prospect in both the football and wrestling fields. He’s stated on the record that there’s been no decision thus far on if he’ll pick either sport or participate in both in college, but that hasn’t stopped anyone from going after the in-state athlete. Ross holds football offers from Kansas State, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Purdue and Wisconsin, alongside Iowa State.
Jayden McGregory, ATH (West Des Moines, Iowa)
6-foot-2, 195 pounds
A four-star prospect out of Valley High School, McGregory received his first offer from Iowa State after a prospect camp in 2023 – the Cyclones have been in on him from the beginning. Since then, Kansas State, Michigan, Louisville, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Wisconsin have all thrown their hats into the mix. McGregory is rated as the No. 2 prospect in the state, although Iowa has not yet offered. The ATH prospect helped Valley to a state championship on the basketball court in March.
Jaylen Mason, Quarterback (Wichita, Kansas)
6-foot-2, 195 pounds
One of Iowa State’s main targets at the quarterback spot as things stand. Mason picked up offers from Kansas and Liberty after Iowa State offered in June following a standout performance during a prospect camp. He’s described as a playmaker and will have a number of offers come in this fall.
Kaprice Keith, ATH (Bellevue, Nebraska)
6-foot-3, 180 pounds
An ATH recruit out of the Omaha area – Iowa State’s his only FBS scholarship offer to this point, but he’s seen interest from Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska amongst others. Keith is a multi-sport athlete for his high school and is also related to former Cyclone running back Breece Hall.
Hudson Parliament, OL (Brandon, South Dakota)
6-foot-4, 300 pounds
A four-star offensive lineman rated as the top prospect out of South Dakota. Parliament was offered by Iowa State following a prospect camp appearance this summer. He holds FBS offers from Kansas State, Texas Tech, Minnesota, Nebraska, Central Michigan and Miami (Ohio), along with Iowa State.
Mason Bandhauer, OL (Fort Collins, Colorado)
6-foot-5, 290 pounds
An offensive lineman out of Colorado – Bandhauer is a target out of the mountain state for coach Ryan Clanton and the Cyclones. He’s been on an unofficial visit to Ames and camped over the summer with Iowa State. He holds other offers from Kansas State, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State, Oregon State, Washington State, Boston College, Colorado State, and Wyoming.
Dec 29, 2023; Memphis, TN, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive lineman Trent Jones II (89) reacts with defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim (11) after a defensive stop during the first half against the Memphis Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Leave it to a defensive line coach to deliver a robust and revealing opening statement.
Iowa State’s Eli Rasheed is that coach — and he didn’t mince words recently when detailing areas for improvement for his typically high-performing position group.
“This summer, the number one thing is to be a better football IQ guy,” said Rasheed, the longtime architect of a unit that’s consistently been a strength the past seven seasons. “Be smarter player, and I think our guys have done a great job with that.”
As for this fall?
“What identity will we have?” Rasheed asked rhetorically. “Are we gritty? How’s our toughness? Is there (a proper) mindset? Is there relentless effort?”
There’s certainly good depth of numbers — but determining how much quality depth the Cyclones’ defensive line possesses remains a work in progress as Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. season-opener against North Dakota swings into view.
“We’re about one or two guys away from being three deep,” Rasheed said. “But I’ll tell you what, the competition in the D-line room is incredible. It’s fun to coach.”
ISU fans hope it will be fun to watch, as well, during a 2024 season where expectations are high and the Cyclones believe they can contend for a Big 12 championship.
But ISU must remain strong up front on defense and find ways to be more disruptive with its pass rush. The Cyclones ranked 11th in the Big 12 in sacks last season and brought in transfer EDGE Kenard Snyder to help bolster that effort. He racked up 5.5 sacks a Lousiana-Monroe last season and has 24.5 carer tackles for loss.
“In all our new defenses, I’m gonna be able to really showcase my abilities and in our multiple defenses, from the three down (lineman) to the four down, be able to really rush from the two-point and the three-point (stances),” Snyder said. “You know, get to the quarterback.”
Snyder’s not alone in possessing positive pass-rushing attributes. Joey Petersen, Dom Orange and J.R. Singleton have been solid contributors throughout their respective careers and Trent Jones has become a complete defensive lineman who can play inside or outside. Fellow junior Tyler Onyedim — who stands 6-4 and weighs 295 pounds — is also flexible and explosive, and younger players such as Ikenna Ezeogu and Zaimir Hawk are expected to shine this season, as well.
There’s at least one more name to watch in that room, though — and it’s a true freshman from one of the nation’s top high school programs.
“Alijah Cornell out of Bishop Gorman (Nev.) High School,” Rasheed said. “He’s 6-5 and 290 right now. He is very, very intelligent. He is moving the needle and he’s gonna play our interior nose. He’s gonna move the needle and challenge some of those guys on the inside.”
So ISU’s defense line will feature veterans and rookies alike, all aiming to amp up that pass rush while remaining stout in stopping the run. The Cyclones’ defense has ranked among the top three in the Big 12 against the run in each of the past four seasons and depth up front is a big reason for that consistency. Rasheed is known for his hockey-style line changes across his defensive front and it’s a tactic that helps keep each of his linemen refreshed.
“It helps everybody knowing and trusting guys that you’re with that I can go out and give my 100 percent and if I need a play off, a couple plays off, a series off — whatever you need, the guy that is (replacing you) will step up and keep that same intensity, that same pressure,” said Petersen, a senior defensive end who’s totaled 3.5 career sacks. “It just helps you know you can go all out and not hold anything back.”
Rasheed certainly didn’t hold anything back when he delivered his detailed fall camp progress report. His group’s bigger, stronger and smarter. But whether the pass rush will be better is anyone’s guess until the Cyclones’ 12-game regular season slate begins on Aug. 31 against North Dakota at Jack Trice Stadium.
“It’s gonna be really exciting,” said Onyedim, an honorable mention all-Big 12 election last season. Our practices are all high intensity and that’s gonna help us during the games, for sure.”
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht talks to the media during the football team’s media day at Jack Trice Stadium on Friday, August 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © NIrmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Once the play clock hits 15 seconds, the chatter stops.
Until then, Iowa State assistant coach Jake Waters is fully in current Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht’s ear via his in-helmet communication system.
“He gives us tips and reminders, which is huge for me,” said Becht, the Big 12’s 2023 offensive freshman of the year. “Just letting me know if maybe there’s a re-key on this play, with a read if we’ve got double motions — all that stuff is good for us. That and the tablets are good, so we’ve been working those tablets as well on the sideline in practice and I’m excited to see those in real game, live action. I think it’s gonna help us tremendously this year.”
Becht and all his fellow FBS quarterbacks will benefit from in-helmet communication for the first time this season per NCAA rules. The tablets are a Big 12-specific addition made possible by a “partnership” the conference entered into with Microsoft this spring. So major college football has finally gone high-tech — but it’s important to strike a balance between a feel for the game and poring over raw data.
“What’s too much and what’s not enough?” said Waters, a former standout at Kansas State and first-year quarterbacks coach with the Cyclones. “You don’t want to give him so much information and talk to him all the way up to the 15 (seconds), to where he can’t think and he can’t process things, but little tips here and there about things that I’m seeing and we’re seeing, or tips and reminders on a play or something like that — I thought that would have been great when I was playing.”
Now that era has arrived Waters will serve as Becht’s auditory tether to new offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, who will sit next to Waters in the coaches’ box to further ensure they’re all on the same page.
“The nice thing with Rocco having a year under his belt is he’s comfortable telling me, ‘I don’t like this, I don’t like that,’ and we’re able to talk to him on the headset (about it),” said Mouser, who’s also ISU’s tight ends coach. “We have little signals for stuff that they like and don’t like because they can’t talk back to us.”
Becht’s am did all the talking last season as he broke the Cyclones’ freshman records for completions (231), passing yards (3,120) and touchdown passes (23). The sophomore from Wesley Chapel, Fla., said he worked on his footwork in the offseason, which should help him be even more efficient this fall.
“If you mess up your footwork, it messes up your read (and the timing of the play — the timing of your action,” Becht said. “So that’s the biggest thing. I’ve worked hard on that. Coach Waters has pounded that into me, so I’m excited that I’ll be able to (showcase that improvement) soon, and hopefully be consistent in those areas.”
Becht’s the clear No. 1 quarterback for ISU for the first time entering game week. Last season, he shared a few series with J.J. Kohl in the week one win over Northern Iowa before fully securing the top job. Kohl – a former four-star recruit — is currently battling freshman Connor Moberly for the Cyclones’ backup spot.
“They’re growing every single day, too,” Waters said. “J.J.’s been here a bit longer than Connor. but they keep getting better every single day and (are) making good plays and making the right decisions. Knowing when (they) have a chance to be aggressive and then also when to make the right play. We say all the time in our room, we don’t always need to make the big play, we’ve just got to make the right play.”
Becht excelled in that area as last season progressed and threw 10 touchdown passes to just one interception over the final four games. Now he’s savvier and more vocal; more poised and fully in command of the offense.
“He can make every throw,” Waters said. “Accurate release. Can run. But the growth outside of (that) — the communication, the leadership, everything is going at a really, really high level right now.”
AMES — Every kid with special needs scores a touchdown. And every touchdown evokes an ear-to-ear smile. That’s what Iowa State’s annual Victory Day is designed to produce each Friday at the end of fall camp, and as Voice of the Cyclones John Walters has often said, “It never gets old.”
“So much joy,” senior wide receiver Jaylin Noel said of participating in the powerful event for the fourth time. “Everybody’s just eager to get out and see the kids smile. It’s always a great time.”
ISU head coach Matt Campbell decided to start a Victory Day tradition at Toledo more than a decade ago. It’s modeled after one he learned of from a high school coach in Michigan and it’s been a late summer fixture of his Cyclones’ program since he arrived in 2016.
“It’s always been bigger than us here and it’s not just about football,” said Campbell, whose team opens the season Aug. 31 at 2:30 p.m. against North Dakota State at home. “It’s about how do you use your platform to make a difference in the lives of others.”
Every touchdown scored brought a unique celebration. There were many spikes and even a few flexes. But the smiles framed each interaction, making an indelible impression on ISU’s players and the participants alike.
“I think the concept of it is not something you can really wrap your mind around,” senior defensive end Joey Petersen said. “You’re like, ‘OK, we know that’s what’s going on, but until you actually get to it and get into the event, you don’t …”
Petersen then brielfy stopped himself.
“It’s really cool,” he summed up.
Enough said. Soon the Cyclones will begin playing their slate of 12 regular season games. And soon it will be all football, all the time. But memories of this Friday night will linger — and that’s what matters the most to Campbell.
“It is bigger than you,” he said. “And can you I’ve more than you ever take from the whole? Probably need more of that in our society in one way, shape or form, but I think our kids really do a great job with that. I think they’ve shown (they) do a great job with that and a great opportunity to maybe do that one more time before things get a little hectic with the football season coming their way.”
Iowa State tight end Benjamin Brahmer (18) celebrates a first down during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2023 in Ames, Iowa. © Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Every time the ball flew Ben Brahmer’s way, he made a big play.
The date: Nov. 22, 2022.
The scene: The Nebraska Class C high school championship game between Pierce and No. 1 Aurora.
Brahmer’s record-breaking stat line for Pierce: 11 catches on 11 targets for 249 yards and three touchdowns.
So the 6-7, 250-pound Iowa State sophomore’s been an excellent pass catcher for quite some time, but now Brahmer’s eager to deliver bruising blocks alongside his game-changing grabs.
“I’ve been focusing on being a lot more physical this camp,” said Brahmer, who broke the Cyclones’ freshman tight ends record with 352 receiving yards as a true freshman. “That way I can be more versatile for the team, and that way I’m able to be out there whether it’s two-minute (offense) or a third-and-short situation.”
Brahmer stands front and center in a room that’s stockpiled talent throughout head coach Matt Campbell’s eight-plus season tenure. When the talent is there — and it is right now, the Cyclones often trot out two- and three-tight-end sets. That’s where Brahmer’s added ability to be an every-down player becomes crucially important alongside reliable fullback-tight end hybrid Stevo Klotz.
“I’m always gonna just do my part and do what’s asked of me,” said Klotz, a former walk-on who garnered second-team all-Big 12 honors as a fullback last season. “If the ball comes to me, great. If not, great.”
That workman-like attitude earned Klotz a lot of trust and respect.
“Stevo’s been exceptional — a great football player,” Brahmer said. “(From Cedar Rapids Prairie standout Gabe Burkle’s) been really good. He’s a smart guy, knows everything that everybody’s doing out there, so it’s really fun playing with all those guys.”
That group also includes a pair of talented true freshmen: Cooper Alexander and former Linn-Mar star Keaton Roskop. Alexander’s father, Stephen, starred at tight end for Oklahoma from 1994-97 and carved out a 10-year NFL career.
“We have a big brother-little brother kind of set up and I’m (Alexander’s) big brother,” Brahmer said. “So I’ve been helping him get through this camp and he’s obviously a great player. Coming in as a freshman, he should get some playing time, which is awesome for him. He’s being really physical. (He’s) a really talented player.”
As for Roskop, who served as a two-way player for the Lions?
“He’s really physical, too,” Brahmer said. “(In a practice earlier this week), he had a great block and he’s getting more reps now because he just goes out there and puts his head down and hits people.”
That word — physical — embodies the highest praise for Brahmer because he’s working so hard to play with that hard-nosed edge, while not being too hard on himself.
“I started camp a little slow, but I take to the coaches and got my mind right and it’s been great since,” Brahmer said. “Just going out there playing physical, playing free, and having fun just playing football.”
First-year offensive coordinator and longtime tight ends coach Taylor Mouser said Brahmer had a good reason for a slow start this fall.
“He was coming off a little bit of an injury,” Mouser said of Brahmer, who was tabbed a first-team freshman All-American by the Athletic last season. “Sometimes it can be easy for a young guy, and for anybody, to get in your head a little bit. Self-doubt creeps into everybody and for him to come back and just work through stuff and for me to remind him of who he is and why he fell in love with the same of football — it’s no different than it was for him in high school. Just go out there and fun. Don’t think so much and don’t try to be perfect.”
That’s easier said than done for a record-breaking coach’s son, but Brahmer’s rapidly freeing himself from the grip of self-criticism.
“I’ve just been focusing on my mental side and being confident in myself that I can go out there and make any play that I want to, whether it’s in the run game or the pass game,” he said.
Caleb Bacon stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Jubilant shouts rang out. Heartfelt hugs ensued. Former Iowa State walk-on linebacker Caleb Bacon had just been put on scholarship last December and while he enjoyed the moment, he chose to consider it as a beginning, not a crowning achievement.
“It meant a lot, obviously, and it was really exciting,” said Bacon, who emerged as a budding star for the Cyclones last season. “But now it’s like nobody really cares anymore. I’m not a walk-on. I’m on scholarship and expected to do my thing every single game.”
And Bacon — a 6-4, 245-pound junior for Lake Mills — wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s on pace to earn his first career start in the Aug. 31 season-opener against North Dakota at Jack Trice Stadium. He also proved to be highly productive as a reserve last season, finishing second on the team in tackles with 60 while adding 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
“He probably talks a little bit more and smiles a little bit more, but yeah, he’s completely transformed who he is as a player and a person,” ISU’s first-year linebackers coach Colby Kratch said. “It’s been awesome to see.”
Bacon’s a headliner in the Cyclones’ greenest position group. Fellow junior Will McLaughlin is ISU’s most experienced linebacker with 16 career starts. Sophomore Jack Sadowsky is next after starting every game as a true freshman last season and Jacob Ellis made two starts in 2023. Beyond that, junior Zach Lovett gained valuable reps after transferring in from Missouri last season, sophomore Kooper Ebel continues to turn heads, and true freshmen Cael Brezina, Beau Goodwin and Mason Miller have been impressive in fall camp.
So there’s plenty of depth in the linebacker room, but much of it is unproven.
“I think they do a great job of complementing each other and (that) makes competition in the room (strong) because so many guys are good at different things,” said Kratch, who served as a graduate assistant on Matt Campbell’s staff from 2017-22 before joining North Texas for the 2023 season. “I think they’ve done an awesome job of working together and understanding it’s not just the three starters or the (number) twos, it’s everybody, and I think it’s been awesome the way they’ve really pushed each other.”
Lovett served as a quarterback spy at times last season and three of his 11 tackles were sacks. He and Ellis can both showcase their versatility at the position, providing solid support against both the run and the pass.
“If they give you a role you’ve just got to lock in,” Lovett said. “If it’s special teams, if it’s spying on a package, if it’s playing linebacker in base — honestly, I just take it all the same.”
Ebel is similarly positioned to earn more reps this season. He was so good on special teams in 2023 that ISU chose to play him in eight games rather than attempt to preserve his redshirt.
“He’s completely transformed what he looks like,” Kratch said. “Day one when he got here, he was 190 pounds in high school, and he’s almost at 245 right now, so he’s a guy that should make a huge impact.”
Bacon already has, but he’s determined to do more.
“(I’m) just setting my expectations for myself really high,” he said. “Just keep working every day.”
Dec 29, 2023; Memphis, TN, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) reacts after a first down catch during the first half against the Memphis Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Seventeen measly yards.
That’s what separated Iowa State senior wide receiver Jayden Higgins from becoming the seventh player in program history to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a season a year ago.
So what does the former transfer from Eastern Kentucky do for an encore?
Share the wealth — and praise his pass-catching brethren.
“Obviously, you can tell we’re extremely dynamic,” said Higgins, who averaged 18.5 yards per reception last season. “We have a lot of depth. We’ve got guys who can go in and make plays. Anyone can go in there and make plays. The way our room is connected is awesome. It’s all love towards every person; everyone wants to see each other succeed, and that’s only gonna help us (this) fall. Having so many weapons — it’s a great thing to be around.”
Higgins and fellow senior Jaylin Noel form the second-most productive returning pass-catching duo in the Big 12, narrowly behind Oklahoma State’s Brennan Presley and Rashod Owens. Higgins and Noel combined for 119 receptions, 1,803 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. They also helped league offensive freshman of the year quarterback Rocco Becht complete six passes that spanned 60-plus yards — double the total of any other Big 12 playcaller.
“When they have the ball in their hands, they can do something special,” Becht said.
And the Cyclones’ quarterback didn’t limit that praise to Higgins and Noel. Transfers Eli Green and Isaiah Alston have turned heads in fall camp — and redshirt freshman Beni Ngoyi is poised to make major contributions, as well. Alston, Higgins and Ngoyi each stand 6-4 or taller and all three can stretch the field.
So who’s the fastest player in that room?
“I’d like to go with myself,” said Ngoyi, who hauled in a 45-yard reception in the Liberty Bowl loss to Memphis. “But in (the) NCAA (football video game), me and Jaylin are rated 92 speed. So me or Jaylin — the game says it.”
Soon, ISU’s strong stable of receivers will have a say in how successful the offense will be in a season surrounded by great expectations. The Cyclones feature three receivers — Higgins, Noel and Green — who totaled 800-plus yards through the air in 2023, so big plays can come from a wide range of sources.
“I think that’s the fun thing for us as offensive coaches and for (first-year offensive coordinator Taylor) Mouser,” ISU receivers coach Noah Pauley said. “(We don’t) have to say we’ve got to get Jayden Higgins the ball every single time. You can (attack) the defense and stretch those guys out and that’s the beauty of our team. These guys truthfully have joy for everyone else and making big plays and getting someone open. We always want to win big games, and you may have a big game or you may not, but if we’re winning, we’re all happy about it.”
Especially Higgins, who joined the Cyclones program last season to prove his mettle at the Power Four level. He’s already done that — and declined to set a yardage-based goal for himself this season.
“I would say the most important thing is contributing to the team as far as winning games,” Higgins said. “Whatever the team needs me to do to win games, I feel like if I do that, then I’ll be in a perfect spot to (get) to where I want to be.”
Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, along with Ben Brahmer and Jeremiah Cooper addressed media members on Wednesday at the Stark Performance Center.
Dec 29, 2023; Memphis, TN, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell (right) reacts with Iowa State Cyclones offensive linemen James Neal (75) during the second half against the Memphis Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — James Neal considered each request but politely declined.
Then the requests turned to pleas and the then-high school basketball player consulted with his parents. They had forbidden their 6-6 son from playing football to that point, but Neal — who started all 13 games on the offensive line last season for Iowa State — finally convinced them to let him try.
“I mean, I was like, ‘Why not?’” said the 330-pound junior from Grayson, Ga.. “I’m not afraid and I hope you guys aren’t. They understood that and they’re fully supporting me. (It’s now) a great idea, in their minds.”
Neal finally played football his senior season — and Grayson High School won the 7A state title. Coincidence? Probably, but Neal’s rapidly developed into a quality offensive lineman for a Cyclones group that features five returning players with starting experience. He started at left tackle last season, but could move inside this fall to accommodate graduate transfer Jalen Travis, a 6-7, 340-pound Princeton alumnus. Travis, it turns out, also shined on the basketball court, and as a sophomore, he played with former ISU basketball standout Gabe Kalscheur at DeLaSalle (Minn.) High School.
“He really has no pride, no ego, he’s humble,” the Cyclones’ second-year offensive line coach Ryan Clanton said of Travis. “He came in with the intent to learn and to help in any way possible. And that goes even outside of football. It’s been really fun to watch because not just the competitiveness from the rest of the group and himself, from his physical stature and his abilities, which are amazing, but his ability to make friendships, real friendships fast — that’s impressive to me. And I was a transfer, so I know how hard it is to jump into a position group, let alone a team, that fast.”
Clanton’s swiftly working to sort out his starting five up front while determining how many of his linemen are ready to contribute in a rotation. Depth is key at a position where injuries are common and that’s one reason Clanton works out his players at every position. It’s all part of his “violent and versatile” mantra that he preaches to a unit that’s produced mixed results in the past several seasons.
“Last year, I think we had a little bit of depth but there were still some young guys in the room,” said offensive lineman Deylin Hasert, who missed all of last season with an Achilles injury. “And then this year, the transition is there (are) a lot of guys that can play. There (are) a lot of guys that are showing flashes — even from the fours to the ones, there (are) guys that are showing they’re violent, they’re aggressive, their footwork’s good. It’s awesome to see because at the end of the day we’re gonna put out our best five and everyone’s pushing each other to be better.”
Clanton’s added new wrinkles to his teaching methods but continues to try to make complex concepts easy to learn for a unit that needs to consistently perform better this season, particularly in the running game.
“We’re trying to really test their mental capacity in a way of, ‘What situation are you in in practice? How are you gonna handle this pressure and you don’t know what the defense is gonna do?’” Clanton said. “It’s been really fun to watch those guys compete and try to rise to the challenge, and that’s the sorting process because at times you’ll have people that won’t do that, and as a coach, you’re watching that. Day by day, (we’re) going through the grades, looking at it, and going, ‘OK, these are the people we can trust on Saturdays.’ That’s really what we’re looking for.”
Neal became one of those “people” last season and plans to be even better in 2024.
“It was just coming to practice every day and tried to make sure I got better at something each and every day,” he said. “(I’m) just keeping that mentality now and throughout my whole career.”
The ESPN Maui Invitational bracket was unveiled for the upcoming Thanksgiving week tournament Monday in a report from Jon Rothstein, and it features an opening round matchup with Auburn for Iowa State.
Both teams will likely start next season inside the top 20, which sets up a high-profile matchup on Monday, November 25 – just Iowa State’s fourth game of the year.
Tipoff time and TV selection has not yet been released for the tournament, but other first round matchups are set in stone.
North Carolina and Dayton will square off in the other half of the bottom side of the bracket, and one of the two will face Iowa State on Tuesday, November 26.
The rest of the tournament includes UConn, which faces Memphis in the first round, along with Colorado and Michigan State.
The third game of the tournament will take place on Wednesday, November 27.
Iowa State Cyclones Punt kicker Kyle Konrardy (97) kicks the ball for a field goal in the University’s Spring Football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Kyle Konrardy ticked off the numbers casually, as if reading from a grocery list.
Fifty-five-yard field goals? Yeah, Iowa State’s top placekicker is good from that distance and in. 60-plus yards? Sure, if the conditions are right, but maybe that’s reaching. On the other hand, maybe not.
“Still pretty confident (I) can make them,” the walk-on redshirt freshman from Dubuque said.
Konrardy has “earned the right to be confident,” Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell noted recently. He spent last season competing with highly accurate one-and-done graduate transfer Chase Contreraz and enters the 2024 season as his heir apparent at the pressure-packed position. He also drilled four of his five field goal attempts in ISU’s spring game and has been consistent throughout fall camp.
“When I first started, there was probably a little bit of false confidence because I really didn’t see the progress,” Konrardy said. “But now as I’m seeing the progress coming, it’s true confidence, and I’m really feeling myself now.”
Konrardy’s behind the scenes competition last season with Contreraz proved to be mutually beneficial. Contreraz went 21-for-26 on field goals last season, ranking 31st nationally among FBS kickers. The Cyclones were a dismal 127th the previous season and another graduate transfer, Andrew Mevis, showcased top-five accuracy in 2021.
So suffice it to say the kicking game has been mercurial for ISU in the Campbell era, but Konrardy aims to change that — and he has four seasons of eligibility to work with.
“He’s got this unbelievable mental toughness about him to kind of auto-correct and work through (things),” Campbell said. “I think his consistency is really coming and I think his confidence is growing, but fist time through all this as being ‘the guy.’ That’s a different animal than competing for the job, so (I’m) excited for him.”
Campbell’s also excited to see what junior punter Tyler Perkins can do in his third season as the starter. Perkins currently ranks first all-time among Cyclones punters with a career average of 43.4 yards per punt, but can tighten up his precision when trying to pin opponents inside the 20-yard-line.
“Man, you’ve seen this guy (who’s) really good,” Campbell said. “What’s gonna make this guy a great player? It’s consistency for Tyler. There were times last year where he looked like one of the best punters in the Big 12, and then there were times when we needed him to be better and he wasn’t as good as he needed to be. Tyler’s a relentless worker. It’s really, really important to him and we’re proud of him, but can I consistently be my best when my number gets called? That’s defining of an elite punter and that’s easier said than done.”
Perkins is combining words with actions this fall to meet that lofty standard.
“The biggest thing I’ve been working on is the finesse side of things,” Perkins said. “Because last year I lost touchbacks.”
Conversely, the Cyclones are looking to find touchdowns in the return game. ISU hasn’t returned a kickoff or punt for a touchdown since 2017, when Trever Ryen jetted 68 yards to the end zone. Star senior receiver Jaylin Noel ranked 29th nationally in punt returns last season at 8.5-yards per attempt and nearly broke that touchdown drought with a 72-yard kick return. He’ll have help in those areas this season, as speedy Eastern Michigan transfer Jaylon Jackson joins the mix. The 5-8 senior has scored one touchdown off kickoff returns in each of the past two seasons and is brimming with confidence.
“I’m really dynamic in the return game,” Jackson said. “So I’m just looking for opportunity and I’m just ready to go.”
Same goes for Konrardy, who’s eager to enter prove-it mode after watching Contreraz shine as the Cyclones’ placekicker last season.
“I love the guy,” Konrardy said of Contreraz this spring. “I work with him all the time. I still contact him (about) what I should do (and) how I can get better. He’s just a great influence for me.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State redshirt junior linebacker Caleb Bacon will switch his jersey from No. 50 to No. 26 to honor former Cyclone football player Jack Whitver, who is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor that was diagnosed earlier in 2024.
Whitver, a Grinnell, Iowa native, played under head coach Dan McCarney from 1999-2003 and was a two-time Academic All-American while playing for the Cyclones. After walking-on to the team, Whitver eventually worked his way into a receiving role, finishing with 96 career receptions for 1,320 yards and five touchdowns.
He was a member of Iowa State’s first team to win a bowl game, the 2000 Insight.com bowl champions, and played in two more bowl games in his career.
“The opportunity to wear Jack Whitver’s No. 26 jersey and recognize his contributions to our football program is an honor,” Bacon said. “He has had a significant impact on Iowa State, our state and our football program. His story of coming to Iowa State as a walk-on and achieving all he did is an inspiration, and I look forward to wearing No. 26 this season.”
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Abu Sama III stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Abu Sama simply followed the instructions. The Iowa State freshman tailback picked the right gap, tucked in the football and dashed through the snow, rushing for 276 yards and three touchdowns in his breakout game last season at Kansas State.
Sama’s star power spiked. The compliments bubbled up. But the 5-10, 210-pounder from Southeast Polk didn’t let the high praise cloud his long-term vision.
“I felt a little shift,” said Sama, who scored five touchdowns spanning 50 yards or greater in 2023 — the most by a Cyclones back in a season since at least 1971. “Probably a little bit more attention. I try not to let that get to me too much. I know that I’m definitely going to do a lot more in the future, a lot more things on the football field, a lot more touchdowns. Try to do anything that’s best for the time, so I decided not to let all that stick with me.”
Instead, Sama stuck with the attitude that allowed him to experience considerable success in his first college football season. He added 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason. He worked with director of strength and conditioning Reid Kagy to enhance his every-down explosiveness.
“I think the one thing you do challenge Abu in is his growth as a football player because you see the spurts of excellence,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, whose running game ranked 11th in the Big 12 last season despite Sama’s heroics. “How do we repeatedly get ourselves into that? You guys know (from) covering Abu that he was such a multi-sport athlete (and) probably until we got to the end of his senior year, we didn’t know if he was gonna be a great tailback or a great corner(back). We just knew he was a great athlete.”
Now Sama and his fellow backs are working to become more complete athletes. That includes improving as blockers and potential receivers in the passing game. Sama caught seven passes for 51 yards last season. Fellow sophomore Carson Hansen totaled 10 receptions for 80 yards and true freshman Dylan Lee also can shine in that area. Eastern Michigan transfer Jaylon Jackson adds an intriguing wrinkle, as well. He caught a career-high 22 passes out of the backfield last season for 221 yards and two touchdowns.
“I don’t think there was any moment for him where this is too fast, this is too big — not for one second,” Cyclones assistant head coach and running backs coach Tyler Roehl said of Jackson, who arrived in the spring. “I’ve really appreciated his investment in how we’re teaching and how we’re learning.”
Jackson, a 5-7, 180-pound senior, quickly emerged as a mentor to a room filled with freshmen and sophomores.
“They still helped me learn a lot,” Jackson said. “And as I can teach them things, I’m also learning from them.”
All of ISU’s backs — along with an experienced offensive line — must learn how to be more consistent. And that’s been an ongoing issue. Despite producing three NFL backs (Breece Hall, David Montgomery and Kene Nwangwu) in recent years, the Cyclones’ rushing offense has ranked seventh or worse in the Big 12 in seven of the eight seasons that constitute the Campbell era.
“A lot of it’s mindset,” Roehl said. “When I’m running the ball, I can be the hammer or the nail. Our goal is to be the hammer. We want to run with that one speed and that speed is physicality. So it’s (up to) them to embody that mindset, but it can’t just happen on Saturdays. We need to do that in practice.”
So far, so good. ISU’s running backs have trained with a sense of urgency. But can that hard-nosed approach translate to more consistent production? Stay tuned — but Sama’s not relying merely on star power to secure a starting slot.
“Nothing’s really changed,” he said. “If anything, I’m still working for my spot. There (are) a lot of other great running backs in (our) room and we’re pushing each other every day to become better.”
Iowa State quarterbacks coach Jake Waters, safeties coach Deon Broomfield, quarterback Rocco Becht and safety Jamison Patton addressed media members for an update during fall camp on Thursday at the Stark Performance Center.
Iowa State football will host 2026 quarterback prospect CJ Turnbull on an in-game visit during one of the team’s first three home games.
The 6-foot-2 Millwood High School product holds just two offers – Kent State and UNLV – so far, but is on the program’s radar.
“They said they want me to keep doing what I’m doing,” Turnbull said. “They like my film.”
Turnbull was invited to camp in Ames this summer, but a conflicting date prevented him from making the trip.
The Oklahoma City prospect has heard recent interest from both OU and Kansas State, as well as the Cyclones.
“What I’m working on this year is just completions and getting my completion rate up,” Turnbull said. “You’ll probably see me run more.”
Iowa State has offers out to two, non-committed quarterbacks in the 2026 class, in Ohio’s Nathan Bernhard and Kansas’ Jaylen Mason.
With Elite 11 quarterback Alex Manske committed to the 2025 class, and a healthy numbered room there going into the 2024 season, the ‘need’ for a player at the spot won’t appear high.
However, it would be a shock if the 2026 class didn’t include a player at the quarterback spot. One of the three mentioned above could definitely end up being that one, too.
The Cyclones will open the season against North Dakota on August 31, at 2:30 p.m. CT (Fox Sports 1).
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht has been named to the Manning Award Watch List, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Thursday. The Manning Award is presented annually to the nation’s top quarterback.
Becht, also a member of the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, enters his sophomore season at the helm of the Cyclone offense in 2024. He was the 2023 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and a Second-Team Freshman All-American by The Athletic a year ago.
The Wesley Chapel, Fla. native set ISU freshman records for completions (231), passing yards (3,120) and passing touchdowns (23). Last season, Becht had the third-most passing touchdowns and fourth-most passing yards among Big 12 quarterbacks.
Becht started all 13 games as a redshirt freshman and accounted for 26 total touchdowns (23 passing, three rushing), the second-most in a single season in school history. Becht owns two of the five games in school history with 300+ passing yards, 3+ touchdowns and zero interceptions in a game.
Tickets for the 2024 football season are on sale now with a slate that features Kansas State and a Homecoming showdown with Texas Tech as well as others. Fans can purchase season tickets for as low as $299, while mini-packs, single-game tickets and parking are also on sale.
The Cyclones open the season August 31 against FCS No. 22 North Dakota.
Sep 16, 2023; Athens, Ohio, USA; Ohio Bobcats running back Sieh Bangura (5) gets tackled by Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jamison Patton (21) during the third quarter at Peden Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Lunsford-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Jamison Patton never met a sport he didn’t like.
The Iowa State safety also played basketball and baseball as a prep at Ankeny and Des Moines Roosevelt. He ran track, too. So narrowing his focus to one sport — let alone a single position — has been a work in progress for the 6-2, 210-pound sophomore.
“He’s extremely gifted in terms of his athleticism,” Cyclones safeties coach Deon Broomfield said of Patton, who provided critical depth at the position as a true freshman last season. “Now you’re trying to rally peel back the layers of what the position is. How do you align? Who am I lining off of? What is the depth of my alignment? Where are my eyes at? What’s my read?”
Patton’s emergence as a talented reserve in the defensive backfield last season accelerated because of an injury to Malik Verdon. He’ll continue to push for meaningful snaps this season while providing skilled depth in a room headlined by Jeremiah Cooper (five interceptions in 2023), Beau Freyler (three interceptions) and Verdon (two picks). Patton made one start last season — in the 45-13 road win at BYU in November — and recorded his first career interception.
“It was a little interesting,” Patton said of his baptism by fire last season. “Early on, it wasn’t too long ago that I was playing high school football, so just the change of speed and just the different level of athletes you’re playing against, it changed dramatically. So it’s really (about) getting into the playbook and starting to understand the defense and expect what the offense is doing.”
Patton’s got great teachers, as well — from Broomfield to ISU’s aforementioned top three returning safeties. Cooper earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last season and Freyler was selected to the second team.
“You have a Beau Freyler, who’s in the building all the time (and) the same thing with Jeremiah Cooper,” Broomfield said. “So you try to expose them to the younger guys as much as possible just in terms of how we’re working every single day; our technique and fundamentals. How’s the communication? What are all the formation checks? You want them to be around the older guys so they can see how to do it and see how to perform and execute it.”
The Cyclones tied for 10th nationally in interceptions last season with 16 and the team’s returning safeties accounted for 11 of those takeaways. Patton’s poised to help improve that number along with fellow underclassmen such as Drew Surges, Cam Smith and Ta’Shawn James, among others.
“The depth of quality, just in pure numbers, we have that right now,” Broomfield said.
Patton not only looks the part. He’s matured physically and mentally into a trusted contributor no matter the down, no matter the situation.
“(We’re) just holding everybody to the same standard and a high standard,” said Patton, who also starred as a quarterback and wide receiver in high school. “I know what to expect now. I got those games under my belt (last season), so it kind of eased me into this year and feeling more comfortable, more confident out there on the field.”
So Patton can focus on the finer points of being a safety, even as his big-picture role expands.
“For Jamison, I think it’s the consistency of doing those things every single day with a sense of urgency,” Broomfield said. “We’re trying to have a fourth-and-one mentality that we’re trying to get our job executed day in and day out.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State redshirt sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht has been named to the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Preseason Watch List as announced by The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, along with presenting sponsor A.O. Smith Corporation.
The award annually recognizes the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class.
Becht is coming off a stellar redshirt freshman campaign in which he was named the 2023 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and a Second-Team Freshman All-American by The Athletic a year ago.
The Wesley Chapel, Florida, native completed 231 passes for 3,120 yards and 23 touchdowns, breaking the ISU freshman record in each category. He led the Cyclones to a 7-6 record, including 6-3 in Big 12 Conference play.
Tickets for the 2024 football season are on sale now with a slate that features Kansas State and a Homecoming showdown with Texas Tech as well as others. Fans can purchase season tickets for as low as $299, while mini-packs, single-game tickets and parking are also on sale.
The Cyclones open the season August 31 against 2023 FCS Playoff qualifier North Dakota.
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Athletics
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State wrestling received its fourth-place trophy from the 2024 NCAA Championships on Tuesday, but you might be asking yourself, “why did Iowa State receive a trophy in August for a tournament that was in March?”
It was a historic season, Iowa State’s best since 2010, but one that originally finished without an NCAA trophy in hand. Traditionally, the NCAA has always awarded the top four teams at the NCAA Championships a trophy, but following the 2023 season, the NCAA elected to do away with the fourth-place trophy, citing financial reasons.
In the first season after the decision was made, it was Iowa State who finished in fourth place and narrowly missed out on a trophy finish.
In July, the NCAA Competition Oversight Committee voted to reverse course and to reinstate the fourth-place trophy going forward, as well as retroactively award the Cyclones their trophy for 2024. It officially marks Iowa State’s 45th trophy finish in program history (eight national titles, 16 runner-up finishes, 13 third-place finishes, eight fourth-place finishes).
It was truly a banner year for Dresser’s Cyclones and the trophy represents another milestone in the mission of returning ISU wrestling to national prominence. Dresser inherited a program that scored one point and finished tied for 57th at the 2017 NCAA Championships. Since then, Iowa State has finished T-45th, 16th, T-13th, 17th, 11th and 4th at the national tournament.
In 2024, David Carr cemented his legacy with his second national title while three other Cyclones – Evan Frost, Anthony Echemendia and Casey Swiderski – also earned All-America honors. Iowa State won its first Big 12 Championship since 2009 and crowned two individual champions – Echemendia and Yonger Bastida.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — What a difference a year makes for Anthony Johnson Jr.
Last season, the Green Bay Packers safety was fighting tooth and nail for a roster spot.
This season, the Iowa State product is battling to be a starter.
Johnson was praised earlier in training camp by Packers coach Matt LaFleur for his consistent work in practice.
“He’s had an outstanding camp up to this point,” LaFleur said. “I think it’ a very competition situation (at safety). He’s learned a ton. He’s made a huge jump in my eyes from last season. He’s got to go out and do it against some live bullets in terms of the preseason games. It’ll be interesting to see how he does, but I’m excited for him.”
While Johnson appreciated the feedback, he’s doing his best to stay humble.
“Positive feedback is always good,” Johnson said. “I’ll take it whenever it comes, however it comes. But I’m trying to keep the main thing the main thing. One of the hardest things about being in this profession is people patting you on the back because that can soften you up and sometimes you won’t notice it.
“If someone says something negative about you, it’s easy to use that as fuel to motivate you. But sometimes with success, you soften up and you don’t realize it until you hit rock bottom. I’m trying to avoid that.”
Johnson was a seventh-round pick in the 2023 draft after a career at Iowa State that included a Cyclone and Big 12 record with 54 starts. After spending four years as a cornerback ISU, he switched to safety his senior year.
After impressing in training camp, Johnson opened the season on the 53-man roster. After not seeing any time from scrimmage in the first six weeks of the season, Johnson’s time began ramping up.
He ended up starting four games and played 335 snaps, including seeing action in both of the Packers postseason games.
This year, he’s locked in a battle with a pair of Packers 2024 draft choices for the spot opposite free agent acquisition Xavier McKinney: Second-round pick Javon Bullard and fourth-round pick Evan Williams.
Johnson said he’s not trying to focus on his competition as the battle wages on.
“My goal is to come out here and achieve and become the best Anthony Johnson Jr. I can,” Johnson said. “I want to fix the things I didn’t do as well last year, and give myself the best chance to contribute.”
Johnson had his second Family Night experience, and after last season, he’s plenty used to playing in front of a packed house, be it a glorified practice or a playoff game with everything on the line.”
“I’m not going to say it’s just another day. It’s a cool expeirence, but it’s still calm, cool collected. It’s more normal part of business. There’s no more deer in the headlights.”
Like every defensive back, Johnson will also have to contribute on special teams to show his worth. A good opportunity will present itself in the team’s three preseason games, and Johnson knows what he puts on tape will go a long way in determining his future.
“I’m looking to go out there and playing my best in front. Showcase my ability to not just this team, but every team in the NFL. I want to show everybody the work I’ve put in, and let the light that God put inside of me shine bright.”
When Iowa State gets mentioned, Johnson’s eyes light up.
“We could talk all day about Iowa State,” Johnson said. “It was and is my foundation. I had some great coaches there, one of them obviously being Matt Campbell. The person I was able to become while I was there was the most important thing to me. The friendships that I was able to make that are going to last a lifetime. It meant a lot, and it molded me into the person that I am.”
January 20, 2024; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers safety Anthony Johnson Jr. (36) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) shake hands after the 2024 NFC divisional round game at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsWhile he’s been gone from the school for well over a year, Johnson still keeps up with his former teammates.
“I text and Snapchat every day with some guys that are still on the team,” Johnson said. “They are in camp now, and I want to check in with that, and even on another note, just sending funny memes and jokes. I’m in constant contact with them.”
While Johnson has plenty to worry about on his own accord, he’s also using training camp to be a mentor to former Iowa State wide receiver Dimitri Stanley, an undrafted free agent who is trying to at least crack the practice squad.
Stanley, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring strain, is facing big odds.
“The biggest thing I tell Dimitri is that good, bad or indifferent, it’s all about the next rep and the next day,” Johnson said. “Block out the noise, both internally and externally. Just take it day by day, and you’ll be fine.”
Johnson made a pair of tackles and got the attention of Packers Twitter by setting the edge in emphatic fashion against a Cleveland offensive lineman in the exhibition opener Saturday.
His next challenge under the bright lights come Sunday night at Denver.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center to give an update during fall camp.
Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell announced during a press conference Tuesday that wide receiver Daniel Jackson would be out for the rest of the season.
He was slotted to be Iowa State’s No. 3 wideout, and play a complimentary role to Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins.
“Daniel Jackson got injured last week,” Campbell said. “I think more than likely, he’ll be out for the year. It’s a lower leg injury.”
The Cibolo, Texas native recorded 260 yards and two touchdowns in only 16 receptions for the team last year.
Jackson’s career was threatened by a car crash he was involved in, and he missed an amount of time during the 2023 season battling injuries as well.
“Daniel is back with out football team already, but it’s just tough because he’s been through so much,” Campbell said. “I would say the one thing he’s already shown is just incredible leadership through that, and we’ll kind of just navigate where that takes Daniel as we go. We love Daniel and we think the world of him.”
Jackson finished his degree over the summer and was slated to begin his Masters program this fall in Ames.
Campbell said that the program and Jackson would have a conversation about where Jackson will go from here after the conclusion of fall camp.
“That’s, fortunately, for us the only major injury that we have right now,” Campbell said. “I think everything else is day-to-day, or we’re pulling guys out just based on where they are in their career.”
Rocco Becht stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — ISU quarterback Rocco Becht faced a crossroads in last season’s Big 12 season-opener against Oklahoma State. The Cyclones stood 1-2 after a 10-7 loss at Ohio and Becht’s touchdown-to-interception ratio was a middling 4-to-3. So the team needed a boost and Becht — who went on to attain Big 12 offensive freshman of the year honors — delivered.
“I felt like that was a huge game for me,” said Becht, who completed 27 of 38 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns in that season-saving 34-27 win over the Cowboys at Jack Trice Stadium. “I felt like my leadership had kind of come out in that game. I felt like I had (earned) the respect from some of my teammates and I respected them for trusting me, and (it established) that relationship I had with them for the rest of the season.”
Unfortunately for Becht and the Cyclones, one of those teammates, Daniel Jackson, will likely miss the 2024 season because of a lower leg injury sustained in fall camp. Jackson caught two of Becht’s three touchdown passes in the Oklahoma State win and seemed poised to have a breakout senior season before the injury occurred.
“Daniel’s back with our football team already, but it’s just tough because he’s been through so much already,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, who saw Jackson miss the entire 2022 season because of injury, as well. “I would say the one thing he’s already shown is just incredible leadership through that and we’ll kind of just navigate where that takes Daniel as we go, but we love Daniel and we think the world of him.”
Jackson does retain a COVID-19 year, but he’s already graduated and is set to begin work on a master’s degree, so whether he chooses to use it is currently uncertain.
“I think the biggest thing in my conversation with him is, man, let’s let this settle,” Campbell said. “Let’s figure out where we are and let’s figure out if you’re ready to go attack this thing from a football perspective.”
Jackson, Campbell said, is further cementing his role as a leader even as his hopes of making plays on the field this season have dimmed.
“He was back on Saturday at practice with our football team at the scrimmage, on the bench helping our football team be successful,” Campbell said. “So I think that indicates the man (he is) and that part of it I don’t think we’ll lose. The on-the-field piece? There’s a lot of competition. That room is heavy right now. There (are) a lot of players playing really good football.”
That list of players begins with leading returning receivers Jayden Higgins (53 catches, 983 yards, six touchdowns in 2023) and Jaylin Noel (66 catches, 820 yards, seven touchdowns) last season, but also winds through talented redshirt freshman Beni Ngoyi and transfers such as Isaiah Alston and Eli Green.
So formidable options still abound for Becht, who threw 14 touchdown passes to just three interceptions in the final eight games of last season.
“Rocco really had a great scrimmage (last) Saturday,” Campbell said. “I think you see a guy who I would say a year ago was competing to just figure out if he can do this. And I’ve always said this about Rocco, I think Rocco is a young man that’s always earning the right to be confident. And he had to work though some things that I think we would all identify in the early part of last season. You saw his confidence really growing.”
Now it’s spiraling even higher because of the trust he’s built with his teammates and coaches. No one questions if Becht “can do this” anymore. It’s about going from good to great at this point — and so far, he seems to be right on schedule.
“I think you see a different football player right now, which is hugely positive,” Campbell said. “And that doesn’t mean it’s gonna be better or worse. It just means (he’s a) guy that’s very mature and very confident in at least understanding the process it takes to be his best on Saturdays.”
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Athletics
Players break down Iowa State football’s progress at fall camp and preview the upcoming season during the weekly fall camp availability.
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Athletics
Coaches Tyler Roehl (RB) and Colby Kratch (LB) break down Iowa State Football’s progress during camp. Listen to everything they had to say during this week’s fall camp availability.
Dec 20, 2022; Boise, Idaho, USA; Eastern Michigan Eagles running back Jaylon Jackson (28) scores during the second half of action of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against the San Jose State Spartans at Albertsons Stadium. Eastern Michigan beats San Jose State 41-27. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — On paper, at least, Iowa State transfer running back Jaylon Jackson’s grown an inch since joining the program this spring. He’s also put on 12 pounds of muscle. That puts the diminutive and dynamic senior at 5-7 and 180 pounds — but his value to the Cyclones’ young stable of tailbacks transcends his measurable qualities.
“I’ll be able to catch the ball out of the backfield and run the ball, too,” said Jackson, who amassed a career-best 810 yards rushing and receiving last season for Eastern Michigan. “Just adding different elements to that room.”
ISU’s running game flashed and foundered in equal measures last season. Swift and powerful Abu Sama averaged 7.3 yards per carry as a true freshman last season and scored six touchdowns. Fellow sophomore Carson Hansen shined in the passing game at times. True freshman Dylan Lee could also contribute immediately, so the Cyclones’ running backs room is bursting with potential.
The next step? Finding consistency — especially for Sama, who scored five of his six touchdowns in wins over Kansas State and BYU.
“His consistency has been a lot better,” ISU’s first-year assistant head coach and running backs coach Tyler Roehl said. “It’s been really good.”
It needs to be — and not just for Sama. The Cyclones were held to 87 or fewer yards rushing six times last season. They also eclipsed 150 yards rushing five times and adding Jackson’s experience and explosiveness should help flatten those extreme fluctuations in production. He’ll also help in the return game, where he’s scored a touchdown in each of the past two seasons.
“I appreciate his enthusiasm, his passion, his energy at practice,” Roehl said of Jackson. “He’s got a little bit different skill set than everyone in the room. Good out of the backfield catching the ball. He can run the ball from ‘A’ gap, to ‘D’ gap, to the perimeter. You can split him out and do choice routes, hitches. He provides a wide variety (in his) skill set and I appreciate the work he’s putting in because the guys are rallying around him.”
That’s, in part, because Jackson’s path to Power Four college football has been circuitous. He spent two seasons at FCS Lamar, then leveled up a step to the Eastern Michigan of the MAC. Now he’s poised to contribute to ISU head coach Matt Campbell’s program as it seeks to contend for a Big 12 title.
“I think it just taught me that I’m resilient,” Jackson said. “I’ve wanted to play at this level for the longest (time). It’s what everybody dreams of. It just taught me that I’m resilient and to keep going.”
That’s the approach Roehl is taking in his mostly young room, where Jackson — until recently — was the only guy over the age of 20. The speed is there. Versatility, too. But consistency? That’s a work in progress as the countdown continues toward the Aug. 31 season opener against North Dakota.
“We need to finish runs,” Roehl said. “We’re not gonna go out of bounds. Our goal is to dictate the terms every time we touch the ball and it’s been fun to see them mature daily and invest in that. That’s an area where physically and mentally they’re growing daily — and they can still grow a lot.”
Iowa State transfer defensive end Kenard Snyder (8) in action at fall camp. Photo courtesy of Iowa State Athletics Communications.
AMES — Kenard Snyder and Zach Lovett became best friends in the seventh grade.
Their tight bond extended to the football field at Rockledge (Fla.) High School, where both blossomed into FBS-caliber linebackers.
Then Lovett left for Missouri and Snyder journeyed to Louisiana-Monroe — until the high-performing duo reunited this spring at Iowa State.
“He kept telling me,” said Snyder, who joined the Cyclones’ program one year after Lovett did. “He was like, ‘Come on, come on to the Jack (Trice Stadium).’”
Snyder listened and eventually jumped at the chance to join Eli Rasheed’s defensive line unit as an edge rusher with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
“He’s twitched up,” Rasheed said chuckling. “And what you don’t realize about Kenard is Kenard is almost 265 pounds, but what Kenard has brought us is competition. He’s made all those guys on the edge better.”
Snyder stands just six feet tall, but his strength and agility make him formidable against both the run and the pass. He compiled 5.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss as a defensive end last season — his first at the position. He’s layered on more than 15 pounds of muscle since committing to head coach Matt Campbell’s program without sacrificing any of his speed.
“I’m quick,” Snyder said. “I can get off blocks quick. I can get to the quarterback as fast as possible. I’ve got great awareness (and) play recognition, so it all just ties in.”
And Snyder’s addition to a D-line that Rasheed’s already slotted out to a near-complete three-deep bolsters the Cyclones’ defensive unit’s one recent weakness. ISU has ranked 10th or worse in the Big 12 in sacks the past two seasons since all-time sacks leader Will McDonald departed for the NFL, but Rasheed’s convinced more backfield disruption is coming soon. To wit, he said, second-year assistant coach Lee Stalker’s added the job of pass rush specialist to his list of duties — and it’s already paying off handsomely.
“I’ve been trying to hire him for years and years and years and we finally got him,” Rasheed said of Stalker, who played linebacker under Cyclones defensive coordinator Jon Heacock from 2011-12. “He’s come in and done a really good job with the fundamentals of pass rush and over the summer we’ve gotten better.”
Snyder’s done the same thing on the edge for senior Joey Petersen, juniors Trent Jones and Tyler Onyedim, and sophomore Ikenna Ezeogu, among others.
“(Ezeogu) is outstanding right now,” Rasheed said. “He’s emerging and coming along. (Petersen) has been playing really good football and now he’s developing into a little bit of a finesse rusher instead of more of a bull rusher. He’s taking that coaching. Trent Jones is challenging every guy. (He) has a very high football IQ. He can play the field, he’s played the three (technique) and he’s played the nose. He can stop the run and now he can rush the passer.”
So expect not just a stronger pass rush, but better defensive line play as a whole this season from a unit that’s been a program strength since Rasheed came to Ames on day one of the Campbell era. That — along with reuniting with Lovett — is what drew Snyder to the Cyclones’ program. He’s also set a personal sacks goal for his first season in the Big 12.
“I told (coaches) I’m going for double digits,” he said. “That’s the plan.”
Best not to doubt him, his teammates said.
“Kenard Snyder, he’s a dawg,” 6-6, 330-pound junior offensive lineman James Neal said. “Big guy. Iron sharpens iron. He’s a great addition to the team.”
Iowa State defensive line coach Eli Rasheed, offensive line coach Ryan Clanton, offensive linemen James Neal & Deylin Hasert, and defensive lineman Kenard Snyder addressed media members ahead of the start of the 2024 season on Thursday at the Stark Performance Center in Ames.
Iowa State has earned a commitment from the top linebacker in the state in Gilbert’s Will Hawthorne.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound prospect is rated as the No. 5 player from Iowa and the No. 71 linebacker prospect in the country.
There’s no place like home pic.twitter.com/lhkH9st1Yz
— Will Hawthorne 3 (@WillHawthorne10) August 8, 2024
“I’ve grown up going to the games,” Hawthorne said earlier this summer. “I know the ins and outs of everything, I’ve been at the facility lots of times throughout my high school days. (Iowa State’s) got a great thing going. The Stark Performance Center is amazing. The facilities are great – they’re right next to each other… I was looking at the paper the other day and it seems like (CyTown) is going to look pretty cool in the next two or three years if they finish on schedule like they say they will.”
Hawthorne commits to Iowa State over Nebraska, as the pair of programs were in his final two at the stretch end of his recruitment.
He had other offers from Kansas, Kansas State, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Miami (Ohio), Western Michigan, South Dakota, Missouri State, UNI, Air Force, Army, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton and Lehigh.
Hawthorne’s commitment is the sixth Iowa State has earned out of the top 10 in-state prospects by 247 Sports.
𝑯𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝑰𝒐𝒘𝒂
Iowa State has picked up 6⃣ of the top 10 in-state prospects for the 2025 class
By 247 rankings
1. Thomas Meyer – Iowa
2. Alex Manske – Iowa State
3. Mason Woods – Iowa
4. Jack Limbaugh – Iowa State
5. Will…— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) August 8, 2024
Hawthorne becomes the 14th commitment to the 2025 recruiting class, and the first linebacker commit of the group.
2025 Iowa State football commitments
Ordered by 247 Sports rankings
QB | Alex Manske
OT | Jack Shaffer
Edge | Jack Limbaugh
LB | Will Hawthorne
WR | Karon Brookins
OT | Will Tompkins
S | Joshua Patterson
RB | Ryver Peppers
DB | Mason Ellens
S | Ethan Strecker
Edge | Trey Verdon
Edge | Charlie Woleben
WR | Xzavion Robinson
DL | BJ Carter
Iowa State wide receivers coach Noah Pauley, cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat, wideouts Eli Green & Beni Ngoyi, and defensive back Matthew Bess addressed media members on Wednesday ahead of the 2024 football season.
Receiver Eli Green working out in fall camp. Photo courtesy of Iowa State Athletics Communications.
AMES — Eli Green bet on himself twice.
First, he joined North Dakota State’s wide receivers room as a walk-on in 2021.
Second, the 5-10, 185-pound junior from Farmington, Minn. entered the transfer portal this spring and decided to reunite with his former position coach, Noah Pauley, at Iowa State.
Now Green’s eager to carve out a role in the Cyclones’ deep and dexterous receiving corps — and it would be unwise to bet against his ongoing efforts.
“I bring another elite route running (element) into this role,” said Green, one of three ISU receivers who totaled 800-plus receiving yards last season. “And having six of us out there if we want to go tempo, if we want to speed up a team that plays only one group of (defensive backs), it’s going to be really tough for them with all the options and substitutions that we can make, with all of us being able to go make plays.”
Green said he never planned to leave the Bison program, but offseason staff changes in recent years prompted him to consider a change. He’d learned a lot under Pauley — who joined the Cyclones’ staff last season — and continuing to grow under him became too alluring an option to pass up.
“He pushed us each and every day to be the best player we could be, holding us accountable to every standard you can think of,” said Green, who racked up 1,005 all-purpose yards last season and scored three touchdowns. “Getting to learn from him — I had two full notebooks full of notes. I learned something new every single day in that receiver room and having that back, that’s something I’m super-excited about it.”
Green can excel in the slot, but also is capable of making plays down the field. He averaged 19.3 yards per catch at NDSU last season and scored all of his touchdowns during the team’s postseason surge to the FCS title game.
“(He’s) coming into a room that’s loaded right now,” said Pauley, who returns his top two receivers, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, this season. “And he’s gone in there and he’s confident, which has been cool to see, whether it’s his one-on-one with team reps — all those things he’s competing on. So it’s not as if he’s far behind. Now, a little bit of terminology here or there, we’ll get him, but he is a student of the game. He’s caught up pretty fast.”
Adding another big-play receiver to a room filled with them both excites and vexes Pauley. He’s working on compiling a solid top-six as fall camp unfolds, but it’s not an easy task. Talented 6-4 freshman Beni Ngoyi redshirted last season and caught a 46-yard pass from Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht in the Liberty Bowl loss to Memphis. Army transfer Isaiah Alston, who was slowed by an injury this spring, averaged over 20 yards per grab in the Black Knights’ run-heavy offense. Sprinkle in a healthy Daniel Jackson (16 catches, 260 yards, two touchdowns last season) and ISU should have at least six explosive options in the passing game — and that’s not even including talented tight ends such as Ben Brahmer.
So the competition for catches will be fierce, but the camaraderie remains strong.
“This is exactly where I want to be, matched with the people here,” Green said. “Just their support, the good character (guys who) are here made it pretty easy for me to settle in.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel have been named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, given annually to the top pass catcher in college football.
Iowa State was one of six schools nationally with multiple players on the list.
The senior pair ranks among the nation’s top returning duos for combined receptions (119), receiving yards (1,803) and receiving touchdowns (13).
Noel, a Kansas City, Missouri, native, finished the 2023 season with 66 receptions for 820 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. He has a reception in 32 consecutive games, tied for the fourth-longest streak in both school history and actively in the nation.
Higgins joined the Cyclones last season and provided an instant threat for Rocco Becht and the Cyclone offense. The South Miami, Florida, native had 53 receptions for 983 yards and six touchdowns. His. 18.5 yards per catch ranked among the nation’s top 20. Higgins concluded his season with a 214-yard performance against Memphis in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the second-most receiving yards in a single game in school history.
Both players were recognized by Big 12 coaches in 2023. Noel was a Second Team All-Big 12 selection and Higgins an honorable mention pick.
Tickets for the 2024 football season are on sale now with a slate that features Kansas State and a Homecoming showdown with Texas Tech as well as others. Fans can purchase season tickets for as low as $299, while mini-packs, single-game tickets and parking are also on sale.
The Cyclones open the season August 31 against 2023 FCS Playoff qualifier North Dakota.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Abu Sama III has been named to the 2024 Doak Walker Award preseason candidate list, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Tuesday.
A 247Sports True Freshman All-America Team selection in 2023, Sama rushed for 614 yards and six touchdowns in his first collegiate season. His 614 yards were the third-most by a freshman in school history while his six scores tied for the third-most.
The Des Moines, Iowa native averaged 7.3 yards per carry which set a new freshman single-season school record. Sama showed he possesses big-play ability with five touchdowns of 50 yards or more last year, the most in a single season at ISU dating back to 1971.
Tickets for the 2024 football season are on sale now with a slate that features Kansas State and a Homecoming showdown with Texas Tech as well as others. Fans can purchase season tickets for as low as $299, while mini-packs, single-game tickets and parking are also on sale.
The Cyclones open the season August 31 against 2023 FCS Playoff qualifier North Dakota.
Iowa State senior linebacker Mike Rose is introduced during senior day ceremonies prior to kickoff against TCU on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. © Bryon Houlgrave/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
Former Cyclone Mike Rose has been signed by the NFL’s New Orleans Saints after a workout he had with the team.
Rose played in his second season with the St. Louis Battlehawks over the summer.
In his two years with St. Louis, Rose totaled 35 and 45 tackles, respectively, and collected two interceptions for the team this season.
Rose was last in the NFL when he spent a portion of 2023 as a member of the Miami Dolphins practice squad and was with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad in 2022.
He becomes one the 20th Cyclone to secure a spot on a NFL roster going into the 2024 preseason.
The Saints open preseason play on Saturday night on the road against Arizona (7:00 p.m.).
Cyclones in the NFL
Going into Preseason, 2024
Baltimore – Charlie Kolar (TE), T.J. Tampa (DB)
Cincinnati – Hakeem Butler (WR)
Dallas – Willie Harvey (LB)
Denver – Enyi Uwazurike (DE)
Detroit – David Montgomery (RB)
Green Bay – Anthony Johnson Jr. (S), Dimitri Stanley (WR)
Houston – Xavier Hutchinson (WR)
Los Angeles – Jake Hummel (LB)
Minnesota – Kene Nwangwu (KR)
New England – La’Michael Pettway (WR)
New Orleans – Michael Jacobson (TE), Mike Rose (LB)
New York Jets – Breece Hall (RB), Allen Lazard (WR), Will McDonald (DE)
San Francisco – Brock Purdy (QB)
Washington – Julian Good-Jones (OL), Ben Nikkel (S)
Feb 23, 2023; Seattle, WA, USA; St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Mike Rose (27) tackles Seattle Sea Dragons running back Morgan Ellison (25) during the first half at Lumen Field. St Louis defeated Seattle 20-18. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Former Cyclone Mike Rose is getting a workout with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, an NFL Twitter account reported on this week.
NEWS: UFL standout linebacker Mike Rose is working out for the #Saints tomorrow, league sources exclusively tell @_MLFootball.@mikejrose23, only 24, starred at Iowa State, is 6-foot-4, 250 pounds
He is the former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year & a 2x First-team All-Big 12 pic.twitter.com/u1dBTk7B3H
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) August 4, 2024
Rose was a standout for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks during the previous two seasons with the team, coached by Anthony Becht.
In his two years with St. Louis, Rose totaled 35 and 45 tackles, respectively, and collected two interceptions for the team this season.
Rose spent a portion of 2023 as a member of the Miami Dolphins practice squad and was with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad in 2022.
The Saints open preseason play on Saturday night on the road against Arizona (7:00 p.m.).
Aug 10, 2022; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike (96) during training camp at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Former Cyclone Enyi Uwazurike has officially been reinstated to the NFL, the Denver Broncos announced Monday.
Uwazurike was suspended by the league for violating its gambling policy, which came out during the Iowa DCI’s investigation into collegiate athletes in the state a year ago.
The defensive lineman played in eight games for the Broncos after being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The 26-year old lost his entire 2023 season due to the suspension, but is now again eligible to play for the team.
Denver opens its preseason schedule against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday (August 11) at 12:00 p.m. on NFL Network.
Iowa State Cyclones defensive line Tyler Onyedim (11) celebrates after a quarterback sack against Texas during the first quarter in the Big-12 football showdown at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Iowa State’s defense ranked among the top three in the Big 12 in almost every significant statistical category last season.
The outlier? Sacks and tackles for loss. The Cyclones ranked 11th and 12th in those areas — a lack of backfield disruption they plan to remedy in 2024.
“We were really young on the (defensive) line a year ago, so we did take a step back,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “But what I saw emerge this offseason is no different than the running backs rooms and some of those other rooms. We got older, we got a little bit more veteran. There was great talent in there (but) it’s that talent beginning to play consistently to its ability.”
The depth is certainly there to aid in that quest for greater consistency, as well. ISU defensive linemen Joey Petersen, Domonique Orange, J.R. Singleton, Trent Jones and Tyler Onyedim have all been solid in run defense and occasionally flash when rushing the quarterback. Younger players up front such as Zaimir Hawk, Samuel Same and Ikenna Ezeogu have impressed Campbell and his staff, too — and the Cyclones added productive edge rusher Kenard Snyder (Lousiana-Monroe) via the transfer portal to amp up the pressure from the outside.
“(He’s) got a chance to be an extremely special football player for us,” Campbell said of Snyder, a junior who totaled 5.5 sacks last season. “He had an incredible spring.”
If that translates into a solid fall, there’s well-founded optimism that ISU’s pass rush can return to the realm of one of the Big 12’s best. The Cyclones could also deploy more four-man fronts in their effort to increase pressure, but only if the situation warrants it.
“That uptick of four down linemen has really grown,” Campbell said. “I would say last year probably 20 percent of our snaps (featured) a four-man front. So the ability to get to that (pressure) in multiple ways — not just always bringing four linemen in; the ability to do that uniquely and differently, I think, is beneficial to us.”
So expect some schematic shifts along with the typical hockey-style line changes up front that defensive line coach Eli Rasheed is known for to both augment pressure and stuff opposing running backs.
“If you’re on the field and you’re tired all the time, you’re not gonna get the best reps,” said Onyedim, who notched two sacks last season. “But when you’re fresh, you’re gonna get the best reps. That’s gonna help us a lot.”
CONFIDENT KONRARDY ISU redshirt freshman kicker Kyle Konrardy told reporters after the spring game his range extends up to 60 yards.
And little has changed in that regard — even though he hasn’t kicked the football once in a college game.
“I’m feeling (good) about at least 60, mid-60, mid-50, on a guaranteed 50-yarder for sure,” the walk-on from Dubuque said. “60’s probably pushing it a little bit, but still pretty confident.”
Part of that confidence stems from his friendly competition with graduate transfer Chase Conteraz last season. Contreraz drilled 18 of his final 20 field goal attempts last season and converted 21 of 26 tries overall.
“We had a great chemistry,” Konrardy said. “We were always working together. Even though we were in competition, we always saw the success in each other, so we always pushed each other to the top of our game.”
SAFETY VALVES Three Cyclone safeties — Jeremiah Cooper, Beau Freyler and Malik Verdon — snared a combined 10 of the team’s 16 interceptions last season. Cooper had five, Freyler grabbed three and Verdon clutched two. ISU’s total of 16 tied for 10th nationally, as well.
So has the unit set a numerical goal on picks for this season?
“We haven’t,” said Freyler, who was also ISU’s leading tackler last season. “I’d just say we have a great expectation for ourselves this year.”
Jul 9, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel speaks to the media during the Big 12 Media Days at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State football finished 6-3 in Big 12 play a season ago. That ranks as a moderately successful season for Iowa State in the Matt Campbell era – but they believe they have the potential to take it to new heights this year.
With 20 of 22 starters returning to the field, an expanded 12-team playoff, and an offensive coordinator that the players seem to love, the goals are only growing.
“The expectation is to win the Big 12 championship,” wide receiver Jayden Higgins said during Iowa State’s annual Media Day.
Higgins burst onto the scene for Iowa State at the midway mark last season, with a breakout game against Cincinnati that saw him rack up 172 receiving yards.
He finished his first season in Ames with a team-high, 983 yards – that’s over 200 more than his total of 757 yards in his final season at Eastern Kentucky.
There’s optimism that Higgins could take another step forward this season
“I feel like I’ve changed drastically – both mentally and physically – but especially physically,” Higgins said. “The strength staff is great here. They do a great job preparing us and getting us ready for the season.”
That step will be aided by Jaylin Noel, the fellow standout receiver that is entering his final season in Ames and forces teams to take attention off of just Higgins, as Higgins does him.
Noel made an even bigger jump in receiving yards in 2023, collecting 820 yards along with seven touchdowns.
“By doing it myself,” Noel said when asked how he motivates his teammates to work harder. “I have to be a leader by action, as well – not only words. So (there’s a lot of) pushing myself, and guys like Beau (Freyler), Rocco (Becht), and Jayden (Higgins) – all of us have to work to show the young guys that it’s not just them that we want to push, but ourselves as well.”
The passing attack is anchored by breakout tight end Ben Brahmer, who’s entering his second season in Ames after hauling in 352 yards as a freshman.
“I feel like we can do everything we want to do, really,” Higgins said. “We can be explosive. We have a bunch of playmakers that can make plays at any given time – so, really it just depends. Whenever we want to make a play, we can make a play.”
That will be a goal for new offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, who comes into the role after serving as Iowa State’s tight ends coach in recent seasons.
“It’s great,” Noel said. “He brings energy every day and an attitude that’s contagious – a good attitude. He’s just a fun person to be around. There’s never a dull moment with him. He’s always pushing us. I feel like (the transition) has been smooth… Mouser has not only picked up where coach (Nate) Scheelhaase left off, but has pushed guys even more. And the guys know we can trust him.”
The player-coach relationship is his signature.
Mouser believes that chemistry in relationships between himself and the players he’s coaching is a foundational piece to running the offense – or just coaching tight ends, like he will continue to do.
“I played defensive football, so being on offense, you know you have to go above and beyond to learn certain things,” Mouser said. “You study and you watch so much film – for me, it started really as a development piece, just to try and get the players to trust me. Once you’re able to get them to trust you and they see that they can grow, and they buy into you – then the scheme comes second.
“They like to see the growth and the development,” Mouser added. “I think when you have that mindset, and really start from the ground up … it doesn’t really matter what the scheme of it is. It’s still about putting the players in the best formations to go make plays. Our offense is going to change year-in and year-out depending on what our personnel is, but I think for me it always started with a developmental piece.”
The uptick in expectation can come across as natural, but it’s evident the focus Iowa state had over recent off-seasons in bringing in strength coach Reid Kagy, who’s entering his second year on the staff.
Head coach Matt Campbell brought up the work that his pass catchers had put in over the year.
“The reality is, those guys are addicted to being great,” Campbellsaid. “They have an unbelievable passion to become their best. I don’t think any one of them are satisfied with what they’ve accomplished. I think they all have great dreams and aspirations, and I think those guys, man, they’re relentless workers, so it’s been fun to watch those guys really get better throughout the summer and throughout the spring, and it’ll be fun to see what these guys have the ability to do this fall camp in terms of real confidence going into the season.”
Iowa State opens the season with North Dakota on Saturday, August 31, but with the way this group talks, they might be ready tomorrow.
Iowa State Cyclones’ wide receiver Daniel Jackson (16) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — The searing image occasionally creeps into Daniel Jackson’s mind.
The Iowa State wide receiver’s car is engulfed in flames. His windshield’s crushed. He’s exiting the vehicle in a daze as a high school senior, lucky to be alive, and unsure if he’ll play football again.
“Sometimes I think about that,” the now healthy, but oft-injured Cyclone senior said on media day in advance of what he hopes will be a breakthrough final season. “It’s like, man, it could all be over just like that, you know?”
The memory of that horrific car accident doesn’t haunt Jackson. It propels him forward. It helps make the 6-2, 210-pounder from Cibolo, Texas one of ISU’s most celebrated seniors — and a standard-bearer for a program that seeks to translate precision and perspective into its seventh winning season in the past eight years.
“I think Daniel’s one of those guys that epitomizes our program,” said Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell, whose team finished 7-6 overall and 6-3 in Big 12 play last season. “He’s been through so many ups and downs, and unfortunately that’s what football at the collegiate level can bring. From injuries to just battles he’s had to go through and to be still standing going into his senior year, I think it says a lot about who he is and, hopefully, it says a lot about what our program stands for, as well.”
Campbell’s program straddles a crossroads of sorts this fall. The media picked ISU to finish in the middle of the pack in the now 16-team Big 12. The Cyclones also return a FBS-leading 86 percent of their production according to ESPN data maven Bill Connolly — and Jackson’s receiving room is brimming with talent, which means it will be possible to pass to set up the run if opposing defenses load the box again this season.
“We have all the confidence in the world in each other,” said senior receiver Jaylin Noel, who has caught 60-plus passes in each of the past two seasons. “And that confidence has been built by us pushing each other and us seeing what each other is capable of. When the ball’s in the air, we just have the confidence our guys are gonna go get it.”
Jayden Higgins totaled 983 yards through the air last season and scored six touchdowns. Noel amassed 820 receiving yards and scored seven touchdowns. Jackson snared six catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns in a pivotal 34-27 win last season over Oklahoma State. Add in North Dakota State transfer Eli Green (877 receiving yards, three touchdowns), deep ball threat Beni Ngoyi and athletic Army transfer Isaiah Alston — not to mention talented tight ends such as Ben Brahmer — and ISU could boast the best complement of pass catchers in the Big 12.
“I’m super lucky to have all those guys,” said Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht, the reigning Big 12 offensive freshman of the year. “And super lucky that we’ve added a bunch of guys with success and experience. Each one of those guys is gonna help us out during the season.”
And guys like Jackson may be the most important for an ISU team intent on challenging for a Big 12 title this season. Under the radar guys. Undervalued guys. Players who’ve paid their dues on both sides of the ball — particularly on a Cyclone defense that’s ranked in the top three of the Big 12 in points allowed for seven straight seasons.
“Whether you’re the starter or whether you’re the ‘whatever,’ everybody’s getting the same coaching, everybody’s getting the same treatment,” ISU senior defensive end Joey Petersen said. “You’re all held to the same standard and it just helps you have that confidence.”
Every practice rep matters. Every play’s significant. Nothing’s remotely taken for granted, especially for someone like Jackson, who’s buffeted waves of adversity to come out wiser and more determined on the other side.
“Everybody’s excited that somebody else is making a play,” he said. “We feed off of that because the next play turns into the next play and the next play — and it might not be you, but the next one might be you. So we’re excited.”
As Jackson spoke, Higgins crept alongside him.
“This is the guy right here,” the Cyclones’ leading returning receiver said of Jackson, who smiled faintly but confidently through the impromptu praise.
He’s not wrong, Becht echoed.
“We need to continue to raise his confidence up because when his confidence is up he can be one of the best players on the team,” Becht said of Jackson.
One of the most grateful, too — especially when looking back on that life-altering accident.
“A couple times a month I think about it,” Jackson said. “It kind of brings me back to reality, like, ‘OK, this can all end. Let’s take this serious.’”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members during his annual Media Day press conference on Friday at the Stark Performance Center.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State punter Tyler Perkins has been named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List, the Augusta Sports Council announced Friday. The award is annually given to the nation’s top punter.
An honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2023, Perkins averaged 44.3 yards per punt, the third-best single-season average in school history. He punted 61 times with 18 kicks over 50 yards and had 25 downed inside the 20-yard line.
The Norwalk, Ohio native was named the Ray Guy National Punter of the Week after averaging 43.8 yards per punt and dropping four of his five kicks inside the 20, with two of them also going at least 50 yards, against Ohio.
Perkins owned one of two 70-yard punts in the Big 12 last season. He enters 2024 with a career average of 43.4 yards per punt, tops in Iowa State history.
Tickets for the 2024 football season are on sale now with a slate that features Kansas State and a Homecoming showdown with Texas Tech as well as others. Fans can purchase season tickets for as low as $299, while mini-packs, single-game tickets and parking are also on sale.
The Cyclones open the season August 31 against 2023 FCS Playoff qualifier North Dakota.
Iowa State football hosted its annual media day Friday at Jack Trice Stadium. Hear from some of the players on their expectations for the 2024 season below.
Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger, and players Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey addressed media members at the Sukup Practice Facility Thursday in Ames.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger has named Erik Crawford and Stevie Taylor as assistant coaches. Crawford has spent the past two seasons as the Director of Player Development, while Taylor was the Assistant Director of Player Development last season.
The 2023-24 Cyclones won the Big 12 Championship and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Cyclones finished with a 29-8 overall record and 13-5 league record, the second-most wins in school history. The 37 games played are tied for the most in program history. The Cyclones went a perfect 18-0 at Hilton Coliseum, the fifth undefeated year in the building’s history. Iowa State had seven Top 25 victories on the year, including two wins over Houston when they were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 and a victory over No. 7 Kansas.
During Crawford’s two seasons in Ames, the Cyclones have advanced to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments.
“Erik has been an unbelievable resource for the young men in our program,” Otzelberger said. “He has created tremendous value in improving our guy’s perimeter shooting and designing a plan of attack to be successful offensively. He has been a terrific asset to our coaching staff and program. We’re very happy for Erik.”
Crawford played a pivotal role in Tamin Lipsey’s increased production during his sophomore season in 2023-24. Lipsey was just 5-of-25 from 3-point range as a freshman, but went 45-of-115 (39.1%) in his sophomore year. He also increased his rebound average from 4.0 to 4.6, while turning the ball over fewer times and increasing his assist total by 30. He averaged 7.3 points as a freshman and moved that number to 12.4 as a sophomore.
Taylor joined the Cyclones prior to the 2023-24 season.
“Stevie has worked countless hours with our guys in the player development department and their skill development putting time into their game,” Otzelberger said. “We’re excited for him and this step forward for him and his career.”
The Cyclones open the 2024-25 season Nov. 4 against Mississippi Valley State at Hilton Coliseum.
Mar 28, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) shoots the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the semifinals of the East Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Elbows flared and bodies flew. Iowa State’s trademark tough summer practices rolled through June and July as usual, with familiar names joining fresh faces for a Cyclones team expected to be among the nation’s best.
But ISU’s arguably biggest name — all-Big 12 point guard Tamin Lipsey — churned his legs on the sidelines instead, rehabilitating from off-season shoulder surgery, unable to play the game he loves, eager to be back in action with his teammates.
“At first, I was like, ‘OK, I’ll get a little bit of extra rest (and) don’t have to be out there right way at the beginning of June and kill my body,’” said Lipsey, who recently returned to full-contact practice as the summer session wound down. “But once we got to the first week of practice, I wanted to be out there, so it was kind of a difficult balance of realizing my body needed (the rest), but also wanting to be back out there.”
Lipsey — who helped guide the Cyclones to the Sweet 16 last season — enjoyed a stationary biking buddy in transfer Joshua Jefferson. The versatile 6-8 forward from St. Mary’s rehabilitated from knee surgery alongside Lipsey and also recently became a full-go participant in ISU’s practices.
“Tamin’s a great player, a great point guard, and an even better person,” said Jefferson, a fellow junior who averaged 10.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Gaels before suffering the knee injury last February. “So getting to know him off the floor has been real good. He’s encouraged me. Pushed me on the bike. Pushed me in recovery. (Made) me want to go harder, because I see how hard he goes every day. So we just pushed each other every single day through the process and I’m glad we’re both out there now competing.”
Now it’s time for another break — this time, for everyone. The Cyclones’ final summer practice wraps on Friday and the team will enjoy up to three weeks off before returning for more arduous strength and conditioning work.
“I think it is important that they get the time away,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who led his team to the Sweet 16 in two of his first three seasons. “We’ve been at this for eight weeks together and now everybody has an idea, if you’re new into our program, of what the demands are, what the standards are, what the daily habits are, how we work, what the fundamentals of our offense and defense are, and how we pour into one another and play for one another. So now you have a great picture of that. We can tell you (about) it in the recruiting process, but until you experience it and go through it every day, (you’re) not exactly sure what that might be.”
They’re sure now — and Lipsey, of course, had already navigated through two grueling summer sessions in his collegiate career. Last June and July, he worked with assistant coach Erik Crawford on reconstructing his jump shot and his long-range shooting percentage climbed from 20 percent to 39.1 percent. This June and July, Lipsey couldn’t even get shots up until recently, but in both starkly different instances, the 6-1 junior simply got better, steeling his mind and body for what he hopes will be another successful season that could end with an even deeper run into March.
“The first couple times I got to work out my shot I was definitely a little rusty,” Lipsey said. “But thankfully last year, I got a good feel for it, a lot of confidence, and it’s right back to where it was.”
Former Cyclone Bridget Carleton tied the Canada single-game record for 3-pointers in Olympic action Thursday, though it wasn’t enough to push her team past Australia.
Team Canada was handed its second loss of the tournament, being downed by Australia 70-65.
Carleton dropped five 3-pointers in the game, totaling 19 points on the day.
Bridget Carleton ties Kim Gaucher’s Canadian Olympic single-game record with 5 three-pointers made.
#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/NVH4rxjcrG
— Brian Swane (@BrianSwane) August 1, 2024
The former Cyclone added eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, as well, but the loss will knock Team Canada out of contention to advance to the bracketed round.
Canada will wrap up its Olympic action against Nigeria on Sunday.
Friday, August 2
2:30 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Azerbaijan (Peacock)
5:30 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Spain (Peacock)
10:15 a.m. | Canada (Ejim) vs. Spain (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | Germany (Weiler-Babb) vs. France (Peacock)
Saturday, August 3
10:15 a.m. | USA (Haliburton) vs. Puerto Rico (Conditt IV) (NBC)
11:35 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. France (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | South Sudan (Shayok) vs. Serbia (CNBC & Peacock)
Sunday, August 4
6:30 a.m. | Canada (Carleton) vs. Nigeria (Peacock)
Wednesday, August 7
4:00 a.m. | Track & Field 5000m (Kurgat) (Peacock)
Iowa State earned its second commitment to the 2025 recruiting class on Tuesday in Tennessee point guard Reese Beaty.
Beaty chose Iowa State over a number of high major programs after coming on a visit to the school in June.
The Tennessee native decommitted from Clemson in March due to a coaching change within the program.
She committed to Iowa State over offers from TCU, West Virginia, Colorado, Auburn, Cal, Marquette, Michigan, Pitt, Penn State, Wisconsin, Mississippi State, Missouri, Arkansas, Florida Atlantic, Cleveland State, Penn and Harvard.
Beaty played for Kentucky Premier on the Nike EYBL circuit, and played in Des Moines earlier in the summer where she averaged 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game according to On3 Sports.
Iowa State hopes Beaty can pick up where star point guard Emily Ryan leaves after her final year on the court.
As Ryan departs, Arianna Jackson will slot in at the position, and it could provide a similar bridge to Beaty as she plays her freshman season in Ames in the 2025-26 season.
Iowa State’s scholarship chart now contains 13 players set to be in Ames and under scholarship for Beaty’s freshman season. These are always subject to change, so keep that in mind, but the program now has two open scholarships for next year’s roster.
Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills linebacker A.J. Klein (52) reacts against the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Former Cyclone A.J. Klein has officially announced his retirement from the National Football League after 11 seasons as a player.
During his time at Iowa State, Klein was a two-time, all-Big 12 first teamer and the 2011 Big 12 co-defensive player of the year while helping the Cyclones to three bowl games in four seasons – a program best at the time.
Klein finished his career with 17 double-digit tackle games and holds the Iowa State record with four defensive touchdowns.
The Kimberly, Wisconsin native was drafted to the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2013 draft.
After four years in Carolina, Klein spent time with the New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, and Chicago Bears.
He would ultimately return to Buffalo to finish out his career with the Bills, where he helped them during their playoff push. Klein speaks about it during his appearance on Kickin’ It here:
Klein retires with 465 total tackles, 15.5 sacks, 8 forced fumbles and 4 interceptions.
As the 2024 college football season grows closer, members of the 2026 class will be piecing together their game day visit schedules to check out programs interested in themselves over the fall.
One of those athletes that could find himself at Jack Trice Stadium this fall comes in Wichita, Kansas quarterback prospect Jaylen Mason. He’s already attended a spring practice in Ames, as well.
“It was definitely a great experience,” Mason said. “It’s a definitely brotherhood up there, like a family feeling. I love that and I’d love to be a part of that.”
Mason holds offers from Iowa State, Kansas and Liberty going into his junior year at Northwest High School.
“I’m gonna definitely going to get up to Iowa State for a game day,” Mason said. “And I’ll definitely get up to Kansas for a game day, and then we’ll see about Liberty – that’s pretty far, but right now, definitely those two, and then we’ll see. We’ll see what else comes along during season.”
The quarterback has also heard interest from both Kansas State and Oklahoma State.
It’s early in the process, but Mason has emerged as a priority target for the 2026 class for Iowa State.
“(We’ve) just keeping in contact, and keeping the relationship alive,” Mason said. “I mean, I love Iowa State, the coaches, and just the whole staff. It feels like a family up there. They make it seem like I’m a priority, and that means a lot.”
He doesn’t yet have a rating on 247 Sports, but Iowa State sees a leadership trait in Mason.
“They see my mindset and my attitude, and they say it reminds them of guys like Brock Purdy, and Rocco (Becht) in the ways I could come in and lead the team,” Mason said. “(They see me) having the right mentality and just being able to be on the same page with Coach Campbell. That was a big thing, just relating to coach Campbell and being on the same page as him.”
Look for more developments on Mason’s recruitment, as well as the rest of the 2026 class as football season transpires in Ames.
Bridget Carleton shoots a 3-pointer in Canada’s 73-54 loss to France in Monday’s Olympics opener. Photo Courtesy Canada Basketball
After going into the first quarter break with an 18-15 lead, Team Canada and former Cyclone Bridget Carleton weren’t able to overcome a scoreless drought in their 73-54 loss to France.
Carleton tallied eight points in the game while shooting 3-7 from the field.
On top of it, the Chatham, Ontario native corralled eight rebounds and team highs with two steals and a pair of blocks in the team’s Paris Olympics opener.
Canada mustered just two points to France’s 23 in the second quarter, which ultimately led to the loss.
The team will return to the court to face Australia on Thursday (6:30 a.m. Peacock), which started its Olympics with a loss to Nigeria.
The remaining schedule for Cyclones participating in the games can be seen below.
Tuesday, July 30
6:30 a.m. | Canada (Ejim) vs. Australia (Peacock)
11:00 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Canada (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | Germany (Weiler-Babb) vs. Brazil (Peacock)
Wednesday, July 31
10:15 a.m. | Puerto Rico (Conditt IV) vs. Serbia (Peacock)
10:30 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Germany (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | USA (Haliburton) vs. South Sudan (Shayok) (USA & Peacock)
Thursday, August 1
2:00 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. China (Peacock)
6:00 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. USA (USA & Peacock)
6:30 a.m. | Canada (Carleton) vs. Australia (Peacock)
Friday, August 2
2:30 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Azerbaijan (Peacock)
5:30 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Spain (Peacock)
10:15 a.m. | Canada (Ejim) vs. Spain (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | Germany (Weiler-Babb) vs. France (Peacock)
Saturday, August 3
10:15 a.m. | USA (Haliburton) vs. Puerto Rico (Conditt IV) (NBC)
11:35 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. France (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | South Sudan (Shayok) vs. Serbia (CNBC & Peacock)
Sunday, August 4
6:30 a.m. | Canada (Carleton) vs. Nigeria (Peacock)
Wednesday, August 7
4:00 a.m. | Track & Field 5000m (Kurgat) (Peacock)
Marial Shayok and George Conditt IV went head to head on Sunday in Paris as South Sudan took down Puerto Rico 90-79 in pool play action.
Shayok was the second-leading scorer for South Sudan, netting 15 points on 5-10 shooting from the field. He added three rebounds, an assist and a steal, as well.
On the other side of the court, Conditt IV ended his day shooting 6-6 from the field and tallying 13 points. He added a team-high six rebounds, along with an assist, a steal and a block.
Both athletes will be back in action on Wednesday in more pool play games.
Tyrese Haliburton did not play in Team USA’s 110-84 win over Serbia.
Below is the remaining schedule for former Cyclones in Paris. Bridget Carleton suits up for action for the first time on Monday to take on France with Team Canada.
Monday, July 29
10:15 a.m. | Canada (Carleton) vs. France (Peacock)
Tuesday, July 30
6:30 a.m. | Canada (Ejim) vs. Australia (Peacock)
11:00 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Canada (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | Germany (Weiler-Babb) vs. Brazil (Peacock)
Wednesday, July 31
10:15 a.m. | Puerto Rico (Conditt IV) vs. Serbia (Peacock)
10:30 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Germany (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | USA (Haliburton) vs. South Sudan (Shayok) (USA & Peacock)
Thursday, August 1
2:00 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. China (Peacock)
6:00 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. USA (USA & Peacock)
6:30 a.m. | Canada (Carleton) vs. Australia (Peacock)
Friday, August 2
2:30 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Azerbaijan (Peacock)
5:30 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Spain (Peacock)
10:15 a.m. | Canada (Ejim) vs. Spain (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | Germany (Weiler-Babb) vs. France (Peacock)
Saturday, August 3
10:15 a.m. | USA (Haliburton) vs. Puerto Rico (Conditt IV) (NBC)
11:35 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. France (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | South Sudan (Shayok) vs. Serbia (CNBC & Peacock)
Sunday, August 4
6:30 a.m. | Canada (Carleton) vs. Nigeria (Peacock)
Wednesday, August 7
4:00 a.m. | Track & Field 5000m (Kurgat) (Peacock)
Hakeem Butler has signed his latest NFL contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Butler and the Bengals’ agreed to a deal this week after the UFL offensive player of the year worked out for the team this week, according to reports from Adam Schefter.
The former Cyclone collected 45 receptions for five touchdowns during the season for the St. Louis Battlehawks, leading the UFL with 652 yards.
Butler has floated around between NFL teams and is coming off of a two-year stint with the Battlehawks, where he’s earned All-UFL honors in each season on the field.
The specifics to Butler’s deal have not yet been released.
The Bengals open their preseason slate with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, August 10.
The NCAA will move to increase scholarship limits as part of an agreement that will be filed on Friday according to a report from Ross Dellinger at Yahoo! Sports.
The move will increase the limit to football scholarships a program is able to grant from 85 to 105.
Men’s basketball adds two scholarships to bring its limit to 15 – that now matches women’s basketball, which was already at 15 before this deal. It’s worth noting that women’s basketball doesn’t typically fill its 15 scholarships at Iowa State.
Softball gains 13 allowed scholarships, moving to 25, while volleyball adds six to bring its allotted amount to 18.
Iowa State doesn’t field a baseball program, but the limit for baseball scholarships jumps from 11.7 to 34.
The new agreement will treat all sports as ‘equivalency sports,’ meaning they will be allowed to offer partial scholarships to players, similar to how college baseball operates.
There is expected to be more sports with scholarship limit increases in the agreement, as part of the distribution of $2.77 billion in back pay to former athletes in the case.
According to the report, no sport will receive a reduction to its scholarship limit, and it’s expected that many of the other sports not mentioned above will receive increases as well.
Not every athletic department around the country will be able to afford to fill the full amount of scholarships. The report states that administrators around the country are preparing to invest less or even cut a number of teams in athletic departments, especially in lesser-revenue Olympic sports.
CycloneFanatic will update this story as more information becomes available.
Iowa State Cyclones’ special team Myles Mendeszoon (6) takes down Iowa Hawkeyes’ punt returner Kaden Wetjen (21) during a punt return in the fourth quarter of the Cy-Hawk football game at the Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
We’re less than five weeks from the start of the 2024 college football season, and fans will soon be filling tailgate lots for the first games of the year.
I combed through the Big 12 schedule to find 10 of the Big 12 non-conference games to watch this fall. I didn’t include any of the ‘technically non-con’ games like Baylor-Utah which won’t count in the league standings since it was previously scheduled.
Here’s my top 10:
10. North Dakota State @ Colorado
Week 1, 7:00 p.m. | ESPN (Thursday)
Flash vs. Folk. This will be the spotlight game for the Thursday night slate – I believe every Thursday night game aside from Jacksonville State-Coastal is an FBS vs. FCS matchup – and you know ESPN will be all about Deion Sanders while his team has an above .500 record. North Dakota State isn’t the same program it was in the past, but the Bison are more than capable of competing in this one.
9. Kansas State @ Tulane
Week 2, 11:00 a.m. | ESPN/ESPN2
Kansas State opens its season up against UT Martin before a road game against Tulane, who will be in position to compete for another AAC title this fall. Wildcat quarterback Avery Johnson opened plenty of eyes during his first year on the field in Manhattan, and this matchup could be another platform for that talent to shine.
8. Arkansas @ Oklahoma State
Week 2, 11:00 a.m. | ABC
If Oklahoma State somehow isn’t tested in its season opener, we’ll find out if they’re as for real as the preseason magazines say by the end of this one. Arkansas isn’t picked to finish very high in the SEC, but under Sam Pittman the Razorbacks have had a tendency to stay in games. For the fans that cheer for conference rivals, this one could be fun.
7. Colorado @ Nebraska
Week 2, 6:30 p.m. | NBC (Friday)
College football was built on rivalries and all of my older friends tell me this was a big one. I’m more apt to watching this with it being a ‘big-time’ game on Friday, even if the programs aren’t what they once were.
6. South Dakota State @ Oklahoma State
Week 1, 1:00 p.m. | ESPN+
It’s always interesting to see how teams perform against ‘their first true test’ during the college football season and Oklahoma State will get one here. The back-to-back FCS champions could test Ollie Gordon and the Cowboys in the early-season matchup.
5. Penn State @ West Virginia
Week 1, 11:00 a.m. | FOX
West Virginia is another Big 12 team getting some love in the preseason magazines, under sixth-year head coach Neal Brown. The Mountaineers are coming off of a 9-4 season and get a major opportunity against Penn State at home in a week 1 game. That 38-15 loss that West Virginia had in its season opener was closer than the scoreboard showed, too, if I’m remembering it right.
4. Kansas @ Illinois
Week 2, 6:00 p.m. | FS1
This game will be overlooked because of how these teams have looked in recent seasons, but it could turn into a banger. Illinois returns 17 players that have 10 starts or more to their names and a more experienced Luke Altmyer will go up against the KU defense. Jalon Daniels and Devin Neal return and look to beef up an already highly touted offense in Lawrence.
3. UCF @ Florida
Week 6, TBA | TBA
If there’s anything I like more than in-state rivalries in college football, it’s the smaller programs getting a shot against the big dogs. I wish it came during the days of McKenzie Milton, but I’m in what that atmosphere will be like as well. There’s no game time confirmed yet, but it is going to be a night game according to UCF’s site. UCF added Arkansas transfer K.J. Jefferson over the off-season and don’t look to be an easy out.
2. West Virginia @ Pittsburgh
Week 3, 2:30 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2
One of my favorite rivalries in the sport – the only problem I have is the kickoff time. This should always be a night game. Whether or not West Virginia has a good year won’t hinge on this game, but a win could certainly give them some extra momentum.
1. Iowa State @ Iowa
Week 2, 2:30 p.m. | CBS
My friend David won’t want to hear this, but the Cy-Hawk game will again be one of the biggest non-conference games and rivalries in college football. Rocco Becht put some heat on himself for an interception in the 2023 matchup and will be motivated to try and get the trophy back in Ames. I think most of y’all know the breakdown of these games and the crazy things that seem to happen in the series. We’ll have more in September on this one.
Honorable Mention: Utah State @ Utah
Week
Who doesn’t want to watch Cam Rising go head-to-head with Spencer Petras?
Nov 25, 2023; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats running back DJ Giddens (31) is tackled by Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Carson Willich (14) and defensive back Beau Freyler (17) during the fourth quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
Editor’s note: 12th in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
AMES — Big 12 media members tabbed Kansas State as the second-best team in the league earlier this month, but not far behind conference newcomer, Utah.
Curiously, though, not a single Wildcats player earned a spot on the media’s preseason all-league team.
Head coach Chris Klieman’s response? A rote one.
“Everybody sees it, but it’s not something that we talk about an awful lot,” the Waterloo native and former Northern Iowa assistant told reporters at Big 12 media days earlier this month in Las Vegas.
Klieman has good reason to ignore any perceived slights heading into the season. The Wildcats are replete with starpower this season — some proven, some unproven — and will likely roll into Jack Trice Stadium on Nov. 30 looking to solidify a spot in the Big 12 title game.
Dynamic sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson high-steps into the starter’s role full-time after Will Howard left for Ohio State. His ability to run, coupled with the return of star tailback D.J. Giddens (1,226 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) last season, will make the Wildcats dangerous on the ground every week. Kansas State also plucked Dylan Edwards of Colorado from the transfer portal, and he can make explosive plays in both the run and the pass games.
New stars need to emerge at tight end and wide receiver — and picking up Dante Cephas from the transfer portal should help in that regard.
Both the offensive and defensive lines must replace some important pieces, but the linebacking corps is excellent, as is the back end of the Wildcats’ defense.
Iowa State vs. Kansas State: 3 things to watch **What can ISU tailback Abu Sama do for an encore? The former Southeast Polk star showcased his straight-line speed in the snow against Kansas State last season, carrying the ball 16 times for an astonishing 276 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-35 win in Manhattan. The conditions had something to do with that, of course, and Sama — along with the offensive line — will need to be far more consistent on the ground this season.
**How to contain Avery Johnson? The 6-2, 198-pound sophomore from Wichita has all the tools to be a star. He rushed for seven touchdowns as a freshman last season, but struggled with his accuracy in the passing game, connecting on just 56 % of his throws. Johnson did, however, throw five touchdown passes without getting intercepted once.
**Will big plays be the difference? Recent history says yes. ISU was tied for 103rd in allowing gains of 50 yards or greater last season (nine) and Kansas State was tied for 118th (11). The Cyclones have won four of the past six meetings after suffering through a 10-game skid in the series largely because of big plays on both sides of the ball.
2024 prognosis The Wildcats, like Utah — ISU’s week 11 foe on the road — expect to contend for a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The Cyclones’ ample returning production on both sides of the ball and recent success in the series will, at minimum, give them a chance to play spoiler. Expect a one-score game.
Team USA survived a scare against South Sudan on Saturday that nearly came at the hands of former Cyclone Marial Shayok.
The U.S. beat South Sudan 101-100 in the exhibition game, just squeaking out the win.
Shayok collected 24 points in 28 minutes on the floor, adding three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The former Cyclone was 9-16 from the field and 6-12 from 3-point range.
Tyrese Haliburton played seven minutes in the game and record a rebound.
Shayok is in contention – from our understanding – to make the South Sudan Olympics roster, which would bring Iowa State’s total Olympians to five.
He will be added to the schedule once the team’s final roster is released.
Jul 10, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; USA guard Tyrese Haliburton (9) gestures to the fans after defeating Canada in the USA Basketball Showcase at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
Eight former Cyclones will compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris this summer.
Five former Cyclone men’s basketball players are suiting up for this year’s Paris Olympics, which tops the program’s all-time total (4) previous to 2024.
Tyrese Haliburton is suiting up for Team USA, George Conditt IV for Puerto Rico, Nick Weiler-Babb for Germany, Melvin Ejim for Canada, and Marial Shayok for South Sudan.
Former women’s basketball players Bridget Carleton (5-on-5) and Lauren Mansfield (3-on-3) will compete for Canada and Australia.
Former track & field star Edwin Kurgat will run in the 5000-meter for Kenya.
The games kick off bright and early Saturday, and below you can see every scheduled matchup involving a former Cyclone.
Saturday, July 27
6:30 a.m. | Germany (Weiler-Babb) vs. Japan (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | Canada (Ejim) vs. Greece (CNBC & Peacock)
Sunday, July 28
4:00 a.m. | Puerto Rico (Conditt IV) vs. South Sudan (Shayok) (CNBC & Peacock)
10:15 a.m. | USA (Haliburton) vs. Serbia (NBC)
Monday, July 29
10:15 a.m. | Canada (Carleton) vs. France (Peacock)
Tuesday, July 30
6:30 a.m. | Canada (Ejim) vs. Australia (Peacock)
11:00 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Canada (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | Germany (Weiler-Babb) vs. Brazil (Peacock)
Wednesday, July 31
10:15 a.m. | Puerto Rico (Conditt IV) vs. Serbia (Peacock)
10:30 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Germany (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | USA (Haliburton) vs. South Sudan (South Sudan) (USA & Peacock)
Thursday, August 1
2:00 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. China (Peacock)
6:00 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. USA (USA & Peacock)
6:30 a.m. | Canada (Carleton) vs. Australia (Peacock)
Friday, August 2
2:30 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Azerbaijan (Peacock)
5:30 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. Spain (Peacock)
10:15 a.m. | Canada (Ejim) vs. Spain (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | Germany (Weiler-Babb) vs. France (Peacock)
Saturday, August 3
10:15 a.m. | USA (Haliburton) vs. Puerto Rico (Conditt IV) (NBC)
11:35 a.m. | 3-on-3 Australia (Mansfield) vs. France (Peacock)
2:00 p.m. | South Sudan (Shayok) vs. Serbia (CNBC & Peacock)
Sunday, August 4
6:30 a.m. | Canada (Carleton) vs. Nigeria (Peacock)
Wednesday, August 7
4:00 a.m. | Track & Field 5000m (Kurgat) (Peacock)
Oct 21, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham celebrates after the game against the Southern California Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Editor’s note: Eleventh in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
AMES — Utah lost its star quarterback, tight end and running back last season. Injuries also beset the defense, but the Utes still managed to eke out eight regular season wins — a triumph considering the supersized adversity the program faced in what turned out to be their last season in the Pac-12.
The Big 12 beckoned amid last summer’s conference realignment-based tumult, and Utah appears poised to stand atop its new league from week zero. Big 12 media members made the Utes the favorite to win the conference title — and given the star power that returns, it’s easy to see why.
Quarterback Cam Rising is back after missing the 2023 season because of an injury sustained in the Rose Bowl. All the 6-2, 220-pound native California did in the previous two seasons is throw 46 touchdown passes to just 13 interceptions, while sprinkling in 12 touchdown runs in that span.
Simply put, he’s a star, and now he has top tight end Brant Kuithe back, along with talented running back Micah Bernard.
Kuithe — who missed all but four games last season because of injury — boasts two seasons that featured 600-plus receiving yards in his long-winding college career. Bernard — who played in just two games last season because of an off-the-field injury — averaged nine-plus yards per carry in 2021 and 2022.
The transfer portal’s helped fill voids at wide receiver and on defense. That unit lost star EDGE rusher Jonah Elliss to the NFL, but should remain stout at each level, especially with experienced transfers dotting the secondary.
Iowa State vs. Utah: 3 things to watch Can the Cyclones stop Bernard (and company)? Rising’s track record for mobility, coupled with Bernard’s ability to attack with explosive bursts could tax ISU defensive coordinator Jon Heacock**’s always-stout rushing defense. Throw in solid backup Jaylon Glover (562 yards, two touchdowns) and it’s clear the Cyclones’ run defense will be the key to potentially keeping a win within reach.
Will ISU be able to run the ball effectively? Abu Sama** and his fellow Cyclone backs could have trouble getting through a massive Utah defensive line anchored by all-Big 12 preseason selection Junior Tafuna. The Utes are also loaded at linebacker, with two starters returning in Kerene Reid and Lander Barton. Utah allowed just 82.8 rushing yards per game last season (fourth-best nationally).
**How will the Cyclones handle the atmosphere? It’s possible ISU will still be in contention to attain a spot in the Big 12 title game late in the season, but it’s exceedingly probable Utah will be atop the league standings when the two teams meet at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Expect a frenzied and packed house that will provide plenty of distracting noise when ISU’s trying to call plays.
2024 prognosis Utah’s fully planning to be part of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff this season — and for good reason. If the Utes stay healthy, they’re a top-10 caliber team and with so much on the line for them in a Nov. 23 game at home, Matt Campbell’s Cyclones will be decided underdogs in their final road game of the season.
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) claps during the University of Cincinnati annual Red and Black Spring football game and practice at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, April 13, 2024.© Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
Editor’s note: Tenth in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
AMES — Cincinnati’s inaugural Big 12 season in 2023 served as a rude awakening for a rebuilding program just two seasons removed from making an appearance in the College Football Playoff.
Change has been constant for the Bearcats since head coach Luke Fickell left for Wisconsin and Scott Satterfield replaced his last season, but there’s enough talent — and transfer portal help — to improve from a disappointing 3-9 mark.
Still, Cincinnati looks to remain a work in progress with a new starting quarterback and questionable depth in most of its units.
That quarterback, Indiana transfer Brendan Sorsby, looks the part at 6-3 and 230 pounds, and threw multiple touchdown passes in three of his four late-season starts with the Hoosiers. He’s a decent runner, as well, and with top rusher Corey Kiner (1,047 yards, five touchdowns) returning, along with top receiver Xzavier Henderson (58 catches, 782 yards, three touchdowns), the Bearcats could be more potent offensively in 2024.
A solid offensive line anchored by preseason all-Big 12 guard Luke Kandra and center Gavin Gerhardt will help Sorsby keep his jersey clean.
Question marks abound on a transfer-heavy defense — the most important being standout defensive tackle Dontay Corleone. The 6-1, 320-pound Associated Press preseason All-American was sidelined earlier this summer with blood clots in his lungs, but is back with the team and there’s hope he’ll be able to play this fall.
Iowa State vs. Cincinnati: 3 things to watch Will the Cyclones pass to set up the run? That proved to be an effective gambit in last season’s 30-10 win, anyway. ISU quarterback Rocco Becht threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns in that road victory — and receiver Jayden Higgins** unleashed his breakout game with six receptions for 172 yards. Higgins is back, along with a slew of other top passing targets, so the Cyclones should enjoy ample opportunities to stretch the field.
Can ISU collect multiple takeaways? Jeremiah Cooper snared one of the Cyclones’ two interceptions in last season’s win and emerged as one of the nation’s best playmakers at safety. He totaled five interceptions in 2023, and fellow safeties Beau Freyler (three picks) and Malik Verdon** (two) are also aggressive in pass coverage. Cincinnati ranked 12th in the Big 12 in turnover margin last season.
**Will the Cyclones stuff the run? ISU’s defense limited Kiner to a season-low 29 yards on 11 carries last season and his backup, Myles Montgomery, transferred closer to home at UCF. The Bearcats did pluck former Ohio State running back Evan Pryor from the transfer portal, which should help bolster their ground game. He struggled to see the field as a Buckeye — partly because of injury — but he was a four-star recruit out of high school and is capable of making big plays when healthy.
2024 prognosis Cincinnati has enough front-line talent to challenge ISU at Jack Trice Stadium, but the Cyclones’ quality depth across all units should allow them to record a convincing win. As always, avoiding turnovers and special teams snafus will be key and as long as ISU does that, it should maintain a double-digit lead throughout the second half.
Aug 8, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Robert Steeples (26) gets ready to play the Oakland Raiders at TCF Bank Stadium. Vikings win 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State football is bringing on Robert Steeples as an offensive analyst for the 2024 season, according to a report from The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.
Named to the AFCA’s ’35 under 35′ list, Steeples’ resume boasts stops at nearly every level.
The St. Louis native was most recently the cornerbacks coach at LSU during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He coached there after a one-year stop as an assistant special teams coach with the Minnesota Vikings.
Prior to that, Steeples was named head coach at De Smet Jesuit High School in Missouri, where he coached for five seasons just after his NFL career.
During his final three seasons at the school, Steeples’ teams earned a 29-4 record and secured the programs first ever state championship in 2019.
Steeples played for both Missouri and Memphis in college before spending the 2013 NFL season with the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings. During his career, he also spent time on the practice squad in Kansas City and Dallas.
West Allis Central’s Yusef Gray Jr. (3) elevates for two during the WIAA Division 1 boys basketball sectional final against Marquette at Racine Horlick High School on Saturday, March 9, 2024. © Scott Ash / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State men’s basketball recently earned its third commitment to the 2025 recruiting class in Jamarion Batemon, and since has turned more attention to recruiting the class of 2026.
One athlete the program had on a visit last season in Yusef Gray Jr. has recently picked up an offer from Creighton and could turn into major target for the Cyclones.
“To be honest, it’s truly a blessing,” Gray Jr. said. “It’s literally like as a young kid, I saw kids in the position I’m in today, and I just always want to be like that one day. At the same time, it’s because I worked for it. So it’s really just truly a blessing. I just give all Glory to God. I’m truly thankful for every school that talks to me.”
The 6-foot-5 guard is not yet rated by 247 Sports, but has received interest from from Kentucky, Marquette and BYU, amongst others this summer.
“I mean, it did (give me confidence),” Gray Jr. said of the increased presence of the programs recruiting him. “But more than that, it gave me, like, more hunger – (I was) more hungry to work. It made me just not satisfied at all. Like, it just made me work harder. It made me push harder.”
His primary recruiter was J.R. Blount, and head coach T.J. Otzelberger has become more involved with the Milwaukee prospect.
“I’ve been loving the conversations (with Iowa State),” Gray Jr. said. “Coach T.J. (Otzelberger) is getting more involved now. He watched me over the weekend. He likes some of the little things I do, and he’s telling me to keep going and keep building.”
Gray Jr. says Iowa State likes his defense and rebounding – something that Otzelberger has utilized with his recent teams that led the Cyclones to two Sweet 16’s in the last three seasons.
“He loves how I rebound,” Gray Jr. said. “He likes how I play defense and that I’m a winner. I love to win – I’ll do whatever to win.”
The Cyclones look to be squarely in the mix with Gray Jr. as he approaches his junior season of prep basketball.
“They’ve been one of the most consistent programs out of everybody in communication with me,” Gray Jr. said.
Iowa State football quietly made a change to one of its future schedules on Tuesday.
It was first pointed out by FBSchedules.com, but the Cyclones will now face Southeast Missouri in their 2026 football season opener.
Iowa State was originally slated to face off with Northern Iowa on September 5, 2026. That matchup has now moved to 2031. The pair of programs will also play in 2028.
Below are other announced games scheduled for future seasons.
2025 announced Iowa State football games
Aug. 23 | vs. Kansas State (Ireland)
Aug. 30 | vs. South Dakota
Sep. 06 | vs. Iowa
Sep. 13 | @ Arkansas State
2026 announced Iowa State football games
Sep. 05 | vs. Southeast Missouri
Sep. 12 | @ Iowa
Sep. 19 | vs. Bowling Green
2027 announced Iowa State football games
Sep. 04 | vs. South Dakota State
Sep. 11 | vs. Iowa
Sep. 18 | @ Bowling Green
2028 announced Iowa State football games
Sep. 02 | vs. Northern Iowa
Sep. 16 | vs. Tulane
2029 announced Iowa State football games
Sep. 01 | vs. North Dakota
Sep. 15 | @ Tulane
2030 announced Iowa State football games
Aug. 31 | vs. South Dakota
Sep. 14 | vs. UNLV
2031 announced Iowa State football games
Aug. 30 | vs. Northern Iowa
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State senior defensive back Beau Freyler is a nominee for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, a pair of awards recognizing players for their performance on the field as well as their impact in the community.
Freyler, a Colorado Springs, Colorado, native, has been a significant contributor to the Cyclone football program since first stepping on campus in 2021. He was a co-captain in 2023 and earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press after compiling 107 tackles and three interceptions. He became the 10th player in program history to earn Academic All-America honors.
Freyler has made 25 career starts, including 22 consecutive, and played in 37 games.
At Iowa State’s annual O.S.C.A.R.S. celebration, Freyler took home the Cyclone Serve Award, presented to the male and female athletes with the most community hours served during the 2023-24 academic year.
Two game times for Iowa State women’s basketball’s 2024-25 schedule were announced Tuesday.
The Cyclones will head to Fort Meyers, Florida for their Multi-team event (MTE) in the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Meyers Tip Off on Thanksgiving week.
Iowa State will face the defending national champions in South Carolina on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28, at 11 a.m. on Fox.
After an off-day on Black Friday, the team will face Middle Tennessee on Saturday, November 30 at 12:30 on Women’s Sports Network.
Other announced matchups on the schedule include facing Iowa on the road and UConn in the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase on Tuesday, December 17.
Dec 9, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte 49ers center Dishon Jackson (1) dunks in front of Duke Blue Devils center Kyle Filipowski (30) during the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Dishon Jackson’s journey to Iowa State ended about two weeks before head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s famously arduous practices were set to begin.
A quiet campus met the 6-11, 280-pound transfer from Charlotte in late May — but a modest pre-practice workload did not.
“I think it was me just getting acclimated to the facilities and the way we do things,” said Jackson, who averaged career highs in points (11.6) and rebounds (6.1) last season. “How we get up early, how we get after it early.”
Jackson’s presence and production will be crucial for the 2024-25 Cyclones, who saw seasoned big men Robert Jones, Tre King and Hason Ward exhaust their eligibility after last season’s run to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16. Two other transfer forwards — 6-10 Brandton Chatfield of Seattle and 6-8 Joshua Jefferson of Saint Mary’s — also joined the program this offseason to add skilled frontcourt depth alongside redshirt freshman J.T. Rock.
“(Chatfield’s) bringing an extremely high level of physicality,” Jackson said. “J.T.’s providing length and helping me, because there are bigs in the Big 12 who are extremely tall, as well, so helping me finish over guys that are seven foot, as well, every day, has just helped me out a lot.”
Jefferson — an all-West Coast Conference honorable mention selection last season — has been rehabilitating after undergoing knee surgery, as has ISU’s standout guard Tamin Lipsey, who is expected to be able to participate in practice relatively soon.
“Joshua’s status is just a little bit behind Tamin’s in terms of what our training staff has said,” Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “For him right now, he’s (also) integrating back into our team activities — not five-on-five, but some of the five-on-(zeros) and some of the drill work. What we’re looking for (from) him is just continuing to have that confidence in his mobility, continuing to increase his conditioning, and then just overall, I think, of his body to get to the point where he feels great about it.”
Otzelberger and his staff already feel good about Jackson’s development over the past six weeks.
“Dishon has really good natural scoring instincts,” Otzelberger said. “He’s got great hands. When he has the ball in space he’s really difficult to defend because he can drive it at you and finish both ways. He’s a guy that has a good basketball feel and IQ. He can make passes and plays for his teammates, and on the defensive side, he’s somebody that’s intelligent and can provide rim protection.”
In other words, he’s a Jackson of all trades — a hybrid forward of sorts capable of providing some of the same elements Jones, King and Ward did in their time at ISU.
“Offensively, I can score the ball, I can make reads out of the pocket, I can pass the ball, I can dribble,” Jackson said. “Working on my jump shot. Defensively, I provide great rim protection. I can block shots. I can alter shots. I can go get a couple rebounds. That’s what I can do.”
All of that should be more than enough for Jackson, who started his college career at Washington State — just like Chatfield and one of Otzelberger’s first transfers, Aljaz Kunc. Jackson said Kunc’s journey to Ames three seasons ago helped him decide to follow the same path.
“I always wondered why he came here, but he told me that gave him the (best) opportunity to show what we can do,” Jackson said. “And he came here and he won. He made it to the (Sweet 16), so I think me being able to come here and potentially do that, it was a no-brainer.”
Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Demarion Watson and Dishon Jackson addressed media members on Tuesday at the Sukup Practice Facility in Ames.
Jul 10, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; USA guard Tyrese Haliburton (9) gestures to the fans after defeating Canada in the USA Basketball Showcase at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
Former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton hit two 3-pointers late to help Team USA defeat Australia 98-92 in an exhibition game Monday.
Haliburton gave the team a 12-point lead with 2:30 to play after hitting his second triple of the quarter.
BALL MOVEMENT » CORNER 3
#USABMNT x @FS1 pic.twitter.com/fr0F8SSvKR
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 15, 2024
We promise this is a different Tyrese corner 3.
#USABMNT x @FS1 pic.twitter.com/H4jgIa6jLA
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 15, 2024
Haliburton finished the game with six points, two assists and a rebound in 18 minutes on the court.
Team USA will return to action Wednesday, July 17 for another exhibition game, this time against Serbia, at 11:00 a.m. CT on Fox Sports 1.
Nov 5, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks cornerback Ra’Mello Dotson (3) celebrates with cornerback Cobee Bryant (2) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys after an interception during the first half of the game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Editor’s note: Ninth in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
AMES — Kansas won’t play a single true home game in the 2024 season, but that doesn’t bother the Jayhawks. That’s because they’re coming off back-to-back bowl-worthy seasons for the first time since 2007-08 — and the program’s recent success under head coach Lance Leipold has prompted extensive stadium renovations.
So the Jayhawks will play their first two “home” games at Children’s Mercy Park and final four at Arrowhead Stadium, which Iowa State fans hope to turn into a Jack Trice Stadium South of sorts on Nov. 9.
Kansas, however, has won two straight games against the Cyclones for the first time since reeling off five consecutive wins in the series from 2005-09, and the Jayhawks are replete with returning talent on both sides of the ball.
Star quarterback Jalon Daniels is finally back from injury and top tailback Devin Neal (1,280 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns) and leading receiver Lawrence Arnold (44 catches, 782 yards, six touchdowns) also return.
Standouts in the defensive backfield (Cobee Bryant, Mello Dotson) and in the front seven are also back, but the Jayhawks will miss Austin Booker, who totaled eight sacks last season. The addition of highly-touted transfer EDGE rusher Bai Jobe (Michigan State) should help soften the blow of his departure.
Former Division II standout center Shane Bumgardner (Tiffin) must stabilize a rebuilt Kansas offensive line that lost a considerable amount of talent to graduation.
Iowa State vs. Kansas: 3 things to watch **How can the Cyclones slow the Jayhawks’ rushing attack? Neal and change-up back Daniel Hishaw (626 yards, eight rushing touchdowns) complement each other perfectly and will be tough to contain for ISU and everyone else on Kansas’ schedule. Daniels’ innate ability to make plays with his feet (13 career rushing touchdowns) makes the Jayhawks even more dangerous, but an experienced ISU front seven should pose some problems to a new-look Kansas offensive line.
**Will “the margins” be kind to the Cyclones this time? Kansas won last season’s meeting, 28-21, largely because of big plays on both sides of the ball. Dotson returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown and Arnold caught an 80-yard touchdown pass to help solidify the win. So ISU must do the so-called little things extremely well to halt the Jayhawks’ mini-winning streak in the series.
**Finishing sustained drives with touchdowns will be key. Kansas’ defense ranked 100th in FBS last season in third down conversions allowed (41.57 %) and was dead last in red-zone conversions allowed (98 %). The Cyclones ranked seventh national in red-zone conversions last season (93.94 %) and will need to be similarly efficient in order to escape Arrowhead with a win over the Jayhawks.
2024 prognosis The return of Daniels should keep Kansas’ offense as explosive as ever. The Jayhawks are anything but one-dimensional on that side of the ball with top receivers such as Arnold and Quentin Skinner back, so ISU’s defense must remain assignment-sound for all four quarters while seeking to turn Kansas over a time or two. If Cyclone defensive coordinator Jon Heacock’s group avoids allowing a spate of big plays, expect ISU to be in a position to win late in the game.
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht (center) and several teammates lead a camp on Saturday, July 13, in Perry, Iowa. Photo by Matt Van Winkle/The We Will Collective
PERRY — The chant rose spontaneously, signaling both appreciation and exhaustion.
“Rocco, Rocco, Rocco,” the youthful voices echoed.
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht smiled, then got down to business.
His football camp for the Central Iowa town’s youngsters had just ended on a sultry and breezy Saturday afternoon — and Becht needed to give back one last time, in the form of a $7,500 check to benefit Perry Youth Football, Inc.
“That was probably the most nervous I was for this camp, handing that over to them because I know how much this means to them, and I know how much they’ve been through,” said Becht, who decided to use some of his NIL money obtained via the We Will Collective to fund the camp and benefit the town that was rocked by a deadly school shooting in January. “So being able to give that to them and letting them do whatever they need (to do) with it, with the high school, I feel good about it.”
Nearly 100 Perry fifth-through-eighth-graders participated in the camp, which also featured several other Iowa State stars, including wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, and defensive backs Jeremiah Cooper and Beau Freyler.
“Being here and helping the kids and just seeing them smile after what they’ve been through in this community, it’s been really important — and it’s always fun,” said Noel, a second-team All-Big 12 selection last season. “It (also) says a lot about Rocco’s leadership and how his word spreads throughout the team and what guys are willing to do for him. He does so much for us and he’s a team-first guy and for us to do something simple like this for him is the least we could do.”
Becht announced he’d be conducting the camp in June. The Florida native and reigning Big 12 offensive freshman of the year had been looking for ways to help Iowa communities that faced difficult times and Perry caught his attention.
“(It) was the perfect place just because of what they’ve gone through this whole year,” Becht said. “It’s devastating and I’m glad I was able to come out here and put on this camp for them. Being able to give that donation to them, it fills my soul.”
Perry Middle School Principal Ned Menke marveled at the turnout, which filled a practice field next to the high school football stadium.
“Just like I tell people all the time, it’s a day-by-day process,” said Menke, who is entering his 19th year as an educator — and all that time’s been spent in Perry. “Some days are up. Some days are back down. Events like this help us to be on the rise up. It will be a long process, but just knowing that people care, knowing that the state cares, these Iowa State football players care, really all of Central Iowa cares — that helps going through, like you mentioned, an unspeakable thing that took place here. As we continue to work ahead, we hope to someday be on the other hand, where we can go and help out some others, too.”
Plenty of Perry High School’s football players helped with the camp, as well, including quarterback and cornerback Geren Kenney.
“It’s cool,” Kenney said. “A neat experience.”
Becht said he hopes to find additional ways to use his time and NIL money to support communities in need. Saturday’s experience humbled him, but also inspired him. “I love doing this kind of stuff,” he said.
Seeing Becht lead the camp caused a wave of nostalgia and pride to sweep over his parents, Anthony and DeeAnn.
“He’s got extremely high character,” saidAnthony Becht, a veteran NFL tight end and current head coach of the United Football League’s St. Louis Battlehawks. “He’s much more mature than I was at this time in my career.”
DeeAnn Becht said watching her son lead a camp like her husband’s done countless times felt like a full-circle moment.
“It gives me chills,” she said.
So when the campers chanted, “Rocco, Rocco, Rocco,” he smiled, but his thoughts remained squarely centered on, “Perry, Perry, Perry.”
“Put a smile on their face,” Becht said. “That was my ultimate goal.”
Rocco Becht hosted his first youth football camp at Perry High School on Saturday, July 13 to give back to the community using his NIL dollars. Hear what he and his teammates had to say:
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
HAGEN, Germany – Former Iowa State men’s basketball player Nick Weiler-Babb has been named to Team Germany for the Paris Olympics. Weiler-Babb is a member of the 12-person team that will compete in the Paris Olympics, which will take place July 27-Aug. 10.
Weiler-Babb is the fourth former Iowa State men’s basketball player to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Tyrese Haliburton is a member of the USA Men’s National Team, George Conditt IV is a member of the Puerto Rico National Team and Melvin Ejim will be playing for Team Canada. Haliburton, Conditt IV and Weiler-Babb played together at Iowa State in 2018-19, while Ejim was at Iowa State from 2010-14.
As part of Group B, the German men will face Japan on July 27, Brazil on July 30 and France on Aug. 2 in the first round of the Olympic tournament. The 5-on-5 Olympic basketball group phase will take place in Lille, France, before the tournament moves to Paris for knockout and medal rounds.ADVERTISING
Weiler-Babb has played in Germany since 2019 with Riesen Ludwigsburg and Bayern Munich. He won the 2023 BBL-Pokal with Bayern and was named the tournament’s MVP. Last week, he signed a two-year extension to remain with Bayern Munich. He played for the German National Team at EuroBasket 2022, helping the team to a third-place finish.
Cyclones in the Olympics
1964 – Raul Daurte, Peru
1988 – Jeff Grayer, United States
2000 – Tony Rampton, New Zealand
2004 – Tony Rampton, New Zealand
2024 – Tyrese Haliburton, United States
2024 – George Conditt IV, Puerto Rico
2024 – Melvin Ejim, Canada
2024 – Nick Weiler-Babb, Germany
Iowa State football, and maybe college football as a whole, is gearing up for what may be the most anticipated season ever. With that brings expectations, especially those that get a little louder as July and August go on, and no one’s favorite team has lost a game yet.
First-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser enters the scene with an offense that returns almost all of its starters, and his pass-catching units could become a cornerstone of the entire team as the season grows older.
“I think the humans are probably (who) I am so high on,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said at Big 12 Media Days. “I feel like this is the tightest-knit group of kids we’ve had at one time at one place. I think probably a little bit of the adversity we had to grow through a year ago and the ability to fight through that and overcome some of that was really big for this group. Then the other part of it is your so young and I feel like as talented from top to bottom as we’ve been.
“To watch this group really come back in the off-season and really want to get better, and not feel like we’ve arrived or we’ve accomplished anything to where we want to go – it’s been really rewarding,” Campbell said. “I think all of those things make me really excited about the opportunity to go compete with this football team this year.”
Enter Jayden Higgins.
The transfer product from Eastern Kentucky finished with over 100 more yards for Iowa State this season than he had in his last year at the FCS level, collecting 983 yards and six touchdowns.
“I think you saw it in the second half of the season last year,” Campbell said of Higgins. “I think you just really saw his confidence and consistency just blossom. He’s a dominant football player. He’s a player that physically can dominate the game. He’s got the speed and the athleticism to dominate the game, but also he’s got great precision in his route running and an ability to go catch the ball at its catch point.”
Higgins turned into more of a dynamic player during the back half of 2023.
After six games at Iowa State, Higgins corralled three touchdowns but had just 266 yards. He produced, but not like he did as the year went on.
In Iowa State’s road matchup at Cincinnati, Higgins finished with 172 yards on six catches, including a 75-yard reception where a stiff arm added 18 yards on to the play.
HIGGINS LOVES AIRRAID. pic.twitter.com/Jc64yeH4f9
— 𝙄𝙤𝙬𝙖 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 (@IowaStateNation) October 14, 2023
“I think we’re really excited about (Higgins) and where he’s got the ability to just continue to evolve into,” Campbell said. “He’s a guy when you do sit down to look at the tape from the second half of the season, it was really special.”
Higgins was 17 yards short of reaching 1,000 yards after his 214-yard performance in the Liberty Bowl, and he could become the first Cyclone to reach the mark since Xavier Hutchinson, another wide receiver Iowa State found from a lower level.
Oddly enough, Hutchinson finished with 987 yards and five scores during his second year in Ames – Higgins may be ahead of the curve.
Iowa State feels that having a standout like Higgins at the spot, surrounded by other impact players in the room, puts its offense in an advantageous spot.
“I think that’s the thing that’s exciting,” Campbell said. “There’s been times where we’ve had maybe an A-player, but we’ve lacked maybe some of the tools around him to take the pressure off of that A-player. You look at what Jaylin (Noel) has done and you look at what (Higgins) has done. And you certainly look at Daniel Jackson – there were moments last year where Daniel, in the first half of the season, was making some of those plays that were big time plays. You get him back healthy.”
Noel has become a constant leadership piece to Iowa State’s locker room, and served as a captain last season where he finished with 820 yards – improving from his 572-mark from the year before.
Jackson finished with 90 yards and two touchdowns against Oklahoma State, but an injury stalled his progress and he had just 92 yards in his last four games on the field.
“Shoutout Daniel Jackson by the way,” Noel said during an interview at Big 12 Media Days. “Daniel Jackson is a name I haven’t heard enough today.”
Now, with Jackson healthy, Iowa State hopes he can take a forward step and be even more of a threat as the No. 3 pass catcher.
There’s more depth to the room, too, with Beni Ngoyi hoping to take a step forward after redshirting during his freshman year.
“You look at where Beni Ngoyi is right now and then you look at that tight end room,” Campbell said. “So, I think we are bullish about that. And I think when we’ve had that – you go back to that Butler and Lazard era – man, you feel like you can be a little more aggressive in terms of what you do down the field. You can do some different things. I think we feel that way, and then obviously with (quarterback Rocco Becht’s) experience and knowing what he can do now compared to maybe what we did or didn’t know at the beginning of last season. You can feed into his strengths with that group as well.”
Iowa State will intend to pass to set up the run at times, something that improved as the season grew older last year.
It’s something that paid dividends in Iowa State’s more successful seasons of the Campbell era.
“I think you saw even a little bit of that in the second half of last year,” Campbell said. “We were able to do that once we felt where Rocco was. I think when you look at Brock (Purdy) and the meat of his career, we were able to do that with him really well too. Just to have that option to do that is big.”
Mouser has stated that he won’t be shy to open up the playbook, and that fans might see more action in the screen game in 2024.
He was bullish on it during an interview with CycloneFanatic’s Chris Williams earlier this summer.
“Yeah, I won’t be shy at all,” Mouser said. “I think the big emphasis – well, I don’t think emphasis (is the right word) – but one of the areas I really wanted to study was the screen game. And I feel like some of the best offenses that you see have a really efficient, easy (and) simple screen game that I think we could use to get people like him, the ball out in space. Just like Abu (Sama) and Jaylin (Noel) or Dylan (Lee), whoever it might be, to get them the ball in space and let them go make people miss.”
Mouser is transitioning to the coordinator spot and has served as Iowa State’s tight ends coach since the 2021 season.
His pupil in sophomore Ben Brahmer caught a pass in 12 of 13 games last season, finishing with 352 yards on 28 catches with two scores.
“I think with the tight ends and the personnel that we have, there’s a wrinkle and a roll for that,” Mouser said. “We can get big and get heavy and run downhill and do some of that stuff, too, but I think we have some new, unique ways to get those guys the ball, whether that’s in screens or split out, or throwing it to him out of the backfield.
“I think there’s a lot of untapped offense there that we haven’t necessarily done in the past, that we could do now,” Mouser said.
If Iowa State can find the right mix between its offensive system under Mouser and the talent returning to Ames, this could be one of the best offenses in the Big 12.
And when Iowa State’s got a receiving room like it thinks it has this year, the success has followed in big ways.
“I think it allows you to spread the football around and allows you to not be one dimensional,” Campbell said. “It gives you the ability to really attack all of the football field. When we’ve had the ability to do that, I feel like we’ve been our best on offense.”
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) weaving through California defenders during the 47th Radience Technology Independence Bowl Saturday evening, December 16, 2023, in Shreveport, La. © Paul Karge/The Times / USA TODAY NETWORK
Editor’s note: Eighth in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
AMES — Star running back Tahj Brooks and the Red Raiders will likely roll into Ames on Nov. 2 as a ranked team.
Why?
Texas Tech’s 2024 slate features just one team (Arizona) that posted a winning record before it sidles into Jack Trice Stadium in week eight and limiting Brooks’ production will be key for the Cyclones as they could be on the cusp of attaining bowl eligibility for the seventh time in the past eight seasons under head coach Matt Campbell.
Brooks rushed for 1,538 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and remains the driver of the Red Raiders’ offense. Injury-prone quarterback Behren Morton is also back — and Tech brought in some quality offensive weapons from the transfer portal in Josh Kelly (Washington State) and Caleb Douglas (Florida). The Red Raiders are deep at the skill positions and also added highly-touted recruit Micah Hudson to their receiver corps. He spurned Alabama, LSU and Georgia among many others to stay in his home state and will likely be a potent performer from day one.
So Tech should be capable of putting up plenty of points, but preventing foes from doing the same could be problematic. The Red Raiders return their top two tacklers from last season in linebacker Ben Roberts and defensive back C.J. Baskerville, but lack experienced depth up front on defense.
Iowa State vs. Texas Tech: 3 things to watch **How to stop Brooks? The stout and swift 5-10, 230-pound senior didn’t face the Cyclones last season but averaged 5.0 yards per carry in a 14-10 win in Ames in 2022. Brooks rushed for 95 or more yards in Tech’s final 11 games last season and scored at least one touchdown in eight of those games.
Will ISU be creative offensively? The Cyclones turned the ball over on downs at the Red Raiders’ two-yard line twice in the 2022 loss and stubbornly tried to run the ball repeatedly against a stacked box. If ISU’s to beat Tech this time around it will have to be less predictable on offense and let quarterback Rocco Becht** do his thing.
Can the Cyclones’ defense force some turnovers? The Red Raiders’ offensive line was middling in pass protection last season, tying for 50th nationally in sacks allowed with 24. Tech’s quarterbacks also threw 18 interceptions last season — although Morton was only picked eight times. Three of those interceptions came in a 50-point loss to Texas late in the season, so he’s susceptible to caving under pressure, and ISU’s opportunistic secondary led by preseason All-Big 12 selection Jeremiah Cooper** could take advantage of that.
2024 prognosis Texas Tech, like Iowa State, is one of a handful of old guard Big 12 schools hoping to stake a claim as one of the league’s flagship programs. The Red Raiders will ever Ames riding high — and may be undefeated when they meet the Cyclones. Nonetheless, this will likely be a one-score game and the team that’s able to run the ball effectively will eke out a win.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
IRVING, Texas – Former Iowa State basketball legends Georges Niang and Ashley Joens have been named to the inaugural Big 12 Alumni Council.
The Big 12 Alumni Council is comprised of 32 former student-athletes from men’s and women’s programs across each Big 12 institution. The Council was created to leverage the experience and expertise of some of the Big 12’s most notable student-athlete alumni as the Big 12 Conference enters a new era. These alumni will provide guidance and insights surrounding a variety of topics, including brand building, athlete relations, storytelling, digital content and much more.
Niang, a two-time All-American and 2016 Karl Malone Award winner, just completed his eighth season in the NBA. Niang has appeared in 465 NBA games and scored over 3,000 career points. The second-leading scorer in program history with 2,228 points, Niang led the Cyclones to four NCAA Tournaments and a pair of Sweet 16 berths. Niang led the Cyclones to back-to-back Big 12 Championships in 2014 and 2015. ADVERTISING
A four-time All-American, Joens is the most decorated women’s basketball player in Iowa State history. The program’s all-time leading scorer with 3,060 points, she became the 14th player in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history to reach 3,000 career points. Joens was a three-time Cheryl Miller Award winner. Joens led the Cyclones to four NCAA Tournaments, including the 2022 Sweet 16.
“The Big 12 Conference is home to thousands of student-athlete alumni who have had great success on and off the field following their time on campus,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “As we enter into a new chapter as a 16-team league, the insights and perspectives of the Big 12 Alumni Council will be an incredible resource.”
In turn, each Council member will receive a variety of resources and amenities, including networking access to the Big 12’s Business Advisory Board for professional networking, league support of council member’s community initiatives, media opportunities on behalf of the league and VIP access to all Big 12 Championships and Conference events.
The Council will be overseen by Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark and VP of Communications & Strategy Clark Williams. The Council will kick off in August 2024, as the Big 12 officially becomes a 16-team league.
Membership of the Big 12 Alumni Council includes:
| Arizona | Richard Jefferson | | Arizona | Jennie Finch | | Arizona State | Lawrence Guy | | Arizona State | Briann January | | Baylor | Whitney Canion | | Baylor | Robert Griffin III | | BYU | Steve Young | | BYU | Ashley Hatch | | UCF | Tacko Fall | | UCF | Shaquem Griffin | | Cincinnati | Jordan Thompson | | Cincinnati | Kevin Youkilis | | Colorado | Joel Klatt | | Colorado | Shelley Sheetz | | Houston | Andre Ware | | Houston | Natara Holloway Branch | | Iowa State | Ashley Joens | | Iowa State | Georges Niang | | Kansas | Wayne Simien | | Kansas | Lynette Woodard | | Kansas State | Kindred Wesemann Orpin | | Kansas State | Tyler Lockett | | Oklahoma State | Tiffany Bias Patmon | | Oklahoma State | Brandon Weeden | | TCU | Marshall Newhouse | | TCU | Zahna Medley Kindred | | Texas Tech | Cody Campbell | | Texas Tech | Carolyn Thompson | | Utah | Stevenson Sylvester | | Utah | Charmelle Green | | West Virginia | Georgeann Wells | | West Virginia | Mike Gansey |
Mar 23, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Melvin Ejim (3) drives against North Carolina Tar Heels forward Kennedy Meeks (3) in the second half of a men’s college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Former Big 12 Player of the Year and Iowa State Cyclone Melvin Ejim is heading to the 2024 Paris Olympics with Team Canada.
Ejim has represented Team Canada in past FIBA tournaments as well as Olympic qualifiers, but had yet to make the Olympics roster in his career prior to this year.
He now becomes the third Cyclone to make a roster for the event, joining Tyrese Haliburton (USA) and George Conditt IV (Puerto Rico).
Before 2024, Iowa State had just four players represent their countries in the Olympics.
Former Cyclones in the Olympics
1964 – Raul Daurte, Peru
1988 – Jeff Grayer, United States
2000 – Tony Rampton, New Zealand
2004 – Tony Rampton, New Zealand
2024 – Tyrese Haliburton, United States
2024 – George Conditt IV, Puerto Rico
2024 – Melvin Ejim, Canada
They may not be done yet, either.
Nick Weiler-Babb is part of the final 16 up for Germany in this year’s games, with completed rosters needing to be trimmed down to 12.
As for South Sudan, Marial Shayok is part of the final 25 players being considered for the team in the tournament.
The opening round of pool play begins on Saturday, July 27.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark addressed media members on Tuesday during Day 1 of Big 12 Media Days in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS — Expect to see at least some small changes from Iowa State’s traditionally stout defense in 2024. That’s the hint that Matt Campbell gave at the Big 12’s media day on Tuesday in Las Vegas.
“I think you will probably see us play a little bit more four-down this year just because we have so much depth,” Campbell told a pool of local reporters. “When you look at this team, it was almost stunning to go back and watch last fall and then see us this spring. Just because we were so young at linebacker and on the defensive line.”
Iowa State’s defense only sacked the opposing quarterback 21 times in 2023 – good for 109th nationally. While Jon Heacock’s three-man front scheme was never built to put up gaudy sack numbers, it’s a notable drop-off from 32 in 2021.
“It needs to evolve and get better,” Campbell said of the front-seven. “The ability for this group to take that step forward. I think you are going to see a completely different looking defensive group for Iowa State. I think that linebacker room is as good as I’ve seen it. I think that group will help the line be better.”
It’s important to note that the severity of this change will likely be decided by matchups and how fall camp goes. But it has a guy like fifth-year middle man J.R. Singleton very excited.
“I can be a little bit more dynamic,” Singleton said. “Me and Dom (Dominique Orange) can be in the game at the same time and I think that will give a lot of trouble to teams in the Big 12. We have a couple wrinkles that you’ll see as the season goes on. I’m excited about that.”
As for getting those hurry/sack numbers up … Singleton gave some insightful analysis on where Iowa State can grow.
“We have to learn to rush as a unit,” Singleton said. “I feel like everybody sees Will McDonald and JaQuan Bailey and they think that he just went out there and got him. No. They did their job. They stayed in their rush lane. When you rush as a unit, the sacks will come. The pressure will come. When we rush as individuals, it gets tough to get the quarterback down.”
Senior Safety Beau Freyler talks about the defensive backfield at Big 12 Med Day in Las Vegas.
Iowa State Senior Wide Receiver Jaylin Noel dives into the offense from Big 12 Media Day in Las Vegas.
Iowa State Senior Wide-out Jayden Higgins speaks ahead of his second year as a Cyclone at Big 12 Media Day in Las Vegas.
Iowa State Senior defensive lineman J.R. Singleton dives into defensive line play from Big 12 Media Day in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS — Over the last 15 years, I became obsessed with conference realignment and more broadly, the future of college athletics.
This wasn’t my plan.
When I got into this business I was excited to bring readers the most in-depth coverage of Iowa State athletics in the world. I wanted fans to know everything about the Cyclones – from the third string middle linebacker’s story to who the point guard would be three years from now. All Cyclones. All the time. That’s what we do at Cyclone Fanatic.
But this Big 12 Conference evolution has been a massive underlying story – and in many cases a distraction – for 15 years.
About a year after deciding to take the plunge and do this independent media thing full-time, the 2010 Big 12 Missile Crisis hit and our world has never been the same. I care deeply about Iowa State University and Cyclone athletics. It’s a major part of who I am. However, the selfish side of me had no clue what I would do if Iowa State ended up in the MAC or something like that.
That’s when my addictive personality (reading and consuming every piece of information I could find on the topic) took over, making the formation of the now 16-team Big 12 so fascinating to me.
…
My podcast partner, Brent Blum, is generally a glass half-full guy. I am more of a skeptic when it comes to what the suits are telling us. I’ll never forget getting back from a work conference in Nashville on July 21, 2021. That’s the day that reports surfaced about Texas and Oklahoma leaving the Big 12 for the SEC.
I landed in Des Moines and rushed home to meet Blum for our first podcast since the news broke. Blum, who has more Iowa State in his blood than white cells, was visibly shook. After all the league had been through, Blum really believed this COULD be the final death blow for the league we all love so much. After all, Texas and Oklahoma were the money. And in college athletics, one is always wise to follow the money.
But then some guy who wears tight suits (that cost more than my annual mortgage payment) from New York took over.
During his annual “state of the Big 12” meeting with the media on Tuesday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Brett Yormark once again brought his fastball. He’s the only commissioner in the history of sports with a catchphrase: “Two years later I guess you can say, we are still open for business,” Yormark eloquently delivered.
Yormark compared the Big 12 to a “mature start-up,” and rival conferences to older, more established business that can’t be as progressive and nimble moving forward.
Yormark talked about why this event is happening in Las Vegas this year.
“We need to be here in Vegas for all the right reasons,” Yormark said. “It’s the entertainment and sports capital of the year. It is critically important that we are here.”
The commissioner also hinted about a future relationship between the league and the Las Vegas Bowl.
The story coming out of media days a year ago was if Yormark could successfully lure the “Four Corners” schools away from the Pac-12.
Checkmate. That conference is now deceased.
What’s next?
It’s hard telling, but don’t ignore what’s happening out east.
On Monday, the Tallahassee Democrat reported the following: “In a proposed court order, the Atlantic Coast Conference would have to provide Florida State University’s legal team a copy of the highly confidential ESPN agreements as the battle between the conference and the school continues in Leon County.”
I don’t see any way Florida State and potentially Clemson suing the ACC ends well with the Big 12’s latest round of competition in this game of high-dollar musical chairs. Florida State wouldn’t be spending money on all of these legal fees if it didn’t believe it had a good chance to get out. Once the cat is out of the bag, Clemson, and eventually North Carolina, are sure to follow. You better believe that those middle of the pack ACC schools (like those from out west a year ago) are looking around, and Yormark is making plans.
The relationship between college athletics and the media has been one of great interest dating back to 1985. That’s when the Supreme Court decided that the NCAA no longer had the authority to control television rights. This power then moved to the schools and conferences. Hence when the realignment era began. We have all been watching a snowball rolling down a massive hill ever since.
I point that out because a lot of what lies ahead in this bizarro world will happen because of what the money wants and where the money is.
Will that be with ESPN and FOX, as has been the case for decades? Or will technology giants like Netflix and Amazon step up and have a say.
I will continue to be obsessed with all of this big picture stuff going forward. The ongoing Big 12 dramas have shaped who I am as a commentator and journalist.
But that sick-to-my-stomach fear factor of where Iowa State might end up is all but gone.
The Big 12—while very different—appears to be in a very solid spot for the foreseeable future.
In-depth on Iowa State’s 2024 football roster with head coach Matt Campbell at Big 12 media day in Las Vegas.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – David Carr has been named the recipient of the Big 12’s Bob Bowlsby Award, league Commissioner Brett Yormark announced Tuesday during his State of the Conference address to kick off football media days in Las Vegas.
Named in recognition of the conference’s former commissioner, the award is the Big 12’s most prestigious individual accolade. It is presented to a male and female student-athlete who represent the absolute best in the conference for their leadership and excellence, on and off the field of competition. The winners were determined in a vote by Big 12 athletics directors.
Carr led Iowa State wrestling to its best season in more than a decade, helping the Cyclones to their first Big 12 title since 2009 and a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, ISU’s best finish since 2010.ADVERTISING
Adding to a season in which Carr won his second national title to cap a storied career, he has been named the Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Iowa State Male Athlete of the Year, Amateur Wrestling News’ Hammer Award winner, a National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American and a First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection.
Carr compiled a 27-2 season record with a 40:3 takedown ratio (80 for, 6 against) en route to winning his national title. He received the Hammer Award, given to the athlete who wins the most competitive weight class at the NCAA Championships, by defeating the No. 1, 2 and 5 seeds in the national tournament. Four of his five opponents in the tournament either finished on the podium or had earned All-American honors at some point in their career.
Carr is active in growing the sport of wrestling in central Iowa, providing free clinics, camps and practices at area schools. He was also an active member of the ISU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
In May, the Canton, Ohio native completed his master’s degree in education with a 3.74 GPA. He was a four-time Academic All-Big 12 selection and a four-time NWCA Scholar All-American in his career.
Carr is the second Iowa State student-athlete to receive the honor in the Bob Bowlsby Award’s two-year history, joining Ashley Joens, who was the first female recipient in 2023.
Another former Cyclone is headed to the Paris Olympics this summer.
George Conditt IV, playing for the Puerto Rico national team, helped clinch the squad a spot in the Olympics in a 79-68 win over Lithuania on Sunday.
@george_conditt World,,,,you can now add Olympian to his name!!!!
pic.twitter.com/kWagcizk37— GeorgeConditt3 (@damane_event) July 8, 2024
Conditt IV is one of the teams regular starters and collected six points along with five rebounds and four assists in the Qualifying Tournament championship game.
Puerto Rico is slated to be in the same pool play group as Team USA, where Conditt IV will face off against his former college teammate in Tyrese Haliburton.
There’s a chance that there may be more than one matchup involving two former Iowa State players, too.
Marial Shayok (South Sudan), Nick Weiler-Babb (Germany) and Melvin Ejim (Canada) each survived the most recent rounds of roster cuts and are waiting to see if they will suit up when those countries announce their 12 players for the event.
South Sudan is also in the same group for pool play as both Puerto Rico and USA.
Bridget Carleton is also representing Iowa State with Team Canada on the women’s side.
Group stage for the men’s tournament begins on Saturday, July 27, though broadcast schedules have not yet been finalized.
UCF’s running back RJ Harvey (7) runs with the ball against Texas Tech in a Big 12 football game, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, at Jones AT&T Stadium.© Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Editor’s note: Seventh in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
AMES — Erratic. Inconsistent. Mysterious.
UCF’s first season in the Big 12 showcased all of those uncertainty-based elements, but the Knights have the resources to be a top-tier program in the league for years to come.
UCF flexed its NIL muscle in the offseason and will bring a deeper team with considerable star power into its Oct. 19 meeting with Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium.
Running back R.J. Harvey stands front and center in the spotlight — but he’ll need to share it with several others, many of whom were lured from the transfer portal.
The Knights added coveted Toledo transfer Peny Boone to the backfield. He, like Harvey, ran for 1,400-plus yards last season. Boone scored 15 touchdowns on the ground and Harvey totaled 16, so they’ll form a one-two punch that will be hard to stop.
Add in Arkansas transfer K.J. Jefferson at quarterback and preseason all-Big 12 receiver Kobe Hudson along with several other strong contributors and UCF’s offense could be among the league’s most prolific.
Jefferson accounted for 88 touchdowns (67 passing, 21 rushing) as a three-year starter for the Razorbacks and Hudson averaged 20.5 yards per catch while leading the team in touchdown receptions with eight.
The Knights’ defense, however, lacks much of that known star power — and struggled mightily last season. So they brought in three experienced linebackers from other FBS programs (Ethan Barr, Deshawn Pace, Josiah Pierre), and solid returners reside on the defensive line (Ricky Barber, Lee Hunter, Malachi Lawrence), and in the secondary (Demari Henderson).
Iowa State vs. UCF: 3 things to watch Can the Cyclones pound the Knights on the ground? UCF ranked a dismal 125th in rushing defense last season and allowed foes to rush for nearly 200 yards per game. The three transfer linebackers — along with some other portal help across the defense — could lead to improvement, but Abu Sama** and ISU’s backs should still have plenty of opportunities to compile big gains.
**What challenge will Jefferson pose at quarterback? The 6-3, 247-pound sixth-year senior proved dominant at times with the Razorbacks and was the team’s offensive MVP in two bowl wins. But his efficiency lagged last season and he was sacked a career-high 42 times. If ISU’s front six can keep him off-balance and subdue Harvey and Boone, takeaways could come in bunches.
Can the Cyclones’ Defense get off the field on third down? UCF was tied for fourth nationally last season in third-down conversion percentage (50.0) and with weapons such as Boone, Harvey, Hudson and Jefferson it should be able to move the ball consistently and extend drives in unconventional ways. And as good as ISU’s defense has been under coordinator Jon Heacock**, third down situations have been a problem at times. The Cyclones have ranked 40th or worse in that statistic in five of the past seven seasons.
2024 prognosis The Knights will be able to move the ball, so ISU’s defense must be at its best in the red zone. The Cyclones were excellent in that regard last season, ranking sixth nationally in red zone conversions allowed. If they can replicate that success against UCF, the win likelihood moves from possible to probable.
Dec 27, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Garrett Greene (6) tries to hold off North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Marcus Allen (29) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Editor’s note: Sixth in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
AMES — West Virginia head coach Neal Brown not only saved his job, but also established goodwill after guiding the Mountaineers to their first season featuring nine wins or more since 2016.
West Virginia’s poised to build off of that in 2024 — and will get to face Matt Campbell’s Cyclones in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers are loaded on offense. Dual-threat quarterback Garrett Greene (29 total touchdowns, four interceptions) returns, as do top running backs C.J. Donaldson and Jaheim White. That duo combined for 1,640 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns last season, making it one of the most potent in the Big 12 — although Donaldson has been injury-prone. Greene led West Virginia in rushing touchdowns with 13 last season, but he completed just 53 percent of his passes.
West Virginia must replace leading receiver Devin Carter, but the addition of Oklahoma State’s Jaden Bray via the transfer portal — along with a long list of talented returners — should help in that regard.
The Mountaineers’ offensive line is one of the best units in the Big 12. Senior tackle Wyatt Milum is the program’s lone preseason all-conference selection by the media.
So does West Virginia have a weakness? Possibly. The defense needed to rebuild at cornerback via the transfer portal and was middling last season (64th scoring defense nationally, 68th in total defense). The Mountaineers led the league in sacks last season with 33 and should boast a strong pass rush again.
Iowa State vs. West Virginia: 3 things to watch
Can the Cyclones’ offense achieve balance? West Virginia’s defense was marginally better against the run than the pass last season and features playmakers at each level. ISU will need a blend of solid runs from Abu Sama and company and big passing connections from Rocco Becht** and his cohort of pass catchers in order to keep up on the scoreboard.
**How will ISU’s defense contain Greene? The Mountaineers are adept at springing big plays in the run game, so keeping Greene off balance will be critically important if the Cyclones want to have a chance to win this one. His inaccuracy through the air is offset by his efficiency (16 passing touchdowns to just four interceptions last season). Staying gap sound while still applying a strong pass rush will be key, as Greene is capable of breaking off runs of 10 yards or more frequently.
How does ISU’s defensive line find a way to thrive? The Cyclones are deep up front on the defensive side of the ball, but stars must emerge from that group. Seniors such as Joey Peterson, J.R. Singleton may be poised to take that next step, as are juniors Tyler Onyedim and Domonique Orange. Sprinkle in talented transfer edge rusher Kenard Snyder and others (including redshirt freshman Zaimir Hawk**), and ISU’s D-line should at least hold its own against West Virginia’s burly offensive front.
2024 prognosis
This matchup will likely come down to a key series or two. The team that commits the fewest turnovers will win in a game that should remain close into the final minutes.
Iowa State fans and football staff alike have even more to celebrate this July 4, as Joshua Patterson officially announced his commitment to the program over Instagram Live.
The 6-0, 180-pound defensive back will come to Ames from Ed White High School in Jacksonville as part of the 2025 class.
Patterson chose the Cyclones over Wake Forest, Louisville, Maryland, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Coastal Carolina, Tulane, USF, Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Liberty, Bowling Green, UMass, Troy, UConn, Charlotte, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Western Kentucky, Florida A&M, Alabama A&M and West Georgia.
Rated as the No. 61 safety prospect in the country, Patterson will join Deon Broomfield’s room at Iowa State.
This is the second safety commit to the class for Iowa State, along with in-state commit Ethan Stecker.
Sep 2, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda on the sidelines during the second half against the Texas State Bobcats at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
Editor’s note: Fifth in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
AMES — Just three seasons ago, Baylor head coach Dave Aranda led the Bears to a Big 12 title and Sugar Bowl win over Ole Miss.
The program attained a top-10 finish nationally, but it’s been reeling ever since.
Baylor went 3-9 last season — it’s worst mark since 2017 — and Aranda managed to keep his job while making significant changes to his staff.
Most notably, he replaced former offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes with Jake Spavital. Aranda also dipped into the transfer portal for a handful of key players, including former Toledo star quarterback DeQuan Finn. He’ll be tasked with leading a new-look offense that returns several experienced skill players, including a trio of running backs (Dominic Richardson, Dawson Pendergrass and Richard Reese).
Baylor struggled on both sides of the ball last season (101st nationally in scoring offense, 116th in scoring defense), so wholesale changes were sorely needed. Aranda will also call the defense’s plays for the first time in his tenure at the school, making this a make-or-break season for the former rising star among the coaching ranks.
Finn will be the key for the Bears in their quest to return to the top half of the Big 12 and the 6-2, 205-pounder put up gaudy numbers as a Rocket. Finn threw 63 touchdown passes to just 23 interceptions and also rushed for 25 touchdowns in his three seasons as a starter at Toledo.
Iowa State vs. Baylor: 3 things to watch
**Can the Cyclones pulverize the Bears up front? Baylor returning defensive lineman accounted for just three sacks last season and the team totaled just 18 quarterback takedowns last season, which ranked 118th nationally. The Bears do feature an experienced and talented linebacker in Matt Jones as well as solid back-end talent (cornerback Caden Jenkins and safety Devyn Bobby), but with so little bite on the D-line, ISU should be able to impose its will offensively.
**Will ISU use a spy on Finn? It would seem a wise gambit, given the transfer quarterback’s ability to make big plays with his arm and his legs. The Cyclones held Baylor to just 67 yards rushing in last season’s 30-18 win in Waco, but Finn’s penchant for reeling off big runs — whether designed or improvised — could help the Bears improve that number. If that happens, Finn could have a big passing day, as well, and Baylor always has an array of weapons at wide receiver and tight end.
How will the Cyclones’ secondary hold up? There’s not a better safety trio ISU’s Jeremiah Cooper, Beau Freyler and Malik Verdon, but the Cyclones must replace T.J. Tampa at cornerback. Sophomore Jontez Williams and senior Darien Porter appear poised to perform well in his stead alongside longtime starter Myles Purchase**, but Baylor receiver Monaray Baldwin poses a major big-play threat and is experienced enough to pick on a weak link in coverage.
2024 prognosis
Baylor will hang around early with some big plays in the passing game, but ISU’s offense should pile up both points and yards in a double-digit win.
Apr 5, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Monte Morris (23) during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Former Cyclone Monte Morris is set to sign with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, according to report from Shams Charania.
The terms of the deal have yet to be released, but it finds Morris heading to his fifth team entering his eighth season in the league.
Over his career, Morris has averaged 10 points and 3.8 assists per game (to just 0.8 turnovers per game) in 375 games played.
Last season, the Michigan native shot 46 percent from the field on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers while battling back from an injury with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Phoenix made the NBA Playoffs over the past season before ultimately being swept by Minnesota in the first round, following three straight years of trips to the conference finals in the immediate years prior.
Mar 28, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) and guard Keshon Gilbert (10) talk to the referee against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the semifinals of the East Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Thirty-two seconds remained. Iowa State guard Curtis Jones toed the free-throw line, drew in a deep breath, and calmly sank what proved to be two decisive free throws.
The date: Jan. 20, 2024.
The opponent: No. 19 TCU.
The outcome: A 73-72 Cyclone win that sparked a remarkable streak for ISU’s invaluable sixth man.
Jones scored in double figures in 14 straight games to close the 2023-24 regular season. The Cyclones won 11 of those games, but Jones was just getting started. The former transfer from Buffalo eventually scored a career-high 26 points in ISU’s Sweet 16 loss to Illinois, establishing himself as one of head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s most clutch performers — a role he’s eager to reprise this season, whether starting or coming off the bench.
“I put in a lot of work in the gym and that work usually always shows itself,” the 6-4 senior said. “It might not show right away, but it does. (So I’m) just trusting myself and believing in myself.”
First, Otzelberger and his staff — as well as Jones’ teammates — needed to trust him. Jones struggled early last season, going 9-for-42 from 3-point range in his first seven games. But his minutes began to climb late in the nonconference season and his contributions on both ends of the floor crescendoed accordingly.
“The TCU game on the road, I felt like he really stepped up for us,” said Otzelberger, who has guided the Cyclones to two Sweet 16 appearances in his first three seasons as head coach. “You started to see that confidence grow and as we went through to the end of league play and the postseason, there wasn’t anybody playing more confidently than him out there on the court. So I think his demeanor, that matters. His confidence matters. What we’re seeing in practice right now is a guy who’s taken a step as a leader and you can tell him I said that when he comes out here.”
Jones didn’t need that positive reinforcement, but appreciates it all the same. He’s part of a deeply experienced backcourt, along with Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert, that’s determined to propel ISU to greater heights this season.
“We’re all at the table, eating breakfast and dinner together, having conversations, laughs, things like that, that helps,” said Jones, who notched multiple steals in 11 games last season. “So we’re with each other (and) that helps and that’s the biggest thing. I feel like now having a second year with the same guys is gonna be even better, because we (were) close last year.”
Gilbert — the Cyclones’ leading scorer last season — echoed those bond-based sentiments.
“We know what’s expected,” Gilbert said. “We know how to set the tone in practice every day, so I feel like we raise the standard every day. Everybody’s gotta come up and match us. We never come in lackadaisical. We come in, like, ‘This is what it is, and this is how we’re gonna do it.’”
Jones wasn’t sure he’d ever get to do anything at the major college level. He fielded few offers out of high school, so he enrolled in community college. After that, Buffalo gave him a chance and ISU followed suit last offseason. Now Jones is a critical component of an experienced Cyclone team expected to do big things again this season — and he’s primed to turn the weight of expectations into rousing results.
“He’s playing at a really high level (and) my confidence in him continues to grow because he does the hard work,” Otzelberger said. “He’s an everyday guy and we’re gonna continue to challenge him to elevate himself and his teammates because he did a great job of that last year and we’ve seen tremendous progress even from that point.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State defensive back Jeremiah Cooper, wide receiver Jayden Higgins and do-it-all tight end/fullback Stevo Klotz have been named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Football team as voted upon by media representatives who cover the league.
Cooper, a First Team All-Big 12 selection a year ago, returns to lead the talented Cyclone secondary. The El Paso, Texas native started 11 games in 2023 and finished second in the Big 12 and sixth nationally with five interceptions. He tallied 45 tackles and ranked fourth nationally in passes defended per game (1.4).
On the offensive side of the ball, Higgins – an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection last season – spearheads an exciting ISU wide receiver room. Higgins made a sizeable impact in his first season as a Cyclone with a team-best 983 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 53 receptions. The South Miami, Fla. native averaged 18.5 yards per catch, the seventh-best single-season average in school history, and was second in the Big 12 averaging 75.6 receiving yards per game.ADVERTISING
Klotz, a Second Team All-Big 12 fullback in 2023, returns to the Cyclone offense as one of the league’s best blockers. He paved the way for the Cyclone tailbacks in all 13 games last season, making six starts. The Chaska, Minn. native also showed he has soft hands when the ball gets thrown his way, hauling in seven receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown.
Iowa State, which returns 18 starters from a year ago (nine offensive, nine defensive), was picked sixth in the Big 12 Preseason Poll behind the favorite, Utah, and Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Kansas and Arizona.
Football season tickets are on sale now. Seven home games, including games against Kansas State, Texas Tech and UCF, starting at $299. Order now at: https://bit.ly/24FBSeason
To view the full Big 12 Preseason Team, click here.
Dec 29, 2023; Memphis, TN, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) and wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) react after a touchdown during the first half against the Memphis Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
The following is a press release from the Big 12 Conference:
In its debut season as a member of the Big 12, Utah was chosen to finish first in the Conference’s 2024 football preseason poll as voted on by media representatives.
The Utes claimed 20 first-place votes and totaled 906 points, edging out Kansas State in second with 19 first-place ballots and 889 points. Oklahoma State placed third with 14 first-place votes and 829 points after playing in the 2023 Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship. Kansas came in fourth with five first-place nods and 772 points while Arizona notched fifth with three first-place votes and 762 points.
The remaining preseason rankings include 6. Iowa State (661 points), 7. West Virginia (581 points), 8. UCF (551 points), 9. Texas Tech (532 points), 10. TCU (436 points), 11. Colorado (400 points), 12. Baylor (268 points), 13. BYU (215 points), 14. Cincinnati (196 points), 15. Houston (157 points) and 16. Arizona State (141 points).
Big 12 Football Media Days, Presented by Totino’s will be conducted next Tuesday and Wednesday, July 9-10. Coverage from both days will be provided on ESPNU and Big 12 Now on ESPN+. For additional information, follow Big12Sports.com and the Conference’s official social media platforms.
2024 Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll
| 1. Utah (20) | 906 | | 2. Kansas State (19) | 889 | | 3. Oklahoma State (14) | 829 | | 4. Kansas (5) | 772 | | 5. Arizona (3) | 762 | | 6. Iowa State | 661 | | 7. West Virginia | 581 | | 8. UCF | 551 | | 9. Texas Tech | 532 | | 10. TCU | 436 | | 11. Colorado | 400 | | 12. Baylor | 268 | | 13. BYU | 215 | | 14. Cincinnati | 196 | | 15. Houston | 157 | | 16. Arizona State | 141 |
First-place votes in parenthesis.
EA Sports released a new deep dive trailer on Dynasty mode as well as a 17,000-word preview (I have another blog on the way on this) of its new ‘College Football 25’ title slated to release two weeks from today.
Here’s everything I know about Iowa State’s involvement in the game – feel free to message me on Twitter (@cfchangs9) or by email (connorferg9@gmail.com) with anything you may see or questions you have over the next two weeks and I’ll update the article/do my best to answer your questions. Hopefully — most of them are answered here below in the same spot.
I would also implore you to follow Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) on Twitter if you’re interested in more updates – he runs a blog/site that has been tracking news and updates surrounding this game extensively over the last couple of years. A joy to follow.
Uniforms
Of the few screengrabs and videos that have been released for the game that include Iowa State, the Cyclones’ uniforms are of the design that the team wore from 2019-2023.
I’m not sure about the classic or throwback type of uniforms that will be included in the game, but we can assume Iowa State submitted its previous design anticipating the game release that was originally scheduled for 2023.
Fear not, though – one source told me that EA Sports communicated that any uniform updates can be added to the game in a span of 1-2 weeks in real time and I can confirm that Iowa State submitted its new design and that the new uniforms will be in the game when it is released.
Music/Band songs and sounds
This was a major selling point of the new game that was brought up a lot more before the game’s originally-planned 2023 release. Thanks to Matt Brown’s FOIA request, we know all of the submitted sounds that could appear in the game.
Among songs included are some my favorites – Juicy Wiggle, Swag Surfin’, Grove Street Party, and the Beer Barrel Polka. The full list from the FOIA requests (that I believe was conducted in 2022) can be seen below. I’m not sure if these are final at all or not either, but the full list can be seen below. Here’s a link to the thread with other programs.
It’s important to note that the licensed songs are not guaranteed to be in the game – EA decided which to get licensing on, so that’s a ‘for what its worth as well.*
Jack Trice Stadium
Obviously in the NCAA 2014 title, the south end zone was not bowled in – it’s safe to assume that it will be in this game. I’m just including this for clarity.
Conference realignment
The game will feature conference realignment with the ability to add up to 20 programs to a conference (up from 16 in the old titles) as well as take any conference down to a minimum of four teams according to the EA release from today. However, the Pac 2 is still in the game as a conference with two teams in it (even though they’re essentially Mountain West members by scheduling), so take that for what it’s worth.
When moving a program to a different conference, their patch logos on the jersey will change along with them. Enjoy this screenshot of Clemson winning the Fiesta Bowl as members of the MAC.
I’ll have more on the specifics of the entire game in a separate blog that’s on the way and as I said before, message me with any questions or comments that you might have.
Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger, Curtis Jones & Nate Heise addressed media members Tuesday at the Sukup Practice Facility in Ames as summer workouts continue.
Iowa State landed a major recruiting target in four-star shooting guard Jamarion Batemon Monday.
The Milwaukee prospect announced that he would be choosing to commit to Iowa State over the rest of his top 4 Marquette, West Virginia and Clemson on a YouTube livestream.
“It was their commitment to me, really,” Batemon said of his decision on the program. “Everything just seemed so right. They have a plan – they do the little things. They win, they compete… everything with them is at a very high level and I just felt like it was time.”
The 6-foot-3, 170-pound Wisconsin prospect is rated as the No. 54 player in the 2025 class by 247 Sports.
His full offer sheet included His full offer sheet included Iowa State, Marquette, West Virginia, Clemson, Illinois, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Bradley, DePaul, Milwaukee, Cal Poly, and Grambling State.
“It’s a great environment and a great campus,” Batemon said. “I love their facilities. They’re set up to be successful. Iowa’s a place where there’s not much going on, so there’s less distractions. I can just focus on success.”
During his high school time, Batemon routinely played against a fellow Wisconsin prospect at the time in Milan Momcilovic.
He also mentioned the energy that Conrad Hawley brings to practices as something that stood out during his numerous visits to Ames.
“I’ve kind of got a connection with Milan (Momcilovic) – we played against each other in high school. Obviously, I’ve been up there a few times, and have got to talk to a bunch of the guys. They all are very competitive. One thing I will say – Conrad (Hawley), who they had, I love his energy.”
Iowa State assistant coach J.R. Blount was the primary recruiter in earning the commitment from Batemon, bringing Iowa State’s 2025 class to three.
Batemon joins fellow four-star prospect and forward Xzavion Mitchell as well as top-150 recruit and point guard Macari Moore as committed players to the class.
With the addition of Batemon, Iowa State rises to No. 1 in the country in 247 Sports’ class recruiting rankings.
“Mainly it’s really on the defensive side – it’s where I compete,” Batemon said. I like that about (Otzelberger’s) culture… It’s exciting. I’m not really one to get homesick, so I’m not worried about that side, but it’s just me going out to life. I’m excited.”
Batemon will join the roster for the 2025-26 recruiting class, which now brings the scholarship chart to one open spot, although those things change with time.
“I think they can do big things,” Batemon said. They’ve got a bunch of different pieces. I think Milan is going to have a breakout year. He’s just kept working on his weaknesses and building on his confidence. Obviously, Keshon (Gilbert) is really good. Tamin (Lipsey) is a great point guard. I think they’ve got the right pieces to succeed.”
Nov 18, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys safety Trey Rucker (9) tackles Houston Cougars quarterback Donovan Smith (1) during the first half at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Editor’s note: Fourth in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
AMES — Houston’s entering a new era and will face Iowa State for the first time in program history on Sept. 28 at home.
The Cougars fired Dana Holgorson after losing five of their last six games en route to a 4-8 finish in 2023. So new head coach Willie Fritz will try to guide Houston back from the type of season the Cyclones endured in 2022 — and the former Tulane coach hit the portal hard to address pressing needs on defense.
Houston ranked 130th among 133 FBS schools last season in third-down defense, allowing conversions in a whopping 48.5 percent of such situations, so an overhaul of personnel was clearly required.
So Fritz and his staff brought in 12 transfers on that side of the ball alone, including senior cornerback/returner Bryan Massey (SMU), senior safety Hershey McLaurin (West Virginia), and senior linebacker Kendre Gant (Louisiana).
How much can those (and many more) additions help the Cougars improve on defense, though? Probably quite a bit, but not nearly enough. Houston ranked 101st or worst in scoring defense, rushing defense and passing defense last season.
Houston also found help in the transfer portal on offense, luring former Michigan State tight end Maliq Carr onto campus. The 6-6, 265-pound senior has hauled in 54 catches for 696 yards and five touchdowns in his well-traveled career and will give veteran quarterback Donovan Smith — who Cyclone fans will know from his time at Texas Tech — a key weapon on an erratic, but potentially explosive offense.
Iowa State vs. Houston: 3 things to watch How much of a problem will Donovan Smith be? The 6-5 junior passed for a then-career-high 322 yards and three touchdowns to help Texas Tech beat ISU, 41-38, in 2021, then scored a rushing touchdown in the Red Raiders’ 14-10 win over the Cyclones in 2022. Smith can make every throw and is always a threat on the ground, but he can also be turnover-prone. Expect ISU defensive coordinator Jon Heacock** to focus on that flaw and put his players in positions to exploit it.
**Can ISU start conference play with a road win for the first time since 2020? The Cyclones have lost three consecutive Big 12 road openers and even though they’ll have the week two road matchup with Iowa under their belt, it won’t be easy to win at Houston. ISU did win its final four league road games last season, however, so that string of success could carry over into 2024.
Can the Cyclones get the ground game going? The Cougars will likely put eight or nine defenders in the box in hopes of making ISU one-dimensional. That strategy proved to be a sound one for the Cyclones’ foes last season, but if the experienced offensive line performs as expected against a thin Houston D-line, there could be lots of room for Abu Sama** and company to exploit.
2024 prognosis Houston’s defense couldn’t stop anyone last season and though it will be improved, ISU should be able to amass 30-plus points and start conference play 1-0.
Arkansas State Red Wolves quarterback Jaylen Raynor (1) is stopped by Northern Illinois Huskies safety Nate Valcarcel (9) and Northern Illinois Huskies defensive back Javaughn Byrd (2) in second-half action in the Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
Editor’s note: Third in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
AMES — Arkansas State’s been in rebuilding mode under head coach Butch Jones, but attained bowl eligibility in 2023 after suffering through four consecutive losing seasons.
Jones — the head coach at Tennessee from 2013-17 — has been stockpiling talent in Jonesboro and returns 10 starters on offense, including dual-threat quarterback Jaylen Raynor.
The 6-0, 204-pound sophomore compiled 2,923 yards of total offense last season while accounting for 22 touchdowns (17 passing, five rushing), so making him uncomfortable will be critically important for Iowa State’s seasoned and often-stingy defense.
Raynor’s top targets return, as well, including wide receivers Courtney Jackson and Corey Rucker, who combined for nearly 1,400 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2023.
Arkansas State’s also deep up front and in the backfield, where top returners Ja’Quez Cross and Zak Wallace combined for 13 rushing touchdowns last season.
Defensively, the Red Wolves are much greener, with just six returning starters, including defensive lineman Keyron Crawford and Nate Martey, who combined for 19.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks last season.
Arkansas State scored four defensive touchdowns last season, which ranked eighth nationally among FBS programs, so it’s an aggressive unit breaking in five new starters.
The Red Wolves are accustomed to facing Big 12 foes in recent seasons, having faced both (former Big 12 school) Oklahoma and Kansas State since 2020. Arkansas State shocked the Wildcats, 35-31, in 2020 in Manhattan, then was thumped, 73-0, by the Sooners last season in Norman.
Iowa State vs. Arkansas State: 3 things to watch
**Can the Cyclones lock down the Red Wolves punt and kick returners? ISU was solid in punt coverage (51st nationally) and kick coverage (54th) last season, and needs to be at its best against Arkansas State. Both Cross and Jackson ranked among the top 20 returners nationally in 2023 and allowing a special teams score or big return could set the stage for a tenser-than-expected game. Cross returned a kickoff for a touchdown last season. Jackson did the same on a punt return.
Can ISU’s offensive line hold up against the Red Wolves’ strong pass rush? Crawford, a 6-4, 243-pound junior, came off the edge to total sevel sacks last season. Martey, a 6-1, 288-pound senior, shines in the interior, and compiled six sacks in 2023. That duo will be tough to contain, which could force Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht** into difficult situations. Becht excelled when under pressure most of last season, though, and enjoys an array of weapons that could make Arkansas State pay if it becomes overly aggressive.
**Will the Cyclones’ offense be able to strike quickly? Getting off to a fast start on the scoreboard is key when facing athletic and somewhat undersized teams from smaller conferences — and the Red Wolves are a prime example of such a team. ISU’s offense needs to produce several big plays early, establish a two-score lead, and force Arkansas State into desperation mode.
2024 prognosis
Unless the Cyclones turn the ball over multiple times, this should be a reasonably comfortable win after a close first half.
Iowa State is in the mix to potentially land a top 60 prospect in the country when Jamarion Batemon announces his college decision on Monday, July 1.
The 6-foot-3, 170-pound shooting guard will be announcing his choice between his top four schools: Iowa State, Marquette, West Virginia and Clemson.
“(Iowa State is) pretty much at the top,” Batemon told CF in an interview in January. “It’s really like them and Marquette.”
West Virginia, which hired former Drake coach Darian Devries, and Clemson emerged later in his recruitment.
Batemon, who’s rated as the No. 54 player in the class by 247 Sports, attends high school at the Milwaukee Academy of Science and is rated as the No. 2 prospect out of Wisconsin.
His full offer sheet includes Iowa State, Marquette, West Virginia, Clemson, Illinois, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Bradley, DePaul, Milwaukee, Cal Poly, and Grambling State.
Former Cyclone Hason Ward will be in action during next month’s NBA Summer League games taking the court for the Sacramento Kings.
Ward agreed to play with the Kings after playing for a month in the Canadian Elite Basketball League with the Scarborough Shooting Stars.
There, he averaged 5.9 points per game.
Former Cyclone Hason Ward has appeared in eight games with Canadian Elite Basketball League/Ligue élite canadienne de basketball team Scarborough Shooting Stars.
Ward’s averages include: 5.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 2.1 bpg.
He has twice scored in double figures (12 and 14 points). pic.twitter.com/jIFNS3z8I8
— Jared Larson (@Jar_Lar) June 26, 2024
During his senior season in Ames, Ward averaged 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while helping Iowa State to its second Sweet 16 appearance in the past three years.
The Kings will kick off their Summer League schedule next Saturday, June 6, against Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers at 3:30 p.m. CT.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
IRVING, Texas – The Big 12 has announced the conference scheduling format for the 2024-25 men’s basketball season. The 2024-25 season marks the Big 12’s first with 16 member institutions and the first going to a 20 game schedule.
Opponents were selected based on a combination of geography, historical results and a poll of the coaches to best balance the schedule in terms of travel and competitiveness. A full Big 12 schedule will be released at a later date.
Iowa State will host three of the four newcomers to the league in Arizona, Colorado and Utah, while the Cyclones will only face Arizona State on the road. Arizona, UCF, Colorado, Kansas and Kansas State are all home-and-away opponents for the Cyclones this year. Iowa State will only face Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, TCU and Utah at Hilton Coliseum, while they will only travel to Arizona State, Houston, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and West Virginia.
Men’s Basketball Opponents
Iowa State
Home-and-away: Arizona, UCF, Colorado, Kansas, Kansas State
Home-only: Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, TCU, Utah
Away-only: Arizona State, Houston, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Arizona
Home-and-away: Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, Iowa State, Texas Tech
Home-only: UCF, Colorado, Houston, TCU, Utah
Away-only: Cincinnati, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia
Arizona State
Home-and-away: Arizona, BYU, Colorado, Kansas State, Texas Tech
Home-only: Baylor, UCF, Houston, Iowa State, TCU
Away-only: Cincinnati, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Utah, West Virginia
Baylor
Home-and-away: Arizona, Cincinnati, Houston, TCU, Utah
Home-only: UCF, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia
Away-only: Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, Iowa State, Texas Tech
BYU
Home-and-away: Arizona, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Utah, West Virginia
Home-only: Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech
Away-only: UCF, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, TCU
UCF
Home-and-away: Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma State, TCU
Home-only: BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, Kansas State, Utah
Away-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Cincinnati
Home-and-away: Baylor, BYU, Kansas State, Utah, West Virginia
Home-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Kansas, TCU, Texas Tech
Away-only: UCF, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Oklahoma State
Colorado
Home-and-away: Arizona State, UCF, Iowa State, Kansas, TCU
Home-only: Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, West Virginia
Away-only: Arizona, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Utah
Houston
Home-and-away: Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Home-only: BYU, Cincinnati, Iowa State, TCU, Utah
Away-only: Arizona, Arizona State, UCF, Colorado, Kansas State
Kansas
Home-and-away: UCF, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas State
Home-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Away-only: Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, TCU, Utah
Kansas State
Home-and-away: Arizona State, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma State
Home-only: Arizona, Colorado, Houston, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Away-only: Baylor, BYU, UCF, TCU, Utah
Oklahoma State
Home-and-away: UCF, Houston, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Utah
Home-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Colorado, Iowa State
Away-only: Baylor, BYU, Kansas, TCU, West Virginia
TCU
Home-and-away: Baylor, UCF, Colorado, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Home-only: BYU, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Utah
Away-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State
Texas Tech
Home-and-away: Arizona, Arizona State, Houston, Oklahoma State, TCU
Home-only: Baylor, UCF, Colorado, Iowa State, West Virginia
Away-only: BYU, Cincinnati, Kansas, Kansas State, Utah
Utah
Home-and-away: Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, West Virginia
Home-only: Arizona State, Colorado, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech
Away-only: Arizona, UCF, Houston, Iowa State, TCU
West Virginia
Home-and-away: BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, TCU, Utah
Home-only: Arizona, Arizona State, UCF, Iowa State, Oklahoma State
Away-only: Baylor, Colorado, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
IRVING, Texas – The Big 12 Conference announced the schedule matrix with home and away opponents for the 2024-25 season Thursday morning. With four new members to the conference in 2024-25 for a total of 16 members, each team will play three opponents twice (home and away) and the remaining 12 opponents once.
Iowa State will play Kansas, Kansas State and UCF twice while hosting BYU, Colorado, Houston, TCU, Texas Tech and Utah. The Cyclones will travel to Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State and West Virginia. Despite adding four new members each of the previous two seasons, Iowa State will only play in one new facility when the Cyclones travel to Arizona. ISU traveled to Arizona State in 1987 and 1994 and traveled to Cincinnati once in 2013.
Opponents were selected based on a combination of geography, historical results and a poll of the coaches to best balance the schedule in terms of travel and competitiveness. A full Big 12 schedule with dates and times will be released at a later date.
Iowa State’s full Big 12 schedule matrix can be found below and the full Big 12 schedule matrix can be viewed here.
Home and Away: Kansas, Kansas State, UCF
Home Only: BYU, Colorado, Houston, TCU, Texas Tech, Utah
Away Only: Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, West Virginia
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Wrestling
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2024
Carr Named Big 12 Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year
AMES, Iowa – David Carr has been named the 2024 Big 12 Wrestling Scholar Athlete of the Year, the league office announced Wednesday. He is the third Cyclone to receive the honor, joining Max Mayfield (2013) and Kyven Gadson (2015).
Carr, Iowa State’s Male Athlete of the Year and nominee for Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year, put together a remarkable year on and off the mat.
In May, Carr completed his master’s degree in education with a 3.74 GPA. He was named a 2024 National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American, First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection and was a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters.
On the mat, Carr posted a 27-2 record in 2023-24 and won his second national title to become the 17th Cyclone wrestler to win multiple national titles and the first since 2010 (Jake Varner). David and his father, Nate, are one of four father-son duos in NCAA Division I history to each win at least two national titles.
The Canton, Ohio native won Amateur Wrestling News’ Hammer Award for winning the most competitive weight class at the NCAA Championships. The path to his national title included wins over the No. 1, 2 and 5 seeds, and four of his five opponents in the tournament either finished on the podium or had earned All-American honors at some point in their career.
As the No. 4 seed, Carr defeated eventual All-American Hunter Garvin (Stanford) in the second round, returning two-time All-American No. 5 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) in the quarterfinals, two-time defending national champion No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) in the semifinals and undefeated freshman No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) in the national finals.
At the Big 12 Championship, Carr fell to his rival, top-ranked O’Toole of Missouri, in the finals, 8-2. Carr would avenge the loss just two weeks later in the national semifinals on a takedown with 10 seconds remaining to win, 8-6. It capped a historic rivalry where the pair met five times in a two-year span with Carr holding a 3-2 advantage in the series.
Carr owned a 40:3 takedown ratio during the 2023-24 season (80 for, 6 against) and registered 19 bonus-point wins (six falls, nine tech falls, four major decisions). He defeated 10 top-10 opponents, wrested in 14-of-15 duals and led Iowa State with 67 dual points.
Carr helped Iowa State to its first Big 12 team title since 2009 and a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, the Cyclones’ best finish since 2010.
Iowa State forward Dwayne Pierce announced over his Instagram channel Wednesday that he will be stepping away from the men’s basketball program for personal reasons.
Iowa State forward Dwayne Pierce – a 2024 signee – has announced over his Instagram account that he is stepping away from the team for personal reasons.
Screengrab from @cyclonefanatic user Cyclones8824 pic.twitter.com/k25hji43EY
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) June 26, 2024
Pierce, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound forward, was rated as the No. 157 player in his recruiting class and originally committed to Iowa State in January of 2023.
His full statement read:
“Dear Cyclone Nation, Thank you for welcoming me from day one, you truly are the best fans. I will be stepping away from Iowa State and the Men’s Basketball program for personal reasons. I want to wish Coach TJ and my teammates well in the upcoming season.”
Pierce chose Iowa State over Memphis, Illinois, LSU, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, George Washington, Florida State, St. Johns, Rutgers and New Mexico State.
The Cyclones now have one open scholarship to use for the 2024-25 season.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
FORT MYERS, Fla.– Iowa State women’s basketball will participate in the 2024 Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off as announced by Intersport on Wednesday morning. The Cyclones are set to face defending National Champion South Carolina and Middle Tennessee State November 28-30 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida Southwestern State College.
Iowa State will take on the Gamecocks on Thanksgiving Day before meeting Middle Tennessee State for the first time in program history on Saturday, November 30. Game times and broadcast information will be announced at a later date.
The collective power of the programs will make the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off one of the strongest early season events this year. The four teams of the Island Division (Iowa State, South Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, Purdue) have combined for 90 NCAA Tournament appearances. ISU, South Carolina and MTSU were selected to participate in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Cyclones enter 2024-25 returning plenty of production following a 2024 NCAA Tournament Second Round appearance, including the top-3 scorers from last season’s roster in Audi Crooks (19.2 PPG), Addy Brown (13.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG) and Emily Ryan (11.6 PPG, 6.9 APG).
Travel packages for fans looking to join the Cyclones at the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off will be available on July 16 at www.womensfortmyerstipoff.com/travel. The Westin Cape Coral and Marina Village and the Marriott Sanibel Harbour are the event’s host hotels.
ISU previously announced its participation in the 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase, taking on UConn on Tuesday, December 17th. The complete non-conference and Big 12 Conference schedules will be released at a later date.
To receive the latest updates, news, ticket information and more, visit Cyclones.com and follow Iowa State Women’s Basketball on X (Twitter) and Instagram at @CycloneWBB.
Fort Myers Women’s Tip-Off Matchup History
Island Division – Nov. 28
South Carolina vs. Iowa State
Series Record: South Carolina leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Dec. 26, 2020 (South Carolina, 83-65)
Island Division – Nov. 30
Iowa State vs. MTSU
Series Record: This will be the first all-time meeting between the programs.
Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jontez Williams (31) knocks out the ball from Iowa Hawkeyes’ wide receiver Diante Vines (0) during the fourth quarter in the Cy-Hawk football game at the Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
Editor’s note: Second in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
AMES — Iowa State took the opening kickoff of last season’s Cy-Hawk Series game against Iowa and meted out a 15-play, 57-yard drive that included three third-down conversions. The end result? A blocked field goal — and that served as a harbinger of what would come in a 20-13 home loss to the Hawkeyes.
Simply put, the Cyclones haven’t been able to get out of their own way against Iowa, and have lost six of seven meetings in the series in often gut-wrenching ways since head coach Matt Campbell took over the program in 2016.
Will the 2024 rendition of the rivalry game be any different?
There’s reason for optimism for the Cyclones, who return key starters at every position on offense and defense, but the Hawkeyes’ scoring defense will, as usual, likely be difficult to pierce.
ISU has stubbornly attempted to establish the run against Iowa in recent years and that strategy has proven to be unsuccessful. So will new offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser give Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht free rein in the passing game this time around? History says no, but history’s been unkind to ISU against the Hawkeyes. So maybe, yes?
The Cyclones have outgained Iowa by a sizable margin in the past four meetings, yet they’ve lost three of those games. Changing up the offensive game plan would seem to be wise, then, as the Hawkeyes break in a new offense for quarterback Cade McNamara, who returns after suffering a season-ending ACL injury in 2023.
Iowa State vs. Iowa: 3 things to watch How will the Cyclones’ defense perform against a rare “new-look” Iowa offense? The Hawkeyes lack depth in their skill position groups, but will likely give ISU defensive coordinator Jon Heacock** some new looks offensively under first-year coordinator Tim Lester, who spent last season as a senior analyst for the Green Bay Packers. Does that mean Iowa will pass more? Or introduce some more deceptive sets? Maybe, but the Hawkeyes’ identity as a trench-based, run-first offense is unlikely to change.
**Can ISU’s defense force multiple turnovers? The Cyclones have collected more than one takeaway just once against Iowa in the Campbell era. That came in 2022, when ISU forced three turnovers and held on for a 10-7 win at Kinnick Stadium. Before that, the Hawkeyes didn’t turn the ball over once in five consecutive Cy-Hawk games. Bottom line: If Iowa plays clean football, it usually wins this one.
Can the Cyclones’ offense hit on some big plays against the Hawkeyes? Becht passed for 203 yards and a touchdown to Jayden Higgins** in last season’s loss, but ISU averaged just 4.6 yards per pass — and the offense’s longest play from scrimmage spanned a mere 16 yards. Iowa’s defense returns nine starters and despite losing some star players (Cooper DeJean, Joe Evans, Logan Lee) remains loaded with talent.
2024 prognosis If ISU’s offense can stretch the field against the stingy Hawkeyes’ defense, a second win in the past three meetings is possible. If not, it could be another frustrating day for the Cyclones in Iowa City.
Former Cyclone Bridget Carleton helped the Minnesota Lynx to a 94-89 win over the New York Liberty in Commissioner’s Cup championship game Tuesday.
Carleton led her team with 23 points, including six 3-pointers in the victory to give the Lynx the in-season tournament title.
Bridget Carleton (6/25/24) pic.twitter.com/WMiYKZPa4H
— @balapattyszn (@balapattyvids) June 26, 2024
In 36 minutes on the floor – a game-high – Carleton added five assists, four rebounds and three steals.
With the win, Minnesota improved to 13-3 on the season.
The Lynx’s next game will be against the Dallas Wings against another former Cyclone in Stephanie Soares on Thursday, June 27.
Mar 16, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Streamers fall as Iowa State Cyclones head coach TJ Otzelberger hoists the Big 12 Tournament trophy alongside his team after defeating the Houston Cougars at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
T.J. Otzelberger‘s Iowa State men’s basketball team could be poised to play in a groundbreaking basketball tournament in November of 2025, according to a social media post by Matt Norlander of CBS Sports.
https://x.com/MattNorlander/status/1805731448848367842
Norlander typed late this afternoon that the Cyclones and Baylor had recently committed to play in the Players Era Festival, which is expected to dole out considerable NIL money to each program that participates.
Other schools slated to play in the 2025 event include Alabama, Creighton, Houston, Gonzaga, Michigan, Notre Dame, Rutgers, San Diego State, Saint Joe’s, St. John’s, Syracuse and Texas A&M, according to Norlander.
The first Players Era Festival is scheduled for this November.
Norlander’s article about the event on CBSSports.com included this passage: “In a college sports first, the Players Era Festival will also include $1 million NIL payouts for all participating schools. Players will have future earnings opportunities through long-term NIL contracts, sources said.”
Iowa State earned its 12th commitment to the 2025 recruiting class Monday night in Spirt Lake High School safety Ethan Strecker.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound prospect and multi-sport athlete announced the news over social media.
Committed. @CycloneFB
Thank you to my family and coaches!@Coach_Broom @ISUMattCampbell @DerekHoodjer @Coach_Heacock pic.twitter.com/92YndsLYvW
— Ethan Stecker (@13EthanStecker) June 25, 2024
Stecker was an all-state selection during his junior year and camped with South Dakota as a combination wideout and defensive back.
Alongside his football career, Stecker was a an all-state athlete in both the hurdles and shuttle hurdles during his track & field career.
Stecker is the first defensive back commitment Iowa State has received in the 2025 class, which is currently rated as the No. 57 class in the country by 247 Sports.
Preseason college football magazines are hitting the shelves, and along with them come preseason all-conference and all-American teams.
There are a few discrepancies between how many teams each publication puts out, but the published selections are all below in full.
Phil Steele
Jeremiah Cooper was named to the Phil Steele all-American 4th team as a defensive back as well.
1st team: Jayden Higgins (WR), Ben Brahmer (TE), Beau Freyler (DB), Malik Verdon (DB)
2nd team: Jaylin Noel (WR), Jarrod Hufford (OL), Tyler Miller (OL), Caleb Bacon (LB), Jeremiah Cooper (DB)
3rd team: Jalen Travis (OL), J.R. Singleton (OL), Joey Petersen (DE), Tyler Perkins (P)
4th team: Rocco Becht (QB), Abu Sama (RB), Jaylin Noel (KR)
Athlon Sports
Jeremiah Cooper was named to the Athlon all-American 4th team as a defensive back as well.
1st team: Jeremiah Cooper (S), Beau Freyler (S)
2nd team: Jarrod Hufford (OL), Jaylin Noel (WR), Jayden Higgins (WR), Joey Petersen (DL), J.R. Singleton (DL), Caleb Bacon (LB), Myles Purchase (CB)
3rd team: Abu Sama (RB), Ben Brahmer (TE), Domonique Orange (DL), Malik Verdon (S)
4th team: Will McLaughlin (LB), Tyler Perkins (P), Jaylin Noel (PR)
Lindy’s Sports
Note: Lindy’s Magazine only displays all-conference teams to three teams and only included all-American teams to the 2nd team.
1st team: Jeremiah Cooper (DB)
2nd team: Jarrod Hufford (OL)
3rd team: Abu Sama (RB), Jayden Higgins (WR), Domonique Orange (DL), Jack Sadowski (LB)
Sep 16, 2023; Boise, Idaho, USA; North Dakota Fighting Hawks head coach Bubba Schweigert looks on during the first half against the Boise State Broncos at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
Editor’s note: This is the first in a 12-part summer series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
AMES — North Dakota will become Iowa State’s latest Missouri Valley Football Conference foe to play in a season opener at Jack Trice Stadium this fall.
It will be the first meeting between the schools — but the Matt Campbell-led Cyclones will begin a season against an MVFC opponent for the ninth time in the past 11 seasons when kickoff commences at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 31.
It’s usually a topsy-turvy early-season ride for ISU, which lost twice to Northern Iowa and once to North Dakota State in that span, while seeing one season opener against South Dakota State canceled because of never-ending lighting strikes.
But what type of challenge may the Fighting Hawks pose to the Cyclones?
Possibly a stern one. North Dakota’s advanced to the FCS playoffs in two of its first three seasons as a member of the MVFC — and last season fell to Sacramento State, 42-35, in a first-round playoff matchup at home.
Longtime head coach Bubba Schweigert could have a difficult time guiding the Fighting Hawks back into postseason play this season. Just three starters return on defense, along with six on offense.
Leading rusher Gaven Ziebarth (107 rushes, 700 yards, nine touchdowns) and leading receiver Bo Belquist (66 catches, 772 yards, six touchdowns) return for the Fighting Hawks, but the team must replace starting quarterback, Tommy Schuster, who transferred after four successful seasons. 6-3, 200-pound junior Trey Feeney looks to replace him in the starting lineup.
Iowa State vs. North Dakota: 3 things to watch Can the Cyclones’ experienced-laden defense dominate the game? ISU defensive coordinator Jon Heacock**’s fielded a top-three Big 12 defense in each of the past seven seasons and North Dakota is breaking in a new offensive coordinator in Isaac Fruechte, as well as a new starting quarterback. The Cyclones’ back end is loaded with playmakers such as Jeremiah Cooper and Beau Freyler, so if the defensive line can produce significant pressure, takeaways could come in bunches.
**Will ISU be able to establish the run? It was feast or famine for the Cyclones’ rushing game last season and it was very difficult to predict whether that part of the offense would thrive or founder. It’s imperative to set the tone up front against the Fighting Hawks’ largely inexperienced defense.
Can the Cyclones start hot? The offense in particular has been sluggish out of the gate in head coach Matt Campbell’s first eight seasons, but given ISU’s multitude of weapons in the backfield (Abu Sama) and at receiver and tight end (Ben Brahmer, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel), quarterback Rocco Becht** could put up big numbers.
First-glance prediction ISU will roll in this one unless the offensive line struggles against the undersized and inexperienced Fighting Hawks’ defense. North Dakota’s a solid FCS program on par with Northern Iowa, but if the Cyclones are truly capable of challenging for a Big 12 title this season, they should seize control early and put this game away by halftime.
On the latest episode of Paul George’s podcast, Podcast P with Paul George, the Los Angeles Clippers forward was asked about talented players that didn’t get seen during their time in the NBA.
George brought up former Cyclone Deonte Burton.
“My time in Oklahoma City, there was a kid named Deonte Burton,” George said. “You probably don’t know who he is, but like, I used to ask, ‘Why we don’t play him?’ I swear, (because) he played some games when guys went down, like they’ll plug him in in garbage time. They’ll plug him in in spurt moments.
“But I used to see him in practice… He was like Zion before Zion. Like he had that physique – more muscular, though. Jump out the gym, strong as an ox, and will lock your ass up.”
Burton played with George while the pair were each in Oklahoma City with the Thunder.
His last time in the NBA was with Sacramento in 2022 and 2023, where he bounced in between the NBA and G-League organizations.
“That’s just how the NBA is,” George said. “You don’t get a chance, you kinda assed out, you know what I mean? It’s hard to get into this game. If you don’t get a chance to get into this game, people just won’t see how good you are.”
Burton is now playing professionally in Puerto Rico with Mets de Guaynabo in Baloncesto Superior Nacional. The full clip can be seen below.
“He was Zion before Zion.”
PG shows love to Deonte Burton and all those who never quite had the right opportunity to showcase themselves pic.twitter.com/OTQjVGI0ev
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) June 23, 2024
Brock Purdy at his youth football camp in Ames. Photo by Rob Gray.
AMES — Brock Purdy held the mic and mouthed the word “man” several times.
“Man, I appreciate every single one of you guys.”
“Man, I’m getting emotional. I’m back here, home.”
“Man, let’s play some football. You guys ready?”
And with that, the former Iowa State quarterback-turned-San Francisco 49ers star kicked off his first annual youth camp Saturday at the Cyclones’ practice field. About 650 young football players ages 9-to-15 attended the event — and when Purdy asked if they were ready, a boisterous cry of, ‘Yeah!,’ rang out.
WATCH: Brock Purdy kicks off his first youth camp in Ames on Saturday. (@ROBWGRAY video). pic.twitter.com/9oEl4p2W5u
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) June 22, 2024
“Every time I come back to Ames there’s just more development and it looks a little different,” said Purdy, who led ISU to a Big 12 title game appearance and a Fiesta Bowl win during his college career.. “It’s just exciting because of the growth. Obviously, everybody getting behind Iowa State football and the program and the university, so to come back and just see new things, for me, it’s special, because I feel like all the guys even before me, we’ve tried to just continue to build this place. To come back and see the progress is pretty cool.”
Saturday’s weather conditions were anything but “cool,” as the heat index reached 95 degrees and sweat soaked through every shirt. Most of those shirts — unsurprisingly — featured Purdy’s name and number: Either 13, which he wears now for the 49ers, or 15, which he donned during his storied Cyclone career.
All of that love, it seems, briefly overwhelmed him.
“Just the people, man,” said Purdy, who guided San Francisco to the NFC Championship game in 2022 and the Super Bowl last season. “Come back here, it’s such a hometown feel. It’s a college town, but you see everybody again, and everyone’s just thriving, and everyone just loves each other and they help each other out — and they helped me understand who I am as a person in this life. I mean, those are crucial years, from high school to college in terms of understanding what you believe and what you want to do with life. I found that here, so it’s always nice to come back.”
Purdy established 30-plus new passing-based records during his time at Iowa State, but now redshirt sophomore Rocco Becht’s busy breaking them. That’s fine with Purdy, who is bullish on Becht, the reigning Big 12 offensive freshman of the year.
“He’s smart and knows where he’s going with the ball,” Purdy said. “I feel like playing quarterback, it’s about making the right decision over and over and over again. Obviously, arm strength, all that kind of stuff is cool, but if you can make the right decision and be smart with the ball and let the defense play defense, you’re gonna win ballgames and Rocco does that.”
Purdy showcased many of those attributes when pressed into duty in 2022 after being snared by the 49ers with the last pick of the NFL Draft. That made Purdy that season’s so-called “Mr. Irrelevant” — a monicker that quickly became moot once he got a chance to shine in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s high-octane offense.
Purdy set San Francisco’s single-season passing yards record last season and earned a Pro Bowl berth, but he’s not a finished product and is approaching this offseason like he’s got plenty left to prove.
“It’s just the playbook, continuing to chip away at that, getting more familiar with it,” said Purdy, the lowest-drafted quarterback to ever start in a Super Bowl. “It’s like another language, like I always say, so you’ve got to always be in it. And then physically, just my mobility and hopefully being able to translate that to being quicker and more elusive and things like that. I can always continue to get better in that regard.”
But Saturday, Purdy wasn’t striving to sharpen his skills. He wasn’t thinking about the Sept. 9 season opener against former teammate Breece Hall and the New York Jets, either. Instead, he simply smiled while helping others do the same work he did as a youth — and, man, that felt good.
“They’ve followed me and they still have my back,” he said. “For them to grow up and see me playing on the field — that could be them one day. So, for me, I get choked up when I see it. It’s special.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State Athletics Department has announced its theme games for the 2024 football season, the 50th season at Jack Trice Stadium.
Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. North Dakota – Color It Cardinal, Cyclone Club Day of Honor
WEAR CARDINAL for this matchup! Need a cardinal shirt for the game? Get a Juice Box with a cardinal-colored shirt and three additional t-shirts here.ADVERTISING
Cyclone Club Day of Honor proudly recognizes and celebrates all Cyclone Club members who go above and beyond for ISU Athletics.
Saturday, Sept. 21 vs. Arkansas State – Hall of Fame
Six former Cyclone athletes will be inducted into the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame and recognized during halftime.
Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. Baylor – White Out
All fans are encouraged to wear white attire for an Iowa State White Out.
Looking for a white shirt for the game? Buy this package with three additional color shirts for only $40.
Saturday, Nov. 2 vs. Texas Tech – Homecoming
Homecoming is truly unique as an annual celebration of Cyclone history, tradition, and spirit at Iowa State! This year’s game is the 111th Homecoming game in school history.
Saturday, Nov. 30 vs. K-State –Senior Day
Seniors will be introduced for their final time at Jack Trice Stadium. Arrive early and join in the celebration of this year’s graduating class.
Season Tickets
Football season tickets are on sale now. Seven home games, including games against Kansas State, Texas Tech and UCF, starting at $299. Order now at: https://bit.ly/24FBSeason
Three former Iowa State men’s basketball players are competing to suit up for Olympic rosters this summer.
Former Cyclone stars Tyrese Haliburton (USA), Melvin Ejim (Canada), and Nick Weiler-Babb (Germany) qualified for teams ahead of the tournament that begins July 27.
Note: We previously published that each of the three had made the final rosters for the Olympics, however not all teams have made all of their cuts yet.
NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton will represent the United States as he was
announced to the final 12-member roster.
The two-time All-Star will make his fourth appearance with Team USA, as he was a part of the FIBA World Cup team last summer, the U19 World Cup team in 2019, and the U.S. Select Team In 2021.
The former Cyclone is coming off his best season as a pro averaging 20.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists per game for the Indiana Pacers and leading them to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2014.
Melvin Ejim will could once again be a part of a talented Canadian National Team. The 6-foot-6 forward enters his fourth year with the team playing 42 games in that time frame.
Ejim will have a strong claim for a spot on the team after his recent performances in the World Cup success last year.
The former Cyclone has been playing over in Spain for Baloncesto Málaga. He averaged 6.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
Canada is currently at 20 players with eight left to be cut.
Nick Weiler-Babb will make his Olympic debut for the German National Team.
The former Cyclone missed out on playing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023 due to an injury but has since been playing over in Germany for FC Bayern Munich.
Weiler-Babb averaged 6.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game
for FC Bayern Munich.
Germany’s roster currently sits at 16 with four cuts with remaining.
Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic talks to media during an interview at Iowa State’s Sukup Basketball Complex on Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Milan Momcilovic calmly set his feet, then sized up his shot. The Iowa State sharpshooter’s pinpoint precision met a keen sense of purpose as the ball spun toward its target. But instead of tickling nylon, his shot trickled off course — and that’s OK because the skilled forward has only been playing golf for roughly a month.
“All my high school buddies, they golf, so I went to the course and I really love it,” said Momcilovic, who returned to the court for ISU last week for head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s trademark grueling summer practices. “I’m shooting like 57 on nine (holes) right now, so one month in, we’re getting there.”
Momcilovic’s working on both his short and long games right now. The 6-7 member of the Big 12 All-Freshman team’s determined to help the Cyclones get past the Sweet 16 in the 2025 NCAA Tournament while sharpening his abilities in hopes of eventually excelling in the NBA.
But first things first. Momcilovic packed on several pounds of muscle in the offseason, so he’s been lifting weights far more often than swinging clubs since ISU lost to Illinois in the Sweet 16 in March.
“With (Pete) Link, our strength and conditioning coach, the way his body’s moving, his explosiveness, his lateral quickness, his strength — I think he’s probably 12 to 15 pounds bigger and stronger,” said Otzelberger, who returns his top-four scorers from last season’s Big 12 Tournament-winning team. “He was the one guy in practice (Thursday) with his sleeves cut off, so he feels a lot better with where his body’s at. Certainly, he’s done the hard work.”
Momcilovic admitted that sometimes he’s too hard on himself, though. He vocally shouldered the blame for the 72-69 loss to the Illini in Boston that prevented the Cyclones from advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2000. Momcilovic scored one point in that loss and took a mere four shots from the field, but he’s put that performance in perspective as he seeks to become a force on every possession on both ends of the floor.
“Just knowing last year as a freshman that, I mean, you can’t do everything,” said Momcilovic, who averaged 14.5 points in ISU’s first- and second-round NCAA Tournament wins last season. “So (I) just kind of (took) a step back and realized I had a good freshman year, but at the same time, I’ve always got to be hard on myself because I know what I want out of myself and the expectations for me. So gotta continue to put in that work.”
His teammates have noticed his amped-up efforts.
“I’d say he probably took the Illinois game pretty personally, so he’s been in the gym working nonstop,” said former transfer guard Keshon Gilbert, who led the Cyclones in scoring last seasonal 13.7 points per game. “Gotta give him his props. He’s been real aggressive. He’s just been, you know, he’s gonna be a whole new Milan in my opinion.”
So what will a “whole new Milan” look like, precisely?
“The biggest thing is getting my feet quicker, athleticism, agility,” Momcilovic said. “That’s number one, so I can be better on the offensive and defensive side, and get more rebounds. Getting stronger obviously, and then on the basketball side, still getting my 3s up — a lot of 3s. (And) being more of a playmaker this year. I feel like last year I was just more of a shooter/scorer kind of guy, so getting downhill, finishing at the rim, or kicking it out to my teammates and getting assists, those are some of the key points this year.”
If Momcilovic can become a consistent threat off the dribble, ISU’s offense will be considerably more productive. This summer serves as a staging ground for that endeavor, and by all accounts — just like his nascent golf game — he’s getting there.
“I think for him, it’s more asserting his talent, his dominance in all that he does well every single possession,” Otzelberger said. “I think we all recognize his touch, his shooting ability and his skill. I think for him, it’s defensively, on the glass, and in every whichaway, impacting winning on every possession.”
Hear everything Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger had to say on Thursday as he addressed media members for a mid-summer update on his team.
Iowa State football teased a fourth set of football uniforms set to join its newly released set that was unveiled in May.
On Thursday, the team unveiled the other set in its new look with a white version of the ‘big game black uniforms’ the Cyclones have seen so much success in.
The full look, combo’d with black helmets and pants as well, can be seen in the below social media posts:
Surprise
pic.twitter.com/ZYHGpkM3wN
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) June 20, 2024
The fourth jersey is here
pic.twitter.com/cF5b3kpYeG
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) June 20, 2024
Cyclone Fanatic publisher Chris Williams had a sit down interview with Iowa State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser for the new Summer Series doing a deep dive into Iowa State Football.
Here’s a full transcript of the interview.
Chris Williams: I am interested though – I was really happy when you got promoted, not just because I like you and think you’re a good guy, but I one of my favorite parts of the whole Campbell era is how he gives his people opportunities. What does that mean? Like within that staff, when you know you have a shot at something like that.
Taylor Mouser: Yeah, it means everything to me. And my whole thing since I’ve started working with Campbell, was to just pay him back for being the only coach that really gave me a chance to coach football, and whatever opportunity that was, either as a recruiting person or an intern or a GA like – I just wanted to find ways to add value, to pay that guy back for what he’s done and the impact he’s had in my life. Luckily for me, he’s continued to trust me, and every chance that I’ve gotten to be able to pay him back for and just do the best I can for him. And I love our staff, and I love the players, obviously, so they make it really easy.
Williams: You have a really interesting background to getting here. What I’m curious about is when it comes to calling plays, and you know, being an offensive coordinator, at what point in your career or even life, did you know that’s something you wanted to do? Because everybody wants to do different things, right? When you’re a pup in this business, when did you know? When did that click for you?
Mouser: Probably later than sooner. Like, I don’t know if I got into the profession to necessarily work my way up, and had dreams of becoming a head coach and offensive coordinator. That really wasn’t the case. Like, I just, I love being in the locker room. I love being around the kids. I love the developmental piece, where I just stay on the field and work with those guys all day. And that’s what I fell in love with sports and, you know, football and coaching. And as I’ve worked with Coach Campbell, and I’ve worked a lot of really good coaches, I’ve just kind of gravitated and found it to be something that, if I got my chance to do, I think there’s a certain way that I’d like to do it and believe in myself to do it. And we’ve watched a lot of film here, and, you know, Coach Campbell has had a lot of success offensively and the other coaches that we’ve had here. So, you know, you have your way of thinking that you want to do it, and I have mine, certainly. But I would probably say here, in the last couple of years, it’s really been something that I felt like, if I got the chance to do it, I’d love to, and if not, then, you know, I love being the tight ends coach also.
Williams: So – the last couple years, give the fans some insight on what your role has been, other than the tight ends coach, right? Like, I know you guys all have stuff that you’re doing when it comes to game-planning or whatnot. What? What was it under Nate that helps you kind of can’t pull it into this role when he decided to go to the NFL, yeah,
Mouser: I think just probably like how organized in the structure and the process that Nate (Scheelhaase) had day in day out from the time that he became the offensive coordinator, and he did a lot of things that made it easier on us. And there’s a very clear structure, and it was very organized. Everybody knew what their roles were going to be going into the game plan week, going into the game where we were looking where our eyes were, you know, what we were responsible for in the game plan process.
And I think taking that away to just be able to maximize your time, to be able to get through all the film, because we’re so thorough, we watched stuff from years and years back just to try to find the best way to help our kids be successful. He really provided a great structure and a great plan that I’m still going to do. You know, a lot of those things and how good that guy treats people and cares like he’s got a huge heart, and he’s a great guy. So me being able to work with him as a position coach and then him as the offensive coordinator, there was so much that I’ve learned. And really the same thing with with (Tom) Manning before him, and, you know, Joel Gordon and (Alex) Golesh, and the coaches that we’ve had that have been here, that have come and gone. There’s been so many little wrinkles that I can take away from Jason candle, who’s the head coach at Toledo. Derek Sage, who was the offensive coordinator at Nevada last year, was a G.A for us here, Lou Ayeni was here. So you try to just reach out to as many people as you can, to just learn what’s made them successful or where their faults were, too, but working with Nate last year and the coaches we’ve had here – I’ve been really lucky.
Williams: That’s a heck of a network.
Mouser: I’m not trying to name drop or act like I know a bunch of people, because I don’t. I’ve only worked here for Coach Campbell. But yeah, the last couple weeks we were traveling around recruiting, I was able to really-
Williams: When you put them all together, though, it’s like, wow, that’s a lot of guys that have come through here.
Mouser: Yeah, there’s been a lot of guys that have come here, and it’s been really good for me, because I’ve really only got to work with Coach Campbell. So like, the terms of what we use here are what I’m really familiar with, but to be able to learn, you know, what other people are doing schematically, and be able to translate it to what we’re doing and what they’ve gone and learned, and be able to bring it back here. It’s been invaluable.
Williams: My favorite part of football is how it evolves, and then it’ll, like, go back in time a little bit, and then it’ll come back and somebody’s got this new wrinkle, and then that becomes the thing, and everybody wants to copy very trendy. Where are we at right now? Like, with this new league? I guess because, like, forever, the Big 12 was the league that was scoring in the 60s and 70s. Then now, it feels like everybody’s slowed down just a little bit and defenses have changed too, right? And our guy has had a big reason to that, Jon Heacock – he really changed college football and in the NFL, if you think about it. Where do you see this, league out offensively now, being with 16 teams the way it is?
Mouser: Yeah, it’s funny you say that, when we first got here in 2016 we didn’t have any tight ends on the roster, really.
Williams: I remember, like one catch or something like that?
Mouser: Yeah. We played in a lot of 10-personnel that first year, and there wasn’t a lot of tight ends in the conference. And you look at it now, and I’m not going to say that we necessarily made that happen or caused it to happen, but everybody plays in 11, or 12, or even Texas Tech plays in 13-personnel sets. I certainly feel like it’ll be interesting to see what these new teams bring. And there’s just a whole different dynamic and wrinkle in college football now with this headset you know, that you can use now to talk to our guys.
Williams: Great point.
Mouser: You know, how does that slow things down? That was another big thing with us this off-season, and reaching out to people. And I got to go to a couple OTA’s and see how they do it, and talk to those people. There’s a two-minute warning now, so what does that do for the game? I still think it’ll be probably a similar pace to what it has been. I think it’ll be 11 and (12-personnel) based conference with wrinkles of some of the old stuff, with (the spread offense) and 10-personnel and wrinkles of 13 personnel. But it’ll be interesting.
We’re always trying to find ways to stay in front of that curve. Coach Heacock and the impact that he’s had in college football like you said – and in this conference – with us being able to see that defense. And, you know, I think it’s helped us, because our our offensive players understand the defense a lot more than most people. So it’ll be interesting to see what these new teams bring to and the wrinkles that they have with Utah and Colorado, but we’re always going to, you know, play to the strengths of our personnel.
Williams: I honestly, and not to put on any pressure. I feel like the offense might be underrated going into the year.
Mouser: Yeah, I agree.
Williams: Honestly, I think I might have been a part of that, because I think we’ve all been so distracted by everything else in college athletics that people are just kind of getting into football mode a little bit later. But I mean, what a dream for your first coordinator job, right?
Mouser: Yeah, it’s unbelievable.
Williams: You guys are loaded.
Mouser: We’ve got a lot of talent.
Williams: Don’t screw it up.
Mouser: Oh, believe me, I’ve told everybody, and I’ll tell whoever listens to this, we have so much talent on offense. If we’re not good on offense, it’ll be 100% because of me. Our coaches are incredible. Noah Pauley is incredible. Tyler Roehl’s incredible. Ryan Clanton’s incredible and Jake Waters (too). They are some of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with. We have great players at receiver, tight end, our O-line, our quarterback. They check all the boxes. There’s one box that hasn’t been checked yet, and it’s me calling plays. It hasn’t happened. So all you Iowa State people that are listening, I’m very much aware, and if we’re not good, it’ll be my fault.
Williams: I love this. Don’t ever lose this authenticity, this is great.
Mouser: I’m not. I’ll try not to.
Williams: Someday you’re gonna be like a head coach of the Vikings or something.
Mouser: I don’t know about that.
Williams: No, but I was going through this last night. (Brent) Blum and I did a show, and we just said let’s just do a deep dive on the offense. And I do think that there’s an aspect of Iowa State fans that don’t know how good (Jalen) Travis is coming in.
Mouser: He’s an animal.
Williams: And the one who I’m very guilty of – not forgetting about, but – is Eli Green. He committed and there was just a bunch of stuff going on. Pro Football Focus comes out with that rating for this kid, and what does that mean, exactly? I don’t know, but I know that you guys have this track record of cherry picking these wide receivers that you think can take it to the next level, and you’re 100% so far. You’ve got (Xavier Hutchinson) you’ve got (Jayden Higgins) with what he did last year, to me, those seem like the perfect additions to what you already had going forward.
Mouser: Yeah, I think so, too. And they have different skill sets and wrinkles that they can add to (our offense). They give us something. I mean, even (Jaylon Jackson) from Eastern (Michigan) like, what he is and how dynamic that guy is and how fast he is – we’re gonna have to find ways to get these guys the ball. Then we could be really creative, and it’s gonna make us, you know, a multi-dimensional offense that I think can be tough for people to stop, hopefully.
And more than anything, they’re great kids. None of them are here because they want to get theirs necessarily. Like, they want to come here and help us win football games, and they work really hard, and they push the needle every day. So I’m excited to be able to game-plan and find ways to get them the ball.
Williams: The quarterback is – I mean, I don’t know if I’ve seen Iowa State’s quarterback room be this deep. Yeah, it’s young, but it’s easy for people to forget that a year ago, J.J. Kohl was right there with Rocco (Becht) at this time. And then the kid from Southeast Polk (Connor Moberly), I’m obsessed with – I have been for three years since I first saw him as a sophomore. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, Moberly. Like, I I need that kid at Iowa State. How do you analyze this? Because obviously, Rocco’s your guy. But you know, we talk about how loaded you are everywhere else – if a quarterback goes down, how comfortable would you be if you had to put those other two guys in?
Mouser: I’d be really comfortable with those guys. I know those guys don’t leave the facility – they don’t leave the facility. I’m telling you, like J.J. is in there all the time watching film. Him, and I go at it in Connect 4 all the time back there, like the guy doesn’t leave. Moberly is the same way, like those kids work. I know how important it is to play quarterback year for those guys, and just the effort and how much they care. And like, I trust those guys, like they’re talented, the talent obviously speaks for themselves. And the thing you get nervous about as a coach is like, do these guys understand, like, what we’re trying to get out of the play? Do they understand what the reads are? And I think now, with us being able to talk to those guys, like, on the headset, it makes you feel a little bit better, where you can add some of those situational reminders on the headset that some of those young quarterbacks maybe forget or struggle with. You can talk to those guys on the headset now, which is another good tool that I think will make coaches feel better about, if a other quarterback does go in there, you could keep it simple, and you can talk to them, and you can remind them just the little things that sometimes, when the game moves fast, you can slow it down with some of those little tips and situational things.
Williams: It’s got to help them too, I would think, that you speak their language already, as opposed to bringing in some coordinator from Timbuktu, right? Like, to me, like, that was why I loved it the most. I think if, if you guys had two or three returning starters, I would have been like, Oh, okay. But like, it just, it made so much sense, yeah, from that aspect.
Mouser: That’s huge for not just the quarterbacks, but that was a big deal for a lot of our guys. And I want those guys to be able to play confident, and it’s hard to do that when you’re still trying to learn the language and the lingo, even when we have new guys, like, when I was telling Eli, he’s like,, “What do I need to know when I come in?” I’m like, if you just came in and you just knew the formations and you knew exactly where to go and line up, then the rest of the offense will slow down. And I think it’s like that with everybody. When you know everybody’s at and you know what the verbiage is and the plays are, you’re not thinking about stuff, and you can just play football.
Williams: Eli – you said you’re talking about different wrinkles. I haven’t seen him much. For somebody who’s never seen him, what is he as far as a wide receiver goes, because we know a little bit about the other guys – I’m obsessed with Beni (Ngoyi), he showed us a little bit what he could do in the bowl game, which was a big time catch. What does Eli (Green) bring to the table?
Mouser: Yeah, I think Eli is a guy that you probably can’t find enough ways to get the ball in his hands – like he could put him in the backfield. He’s a guy that can play slot and stretch the field and run crosses… I think he could be a guy that you put as a single into the boundary and let him go win 1-on-1 and be a single out there to the field. And obviously, if you’re a North Dakota State receiver, you have some grit to you. So he’s a guy that can go in there and dig out nickels, block safeties, block corners, and a guy that we can be really creative with where he’s at on the field and throw screens too, and you know, like we do with (wideout Jaylin Noel) and (tight end Ben Brahmer) and some of those other guys. So I think the sky’s the limit for what that guy can be. But I just love the effort that he plays with and he blocks with. It just shows that he really cares about the big picture.
Williams: I mentioned, I like your guys’s track record when it comes to bringing in these wide receivers and them turning into stars, because there’s a track record. The other thing I’m really comfortable about with Iowa State football is running backs – young running backs. So we’ve seen a lot of guys come in and play as freshmen. And there’s always about six games it takes to really even what we saw with Breece Hall and David Montgomery – like pro’s, some of the best running backs in the world. And we saw a little bit about a little bit of that last year with (Abu) Sama. (He) breaks out really. I mean, his last six games were incredible, (he’s) one of the best running backs in the country, if you just factor in those games. What is that and are you expecting him to just pick up right where he left off there when it comes to this season?
Mouser: Yeah, I have high expectations for everyone in our running back room, not only because of the skill that they have, but I think Tyler Roehl is so special as a football coach, like, I can’t speak enough to that.
Williams: That was a hell of an add. I was shocked when I saw he was coming.
Mouser: The confidence that I have in our offense is a lot higher with him on our staff. Like, that guy’s really special. The tight end room and the running back room share a wall. And when I tell you that guy’s in there coaching his butt off every day, banging on walls – like that guy eats nails. I’m telling you, he does. He’s one of the most passionate, hardworking guys that I know, and it bleeds into our our running backs and our offense and our team, and I think those guys are going to be a reflection of him. And if that’s the case at all, they’re going to be special. Abu and those young guys will grow a lot just with the experience that he has as a running back and as an offensive coordinator & a coach. My expectations are really high for the running back room, not just because of the talent that’s in there and those guys coming back, but how much I believe in Tyler (Roehl).
Williams: Alright, you had to know it was coming. (I) talk a little bit about my passion for throwing the football. Well, one of the guys – he’s a running back, Carson Hansen. I would buy stock in this kid a million times right now. So like he’s one of my favorite players on the roster. Because, and correct me if I’m wrong, you could just line him up at wide receiver, right?
Mouser: He’s huge.
Williams: Yeah, he’s that athletic, but can we talk a little bit about him and the running backs in the passing game? Maybe a little bit too – because there have been times in recent years where I would say- (there’s been) a struggle to run the football in obvious running situations. How shy will you be in opening that up and pass to run the football a little bit?
Mouser: Yeah, I won’t be shy at all. I think the big emphasis – well, I don’t think emphasis (is the right word) – but one of the areas I really wanted to study was the screen game. And I feel like some of the best offenses that you see have a really efficient, easy (and) simple screen game that I think we could use to get people like him, the ball out in space. Just like Abu (Sama) and Jaylin (Noel) or Dylan (Lee), whoever it might be, to get them the ball in space and let them go make people miss.
I think with the tight ends and the personnel that we have, obviously there’s a there’s a wrinkle and a roll for that. We can get big and get heavy and run downhill and do some of that stuff, too, but I think we have some new, unique ways to get those guys the ball, whether that’s in screens or split out, or throwing it to him out of the backfield. I feel really good about where the offensive line’s at right now – to be able to do some more five-man blocking stuff, we can get the (running) back out there fast. And I think there’s a lot of untapped offense there that we haven’t necessarily done in the past, that we could do now.
Williams: Hansen, to me, there’s a little bit of Kene Nwangwu – only in the sense – I’m not comparing them as players, necessarily, but where there’s another guy in same class like Breece (Hall) was with Kene… And who knows what happens if he doesn’t pop his Achilles at the time, but then all of a sudden, you’re like, Oh, there’s another cyclone in the NFL. And I think Hansen could be one of those guys. I’m just a huge fan.
Mouser: I think so, too. He’s so big and he’s so fluid. He’s so athletic, and the guy runs downhill hard, like he’s a hard tackle. So I think just him and Abu are both different, but they’re both special, and we’re going to have to find ways to get them the ball. So I think it gives us a wrinkle where we could be, like I said, really creative and how we attack people, and at the same time, be really simple and not overthink it at times. (We’ll) just keep feeding these guys the ball and let them go downhill and make people have to tackle.
Williams: Is Dylan Lee going to be another guy that’s hard to keep off the field?
Mouser: I think so. (It’s) just similar to what I said about Tyler, like Dylan has an elite ‘why,’ and he has an elite passion. He’s our guy. He doesn’t leave the facility – doesn’t leave the indoor – like his training and his approach every day kind of reminds me of David. He’s a guy you see in there working a lot and trying to perfect his craft. He’s a very driven person. And you saw how he did in the spring a little bit at times too. And as he grows and gets better and becomes comfortable with what our offense is and what we call things, like he’s going to get better and better, but I think the depth that we have there is going to allow us to be special.
Williams: What about – and this is the last individual (question) that I wanted to ask about was Jalen Travis. I know he’s just got on campus, which is awesome. It’s really interesting, I mean, I feel like he probably could have gone about anywhere in the country and played. You guys recruited him out of high school. He got a lot of attention last week when Pro Football Focus came out with its preseason rankings, or whatever. What do you what do you see in him that could help immediately?
Mouser: Yeah, I think the first thing you’ll see when you look at Jalen is that he’s a monster of a human being. And I don’t mean, like- the guy’s jacked. He’s one of the leanest people we have on our team.
Williams: Wow. How much does he weigh now?
Mouser: I mean, he isn’t- he’s got to be close to 325, but like, he’s jacked. He’s not like a doughy, soft 325 – he’s a good looking 325. He looks like a WWE wrestler. And I think just like, obviously, he’s from Princeton, so he’s smart. He understands the game, and he’s another guy that has a mission. He’s driven. He knows what he wants. He wants to help us win football games and grow, and learn from Ryan Clanton. Like he knows what how good coach client is, and what he’s developed. And I think with just the tools that that guy has – Ryan – there’s a lot that he could grow still. It’s going to be really special to watch his journey and see where he is between now and just by the time we get to football camp. But he’s a guy that is-
Williams: A 4.0 Princeton left tackle.
Mouser: I know.
Williams: We’ll take that every day.
Mouser: Oh, every day. Every day. Yeah, I like the brains too, you know, Charlie (Kolar) and maybe getting another trip back to Vegas.
Williams: So bad thing for you. I always told (Nate) Scheelhaase this, that I’m an elite digital play caller. We’ve got this new NCAA football game coming out. So I’m going to be offering you tips once the game comes. I’m just promising you.
Mouser: Send them. I’ll listen to them.
Williams: How old are you?
Mouser: 33.
Williams: Did you play NCAA football games?
Mouser: Yeah, absolutely, I lived and died on them.
Williams: What were you? Like give me your play-calling strategy like when you’re playing the games.
Mouser: I like the triple option.
Williams: Yes! I love it!
Mouser: And I don’t mean like Navy’s triple option, I mean like, open, pull, pitch-
Williams: The old Nebraska game.
Mouser: Yes, I love doing that.
Williams: Can we bring that into Jack Trice Stadium a little bit?
Mouser: Absolutely.
Williams: We can’t give away too much.
Mouser: No, and we certainly can.
Williams: That JUCO kid from last year – (Tanner) Hughes. I was waiting for him in the option game last year and I never saw it. What’s going on with that?
Mouser: Yeah, it’s gonna be different. There’s gonna be some triple option, for sure. But I loved – (the old NCAA video games) had this game called tug of war. You remember that? I don’t know if they had it past, like 2008 or ’09, because I used to play the one that Tebow was on.
Williams: See, I’m older than you, once I got into college, I shifted out of it a little bit.
Mouser: I loved it. Like it was a game where, like, each guy got one play. So you get a play, and you had to score on that play, but the ball would move whichever way, and you had to get down to the end zone. And it was, I thought it was the funnest game that they had – me and my buddies would play it all day.
Williams: See, this won’t surprise you, with me and my buddies – I had friends at Iowa and Iowa State. We would have a tournament, but we’d do it online, and I was always Texas Tech. Five-wide. It just drove people nuts. All I would do is five-and-outs, yeah, five-and-out every time, just dink and dunk them all the way down the field.
Mouser: Death by 1000 paper cuts. Yeah, there’s a wrinkle in that, for sure. Well, that’s especially in that game – I like the gameplay of NCAA so much better than Madden. You can see the whole field and you get it. I mean, you have to be creative with how you play defense.
Williams: That’s the hardest part. And I don’t know anything about defense. I know that you need to try and get to the quarterback and if you can deflect the pass, that’s good.
Mouser: That was always me, (just playing as a) user-defensive end and try to swim and get a sack.
Williams: Yes, that’s me. I never, I never am dropping back.
Mouser: Yeah, if you want to get me nervous playing, go play like user-safety or something, because then I just feel like you know what you’re doing.
Williams: Well, you’re coming into this coordinator (position) at a great time, but also a bad time when it comes to like perception, because now you’re gonna have all these quarterbacks because the game’s coming back. And they’re gonna be like, ‘Well, I mean, I’m averaging 45 points a game with the same guys.’
Mouser: ‘I won back to back Heisman trophies. I’m like, Lincoln Riley, Mouse, what are you doing?’ Yeah, you know what, that’s a wrinkle I haven’t thought about yet. But if you’re a guy that’s shredding at home and you’re killing it and you got a play that you think can’t be stopped, send it to me. We’ll run it. Send them an email, just don’t say anything hurtful, and just put the clip. We’ll watch it. And if it fits us, we’ll run it.
Williams: I appreciate you. Congrats. I’m really glad that you’re the offensive coordinator, and (I’m) looking forward to September.
Mouser: Bro, I appreciate it. I feel like the luckiest guy in the country, and (I’m) excited to be able to try to lead these guys and see what kind of damage we can do.
Williams: He’s repping the Rus Bus if you’re watching on YouTube today.
Mouser: I’m a big Jared Rus fan, obviously.
Williams: Those guys are my favorite players offense every year – the Seonbuchner’s, the unheralded dudes that have just gone out…
Mouser: The unsung hero guys that will run through a forest blind for you.
Williams: They’ll do anything you ask. They don’t get a lot of receptions. They don’t get the touchdowns, but they’re such a critical part of this offense.
Mouser: Yeah, they’re animals. Especially, like you talk about Sam Seonbuchner – he actually helps me with the tight ends, now. So I mean, when I first got here, obviously he was a tight end, but when he first came back to work with the tight ends, I showed all those guys his film, and talk about a guy that could run downhill and accelerate his feet…
Williams:Isn’t he one of the most unsung heroes of the entire Campbell era?
Mouser: Oh yeah, well the K-State touchdown down there and the block he had.
Williams: Just think about all the blocks he’s had that changed games back in the day.
Mouser: I could promise you – Campbell, myself and the people that appreciate that in the run game, not the air raid people, it doesn’t go unnoticed.
Williams: It’s also a thing, if you go back and study the Campbell era, when those guys have been injured, have been some of the most underperforming offensive games of the entire era.
Mouser: Well, I was telling somebody that you look Stevo Klotz doesn’t play until the Oklahoma State game. You know, our offense – there’s a couple of things that (went into those games), but he is that kind of player.
Williams: Also too, it’s been fun, and again, I’m an offensive geek, and I’m, I’m sorry.
Mouser: Don’t be sorry.
Williams: Because, I can be more critical of offense than I am defense, but I like to sit up in the press box and watch those players. If you watch that player, it gives you a pretty good indication of what’s to come, because there’s so much surrounding that guy.
Mouser: And like, he’s a guy that can move the line of scrimmage. You can never have enough guys that can just win their gap and win the line of scrimmage. Those guys are invaluable, and you’re different when you have those guys. You’re different the pass game with those guys. You’re different in the run game with those guys, and you’re different when they’re on the field.
Williams: You’re the man, appreciate you.
Mouser: You’re the man.
Williams: We’ll catch up with coach here as we get closer to the season, but this will give you a good look at the offense going into 2024. Thanks, coach.
Mouser: Yeah, thanks Chris.
Willie Harvey Jr. is headed back to the NFL.
After a standout season with the St. Louis BattleHawks, the former Cyclone was invited to a tryout camp with the Dallas Cowboys, and officially signed with the team Tuesday, the first day UFL players were allowed to.
Harvey Jr. lit up the statsheet in the UFL, leading the league with 79 tackles – a career best number for him no matter the team he was playing on.
The former Cleveland Brown also collected four sacks, nine tackles for loss and six pass break-ups.
Harvey Jr. went undrafted before signing with the Browns on two separate occasions between 2019 and 2021. While he didn’t play professionally during the 2022 season, he joined the BattleHawks in 2023 and remained with the team before joining up with Dallas.
Fellow former Cyclone Hakeem Butler had a tryout with the Carolina Panthers last week, but Jacksonville is considering signing the UFL’s offensive player of the year at the same time.
Will Hawthorne, a 2025 linebacker out of Gilbert High School, grew up seven minutes from Jack Trice Stadium in North Ames.
Over the weekend, he was on campus to take an official visit as he’s emerged as a top target for Iowa State in building its 2025 class.
“I’ve grown up going to the games,” Hawthorne said. “I know the ins and outs of everything, I’ve been at the facility lots of times throughout my high school days. (Iowa State’s) got a great thing going. The Stark Performance Center is amazing. The facilities are great – they’re right next to each other… I was looking at the paper the other day and it seems like (CyTown) is going to look pretty cool in the next two or three years if they finish on schedule like they say they will.”
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound linebacker is rated as the No. 6 player out of Iowa in his class.
Iowa State has already landed four of the top nine players in the state, but the class does not yet contain a linebacker.
“I was the only linebacker prospect (at the official visit), so I got to have a lot of 1-on-1 time with Coach (Colby) Kratch,” Hawthorne said. “We talked about just about anything you can imagine, he’s a good guy. I was one of the last recruits to leave, so we had a lot of time to talk to coach (Matt) Campbell – my parents and I – and that was a great conversation.”
The Gilbert player collected 63 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles during his junior year of high school.
Hawthorne’s extensive offer list includes Iowa State, Nebraska, Kansas State, Kansas, Air Force, Army, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Western Michigan and Ohio along with a number of Ivy League schools as well as another handful of FCS programs.
Although, Hawthorne used his first official visit with Iowa State and is taking another one with Nebraska in the upcoming weekend.
He came away from the visit impressed with how genuine the coaching staff was.
“He’s a great guy – he asked me what I had seen and liked about the official visit and I talked about how genuine all of the coaches were, which was great,” Hawthorne said. “I also talked about how when we went out with the players, they talked about how extremely genuine the coaches were – they weren’t just putting on a show for the recruits and their families.”
Hawthorne showed out during his stop at Iowa State’s prospect camp last week, with his style of play and how he remained loose in between reps.
“I think learned a lot about (playing loose) from baseball,” Hawthorne said. “I’ve been playing baseball since I was six and I quit last year since it got in the way of football season, but in baseball you learn – if you strikeout, there’s always a next play for you. You can’t sit there and dwell on what’s going to happen, because there’s another opportunity and you have to go grasp that. And also at the end of the day, it’s a sport. If you’re not having fun, then why do you do it.”
Hawthorne doesn’t have a top ‘x’ amount of schools for his recruitment, but did say Iowa State was near the top.
“They’re up there,” Hawthorne said.
Iowa State earned the 11th commitment to its 2025 recruiting class Monday in Middleburg, Florida’s BJ Carter.
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound prospect announced his commitment over social media after spending the weekend on an official visit in Ames.
Carter chose the Cyclones over West Virginia, NC State, East Carolina, Georgia Southern and UConn.
Iowa State had not yet had a defensive lineman commitment in the 2025 class, but have three edge rusher commits in Jack Limbaugh, Trey Verdon and Charlie Woleben.
The addition brings Iowa State’s class, which has garnered four commitments over the pair of official visit weekends, to No. 48 in the country.
Iowa State is on the radar for a highly touted, four-star tight end out of Kansas City in Great Bend High School’s Ian Premer.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound prospect is rated as the No. 4 player at his position in the class by 247Sports, and is also the No. 63 player in the class overall.
“For me, it wasn’t something to prove,” Premer said of attending Iowa State’s prospect camp on Wednesday. “I just really wanted to get coached by (offensive coordinator Taylor) Mouser, the whole staff, take home some stuff to work on and really see their coaching style and just overall, improve my game.”
Premer has a slew of offers including Kansas, K-State, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M Missouri, Auburn, Arkansas, Oregon, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Wisconsin and Nebraska.
Mouser took Premer on a campus tour before the start of camp, his first visit to Ames.
“A lot of their stuff is new,” Premer said of Iowa State’s facilities. “I really like their grass practice fields – they’re amazing – and it’s a really exciting time in Ames.”
Premer noted Iowa State’s tight end usage in its offensive game plan as something he’s considering in his recruitment.
“There’s just so much tight end usage,” Premer said. “They’re in 12 and 13-personnel a lot – more than a lot of teams in the nation, and they throw to them too. They just find different ways to use them. It’s definitely an exciting offense for tires to be in.”
That will be highlighted with Mouser, who also serves as the tight ends coach, taking the reigns of the offense this year.
A big reason Premer visited the camp was because of his relationship with Mouser and quarterbacks coach Jake Waters.
“I love Mouse,” Premer said. “Our conversations are a big reason I wanted to come up here, and I’ve talked to Waters a lot to. I’ve really enjoyed talking with them and just continuing to build those relationships.”
Iowa State will welcome Premer to Ames this season for one of his Game Day visits, and also met with the prospect after the end of the camp.
“I’ll be up here for a game, definitely,” Premer said.
The Big 12 Conference has been in discussions over the past six months, exploring potentially selling its naming rights to a title sponsor and Allstate has emerged as a potential candidate according to reports that surfaced today from ESPN’s Pete Thamel and the Action Network’s Brett McMurphy.
The talks include potentially changing the conference’s name, and McMurphy’s report states “The Big Allstate Conference” and “The Allstate 12 Conference” as two possibilities.
A financial company has also been in talks with the league, according to the report.
The naming rights deal is expected to be around $30-$50 million annually, which would be devided around its 16 member schools.
McMurphy’s report stated that the league is also considering a private equity investment, worth $800 million-$1 billion for 20 percent ownership of the conference.
CBS Sports identified CVC Capital Partners as the equity firm involved.
The Big 12’s current rights deal is fourth among the power conferences, worth $2.3 billion in average annual value.
This points to ways commissioner Brett Yormark is trying to bridge the gap in that department between the Big 12 and its competitors.
Photos Courtesy of Christian Carroll’s Instagram.
Ames – Christian Carroll announced his commitment to Iowa State via his Instagram on Thursday morning.
The freshman was previously at Oklahoma State where he was wrestling at heavyweight. He currently projects at 197 pounds.
“First and foremost, I want to thank Oklahoma State University for everything they have given me. My final destination will be Ames, Iowa, and I am proud to be a Cyclone!” said Carroll in his Instagram post.
Carroll will have four years of eligibility remaining, per a press release from Iowa State Wrestling.
“Christian brings a great resume and long list of credentials to Iowa State. His high energy style of wrestling will be a lot of fun for our fans to watch and will fit right in with how we like our guys to wrestle. Christian will start training with us this summer and will immediately raise the level and pedigree of our room,” said head coach Kevin Dresser in press release.
In April, Caroll secured his way to the United States Olympic Team Trials with a first-place finish at the Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier (97kg). He recently finished in third place at the U23 Nationals at 92kg with wins over Oregon State All-American Trey Munoz and Campbell national qualifier Levi Hopkins. .
Carroll was the No. 2 overall pound-for-pound recruit in the 2023 class, per FloWrestling. Some of his other accolades include two-time U20 World Team member, Junior Freestyle National Champion in 2021 and a two-time Super 32 Champion.
Watch Carroll defeat Iowa football and wrestler Ben Kueter in a 10-0 technical fall at the Junior Freestyle National Championships.
Check out full press release from Iowa State Wrestling here.
We caught up with 2026 tight end Ian Premer about tonight’s prospect camp at Iowa State and what he thinks of tight ends coach & OC Taylor Mouser.
Iowa State football has secured its running back for the 2025 recruiting class in Independence, Missouri prospect Ryver Peppers.
The staff made him a priority through his recruitment, and earned his commitment over the weekend despite having two more official visits scheduled with Kansas State and Harvard.
“The visit was great. I think the coaches there are very genuine,” Peppers said. “It felt like I was there number one guy and that they really wanted me there. Honestly it just felt like home every time I visited there.”
Part of Pepper’s decision to commit to Iowa State was also aided by his connection to newly hired running backs coach Tyler Roehl.
Peppers attended a North Dakota State game during his sophomore year of high school, when Roehl was coaching with the Bison.
“I’ve known Coach Roehl for (years),” Peppers said. “We kind of built a relationship and then just got to know everyone on the Iowa State staff, just kind of talking about everything from football, life, anything… He’s a pretty intense guy.”
Iowa State became the second program to offer Peppers in February, joining South Dakota State which had offered the month before.
The commitment from the 5-foot-11 running back came despite having visits scheduled to both Kansas State and Harvard later this month. Those visits have been canceled.
“I was pretty nervous talking to coach Campbell,” Peppers said. “I talked to my family a bit about it. People have told me to go to a place where you’re wanted and I felt like they did.”
Peppers chose the Cyclones over Utah, Kansas State, Northwestern, UNLV, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Army, Navy, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, UNI, Harvard, Princeton and Cornell.
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
AMES, Iowa – For the third time in his career, Iowa State wrestler David Carr has been named the Gary Thompson Iowa State Male Athlete of the Year. Carr is the second Cyclone to win the award three times in his career, joining Cael Sanderson (1999, 2001-02).
Carr posted a 27-2 record in 2023-24 and won his second national title to become the 17th Cyclone wrestler to win multiple national titles and the first since 2010 (Jake Varner). David and his father, Nate, are one of four father-son duos in NCAA Division I history to each win at least two national titles.
The Canton, Ohio native won Amateur Wrestling News’ Hammer Award for winning the most competitive weight class at the NCAA Championships. The path to his national title included wins over the No. 1, 2 and 5 seeds, and four of his five opponents in the tournament either finished on the podium or had earned All-American honors at some point in their career.
As the No. 4 seed, Carr defeated eventual All-American Hunter Garvin (Stanford) in the second round, returning two-time All-American No. 5 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) in the quarterfinals, two-time defending national champion No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) in the semifinals and undefeated freshman No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) in the national finals.
At the Big 12 Championship, Carr fell to his rival, top-ranked O’Toole of Missouri, in the finals, 8-2. Carr would avenge the loss just two weeks later in the national semifinals on a takedown with 10 seconds remaining to win, 8-6. It capped a historic rivalry where the pair met five times in a two-year span with Carr holding a 3-2 advantage in the series.
Carr owned a 40:3 takedown ratio during the 2023-24 season (80 for, 6 against) and registered 19 bonus-point wins (six falls, nine tech falls, four major decisions). He defeated 10 top-10 opponents, wrested in 14-of-15 duals and led Iowa State with 67 dual points.
Carr helped Iowa State to its first Big 12 team title since 2009 and a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, the Cyclones’ best finish since 2010.
An all-time great, Carr leaves a winning legacy at Iowa State. He finished with a 120-5 career record, tied for the 15th-most wins in school history, and his .960 career winning percentage ranks fourth in program history (min. 100 wins) behind Cael Sanderson (1.000), Dan Gable (.990) and Tim Krieger (.967). Carr never lost a dual match as a Cyclone (67-0).
Carr became the first five-time All-American in program history and the 12th Cyclone to finish on the podium four times at the NCAA Championships. He never placed worse than third at the national tournament, following his 2021 national title with a third-place finish in 2022, a runner-up in 2023 before securing a second title in 2024.
In May, Carr completed his master’s degree in education with a 3.81 GPA. He was named a 2024 National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American.
Carr will be honored at a football game this fall.
Gary Thompson Iowa State Male Athlete of the Year Winners
1947 – Ron Norman, Basketball
1948 – Glen Brand, Wrestling
1949 – Bob Peterson, Basketball
1950 – Bill Weeks Football
1951 – Jim Doran, Football
1952 – Mal Schmidt, Football & Swimming
1953 – Jack Erickson, Football & Wrestling
1954 – Max Burkett, Football
1955 – Chuck Duncan, Basketball
1956 – Gary Thompson, Baseball & Basketball
1957 – Gary Thompson, Baseball & Basketball
1958 – Frank Powell, Football & Wrestling
1959 – Ron Gray, Wrestling
1960 – Dwight Nichols, Football
1961 – Tom Watkins, Football
1962 – Dave Hoppman, Football
1963 – Marv Straw, Basketball
1964 – Gordon Hassman, Wrestling
1965 – Tom Vaughn, Football
1966 – Tom Peckham, Wrestling
1967 – Don Smith, Basketball
1968 – Don Smith, Basketball
1969 – Dan Gable, Wrestling
1970 – Dan Gable, Wrestling
1971 – Otto Stowe, Football
1972 – George Amundson, Football
1973 – Chris Taylor, Wrestling
1974 – Doug Fitzjarrell, Gymnastics
1975 – Al Nacin, Wrestling
1976 – Pete Galea, Wrestling
1977 – Wayne Stanley, Football
1978 – Mark Trippel, Gymnastics
1979 – Mike Land, Wrestling
1980 – Mike Schwartz, Football
1981 – Ron Galimore, Gymnastics
1982 – John Quinn, Football
1983 – Nate Carr, Wrestling
1984 – Bob Verbeeck, Track & Field
1985 – Barry Stevens, Basketball
1986 – Mark Diab, Gymnastics
1987 – Stewart Carter, Wrestling
1988 – Eric Hansen, Swimming
Jeff Grayer, Basketball
1989 – Tim Krieger, Wrestling
1990 – Mike Busch, Baseball & Football
1991 – John Nuttall, Cross Country and Track & Field
1992 – Obinna Eregbu, Track & Field
1993 – Jonah Koech, Track & Field
1994 – Eric Akin, Wrestling
1995 – Fred Hoiberg, Basketball
1996 – Dmitry Drozdov, Track & Field and Cross Country
1997 – Chris Bono, Wrestling
1998 – Dwight Hinson, Wrestling
1999 – Cael Sanderson, Wrestling
2000 – Marcus Fizer, Basketball
2001 – Jamaal Tinsley, Basketball
Cael Sanderson, Wrestling
2002 – Cael Sanderson, Wrestling
2003 – Seneca Wallace, Football
2004 – Zach Roberson, Wrestling
Jake Sullivan, Basketball
2005 – Ellis Hobbs, Football
2006 – Nate Gallick, Wrestling
2007 – Trent Paulson, Wrestling
2008 – Chris Baker, Golf
2009 – Jake Varner, Wrestling
2010 – Jake Varner, Wrestling
2011 – Jon Reader, Wrestling
2012 – Nate McCoy, Golf
2013 – Scott Fernandez, Golf
2014 – Melvin Ejim, Basketball
2015 – Edward Kemboi, Track & Field and Cross Country
Kyven Gadson, Wrestling
2016 – Georges Niang, Basketball
2017 – Monté Morris, Basketball
2018 – Joel Lanning, Football
2019 – Edwin Kurgat, Track & Field and Cross Country
2020 – Edwin Kurgat, Track & Field and Cross Country
2021 – David Carr, Wrestling
2022 – Breece Hall, Football
2023 – David Carr, Wrestling
2024 – David Carr, Wrestling
Two former Cyclones secured NFL workouts on Monday, following the conclusion of the St. Louis BattleHawks’ season on Sunday.
Hakeem Butler has earned a workout with the Carolina Panthers following a season that saw him earn UFL Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Butler collected 45 receptions during the year for 652 yards and five scores.
Willie Harvey, meanwhile, will work out with the Dallas Cowboys, after being selected to the All-UFL Defensive team.
Harvey recorded a career high 79 tackles along with four sacks, making it his best statistical season of his career so far.
UFL players are eligible to sign with NFL teams beginning on June 18.
Mike Rose has not yet secured a workout after recording 43 tackles in seven games with the team this season (Monday @ 8:30 p.m. CT).
The St. Louis BattleHawks season came to a close Sunday night as the team dropped its game against the San Antonio Brahmers 25-15 in the United Football League’s conference championship game.
The team, which is coached by Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht’s father, Anthony, ended the season with a 7-3 record and was one of the four teams in the league to make the playoffs.
Hakeem Butler, the former Cyclone who was named as the UFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, finished with 58 yards in the game.
All-UFL first teamer Willie Harvey nearly led the team in the game with seven tackles Sunday.
Fellow former Cyclone Mike Rose was also on the team this season. Rose finished with 45 total tackles and two interceptions.
Meanwhile, Harvey boasted a career high 79 tackles along with four sacks, making it his best statistical season to date.
Butler was the star of the league, collecting 45 receptions during the year for 652 yards and five scores.
All three players will now prepare for the start of the 2024 NFL season, as they look for roster spots available in the league.
Iowa State has its running back for the 2025 class in Ryver Peppers, a 5-foot-11 prospect out of Kansas City.
The Fort Osage high schooler announced the news over social media Sunday after being in Ames for the program’s first of two official visit weekends.
Iowa State became the second program to offer Peppers in February, joining South Dakota State which had offered the month before.
Since then, Peppers picked up 13 offers before ultimately committing to Iowa State over the weekend, despite having visits planned for both Kansas State and Harvard this month.
Peppers chose the Cyclones over Utah, Kansas State, Northwestern, UNLV, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Army, Navy, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, UNI, Harvard, Princeton and Cornell.
Peppers is Iowa State’s 10th commitment to the 2025 recruiting class, which has jumped over 10 spots to No. 38 in the nation by 247 Sports’ composite class rankings.
Iowa State earned its ninth commitment to the 2025 recruiting class and second of the day Sunday in defensive back Mason Ellens.
Ellens announced the news over his social media accounts.
The 6-foot, 170-pound defensive back held offers from Iowa, Boston College, Kent State and Illinois State and is the first commitment for his position in the 2025 class.
Ellens was a part of official visit weekend in Ames – the first of two hosted by the program.
Iowa State has utilized the June weekends in years past to build the heart of its recruiting classes.
The Cyclones’ second round of official visits will take place next weekend, on June 14 and 15.
Iowa State earned its eighth commitment to the 2025 recruiting class Sunday after the first of two official visit weekends.
New Jersey wide receiver Karon Brookins made it official over social media.
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound prospect chose the Cyclones over West Virginia, Marshall, Western Michigan, Pittsburgh and Temple. Brookins visited West Virginia in January and released his top 4 in March.
Brookins, a Winslow Township High School product, joins West Des Moines Valley’s Zay Robinson as the receivers committed to the class.
The addition brings Iowa State’s class to No. 47 in the country by 247Sports.
Bridget Carleton is headed to the Olympics with Team Canada this summer for the second time in her career.
The former Cyclone was picked as one of 12 players to represent her native country this summer in Paris.
Carleton signed a two-year extension for the Minnesota Lynx before the start of the WNBA season and has become an every-game starter for the team.
Through 10 games, Carleton is averaging 6.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.8 steals per game, while helping the team to a 7-3 start.
Carleton has played Team Canada in FIBA action throughout her career, also participating in the 2020 Olympics with the team.
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova / CycloneFanatic
CycloneFanatic publisher Chris Williams had a sit down interview with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell for the new Summer Series doing a deep dive into Iowa State Football.
Here’s a full transcript of the interview.
Chris Williams: All right up here in Ames, and we continue on our summer series looking ahead to the Iowa State football season. We’ve got the man Rocco Becht. How you doing?
Rocco Becht: “Good man, I’m excited.”
Williams: I’m excited to have you on. This is fun. I’m and I’m looking forward to getting to know you a little bit more.
Becht: “No, no, I’ve never done a podcast like this before. Yeah, never. So this is pretty cool. First one, yeah, first one. First one ever.”
Williams: Well, you grew up most of these coaches, like we guys our age, we didn’t have podcasts. It’s like, that’s like, the only media you knew, probably, yeah, like growing up.
Becht: “I listened to, you know, podcasts here and there, but I mean nothing like visually, or, you know, on the radio, but just like on the iPhone.”
Williams: Okay, so when you’re you have a 30 minute drive, yeah, what are you popping on?
Becht: “Um, probably just music, podcast-wise, I have been listening to Tom Brady’s podcast.”
Williams: Oh, okay, I like that a lot. I haven’t listened to that is it pretty good?
Becht:“Yeah, they did like episode every season, every week during the season.”
Williams: So there’s a worse – I mean, you could be listening to worse people as a quarterback.
Becht: “Exactly. So I thought that was pretty cool that, you know, just listening to him and figure out what his in and outs of the game are. Yeah.”
Williams: How have you enjoyed your dad’s season? So we’re going to have to play this one Aiden before Sunday, just so you know. But Dad’s got the battle hawks in the playoffs. The Iowa State ties to the St Louis battle hawks have made me a fan of that league.
Becht: No, it’s definitely interesting and fun. Because when I go out there and visit them for the games, and, you know, we stay at the same team hotel as them, me and my mom. So you know, the night before, I’m able to, you know, see Mike (Rose) and see Hakeem (Butler) and see Willie (Harvey) and all them. And, you know, they’re the same guys when they come up here. So it’s cool to, you know, go down and see them and, you know, you know, see them play in the game.
Williams: What kind of a, how would you describe the football in that, in that league, from like, a stylistic standpoint, for those who haven’t been able to watch it much?
Becht: Yeah, I would say it’s, it’s very, it’s very intriguing. The football-wise, football aspect of it, I think it’s the same, you know, I think it’s, there are a bunch of spread offenses. I’m sure that a bunch of those OCS in this league, in that league, don’t really want to run the run the ball a lot. But, yeah, it’s been a passing League, and there’s some good quarterbacks in there, you know, the battle, I say, of AJ McCarron, so that’s pretty sick and but, you know, from what I’ve seen, I think it’s pretty cool. The rules as well in it are different than the, you know, the NFL in college, where there’s no extra points. You either go for one, go for two, or go for three, which I think is cool, because it takes, you know, I don’t want to see an extra point, that’s boring. So then, you know, they just pick out one, two or three, and then, you know, makes the fans more intrigued and engaged in the game. So I like it.”
Williams: Well, you’re in, you’re in for an interesting off season. I’m fascinated by all the weapons on this on this offense.
Becht: “Me too.”
Williams: Well, you put out a tweet the other day about the the wide receivers that were on the Pro Football focus, what a- and then you got, like, a 8-foot tall tight end to throw to. You’ve got, you guys are so deep, like, how, how excited are you?
Becht: “I’m excited. I mean, you listed Ben and some of the receivers, but, I mean, our running back room is stacked as well. We’ve got, you know, Carson Hanson is going to be a big dynamic bag for us in the passing in the running game. Abu (Sama) just coming back after what he did last season, and, you know, the transfer from Eastern Michigan, Jalen Jackson, so that, you know, those three guys alone with our incoming freshman that we had Dylan Lee come in the spring, who did a, you know, a phenomenal job in the spring for us, but having those four guys in the running back room as well as you know the guys that you said, I’m excited about it.
Williams: So walk me through you as a quarterback. So you go into last year, you’re in a you’re in a quarterback battle with JJ, you end up winning the job. You have immediate success, like right? Well, not immediate–
Becht: “Yeah, ups and downs.”
Williams: Yeah, offense took some lumps. We but at the end of the year, the season is seen as this giant success. What has like that after that game against Memphis? Up until now? What has been your biggest focus as a quarterback?
Becht: “For me, I think it’s the precision and detail of the little things. I feel like that’s what killed us a lot in the games that we had lost, because there was a lot of games this season that we had lost that we were in the game in the beginning, and it just kind of fell away from us at the end. And so I feel like it came down to the precision and detail, missing emotion, not motioning them on time when people get set, you know, knowing that getting off a concept quicker. And so for me, that was, you know, my biggest thing I wanted to work on throughout the spring, which I thought I got, you know, better at. But just as a team, as a whole, I feel like we all can work on that as the precision and detail of things, and everybody’s agreed, and everybody’s, you know, done their their things properly. And. I love the work that everyone put in in the spring, and especially with the coaches and, you know, some new guys in the coaching staff in the rooms, and so I’m excited about what, you know, we’re able to do in the summer and then coming up in the fall. But those were probably, that was probably the biggest thing for me.”
Williams: Nate Scheelhaase goes to the NFL, Mouser gets promoted. What was your reaction to that?
Becht:“Man, I love mouse. I was excited about it all, but, and then there’s the other side of it, you know, I was upset – Coach Scheelhaase also was my first OC as a starting quarterback. And so I felt like I had gained a relationship with him towards the end of the of the season where, you know, I thought I was going to get, I was comfortable now, so I was going to get another year with him. He understood me under I understood him, and so I trusted him, and I felt like he had trusted me. And so we seeing him leave was, you know, honestly, tough, but I love Coach mouse, and he’s such a family and energetic, joyful guy, where it’s easy to, you know, to like him. And so he’s done a great job with me, and in letting me engage in the offensive staff room and having my opinion, you know, on the table for him. And so that’s what I’ve liked about him, is he’s, you know, full, fully open to whatever I have, you know, to say.”
Williams: So again, you’re going to have- you’re going to get asked, like, about the personnel and x’s and o’s and all that stuff all summer. I want to get to know you a little bit more when you are, like, give me 13, 14, 15-year old Rocco sitting around on a Sunday. Who who are, who are your football heroes? I know Dad’s probably one of them, but who are your who are some of the guys that were you’re the ones you looked up to?
Becht: “Yeah. So I was a Bucks fan growing up and I loved, I loved Vincent Jackson as a receiver. Quarterback-wise, I was a big Russell Wilson guy. That’s why I wear No. 3 when he was on, you know, his early days of sitting on that. Okay, I loved Russell Wilson when I was younger, and so he was a big idol for me on how he threw the ball and how he, you know, layered it down the field and through, through his deep balls. And so I kind of looked up to him a lot, but also in the league. I mean, I was more of a, you know, a guy who just focused on my team, the bucks, and kind of just like the players on that team with, you know, Mike Evans, and when he came into the league, I was younger than still, but him, Vincent Jackson, but I really just focused on the Bucs, to be honest. But there are some guys also in the league that I like to like.
Williams: “So you were a bucks fan when the Brady era?
Becht: “Yeah, I was, I was. Nobody can say I was a bandwagon, because I was a Bucs fan before long, back before Tom Brady got there.”
Williams: And you guys got to go back to those, those unis with the light orange, with the old school pirate, that’s knife in his mouth.
Becht: “I think we wore them one one game this year against the lions. Yeah, so that was pretty sick.”
Williams: Those are some of the great uniforms in NFL.
Becht: “Yeah, some of the throwbacks are awesome, but I didn’t like the their old their old jerseys, the newer, older jerseys. Yeah, it was, like, more modern. I didn’t really like those.”
Williams: See, I’m a Vikings fan. I’m old enough to remember when y’all were in my division. Did you know that the bucks were in the NFC North?
Becht: “I had no idea.”
Williams: The year the Vikings went 15-1. It was 1998 What year were you born? 2003 Vikings? Yeah. Vikings went 15-1. The bucks were the only team that beat him that year.
Becht: “I had no idea.”
Williams: “There you go, NFL history, little trivia, right there.”
Becht: “Thought I knew a lot about the bucks. Guess not.”
Williams: So do you have a relationship with Brock Purdy?
Becht: “Um, I would say a relationship where he’s been kind enough to, if I have any questions about anything, I’m able to text him and you know, he’ll get back to me within a couple days, and which is awesome, because I’ve met him. I met him once on my O.V. and then I met him when he came for the Kansas game during his bye week. And he’s such a nice guy, such a humble guy, and he’s also a guy that, you know, I want to look up to, and here at Iowa State, just because of what he’s done, but I’ve, I have a connection where I’m able to, you know, to text him about whatever, and he’s able to get back.”
Williams: Yeah, because it feels like he a lot of those, believe it or not, before, before you came here, we had this thing at Iowa State where the Sundays weren’t that inner, you know, Iowa State fans, or Iowa State fans, right before they are an NFL team in general, like me, I’ll watch a, oh, the Jets are playing, and I’m gonna Watch it, because of Breece and will, like, that’s my favorite team right now, because those guys and we didn’t, we just didn’t have that for the longest time. Brock and those guys come through. And it felt like, to me, kind of knocked down the door for a lot of you guys, for.
Becht: “Sure, in the future, no, definitely what he’s been able to do here, and what in the NFL, and how he’s been able to pave his his path. I feel like a lot of guys here want to follow those, follow those footsteps, not even Brock, just, you know, Breece and you know what Allen Lazard has done. And, yeah, those guys so.”
Williams: Okay, off, off topic stuff when you are I got the new Jalen a little bit last Summer and he was telling me about all the fishing that him and and Higgins do have they got you out on the pond at all?
Becht: No, they try to. I’m not much of a pond guy. I’m not a fishing guy. I can’t. I don’t have the patience to go sit out there and wait for a fish to catch on my line. I’m more of a golfing guy.”
Williams: I could see that.
Becht: “I like the golf. Fishing is just not my type. I can’t, I can’t do fishing.”
Williams: How long have you golfed?
Becht: “Um, you know, I’ve been golfing since I was little. But, I mean, I haven’t golfed this much since, you know, ever, as soon as I got to Iowa State, there’s guys on the team that love the golf, a bunch of the tight ends, really, and some of the quarterbacks. So I would just go out with them. And then ever since I got here, I’ve been golfing, you know, in the summer, probably, like, four times a week.”
Williams: So like, where do you play it? Where do you- Coldwater?
Becht: “Coldwater, we golfed. I used to golf a lot of Veenker. And there’s a course down in Boone, Honey Creek.
Williams: Oh, yeah, I love Honey Creek.
Becht: “I think it’s a nice course for where it’s at-“
Williams: Well, and the thing about it is, you can, you can, you don’t have to be as precise, no, yeah, compared to cold water will drive you crazy, because you think you have a great shot, and then it just keeps rolling.
Becht: “I know. And right now, the weeds got really they’re really high right now. And so during those links courses, man, yeah, during the during the winter, when we would go out there this year, like the grass is cut, nothing’s there. So I could hit it right or left, and I’m fine, and I could get a par and but now there’s weeds everywhere, and I can’t really feel my ball that easy.”
Williams: I’m not kidding. Ike, I quit golf for like, 10 years after a round at Veenker.
Becht: “Veenker is tough. Oh, it’s under it’s underrated for how tough it is, because there’s so many different elevations, and you gotta- there’s, I think there’s a point where on the front nine, you don’t hit your driver for four straight holes if you- if you can bomb it, yeah. So, I mean…
Williams:I think I lost like 19 balls and 18 holes there, and it forced me to quit the sport. And I played in high school.
Becht: “Really?”
Williams: I’m not good, but I golfed in high school. Yes, I’m not a good golfer, but I am an adequate golfer who, if you give me, like a decent course, I can go out and be at least keep it in the fairway, and just- Veenker forced me to quit the sport.
Becht: “Yeah, there’s thing that’s different about up here, too. And then down south in Florida, there’s a lot of water on the courses down south. There’s not a really, you know, a good amount of water up here that I’ve seen that can become a hazard.”
Williams: Well, and the grass is different, too.
Becht: “Yeah, texture. I actually love the grass up here. And really, because I like playing down in Florida, because it doesn’t get as thick. It feels like it doesn’t, but just, I think up here, it’s more like, there’s some courses down in Florida where it’s, like, super firm, and so, like, there’s, if you hit it, you gotta pure it off the fairway, because it’s just so hard here. I like it because it’s just a little it’s like turf, it’s a little more fluffy.”
Williams: Y’all gotta watch, right, for gators and stuff down there too. Yeah, I that’s happened. That happens quite a bit when those little ponds, right?
Becht: “They come up and out there is- I actually know a Gator call, so when I go down there with my boys, I like, I try to do my Gator call and try to call one up.”
Williams: Really? What’s a gator call. I honestly didn’t even know this is a thing. They like come to a sound?
Becht: Does gator call
Williams: That’s a gator call, really?
Becht: “Yeah, my dad actually taught me that. So he’s not a big nature guy either, but he does know that.”
Williams: Holy- yeah, learning something new every day. Yeah, I like to eat Gator.
Becht: “I do too, yeah, it’s good. Tastes like chicken.”
Williams: It does, like, a spicier, yeah, like a little darker meat of a, like, of a chicken is good. So, okay, I want to look forward to, you know, what you have coming up this year. Before we do that, we are going to do something really cool that we’re kind of hopping in on with you on July 13, and we wanted to announce it here that you’re going to do a camp in the community of Perry that obviously had a really tragic event happen there with the shooting. Why are you choosing to do this? And then we’ll talk a little bit more about it. But why does this mean so much to you?
Becht: “Yeah, so ever since I was little, my dad has always held a camp, um, at his high school in Philly and down down south in Florida, where we live, and his big motto is just giving back to the high schools, giving back to the community. And I was blessed enough to have a year, have a year like I did, and I’m able to put on my own camp now, and that’s why I’ll be doing, you know, like you said, July 13 at Perry, and I wanted to give back to those, you know, in that community, for, you know, all the things that they’ve gone through in the past couple months and, you know, the beginning of the year. And so I’m holding a camp there for, I believe it’s any, any any child at the Perry high school or middle school or in the community, all funds paid for. So the biggest information is giving, finding ways in areas to give back to the community, whether it’s in Ames back home, where I live, or, you know, other parts of Iowa. Because I think that’s just. The biggest, the biggest thing for me, and that’s how I was brought up.”
Williams: So we’re going to do CycloneFanatic is going to cover all the T-shirts for all the participants. And then the other cool thing is, we’re going to make these shirts available so that fans can just purchase them, and then all that money will will go back to the community of Perry, and that’s awesome. All the victims from that too. So this, and we’re going to come and do a show from there. We’re going to do one of these live.
Becht: “There we go live – I love that, yeah.”
Williams: Because we can get, I got that, like, Starlink internet. You heard of that?
Becht: “I have not.”
Williams: It’s sick. It’s, yeah, it’s, it’s insane. It’s like, you set up this, like, satellite dish, and you got high speed internet from anywhere. Yeah, we’re going to come down and interview you, and a bunch of your teammates and stuff are going to be down.
Becht: “Yeah, yeah. We’re going yeah, I’m going to bring down 10 of the guys to help me come down and do the camp for me. And so I’m excited about it. I’ve played. I planned this about a month ago, and, you know, me and my dad and my mom, we’re excited to, you know, hold this. And for me too, it’s just giving back, like I said, and so I’m excited.”
Williams: I want to run a route that day, see if you can hit me on a post.
Becht: “No, yeah, give me a post. I’ll put it up in the air, deep, long, and let you run.”
Williams: And I guarantee I will trip over my own feet trying to, trying to catch the ball. No, I, you know, I, I thought last year was one of the most fun years that I’ve ever had, covering the cyclones, just because I thought you guys would be pretty good, because I was talking to the coaches, and even with all the crap that happened in the off season, it felt like they were really confident in just your guys’s group as a whole. And then, man, like you get the game four or five on and that was as much fun as I think I’ve had, because you guys, you were just a blast, and you all seem so interconnected. And then you’re bringing back, what 19 starters you’ve had these pieces. How excited are you as one of the leaders of this team, to just have that, not only the talent, but it feels like you guys are all really good friends, too.
Becht: “We definitely are. It’s a, it’s honestly a privilege to come back as a leader, to play for Campbell and just lead the pieces that we’ve had coming back. And so I’m excited. And you know, what we’ve really focused on is each game at a time. And so we’re obviously, our goal is the Big 12 championship. And you know, we’re that’s really not where our focus is. We want to, we want to win each game every week, and focus on those games and, you know, just be precise in the precision and detail, like I was talking about earlier. And so those are the biggest things for us. But I’m truly excited with everything we’ve got, especially, like you said, the pieces that we’ve added from, you know, the transfer portal, and, like you said, how we’re connected and all that, I feel like that’s, that’s what Coach Campbell has done for the past, you know, couple years since, you know, the beginning, the end, or the end of, you know, Brock’s era. I feel like everybody has just had a connection with each other. No matter you’re a walk on a scholarship guy, everybody got their own little relationship with each other, and so I feel like that’s special in that a lot of schools don’t have that.
Williams: Well, how much of an edge does that give you guys with all the returning players? Because it just feels like this era of college football, it’s gonna be pretty rare, yeah, to bring this many starters back in the future.
Becht: “Well, I mean, for us last year, we played, I think we had another category where we played one of the most. We’re the teams that played one of the most, like freshmen, yeah, like freshmen on the on the field. And so we’ve got a lot of young guys, and 19 out of you know, those 19 starters, a lot of them are young. And so that’s probably the biggest thing for us. And why we’re excited is because not a lot of them are are older, but a lot of them are younger, and you know, athletes that you know will progress in their game every single year, and you know, be good for us. So that’s, I think that’s the biggest, you know, reason why we’re excited about having all these guys back.”
Williams: I’ll just come out and ask you, I mean, you all have opportunities to leave now and to go out and test the market and whatever. It’s just a weird era that we’re in. Why? Why were you so adamant about coming back to Iowa State?
Becht: “No, this is a place where, when I committed, I was committed to the place. And so I don’t, I don’t think that coach Campbell, or when I was talking to him during the recruiting process. Whatever he said, what I was hearing from the guys that were here already is, everything’s true, you know, he doesn’t lie about anything. He doesn’t put, you know, fake stuff out there. Um, everything he says is truly, you know, what he means and what he represents. And so I love this I love this place because it’s like a family, you know. I feel like here at Iowa State, it’s just different than everywhere else. And I do believe that, even though I haven’t seen any anywhere else, but, I mean, that’s just my opinion. I feel like it’s so strong here, the bond and, you know, the family of this team, it’s, it’s remarkable about, you know what? It’s the reason why I stayed, because I just like it so much here.”
Williams: Yeah, and I also think, too, here’s a weird there’s a weird thing about Ames. I’ve been around here about 20 years, and I never wore the colors, but I’ve talked to enough guys, the Niang’s, the Purdy’s of the world. They come back- right. Like it. Tyrese Haliburton is a great example. He was here for two years. In every offseason, he finds his way back to Ames. What is it about this place?
Becht: “It’s so, I think, just like inviting, I think this place, it’s inviting to, you know, the people on the outside and the people here in this community are so generous and so so kind. It’s, you know, I haven’t gone to a town like this where everybody’s nice. I haven’t kind of gone out in public and somebody’s been rude to me, so that that’s, that’s good, but you know, this, like I said, it’s just inviting to, you know, the outside, and that’s the reason why I feel like all these guys come back, it’s just because it’s a play, it’s a second home.”
Williams: I wanted to ask you about a couple of your a couple of your teammates. The first of all is Eli Green, who I don’t I don’t know a lot about him. I know everybody’s really high on him. I know he got rated by pro football focus at the top, which put out your your tweet the other day. What have you seen from him? Like, what? What makes him such a intriguing prospect going into this year?
Becht: “Yeah, Eli’s a savvy guy with the OTA’s and the, you know what we’ve been able to do out on the field so far with him throwing the ball to him. He’s just a guy where he’s kind of like a Jaylin Noel in the slot, where, you know, he’s he can make a seam route, or, you know, a post or a glance route, and he could take it to the house. He’s just a guy like that where he can make a guy miss and he’s gone. So having a guy like him next to Jalen is it’s going to be, it’s going to be awesome for me during the season, because I’m going to have those two guys to throw the ball to. But he’s such a nice guy, a humble guy. He actually golf’s a lot, too. I’ve, I’ve already been golfing with him a couple times, and he’s pretty decent. He’s pretty good. So I was excited about that when I heard that he played golf.”
Williams: Who else golfs with you?
Becht: “Man? Um, Ben Bramer, we’ve there’s like five tight ends that golf.”
Williams: He’s got to have long clubs.
Becht: “Yeah, he actually just shot, shout out to Ben Bramer, he just shot up plus five at Coldwater.”
Williams: Oh, that’s tough. that’s impressive.
Becht: “Yeah, that was really impressive. So shoutout to Ben.”
Williams: Like a true plus five?
Becht: “True plus five, yeah.”
Williams: And you guys aren’t using the old foot wedge?
Becht: No, no, no. Mulligans. PGA rules, okay, PJ rules, um, but you know, there’s a bunch of tight ends, a bunch of receivers – Jalen and Jayden, they started playing golf. Jalen. Jalen is pretty good, actually. He started playing last summer. Jayden is getting into it. He’s not there. He’s not there yet.”
Williams: You guys are all like little mini NFL players, because that’s all they do. But Sage Rosenfels is a buddy of mine, and he he’s told me about the NFL like, how they just, they get done with their training camp by like, 10 o’clock, and then they just all go out and golf all day.
Becht: “We love it. I think it’s so much fun to go out there with the guys and just hang and play golf. I think it’s the funnest thing ever.”
Williams: So I’m really intrigued by Green because, again, I just feel like he’s a guy I don’t know much about, but Beni (Ngoyi) was the one at the end of last year where I’m like, that dude’s a freak. Like, I don’t know when he’s gonna burst out of his shell, but I’m calling my shot. He’s like, the next stud Iowa state wide receiver. Does he have a shot to have a breakout year?
Becht: “Oh yeah, for sure. I definitely think so. Well, he was able to put on tape at the end, especially in the Memphis game when he, when he made that, you know, that catch over the shoulder for about 40 yards, I think. I think that was when I believe that was, like his second play in the game. So I believe that’s when the coaches, you know, really thought that, you know, they’re able to put them in, and he’s able to go to work and, you know, put something out there that’s special. And so he’s, he’s put in so much work over the off season and throughout this spring, because every, every day, I see him on the jugs with Jayden Higgins. So that’s a guy where he wants to follow the best, and he wants to be the best. And I’m excited for him coming up in this, you know, this season, because he’s going to get a lot of play time for us, and he’s going to be a difference maker for us.”
Williams: You mentioned one of my favorite guys who I think that has a huge ceiling. You mentioned him earlier as Carson Hansen. I mean, Sama had the record setting game against Kansas State, still one of my favorite games in Iowa state history. No, I was out calling men’s basketball, because I was filling in for John and Eric, because they were with you guys. And we watched that game from Florida, and it was, it was like 80 degrees and like, we had our hotel rooms open watching that game, and it was just snowing everywhere. It was just a but I think Hansen is a guy who most fans who aren’t diehards – a lot of our listeners are the die hard. But I think a lot of the casual fans don’t know how good he could potentially be.
Becht: “No, they don’t. What Carson brings to the table is, he’s so big and lengthy where he’ll run through a hole and, you know, he’ll knock he’ll knock somebody over. And so for him, he does everything right? He’s 100% on, you know, whatever he does, he’s he’s one. The leaders in the running back room, because everyone right now is, you know, they’re around the same age, and so one- they always have their, you know, there’s, they have their certain aspects and categories where they lead. And he’s one of those guys in that running back room. And so he’s been able to set an example of how they do, how they do the little things, right? And he’s going to be huge for us. I love him, especially in the passing game. I think he he’s my dog in the passing game. He keeps me protected.”
Williams: I love it. I mean, I think that he could be a huge weapon. I do too, receiving the ball too. What about this NCAA football game? You gonna buy it?
Becht: “I am, I am, I will, I want. I think it’s gonna be cool to play with myself and play with, you know, Iowa State. Yeah, that’s gonna be really cool. See how good my skills are as an OC and see-“
Williams: That’s where I’m all about. I like to do the the dynasty mode, you know, I actually, that’s my thing. I’ve, I’ve played Madden in the past, but, like, I never gotten into, like, truly, like, just, I want to go home and play video games.
Becht: “Yeah, I was never that guy.”
Williams: That’s good. That’s probably why you’ve been successful.
Becht: “Maybe I don’t know. I’ve always just wanted to go outside and play, but, yeah.”
Williams: That’s why you’re successful, because you haven’t had hours of screen time during your childhood.
Becht: “Possibly, that’s a credit to my mom and dad. I’ll only maybe, like, twice a week on EA Sports, because I feel like it should be really cool.”
Williams: It is interesting because now it’ll, like, have your name.
Becht: “Yeah, it’s gonna be super cool. It’s especially like, I’m gonna get to see, like, what they, you know, made my overalls and all that stuff. So I might be a little mad at some of it, but-“
Williams: I’ve already given Mouser crap because I was like, here’s the problem you’ve got now you’re gonna have this generation of fans that are going to be averaging 50 points a game with the Cyclones. And if you don’t, if you don’t live up to that, it’s on you. They’re going to be telling you what plays they’re calling.
Becht: “Oh, my. God, that’s gonna be hilarious. Actually, I haven’t thought about that.”
Williams: I’ve been pressing him, um, make sure he stays up to it. But I’ve known mouse a long time, and I’m always, I’m a, I’m a passing guy, yeah, okay, I’m a throw the damn football, if you can’t run it like, get it out there. I am a proponent of you throwing the ball 50 times a game and then letting the running backs eat off of that.
Becht: “There we go, I love that.”
Williams: just throwing it out there.
Becht: “He wants, he wants to throw the ball down the field this year. So we’ll see what happens.”
Williams: Well, you’ve got the guys.
Becht: “We do. We got Beni, we got Jayden, we got, you know, Isaiah Alston from Army.”
Williams: How’s he look?
Becht: “He looks good. He was, he wasn’t, you know, fully healthy during the spring, just because he was coming off his injury from army. But he’s, I believe he’s back to, you know, fully 100% and he looks good. He’s super lengthy, super, you know, he can jump, so any ball in his vicinity, I feel like he’s just going to be able to go up and get it.”
Williams: Well, I can’t wait. I think it’s going to be an awesome year. Appreciate you. Well, I’ll see you again in about a month. We’re going to be at your camp and hopefully raise a ton of money for the community of Perry through and again, if you’re a fan out there, you can support it by buying these T shirts. We’ll have all that information for you, please. That’ll be cool.
Becht: “That’ll be, yeah, I can’t wait for that, especially the camp. And then, you know, having you guys there as well. So it’s gonna be fun.”
Williams: And well, we’ll all be rooting on the BattleHawks coming up on here we go, Sunday.
Becht: “Sunday, 6 p.m. Central.”
Williams: I bet you that there’ll be a lot Iowa State fans that’ll go to that.”
Becht: “Man. I hope.”
Williams:I bet there will be.
Becht: “You got two guys that were, you know, stars in the Big 12, and at Iowa State. So hopefully there’s, you know, a bunch of Iowa State guys there. Cool.
Williams: Thank you for your time, man, this was, this was a lot of fun. Rocco back here. We’ll be at his camp in Perry on the morning of July 13.
CycloneFanatic publisher Chris Williams had a sit down interview with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell for the new Summer Series doing a deep dive into Iowa State Football.
Here’s a full transcript of the interview.
Chris Williams: How are you? How’s your summer going?
Matt Campbell: “Yeah, well, you know, we’re at the early stages of it. But, you know, just a really exciting time. I think there’s just such a good energy around our coaching staff and this team. And, you know, it’s just it’s an exciting time. And honestly, just like I said, I think the word’s energy, there’s a lot of really positive energy around it, everything that’s going on, and I think everybody hears like, there’s an excitement – you’re sprinting to the office every day right now. And that’s fun.”
Williams: Yeah, it’s certainly an interesting time just with everything going on around the sport. I don’t want to lose track. I have to be honest, I think that I’m probably guilty of paying too much attention to all that stuff. And I’m kind of now getting into football mode, if that makes sense. Just because there’s been so many things, just changing in the landscape. But I’m really curious, because I know you’re such a football guy and you love coaching and the development aspect, what about all of this has, has kept you not just at Iowa State, but just even in this business? Throughout all of it?
Campbell: “Well, I think we’re probably isolated, you know, we’re probably an anomaly here a little bit that just – it’s so different here. We couldn’t win that way anyways. And we’ve never been able to compete in the landscape of having more than others, whether it be facilities, or money or talent. And so the reality has always been here, alignment and unification would be our guiding light to elite success. And, you know, when we’ve been at our best over our eight years here, man, it’s been magical. And it’s been really awesome to watch. Because at the end of the day, in football, you’ve still got to play the game, like ball is going to get snapped, there’s going to be 11 Guys on both sides of the ball. And you’re going to have to play the game. And ultimately, the best team still, still the majority of the time the person that can create the best team can win the football game. And so I’ve always felt like, that’s probably been the greatest joy of being at Iowa State is you can build team, you can build culture, you can build unity.
“And, you know, I think it’s certainly been a challenging time, over the course of the last couple of years as our environment around us has changed. But I really never worry about it, or have worried about it so far, because I’ve never felt like it’s not allowed us to do our job and not allowed us to still be able to compete, and be the team that we want to be and build a team that we believe that can compete for a championship. As long as you know, those things still allow us to be able to be competitive and still be able to care and love and serve young people. You know, then I really don’t worry about, you know, all the things that we can’t control outside of us. And, you know, there there is, it’s a storm, there’s a lot going on, there’s stuff, but I think you can get so lost in that. And you lose the reality of what my job is. And my job is to recruit 18 to 22-year old young people to build a culture where those young people feel confident, safe to grow. And then at the end of it, you know, be great developers of football players to go on the field and win football games. And, you know, I think sometimes what happens is you can get so lost on all the things that man you can be mad that it’s changing, you can be mad about this, you can get frustrated about this, but you can’t control any of those things. I just want to know, what are the rules? What’s the rules of engagement? How do we make sure whatever those rules are, we’re working really hard to make sure we’re aligned for Iowa State’s best way to be successful. And then yet, the rules of the game of football haven’t changed. Like that’s still all the same. It’s just everything else around it. And so, yeah, it’s to me, anytime things are changing around you. It’s forcing you to grow too, and forcing us to grow as a university and as an athletic athletic department, and certainly as a football program. And I think we have been able to, you know, at least internally as a football program really tried to grow forward through all the things that have come our way over the last couple of years, and not let it debilitate us but only kind of spit back into building our own culture and our own program and not not weaving off the course of what we’ve stood for.”
Williams: So I was gonna ask you, what’s the key? You know, in the future, let’s say the next 10 years to still win at Iowa State and just listening to what you just said there, it sounds pretty similar, right? I mean, don’t, don’t get off course.
Campbell: “Yeah, don’t get off course. And obviously, you know, you got to stay competitive and whatever the environment continues to be around us to, you know, recruit, retain, and then develop the student athletes that you have. And, like I said, so far, I mean, you know, you couldn’t be prouder of our ability. And it’s, I think it says a lot about the young men we’ve recruited on the front end, but those guys have stayed in, they’ve stayed here. And we’ve been fortunate because I’m sure a lot of guys have stayed and probably could have made a lot more money going other places, but, have stayed with us, because I think they believe in culture and what we, you know, maybe we can’t, you know, equate in financial dollars right now. But we know, we can equate in long term vision and their success of doubling or tripling that financial value in the long run.”
Williams: I guess, too. I’m not, I don’t know, as much as you do. I haven’t been close to players like you have, but I’ve been around enough of them. And we all hear about like, television set, you know, $22 million here TV, whatever. The end of the day these guys want to play though, right? Like there’s still only so many roster spots to go around in your estimation. Like if there’s 1000 players, how many of them are just going to take the biggest check going forward compared to actually, you know, wanting that opportunity to show themselves on the field? Like, I think we may overplay the money a little bit.
Campbell: “Yeah well, because I think at the end of the day, you know, you’re you’re looking at, these are 18 to 22 year olds, and football is different than any other sport, right? Like, in basketball, by the time you’re 1617 and 18, you’ve played AAU basketball, you you can play five on five basketball starting really at six years old. Yeah. And you can play that. So you kind of are fully developed by the time, or close to full development, by the time you’re 18 in that wheelhouse, where in football… boy – football is such a developmental game. You know, in high school, the majority of times, you’re only guaranteed 10 games a season. In college football, you’re guaranteed 12 games. And so the in as much as you can go practice, you’re you’re still growing and developing, but game development is still the greatest form of development of our sport that you can have. And the reality is our guys are still growing through, you know, they’re 18, 19 20, 21 22 year olds, you know, time in their life. And so it’s such a developmental game and a developmental sport, that you’re exactly right, playing on the field still matters and is still critical to the future success that, you know, if you want to have a hope to play in the National Football League, man, they’re not in the National Football League, they’re not paying, again, 32 teams for 50-some roster spots that they’re actually paying players to be on their team. And they’re not paying for development. They’re paying for the finished product. And they’re paying top dollar for the finished product.
“And so what what still matters between 18 and 22 years, two years old is meant where can I grow, get on the field develop and become my best and who’s going to not only where do I have a chance to play but where equally Do I have a chance to get better grow and develop as a football player. And, you know, it can’t just be football, you hope that their development is coming because we’re getting these young young people as young men and they’re in such the critical time in their life where they’re growing as men too. So I do think Chris, what you’re saying is you know playing time getting on the field, having the ability to grow and develop it’s so critical in our sport. It’s so different our sports so different than everybody else. And that’s that’s really the key piece of it, it’s a man’s game. I mean it’s a game where you are growing to be a 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26-year old man yeah to play professionally in this sport where none of the other sports you know you see baseball young people playing you say basketball young people playing professionally. Well man, our sport’s – it’s a total different ballgame though.
Williams: The other thing football, at least your program. It feels a little bit like a throwback to college athletics for me because I grew up in an era where it’s like, we watch Fred Hoiberg as a freshman and then we watch him as a senior – women’s basketball still has a little bit of that, although the portal is starting to kill that sport as far as the watching them come in at a team watching them come in at 18, watching them leave at 22. Well, that’s happening a lot in your program. I think it endears fans to it to like a guy like Jaylin Noel’s a perfect example. I had to be reminded the other night that he was on that ’21 team. Yeah, I didn’t even remember that he played on that. But it’s like, man, he’s been around here a long time. I liked that aspect of what you’re doing.
Campbell: “Well, that’s why I coach and you go back to your initial question, ‘what do you love about why you’re still here why you’re still going?’ I mean, to me, the greatest joy that I still get is I’ve been at one place long enough to where you see guys starting to bring their families back here. And you see players coming back here that were foundational building blocks of the success we’ve had, and some of the opportunities that our guys now are getting the opportunity to have. And where do you get that anymore? I got that growing up at a high school program and a college program. And, you know, we’re losing the fabric of team and culture and identity. And I feel like we haven’t lost our way, that way, we still have some powerful things here that have allowed us to endear a family and a parents that say, ‘Hey, I want my young man to go somewhere, where man there is some of these cultural, you know, residuals, there’s some of these opportunities where I know, my young man can go there and grow as a football player.’ And man, there’s former players that are back around that program. And there’s guys that are now having success that are pouring back into the program. And it’s not just the head coach, but it’s everybody involved. And I think we’re really fortunate that what we have, has helped us in your writing, you know, being able to keep key players here for four or five years, it’s always going to be critical to our success.
“If we ever get to a place where we’re not that, I don’t know if you can have success here at Iowa State. I don’t know if you can sustain long term success in terms of one year. And you know, I just don’t think that’s the way that it will ever be able to be successful here. Because, again, financially, we’re not going to get into that marketplace and ever be the top better. And so what we’re going to have to do is we’re going to have to continue to pour into recruiting the right people on the front end, doing a great job of identifying talent, being elite at retention, you know, creating a culture of those (traits). And we’ve done that with our facilities. And we’ve been able to do that with how we feed our kids how we train our guys. You know, I think the city of Ames, our fan base, you know, that it’s different, you got to almost be called here. But if you love it, there’s such a great experience available to you. And then the last piece of it is the development is, man, can you develop these players that are coming in here? And can you develop them to be some of the best players at their position? And, you know, I would hope nine years later, the fact is, hey, listen, like there’s a – you want to play quarterback – hey, listen, man, there’s a pathway we’ve been, we can show you what that looks like the play elite at the quarterback position. And we can show you a pathway of what it takes to be an elite tailback. And we show you what a pathway at least it looks like to be an elite wide receiver and an elite tight end and an elite defensive lineman and a linebacker, a safety and a corner. Because they they’ve lived here. And they’ve had those experiences and they’ve been developed within the program. And now, you know, it’s not just you’re not just hoping that it can happen. There’s an actual pathway of how it can happen.”
Williams: Do you think that the retention part is I know how much emphasis you all put on it – is that the equalizer because you pull up the internet, it’s the portal rankings, here’s who did the best in the portal, you know, whatever school got 12. To me, that would be difficult. If from a coaching standpoint from like chemistry, and you just you don’t really know Right? Like it, it reminds me of the JUCO market back in the 2000s where people when I was working at Scout, everybody wanted to know what JUCO you’re bringing in right in February, and like those guys hit sometimes, but not nearly as often is the guy who’s coming from his sophomore to his junior year, like do you see that as your equalizer in the new world?
Campbell: “Oh, I think it has to be. And again, and that’s not to say, you know, we won’t occasionally find a really talented transfer here or find a guy that we recruited along the way. Jalen Travis is a great story for us coming into this fall. He’s a kid that we recruited out of high school, he decides to go to Princeton, man, he has four years at Princeton, he gets he’s number one in his class at Princeton, and then all of a sudden, he’s an NFL prospect and he wants to come back home and he hit it off with us on the front end of it and you know, so that that there’s a transfer that makes sense, right? That makes sense. But for us, the majority of our players in our roster, it has to come that way because we can’t become a team that’s banking on how did your free agency go this past year. Did you get the right free agents and is that your team? If that’s what we’re depending on, I think it’d be hard for us to, to have long term success. I think we have to be homegrown, we have to do a great job on the front end. And then, like you said, the secret sauce for us has got to be be able to retain those student athletes within our program.”
Williams: Alright, so let’s look at the new Big 12. I mean, I love the continuity aspect of your program. I mean, just from a staff from a staffing standpoint – this league what, how is it different now? From what, say, five to six years ago? Where does Iowa State stack up in this new league going forward in the next five to 10 years?
Campbell: “Well, you know, I think the biggest difference is you when you when you take Oklahoma and Texas out and believe me, you know, you have a lot of respect for both of those programs. I mean, you know, obviously, those are very, man, they’re going to live a different way of building a football program than we are and you know, from a talent acquisition standpoint, you know, they were always going to have, you know, the elite in terms of talent acquisition. But I think, again, even we were able to prove that along the way, talent acquisition in a 60-minute football game are two different animals. And now I think the way talent acquisition maybe goes across the board and in the new Big 12 is everybody’s probably on a very similar basis.
Williams: I would agree.
Campbell: “And I think, you know, when that happens, now again, how you build your team, how you build your culture, how you what the sustainability looks like, how your coaching game is – all those things now are probably the deciding factors rather than talent acquisition. And so, you know, I think when you look at it, I think it’s proven to be even whether Texas and Oklahoma were in or not top the bottom, you know, the last two to three years, this has been a, ‘you better show up and you better bring your A-game and if you don’t play football, you’re gonna get yourself beat, no matter who you’re playing, no matter what it looked like.’ And I think it only enhances that way. So I think from a viewership a competitiveness, you know, you’re in a really fascinating time. When I got in to the league, you know, I remember sitting at that first meeting, and, you know, you got Bob Stoops at Oklahoma, and Art Briles at Baylor.”
Williams: That feels like an eternity ago, man, Art Briles.
Campbell: “It does. You know you’ve got all those guys sitting there, and the top end of it was elite. And the top end of it of, you know, Gary Patterson and what TCU was doing, and, and certainly for us and Iowa State, you were thinking like, ‘Holy smokes, how are we even going to have an opportunity to compete with these teams and these players?’ And I think what we’ve been able to do is find our pathway, who are we? How are we going to say sustained success at Iowa State? How are we going to push ourselves to get to November and play for championships here at Iowa State Football – we’ve figured that out. And we’ve proven that. And I think that’s the thing that’s really exciting. And yet, the reality of it is top to bottom, I think you got a lot of teams that have a great identity, they know who they are, they know what they’re about. There’s really good football across the board in this in this conference right now. And so I think, yes, we know who we are. And I think yes, we feel very confident about what we’re about. But I think you’d look at you look across the board, and there are very few teams in this conference that don’t know who they are or what they’re trying to do. So I think it makes for a really exciting conference.”
Williams: You guys have spent a lot of time in Utah lately on the recruiting trail? You’ve spent a ton of time in Arizona over the years. How does that impact these these West Coast schools? Like? Do you spend more time there? I’m really curious, just across the board, how much recruiting is going to be changed with that? Not only that, but then the whole salary cap thing, and, and everything in general.
Campbell: “And I think to sit here today and have a educated answer on exactly how recruiting is going to change, it would be hard. I still think the reality though Chris, comes to how well can you do in your six-hour radius? Because I still think your ability to recruit around your campus is so critical to your success. I think it’s I think sometimes the you know, a young person having a, you know, growing up understanding your program, understanding who you are willing to work through hard times in the in stay the course in a program. I think that’s still all matters. And not to say that you can’t, you know, expand your recruiting basis. And believe me, we have I think we’re willing, we’re always going to go national in some areas of our football team to try to find the right fit or the right player for our team. But I also think the reality of if you look at our core foundation, it hasn’t changed through NIL or any of these other things. If you look at our recruiting, I’d still say you know 65 to 75% of our team has built in a six-hour radius around Iowa State and I’ve always believed that and I don’t think that shifts. I don’t think that changes. But I do think it certainly, certainly opens up more eyes and other markets to your football program. And, you know, obviously playing out at BYU last year and, you know, being in Salt Lake City and now being out there a year you’re like, geez, man, there’s some good football out here. Yeah. And yeah, is this a great area for us, at least they know who Iowa State is and certainly knows about our football program. And, you know, Brock (Purdy’s) success in Arizona opened the pathway for us to be able to go down there. And, you know, now you got a kid like Dylan Lee here, who all of the sudden is the Gatorade Player of the Year and like, man, they are really special.”
Williams:I’m kind of obsessed with him. I think he’s the next like-
Campbell: “Well, he’s exciting. And I know, he had a good spring game and all this, but you go back and you look at Dylan’s background and his history, and it’s very similar to Brock, you know, kind of build a team and kind of was an anchor of a team that wasn’t a traditional powerhouse there and build them into a really successful program. But for us, you’re not gonna go sit there and get six kids out Arizona, but can you go get the right one or two guys and the right one or two guys in Utah. And, you know, this past year, you got the number one player out of Utah, the wide receiver (Dominic Overby) that’s coming in. And, you know, here’s a kid that just ran, you know, 10.5 in track and won the one the 100. And, you know, all of a sudden, now you get this big 6-foot-4 receiver that’s coming out of Utah, and probably wouldn’t have happened a year ago in this process. And so, you know, I again, I do, I think, anytime different pathways open to have viewership and eyes on your program, and can identify, and I think those are good things.”
Williams: What do you think the big 12 needs to do other than winning? Because that’s obviously number one, but to be, you know, like a real behemoth in football, right? Like, because they always throw around, it’s basketball league and all this stuff like going forward. The big 12 got to focus a ton on football. I know it is, but what is the big 12 need to do? In your opinion? If you had a, you know, if you had a call to the commissioner, what would you say?
Campbell: “Well, I think you hit the nail on the head. I mean, we’re just in a different time. Like, the obviously with what how the landscapes changing around us, football successes matter is in a matters big, I mean, it’s, it’s a frontline story to all the things that are changing athletically around us. And, you know, obviously, the monetization of college athletics, and certainly in the landscape of college football since the 1980’s or the 1990’s, when all of this changed, you know, it’s certainly the driving force around everything that’s going on around us. And so I just say, you’re right, like winning matters, and having success matters and sustaining sustainable success matters. And, you know, I certainly think in the Big 12, that’s what we’re gonna have to do and we’re gonna have to be able to, to not only win in our conference, but get into the College Football Playoff and, you know, show we can play and that’s the thing I think is so exciting. To even think of our own world, you know, of us and playing the Texas’s and the Oklahoma’s in the Oregon’s, and being in some of these big games over the last couple years, I think we’ve proven like, you know, at least in our own right, that we can go play with these people and beat these people. And we’re gonna have to play great football to beat those people. But yeah, I think winning matters. And at the end of the day, you know, can you make sure that you’re not creating a student athlete experience as well, that doesn’t match what everybody else, at least within the rules, is doing to match this the college student athlete experience that, you know, a Big 10 school or SEC school is. Above and beyond some of those things, that what we can’t control? That’s not our responsibility, but the things that we can control within the guidelines of the rules. I think we’re going to have to do a really good job of committing to that because if not, then then I do think you’ll find a great divide in terms of, you know, winning at a high level in playoff atmospheres or championship atmospheres. But again, if you can within the guidelines of what the rules are, as long as we’re able to compete and certainly able to create a student athlete experience that matches that then I think you know, man, you got great coaches I think you got some great programs in this Big 12 conference that have a chance to compete with anybody.”
Williams: To the fans listening I’ll I believe coach and I are gonna do this and maybe July and I’ll do a lot more on the roster with him. I guess the last thing I have for you today we’re both pro wrestling fans. And but I was thinking about this as I was prepping to do this and these these wrestlers or maybe use a musician right like they all have like different phases of their career. Like Hulk Hogan was the you know, the ultimate good guy and then turned heel on us and then under the rock he was corporate guy and then he was the people’s champ whatever it feels like to me that last year was almost like a different chapter, the Campbell era in my mind you correct me if you think I’m wrong, but It was like, Okay, this this down this year didn’t make a bowl game. And then he kind of come out of nowhere with the with the whole gambling thing that was just a distraction to outsiders and we used all summer and you guys surprise a lot of people when seven games have this great season and now you go into this year where I think on paper, I could make an argument that it’s as good of a what I penciled in your starting lineup as you’ve had maybe not high end? Because we’ll see, I hope Abu Sama’s the next Breece Hall right, but without hindsight though, I don’t know that. But it just seems like we’re going into this, like new era with you and that you’ve been able to ride the wave. A lot of coaches can’t do that. What has been the key to get into this new spot where you guys have such high expectations?
Campbell: “Yeah, you know, I would say this, we, you know, I’ve chuckled with our staff and our kids at times, and I’m in I would probably say this about myself, as you know, we’ve always been worthy to suffer. And, and I and what I mean by that is, we’ve had enough humility, me, us, we, that when we’ve gone through adversity and hard, that we’ve had the ability to self reflect and figure out how do we grow from this and be better from it and not make the same mistakes twice? And, you know, obviously, I feel like we’ve we’ve gone through that. And, you know, this is, you know, we’ve had the ability to not lose who we want to be and what what the foundations have been about building our football program, and yet continue to grow with it. And, you know, I, we’ve said this a little bit even coming into this journey, you know, I think, when we got here, you know, it was it was, Can you can you, can you really earn the right to believe that you can win here? It was just like trying to create belief that we can win. And, and we found a way to do that. And then it was the next phase was, you know, and I think as we did that, you know, along the way, people kind of laughed at you and kind of, you know, it was kind of a little bit of a joke, and then, you know, and then the next phase of can you sustain success?”
Williams: Which is the hardest part, right?
Campbell: “Right, and we proved that and, and then, you know, we kind of went to that phase of like, Man, can you now understand that? Yeah, they kind of respect you, but now they’re going to try to kill you. And now they’re going to fight you every step of the way. And we kind of got into that, but we weren’t ready for it. And I you know, I would probably blame myself on that a little bit. And, you know, I think, again, at Iowa State, I mean, you’ve talked about this is with our football program, there, you have to go through it all the first time. But then you better learn from it, and you better grow from it. And, you know, I think what last year created was, you know, and ‘they’ is a multitude of different things. This is not a pinpointing on anybody. That’s just whether it’s the teams that are that you’re playing, no matter what it is. And, you know, we kind of got into this phase after 22 of, man, some really hard self evaluation and reevaluation. And, you know, we didn’t really change a whole lot, we just realigned ourselves to the value of who we are and what we have stood for here. And, you know, I remember somebody wrote an article and one of our players had showed it to me about, you know, the going into last season is the culture of Iowa State football is crumbling, or whatever it was, whatever – chuckled at it. And the reality was, I’ve always believed that when it’s gotten really hard here, and adversity has hit, you’re kind of defined by your culture and who you are. And, you know, I think internally, we knew, number one, we were the most aligned, we had been in a long time, we kind of knew who we were after seven years of the team. And yes, man, there was chaos going on around us. But I think internally, we were like, man, ‘we gotta- we have one of the most talented groups we’ve ever had. We’re just really young and we lack experience.’ And, you know, it was almost like, it was almost like watching us go through those early stages, which we knew we were going to have happen, and then watch this team start to take off. It’s almost like, you know, you’re going into the third piece of it, because as I told our kids, when we are willing to want to kill and fight back, then we will win. And powerful things are going to happen. And we’re kind of I think, starting to understand some of those things. And I think as a staff and players and, you know, I think one of the really neat things about last year was, you know, the most adversity probably that we’ve ever had, and any group of players that I’ve ever dealt with, in the amount of young people that were forced to respond to that adversity and how they did it, it was really rewarding and probably one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had
as a coach.”
Williams: One of my favorite seasons I’ve ever for sure been around.
Campbell: “For sure, and I think what it did for us is it, like I said, not only if we sprinted back here in the summer, I mean – even from January on, you know, in probably the most poetic way of, you know, disappointing, you know, didn’t play our best in the bowl game, you lose the bowl game, but almost like, almost the right recipe for this team to come back in January and say, here’s where we are. Here’s what it is. And here’s where we need to go. And is everybody willing to go there? Because these are the things we can actually put into reality, what’s happening and where we’re trying to go. And it’s been so fun to watch these, these guys rally together as one and in really have a great offseason. And you’re right, it’s an exciting time. Because I think not only do we, it’s not make believe you got guys that you’ve saw have success, but they have had success in they’re a group that they know who they are, and they know what they stand for. And the character and I mean, I know, you know, sometimes everybody lives like but you know, even look at the academics. And that’s a that’s a small thing. But you’re, you’re talking 100 and, you know, 109 guys with over a 3.0 GPA, a team GPA of 335. And in a cumulative GPA. I mean, it’s a smart committed football team and that that’s committed to excellence in everything they
do.”
Williams: Isn’t that contagious, though? Like? Because if they’re not –
Campbell: “Yeah, isn’t it life, Chris, right? Like, and I know, I’ve said this forever, like, how you do anything is how you do everything. Yeah. And it’s like, we know that. I mean, I think I feel like I almost catch myself saying that to myself. And man, how I eat I take care of myself, do I get up early? Do I am I willing to stay the course of my own process? Like we’re all continuing to try to do that, as parents, I think we’re trying to teach our young adult children that right. And it’s no different than what you’re teaching 18-to-22 year old, young young men that are trying to do something profoundly incredible. And so yeah, I think all those things still matter. And unfortunately, sometimes we get we’re in a world where it’s so transactional, that we want to, man, we want to make it about this, or we want to make it about that. But like, not in college football, because you’re still going to school, you’re still taking classes, you’re still being defined by who you become through your journey between 18 and 22 years old. And, man, what happens in your four to five years as a college student athlete are still going to define the next 40 to 50 years of your life, that type of life you live, who you marry, what kind of success you have, how what kind of father and husband you become, it still is defining that. And yet we get lost in this world of the mirage of $22 million here, and all this NIL stuff here and all this. And it’s easy to get lost. It’s easy to get lost down the road. But I think what we’ve tried to do is really kind of zero thinks back into what’s going on presently and the opportunity to become your best. And, you know, we’re really fortunate to have great kids right now.”
Williams: Well, I appreciate the time, because like I said, I think even in my position we can get lost and all the crap. And it’s eye opening and it’s good for the audience to to hear talk like this. Talk about actual football in the summer. And it it just it feels like COVID on it’s just been nonstop, with just crap. Well, and I’m really excited for this summer because I think we’re gonna be able to talk a lot of football.
Campbell: “Well, we look forward to it. And again, my gratefulness is to you, Chris, you’ve always covered us. And I’ve said this for forever. I mean, our alignment from you know, our fan base – it’s what’s special about Iowa State is if you are going to do something really special, everybody’s got to be pulling in the same direction. And, you know, from day one, you’ve always done that for us and I’m grateful and to our fans and our supporters – we’re really grateful. We look forward to making everybody really proud of this football team this fall.”
Full video interview:
A pair of Iowa State commits to the 2025 recruiting class in quarterback Alex Manske and wide receiver Zay Robinson attended Wednesday night’s practice camp in Ames to get some extra throws in. Hear from both athletes about attending the camp and what they got out of it.
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht, under the We Will Collective banner, is hosting his own football camp in July in Perry, Iowa.
The camp, which will be of no cost to those participating, will be open to grades 5-8 and will be held at Perry High School on Saturday, July 13th.
“Perry has gone through so much in the past year and this was a small way to show support and provide a fun day for the kids in Perry,” Becht said in the press release.
Perry was hit by a tornado earlier this summer, and Becht is using his NIL funds to make the camp available to students in Perry.
The Cyclones’ quarterback is covering the costs of the camp, which includes a lunch, and is also making a personal donation to Perry Community Schools along with it.
We Will Collective Director Brent Blum says in a press release, “This was entirely Rocco’s idea and we are honored to be able to help him make this a reality,” We Will Collective Director Brent Blum said in a release.
Sign-ups for the camp are being directed to email events@wewillcollective.com.
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Wrestling
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
GENEVA, Ohio – Paniro Johnson claimed a national title while three other Cyclones finished on the podium Saturday at the 2024 U23 Nationals and U20 World Team Trials. Johnson’s 70 kg freestyle title earns him a spot on the USA U23 Men’s Freestyle World Team, which will compete at the World Championships Oct. 21-27 in Tirana, Albania.
Zach Redding and Jacob Frost, who both wrestled in the U23 65 kg freestyle bracket, placed seventh and eighth, respectively. In the U20 86 kg freestyle bracket, Tate Naaktgeboren, finished fourth.
Johnson defeated two NCAA All-All Americans and three NCAA Qualifiers en route to his title. The Cyclone took out Ed Scott, who placed fifth for NC State at the 2023 NCAA Championships, 6-1, in the Round of 16. In the quarterfinals, Johnson dispatched of Daniel Cardenas, a fourth-place NCAA finisher for Cornell at the most recent NCAA Championships, 8-2.
Johnson defeated Caleb Rathjen (Hawkeye Wrestling Club), 8-3, in the semifinals before he defeated John Wiley (Oklahoma RTC) in the first two bouts of the best-of-three finals. Johnson won bout one, 6-2, and bout two, 2-2, to flip a result from the 2023 college folkstyle season where Wiley bested Johnson.
Match-by-match results from the tournament are listed below. Finals brackets can be found on FloArena.
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
Ethan Perryman (U23 57 kg) – DNP
Ethan Perryman (C-RTC) VSU Micah Medina (Knigths RTC), 10-0 1:06
Blake West (Northern Illinois RTC) VSU1 Ethan Perryman (C-RTC), 16-6 5:20
Ethan Perryman (C-RTC) VSU1 Braden Graff (Viking Wrestling Club (IA)), 13-2 5:14
Ethan Perryman (C-RTC) VFA Garett Lautzenheiser (Ohio RTC), 15-9 2:53
Joey Cruz (Hawkeye Wrestling Club) VSU1 Ethan Perryman (C-RTC), 15-4 4:45
Zach Redding (U23 65 kg) – 7th Place
Zach Redding (C-RTC) VSU Aaron Lanster (Bulls WC), 11-0 1:48
Zach Redding (C-RTC) VSU1 Elijah Knight (RTC South), 15-4 4:53
Zach Redding C-RTC) VSU1 Cameron Johnson (Spar Wrestling Academy), 13-2 3:45
Zach Redding (C-RTC) VSU1 Kai Owen (New York City RTC), 12-1 3:23
Joshua Saunders (Spartan Combat RTC/ TMWC) VSU Zach Redding (C-RTC), 10-0 1:14
Zach Redding (C-RTC) VPO1 Sean Carter (Boone RTC), 8-6
Julian Tagg (Jackrabbit WC) VSU Zach Redding (C-RTC), 10-0 3:13
Zach Redding (C-RTC) VFO Jacob Frost (C-RTC)
Jacob Frost (U23 65 kg) – 8th Place
Jacob Frost (C-RTC) VSU Danny Martinez (Southern Illinois RTC), 10-0 2:03
Jacob Frost (C-RTC) VSU1 Cj Composto (Pennsylvania RTC), 17-7 5:25
Jacob Frost (C-RTC) VSU1 Avery Allen (Jackrabbit WC), 12-2 3:00
Cael Happel (Panther WC RTC) VFA Jacob Frost (C-RTC), 14-7 3:57
Jacob Frost (C-RTC) VPO1 Cj Composto (Pennsylvania RTC), 11-5
Ryan Jack (Wolfpack WC) VSU Jacob Frost (C-RTC), 10-0 1:54
Zach Redding (C-RTC) VFO Jacob Frost (C-RTC)
Paniro Johnson (U23 70 kg) – Champion
Paniro Johnson (C-RTC) VSU Hartwell Taylor (Spire WC), 10-0 2:02
Paniro Johnson (C-RTC) VSU Carson Desrosier (Charleston RTC), 10-0 5:06
Paniro Johnson (C-RTC) VSU Sam Mcmonagle (Brown RTC), 10-0 3:46
Paniro Johnson (C-RTC) VPO1 Edward Scott (Wolfpack WC), 6-1
Paniro Johnson (C-RTC) VPO1 Daniel Cardenas (Bear Cave WC), 8-2
Paniro Johnson (C-RTC) VPO1 Caleb Rathjen (Hawkeye WC), 8-3
Paniro Johnson (C-RTC) VPO1 John Wiley (Oklahoma RTC), 6-2
Paniro Johnson (C-RTC) VPO1 John Wiley (Oklahoma RTC), 2-2
MJ Gaitan (U20 79 kg) – DNP
MJ Gaitan (C-RTC) VSU1 Lorenzo Norman (New Jersey), 16-5 4:21
Gabriel Arnold (Hawkeye WC) VPO1 MJ Gaitan (C-RTC), 5-2
MJ Gaitan (C-RTC) VFA Bradley Gillum (Southern Illinois RTC), 10-4 3:24
Lucas Condon (Wisconsin RTC) VSU MJ Gaitan (C-RTC), 12-0 4:15
Tate Naaktgeboren (U20 86 kg) – 4th Place
Tate Naaktgeboren (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC) VSU Tucker Hogan (Stellar Trained), 10-0 2:45
Max Mcenelly (Minnesota Storm) VSU Tate Naaktgeboren (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC), 11-0 4:35
Tate Naaktgeboren (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC) VPO1 De’alcapon Veazy (Black Fox Wrestling Academy), 8-5
James Rowley (Boilermaker RTC) VPO1 Tate Naaktgeboren (C-RTC), 2-1
Iowa State’s series of summer football camps and recruiting visits got started on Saturday as the Cyclones extended an offer to a second 2027 quarterback after seeing him in action.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound prospect out of Illinois took pride in earning his first offer in front of the coaching staff in Ames.
“It definitely does,” Abrams said. “It’s one thing like getting an offer over the phone but when you can go and – right away show a coach what you’re made of at a camp, and you can showcase your talent, it definitely means more, absolutely.”
After a great conversation with @ISUMattCampbell, I am blessed to receive my first Division 1 offer from Iowa State University @CycloneFB @TrentSlattenow @T_Mouser @CoachHo @MontiniFootball @AllenTrieu @EDGYTIM @QBHitList @QBUselect @BOOMfootball @QBUniverseQBU @AthletesMentor pic.twitter.com/F9C4gxPC0X
— israelabramsQB7 (@israelabramsqb7) June 2, 2024
Receiving that first offer lifted a weight off of Abrams’ shoulders.
“It’s very stressful,” Abrams said. ” You know what I mean? Like seeing everybody else get their offers, and I’ve just been wondering like, when’s my time coming? It’s definitely been stressful, but it definitely is a confidence booster.”
The Montini Catholic High School product is camping later this month with Kansas State, and has received high interest from both Tennessee and Kent State as well.
“I go to every camp with that intention of getting an offer,” Abrams said. “That’s just how I think of it.”
Abrams becomes the second quarterback Iowa State has offered thus far out of the 2027 class.
The program offered Salt Lake City prospect Kamden Lopati in early April.
“I loved Iowa State,” Abrams said. “I pulled up, I really liked the stadium – that’s the first thing you see at Iowa State – the big stadium, and the garden next to it. I really like the atmosphere. The coaches made me feel like I was at home. It was a very welcoming place.”
Iowa State football defensive back Darien Porter (10) poses for a photograph during the university football media day at Jack Trice Stadium on Friday, Aug 4, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Darien Porter’s name is synonymous with speed. The Iowa State defensive back ran the first sub-47-second 400-meter dash in Iowa prep history his senior year at Bettendorf in 2019, but his path to playing time as a Cyclone has been far more circuitous.
And the 6-4, 195-pound senior who formerly languished deep down the depth chart at wide receiver is cool with that.
Porter’s stock-in-trade is special teams — and now he’s got the strength and experience to shine as a cornerback, as well.
“Getting off blocks, tackling, all that kind of stuff, I wasn’t really doing that playing receiver,” Porter said after the Cyclones’ spring game. “But with the switch to corner, that becomes really important, so I think (playing special teams) has been a lot of help and I’m continuing to get better and grow, and help our team on defense and on special teams.”
Porter’s one of six known players in school history to block at least three kicks in his career. His blocks have come on punts, but he also defended three passes last season while backing up rookie Baltimore Raven T.J. Tampa at cornerback.
“I think his ceiling is unlimited,” ISU defensive coordinator Jon Heacock said of Porter, who switched to corner last season. “I think he’s a great young man and I think for those guys — even like T.J. a few years ago — the confidence to play defense is different. It’s not what you’ve always done. So he’s a guy that’s constantly building confidence within himself and I think he’s earned our confidence.”
Porter and sophomore Jontez Williams will both challenge for the starting cornerback spot opposite veteran Myles Purchase. Sprinkle in talented and experienced safeties Jeremiah Cooper, Beau Freyler and Malik Verdon, and the Cyclones’ secondary should remain one of the best in the Big 12. ISU’s defense led the league in opponent completion percentage (55.8) last season and returns 10 players with starting experience.
Porter’s started exactly zero games in his career, but even if he remains a backup, he’s expected to contribute plays worthy of hype.
“I love DP,” Verdon said. “I tell him all the time he could be (like) a corner that nobody’s ever seen. He’s probably one of the fastest dudes on our team. Honestly, probably in the Big 12 or in the country. So him being able to get some of that technique down and seeing him grow as a corner from when he first started to now, he looks like a whole new player. I’m excited to see what he’s about to do this year.”
He’s not alone. Reigning Big 12 offensive freshman player of the year Rocco Becht also raves about Porter’s upside. ISU’s starting quarterback said Porter’s long, winding path to down-and-distance playing time has allowed him to amass a great deal of knowledge about the game in general.
“His football IQ is off the charts,” Becht said. “I feel like him at corner, it’s just like a longer T.J. Tampa, so I feel like he’s gonna do well for us this season. He’s gonna put up big numbers.”
Whether that’s at cornerback or on special teams — or both — Porter’s hidden impact on the Cyclones’ success will continue to be significant. That, in turn, could afford Porter opportunities at the next level, where special teams stars can become NFL fixtures.
“Not everybody loves special teams,” Heacock said. “If you’re going to be great, and, shoot, we just had (former Cyclone and current Green Bay Packer defensive back) Anthony Johnson come in and talk to our defense, and one of the questions was, ‘Are you on special teams?’ And the answer was, ‘If you’re not on special teams, you’re not playing in the NFL.’ OK, fair. I think that resonates with all our players. You’d better understand the importance of it.”
Porter certainly does — and he’s become a big hitter as well as a formidable sprinter.
“I’ve been playing football for a while, so I’m used to it,” he said. “It’s better than getting hit, I can tell you that.”
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
AMES, Iowa – Six Cyclone wrestlers will compete at the 2024 U23 Nationals and U20 World Team Trials this weekend in Geneva, Ohio.
Ethan Perryman (57 kg), Jacob Frost (65 kg), Zach Redding (65 kg) and Paniro Johnson (70 kg) will wrestle in the U23 freestyle age group while MJ Gaitan (79 kg) and Tate Naaktgeboren (86 kg) will compete in the U20 freestyle portion.
Wrestling is set to begin Saturday at 8:30 a.m. (CT) and can be streamed live on FloWrestling.
The winners of this tournament at each respective weight class will go on to represent Team USA at the U20 World Championships and U23 World Championships.
Iowa State Tournament Entries
U20 Freestyle
79 kg – MJ Gaitan
86 kg – Tate Naaktgeboren
U23 Freestyle
57 kg – Ethan Perryman
65 kg – Jacob Frost, Zach Redding
70 kg – Paniro Johnson
Freestyle Schedule (All Times Central)
Saturday, June 1st
8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. U20 Freestyle – Challenge Tournament – Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Challenge Finals & Consolations
8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. U23 Freestyle – Preliminaries and Consolations
3 p.m. – 6 p.m. U20 Freestyle – All Medal Matches, and Best 2 out of 3 Finals
3 p.m. – 8 p.m. U23 Freestyle – Preliminaries, and Consolations
Sunday, June 2nd
9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. U23 Freestyle – Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations, All Medal Matches, and Best 2 out of 3 Finals
The calendar has nearly turned to June, and we’re inching closer to the start of the 2024 college football season.
Along with that, kickoff times for Iowa State’s three, non-conference games were announced Thursday.
The Cyclones will open the season, their 50th at Jack Trice Stadium against North Dakota at 2:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.
The annual Cy-Hawk Series game between Iowa State and Iowa will kick off at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.
After a bye week,
Below is Iowa State’s announced kickoff times for the full schedule.
2024 Iowa State football schedule
Aug. 31 | North Dakota, 2:30 p.m. Fox Sports 1
Sep. 07 | @ Iowa, 2:30 p.m. CBS
Sep. 14 | Bye Week
Sep. 21 |# – Arkansas State, 1:00 p.m. ESPN+
Sep. 28 | @ Houston, TBA
Oct. 05 | Baylor, TBA
Oct. 12 | @ West Virginia, TBA
Oct. 19 | UCF, TBA
Oct. 26 | Bye Week
Nov. 02 |$ – Texas Tech, TBA
Nov. 09 |% – vs. Kansas, TBA
Nov. 16 | Cincinnati, TBA
Nov. 23 |@ Utah, TBA
Nov. 30 | Kansas State, TBA
– Hall of Fame Weekend
$ – Homecoming
% – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 11th annual Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase. Iowa State is set to participate in the event on Tuesday, December 17th with a matchup against 2023 Final Four participant UConn. It is the first time the Cyclones have been invited to participate in the event.
“We are humbled and honored to be a part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tournament Event,” said Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly. “It is without question a unique opportunity to play UConn, the most iconic program in our sport, at Mohegan Sun which is such a great venue for our players and fans who attend. This will be an experience everyone in our program will always remember.”
Tickets for the 2024 Invesco QQQ Women’s Showcase will go on sale Friday, September 6, via Ticketmaster and on sale at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office starting Saturday, September 7. Game time and television broadcast details, as well as the complete 2024-25 women’s basketball non-conference schedule, will be released at a later date on Cyclones.com.
About Mohegan Sun Arena
Mohegan Sun Arena, one of the busiest sports and entertainment venues in the world today, was awarded the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice award for “Best Casino with Live Entertainment in America”. Mohegan Sun Arena was also named “Best Casino/Resort Venue of the Year” at the 35th Annual Pollstar Awards. In 2021, the 10,000-seat Arena also received its first “#1 Indoor Arena” ranking for its size in the world from Pollstar and VenuesNow. Mohegan Sun Arena is consistently recognized among the top five venues in the United States, and also in 2021 was named “Innovator of the Year” by Celebrity Access for its ViacomCBS residency during the pandemic. In recent years, the “Most Beloved Venue in America” has also been named the “World’s Best Casino Venue,” by Best of Hartford Magazine, and is a seven-time national award winner for “Arena of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music Awards and G2E Las Vegas. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit Mohegan Sun. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 450 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo “Court of Dreams.” Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit hoophall.com, follow @hoophallU, or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
ISU Announces Non-Conference Men’s Hoops Schedule
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State has announced its men’s basketball non-conference schedule for the 2024-25 season.
The schedule features seven home games at Hilton Coliseum. The season opener is slated for Nov. 4 against Mississippi Valley State. The Cyclones will also face Kansas City (Nov. 11) and IU Indianapolis (Formerly IUPUI) on Nov. 18.
Iowa State will travel to the Maui Invitational Nov. 25-27. The bracket for the Maui Invitational will be released later this summer for a field that includes Auburn, Colorado, Dayton, Memphis, Michigan State, North Carolina and UConn. Seven of the eight teams in the field made the NCAA Tournament, with three advancing to the Sweet 16. UConn is the two-time defending NCAA Champion.
The Cyclones return to Hilton Coliseum Dec. 4 against Marquette for the Big 12/BIG East Battle. The Golden Eagles advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last year. Iowa State will conclude the week with a game against Jackson State on Dec. 8.
The annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series game against Iowa will be played Dec. 12 in Iowa City. Iowa State will face Omaha Dec. 15 before taking a break for finals. The Cyclones close out the non-conference schedule with a home game against Morgan State on Dec. 22.
Times and television selections will be announced at a later date.
2024-25 Iowa State Men’s Basketball Non-Conference ScheduleNov. 4 – Mississippi Valley State – Hilton Coliseum
Nov. 11 – Kansas City – Hilton Coliseum
Nov. 18 – IU Indianapolis – Hilton Coliseum
Nov. 25-27 – Maui Invitational – Maui, Hawaii
Dec. 4 – Marquette (Big 12/BIG EAST Battle) – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 8 – Jackson State – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 12 – Iowa (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series) – Iowa City, Iowa
Dec. 15 – Omaha – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 22 – Morgan State – Hilton Coliseum
2024-25 Season Ticket Information:
–Season Ticket Renewals – Cyclone fans who purchased season tickets last year will be contacted (by email) by early July with additional details to renew their seats for the 2024-25 season.
–New Season Tickets – Demand for season tickets continues to be strong. We expect a variety of seating options will be available for Cyclone Club members and public ticket buyers. To join the waitlist please click here.
–Single-Game Tickets – The athletics department will offer a variety of single-game ticket promotions. Detailed information will be shared prior to the start of the season.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser announced the addition of Cuban national Osmany Diversent to the roster on Tuesday.
“Osmany is an extremely talented and athletic young man,” Dresser said. “We have had some very good results with our recruiting efforts in Cuba in recent years. I’m excited to see how he makes the adjustments from freestyle to folkstyle wrestling.”
Diversent, a 2022 junior Pan-American champion, brings a credentialed freestyle background to Ames. He won 57kg junior titles at the 2021 and 2022 Cuban National Championships before capturing the senior division title in 2023.
At the 2021 Junior Pan-American Games, Diversent defeated Richard Figueroa – a 2024 NCAA Champion for Arizona State – in the semifinals en route to winning gold. Including Figueroa, Diversent owns three victories over wrestlers on Division I rosters – Ryan Miller (Penn) and Jacob Moran (Indiana).
On the senior level circuit at 57kg, Diversent earned bronze at the 2023 Pan-American Games and gold at the Central American and Caribbean Games.
Diversent, a La Habana, Cuba native, becomes the third Cuban national on Iowa State’s roster, joining Anthony Echemendia and Yonger Bastida.
Diversent projects at 125/133 pounds for the Cyclones.
The NCAA board of governors voted Wednesday to agree to settlement terms in the House vs. NCAA court case going on, according to a report from The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach.
The result of the vote comes in wake of the impending result of the case, and would allow schools to pay athletes – though the terms have yet to be finalized.
Can confirm that the NCAA’s Board of Governors voted to adopt settlement terms in the House case, per source.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) May 23, 2024
The Big 12 Conference became the first of the leagues to vote on the matter Tuesday, unanimously agreeing to the settlement term like the NCAA, as other conferences are expected to follow.
The presumption is that, with the result, schools would undertake the responsibility of paying players in an agreed upon date in the near future.
Iowa State’s NIL collective, We Will, and executive director Brent Blum, has stated it will continue its efforts, giving the surplus money to Iowa State to absorb the budget reconstruction that athletic director Jamie Pollard mentioned at a Tailgate Tour stop earlier this month.
The expected amount that the schools will be allowed to give is reportedly around $20 million, although those terms still need to be agreed upon.
Cyclone Fanatic will have more updates as they become available.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser announced the addition of three-time NCAA Qualifier Evan Bockman to the program Wednesday.
“Evan brings a lot of experience and will be another veteran guy on our team,” Dresser said. “We feel he can enhance our room and we think he has the ability to score a lot of points throughout his final season. He is just arriving in town and I can tell he is ready to get to work.”
Bockman, who joins the Cyclones from Utah Valley, posted a 54-29 record at 197 pounds in three seasons with the Wolverines. Most recently, Bockman tallied a 19-9 record in 2023-24, including an 8-1 dual mark, and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships where he upset No. 13 seed Levi Hopkins (Campbell) in the first round.
The Anchorage, Alaska native led Utah Valley in wins each of the last two seasons and is a two-time placewinner at the Big 12 Championship, finishing fifth in 2023 and seventh in 2022.
Prior to Utah Valley, Bockman spent three seasons at California Baptist. He redshirted his initial college season in 2018-19 and did not compete in 2019-20 before posting a 4-3 record during the shortened 2020-21 COVID-19 season.
Bockman was a three-time state champion with Grace Christian School as an Alaskan prep wrestler, finishing with a 43-0 mark in his senior season. He is a 2018 Folkstyle national finalist and Fargo Greco All-American (sixth place).
Bockman will have one season of eligibility with the Cyclones.
Iowa State earned its latest commitment out of the transfer portal from former LSU cornerback Ryan Robinson Jr. Tuesday.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound cornerback spent two seasons in Baton Rouge, before entering the portal in May.
Iowa State offered Robinson Jr. over the weekend, and he committed just three days after.
Robinson Jr. appeared in four games for the Tigers during the 2023 season, netting three total tackles.
Out of high school, the New Orleans native chose to be a preferred walk-on at LSU, despite having offers to Tennessee, Ole Miss, Oregon, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Indiana, Arkansas, Duke, Nebraska, Colorado, Toledo, South Alabama, and Louisiana Tech among others according to 247 Sports.
Robinson Jr. becomes Iowa State’s 85th scholarship player, which completes Iowa State’s allotment for the 2024 football roster.
Once at Iowa State, Robinson Jr. will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Jul 12, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark speaks to the press during Big 12 football media day at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Big 12 Conference held a meeting virtually Tuesday between its presidents and chancellors where it was voted on unanimously that the league would agree to settle in the ongoing House vs. NCAA case, according to a report from Pete Thamel at ESPN.
The only parties that abstained from the vote came from departing members Texas and Oklahoma.
Aside from the Big 12, the other four ‘power conferences’ are expected to hold votes in the coming days over the matter.
The settlement, according to the report is expected to pass, which will allow member institutions to pay their athletes in the future and create a fund of $2.7 billion to pay former athletes that were not allowed to receive money from their name, image, or likeness.
The expected revenue sharing model includes an allotted amount of around $20 million per year and could start in the fall of 2025, according to the report.
There’s been no clarity thus far on the effects of Title IX in the case, and the report states that decisions on other effects could take more than six months to be made.
Mar 16, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) shoots the ball around Houston Cougars guard Mylik Wilson (8) during the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
Tamin Lipsey doesn’t just play through pain. He leans into it.
Iowa State’s star sophomore point guard played hurt the final nine weeks of last season, guiding his team to its second NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance in three years.
Now Lipsey must rest and recuperate. Lipsey underwent shoulder surgery after the season ended and won’t be able to fully participate in the team’s arduous summer workouts, which begin June 8. He will, however, happily help ISU’s incoming transfers acclimate to head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s demanding habit-based regimen, because that’s what creates a tight-knit team capable of deep runs in March.
“He’s built that since day one, just being a connected group that has so much trust in one another,” Lipsey said before the Cyclones’ Sweet 16 loss to Illinois in Boston. “When you trust someone with your life, basically, you can go a long way. We do so much as a team on and off the court to build connectedness, it makes it easier to win games in crunch time. In March, we just come together when (some other) teams seem to fall apart.”
Lipsey, an Ames native, plays so hard it can be difficult for the coaches to fully ascertain how healthy he is. So rest is both welcomed and required.
“He lays it on the line every night and some time off is never a bad thing,” Otzelberger said earlier this month at a Tailgate Tour stop. “It would probably be a time when he needed that rest even if he didn’t have the injury.”
The same goes for the rest of the team, Otzelberger said.
“I think each guy needs to know what that means for them,” he said. “Whether it’s time away completely, whether it’s non-contact things, whether it’s focusing on their strength and conditioning piece — I think for each guy it could be something a little bit different, but it is important to get out of our gym, to go see your family and to be away from it because it does start again soon.”
ISU returns its top four scorers from last season in Keshon Gilbert, Lipsey, Curtis Jones and Milan Momcilovic, but must replace the leadership and production of the front-court trio of Robert Jones, Tre King and Hason Ward. Otzelberger and his staff addressed that need by attracting big and skilled transfers such as 6-11 Dishon Jackson (Charlotte), 6-10 Brandton Chatfield (Seattle) and 6-8 Joshua Jackson (St. Mary’s). Add in 6-5 guard Nate Heise (Northern Iowa), and 7-1 J.T. Rock — who redshirted last season — and it’s easy to see why the Cyclones are expected to be highly-ranked in the preseason.
“We’ve got more depth than we’ve had,” Otzelberger said recently. “We’ve got experience. We’ve got the ability to play two bigs, or to play four guards. We’ve got a lot of options.”
But only if Lipsey can stay relatively healthy. Undergoing shoulder surgery should reinvigorate him once the recovery period ends at some point this summer. Then the grind begins anew.
“What I ask of him is (to be) a great communicator, the best he can be in terms of letting us know how he’s feeling,” Otzelberger said. “But I still think there’s something for the truly elite competitors, as he is, that there’s a mental aspect to this that can overcome a lot. I think he’s done a really good job mentally. His mental toughness, his intelligence, his way to just kind of take everything as it comes and still be at his best — I think that’s a gift that he has that we’ll continue to lean into.”
May 19, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts during the fourth quarter of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers clinched their tickets into the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday with a 130-109 win over the New York Knicks.
Haliburton led the team in scoring, collecting 26 points on top of six assists and four rebounds on the way to a dominant win on the road.
He set the tone in the first half, scoring 11-straight points for Indiana at one point to help open things up early.
Tyrese Haliburton is on FIRE @TyHaliburton22 has scored our last 11 points. pic.twitter.com/nZyPyQTwGz
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 19, 2024
He let the fans hear it, too.
Tyrese Haliburton has words for Knicks fans.
pic.twitter.com/9X5X6uDCYc
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 19, 2024
The Pacers will face off with the Boston Celtics in a seven-game series beginning later this week.
Iowa State athletics director Jamie Pollard, head football coach Matt Campbell, Aer Lingus College Football Classic Co-Founder John Anthony, Aer Lingus’ Bill Byrne and Consulate General of Ireland (Chicago) Kevin Byrne addressed media members Thursday about the 2025 season opening game.
(From left) Bill Byrne of Aer Lingus, Iowa State football head coach Matt Campbell, Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard, Kevin Byrne, consulate general of Ireland, Chicago, and John Anthony of Aer Lingus College Football Classic pose with the trophy after a press conference about the Aer Lingus College Football Classic Iowa State vs Kansas State in Ireland at Stark Performance Center on Thursday, May 15, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.
Iowa State Athletics hosted its press conference for its 2025 trip to the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Ireland, on Thursday.
Officials from the game joined Iowa State athletics director Jamie Pollard and head football coach Matt Campbell to talk about just what the game holds.
“This is an opportunity for our institution, to be able to go internationally spread our wings, and be able to show the world how Iowa State University represents,” Pollard said of the showcase.
The Cyclones will open the 2025 college football season against rival Kansas State on Saturday, August 23 – as better known as ‘week zero.’
Just what do the financials look like from Iowa State’s end?
“For starters, this is K-state’s home game,” Pollard said. “So, a lot of credit to Gene Taylor, their athletic director and Chris Klieman, their football coach, for agreeing to give up a home game. That’s a big lift, and to be very candid, if the roles were reversed, it might not have been quite as (easy of a decision).”
The event’s contract includes provided charters for Iowa State to transport its team – and Pollard said plans include having the marching band and spirt squad on the trip, as well.
“There is a value to not having to go play a road game in Manhattan in ’25,” Pollard said. “We would have spent money to go to Manhattan, right? But somewhere in there, you have to assign a value to the fact that we’re going to play one less road game in the conference schedule. What’s the value of that at the end of the year? Because it could make a difference between winning or losing that game and what that does.”
Pollard said that Iowa State and Kansas State have been talking about an arrangement that each school brings the same number of marching band members, which he also pointed out was an added cost of the trip.
The composition of the teams, along with the history of the rivalry and intraconference matchup, also played a factor in the selection of the programs.
“Both have young quarterbacks that should be back again in 25,” Aer Lingus College Football Classic Co-Founder John Anthony said. “So everything sets up sets up really well. The stage that it provides (Iowa State) on the national and international level is huge. The week-zero, extra exposure is real.”
The Aer Lingus Classic organizers are expecting a sellout.
“It’s become a bit of a must-see, must-attend event. “We had a sellout in the 2023 game, we’ve got a sellout coming for the 2024 game and we certainly expect a sell out with (Iowa State vs. Kansas State). And your game is probably uniquely a sell out and that we really were looking forward to seeing who has more fans there. No. It’s a rivalry game.”
The Aer Lingus Classic hosted its first Ireland game in 2016, and has since hosted two more games in 2022 and 2023 at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
Farmageddon ’25 will be the 10th college football game to be played in Ireland, and since the showcase moved to the week zero timeslot, it’s grown in popularity. College GameDay is set to host its first show of the year on the game this season, which only boosts the exposure for each program further.
“We’ve averaged 4 million viewers in the game since we went to week zero years ago,” Anthony said. “And we’re seeing it already. ESPN has already talked about bringing College GameDay overseas this August for the first time ever outside the US.”
The event’s goals include bringing the Saturday morning show to Ireland again in 2025.
What will attendance be like?
Iowa State fans are known to travel well – it’s one of the lasting impressions that has held true about the fan base over the past 10 years that consisted of pseudo-city takeovers in Kansas City, Memphis and San Antonio before that.
Although the program has not ever played a football game outside of the United States, Pollard is confident that attendance from the fan base will see a number around 12-to-15,000.
“We’ve been on the tailgate tour in the last three days, and both coach (Campbell) and I have (been) just amazed at the number of people that have said, ‘We’re going,'” Pollard said. “I have no doubt in my mind that there’ll be 12-to-15,000 cyclone fans in Dublin in August of ’25, really representing our institution in a first class way.”
The Aer Lingus Classic was first made aware of the Iowa State fan base during the 2018 Alamo Bowl.
“But we’ve also got experience with your fans,” Anthony said. “You’ve got a remarkable reputation for following loyalty and following your team everywhere they go. We saw it most vividly in San Antonio, at the Alamo bowl back in 2018. And what we saw with your takeover of San Antonio pales in comparison to what I think we’ll see in Dublin.
“Why Iowa State,’ is really simple – it’s the right combination of football quality and fan quantity,” Anthony said. “So that’s what we’re looking for. I talked about obviously, where (Iowa State) is projected how your team is performing, and what you’ve got going as long as coach Campbell has been here. That’s a dream come true for us.”
Iowa State football head coach Matt Campbell speaks during the Cyclones Tailgate Tour at MidAmerican Energy RecPlex on Thursday, May 9, 2024, in West Des Moines, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
PELLA — Each additional weight plate clinked and clanked with greater resonance.
The requisite grunts, groans and shouts for one more rep, one last push, served as a percussive soundtrack for a young Matt Campbell’s grueling mission: Getting bigger, stronger and tougher as the summer sun blazed outside Mount Union’s weight room.
“I loved the summer as a player because it was the one time I felt like I could separate myself from the competition,” Iowa State’s head football coach said at a Tailgate Tour stop at Tamory Hall. “That’s kind of what I talk a lot about with our kids. Everybody’s getting this block. Sometimes we think we’re the only ones in winter conditioning, or spring practice, but everybody’s getting it, but not everybody’s using that time the same way.”
Campbell’s Cyclones will enter this summer’s strength and conditioning period on a mettle-based mission much their head coach did while starring for the Division III Purple Raiders from 1999-2002.
ISU returns 19 starters from last season’s team that went 7-6 overall and 6-3 in Big 12 play while reaching a bowl game for the sixth time in the past seven years. So this summer could set the stage for more progress as the Cyclones seek to fully contend for a conference title for the first time since reaching the league championship game in 2000.
“You say, ‘What’s exciting about this team?’” Campbell said. “Man, they’re searching for what it takes to take the next step. And to be able to have those conversations about creating an edge and using you next eight to 12 weeks better than somebody in Lawrence, Kansas, or somebody in Stillwater, Oklahoma — how do you separate yourself from the pack? I think our kids are hungry to do that. I as a player was hungry to do it. I as a coach love that aspect of it to be quite honest with you.”
The summer strength and conditioning session affords players their last chance to layer on several pounds of muscle while adhering to a detailed and exacting nutrition plan. In the fall, those efforts tend to bear fruit in the form of fewer injuries, greater depth and the ability to stay fresh for four quarters. All of that, in turn, creates opportunities to carve out more wins, turning winning seasons into more remarkable ones.
“Us being so young (last season) and us continuing to grow up, I think one area that you can see youth grow is physically,” Campbell said. “I think there’s a whole ‘nother revolution even in this 12-week period before we get back to August that I think is so critical for our football team. You just can’t miss that step.”
ISU’s players can, however, enjoy some time off. Most of the Cyclones went home after the spring semester ended and won’t return until the tail end of the Memorial Day weekend. They’ll then quickly delve into the arduous slate of summer workouts, building momentum for one of the most eagerly-anticipated seasons of ISU football in recent memory.
“This group is still so young,” Campbell said. “And I don’t think anybody feels like they’ve arrived.”
Not even quarterback Rocco Becht, who attained Big 12 freshman offensive player of the year honors last season. Especially not Becht, who is his own sharpest critic.
“The guys around me build my confidence every single day,” Becht said during spring practice. “That just helps me within the season as well.”
This season’s schedule sets up favorably after all the summer workouts cease. Five of the Cyclones’ Big 12 games will be at Jack Trice Stadium and only three will be true road games. ISU will also enjoy two bye weeks, which gives coaches more flexibility in planning for the season as the din of the weight room dissolves and the roar of the crowd beckons.
“What I do love about the scheduling is you can alter fall camp a little bit because you play two games then get a bye,” Campbell said. “You know there’s a five-game block, and then you get the opportunity to reevaluate, and then you get a five-week sprint to a (possible) conference championship game. We’re really excited. Most of my excitement goes back to this young team (and) what we’ve been about. I think last year could have gone one or two ways, and I think the amount of young kids that got great experience and playing time and the opportunity to gain confidence, I think that was huge for us.”
ESPN’s Bill Connelly posted the sites returning production rankings for the 2024 college football season, with Iowa State listed coming in as the No. 1 team.
The Cyclones return 86 percent of their production for this season, including 20 of 22 starters set to lace up their cleats in Ames again.
Iowa State is joined in the top 10 by 2024 opponents No. 9 Iowa (79%) and No. 10 Baylor (79%). Oklahoma State is also listed in the top 10 – at No. 3 – but will not face the Cyclones in the regular season this year.
The full list can be seen below.
UPDATED 2024 RETURNING PRODUCTION RANKINGS. Still some portal commits trickling in, but where do things stand in mid-May?
(NEXT WEEK: an SP+ update and … THE START OF THE 2024 PREVIEW SERIES!!) pic.twitter.com/7GhPRYwCjG
— Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) May 13, 2024
Iowa State will open its season on August 31 against North Dakota. A TV selection and kickoff time has not yet been announced.
Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly talks to the fans during the Cyclones’ Tailgate Tour at MidAmerican Energy RecPlex on Thursday, May 9, 2024, in West Des Moines, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
WEST DES MOINES — Bill Fennelly often jokes about how long he’s been coaching women’s basketball. The self-deprecating riffs are laced with humor, but Fennelly’s longevity in the profession is no laughing matter. He’s entering his 30th season as Iowa State’s head coach and that experience has helped him deftly maneuver within the murky waters of the transfer portal, where potential prizes and pitfalls seem to lurk around every corner.
“Roster management is by far the hardest thing in college sports right now,” said Fennelly, who added four talented transfers to a Cyclone team poised to be highly ranked heading into the 2024-25 season. “What we’ve turned into — you hope you turn into, is an all-star team. You know, let’s bring a bunch of players in here, well, at some point you have to have a team and that’s the world we live in. And when you look at it, it’s not just us. It’s every program. Men’s, women’s, it is what it is. You have to adapt.”
Players will come and go at a sometimes dizzying pace, but winning programs calm the chaos by taking a collective deep breath and soberly identifying and addressing needs. That’s what Fennelly and his staff did this offseason to build around budding stars Audi Crooks and Addy Brown, as well as seasoned and skilled point guard Emily Ryan. The Cyclones also return key performers such as Arianna Jackson and Kelsey Joens, so Fennelly enjoyed a head start in his quest to assemble an “all-star team” that will be expected to contend for a Big 12 title and potentially embark on a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
“Expectations are what people think you should do or could do,” said Fennelly, whose 2023-24 team surprised many by reaching the tournament’s second round before falling to Stanford in overtime on the Cardinal’s home floor. “Well, you’ve gotta show it. You’ve gotta do it. And literally, our four (returning sophomores-to-be) Kelsey, Addy, AJ and Audi sat in my office (this week) before they left and they all talked about it. They get it and I think that’s fun.”
But external expectations for ISU’s program this winter hinge as much on who’s been added as who’s returning. Fennelly and his staff plucked Kenzie Hare (Marquette), Sydney Harris (TCU), Lily Hansford (Oregon State), and Lilly Taulelei (Massachusetts) from the transfer portal, adding sharpshooters from the 3-point line along with size and skill in the interior.
Hare averaged 14 points per game for the Golden Eagles last season and shot 42.5 % from 3-point range. Harris shot 40 % from beyond the arc for the Horned Frogs and Hansford drained 44.9 % of her 3-pointers in limited duty for the Beavers. Taulelei adds depth in the post as does former LSU transfer Alisa Williams, and both can spell Crooks — who earned AP honorable mention All-America honors as a freshman — as needed.
“It’s like draft night,” Fennelly said. “Everyone’s excited about what we’ve got. We’re gonna have 12 people in our building that maybe we’ve never had before. And like I said, I’ve been here a long time, but it’s the best 12 people, players, staff, collective group I’ve ever been a part of at Iowa State. So I’m looking forward to (getting) them all together and see if we can find a team out of it.”
To that end, Fennelly’s already started contemplating the challenge of parceling out minutes this winter, but even that vexing exercise is welcomed in the era of the transfer portal. It means there are myriad options and competition in practice, as always, will determine the best initial rotation.
“Because of the portal, you’re gonna have a roster of 10, 12, 15 guys, and that means 10, 12, 15 guys compete, and that means the next year, someone’s leaving,” Fennelly said. “It just is what it is. So hopefully we’ve identified, again, I keep going back to the same thing, the right people that fit Iowa State, and I don’t think we could have done a better job.”
Iowa State earned its latest transfer portal commitment in Eli Green on Friday evening, following his two-day visit to Ames.
The former North Dakota State wide receiver announced the news over social media.
Green appeared in each of NDSU’s 15 games last season and was a starter in six of them.
The to-be redshirt junior collected 877 receiving yards and three touchdowns, and also rushed for 118 yards and returned 11 kicks for 202 yards last season.
Green will join both wide receivers coach Noah Pauley and running backs coach Tyler Roehl – who were in Fargo before taking jobs at Iowa State.
“They have been fantastic,” Green said of Iowa State’s staff. “And having previous knowledge just with coach Pauley and coach Roehl being at NDSU during my time there – I know they’re quality people. Getting to have talks with Coach Campbell and see their outlook on on how I would fit in with their program and the things that they have to offer has been fantastic.”
Green’s commitment brings Iowa State to 84 scholarship players, with one scholarship spot remaining for the 2024 season.
Iowa State women’s basketball seemed primed for what is referred to as a ‘setup year,’ going into the 2023-24 season.
After a trying non-conference schedule, Iowa State found its groove, starting 6-0 in Big 12 play with five freshmen playing in the rotation on a tight-knit team that competed strong night in and night out.
With an emerging star at the post in Audi Crooks and a captain that even NHL teams could use in Emily Ryan, the Cyclones ended their season with a second-straight trip to the Big 12 championship game and an NCAA Tournament appearance that ended in the second round after narrowly losing an overtime battle against No. 2 seed Stanford on the road.
The season laid the foundation for what’s to come this winter, and the expectations are sky-high for the 2024-25 season.
Alongside Ryan and Crooks, Addy Brown returns after her breakout season, which saw the freshman averaging 13.0 points per game and a team-high 8.2 boards a night.
When putting together its roster, Iowa State looked to build around the foundation of its top three returning scorers.
A handful of departures left Iowa State with just two more players returning for next season, and each had their moments during their first years on campus.
Arianna Jackson hit double digits twice during the team’s opening games in Big 12 play, while finishing third on the team with 2.3 assists per game and a 41.3 percent mark from the 3-point line. Kelsey Joens finished the year averaging 5.3 points per game and shooting 38.8 percent from the 3-point line.
In fact, that 38.3 percent number is the lowest long-range shooting percentage of any guard on the roster.
“The staff did a great job,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “we were very focused on the right people – number one, because the core kids we have were the core of our success last year. That’s what we had to build on. But we wanted experience. We wanted talent. We wanted kids that wanted to be here. We wanted some skillsets. We wanted to find someone that could give us some depth in the post.
Iowa State went to work in the transfer portal – and went with a focus to add shooting pieces to surround Crooks.
“To my staff’s credit, we had a very short list and we got lucky,” Fennelly said. “The four kids that are coming in fit our team and fit our culture in a lot of ways.”
They came back with three sharpshooters.
Kenzie Hare brings the most experience of the group. The to-be-junior was an every-day starter for Marquette, averaging 14.0 points per game and shooting 42.5 percent from beyond the arc.
She’s not afraid to pass the rock, either.
“I think an assist feels way better than a basket any day,” Hare told CycloneFanatic. “So the more I can do that and get my teammates in positions where they can be successful and positions where they’re able to do what they do, that will make it even better.”
Hare gives Iowa State another option on the playmaking front, which was already tough to defend with what Ryan is able to do.
Sydney Harris comes to Iowa State from TCU, where she played for the conference portion of the season due to an injury.
Harris shot 40 percent from the 3-point line and averaged 9.4 points per game while coming off of the bench. She’s on to her third school, after starting out at Central Michigan and averaged 17.4 per night, and has two years of eligibility left.
Iowa State added another pair of transfers on Sunday, officially, beating out Miami to land Lily Hansford from Oregon State.
The Wisconsin native averaged 5.1 points in 17 minutes per game in her second year at Oregon State, but put up a 44.9 percent clip from behind the arc for the Beavers.
Surrounding Crooks with shooters was the plan, and this staff delivered on it.
It’s other addition to the roster also announced her commitment on Sunday, with the Cyclones landing former UMass post Lilly Taulelei to fill the depth spot for a departing Isnelle Natabou.
Taulelei averaged 6.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game for UMass last season as a true freshman.
That spot can be a tough sell, too. There is never going to be a big number of players in the portal that will choose to play in more of a reserve role behind an emerging star.
However, Iowa State beat out Nebraska to land Taulelei, who was also pursued by Missouri, Mississippi State and BYU.
It was a big win for Iowa State to fill the spot with a true sophomore that has room to develop down the road.
That will be another case to pay attention through this year – with a roster rounded out by two prep players that can shoot it well, too.
Aili Tanke won the national 3-point shooting tournament earlier this year, and Reagan Wilson has shown she can light up a stat sheet on any given night as well.
With the roster Iowa State pieced together, each of them will have adequate time to feel out the college game and make the transition.
Iowa State fans won’t see the work being put in over the summer up close and personally, but the expectations are here.
With the Cyclones predicted to be a top 15 team (and that might be underselling it) when preseason rankings come out, the competition will take notice.
There’s no flying under the radar with this group anymore, and this program is in the spot to make big noise again.
Cyclones fans greet as Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard walks to the stage during Cyclones Tailgate Tour at MidAmerican Energy RecPlex on Thursday, May 9, 2024, in West Des Moines, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
WEST DES MOINES — Kevin Dresser boasts a new knee and a fresh spring in his step.
So Iowa State’s head wrestling coach was understandably buoyant as he helped kick off the Cyclones’ 18th annual Tailgate Tour Thursday evening at the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex. Dresser’s program is coming off a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships — its best finish since 2010 — and all the coaches accompanying him on the two-week trip across the state have their respective programs on marked upswings, as well.
“(ISU director of athletics) Jamie (Pollard) sends out emails all the time to let us know where we stand,” Dresser said. “That shows you he might be a little bit competitive and I think we’re standing in a better place than we’ve ever stood before. I think we’re in the top 20 or top 25 (collectively), which is tremendous.”
The full array of Cyclone athletics programs ranked 17th, to be precise, in the winter Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, which measures success across all sports. So optimism reigns supreme as ISU coaches such as Dresser, Matt Campbell (football), Bill Fennelly (women’s basketball), Christy Johnson-Lynch (volleyball), and T.J. Otzelberger (men’s basketball) join Pollard in barnstorming the state. But that optimism is flanked by deep uncertainty as the college sports landscape shifts and sways from courtrooms to boardrooms.
“We’re all hypothesizing about how we’re going to deal with this,” said Pollard, who expects methods for paying student-athletes — from NIL to potential revenue-sharing schemes — to continue to evolve rapidly. “But we’ll figure it out. We always do and we’ll continue to, you know, move forward.”
Sometimes that means scaling back. Pollard said plans for a new wrestling facility have been put on hold as his department braces for more changes.
“There’s just no way possible to go forward and convince the state that we can take bonds out to pay for a wrestling facility when the College Football Playoff decided to take all the money and give it to the Big Ten and the SEC,” Pollard said. “And with this (NIL anti-trust) lawsuit (against the NCAA) getting ready to be settled, you just can’t go forward with projects like that. That’s the same reason we didn’t go forward with (renovations) at Hilton (Coliseum. You just can’t bond for them.”
Dresser said he understands Pollard’s predicament.
“There (are) a lot of challenges in college athletics right now financially,” Dresser said. “So I’m sure Jamie is pumping the brakes on a lot of things right now just because you don’t know what’s gonna hit you with these players getting paid in the future and how these conferences are gonna shake out and who’s gonna get what and who’s not gonna get what.”
Pollard said some of the challenges the industry faces “could be insurmountable,” but he expects college athletics to survive in an altered state. He also said ISU has navigated the NIL world well with relatively limited resources, so potential financial shortfalls that loom ahead — which could be significant — can be dealt with properly.
“One of the things that excites me about the new world is I think we’ve been kind of operating in that world already,” Pollard said. “And there (are) others that have just operated willy-nilly, and now they are gonna even make their problems even worse. And we’ve already kind of established a culture that — you can’t argue about the success.”
Not when the Cyclones are enjoying their highest winter Learfield Directors’ Cup ranking ever and not when football could be ranked in the preseason top 25, men’s basketball will likely be top five, and women’s basketball should be ranked very highly, as well.
So high expectations meet high anxiety for ISU, but it’s far from alone in the latter regard. Money doesn’t solve every problem either, even as the Big Ten and SEC are slated to receive the lion’s share of the College Football Playoff money (29% each), with the ACC (17%) and Big 12 (15%) far behind.
“You just have to look at the evolution,” Pollard said. “It isn’t the SEC and Big Ten. It’s those that have all the gold (who) make all the rules, right? So if I was a member of the Big Ten or SEC, I’d start looking over my shoulder and wondering if, when’s the day gonna come when the top of the SEC is not gonna want the bottom of the SEC? I mean, go back and look at times when the AFL and the NFL merged, they only needed one commissioner. And when the ABA and the NBA merged, they only needed one commissioner. There’s gonna come a day (when) they don’t need two 6 million dollar-a-year commissioners and they’re gonna eat their own. And if we think that’s not gonna happen, you’re a fool because we didn’t think the Pac-12 would get eaten and it did. The CFP is just another example of our industry running amok and they’re trying to swallow the ACC and the Big 12 and I wish them all the best because they’re gonna eat their own.”
DES MOINES — Athletic Director Jamie Pollard shared during media availability prior to the start of the Cyclone Tailgate Tour on Thursday afternoon that plans for a new Iowa State Wrestling facility are now on hold, with no alternative plans in terms of next steps currently in place.
Pollard referenced the changing landscape of college athletics as the reason that has led for these plans to come to a halt.
Here is what Pollard had to say:
“The new wrestling facility has been put on hold. It’s been postponed. We’ve told the donors that. Coach Dresser knows that. We’ve communicated that we made that decision three weeks ago,” said Pollard.
Iowa State Wrestling was planning to acquire and renovate the Iowa Attack facility adjacent to the Iowa State Sukup Basketball Complex in West Ames. At the time of the initial announcement, Dresser shared that Pollard had pledged a portion of the $20 million needed for the facility’s purchase. The rest was planned to be made up of donations which included an already pledged $2 million the week of the announcement.
“There’s just no way possible to go forward and convince the state that we can take bonds out to pay for a wrestling facility when the College Football Playoff decided to take all the money and give it to the Big 10 and SEC,” said Pollard. “With this lawsuit getting ready to be settled you just can’t go forward with projects like that. That’s the same reason we didn’t go forward with Hilton. You just can’t bond for them.”
Pollard was asked how conversations went with Dresser and what next steps are. Here’s what he had to say:
“Coach Dresser was actually really good with it. He recognizes that is where the world has moved to. The world has moved away and said we need to pay the athletes. The athletes will be just fine. We got fourth in the country in the current facility. Would it have been nice to have that facility? Absolutely because I think it’s a facility you need 20 years from now but I think we’ll be just fine without it.”
When Dresser was asked his thoughts on the news he said he’s staying optimistic about the future. Here’s his full quote on the matter:
“I think there’s a lot of challenges in college athletics financially. I’m sure Jamie (Pollard) is pumping the breaks on a lot of things right now because you don’t know what’s going to hit you with the players being paid in the future and how these conferences are going to shake up,” Dresser said. “I still think that it can happen sooner rather than later. Maybe I’m too optimistic. We’ll keep chugging along. We have a great facility where we’re at right now. We look forward to getting into something like that at some point.”
Listen to both Coach Dresser and Jamie Pollard below:
Iowa State Athletics has officially kicked off it’s annual Cyclone Tailgate Tour. Iowa State held a media availability ahead of the start of the event.
Interviews were done with Jamie Pollard, TJ Otzelberger, Matt Campbell, Kevin Dresser and Bill Fennelly.
The following is a press release from the Cyclone Regional Training Center
AMES, Iowa – The Cyclone Regional Training Center and its Director Kevin Dresser have announced the addition of former Iowa State wrestler Marcus Coleman as a resident athlete. Coleman, an Ames, Iowa native and a two-time NCAA All-American, returns to his hometown after spending the last year as an assistant coach at Davidson.
“We are elated to have Marcus come back to Ames and join the Cyclone RTC as a resident athlete,” Dresser said. “Marcus called me and said he isn’t done wrestling yet and wants to pour his efforts into freestyle. I know he is a world class athlete and his new role in our program is a win-win for everyone involved.”
Coleman, a five-time NCAA Qualifier, compiled a 99-42 career record while at Iowa State. He placed seventh at the 2022 national tournament before ending his collegiate career with a fifth-place finish in 2023.
In freestyle, Coleman placed eighth in the 86kg bracket at 2023 US Senior Nationals and was runner-up at the 2022 USMC US Open.
“I’m excited to be back in Ames training at the Cyclone Regional Training Center,” Coleman said. “It was a great experience coaching at Davidson, but Ames is home and I’m looking forward to training in one of the toughest rooms in the country.”
Iowa State is hosting former North Dakota State wide receiver Eli Green on campus this weekend in an effort put another piece together of its 2024 roster.
Green spent three seasons at NDSU before entering the transfer portal this off-season.
“It’s been kind of wild,” Green said of his recruitment. “Being able to organize it after seeing how it goes for a couple days – it’s been great.”
Green, who appeared in each of NDSU’s 15 games last season and started in six of them, brings a unique skillset with himself.
The to-be redshirt junior collected 877 receiving yards and three touchdowns, but also rushed for 118 yards and returned 11 kicks for 202 yards last season.
He will also find some familiar faces during his visit in wide receivers coach Noah Pauley and running backs coach Tyler Roehl – each of which were in Fargo before taking jobs at Iowa State.
“They have been fantastic,” Green said of Iowa State’s staff. “And having previous knowledge just with coach Pauley and coach Roehl being at NDSU during my time there – I know they’re quality people. Getting to have talks with Coach Campbell and see their outlook on on how I would fit in with their program and the things that they have to offer has been fantastic.”
The Cyclones are searching for a depth piece to add to the room, and currently have two open scholarships to fill before the season starts this fall.
Green’s ultimate choice could be right around the corner, too.
“It’s certainly down the stretch,” Green said of his recruitment. “Iowa State is in my top three, for sure. I’ll be (on my visit) and we’ll do all of the activities that you would do on an official and have my family sit down with the coaches and get more in-depth into the possibility of being a Cyclone.”
Green will be in Ames on Thursday and Friday for his visit.
“I think extremely highly of Iowa State and what the coaches present and what they have to offer for me as an athlete, as a person and just the way they go about things there,” Green said. “I haven’t obviously been around for the last three years, I’ve been at a different school. But I can certainly see a future in being a Cyclone.”
Former Cyclone wide receiver Dimitri Stanley has been signed by the Green Bay Packers after impressing at a tryout over the weekend.
Stanley, a 6-foot, 200-pound player, spent two years at Iowa State after transferring to the program from Colorado.
After impressing at the tryout camp, Stanley earned a spot on the team.
Dimitri Stanley with a sick one handed catch in team. We have our tryout rookie minicamp hidden gem of the year. https://t.co/kmdVDDMugJ
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) May 3, 2024
LaFleur says the discussions have already started about tryout players, mentions Dimitri Stanley’s one-handed grab today. #Packers
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) May 3, 2024
Stanley was one of three players to be signed by the Packers out of the tryout, and he’s now found the same home to where his dad, Walter, played during his time in the league.
The Cherry Creek native collected 559 yards during his time at Iowa State, and now joins the Packers as an undrafted free agent.
Iowa State women’s basketball got a pair of new additions for the 2024-25 roster on Sunday.
First, former UMass forward Lilly Taulelei announced her commitment Sunday evening.
Shortly after, former Oregon State guard Lily Hansford announced she would be joining the squad as well.
COMMITTED #gocyclones pic.twitter.com/tBUa9Aad2V
— Lily Hansford (@LilyHansford) May 6, 2024
Taulelei, a 6-foot-3 post, averaged 6.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game for UMass last season.
Iowa State beat out Nebraska to land the forward, who was also pursued hard by BYU, Mississippi State and Missouri.
The New Zealand native will serve as a supplemental piece alongside Audi Crooks for the Cyclones.
Meanwhile, the team got another guard to diversify its rotation in Hansford.
The Green Bay native in Hansford finished with a 45.3 percent clip (48-106) from the 3-point line a year ago and averaged 5.1 points per game.
The additions bring Iowa State’s roster up to 12 for next season. Hansford has two years of eligibility remaining, and Taulelei has three.
Former Iowa State wide receiver Dimitri Stanley was invited to a Green Bay Packers rookie tryout following the conclusion of the NFL Draft a week ago.
The tryout is being held this weekend, and the former Cyclone is opening some eyes.
Dimitri Stanley with a sick one handed catch in team. We have our tryout rookie minicamp hidden gem of the year. https://t.co/kmdVDDMugJ
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) May 3, 2024
LaFleur says the discussions have already started about tryout players, mentions Dimitri Stanley’s one-handed grab today. #Packers
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) May 3, 2024
During his career at Iowa State, Stanley appeared in nearly every game over the past two seasons.
Stanley collected 48 receptions over his two seasons in Ames, totaling 559 yards and a touchdown over his career as a Cyclone.
Iowa State earned its latest off-season commitment out of the transfer portal on Friday, officially, in Blinn College’s Matt Bess.
The 6-foot-0, 170-pounder is being brought in to compete for a spot at the cornerback position this year, a spot where Iowa State has wanted more depth in recent seasons.
“I guess it’s a great culture,” Bess said on what made the decision for him. “They’ve got a really good culture over there. The coaching staff is lovely – they all they gel well together. There’s no tension between coaches and the players love love being around the facility all the time.”
Bess was in Ames for a visit over the weekend, where he ultimately made his decision to commit to being a Cyclone.
“When I was there, I was positive the whole team was in the locker room or somewhere within the facility – they love being around,” Bess said. “Ames is lovely itself, even though it’s a small college town. I didn’t feel like I was far from home. I felt pretty content when I was there, just still in the hotel. So I just I just liked the feel and the vibe and the family culture that’s around.”
Iowa State landed Bess, despite a late attempt from Utah to get Bess on to campus for a visit to Salt Lake City.
Cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat went to Blinn to watch Bess workout, after Iowa State realized it would have scholarships to fill and started to recruit the junior college prospect.
“I got a random text from coach (Derek Hoodjer, Assistant Athletics Director for Football Player Personnel),” Bess said. “I didn’t believe it was him at first – I actually thought somebody was pranking me, so I had went on Twitter and searched up his name to make sure it was him.”
That conversation happened about a month ago, and Poteat’s visit followed after.
Things became official after Bess had seen the campus, facilities and as he pointed out, the culture, on his visit to Ames.
Bess collected eight tackles and a pass breakup during his only season with the team in 2023.
Blinn College produced former Cyclones such as former wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson and current defensive back Blake Thompson. It was also the first home of the likes of college stars Cam Newton and Dede Westbrook as well.
“I’m just ready to go play and come out there and compete for a spot,” Bess said. “That’s the only thing, I’m ready to go back already.”
Bess’ commitment brings Iowa State’s total scholarship number to 83 out of the allotted 85 spots on the roster.
Iowa wide receiver Jacob Bostick, left, gets tackled by linebacker Eric Epenesa (39) during the Kids Day at Kinnick NCAA football practice, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. © Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Former Iowa wide receiver Jacob Bostick is getting close to making a decision on where he’ll transfer to play his third season of college football.
The Akron, Ohio native is focused on making that decision as soon as he can, and Iowa State is in the mix to land the highly sought-after wideout.
“My goal is to make a decision pretty soon,” Bostick said. “I don’t really want to drag anything out too long, but I would say (Iowa State) is definitely one of those top choices for sure.”
Since entering the portal, Bostick has received interest from Ole Miss, Houston, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh and Fresno State.
Iowa State was the first to offer the 6-foot-2, 183-pound wideout when he entered, and were quick to form a relationship with the prospect.
“I love those guys,” Bostick said of coach Matt Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser. “(Mouser) is so funny. The guys have been great to talk to.”
Bostick redshirted during his first season in Iowa City and never recorded a statistic during his five games on the field with the Hawkeye offense in 2023 – his second year with the team.
In high school, Bostick recorded 31 receptions for 451 yards as a junior, before scoring three touchdowns in four games and losing the rest of his senior season due to injury.
He later committed to Iowa over offers from Louisville, Cincinnati, Illinois and Pittsburgh, among others.
“Yeah as far as the offense goes, they said they see me being a versatile wide receiver,” Bostick said. “(They see me) being able to play all positions. They like my speed and ability to get the 50/50 balls and make plays, and that excites me because I want to help the team win in anyway that I can.”
“Obviously they do love the deep ball,” Bostick said. “Yeah, we’ve been in talks about all of that stuff.”
Bostick will have three years of eligibility remaining and could make his final decision in the coming days.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell announced Thursday that seniors Beau Freyler and Stevo Klotz are this season’s recipients of the Nick Bassett Perseverance Award.
Nick Bassett was a supporter, fan and friend not only to the Cyclone Football program, but to the entire Iowa State community. He had various health struggles from age two until he passed away in January of 2022 at 29 years old.
Nick served as an inspiration to everyone he met. His continued positive spirit, attitude toward adversity of all kinds, ability to persevere through challenges he faced and continued support and love for those he cared about provided an illustration all people can learn from – both in the Iowa State community and around the world. Nick’s life and legacy continues to impact Iowa State’s players, staff, fans and the entire program in tremendous ways.ADVERTISING
The award recognizes two football players annually at the conclusion of spring football practice each season. The players that earn the honor are selected based on exemplifying the characteristics of that we remember Nick by: positive spirit, perseverance and selflessness.
Freyler is a senior from Colorado Springs, Colorado, while Klotz is a redshirt senior from Chaska, Minnesota. The pair will wear a Nick Bassett Perseverance Award decal on the back of their helmets next season.
Nick Bassett Perseverance Award Recipients
2022 – Zach Ross, Tayvonn Kyle
2023 – Jake Remsburg, Gerry Vaughn
2024 – Beau Freyler, Stevo Klotz
Iowa State has unveiled its new football uniforms in a video posted by the program on social media Wednesday.
The uniforms were teased on April Fools Day, which prompted the caption ‘Ain’t no joke,’ used in the video.
Ain’t no joke.
pic.twitter.com/adGdmZZNj9
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) May 1, 2024
The jerseys welcomed the return of shoulder striping to Iowa State uniforms for the first time since 2017, which was anticipated following the April Fools post teasing the new look.
pic.twitter.com/oOqcOTGuR1
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) April 1, 2024
Other changes include the return of “Iowa State,” to the uniform’s chest, as well as gold pants, which were not previously in the rotation since the 2018 redesign.
Iowa State’s new football uniforms are out – with the biggest change coming in the anticipated addition of striping on the shoulders.
Other changes include the return of “Iowa State” to the chest, a new number font & the return of gold pants. A fourth jersey teased in the… pic.twitter.com/jW7GecwXtG
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) May 1, 2024
Now, the post teasing the look in April included a fourth picture of what could be an unreleased fourth jersey to go with the look.
That fourth jersey didn’t come out with Wednesday’s reveal, but it wouldn’t be the first time Iowa State has saved a new look for its on-field debut.
A pair of former Cyclones in wide receiver Hakeem Butler, and linebacker Mike Rose & Willie Harvey Jr. helped lead the St. Louis Battlehawks to a 45-12 win over the DC Defenders in United Football League action.
Hakeem Butler house call!
His second touchdown of the day!pic.twitter.com/eakJXstQTk
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) April 28, 2024
Butler caught six passes in the game from former Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron, recording 147 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yard house call that put the game out of reach for DC.
Shortly after Butler’s 80-yard score, Rose put the Battlehawks in position to score again, with a long interception return.
He finished the game with 11 total tackles, including one for a loss, and a pass breakup along with the pick below.
THX FOR THE BALL AGAIN!
Mike Rose with our THIRD INT of the day pic.twitter.com/4twP8nKlCq
— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) April 28, 2024
Harvey Jr. got in on the fun recovering a fumble, as well as three tackles in the game.
Former Cyclone @WillieHarveyJr with the fumble recovery for the @XFLBattlehawks!!!pic.twitter.com/Zhqehfz0sz
— Jackson Pence (@JacksonLPence) April 28, 2024
Battlehawks coach Anthony Becht, who’s also the father of current Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht, can be seen below celebrating in the locker room with Rose appearing in the background.
Love watching my players have success!! MONSTER WEEK! Can’t wait to see them on Saturday🩶#Hungry pic.twitter.com/r4ayUhUHun
— Anthony Becht (@Anthony_Becht) April 29, 2024
The St. Louis Battlehawks will return to the field Saturday, May 4 to face the Houston Roughnecks at 2:00 p.m. on FOX.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State’s Easton Dean has been invited to the Tennessee Titans’ Rookie Minicamp.
Dean, a Oswego, Kansas, native, came to Iowa State as a three-star quarterback recruit before switching to tight end.
Dean played primarily on special teams in 2021 and 2022 after redshirting his initial season in Ames. He went on to start 19 games the final two seasons and ultimately played in 50 career games, finishing with 28 career receptions for 343 yards and five receiving touchdowns.
As a senior, Dean had 16 catches and three touchdowns, including a 66-yard score against Texas.
Dean was a three-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection and was an Iowa State team co-captain in 2024.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
Defensive back Ben Nikkel, a former walk-on, has signed with the Washington Commanders. He wowed teams with an impressive performance at Big 12 Pro Day in Frisco, Texas at the end of March. The McPherson, Kansas, native, started his playing career as a wide receiver at McPherson College before coming to Iowa State as a walk-on in 2021.
After redshirting his initial season, Nikkel switched over from the offensive side of the ball to the defensive backfield and saw action in all 12 games as a special teams standout in 2022.
Prior to the 2023 season, ISU head coach Matt Campbell awarded Nikkel with a scholarship and his value to the program was recognized by his teammates, who voted him a co-captain. He finished the 2024 season with 40 tackles and was second on the team with eight special teams stops. He also scooped up a blocked punt against TCU.
Nikkel played in 24 career games and making 43 tackles.
Former Iowa State defensive back T.J. Tampa was drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft Saturday with the Baltimore Ravens selecting him with the 130th pick.
During his time in Ames, Tampa became one of the best defensive backs in the country, becoming a semifinalist for both the Thorpe and Bednarik Awards.
Tampa recorded 106 total tackles in his collegiate career, including 9.5 tackles for losses along with 22 pass breakups and three interceptions.
The St. Petersburg, Florida native earned First Team All-Big 12 honors in 2023 and was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team a season before.
Tampa becomes the 11th player of the Campbell era to be drafted to the league.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
Ames, Iowa – Iowa State will play its first-ever football game outside of the United States when it opens the 2025 season against Kansas State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, August 23, 2025, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.
“We are extremely grateful for this opportunity presented to us by Aer Lingus to provide the young men in our football program an unrivaled educational, cultural and athletic experience,” said Jamie Pollard, Iowa State’s Director of Athletics. “Iowa State fans enjoy a tremendous reputation for following the Cyclones wherever they play, and we look forward to seeing them travel with us to The Emerald Isle for the 2025 season-opener.”
The Cyclones and Wildcats will meet for the 108th time on November 30, 2024, in Ames to close the 2024 regular season. Both teams will then play on Week Zero of the 2025 campaign with the sixth college football game ever played at Dublin’s 48,000-seat Aviva Stadium, the first in Ireland to feature Big 12 Conference institutions and the first-ever meeting between the longtime rivals in a season-opener.ADVERTISING
“This is a tremendous opportunity for the Big 12 Conference to play one of its classic rivalries on a global stage while showcasing our University and its football program,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell. “We are honored that Aer Lingus selected the Cyclones to participate in this prestigious game, which will afford a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our student-athletes to experience international travel while also helping to grow the game of college football outside of the United States.”
It will mark the first time since 1997, the Big 12’s second season, that Iowa State has opened its football season with a league contest and the earliest date ever that the Cyclones have kicked off the season.
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic aims to bring American college football to Ireland annually to promote Ireland as a travel destination, and 2025 will be the fourth-consecutive season that college football begins its season with a game in Dublin. Florida State and Georgia Tech will kick off the 2024 campaign in Ireland with an excess of 21,000 U.S. fans traveling overseas for game week. ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will be on hand for the Aer Lingus Classic, broadcasting live from Dublin on Saturday, August 24.
“We are thrilled to welcome Iowa State and Kansas State to Dublin for the 2025 Aer Lingus Classic,” said John Anthony, Co-Founder of the Aer Lingus Classic and Executive VP, Collegiate of On Location. “Kicking off the season with this classic Big 12 Conference rivalry game will bring a heightened level of excitement to another expected sell out Aviva Stadium.
“This matchup was selected because of the high-quality play from both teams, as well as the passionate fan bases that follow them,” he added. “We look forward to providing the experience of a lifetime to the student-athletes and their loyal fans who travel to Ireland. Special thanks to Coach Campbell and Jamie Pollard for embracing this special opportunity for all of Iowa State University.”
Aviva Stadium, which opened in 2010, was built on the site where historic Lansdowne Stadium once stood. Previous college football games played in Aviva Stadium include a pair of Notre Dame-Navy games (2012 and 2023), a Georgia Tech-Boston College game in 2016 and the 2022 Nebraska-Northwestern game. All-told, the ISU-KSU football game will be the 10th played on Irish soil.
“I welcome the news that Kansas State University and Iowa State University have been chosen to play the fourth match in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic series”, said Catherine Martin, Ireland’s Minister for Tourism. “This event is now a firm fixture in the Irish sporting calendar and provides a huge boost to tourism and hospitality in Ireland and indeed creates a great atmosphere in Dublin for visitors and locals alike. We look forward to welcoming the teams and supporters to the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and beyond, as they go on to explore other parts of Ireland, in August 2025.”
As title sponsor, Aer Lingus is responsible for transporting the teams and their delegations to Dublin on dedicated chartered flights. Aer Lingus, the Irish flag carrier, operates from 17 North America destinations direct to Ireland as well as offer seamless connections to Europe for U.S. travelers via its hub at Dublin airport.
“The Aer Lingus College Football Classic provides us with a unique opportunity to drive awareness of the Aer Lingus brand in our key North American market,” said Susanne Carberry, Aer Lingus Chief Customer Officer. “We have a proud history of connecting the U.S. and Ireland – flying to 17 destinations in North America this summer – and we are committed to growing this transatlantic network so we can continue connecting North America to Ireland and Europe through our Dublin hub.
“The Aer Lingus Classic draws substantial numbers of American visitors and gives the opportunity to showcase Ireland as a destination through this exciting event,” Carberry said. “We look forward to welcoming both the Kansas State and Iowa State teams to Ireland for the game in 2025.”
Iowa State fans can visit Cyclones2Ireland.com to learn more about the game and sign up for ticket updates including official Iowa State travel and hospitality packages which will become available.
2025 Iowa State Football Schedule
Aug. 23 vs. Kansas State, Dublin, Ireland
Aug. 30 vs. South Dakota
Sept. 6 vs. Iowa (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series)
Sept. 13 at Arkansas State
Home Big 12 Games, Dates TBA: vs. Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Kansas
Away Big 12 Games, Dates TBA: at Colorado, TCU, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati
FBS Games Played In Ireland
Date Game Venue
11/19/1988 Boston College 38, Army 24 Lansdowne Road Stadium
12/2/1989 Pitt 46, Rutgers 29 Lansdowne Road Stadium
11/2/1996 Notre Dame 54, Navy 27 Croke Park
9/1/2012 Notre Dame 50, Navy 10 Aviva Stadium
8/30/2014 Penn State 26, UCF 24 Croke Park
9/3/2016 Georgia Tech 17, Boston College 14 Aviva Stadium
8/27/2022 ^Northwestern 31, Nebraska 28 Aviva Stadium
8/26/2023 ^Notre Dame 42, Navy 3 Aviva Stadium
8/24/2024 ^Georgia Tech vs. Florida State Aviva Stadium
8/23/2025 ^Kansas State vs. Iowa State Aviva Stadium
8/28/2027 ^Pitt vs. Wisconsin Aviva Stadium
^Aer Lingus Classic.
Iowa State earned its latest commitment to the 2025 recruiting class Wednesday in 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive tackle Jack Shaffer.
The Bismarck native is rated as the No. 64 offensive tackle in the class and the No. 2 prospect in North Dakota by 247 Sports.
Iowa State beat out Wisconsin, Kansas State, Duke, North Dakota State, and North Dakota to land its latest commitment.
Shaffer, a multi-sport athlete playing basketball as well as track & field in the off-season, brings Iowa State’s recruiting class to eight and he’s expected to return to Ames during the summer visits scheduled for June.
The commitment brings the 2025 recruiting class to No. 33 in the country.
Shaffer’s Hudl highlights can be seen here.
Mar 23, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger gestures during the second half against the Washington State Cougars in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — It’s as much about fit as addressing needs. The “who” over the “what.” In that sense, nothing’s changed when it comes to navigating the transfer portal for Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger and his staff — even as outcomes and expectations spiral upwards for the Cyclones’ program.
“What we’re always looking for is guys who are hardworking, high character and self-aware,” Otzelberger said on a Zoom call Tuesday after his team picked up its fourth transfer — Joshua Jefferson of St. Marys — to essentially cement ISU’s 2024-25 roster. “We think these guys fit.”
Jefferson, a 6-8 junior-to-be, committed to ISU on Tuesday, joining 6-11 Dishon Jackson (Charlotte), 6-5 guard Nate Heise (Northern Iowa), and 6-10 forward Brandton Chatfield (Seattle) as transfer portal additions.
Otzelberger also said redshirt freshman Kayden Fish — who entered the portal after the Cyclones’ Sweet 16 loss to Illinois — will return to receive the program’s 13th scholarship for next season.
Couple all of that with returning stars such as Tamin Lipsey, Curtis Jones, Keshon Gilbert and Milan Momcilovic, among others, along with incoming true freshmen guards Nojus Indrusaitus and Dwayne Pierce, and ISU will likely be highly ranked in advance of the 2024-25 season.
“We’ve got more depth than we’ve had,” Otzelberger said. “We’ve got experience. We’ve got the ability to play two bigs, or to play four guards. We’ve got a lot of options.”
So fans may be tempted to pencil in a projected starting lineup, but Otzelberger strongly advises against that. Playing time is earned through grueling summer workouts that begin in June before dovetailing into fall and the final practices in advance of the highly anticipated season to come.
“(We) return four guys that were all double-figure scorers from last year’s team,” Otzelberger said. “How many teams in the country can say that they return four double-figure scorers? So I think more than anything, my message to the guys when they get here is gonna be the reason we’ve been good is these things: We’ve played hard. We play together. Our defense has been the constant and our offense has been timely enough. I still feel like there are some areas offensively where we can move forward. But it’s not, ‘Hey, chuck it up there,’ it’s more of a, ‘Let’s get more offensive rebounds,’ or, ‘Let’s cut harder.’ The win in the margins (things), let’s do more (of that).”
The Cyclones have done plenty of the latter in Otzelberger’s first three seasons, reaching two Sweet 16s and advancing to the NCAA Tournament every year. More will be expected this season, of course, but that speaks to the program’s rapid resurgence as well as Otzelberger’s ability to find guys that fit in from the portal as well as from the high school ranks.
That means Indrusaitus, a four-star 6-4 guard, and Pierce, a skilled 6-4 guard/forward, could also press for ample playing time despite being green at the college level.
“There hasn’t been a freshman in our program yet that’s been really good that hasn’t found their way onto the court,” said Otzelberger, whose team also returns versatile 6-7 junior-to-be Demarion Watson. “So I would say even though there (are) a lot of guys seemingly looking for playing time, so far, for three years in our program, if you’re a freshman and you’re really good and you’re ready to play, those guys have played. So the key isn’t, ‘Will we play freshmen?’ The key is, are they good enough and are they ready?”
Lipsey was all of those things as a freshman, but underwent shoulder surgery after the season. Otzelberger said his recovery process is going well, though, and he should be set to shine again at point guard in his junior season.
“His body probably needs a little time off,” Otzelberger said. “A month with the sling, a month with the rehab deal, and then a month returning to play. But if anything with Tamin, his body takes such a beating (so) some time off is only probably going to benefit him in the long run because he doesn’t need to take any more pounding.”
That pounding will resume soon enough as the offseason dissolves into preseason workouts and the onset of nonconference play. The Cyclones could be ranked in the top five before the 2024-25 season tips off, but nothing will change in terms of their preparation. Once that begins in earnest in June, the “what” will supersede the “who” — and strict adherence to everyday habits will form the framework for long-term success.
“I think as time evolves you understand what’s worked for our program, what fits, so you have a greater degree of confidence in the ability to put that together,” Otzelberger said. “You know what you’re listening for in recruiting and you know what you’re looking for.”
Iowa State’s Kayden Fish entered the transfer portal after the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
Tuesday, however, Fish announced he would return to Ames, filling the program’s final open (scholarship) roster spot for 2024-25.
Fish played in four games for the Cyclones before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
The Kansas City native recorded six points, six rebounds and one assist before the injury forced him off of the court.
Fish received a medical redshirt and has four years of eligibility remaining.
Nov 27, 2023; Moraga, California, USA; St. Mary’s Gaels forward Joshua Jefferson (5) controls the ball during the second half against the Utah Utes at University Credit Union Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State earned its latest commitment out of the transfer portal Sunday in former St. Mary’s forward Joshua Jefferson.
Jefferson entered the portal after St. Mary’s was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by Grand Canyon.
“I feel like Iowa State was a perfect fit for me and my play style,” Jefferson said. “I wanted to go somewhere that’s going to have national coverage and be able to play against the best teams in the country. That’s what I’m all about – just going out there and finding the best competition and proving to everybody how good I am and just having that confidence in myself. That’s what made Iowa State the perfect fit for me.”
The 6-foot-8 forward had interest from a number of programs, but ultimately scheduled visits with Virginia, UNLV, VCU and TCU. He canceled some visits after making his decision on Iowa State.
Jefferson averaged 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last year at St. Mary’s and shot 46.9 percent from the field. He helped the school to a 26-8 regular season record as well as a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Iowa State assistant coach J.R. Blount was the primary recruiter in Jefferson’s recruitment.
The Cyclones beat out Virginia and TCU to secure his commitment at the end.
“We vibed well right away,” Jefferson said of his relationship with Coach Blount. “I felt like I could relate to him a lot. He’s a very personable coach, so that’s what really stuck out to me – that I could just talk to him about whatever. Even on (my visit to Ames), we were laughing and joking about anything that’s out there in the world. It was just a great time being around him and talking with him every single time we talked.”
His highlights from the 2023-24 season can be seen below.
The addition to the roster gives Iowa State 12 scholarship players on the 2024-25 roster, leaving the program with one spot left to fill for next year.
“I’m just excited to be able to meet all the fans and play in front of them,” Jefferson said. “They have a great fan base that I’ve heard so much about and seeing so much from watching them this past season- Hilton Coliseum’s an amazing place. I just can’t wait to get out there and play this year.”
Iowa State wide receiver Jason Essex announced over social media Tuesday that he would be the latest Cyclone to enter the transfer portal.
pic.twitter.com/ZlcekX7Mto
— Jason Essex 4 (@Jason_Essex11) April 23, 2024
Essex saw limited action on the field in Ames and never officially recorded a receiving stat for the Cyclones according to ESPN.com. He also did not record a stat in the spring game on Saturday.
The Kansas City native was Iowa State’s 20th highest rated prospect in the modern era in the 247 Sports ratings.
Iowa State women’s basketball earned its second commitment from the transfer portal this off-season on Monday in former Marquette guard Mackenzie Hare.
In her sophomore season with Marquette, Hare produced as a sharp shooter. The 5-foot-9 guard finished the year with a 42.5 percent mark from the 3-point line.
“As you can see, they love to shoot threes,” Hare said. “That’s what I like to do, too. So just doing that, being able to kind of grow and continue to develop as a player (with) so many great players around me – being able to play-make and put them into positions to be successful as well.”
Hare also excels in the playmaking department.
The Naperville, Illinois native averaged 14.0 points, 2.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game earning all Big East honorable mention.
“I think an assist feels way better than a basket any day,” Hare said. “So the more I can do that and get my teammates in positions where they can be successful and positions where they’re able to do what they do, that will make it even better.”
Hare chose the Cyclones after taking visits to North Carolina, Michigan State and Kansas.
The chemistry and talent on the team played big parts in her choice to play in Ames next season.
“I just think being on campus – I felt like I was at home right away,” Hare said. “I really connected with the girls and the staff, as well, was just was just great. It was just super exciting to get to see that and be there and kind of get a feel for all of that.”
Hare becomes the 10th player locked in to Iowa State’s 2024-25 roster. Five players on the roster are returning rotation pieces, along with redshirt Alisa Williams who sat out last season, fellow transfer Sydney Harris, and a pair of signees in Aili Tanke and Reagan Wilson.
Iowa State likely isn’t done adding yet, but took a big step towards completing its roster prep for next year on Monday.
Iowa State women’s basketball earned its first transfer portal commitment of the off-season over the weekend in TCU transfer Sydney Harris.
The 6-foot-1 forward averaged 9.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, despite sitting out non-conference play with an ankle injury.
She finished the season with a 40 percent mark from the 3-point line (32-80).
In the nine games Harris played where she recorded more than 20 minutes of playing time, the Edwardsville, Illinois native scored in double figures in eight of them.
Harris played her freshman season at Central Michigan, where she was named MAC freshman of the year while averaging 17.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
Harris becomes Iowa State’s ninth player set for the 2024-25 roster, which Iowa State will look to continue to add to in the coming weeks.
Iowa State earned its sixth commitment to the 2025 recruiting class on Sunday in De Soto (Kansas) edge Charlie Woleben.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound recruit picked Iowa State over Kansas State, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Tulsa, UNI, NDSU, and Lindenwood.
Woleben is rated as the No. 10 prospect out of Kansas and No. 65 overall at his position.
“(Defensive line) Coach Eli Rasheed obviously just has a lot of energy and just really loves the game and making people at it,” Woleben said. “It’s a great culture there.”
Woleben joins quarterback Alex Manske, wide receiver Xzavion Robinson, offensive tackle Will Tompkins and fellow edge rushers Trey Verdon and Jack Limbaugh.
He’ll return to Ames for a scheduled visit during the June 7-9 recruiting weekend – one of the two rounds of weekend visits Iowa State puts a focus on while building their classes.
“That excites me,” Woleben said. “It’s a good chance to get some to know some of the other like recruits and possible teammates.”
With the addition of Woleben, Iowa State’s class is rated as the No. 32 recruiting class in the country by 247 Sports’ ratings.
Iowa State Football hosted its annual Spring Game on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. Hear from coach Matt Campbell, quarterback Rocco Becht, offensive lineman Jarrod Hufford, linebacker Caleb Bacon defensive back Darien Porter and kicker Kyle Konrardy on the field postgame.
Iowa State Cyclones running back Dylan Lee (25) gets tackle by Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Jacob Imming (12) after making a first down in the University’s Spring Football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES – Iowa State Football hosted its annual spring game Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium, where fans were able to get a glimpse of a plethora of the program’s depth pieces going into the 2024 season.
Before getting into takeaways, there were a number of offensive skill players that will start this fall that did not play in the scrimmage: quarterback Rocco Becht, running back Abu Sama, wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel were among the planned sitouts.
Each of them practiced during the first portions of the individual session before the game truly kicked off.
Freshman running back Dylan Lee showed out on Saturday. The former U.S. Army Bowl player got 17 carries in the game, and rushed for 80 yards. Lee’s 17-yard rush to the end zone was the lone ‘touchdown’ play in the alternatively scored session. Lee found open field on a number of occasions on the day, and displayed a talent on back cuts to help get him there. Don’t put much stock into the game, but Lee’s certainly did not go down.
Redshirt freshman J.J. Kohl and freshman Connor Moberly split snaps in the game. Kohl finished 6-8 for 38 yards and had a pair of six-yard gains on scrambles, while Moberly was 5-7 for 32 yards with 16 of them coming on a pass to redshirt freshman wideout Dillon Ranck. If there’s anything that separates the two this far out from the season, Kohl looks more comfortable running the ball, while Moberly was more apt for distance passing attempts. Walk-on freshman Major Cantrell got some reps as well, going 3-4 for 25 yards, which included a 14-yard pass to freshman Beni Ngoyi.
Ta’Shawn James led the team in tackles, recording eight throughout the day, including a tackle for loss of three yards. The Iowa State defense won the game 33-4, officially, with offensive penalties resulting in a loss of five points to the unit’s score. The defense was on top of its game, securing five sacks for 28 yards throughout the day.
Walk-on Kyle Konrardy, who’s slated to be Iowa State’s starting placekicker, connected on four of five field goal attempts, each of them going into the wind from 34 yards out or further. Konrardy made kicks of 41, 40, 42 and 34 yards, with his lone miss coming from a 47-yard attempt. Florida Atlantic transfer Carter Davis was 1-4 with his lone make being a 26-yarder. Again, each of those attempts were into the wind. Campbell commented on Konrardy after the game, as well.
Iowa State Cyclones football fead coach Matt Campbell talks to the team after the spring football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — The wind howled and the temperature gauge struggled to lumber upwards of 40 degrees.
Iowa State’s No. 1 quarterback, Rocco Becht, stood on the sideline, literally chilling while watching his backups take snaps during Saturday’s blustery spring game at Jack Trice Stadium.
“I tried to convince (head) coach (Matt) Campbell to put me out there, but it wouldn’t happen,” said Becht, who participated in pre-spring game drills while otherwise resting — and shivering — along with several other skill position staters. “Last Saturday we had a really big spring practice, so that was probably my spring game.”
Campbell said earlier this week that the Cyclones ran about 125 plays in Becht’s “spring game” — and he put up big numbers that day.
But how big?
“I couldn’t tell you,” said Becht, the Big 12’s reigning offensive freshman of the year. “I don’t remember. They were good.”
So should fans have taken away anything from Saturday’s official spring game from an offensive standpoint?
“No,” Campbell said before amending that one-word assessment. “Dylan Lee, talented, I think he had a really great spring. A lot of our offensive guys were out for various reasons and we wanted to see some of these young guys. Who could step up and perform and who could play? But, yeah, the offense will be in really good shape by the time we get to the fall.”
Lee — a 6-1, 200-pound true freshman tailback — could be a key part of that equation alongside returning backs Abu Sama and Carson Hansen, as well as transfer Jaylon Jackson, who wore a walking boot on Saturday. Lee jetted 17 yards for the lone touchdown of the spring game and finished with 80 rushing yards on 17 carries.
“In the early part of spring ball, he (ran) the ball like there’s nobody out there, so he had to get used to slowing his head down, slowing his mind down, hitting the holes, cutting,” Becht said. “He was able to do that today and I liked what I saw out of him and I know the whole offense liked what they saw out of him today, so we’re gonna need him in the fall.”
ISU fans likely enjoyed redshirt freshman placekicker Kyle Konrardy’s performance, too. The former Dubuque Senior standout drilled four of his five field goal attempts into the wind, including three 40-plus yarders.
But what’s his true range?
“On a great day I’m saying 60,” Konrardy said. “At least 60. In these conditions, we’re still striving for success, so I’m doing 55 maybe. Have some rough ones here and there, but keep pushing through.”
The defense totaled five sacks, with linebacker Rylan Barnes and D-linemen Zaimir Hawk, Trent Jones, Dom Orange and Kenard Snyder recording one apiece.
“I thought Kenard Snyder’s a guy that showed up today that transferred in (from Lousiana-Monroe) that’s really had a great spring,” Campbell said. “(He) has flashed.”
Backup quarterbacks J.J. Kohl, Connor Moberly, Major Cantrell and Tanner Hughes combined to go 15-for-20 through the air for 103 yards while the Cyclones’ top two returning receivers, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, sat out. As for Becht, he’d already done enough this spring to prove he’s ready to improve upon his impressive freshman season, which is why he joined Noel, Higgins, Sama and Hansen on the sidelines.
“Rocco is one of those guys who has never settled for just being a good player,” Campbell said. “He wants to be great. And he’s really took great leadership. It’s interesting because he’s the leader of the ship and when that guy’s on, everything is smooth, and when that guy’s not, you kind of see some young guys still trying to gain that confidence. But Rocco has that and Rocco’s a guy that’s demand to get better from that last (Liberty Bowl) game at Memphis literally through every step of the way in the winter and spring, so we’re really excited about Rocco.”
So are ISU’s fans, even though they only saw him throw passes in the pre-spring game practice session on Saturday.
“I feel like this was the best spring I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Becht said.
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) reacts after drawing an offside penalty on the Cincinnati Bearcats defense in the fourth quarter during a college football game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Cincinnati Bearcats Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at Nippert Stadium win Cincinnati. The Iowa State Cyclones won, 30-10.
AMES — The bumps and bruises are widespread. The competition remains fierce. And even though Iowa State’s spring game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium isn’t an actual contest of any sort, fans should grab a post-tailgate popcorn because there are plenty of things to watch.
“We are dinged up,” said Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell, whose team is coming off its sixth winning season in the past seven years. “We’ve got ankles and shoulders and stuff, but the reality of it is we will get a really good (bit of) work in Saturday. We’re not gonna waste away an opportunity to have a great crowd, or waste away (a chance) to evaluate our football team, so you’re gonna see live football. You’ll see us scrimmaging.”
As for a format? Forget about it. And players? It is an exhibition/practice, so some of the headliners such as quarterback Rocco Becht and tailback Abu Sama may see light duty on the field, but spring games are designed to hype the future, which appears bright in terms of depth for an ISU team that returns 19 starters.
“I think the biggest thing is to watch our football team continue to grow,” Campbell said.
That overall growth serves as reason number one of five to watch Saturday’s “game” — and here are four more things to scrutinize as the team prepares to enter summer workouts.
ROCCO’S THE GUY Becht emerged from the fog last fall after former starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers became entangled in the state’s thorny investigation into sports gambling among college athletes at select institutions — and shined so brightly he earned Big 12 offensive freshman of the year honors. Becht threw 23 touchdown passes to just eight interceptions last season and his accuracy and decision-making prowess should be on display on Saturday for at least part of the event.
“(He’s) growing very single day in everything he does, which is super positive,” new quarterbacks coach Jake Waters said. “I keep talking to him about his process and what is gonna take (him) to the next level.”
BALLYHOOED BACKUPS Former four-star recruit J.J. Kohl has been “awesome” this spring as Becht’s backup, Waters said, but gifted incoming freshman Connor Moberly has been “extremely impressive,” as well. Kohl stands a towering 6-foot seven-inches tall and weighs 250 pounds, and boasts elite arm talent. He pressed Becht hard for the starting spot through fall camp last season and adding Moberly’s athleticism to the room (6-4, 195) helps make the most important position on any team a deep one for ISU.
“Really, really impressed with what they can do and (I’m) fortunate to be able to coach them,” said Waters, a former Kansas State star.
DISRUPTIVE D-LINE The Cyclones return experience on the defensive line both on the edge (Joey Petersen, Tyler Onyedim) and the interior (J.R. Singleton, Dom Orange), but younger players are helping to make the position growth a strength for the team as usual.
Redshirt freshman tackle Zaimir Hawk (6-3, 300) has had an impressive offseason, as have ends Ikenna Ezeogu (6-5, 260) and Samuel Same (6-5, 215). Sprinkle in Louisiana-Monroe transfer Kenard Snyder (6-0, 248) on the edge and ISU looks to be strong up front on the defense side of the ball will into the three-deep.
“He’s a guy that’s on a fast rise,” Cyclone defensive line coach Eli Rasheed said of Snyder.
FAST TRACK AT RUNNING BACK Sama and Carson Hansen both shined at times last season as freshman tailbacks, but fans should also keep an eye on current true freshman Dylan Lee in the backfield. The 6-1, 200-pounder set a single-game Class 6A (Arizona) rushing record as a high school junior, amassing an eye-popping 518 yards on the ground on 27 carries and boasts a complete skillset that will be on full display Saturday.
“He might be the strongest running back in that room just from a weight room standpoint,” first-year assistant head coach and running backs coach Tyler Roehl said. “He’s got a raw ability.”
Former Cyclone quarterback Hunter Dekkers will be continuing his career at Iowa Western Community College, according to a report from Connor Happer.
Coach Scott Strohmeier tells us on @HapperShow that former Iowa State QB Hunter Dekkers has landed at Iowa Western CC.
— Connor Happer (@ConnorHapper) April 18, 2024
Dekkers was Iowa State’s starting quarterback during the 2022 season, in which the Cyclones finished the year at 4-8.
The former four-star recruit and West Sioux High School athlete ended his final season at Iowa State with all-Big 12 honorable mention behind 3,044 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Dekkers was ruled ineligible as part of the gambling scandal that originated from the state before the 2023 season, and has not played collegiate football since.
He will compete at Iowa Western for a season before attempting to secure a spot at the next level.
As the spring practice period continues in Ames, Iowa State has seen a slew of prospects in Ames to attend practices and come on recruiting visits.
Over the weekend, the program hosted 2025 safety Trey Glasper on a multi-day visit.
“We had a welcome presentation with coach Campbell,” Glasper said. “He kind of just went in to depth about what it’s like to be there play there, why people are constantly showing all of their support around the school and Ames, and kind of things like why it’s great to be down there.”
Glasper is rated as the No. 7 prospect out out of Nevada, and holds offers to Miami, Cal, Washington State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Northern Arizona, and Portland State.
Iowa State is right in the mix for the 6-foot-1, 170-pound defensive back.
“As of right now, (Iowa State is) in my top three,” Glasper said. “Iowa State has been one of the top three schools in my recruitment so far. I’m excited and thankful that I was able to get down there, see the campus, watch a practice and everything. And I definitely plan on going back down there in the summer for an official visit.”
Iowa State sees Glasper at the free safety position and looks to pursue the prospect for a June visit this summer.
“It was only it was me and three other recruits who did the overnight thing,” Glasper said. “I feel like the visit was was more personalized in a way.”
“I got to meet coach (Deon Broomfield) and sit down with him,” Glasper said. “He said my my skillset best fits their free safety position. So he was just showing me clips in-game and in practice, how they play and different coverages and stuff. It was great to be able to see that, like actually where he envisions me and how it works – I got a little more knowledgeable in that aspect, so yeah, it was just great to be able to get down there and see that.”
Nov 18, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Texas Longhorns running back CJ Baxter (4) is tackled by Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Jack Sadowsky (33) and defensive back Myles Purchase (5) in the second half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sara Diggins-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Iowa State’s Jack Sadowsky fully earned his starting linebacker spot as a true freshman last fall.
That’s a rarity within the Cyclones’ program — and it took the 6-2, 245-pound Batavia, Ill. native a while to feel like he fully belonged in the high-profile role.
“When you’re going out there as a freshman, you’re not really sure if you deserve to be there, necessarily,” said Sadowsky, who joined former star Mike Rose as the only freshmen linebackers to start every game in a season for ISU since 2007. “I think the more I’m out there the more confident I become in that position and the people around me only helped me to grow and become better.”
Sadowsky’s rookie success story included a stat line of 33 tackles and 2.5 stops for loss. He also notched a quarterback hurry for a depth-laden unit that lost Gerry Vaughn to graduation and Carson Willich to a torn ACL this spring, but returns several players with valuable playing experience.
“Jack is a special kid just because he loves football,” Campbell said in advance of Saturday’s 11 a.m. spring game at Jack Trice Stadium. “He works really hard at his craft and I think that’s probably the (area) Jack stood out so much from him doing mid-year as a high school senior to, really, the reps that he got last year.”
But several of Sadowsky’s teammates are making striking progress as well under first-year linebackers coach Colby Kratch. Former walk-on Caleb Bacon came off the bench to total 60 tackles last season, along with three sacks. He also had eight quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a forced fumble — so who precisely starts this season for the Cyclones at linebacker could remain fluid well into the fall.
“In my opinion, maybe since Mike Rose has been here, (Bacon’s) the most talented linebacker that we’ve had,” Campbell said.
And he’s far from alone in terms of being a head-turner in the room.
“I would tell you probably the most impressive spring right now would be Kooper Ebel,” Campbell added. “(He’s) been nothing short of exceptional this spring, so I think that part’s exciting because I think what Jack has done and how he did it has probably kind of laid the groundwork for the excitement that’s really surrounding this linebackers room.”
So consider Sadowsky a headliner of sorts, but he’ll likely share top billing with several others, including experienced players such as Will McLaughlin and Zach Lovett, as well as skilled true freshman Cael Brezina.
“You’re talking about a lot of guys that we feel like, from top to bottom, the competition’s gonna be hot and heavy going into fall camp,” Campbell said. “Who (are the) starters? Who’s playing in significant minutes? I think that room’s got a chance to really take a huge step forward from where we were a year ago.”
That stern competition, of course, is welcomed by Sadowksy and everyone else in the linebacking corps vying for the most snaps.
“Jack plays really, really fast,” Kratch said. “Really smart kid. He’s a great leader and I think he’s improved every practice and he’s still really young.”
The same could be said for several of the most highly-touted linebackers for ISU. They’ve taken to Kratch in his first season after replacing longtime Campbell assistant, Tyson Veidt, who left the program to become Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator.
“(Veidt’s) coached a lot of really good ones, so getting to spend every day working hand and hand with him before leaving for North Texas was huge for me,” said Kratch, who learned under Veidt during previous stops at ISU and Toledo.
Sadwosky and his fellow linebackers’ growing confidence is also big for the Cyclones, who seek to help the team forge a winning season for the seventh time in the past eight years.
“I think that everyone in the room has something to prove this year,” Sadowsky said.
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy and John Deere launched a new campaign Tuesday that features the Arizona native behind the wheel of a tractor, headed on a road trip to find the brand’s new ‘Chief Tractor Officer.’
The position is a real job, and would entail someone becoming the face of the brand on social media – think something similar to what Gerald Downey has done with Anhueser-Busch as ‘the Busch Guy.’
Purdy appeared on Tuesday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show to promote the new advertising deal and had previously signed a national deal with Toyota.
Brock Purdy saved a CBS reporter from a coyote when shooting a commercial for John Deere pic.twitter.com/EvJt5UtZNk
— OutCYde the Lines (@OutCYdetheLines) April 16, 2024
The full episode of the show can be seen below. Purdy is on from the 33:55 mark to the 59:45 mark and details his first two seasons in the league with McAfee.
The full episode of the show can be seen below.
The full commercial from the campaign can be seen below.
Brock Purdy’s first commercial for John Deere pic.twitter.com/O88FaOPYo8
— Coach Yac (@Coach_Yac) April 16, 2024
Sep 9, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jontez Williams (31) breaks up the pass for Iowa Hawkeyes wide* receiver Diante Vines (0) during the fourth quarter at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports***
AMES — There’s confidence and there’s cockiness. An accomplished cornerback must straddle the fine line between those sideline-to-sideline states of being — and Iowa State’s Jontez Williams has carved out his niche in that regard.
“It’s like a 30,” the redshirt sophomore most likely to replace soon-to-be high NFL Draft pick T.J. Tampa at the position said when asked to rate his level of swagger on a scale of one to ten. “It is like a 30. I feel like I’ve got a little swag on me, just a little something-something, you know what I’m saying?”
Williams, a 5-11, 200-pound native of Starke, Fla., doesn’t possess Tampa’s expansive wingspan, but he clearly has the mental makeup to shine at cornerback opposite returning starter, Myles Purchase. He made two starts last season and totaled six tackles and three pass breakups, so he’s well beyond “fake it before you make it” territory when it comes to thriving in the defensive backfield.
“It’s that confidence factor,” the former three-star recruit said. “You’ve gotta have that confidence in yourself to be on that island and know that you’re good on that island even if you don’t have any help. I feel like if you you have that confidence and that swagger about yourself, you can definitely be a great corner.”
The Cyclones will need Williams to be just that as they seek to forge a winning season for the seventh time in the past eight years. And he’ll have help on that “island” in senior special teams star Darien Porter, among others, for ISU, which tied for second in the Big 12 in interceptions last season with 16.
“I think (Porter’s) ceiling is unlimited,” defensive coordinator Jon Heacock said earlier this spring. “I think he’s a great young man. I think for this guys, and even for T.J. a couple years ago, the confidence to come play defense is different.”
Porter stands 6-4, so his length and track speed will complement Williams’ and Purchase’s all-around abilities at cornerback. It’s a deep room, as well, so competition is helping to breed the confidence Williams showcases on a down-by-down basis.
“I think everybody’s confident in who they are,” the Cyclones’ cornerbacks coach, Hank Poteat, said. “I don’t think they’re trying to be T.J. If I’m a competitor, I may feel like I’m just as good as T.J., so I don’t think there’s been a drop back.”
That’s important for an ISU defense that has ranked top-three in the Big 12 in points allowed for seven consecutive seasons. Nine starters on that side of the ball return for the Cyclones, who will open the season on Aug. 31 against North Dakota at Jack Trice Stadium.
“Who can do it every day, every practice?” Heacock said. “Not just (occasionally), but all day long, all spring long, all summer long, all fall camp long, all season long — I think that’s where our team needs to grow on our side of the ball, specifically.”
Williams grew into what could be a starring role by making mistakes. He earned the swagger he plays with now because of absorbing some hard lessons along the way.
“Probably my first year after fall camp, I had some tough days there,” he said. “I was thinking about a lot of plays that happened before and not worrying about the next play, so I feel feel like during that time I was able to learn from my mistakes and just let that play go and go onto the next one.”
Therein lis the rub when it comes to being on an “island.” Rescue is far from your immediate shores. Miscues are magnified and respect — just like confidence — must be earned.
“I think if you dwell on a play for too long, you’ll start to get in our head and start thinking about other things,” Williams said. “At DB, you can’t really think. You’ve gotta just react. You’ve gotta be able to process things and react quicker than others, so I feel like letting those plays go by the wayside, I feel it’ll be better for you, for sure.”
Jan 10, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) in the first half against the Washington Wizards at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton will head to Paris over the summer to compete in the 2024 Olympics for Team USA.
The roster, mixed with American superstars from around the league, has reportedly been determined, according to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
ESPN Sources: USA Basketball is finalizing its 2024 Paris Olympics roster with Steph Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Jrue Holiday, Bam Adebayo and Anthony Davis. Team may initially keep one open spot. pic.twitter.com/kO7TREBVDK
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 15, 2024
Haliburton was apart of Team USA last summer, leading the FIBA World Cup team in both steals and assists while the group earned its qualifying spot to this year’s Olympics.
The former Cyclone currently leads the league with an average of 10.9 assists per game as well as a 20.1 points per game mark.
Ames – David Carr announced on Monday afternoon via X (formerly known as Twitter) that he will miss out on competing in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Carr was slated to compete at 74kg in hopes of earning a spot on the U.S. Men’s Freestyle team.
Last week I suffered an injury to my ankle. Because of this, unfortunately I am unable to wrestle at the trails. I was looking forward to it obviously but that’s life sometimes. Injury’s are an unfortunate part of the sport. I praise the lord for the support system behind.
— David Carr (@Carrchamp) April 15, 2024
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members Monday in Ames ahead of his team’s upcoming spring football game Saturday (11:00 a.m.).
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell announced to media members Monday that linebacker Carson Willich has suffered a season-ending injury during the spring practice period.
The Blue Springs, Missouri native got hurt during the beginning of spring practice, according to Campbell.
“Carson is obviously a guy that’s that’s played good football for us and it’s certainly disappointing, but he’s already had surgery and he’s already on the mend,” Willich said. “Unless he gets back late in the season, my guess is we won’t see him again till the following season. But Carson’s done a great job for us already being a great leader – but he is one guy that I would tell you we will not get back for the Fall next year.”
Willich played in all of Iowa State’s 13 games in 2023, collecting 25 tackles and two tackles for a loss, along with a forced fumble against Baylor.
He currently has three years remaining in his collegiate career.
Iowa State Football head coach Matt Campbell talks to media during a press conference on Monday, April 15, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Endless adversity. That’s what Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and his staff have tried to create for a Cyclones team brimming with a blend of proven and unproven talent.
Case in point: Last Saturday’s scrimmage, which turned into “a probably 125-play” marathon that produced both oohs and ahhs and moans and groans.
“We’ve tried to make spring camp as hard as it’s been since we’ve been here,” said Campbell, whose ninth ISU team will play its spring game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. “We tried to make it the hardest winter we’ve had since we’ve been here because I want to put adversity into these guys. I want to see failure happen and I want to see how they respond to it.”
Last season, the Cyclones navigated through a state investigation into sports gambling that deeply impacted their starting lineup. ISU went 7-6 in spite of all that, reaching its sixth bowl game in the past seven seasons. This spring, the Cyclones are more seasoned, but still young at a handful of key positions, so manufacturing adversity early may lead to significant gains once the season opens on Aug. 31 against North Dakota.
“Now, I think it’s understanding that if you want to be great, if you want to be uncommon in football, then your best has to become the standard every day,” Campbell said. “So that’s really been our theme (this offseason): How can I be my best every single day and what does that look like, because in college football that is what it takes and somebody’s gonna do it. Somebody will do it in the Big 12. Somebody will do it nationally.”
So why not the Cyclones? They return 18 starters across both sides the ball, including Big 12 offensive freshman of the year, Rocco Becht, at quarterback, and dynamic receiving duo Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. ISU also returns standout safeties Beau Freyler and Malik Verdon, as well as cornerback Myles Purchase, linebackers Caleb Bacon and Jack Sadowsky, and defensive linemen such as Dom Orange and Joey Petersen.
All of which will make expectations high both inside and outside of the program as it seeks to notch its sixth winning record in conference play in the past seven seasons.
“That’s all perfectly fine,” Noel said recently.
But?
“The emphasis here is not to worry about the expectations outside the building,” he added. “It’s really just our own expectations, the ones we put on ourselves to go and achieve and I feel like we’ll be able to do that.”
Preparing to meet and potentially exceed those internal goals began with winter workouts and have now wended through most of the spring. Adversity has commingled with opportunity, promoting a competitive environment that will serve as a springboard into summer and fall.
“I think there’s still just so much competition right now,” Campbell said. “I think the only way to know what your gaps are and know where you need to continue to work and move yourself forward is to go through really hard things and to work through challenging times.”
Success can vary wildly from practice to practice, or scrimmage to scrimmage, as promising 6-4 redshirt freshman receiver Beni Ngoyi has demonstrated recently.
“(He’s) had a great spring,” Campbell said. “You talk about creating adversity — he kind of had a down day (two Saturdays ago) and then was phenomenal this past Saturday. He was really having a great spring, took a little bit of a step back, and man, bounced back and had a great week last week.”
Setbacks are inevitable. Perfection exists in theory only. Hence the commitment to conjuring up extreme challenges for each ISU player in hopes that once obstacles emerge organically during the season, they can be countered quickly and deftly.
“You’ve got to manufacture and create hard and sometimes hard is just showing up and being your best every day,” Campbell said. “That’s hard enough for a lot of people.”
WILLICH SUFFERS TORN ACL Campbell said redshirt sophomore linebacker Carson Willich is likely out for the season because of a torn ACL sustained early in spring ball.
“My guess is we won’t see him again until next season, but Carson’s done a great job for us already (by) being a great leader,” Campbell said.
Willich played in all 13 games last season and totaled 25 tackles while also forcing a fumble.
Nov 18, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) misses a catch in the end zone as Iowa State Cyclones defensive back T.J. Tampa (2) defends in the first half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sara Diggins-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.’s settled on a single word to help describe former Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa: Underrated.
“When you look at T.J. Tampa — I haven’t heard his name much at all,” Kiper said during a Zoom call with the media early Thursday afternoon. “You know, I might be out there on an island with him. We’ll see where he goes. But I do think he deserves strong early second-round consideration. That’s why I have him as underrated because I don’t hear his name ever talked about.”
Not much, anyway. But the 6-1, 189-pound Tampa’s impact on the Cyclones’ success was significant in each of his four seasons, and his all-around skills, coupled with long arms and keen instincts, make him a diamond in the rough for the 2024 NFL Draft, which begins in April 25 in Detroit.
“Some players, it doesn’t matter what system you’re in,” said ISU cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat, who played the position for 10 years in the NFL. “Whether it’s a team that’s asking you to be a lot more physical in the run game, (or) you may have a team that (uses) a big zone scheme, and then you have different teams that play a lot of man, so if you have a player that is very versatile and can play all those different coverages, and they can still play physical — you have a guy who, it doesn’t matter what it is.”
And Tampa checks those versatility-based boxes. He totaled 40 tackles or more in each of the past two seasons and recorded two interceptions while breaking up seven passes last season. Tampa allowed just one touchdown in his last 497 coverage snaps, so he’s comfortable being on that island even though he didn’t run a sub-4.5 40-yard dash on Pro Day.
“He’s got the length I love (and) the instincts,” Kiper said. “He runs (a) 4.52 but he plays like he runs a 4.42 and that’s what you want. If he’d have run a 4.45 he’d have been in the first round and we wouldn’t even have a discussion about him being a second-round pick.”
Does that mean Tampa could climb into the tail end of the first round or even drop into the third? Anything can happen when you’re “underrated,” but Tampa’s track record points to him being a valuable pick regardless of when he’s selected.
“The fact that he will tackle,” Kiper said. “The fact that he’s a business-like player, they rave about his character at Iowa State, and the fact that he has that ability, that natural ability, to break up passes and intercept passes, and create turnovers when the opportunity present itself — he checks all the boxes for me.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – An outstanding winter athletics season highlighted by national champions and NCAA Championship team success has propelled the Iowa State Athletics Department up to No. 17 in the Division I Learfield Directors’ Cup standings. Gymnastics, in which Iowa State reached the NCAA Championships, has not yet been added to the totals.
Iowa State has its highest ranking at this point in the year ever, surpassing the previous high of 20th in the 1996-97 winter standings. It is only the sixth time that the Cyclones have ever been in the Top 25 at the end of the winter (1996, 1997, 2000, 2010, 2022, 2024).
Iowa State currently ranks second among Big 12 schools, trailing only Texas, which is No. 2 in the team standings.ADVERTISING
Iowa State had a banner winter season led by wrestling scoring 80 points for the Learfield Directors’ Cup behind a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, its best finish since 2010. David Carr won his second national title, rolling to wins over the No. 1, 2 and 5 seeds to earn the 165-pound crown.
On the hardwood, the men’s basketball team reached the Sweet 16 and earned ISU 64 points. In women’s hoops, ISU advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and tallied 50 points toward the cause.
The men’s basketball and wrestling teams won their respective Big 12 Championships, while the women’s basketball program also advanced to the championship game.
Men’s and women’s indoor track and field provided a boost with a pair of Top-25 finishes. It was the first time both had finished inside the Top 25 since 1992.
The women’s team finished 20th in the team standings, adding 53 points to ISU’s total. The finish was aided by Sydney Willits becoming Iowa State’s first national champion in the long jump.
On the men’s side, ISU finished 23rd and tacked on 51 points for the Cyclones. The Cyclones were led by individual First-Team All-Americans Finley Mclear (800m) and Darius Kipyego (800m). The distance medley relay team of Ezekiel Rop, Gus Langford, Jason Gomez and Silas Winders also earned First-Team All-America accolades.
In the fall, Iowa State accumulated points from men’s and women’s cross country, football and volleyball.
To view the complete standings, click here.
Dec 29, 2023; Memphis, TN, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) and wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) react after a touchdown during the first half against the Memphis Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — They can split out wide, or tuck themselves into the slot. They’re potent playmakers deep down the field and on quick-hit passes just past the line of scrimmage. In short, Iowa State’s senior wide receiver duo of Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins has proven to be both versatile and explosive — and their leadership styles mesh nicely, as well.
“I feel like we both do a good job of mentioning things that need to be said,” said Noel, who last season became the first FBS player since 2014 to haul in four 50-plus yard receptions, two 50-yard kick returns and two 30-yard punt returns in a single season. “I feel like we do a good job of just being examples for the younger guys and I feel like Jayden has helped me improve my leadership a lot, and I would say the same, vice versa.”
Noel — who stands 5-10 and weighs 200 pounds — and Higgins, a 6-4, 210-pounder, look a lot different on the field but produce similar gaudy results. Higgins led the Cyclones in receiving yards last season with 983. Noel led the team in receptions with 66. They combined for 13 touchdown catches last season — Noel with a team-best seven, Higgins with six — and both sprinted into the end zone on receptions spanning 75 yards or more. So they’re both steady and incendiary.
“They are two guys that I’m very fortunate to have in the room together because everything they do from individual drills to the way they carry themselves off the field — those two guys have a process and they’ve mastered the process, which is why they are who they are,” ISU pass game coordinator and receivers coach Noah Pauley said. “They push guys, the younger guys in the room, which is exciting of those guys, as well, (because) they have two guys like that to look up to.”
And Noel and Higgins aren’t alone. Senior wideout Daniel Jackson is back and healthy and sophomore tight end Ben Brahmer is poised for a breakout season, as well. Add in athletic 6-4 Army transfer Isaiah Alston and promising redshirt freshman Beni Ngoyi and it’s clear that sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht will have an array of options to choose from downfield — and that’s not even counting tailbacks such as Abu Sama, Carson Hansen and speedy Eastern Michigan transfer Jaylon Jackson, who are all capable pass catchers.
“I definitely think we have guys all over the field that can make plays,” said Noel, who tied for third nationally last season with three catches spanning 60-plus yards. “I feel like what sticks out with our offense is the speed of our offense. We’ve got a lot of speed on the perimeter, in the backfield; obviously you’ve seen what Abu can do in the open and I feel like you’ll see that more with Carson Hansen — he’s fast, and Jaylon Jackson’s really fast, a speedster. And then outside, even seeing (Higgins), he’s been able to improve his speed tremendously.”
Noel’s swiftness and agility has been on full display since his freshman season. He’s ISU’s third-fastest player to 100 career receptions and will make his 23rd career start in the Aug. 31 season opener against North Dakota at Jack Trice Stadium.
“He’s one of the most competitive guys that I’ve ever been around,” Pauley said. “He’s the elephant in that room. The guys know that. And I think Jaylin knows in this last year he’s gotta put everything together and he’s excited about that and he’s taking that challenge head on.”
It’s a catch him if you can situation for Noel, who’s naturally convinced he remains the fastest player on the team.
“There’s obviously guys out there,” he said with a smile. “Jaylon Jackson’s up there, yeah, Abu, all those guys, they’re close, but I still think I have the edge.”
Des Moines North football player David Caulker stands for a photo on the field, Wednesday, June 8, 2022. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State defensive end David Caulker has medically retired from football.
Caulker posted the following message after the news was first reported by Rivals’ Bill Seals.
“Things like this can happen to anyone which is why you should NEVER take your blessings for granted. This is all apart of the test of life which god has granted. Only he knows!”
Things like this can happen to anyone which is why you should NEVER take your blessings for granted. This is all apart of the test of life which god has granted. Only he knows! https://t.co/vef3iFb3TL
— David Caulker (@DavidCaulker23) April 10, 2024
The Des Moines, Iowa native will now be a student assistant with the program.
Caulker was a three-star prospect out of high school, and redshirted in his lone season in Ames.
Iowa State wide receivers coach Noah Pauley, cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat, addressed media members Wednesday in Ames to give an update on the spring football practice period thus far.
Mar 11, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Emily Ryan (11) drives around Oklahoma Sooners guard Lexy Keys (15) during the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State women’s basketball is coming off of its second straight trip to the Big 12 championship game.
As the season’s come to a close, major outlets have started to release their editions of Way Too Early Top 25. Here’s where the Cyclones stack up.
The highest Iowa State ranked in these came in The Athletic’s ranking. The Cyclones are slotted at No. 9 right above Big 12 foe Kansas State at No. 10. Other conference teams in the ranking include No. 14 Baylor, No. 15 West Virginia, No. 16 Arizona and No. 25 TCU.
ESPN tabs the Cyclones as the highest ranked Big 12 team going into next season, with Iowa State at No. 10 in the outlet’s ranking. South Carolina is slated as the No. 1 team. Other programs in the Big 12 include Baylor at No. 13, West Virginia at No. 16, and Kansas State at No. 17.
FloHoops also put out a Way Too Early edition of rankings, and each Big 12 team is slated in the same spot as they are in ESPN’s poll.
Mar 28, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) and guard Keshon Gilbert (10) talk to the referee against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the semifinals of the East Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
With Monday’s national championship game passing by, the 2023-24 college basketball season has come to a close, which brings on the look-ahead days to what the future holds for teams.
While transfer portal moves are still happening, a number of sites have put out their ‘Way Too Early Top 25’ rankings that are typically published around this time.
Iowa State’s near the top of a lot of them, too, coming in the top five in six of the top major outlets’ rankings.
Sporting News is the highest on the Cyclones, with T.J. Otzelberger’s squad coming in at No. 2 in their rankings. Alabama is the No. 1 there, and Baylor is just behind the Cyclones at No. 5. Houston and Arizona come in at No. 12 and No. 18, respectively, and the outlet is bullish on Kansas, with the Jayhawks at No. 19.
CBS has Iowa State as the No. 3 team in the country, with Houston taking the top spot and North Carolina at No. 2. Kansas is No. 4, with Arizona and BYU at No. 12 and No. 13, respectively. Baylor rounded out the Big 12 programs in the ranking at No. 19.
USA Today has the Cyclones at No. 3 behind Duke and Alabama – putting Iowa State as its top Big 12 team going into the 2024-25 season, as things stand. Kansas is just behind them at No. 4. Other Big 12 teams ranked include No. 10 BYU, No. 11 Baylor, No. 12 Houston, No. 20 Arizona. For what its worth, the outlet ranked No. 22 Indiana State despite the departure of coach Josh Schertz and star Robbie Avila.
The Athletic puts Iowa State at No. 4, behind Duke, Gonzaga and Houston. Kansas is No. 7, Arizona’s at No. 11, BYU’s at No. 13, and Baylor lands at No. 15 in the poll.
ESPN has the Cyclones at No. 5 in the country, behind Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and UConn. Iowa State is one of seven Big 12 teams slated in the set of rankings, and the conference holds five spots in the outlet’s top 10. Houston came in at No. 7, Arizona at No. 8, Baylor at No. 10, BYU at No. 14, and Cincinnati at No. 25.
Field of 68 slates Iowa State at No. 5 as well, behind Kansas, Alabama, Duke and North Carolina. Six Big 12 teams come in the outlets’ rankings: No. 7 Baylor, No. 8 Houston, No. 12 Arizona and No. 24 Cincinnati.
Mar 12, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones center Audi Crooks (55) drives to the basket during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State women’s basketball concluded the 2023-24 season as the No. 25 team in the final Associated Press poll of the year.
This is the 12th time in program history that the Cyclones have ended the season in the final AP Poll.
Iowa State ended the season with a 21-12 record in regular season play, along with an 12-6 mark in the Big 12.
The Cyclones advanced to their second straight Big 12 Championship game in March before narrowly falling to No. 2 Stanford on the road in overtime in the NCAA Tournament.
The full, final AP Poll can be seen below.
AP WBB Final Poll
1. South Carolina
2. Iowa
3. UConn
4. NC State
5. USC
6. LSU
7. Texas
8. Oregon State
9. Stanford
10. UCLA
11. Notre Dame
12. Indiana
13. Baylor
14. Gonzaga
15. Colorado
16. Ohio State
17. Duke
18. Virginia Tech
19. Kansas State
20. Syracuse
21. Oklahoma
22. Utah
23. Creighton
24. West Virginia
25. Iowa State
Others receiving votes: Tennessee 44, Nebraska 27, Mississippi 24, UNLV 20, Louisville 12, Middle Tennessee 8, North Carolina 7, Fairfield 6, Kansas 4, Alabama 2.
Iowa State men’s basketball rounded out the season at No. 8 in the final Associated Press men’s basketball poll.
It’s the fifth time in program history that Iowa State ended the year ranked in the top 10.
The No. 8 ranking is also the second highest AP Poll finish for the program, just behind the 1999-00 season where it finished at No. 6.
The full final AP Poll for can be seen below.
2023-24 Final AP MBB Poll
1. UConn
2. Purdue
T3. Alabama
T3. Houston
5. Tennessee
6. Illinois
7. North Carolina
8. Iowa State
9. Duke
10. NC State
11. Arizona
12. Marquette
13. Creighton
14. Clemson
15. Gonzaga
16. Baylor
17. San Diego State
18. Auburn
19. Kansas
20. Kentucky
21. St. Mary’s
22. Utah State
23. Washington State
24. South Carolina
25. Dayton
Others receiving votes: Texas A&M 87, Oregon 77, Colorado 75, BYU 71, Texas 62, James Madison 61, Seton Hall 39, Grand Canyon 37, Wisconsin 27, Northwestern 23, Texas Tech 19, Indiana St 18, Miami 13, Michigan St. 12, Duquesne 9, Yale 7, Arkansas 6, New Mexico 6, Colorado St. 5, Maryland 5, Florida 4, Rutgers 2, Oakland 1, Nevada 1.
Dec 29, 2023; Memphis, TN, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell (right) reacts with Iowa State Cyclones offensive linemen James Neal (75) during the second half against the Memphis Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — When Iowa State offensive line coach Ryan Clanton joins left tackle James Neal to review his early game film, they don’t know whether to wince or chuckle.
So they kind of do both.
“If you watch his film from the beginning of the year (last season) and then watch his film toward the end of the year, it’s a whole different person,” Clanton said of Neal, who started all 13 of the Cyclones’ games last season. “It’s fun to watch. I sit there and laugh with James when a clip comes off from early in the season and we sit there and we shake our heads and look at each other and just smile.”
Neal, a 6-6, 336-pound junior from suburban Atlanta, epitomizes the term “late bloomer” on an ISU offensive line that returns all of its starters. He didn’t truly start playing high school football until is senior season, choosing to flirt with basketball until his body — and prospective coaches — urged him to transfer his talents from the court to the field.
“I (was) just hearing everybody say, ‘Oh, you should be playing football,’” Neal said. “So, I mean, I just gave it a try, and here we are.”
Neal’s rise in stature in an experienced room bodes well for a Cyclone offense that proved to be erratic last season. ISU scored 30 or more points in six games, but was held to 21 points or fewer four times. And any success sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht and sophomore tailback Abu Sama will find this season, as always, is rooted in the progress made by the guys up front.
“I think getting (the running backs) on the same page with us will be huge,” senior right tackle Tyler Miller said. “Continuing to grow together through that stuff, because it’s hard to rush for a couple hundred yards a game and then against Texas run for, like, barely any yards. So just the growth of our team, really, is how we’re going to continue to be successful and consistent.”
It’s also important for the Cyclones’ front men to be — in Clanton’s parlance — both “violent and versatile” and capable of playing multiple positions on the line.
“It’s fun because you can let loose and (Clanton) does a good job of (having) you continually change sides,” said Miller, who’s started 23 games in the past two seasons. “Throughout spring ball me and James have been switching sides, and you just continue to grow. It helps you learn the game of football entirely, so that’s been really good and then you can continue to simplify things down and we can have great understanding because (Clanton’s) such a good teacher.”
That’s evident across ISU’s offensive line as it strives to finally become a strength of head coach Matt Campbell’s program. Clanton’s ability to mold raw players such as Neal into every-down contributors is paramount to that ongoing pursuit of creating consistency up front.
“Recently, I taught (Neal) how to play guard,” Clanton said. “He’s big and he’s athletic. Really athletic. … He hasn’t been exposed to that much football in his life, but the majority of guys I’ve coached in my career haven’t, either, so it’s kind of fun because they only know how to do it one way and it’s the way you’re trying to tell them how to do it.”
So Neal’s a willing and eager learner. There are no bad habits to fix, no preconceived notions to dispel. All of which makes those film review sessions enjoyable, because they highlight how far he’s come in a relatively short time.
“It was good, especially after the season just seeing how much growth that I did make,” Neal said. “It was not so much inspiring, but it was nice — ‘OK, so I’m able to do this.’ And, you know, hopefully I can grow even more than I already did.”
Count on that happening, Clanton said.
“He has the ability to play guard and tackle at the next level,” he said. “So it’s been pretty fun to teach him that.”
Iowa State forward Isnelle Natabou will enter the transfer portal after spending one season in Ames, Iowa.
The junior out of Ceska Lipa, Czech Republic played in all 33 games for the Cyclones this season, which included four starts.
She averaged 4.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game on 53.4 percent shooting from the floor.
Her depature comes after Iowa State’s season ending loss to Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
She now joins Nyamer Diew, Jaylnn Bristow, and Shantavia Dawkins in the transfer portal.
Iowa State Football held media availability on Monday, April 8 where defensive line coach Eli Rasheed, offensive line coach Ryan Clanton, offensive linemen James Neal & Tyler Miller and defensive lineman Ikenna Ezeogu each addressed media members.
Iowa State commit Aili Tanke scored 25 points in the final round of Sunday’s State Farm 3-point contest to take home first place in the national competition.
Future @CycloneWBB Aili Tanke scores a 25 in the final to win the @StateFarm Women’s 3-Point Championship!
Slam Dunk & 3-Point Nationals LIVE on @CBSSports pic.twitter.com/P52nK1n6fi
— MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) April 7, 2024
Tanke made 19 of her 25 attempts during her contest-winning run.
The incoming freshman was a 3-point marksmen throughout the season for her Johnston High School team, averaging 49.6 percent from behind the arc.
Tanke will have four years of eligibility remaining when she arrives in Ames in or the 2024-25 season.
Iowa State has earned its third transfer portal commitment of the off-season from former Seattle University big Brandton Chatfield.
It’s the program’s third addition of the off-season, along with Nate Heise and Chatfield’s former Washington State teammate Dishon Jackson.
“It was really crazy – just, the whole thing was,” Chatfield said. “I’m still in awe, and I know both my parents are. It’s hard to believe it’s come true, and I’m able to go to such a great school that has been performing so well. I just hope I can just add to it.”
Chatfield averaged 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game during his last season with Seattle.
The 6-foot-10 forward will help Iowa State fill a void left by departures from last season’s roster.
“I love the coaching staff,” Chatfield said. “They’re all just really great guys and I love the way they structure their program. Everything about it just feels like the perfect trip.”
Before transferring to Seattle, Chatfield spent time at Washington State, where he played with Jackson as well as former Cyclones Jaz Kunc.
“Dishon is a really great player,” Chatfield said. “He’s always been a great guy. And I know he’s been working his butt off and stuff because he always was when I was at WSU, but yeah. And so is Jaz (Kunc). I know he’s doing well over in Poland right now, but he was another reason why I (chose Iowa State) because I know they love to recruit guys with similar characteristics to both me and jazz – just hardworking and go getters and stuff like that.”
Chatfield has one season of eligibility remaining.
Dec 29, 2023; Memphis, TN, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) reacts during the second half against the Memphis Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht’s on his second offensive coordinator in as many seasons.
The 6-1, 205-pound sophomore ran plays called by Nate Scheelhaase last season, and will fulfill the same role for new Cyclone offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser.
Scheelhaase moved on to join the Los Angeles Rams staff in the offseason. Mouser coached ISU’s tight ends last season and now — like Scheelhaase in 2023 — is a first-time offensive coordinator promoted from within head coach Matt Campbell’s program.
“What I want from (Mouser) is to be him,” said Becht, who earned Big 12 offensive freshman of the year honors while helping the Cyclones win seven games last season. “To be a good leader. To be a guy who makes connections with everybody on the team and not necessarily just the tight ends. And I know he’s a guy that will speak to everybody, make a connection with everybody.”
That’s because it’s Mouser’s M.O. He’s played an integral role in building strong relationships on the recruiting trail and within the team’s walls. And he’s ready to lead an offense that improved from 128th to seventh in red zone scoring and features an array of big play threats in both the running and passing games.
“I want to be able to lean into (the other offensive coaches) for whatever their ideas are,” said Mouser, who will continue to coach the tight ends group. “I’ll listen to whatever is gonna help us score points and win football games. If one of our guys sees something cool on (social media) and sends it to me, if it fits what we’re doing, I’ll run it.”
In other words, the playbook will remain a living document. It’s not set in stone. The core principles won’t change, but wrinkles in the offense could become deep creases as adjustments are made and creative license blossoms.
The Cyclones return their top four receivers — Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Ben Brahmer and Daniel Jackson — along with their leading running back, Abu Sama, so Mouser and Becht will enjoy a full complement of weapons to work with.
“More passes and more deep balls,” Becht said with a smile. “That’s what we’re looking for.”
Couple that aim with Sama’s penchant for producing head-turning plays in the running game and ISU could be poised to improve on it’s 26.2 points per game scoring average from last season, which ranked 10th in the then-14-team Big 12.
“I think for us to come out of spring with (an) identity and for (Becht) to come out of spring really confident in who we are and what our offense is going to look like, and the ways that we can grow, I feel like we can have a big summer,” Mouser said.
And Becht not only has a new offensive coordinator. He has a new quarterbacks coach, as well. Former Kansas State star Jake Waters ascended into that role, but he already worked closely with Becht during his freshman season while serving the Cyclones in a quality control position.
“Rocco, just getting kind of thrown into the fire there — just really impressed with what he can do,” Waters said. “He’s grown so much from the first start (against Northern Iowa last season) to now. He’s extremely accurate. Intelligent football player. Growing every single day in everything he does. Super positive. (We) keep talking with him about his process and what is going to take (him) to the next level.”
That essentially means Becht being Becht. The game never seemed to fast for him last season when he became the starter. Now it’s slowing down to the point that he’s making all the connections he’s seen Mouser make — and plans to make more as spring ball and summer workouts lead into fall camp.
“We’re moving forward and we’re looking forward to week one,” Becht said.
AMES — The Cardinal & Gold Collective announced on Friday morning the hiring of two-time NCAA champion David Carr as the Associate Director of the Collective.
In a release issued by the Collective, Ryan Rohlk, Collective Director, said this about adding Carr to the team:
“Since David came to Iowa State, he has been dedicated to building the wrestling program and attracting the best talent to train in Ames. Today, he enters the next phase of that mission. David has a natural ability to connect with other athletes, staff, and Cyclone wrestling fans. His wrestling skills won him two national titles, but his commitment to building relationships with our donors will continue to create opportunities for other student-athletes to succeed on and off the mat.”
Carr closed out his historic Cyclone career this month by leading Iowa State back into a top-five program finish. Iowa State won a Big 12 team title and finished fourth at the national tournament. Carr himself finished with an undefeated home dual record at Hilton Coliseum, a five-time All-American, and a two-time NCAA Champion.
In the release, head coach Kevin Dresser praised the opportunity to add Carr to the staff, whose role will be working directly with student-athletes to help facilitate their NIL opportunities, cultivating donors, and planning event outings.
“I’m thrilled for David and his new opportunity to do something he is so passionate about. In this new role, he gets to help connect our current and future student-athletes with the Cardinal & Gold Collective. His wrestling credentials speak for themselves, and with his infectious personality, he will be invaluable to the Cardinal & Gold Collective. David will go down as one of the greatest Cyclones ever, and this role allows him to continue building on that legacy.”
Here is what Carr had to say about the role in the release:
“I can’t wait to get started in this new role, as my strengths and personality fit the position perfectly. I love being a Cyclone, and this is an amazing opportunity for me to stay and train in Ames while bridging connections between athletes and Cardinal & Gold’s financial partners.”
Mar 28, 2024; Boston, MA, USA;Iowa State Cyclones forward Hason Ward (24) reacts after a basket against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the semifinals of the East Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State forward Hason Ward participated in the State Farm Slam Dunk and 3-Point Championships at Global Credit Union Arena on the campus of Grand Canyon University Thursday night.
Ward exited in the first round, finishing in eighth place with a score of 45.
Off the Side! #Cyclones | #C5C | @HasonWard pic.twitter.com/2Mv8Vxs439
— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) April 5, 2024
Ward is the first Cyclone ever to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest.
Former Cyclone’s, Donovan Jackson (2018), Nazareth Mitrou-Long (2017), Tyrus McGee (2013), Dedric Willoughby (1997) and Fred Hoiberg (1995) have participated in the 3-point contest at the event.
Nov 18, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Abu Sama III (24) runs the football against the Texas Longhorns at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — One broke a 38-year-old Iowa high school state record in the long jump. The other became Minnesota’s first two-time Gatorade player of the year award winner.
Together, Iowa State sophomore tailbacks Abu Sama and Carson Hansen form a one-two punch in the backfield that should pose a problem for opposing defenses this fall.
“(Hansen’s) someone who — along with Abu — can definitely be an all-down back,” new Cyclones running backs coach and assistant head coach Tyler Roehl said.
That means it will be difficult to keep either Hansen or Sama off the field, which is both an intriguing and potentially problematic prospect for ISU. Both backs showed bursts of brilliance last season as the running game as a whole fluctuated wildly between feast and famine mode.
Sama produced a legendary performance in the Cyclones’ 42-35 win last season over Kansas State. The 5-11, 200-pound Southeast Polk High School graduate rushed for 276 yards and three touchdowns — all of which spanned 60 yards or more — in that snow-swept game in Manhattan. He became the first Big 12 back since Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson to score two rushing touchdowns spanning 70 or more yards in a single game.
“His eagerness to learn, his determination, his work ethic is unbelievable,” Roehl said. “Just some of the small details — my role for him is alignment, assignment, read, key, track. After that, cut it loose and play fast.”
All of which makes Sama an “all-down back” just like Hansen. Sama will likely be the starter in the Aug. 31 season opener against North Dakota, but Hansen should also see plenty of snaps while promising true freshman Dylan Lee tries to carve out a role alongside transfer Jaylon Jackson and former four-star recruit Arlen Harris, Jr.
“He catches the ball well,” Roehl said of the 6-2, 215-pound Hansen, who totaled 182 all-purpose yards last season. “He has the ability to catch the ball and turn a four to five-yard gain into an explosive play. He’s instinctive and his ability to use his body in space — really good body control for a 215-plus pound back — is above average.”
That’s where Roehl aims to get the Cyclones’ running game after languishing in 11th place in the Big 12 in yards per game (119.9) last season. ISU rushed for 87 yards or fewer in six games, so finding consistent production on the ground is of paramount importance to Roehl, who joined Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell’s staff after serving as tight ends and fullbacks coach at his alma mater, North Dakota State.
“I think, as a whole, the most connected units, the most connected teams, are going to be the ones that are extremely successful,” Roehl said. “So to continue to have a group that invests in each other, that rallies around each other, that pours into each others’ success — that’s what’s going to propel this group. And what I see is a group that’s pulling the rope in the same direction. They’re working hard for each other, not against each other.”
Sama and Hansen certainly are. Both expect to provide a significant spike in production after solid rookie seasons and both are happy sharing carries and responsibilities in the backfield.
“We’re always just staying together (and) checking up on each other,” Sama said. “I feel like if we all keep on doing that stuff, just checking up on each other, it will definitely grow.”
Hansen stood on the sideline when Sama dashed though the snow for a 71-yard touchdown run that kicked off his breakthrough performance against the Wildcats. And even then, he exemplified the ultra-supportive approach Roehl expects from his backs this season and beyond.
“I was really juiced up for him,” Hansen said. “To see him have the season he did last year was special to see. We talked about always having joy for other people’s accomplishments and it’s just been really cool to see him be an amazing back. I’m just really excited for him.”
Nov 22, 2023; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Northern Iowa Panthers guard Nate Heise (0) reacts with the bench during the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Imperial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State men’s basketball has added former UNI Panther guard Nate Heise in its second transfer portal addition of the off-season.
The Lake City, Minn. native was on campus for a visit Monday afternoon, and said the biggest selling point to him was the program’s culture.
“After visiting this weekend, I learned about the town and the facilities,” Heise said. “The biggest thing is just the culture. I’d say in the culture that they’ve established there and the way they go about things is special. I felt like it was unique and provided kind of a different way of how they go about their daily life.”
Heise was the Panthers’ leading scorer last season, averaging 13.5 points per game and adding 6.5 rebounds per game.
The 6-foot-5 transfer played all four of his seasons of college ball in Cedar Falls, sitting out the 2022-23 season with a finger injury before getting back on the court this year.
“Obviously, I’ve been (at UNI) for four years and it’s been a great experience,” Heise said. “All the coaches and teammates I’ve had, I couldn’t have asked really for anything more. It was a difficult decision and conversation that I had with all the coaches and that was hard, but I think that I know that was the right decision.”
Now, he’ll reunite with former UNI coaches Kyle Green and Erik Crawford in Ames.
“Obviously at first it helped having that previous connection with Coach Green and Coach Crawford,” Heise said. “Then over the last week or two, I’ve talked to (Coach T.J. Otzelberger) and the staff almost on a daily basis and learned a lot about their program.”
Heise has two years of eligibility remaining in his career.
“The last two weeks, it just felt like a perfect fit,” Heise said.
Iowa State signee Aili Tanke will take the court at Hilton Coliseum for the first time in November, but first she will show off her shooting skills on national TV Sunday.
The Johnston standout is competing in the Intersport Basketball 3-point Nationals, set for a 12:00 p.m. start on CBS.
Tanke led her high school squad in scoring during the 2023-24 season, and finished the year with a 49.6 percent mark from behind the arc.
The in-state recruit also notched an 81.8 percent number from the free throw line and led her team in rebounding.
Jul 12, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark speaks to the press during Big 12 football media day at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Big 12 Conference announced in a press release Tuesday that it would be delaying Big 12 Mexico – a project that was set to debut in 2024 – to 2025.
The release stated:
“Today, the Big 12 announced it will delay the launch of Big 12 Mexico, with a new target date of 2025. Since Big 12 Mexico was announced, a variety of major initiatives have been added to the Conference’s agenda – headlined by the onboarding of four new member institutions. The Big 12 will continue to build its brand in Mexico through its broadcast partners and remains enthusiastic about bringing the Big 12 to Mexico.”
When it was originally announced, the initiative was announced as including men’s and women’s basketball, women’s soccer and baseball in both regular season and exhibition games.
Kansas and Houston were set to face off in both men’s and women’s basketball regular season games to debut Big 12 Mexico at some point during the next season, while women’s soccer and baseball exhibitions had been planned for a later time.
The conference also expressed an interest in hosting a football bowl game in Monterrey beginning in the 2026 season. It would be the first bowl game ever played in the country.
“Mexico is a natural extension to the Big 12 footprint, and I’m thrilled to introduce Big 12 Mexico as the Conference’s first-ever international presence,” Commissioner Brett Yormark said in the initial release. “Through Big 12 Mexico, our student-athletes will have the opportunity to compete in an international setting, and our Conference will have the chance to showcase our brand across Mexico.”
More information on the delay is expected to be announced at a later date.
Spring practice season is in full swing at Iowa State and that brings an amount of recruiting prospects on to campus to have an opportunity to watch the team practice, see the facilities and everything else that goes into the program.
Jordan Vyborny, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end out of Draper, Utah was in town last weekend and has already scheduled his June visit for this summer.
“I really I love the program,” Vyborny said. “I really like what’s going on there, and that’s a great place for producing tight end talent, especially at the next level. I love all the coaches. I love every thing that’s involved with that program, so I’m really excited.”
The 2025 tight end has picked up offers from Oklahoma State and Michigan State since Iowa State offered him on March 23.
He holds other offers from Washington State and Eastern Washington.
“I really just prioritize development and culture,” Vyborny said of what he’s looking for in a future home. “I think culture is very important. Just being surrounded by good people in the community and the program itself, being able to be developed to that next level, like the NFL. Pro football is really important as well, as well as (the program) building me as a man that I can be academically, physically and just everything.”
Vyborny recalls a game where he watched former Iowa State tight end Chase Allen in NFL action, as well as other former players that performed at his position in Ames.
“I’ve watched a couple of games. I think it was Chase (Allen) just balling out,” Vyborny said. “He’s really fun to watch and I’ve seen him in the NFL and it’s just really entertaining. I really love what they did with the tight ends the years prior and what they’re doing now.”
Vyborny is rated as the No. 26 prospect in Utah, where Iowa State has started to recruit harder because of its proximity to incoming Big 12 programs Utah, Arizona State, Arizona and Colorado.
New offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser has already started to build a strong relationship with the Corner Canyon High School prospect.
“I think he’s a great guy,” Vyborny said. “The way he was practicing and the way he was just paying attention to detail with the tight ends – it was just different. He really is a great coach and his personality is just wonderful. I’m building a great relationship with him – I already have one really, but yeah, he’s great.
“He’s going to definitely elevate that position for Iowa State, for sure,” Vyborny said. “I’m really excited to see what he does. I know involve the tight ends maybe even more than what they already have. So it’s just gonna be awesome – I’m really excited to watch that and see what they do.
Vyborny has set up an April visit to Oklahoma State, as well as other unofficial visits Arizona State, Cal and Washington.
He will be in Ames for one of Iowa State’s typically popular summer visit weekends from June 7-9 at Iowa State.
Iowa State running backs coach Tyler Roehl and linebackers coach Colby Kratch both addressed media members in Ames for the first time this spring on Monday.Running backs Abu Sama and Carson Hansen as well as linebacker Jack Sadowsky also fielded questions.
It’s Monday, April 1 and Iowa State Football posted something peculiar to its social media accounts.
Obviously, it’s another April Fool’s Day on social media. Two or three companies or teams that you follow will have some pretty unique and entertaining jokes while the rest of your feeds are filled with faked headlines that do nothing but confuse half of the people that read them, only if its for a split second.
So when Iowa State posts a teaser of three, striped jerseys on the holiday, it’s going to draw some rightful skepticism from fans.
pic.twitter.com/oOqcOTGuR1
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) April 1, 2024
That goes without mentioning the fourth photo being a placeholder image of a photo that will not load – so is it just a joke?
It’s too early to tell.
However, I’d be remiss to not point out that the same stripe pattern appears on the Easter eggs in the graphic below, which was posted earlier Monday.
Happy Easter
pic.twitter.com/Aq0FjejJev
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) March 31, 2024
If these uniforms are indeed real, it would be the first substantial makeover/re-design since the Campbell era uniforms debuted in 2018.
We will have more updates to this story as information can be confirmed in the coming days.
Mar 28, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) and guard Keshon Gilbert (10) talk to the referee against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the semifinals of the East Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — An intact backcourt. Some promising younger players. A skilled big man (or two) from the transfer portal.
Iowa State’s potential roster for the 2024-25 season is filled with scorers and lockdown defenders, particularly at the guard position, where standouts Keshon Gilbert, Curtis Jones and Tamin Lipsey are expected to return after helping to guide the Cyclones to their second Sweet 16 appearance in the past three years.
So the future remains bright, even though this season went dark more quickly than they’d hoped.
“I think we’re probably a top-ten program in the country and when you look at it, that’s really impressive and that’s good for this group of guys,” Lipsey said after last Thursday’s 72-69 loss to Illinois in the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16. “We put in so much work, so we’ve got a lot to build off of.”
Start with Lipsey, a first-team All-Big 12 selection as a sophomore. Sprinkle in seniors such as Gilbert and Jones — both of whom can score and defend at a high level — along with sophomore-to-be Milan Momcilovic, and it’s likely the Cyclones will be among a handful of teams favored to challenge for a Big 12 title in 2024-25.
“You have everybody who scores at a high level coming back,” said outgoing big man Robert Jones, who served as a foundational figure in each of head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s first three seasons. “Curtis coming back. Keshon coming back. The best point guard in the nation (Lipsey) is coming back. … We’ve got a lot of great guys in this program. The fans should have a lot to look forward to.”
Four ISU players entered the transfer portal after the Sweet 16 loss: reserve guard Jackson Paveletzke, redshirt freshman forwards Kayden Fish and Jelani Hamilton, and freshman forward Omaha Biliew, a former five-star recruit who rarely cracked the Cyclones’ experience-laden rotation this season.
The departure of seniors Robert Jones, Tre King and Hason Ward creates a void in the front court, but 7-1 redshirt freshman J.T. Rock is expected to earn minutes and ISU has already plucked well-traveled 6-11 senior Dishon Jackson (11.4 points per game, 6.1 rebounds) of Charlotte from the transfer portal.
“I’ve always felt this — that coaches who do things the way T.J. does them, we’re gonna be back in the Sweet 16 more often than not,” ISU director of athletics Jamie Pollard said. “With the resources we have, the conference that we play in, he’ll put us in a position to be here.”
Otzelberger’s Cyclones have four open scholarships, too, so it’s unlikely they’re done dipping into the portal — particularly in terms of addressing frontcourt needs.
“Once we get our group here in the summer, we’re going,” said Otzelberger, whose team (29-9) fell one victory short of achieving the second 30-win season in program history. “We’re going in June and we’re building those habits right away, so now it’s make sure you get guys healthy, make sure they’re eating right and they’re doing the (right) things for their (bodies), getting in the weight room, and then continue to work on the shooting.”
That’s what Momcilovic will be doing. The 6-6 member of the Big 12’s all-freshman team is his own worst critic, but that speaks to his winner’s mentality.
“I played terrible (against Illinois), but at the same time, it’s gonna be motivation in the offseason, just to work harder, because there’s so much room for improvement for me,” Momcilovic said. “I had a decent freshman year, but I struggled in some stretches, so I feel like I can just play way better.”
That’s the feeling program-wide as ISU seeks to put together an even better season in hopes of crashing through that Sweet 16 ceiling for the first time since 2000. The Cyclones have reached the second weekend in four of the past 10 tournaments, but are convinced they’ll be capable of making a deeper run next season and beyond.
“There (are) gonna be more kicks at this can,” Pollard said. “And I have no doubt, under T.J.’s leadership, that we will go past where we are today.”
Mar 24, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard J’Vonne Hadley (1) reacts after scoring against the Marquette Golden Eagles during the first half at Gainbridge FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State men’s basketball is in the mix to land a commitment from former Colorado guard J’Vonne Hadley.
After the Sweet 16 loss to Illinois, the program quickly shifted its focus to building its roster for the 2024-25 season.
Iowa State will have a zoom meeting with Hadley this week, along with Michigan State according to a report from On3 Sports.
Hadley averaged 11.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game for Colorado last season.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound player was 20-48 (41.7 percent) from the 3-point line and was an 83.9 percent free throw shooter.
Hadley is also a cousin to current Cyclone guard Curtis Jones.
He started his career by playing for one season at both Northeastern and Indian Hills CC before making the move to Colorado, where he has been during the last two seasons. He has one more year of eligibility remaining.
Iowa State is set to have an in-home visit with former South Dakota State forward William Kyle III as it continues to piece together its roster for the 2024-25 season, according to a report from Jon Rothstein.
The 6-foot-9, 230-pound would immediately help fill the void being created with each of the four bigs departing the roster: Hason Ward (graduation), Robert Jones (graduation), Tre King (graduation) and Omaha Biliew (transfer portal).
Iowa State already began to fill that void when it added Charlotte transfer Dishon Jackson last week.
Kyle III ended the season averaging 13.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, collecting 14 points and seven boards in his team’s game against Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
He was a 62.3 percent shooter from the field in this year and shot 58 percent from the free throw line.
The Bellevue, Nebraska native is on a visit at Nebraska on Monday and will meet with Iowa State later in the week.
He has two years of eligibility remaining in his college career.
Nov 22, 2023; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Northern Iowa Panthers guard Nate Heise (0) reacts with the bench during the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Imperial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State men’s basketball is bringing in former UNI guard Nate Heise Monday for an on-campus visit as it starts to build its roster for the 2024-25 season.
The Cyclones have four scholarships open as things stand right now, and believe that Heise could immediately fill some of their needs.
The Lake City, Minnesota native was a three-year starter at UNI and averaged 13.5 points per game for the Panthers this season.
After a pair of games in his third year in Cedar Falls, Heise suffered a season-ending finger injury.
Heise will have at least one year of eligibility remaining and may also have a second season available.
Iowa State Cyclones forward Omaha Biliew (33) takes a shot as New Hampshire Wildcats forward Paul Gakmar (10) defends during the second half of a NCAA college basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State forward Omaha Biliew has officially entered his name into the transfer portal following the end of the 2023-24 season.
Biliew averaged 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds per game this season for the Cyclones.
He recorded his season high 14 points in Iowa State’s win over Grambling State.
Out of high school, Biliew was rated as the No. 11 player in his class and was the highest rated prospect in Iowa State history in the modern era.
Biliew will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Iowa State guard Jelani Hamilton has entered his name into the transfer portal following the end of the 2023-24 season.
The Marietta, Georgia native redshirted during his lone year in Ames.
Out of high school, Hamilton was rated as a three-star prospect, and committed to Iowa State as the 14th highest ranked prospect in the modern era (247 Sports).
Hamilton will have four years of eligibility remaining.
Iowa State forward Kayden Fish has entered the transfer portal following the 2023-24 season.
Fish appeared in four games during his Iowa State career before his season was cut short due to a shoulder injury.
The Kansas City native scored his season high four points in Iowa State’s season opening win over Lindenwood.
He will depart Iowa State with four seasons of eligibility remaining.
Jan 20, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Jackson Paveletzke (1) reacts after scoring during the first half against the TCU Horned Frogs at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State guard Jackson Paveletzke has entered the transfer portal, according to a report from On3 Sports.
The sophomore averaged 3.4 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game for the Cyclones this season.
He recorded his season high scoring 13 points in Iowa State’s win over Florida A&M in December.
Paveletzke originally transferred to Iowa State after winning the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year award in his first season at Wofford.
He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Mar 28, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) reacts with guard Tamin Lipsey (3) against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the semifinals of the East Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
BOSTON — Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey spoke behind moistened eyes, physically and emotionally drained, clinging to the present, while being asked to look toward a bright future.
The Cyclones’ dynamic sophomore guard — an Ames native and lifelong ISU fan — tried to process Thursday night’s 72-69 loss to Illinois in the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16 at TD Garden, but doing so proved to be difficult, if not impossible.
“It was tough,” said Lipsey, who scored eight points while compiling four rebounds and four assists. “We kept getting it to a one-possession game and just weren’t able to get the lead. It was tough because we were fighting and we were working for it, and that’s hard to see when your guys are putting in so much effort and we’re just coming together and trying to fight, but we just come up one step short.”
Say what you want about this Cyclone team (29-8), but maximum “effort” and “fight” defined a season that included a second-place finish in the Big 12, a sixth conference tournament title, and a second Sweet 16 trip in head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s three seasons at the helm. ISU also went undefeated at Hilton Coliseum (18-0) for the first time since 2001 and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament for the third time in program history.
And most of the Cyclones’ nucleus is expected to be back next season, but no one really wanted to talk about the future in the wake of such an excruciatingly narrow defeat that ended the ISU careers of senior big men Tre King, Robert Jones and Hason Ward.
“Just a lot of love for those guys,” said talented freshman forward Milan Momcilovic, who struggled offensively and finished with one point. “When I came in as a freshman, they kind of showed me the way. Led me. They did a lot for this program. Day in and day out they’ve been here, (two or) three years, so just love for those guys and sad to see that we — that I — couldn’t get it done for them today.”
The Illini (29-8) seized control early and led by as many as 13 points, but Cyclone guard Curtis Jones sparked his team off the bench by scoring a team-best 26 points. He scored 11 of ISU’s first 12 points and no other Cyclone converted a field goal in the first half until Lipsey’s layup with 5:29 left. ISU trailed Illinois, 36-26, at the break, but came out of halftime with a plan to attack the rim — and junior guard Keshon Gilbert spearheaded that effort. He drove for the Cyclones’ first three baskets of the second half, Lipsey added a layup, then Gilbert drilled a 3-pointer to make the score, 41-37, with 16:31 left.
“What we talked about at halftime was continuing to be aggressive and impose our will,” said Otzelberger, whose team had three chances to tie or take the lead in the final nine minutes but couldn’t do so. “We’re at our best attacking the rim downhill with our guards and we did a great job starting the half. I thought sometimes we could have been even more intentional throughout the second half, but I felt like our guys had a lot of fight and just couldn’t get over that hump.”
Terrence Shannon Jr. led Illinois with a game-high 29 points. Gilbert scored 13 of his 14 points in the second half. King added 12 points and a game-high seven rebounds and Robert Jones notched six points and four rebounds. King, Jones and Ward closed their Cyclone careers, King and Jones joined Otzelberger’s then-fledgling program when ISU was coming off a 2-22 season. Ward came in the following year. All left indelible marks.
“Those are my real deal bros, for real,” Robert Jones said. “I like to say I like to take a couple bros from every team, but Hason and Tre specifically — I’ve taken him year-to-year the last three years and I couldn’t ask for a better four-man to have my back. I’m just sad it’s all over.”
But unhappy endings often precede promising new beginnings. The three senior big men established a foundation. Guards such as Lipsey, Gilbert and Curtis Jones — along with Momcilovic and other returners — could help the program ascend even higher.
“It was just a lot of good times,” Curtis Jones said. “We had a lot of wins together. I remember all the laughs we had. It was a fun group.”
With more fun yet to come, potentially.
“I’ve got a couple days rest,” Gilbert said, “then I’m right back at it.”
Rob Jones reflects on his career following Iowa State’s Sweet Sixteen loss to Illinois.
Milan Momcilovic gives his thoughts on Iowa State’s season coming to a close.
Keshon Gilbert already using the loss as motivation, looks forward to next season.
Tamin Lipsey talks about the slow start before reflecting on the 2023-24 season.
Iowa State women’s basketball has seen its third departure from the 2023-24 roster to the transfer portal in Nyamer Diew.
Diew started 19 games for the Cyclones this season, averaging 5.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
The former Butler transfer was at Iowa State for three seasons and averaged 23.1 minutes per game during the past year.
She has one year of eligibility remaining in her collegiate career.
Iowa State women’s basketball has seen its second player from the 2023-24 roster enter the transfer portal in freshman Jalynn Bristow.
In her lone season with the Cyclones, Bristow started a pair of games and appeared in all 33 of the team’s contests.
Bristow, a Holliday, Texas native, averaged 5.1 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game under 15.1 minutes.
She recorded her career high in scoring with 17 points in the team’s December matchup against Troy.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach Kevin Dresser announced the addition of Iowa prep standout Tucker Stangel to the program. Stangel is the latest addition to the 2024 Cyclone recruiting class which is set to arrive on campus this fall.
“Tucker is a great addition to our program,” Dresser said. “He’s a proven winner and has had a lot of success at the high school level. He will elevate the level of competition and we’re excited to get him into the room.
Stangel was a two-time Iowa High School state champion and four-time placewinner at Osage. He was named the 2024 Dan Gable Class 2A Mr. Wrestler of the Year after a 54-0 senior season which ended with his second state title.
Projected as a 157-pounder, Stangel posted a 184-9 high school record and finished with back back-to-back undefeated state titles (54-0 as a senior and 40-0 as a junior).
Stangel also placed fourth at the state tournament as a freshman and third as a sophomore.
Iowa State guard Shantavia Dawkins is entering the transfer portal.
The Ontario native announced the news over social media Wednesday night.
Hebrews 11:1 pic.twitter.com/UI9vUrjf2l
— Shantavia Dawkins (@ShantaviaDawkin) March 28, 2024
Dawkins appeared in 10 games for the Cyclones this season and averaged 0.8 points per game.
Dawkins is the first Cyclone from the 2023-24 roster to enter the transfer portal.
Watch the full press conferences from Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger and Illinois’ Brad Underwood ahead of Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup (9:39 p.m. TBS/TruTV).
Mar 6, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger talks to Iowa State Cyclones forward Tre King (0) and Iowa State Cyclones forward Robert Jones (12) during their game with the Brigham Young Cougars in the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
BOSTON — Tre King simply hopes to impact the result. Fellow Iowa State forward Robert Jones seeks to alter it.
Both King and Jones were on the Cyclones’ roster when the team reached the Sweet 16 two years ago before falling, 70-56, to Miami, but Jones is the only returner who actually played. King had to sit on the bench that entire season after coming in from Eastern Kentucky — and also missed roughly half of last season because of NCAA transfer rules.
“That was the first thing I said to our equipment guy,” said King, who will start alongside Jones in Thursday’s 9:10 p.m. NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game against Illinois at the TD Garden. “We were joking around and I said, ‘It’s even better now because I get to play.’ Being able to see it and not being able to play was one the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through as a player. So just knowing that I get to be there and be a part of it with no restrictions, it’s just an amazing feeling. I’m excited to keep winning and take this as far as we can.”
ISU’s starting guards — Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert — along with the Illini’s top guards — Marcus Domask and Terrence Shannon Jr. — take center stage nationally for this matchup between the nation’s top defense and offense, but big men such as King and Jones will have a major impact on the outcome, as well.
“This is my second one and I’m not planning on stopping there,” Jones said after last weekend’s second-round win over Washington State. “We got popped by Miami my first year at Iowa State and now we know the formula to beat teams and get out in front, so we’re gonna bring that sort of tenacity we’ve brought the last four games into the next games we play.”
King shares that mentality — and not just because he, like, Jones, is in win-or-go-home territory in terms of his college basketball career.
“Our goal isn’t just to make it there,” King said “It’s to win and keep winning. Our plan is to get to Phoenix and I think if we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’ll be there.”
LIPSEY’S MISSION The Cyclones’ standout sophomore guard will likely draw primary guard duty on Shannon, who’s averaging 30.1 points during the Illini’s current six-game winning streak. So how does Lipsey plan to curtail his prodigious production?
“Just knowing how good they are offensively — you’ve got to give that respect and really see how they work through things,” said Lipsey, who’s averaging 16 points per game in the NCAA tournament. “Defensively, we’re always trying to be the top defensive team in the country, so just going out there like they’re (any) other team, really, but understanding that they have a lot of power.”
A HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP SHOT It’s become a pregame ritual of sorts for freshman forward Milan Momcilovic and fellow freshman guard Cade Kelderman to stream out of the tunnel by swinging their arms, pumping their fists and shouting joyfully as smiles cross their faces.
Don’t expect that to change for Thursday’s late game, either.
“We’ll come out skipping with a lot of energy,” Momcilovic said, grinning.
Mar 23, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger gestures during the first half against the Washington State Cougars in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
BOSTON — T.J. Otzelberger constantly stresses the importance of strictly adhering to daily habits.
But what precisely does Iowa State’s head coach mean when he talks about the iron-clad routine he’s devised for himself and his team?
“It starts with how you walk into the building,” said Otzelberger, whose second-seeded Cyclones (29-7) will face third-seeded Illinois (28-8) in Thursday’s 9:10 p.m. NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 East Regional game (TNT, TruTV) at the storied TD Garden. “It starts with how you shake hands, how you communicate, what your body language is. No yawning. When somebody asks you how you’re doing, you tell them you’re doing great. (It’s) how (we) approach everything.”
Wait, no yawning?
“We couldn’t yawn in the weight room when it started out,” freshman forward Milan Momcilovic said. “If we yawned in the weight room, we got five to 10 pushups.”
It’s all about discipline. Self-sacrifice. An unwavering belief that fully buying into every aspect of the broader game plan — from the micro to the macro — yields success, and so far, it’s led to two Sweet 16 appearances in Otzelberger’s first three seasons.
“Everything matters,” said 6-7 sophomore spark plug Demarion Watson. “T.J. always preaches it’s the small stuff that matters and how you do anything is how you do everything. From your schoolwork, turning that in on time, not being late to meetings, whether that’s academic or athletic, or even if you have a medical thing. So that’s basically the main thing he preaches and the small things have got us to this point.”
That would be an epic Big 12 vs. Big Ten showdown. ISU’s top-ranked defense, according to KenPom, stacked against the Illini’s No. 1 offense. A Sweet 16 matchup that’s as intriguing on paper as it will be once the ball is tipped late Thursday night in the house Red Auerbach built.
“They’ve got a lot of firepower over there,” Momcilovic said. “Obviously, we have a lot of firepower, so I think it’s just gonna depend a lot on how our offense does because I feel like for the most part we’ll do a good job on the defensive end. Obviously, they’re gonna get their s a little bit. They’re good players, so we’re gonna try to shut them down a little bit.”
That’s easier said than done against an Illini offense led by senior guard Terrence Shannon Jr., who’s averaging 23.3 points per game.
“He’s a great overall player,” said Cyclone sophomore guard Tamin Lipsey, a semifinalist for the Naismith defensive player of the year award. “(I’m) looking forward to the matchup.”
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is not looking forward to facing ISU’s ball pressure.
“They’re going to play exceptionally hard,” said Underwood, whose team is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005. “I’m not oblivious to think that we won’t turn the ball over a few times. You’ve got to be very decisive in your decisions. You’ve got to be ball-tough.”
That’s what Otzelberger stresses in reverse. The Cyclones seek to wreak havoc on the defensive end of the floor and often succeed with that strategy because of the daily habits he’s instilled in his players from the first moment they stop on campus.
Just ask senior forward Tre King, who sat on the bench as a transfer when ISU reached the Sweet 16 in 2022 before falling to Miami. King spent some of his prep years at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va.
“We were very detail-oriented, very structured, and we did a lot of hard things,” King said. “So I wasn’t a stranger to the process. I wasn’t a stranger to the work and that’s something that’s really drawn us together.”
And it purposefully propels the Cyclones’ program forward. No excuses. No slack given, no shortcuts sought.
“We don’t deviate because we want to eliminate any of those external variables and just focus on what the work is,” Otzelberger said, “You did it yesterday. Hit repeat, do it again today.”
So there will be no yawning despite the late tip-off time on Thursday. The Cyclones seek to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2000, but they’re not focused on history. They’re too rooted in the present grind — the minute things that can breed mammoth results.
“When you get to a point like this, you hope every little thing that you did pays off,” senior guard Curtis Jones said. “And it’s definitely paying off.”
Rob Jones previews Illinois’ offense and more.
Curtis Jones previews the Illinois matchup and how the guards stack up.
Milan Momcilovic speaks on why he’s glad he chose Iowa State, No. 1 offense vs. No. 1 defense, and more.
Mar 17, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (0) walk to the media room after defeating Wisconsin Badgers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
BOSTON — Putting his asinine Iowa fandom aside for a moment, my good friend and Iowa Everywhere podcast partner Chris Hassel made a phenomenal point on our show Thursday morning. He called what could be a potential Iowa State win over Illinois on Thursday night (estimated 9:09 central tip on TBS) “generational.”
It’s fantastic analysis leading up to this game.
Iowa State hasn’t been to an Elite 8 since the year 2000 (great, or terrible memories depending on your perspective). To use Hassel’s exact words, “If you’re 30 years old right now, you don’t even remember it.”
I wasn’t an Iowa State fan at the time, but I remember watching that game with passionate fans. It was the first experience in my young life where I saw a mix of alcohol and vandalism within the innocent home of a friend. Poor Larry.
Listen … I’m simply trying to put the opportunity in front of T.J. Otzelberger’s program into perspective. Yes, Iowa State has been to multiple Sweet 16’s in its modern era, so this spot isn’t new. But the Elite 8? That is special stuff. Iowa State is only 1-5 in Sweet 16 games in the program’s history. You have to go back to 1944 to find the program’s only Final Four appearance.
There is a lot of work to be done to get there though as the Cyclones will have to get past the top-ranked offense in all of college basketball and former Big 12 coach (Oklahoma State) Brad Underwood.
THE TERRANCE SHANNON CONUNDRUM … No. 1 vs. No. 1: Enter another former Big 12 foe into the mix … Illinois’ dynamic fifth-year point guard and former Texas Tech Red Raider, Terrance Shannon.
“Terrance Shannon is probably as aggressive and is playing as well as anybody in the country,” Otzelberger said. “They have size everywhere. They don’t start anybody below 6-6.”
Shannon is averaging 23.3 points per game to go with 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists this season. He’s a 36 percent 3-point shooter and beside cohort, Marcus Domask (formerly of Southern Illinois), has led the Illini on a six-game winning streak (the third longest in the country).
“He’s so much more aggressive downhill and in transition,” said Otzelberger in comparing Shannon to his time in the Big 12. “They have frontline guys who can really shoot so the spacing is there for him. You can tell that he knows he’s the guy. In transition, half court, late clock. He is playing with a really high level of confidence. He was a good player early on but the level he is playing now is totally different.”
Mar 27, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (0) practices before round 3 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY SportsThe question arises as to how Iowa State will opt to defend the First-Team All-Big Ten guard. Being the nation’s top-ranked defense, Iowa State has plenty of options.
You could go with Tamin Lipsey, who was recently named to the Big 12’s All-Defensive team. Of course, Keshon Gilbert is a fine option. He absolutely locked down Washington State’s Jaylen Wells in the second half of Iowa State’s Round of 32 victory over the Cougars last Saturday in Omaha.
I expect to see Demarion Watson come off the bench and help. That’s likely the direction this will take—a concerted team effort. That’s what’s great about Iowa State’s defense. There are fantastic individual parts, but what they can do as a team is what makes it elite.
Illinois coach Brad Underwood has compared playing Iowa State to a football game by basically saying, “It’s ok to punt.”
“You have to be very decisive in your decisions,” Underwood said. “They have two guys who do a great job of raking and taking it out of your hands. They are in constant rotation. You have to try to avoid the pick sixes. Take the five seconds if you are in trouble. Punt it.”
Of course, the “pick six” that Underwood is referring to is a live ball turnover that the Cyclones have feasted off of this season. Ranked first overall in defensive efficiency, Iowa State is additionally ranked second in turnover percentage.
For what its worth: The last time Iowa State saw Terrance Shannon was in the 2021 Big 12 Tournament … Texas Tech beat the Cyclones 72-41 (I’m sorry for the reminder). Shannon had 15 points and four rebounds.
HOW GOOD IS ILLINOIS?: A fascinating question…
They are obviously a very formidable opponent that Iowa State will have a difficult time with. Nobody is taking Illinois lightly. But, let’s break down this resume in more depth.
On this six-game winning streak, the best teams Illinois has beaten are Wisconsin and Nebraska – two NCAA Tournament flops. The average defensive rating Illinois has faced during that stretch is 77.2. Duquesne is the highest-ranked defensive squad Illinois has seen during the stretch coming in at No. 31.
According to KenPom.com, the highest rated team Illinois has beaten this year is that Wisconsin squad. Against commonly ranked opponents to Iowa State, Illinois is 0-5 with losses to Purdue (twice), Michigan State, Tennessee and Marquette.
Illinois hasn’t faced a top-10 defense since losing to Tennessee on Dec. 9. That is the only top-10 defense Illinois has played all season long.
Illinois defeated Morehead State (ranked 116th) and Duquesne (ranked 87th) to get to the Sweet 16.
It is dangerous to doubt at team as hot as this Illinois squad, but Iowa State’s resume is much, much stronger. The above is a fair point to ponder.
THE OTHER SIDE: Now I ask myself, “How has Iowa State performed against similarly ranked teams to Illinois?”
Illinois’ defense is rated No. 92 nationally. That would put them 13th in the Big 12, only in front of Oklahoma State (129) and West Virginia (177). Besides that, the next lowest ranked defense in the Big 12 is Baylor at No. 69 and then Texas Tech at 64.
On the flip-side, Iowa State is 5-3 vs. top-20 offenses this season.
None of this is perfect in predicting what the outcome will be, but it is interesting.
A CRAZY STAT: The following blew my mind as I researched Illinois…
This is a program that hasn’t been to a Sweet 16 since 2005! “Since You’ve Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson was the No. 1 song in America at that time. Brad Underwood has NEVER coached in a Sweet 16. To stay on the Kelly Clarkson theme, Underwood has waited a lifetime for “A Moment Like This.”
FINAL THOUGHTS: Iowa State can’t come out and start 3-of-16 and beat the sharp-shooting Illini. But if the Cyclones do indeed shoot it well, I really, really like the matchup.
The best Big 12 comparison I would give Illinois is perhaps Baylor? Really good on offense and average on defense. Iowa State beat the Bears in the Big 12 Tournament and probably should have won that game in Waco.
I know Otzelberger’s mindset well and can guarantee you that he’s preaching, “Our defense is better than their offense. Prove it.”
The Cyclones are about to get their chance at that, and will attempt to make some program history along the way.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Milan Momcilovic & Curtis Jones spoke to media members upon him and his team’s arrival to Boston ahead of Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup between No. 2 Iowa State and No. 3 Illinois.
Iowa State has landed its latest in-state commitment for the 2025 class in standout wide receiver Xzavion ‘Zay’ Robinson out of West Des Moines Valley.
The 6-foot-1 prospect is rated as the top wide receiver in the state. He announced his commitment over social media Tuesday night.
I’m HOME!!! pic.twitter.com/9kci3k2K0y
— Xzavion Robinson (@XzavionRobinso4) March 27, 2024
Robinson chooses the Cyclones over offers from Iowa, Colorado, Kansas State, Missouri and Vanderbilt.
The talented wideout sat out for the 2023 football season due to a shoulder injury that kept him off the field, but he did help lead Valley to its second basketball state championship in a row this season.
Robinson is the fourth player to verbally commit to Iowa State in the 2025 recruiting class that is rated in the top 8 of the in-state prospect rankings on 247 Sports.
Top in-state 2025 prospects (247Sports)
1. Nick Brooks (undecided)
2. Thomas Meyer (Iowa)
3. Alex Manske (Iowa State)
4. Zay Robinson (Iowa State)
5. Mason Woods (undecided)
6. Jack Limbaugh (Iowa State)
7. Malachi Curvey (Kansas)
8. Will Tompkins (Iowa State)
The addition of Robinson brings Iowa State’s recruiting class up to No. 29 in the country at the time of this article. That number will fluctuate a lot going forward, but it’s notably solid start to the class for this staff.
Mar 23, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) guards the ball against the Washington State Cougars during the second half of the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — One Hason Ward free throw.
That’s the only shot No. 4 Iowa State saw go through the hoop in the first six minutes of Saturday’s second-round NCAA Tournament 67-56 win over Washington State.
Then super-sub guard Curtis Jones entered the fray and finally drained a 3-pointer to serve as an offensive stabilizer of sorts, as usual.
“And then we were stuck on four (points) for a while, so it was crazy,” said Jones, who finished with 14 points as the second-seeded Cyclones advanced to Thursday’s 9:09 p.m. Sweet 16 matchup with No. 3-seed Illinois at the TD Garden in Boston. “But I don’t feel like we ever panicked. Like, the coaching staff in the media timeouts, they were just trying to give us solutions and what to look for. We were taking a lot of mid-range, kind of in the middle shots, which is what Washington State wanted us to do — and they told us that at shoot-around, but it was so open, some of us, I think, thought, ‘I have to take this shot,’ but that’s exactly what they wanted us to do.”
ISU (29-7) eventually flipped the script by ramping up its disruptive defense, which is ranked No. 1 nationally according to KenPom. Then Ward skied for one of his patented alley-pop dunks to help set up a high-level, late-night confrontation with the Terrence Shannon Jr.-led Illini.
“We will absolutely be very mindful of that opportunity, and at the same time, my messaging to our guys is going to be to continue to focus on us, being the best team that we can be,” Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger said after guiding his team to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three seasons. “We’ve had a great focus that way, and I feel really confident in our group as we do that.”
Otzelberger’s faith is warranted, given how ISU’s weathered shooting slumps and stretches of lackluster play multiple times late in the season. The Cyclones almost always find a way to win — even when they start 1-for-14 from the field like they did against Washington State.
“Just sticking to our plan,” said Lipsey, who scored a team-high 15 points in Saturday’s victory. “We felt like we had good looks early in the game. They just weren’t falling, so we just had to stick to being aggressive.”
Ward has proven to be a wild card in that scheme by largely avoiding foul trouble in the postseason and providing ISU with a spark off the bench on both ends of the floor. The 6-9, 230-pound senior is shooting a torrid 18-for-21 from the field (85.7%) since the regular season ended and has notched two six-plus rebound games in that span. He’s a mismatch problem who has also blocked at least one shot in eight of the last nine games despite playing between seven and 24 minutes per game during that span.
“I’m happy to be here,” Ward said. “It’s a surreal feeling. I never thought I’d be in this moment, man, but I’m here, so just trying to keep it going.”
So is Jones, whose college basketball journey wound through Indian Hills Community College and Buffalo before he became a Cyclone last summer.
“These games, I don’t even feel too nervous going into them,” said Jones, who’s scored in double figures off the bench in 15 of the past 17 games. “I think the Big 12 schedule prepared us for that. So many big games throughout the season, so just treat every game like another game. Know the stakes are a little higher, but I think we all rise to the occasion.”
Nov 18, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones tight end Benjamin Brahmer (18) celebrates a first down during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron E. Martinez-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Call him Ben. Or Benjamin. Iowa State standout sophomore tight end Ben Brahmer isn’t hung up on formalities when it comes to addressing him by his given — or shortened — first name.
But what does Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell call him?
“Ben?” the 6-7, 250-pound Brahmer said Monday to a handful of reporters. “I don’t really know. I think he calls me Ben.”
Let’s go with that. Either way, Brahmer’s big numbers have helped define him early in his ISU career. The first-team Freshman All-American by The Athletic broke the program’s true freshman tight records for both receptions (28) and receiving yards (352) last season and the best is likely yet to come.
“The sky’s the limit for him,” said fellow sophomore tight end Stevo Klotz, who shined mostly, but not exclusively, as a blocker last season. “He was only here for three months before fall camp (last season), but I think looking at what he did last year and now putting in an offseason and another fall camp, the sky’s the limit.”
Brahmer arrive on campus last June weighing in at a lithe 215 pounds, but assiduously followed a sports nutrition regimen that allowed him to play at around 240 pounds last fall. He did that with extra protein shakes and well-timed meals and hopes to max out at around 255 pounds entering this season.
“Just so I can keep being able to move and obviously get into the blocking game some this year, too,” said Brahmer, who caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Rocco Becht last season.
When Brahmer took the field last season, opponents knew the Cyclones would almost certainly be throwing the ball, but his added bulk allows him to fulfill the entire range of duties associated with the tight end position.
“I think the more we threw at him, the better he got,” said new ISU offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, who served as the tight ends coach last season. “We really haven’t had a tight end that has played like that as a freshman and we asked that guy to do so much in our offense. … He’s all about the guys. He’s all about the team. He wants to win football games. He won state championships at Pierce High School (in Nebraska). His dad’s an incredible football coach, so the expectations are high for him, for us and for everybody. He’’ll only get better as the competition and our offense grows.”
That growth includes a plan to deploy the Cyclones’ pass catchers on more vertical routes as the offense seeks to continue to produce more explosive plays.
“I know (Mouser) wants to do that,” Brahmer said. “And I think the best for me is to get established in the run game. That way I can — they don’t know it’s a pass play every time I’m out there. So just establish yourself in the run game and being able to do it all, that’s kind of my goal this next season.”
So call Brahmer whatever you want — Ben, or Benjamin — but don’t call him one-dimensional.
“I feel like I earned a lot of respect from the guys to step into (a leadership) role,” he said. “I want to keep building on that.”
Iowa State passing game coordinator Deon Broomfield, quarterbacks coach Jake Waters, and players Ben Brahmer, Malik Verdon, Stevo Klotz & Jeremiah Cooper spoke to media members during the spring practice season on Monday in Ames.
When Charlotte transfer forward Dishon Jackson announced his commitment to Iowa State on Monday, he got a message from a former teammate.
Aljaz Kunc, a former Cyclone during coach T.J. Otzelberger’s first two seasons in Ames, was a teammate of Jackson’s during his years at Washington State.
“He said (that) I’m making a great decision,” Jackson said. “He loves coach (Otzelberger). He said, ‘prepare to win.'”
That’s exactly what Iowa State is hoping the 6-foot-11, 260-pound forward can bring, along with his two years of eligibility.
Jackson is a former four-star recruit, and started out at Washington State before eventually sitting out a year due to a health issue (Jackson told CF that the details of this will be made public in time).
Jackson chose the Cyclones over other offers from Xavier, Indiana, Miami and USC.
“Just with coach (Otzelberger) and coach (J.R. Blount), it was pretty simple,” Jackson said of his choice. “I mean, they’ve been calling me since Day 1 of me entering the portal. They’ve been very vocal about what they want from me and how they can get me better. They’ve also been, I feel like, the most transparent and honest at the very least. They have a void that needs filling and I think I can do a great job of filling that void.”
The Oakland, Calif. native spent his most recent season playing for Charlotte in the American Athletic Conference.
There, he averaged 11.4 points per game and 6.1 boards while helping Charlotte to a third-place finish in the league.
Jackson is expected to fill the void being left by departing Iowa State bigs Robert Jones, Tre King and Hason Ward.
“They want me to come in there and play extremely hard defense (and) rebound the ball,” Jackson said. “And they want me to bring some energy to the team. I think those guys have some pretty good energy going and I think I can help them, just like I know the guards can help me.”
In the meantime since his season with Charlotte ended earlier this month, Jackson has tuned in to every Iowa State game to watch his future program in action.
“I think it’s amazing,” Jackson said. “I think they play very hard. I think they play together. I think the coach (Otzelberger) has organized a well-oiled machine where those guys are just playing for each other.”
Iowa State women’s basketball has earned the latest commitment to its international pipeline in 2025 Denmark prospect Freya Jensen.
Jensen, a 5-foot-11 guard, announced her commitment over social media.
I’m excited and honored to announce that I have committed to the University of Iowa State!
Go Cyclones pic.twitter.com/HOE4Yv9xGD— Freya Brahe Jensen (@Freyajensen777) March 24, 2024
During the past season, Jensen is averaging 14.1 points per game and is shooting at a 40.9 percent clip from the 3-point line.
Jensen held offers from both Wyoming and Colorado, and first visited Ames during the 2023-24 season.
She’ll join the Cyclones at the start of the 2025-26 season.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
ATLANTA, Ga. – Iowa State men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been named a finalist for the 2024 Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year. Otzelberger is one of four coaches across the country named as finalist, including two from the Big 12.
Joining Otzelberger as finalist are Dan Hurley (UConn), Lamont Paris (South Carolina) and Kelvin Sampson (Houston).
In his third season at the helm, Otzelberger has led the Cyclones to a Top 10 ranking for the second time, as the Cyclones sit 29-7 overall on the year and are currently ranked No. 4 in the nation after winning the Big 12 Championship. For the second time in three years, Otzelberger has led the Cyclones to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He is the first coach in school history with multiple trips to the Sweet 16.ADVERTISING
Iowa State has a nation-leading 10 wins over AP Top 10 teams under Otzelberger. Iowa State’s 21 AP Top 25 wins under Otzelberger are also the most in the nation. His 70 wins at Iowa State are the second-most in school history by a coach in their first three years, trailing only Larry Eustachy (72).
The 2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Trophy for Men’s College Coach of the Year announcement will take place on Sunday, April 7, at the Naismith Awards Brunch during the Final Four in Phoenix. The Phoenix Art Museum will host the event. SiriusXM will simulcast the live announcement on SiriusXM College Sports Radio (Channel 84).
Fans will once again be able to support their favorite finalist through the Naismith Awards Fan Vote presented by Jersey Mike’s, which runs Tuesday, March 26, through Tuesday, April 2, at naismithfanvote.com. The fan vote will account for five percent of the overall final vote. Fans may also vote by visiting @naismithtrophy and @MarchMadness Twitter pages to vote for their favorite men’s coaches.
The four finalists for each category were chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s national voting academy, comprised of leading journalists from around the country, current and former head coaches, former award winners and conference commissioners, all of whom base their selections on outstanding coaching performances during the 2023-24 college basketball season. The vote was tabulated and verified by the Atlanta team of J.S. Held, a global consulting firm.
Iowa State men’s basketball has added its third player in the past seven days, with transfer portal forward Dishon Jackson announcing his commitment Monday.
AMES WHATUP #Committed pic.twitter.com/AaIxB1KV8p
— Dishon J (@NoLimitDO) March 25, 2024
Last season at Charlotte, the 6-foot-11 forward averaged 11.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game during his 30 starts.
Jackson picks the Cyclones over other offers from Xavier, Indiana, Miami and USC.
Iowa State also added a pair of 2025 commitments over the past week in Macari Moore and Xzavion Mitchell.
Some of his 2023-24 highlights from Charlotte can be seen below. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Audi Crooks and Jalynn Bristow talk following their team’s 87-81 overtime loss to Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday.
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 24: Emily Ryan #11 of the Iowa State Cyclones drives to the basket past Jzaniya Harriel #32 of the Stanford Cardinal during the first half in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Stanford Maples Pavilion on March 24, 2024 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
https://www.caliberiowa.com/STANFORD, Calif. – Iowa State found itself in the middle of an ambush as Stanford fans filled the vintage barn they call Maples Pavilion for a NCAA Tournament second round matchup.
Fans in cardinal shirts – and not the ones that match Iowa State’s jerseys – filed into the arena as two of America’s most prolific post players got ready to compete. One would score 41 punches on the Cyclones, and despite an 87-81 overtime loss, the Cyclones took the fight to the final bell.
“Yeah, it was a lot of fun,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said about coaching in the marquee game. “It really was. Both teams played hard. Both teams made plays. I think it’s — you know, we talk about the growth of the sport, and I think to see two teams play the game out right way, play hard, a lot of skill, a lot of people that just kept doing things to impact success for their team. So yeah, it was fun. It’s what this tournament is all about. It was fun to watch or kids compete and certainly not as much fun watch Stanford play as well as they did. That’s the nature of that beast I guess.”
For the first time in a long time, Iowa State fans in the crowd were outnumbered – by a lot.
It was perhaps the one environment that the youngsters hadn’t yet experienced, save a trip to or past the second weekend of the big dance. Add in the physicality that the matchup demanded.
“No, it was very physical,” Fennelly said. “I don’t think anyone would disagree with that. You know, we just don’t have enough bodies to sustain that. When Audi got to foul trouble, that’s a problem. That’s the way college
basketball is going. The game is way too physical – that’s just me, no one cares what I think. But it is what it is. We have to play through it better, coach it better. But that’s the nature of the NCAA Tournament especially. So we’ve got make some adjustments moving forward probably.”
That wouldn’t be anything to shy away from for Iowa State’s captain, Emily Ryan.
The veteran started to find open space. Stanford’s defense would put a major focus on Audi Crooks, leaving open some opportunities at deep balls that were there for the taking – Ryan took advantage.
The point guard tallied 36 points on 12-of-21 shooting (6-9 from the 3-point line) with nine rebounds and four assists in 42 minutes on the floor.
“At the end of the day the only number that really matters is the final score on the scoreboard,” Ryan said of her game. “That’s the only one I focus on. I try to do whatever I can for the team to put us in a position to win. Unfortunately, (I) didn’t do quite enough tonight. It’s 100 percent team effort and as a team we just weren’t able to make quite enough plays. So we’re going to take that into the offseason and use it as fire and remember this feeling, bottle it up, so on days we don’t want to wake up at 6:00 a.m. to go do conditioning, we can find that extra motivation to push hard.”
Iowa State would need all of Ryan’s 36 points.
Stanford’s Kiki Iriafen played one of the most complete games of anyone this season, earning 41 points and 16 rebounds while playing over 40 minutes.
“They went to (Iriafen) a lot,” Fennelly said. “She got 30 shots off. We tried to double team a couple times. We tried a lot of different things. But she’s so
skilled. Like you said, she is physical going to the basket. She has a little mid-range shot that’s hard to guard. But she’s one of those kids that in-person was much better than on video. Just a tremendous talent. Just
another in the long line of outstanding post players to play here.”
Throughout the game, the teams would trade punches. Stanford won the tip and scored 16 seconds later, as Iowa State couldn’t find the nylon in the game’s first two and a half minutes.
Hannah Belanger drilled a 3-pointer, extending Iowa State’s streak of games with a made three to 927. Then it was on.
As the crowd got more into the game, the intensity ramped up. Crooks found a bucket near the rim and Stanford’s Cameron Brink would miss a shot to give the ball right back to the Cyclones, as her team was clinging to a 13-11 lead.
Addy Brown made a three to give Iowa State the lead. Less than 30 seconds later, Ryan canned another, and before the first quarter to end the pair had each found one more in the final minute, giving the Cyclones a 23-16 lead.
“Yeah, I think coach prepared us for that before the game even started,” Brown said of the punch-for-punch nature of the game. “We heard it all season. Sometimes you’ve got to keep your hands up and take the hits and stay on your feet. That was kind of our mindset. Like we knew we could compete with that team, and you can’t think about it for too long. It’s next-play mentality. They make a shot, okay, fine. Next play. We’re going to go down, run our offense, hit our shot as well. So just thinking about that.
The teams continued to trade punches, and would have entered the halftime break tied had Emily Ryan not drew a shooting foul that sent her to the line for two of her six made shots from the charity stripe.
That only continued in the second half. Arianna Jackson hit a 3-pointer to put Iowa State ahead by four points, only for Stanford’s Talana Lepolo to hit one in response 26 seconds later.
With 10 minutes to go, each team had 50, and Stanford was prepped to be the first one’s swinging in the fourth quarter.
Hannah Jump hit a 3-pointer to give Stanford a 5-point lead with 8:40 to go. After buckets from Crooks and Brown, Ryan would put down a 3-pointer to tie the game again, with 7:02 remaining.
The two teams would trade the lead six more times in the final seven minutes of the game, and Crooks would draw the foul that disqualified Brink from the game late in the fourth quarter.
“I think we were excited to be in the game and going into overtime,” Brown said. “We had them where we wanted them. We just couldn’t finish it out in the last segment of overtime there. But just – we gave them everything we had, and so we can walk out at least knowing we gave it all we had.”
In overtime, Crooks drew her fifth foul of the night, with 3:42 to play. It was fittingly the first big punch thrown by Stanford in the extra period, and one that paid off down the stretch.
“No, we had to change,” Fennelly said of his gameplan as Crooks picked up fouls. “Audi is our only really legitimate low post threat. Nelly doesn’t score for us on the block. We had to change our offense a little bit and not try and go in the post defensively. We were obviously with Audi in foul trouble a lot in second half and then fouling out early in the overtime – that’s a
problem – but offensively was the biggest difference, because we run
a lot of different stuff when Audi is in the game compared to Nelly. So we did have to make some changes there.”
Iowa State did all that it could without Crooks on the floor – Brown hit a three just after the ejection, giving Iowa State a 74-72 lead with three minutes remaining.
The teams traded blows again, from that score to a 80-78 game that Stanford led with 53 seconds to go.
Addy Brown would make a three to give Iowa State the lead with 31 seconds remaining, but Stanford’s Brooke Demetre quickly quieted the momentum, canning a three 12 seconds later.
Iowa State had a chance to tie the game, but turned the ball over on the last possession it had to make things happen, closing the book on an unsuspecting season.
“I could not be more proud of the way they’ve carried themselves,” Fennelly said. “It’s been a great nine months, one the best seasons of my life coaching. At this point in my career, you didn’t know if you would get this chance, and these guys gave me that chance. I could not be more excited about what they did, how they did it. How they carried themselves. I’m certainly disappointed in the result, but (we will) celebrate what they did. The sad part for me is we don’t have practice tomorrow.”
Iowa State will go through its offseason like every program in the country, and with numerous question marks that will always be everlasting in today’s form of college basketball.
But if there’s anything to take away from a judge’s decision loss in Stanford – it’s the chemistry surrounding the group that went to battle, and that’s a good sign for Cyclone fans.
“The ceiling is limitless in my opinion,” Crooks said. “Nobody thought we were going to be anything – let’s be honest. And here we are going into overtime with Stanford – are you kidding me? So, we have a lot of potential. We have a lot more work to do. This ain’t the last of us. You’re going to see us again.”
OMAHA, Neb. — Iowa State “chief energy officer” Conrad Hawley locked eyes with Keshon Gilbert and nodded emphatically. Gilbert — the Cyclones’ standout junior guard — nodded back and said, “I know, I know.”
Gilbert had just completed a 3-point play Saturday against Washington State and it fueled a second-half run that helped propel ISU to a 67-56 second-round NCAA tournament victory over the Cougars at CHI Health Center Arena.
But what did Hawley — a reserve who rarely plays while still playing a vital role on the team — say to him?
“I just said that he’s that guy,” Hawley said. “He’s one of the best players in the country and it’s my job to have his back.”
Yeah, Gilbert knows.
“It was just a great feeling, honestly,” said Gilbert, who was one of four players to score in double figures for the Cyclones, who advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years. “Conrad’s always there for me whenever my head’s down, or I’m not feeling confident. He’s always there to remind me you’re doing this and you’re good at it, so do what you do. Just a great feeling in the moment.”
Gilbert didn’t score a point after that play with 16:03 remaining, but fellow guards Tamin Lipsey and Curtis Jones calmly drained 3-pointers moments later to give ISU (29-7) a two-possession lead that it would eventually extend into double digits five minutes later on forward Tre King’s steal and short turnaround jumper in transition.
Lipsey led the Cyclones with 15 points and Jones added 14 off the bench. Gilbert and freshman forward Milan Momcilovic added 10 points apiece — and all of the latter’s points came after halftime.
“I’ve definitely grown throughout the year,” said Momcilovic, who went 4-for-5 from the field in the second half after missing all five of his shots before the break. “I feel like I maybe would have shut down a little bit and not been as aggressive back then, but definitely I grew and I learned. I’ve just got to stay aggressive and keep shooting because my teammates at halftime were like, ‘You’ve gotta keep shooting.’”
So he did. But so did Lipsey, who sank two challenging stepback 3-pointers in the second half, but never flashed the “three sign” with his hand, or strutted down the floor. Instead, the sophomore standout appreciatively turned to face the throng of ISU fans who packed the arena, remembering that not long ago he would have been one of them.
“I was stoked inside and obviously just turned to the crowd and sort of looked at them while I was getting back,” said the Ames native, who now owns a 27-to-4 assists-to-turnover margin in this postseason that will now wind through Boston. “The excitement they had on their faces just pushed me to keep going, really.”
The Cyclones struggled early, sinking just one of their first 14 field goal attempts — a Jones 3-pointer — and trailed by as many as eight points in the first half. ISU finally discovered some offense when Gilbert and Lipsey drove and finished strong at the rim, scoring a combined 14 consecutive points to help their team even the score at 27-27 at halftime.
“Those are two of the best guards in the nation right now,” said senior big man Robert Jones, who helped cap the triumph with a fastbreak dunk with 26 seconds left. “They control the tempo well on the offensive end. They get after it on the defensive end. They’re really the head of the snake right now and we’re feeding off their energy.”
The Cyclones are tapping into their big crowds, too, starting at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center, which has long been dubbed “Hilton South,” and continuing through CHI Health Center Arena, a.k.a “Hilton West.”
“It’s a testament to our fan base and the way they show up from us,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “We go from at home — without losing, we go to Hilton South, Hilton West, and hopefully we’ve got Hilton East, still coming up soon.”
The Cyclones will play third-seeded Illinois on Thursday at the TD Garden. They haven’t reached the Elite Eight since 2000 and their last and only Final Four trip came in 1944. But history — or a relative lack of it — doesn’t faze ISU. Just ask Gilbert, who transferred in from UNLV and is determined to extend his team’s tournament run beyond Boston.
“I want to go further,” he said in the locker room. “That’s really it.”
Iowa State earned its fourth commitment to the 2025 recruiting class on Saturday – including its third in-state addition to the group.
Algona edge rusher Jack Limbaugh made his commitment official over social media.
STAYING HOME!@CycloneFB pic.twitter.com/NTN4yXsqqX
— Jack Limbaugh (@limbaugh_jack63) March 24, 2024
“Really what it came down to in the end was the coaching staff,” Limbaugh said. “I have a great relationship with Coach Rasheed and Coach Heacock, and they really made it feel like home for me. And man, I just see myself playing for them for the next four years.”
The 6-foot-4, 228-pound prospect is rated as the No. 40 player in the country at his position and is the No. 6 player out of the state of Iowa by 247 Sports.
He chose the Cyclones over offers from Iowa, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Northwestern and Duke.
“I’ve just been really impressed by their culture, and what they stand for,” Limbaugh said. “I mean, like Jack trice was one heck of a guy and one heck of a man, not just a football player. And so that’s what I’m really looking for is a program to help me develop into a better man, not just a better football player, and I really feel like Iowa State is the best fit for me to do that.”
Limbaugh became the fourth player to commit to the 2025 class, joining his high school teammate Alex Manske and fellow in-state commit, Will Tompkins, out of Cedar Falls.
Trey Verdon, current Cyclone Malik Verdon’s younger brother is the other commit for the class.
“It’s awesome to be able to know that they are retaining in-state talent and are able to recruit the state that they’re in, and not just look to go to outside places,” Limbaugh said.
“Al is one of my best friends. Obviously, we live about a mile from each other, we go to the same school, play on the same team – we’re really good friends. So that’ll be that’ll be a blast, being able to do college football with him. And Will Tompkins and I trained together for like a year now… So we’re all really close, and we text each other all the time, so it’s gonna be a blast.”
TJ Oztelberger speaks on making his second Sweet Sixteen, his love for Iowa State, and more.
Tamin Lipsey speaks on growing up a Cyclone, his offensive improvement, and more.
Rob Jones speaks on his journey to Iowa State, making his Sweet Sixteen, and more.
Curtis Jones speaks on what it means to make a run at this point in his career after another big game.
Hason Ward speaks on his big game and more.
Milan Momcilovic talks about making a run as a freshman, how far the team has come, and more.
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly and players Audi Crooks, Emily Ryan & Addy Brown addressed media members ahead of their team’s upcoming Round of 32 game against No. 2 Stanford.
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: Audi Crooks #55 of the Iowa State Cyclones reacts after scoring and being fouled on the shot against the Maryland Terrapins during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Stanford Maples Pavilion on March 22, 2024 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
https://www.caliberiowa.com/STANFORD, Calif. – Iowa State women’s basketball played five freshman routinely in its nine-player rotation this year. On Friday it made the second biggest comeback in NCAA Tournament history to punch its ticket to the Round of 32.
On Sunday (9 p.m. ESPN) it will face No. 2 Stanford, a historical stalwart in women’s basketball that hasn’t lost more than six games in a season in six years and is 42-5 in NCAA Tournament games at home.
“It’s a hard thing because they’re going to get some stuff, but I do think our offense has to be really efficient,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “They’re so precise in what they do, how they defend. Their length is a real problem inside and outside. So, yeah, we’re going to have to do some things and gamble a little bit, and like any game, you hope that the kids that are great shooters don’t have a great night and you hope a couple of the guys on your team that maybe have struggled a little knock a few in. That’s the nature of this event. That’s what we’re hoping for tomorrow.”
The Cardinal boast a pair of post talents in Kiki Iriafen and Cameron Brink – who each are in the top 60 in scoring nationally this season.
Those two will go head-to-head with budding Iowa State star Audi Crooks, who is coming off of a career-high, 40-point game Friday.
“I’m glad I don’t have to guard her,” Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said of Crooks. “We have players on our team that are going to work really hard against her. They’re not a one-trick pony. They have some really great perimeter shooters, again, great schemes, work really hard. They know what they’re doing out there. I think it should be a really great game.”
Stanford’s got guards that can put up numbers, too, and layers and layers to its own successes.
But Fennelly’s message to his team was a lot like the old days in the Big 12 preparing for Baylor teams that were stacked at the post.
“We talked about it a lot today in our meeting, and basically Cameron Brink blocks a lot of shots and she’s going to block them tomorrow,” Fennelly said. “Don’t feel about bad about it. You got to go to the basket. Got to make plays. Can you get a foul on her if she blocks it out of bounds our run an in-bounds play? I think we’ve always tried to balance that a little bit. Kind of goes back to when we played against Brittney Griner for four years. You have to be smart about it, but you cannot shy away from that, because once you do that, then it’s one thing to block shots, it’s another thing to change the game thinking people are going to block shots. So we don’t want to play that way. You know, she’ll get a few tomorrow and hopefully not too many.”
Going against the odds has been a theme for the Cyclones over the season.
Part of what made the team’s success possible was the characteristics of its five freshmen.
“Our team is pretty loose,” Fennelly said. “It’s just their personality. I do think when you get into the NCAA tournament, the pressure to win the first
game is really, really hard. Obviously we didn’t win the first game last year. No matter what you do, obviously I’m not big on ‘you have nothing to lose.’ Yeah you do. You have a game to lose and seasons to end. I don’t buy into that, but I do think our kids, they understand. They’re smart. We’re playing one of the best teams in the country in their building. I don’t think anyone is going to go into it, besides my grandson probably, picking us to win. That’s what this tournament is about.”
Playing loose certainly helped CrooksFriday.
That’s been a trait shared throughout the roster, and made a difference in it comeback wins over Baylor and West Virginia, or on the big stage punching a Big 12 title game ticket in the wins over Baylor and Oklahoma.
“We have to play 40 really good minutes,” Fennelly said. “It’s not a best four out of seven. Our kids are excited. They know the opportunity in front of them. We’ll show up and compete and try and find a way to score on them and guard them.”
Don’t expect Crooks to vie for another career high, though.
She’s approaching it like any other game she’s played.
“I’m just going to stick to the game plan,” Crooks said. “I say this in every interview. Do whatever I can, and take whatever opportunities that come to me. Last night obviously that was interesting, so I’m — not every game is
going to be like that. However, I’m just going to take what the team gives.”
We’ll find out on Sunday what Iowa State is able to force Stanford to give.
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Wrestling
Head coach Kevin Dresser talks about the medal round and how his guys performed with Evan Frost, Casey Swiderski and Anthony Echemendia on the podium.
Iowa State’s Casey Swiderski placed seventh and will All American at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships. He breaks down his emotions closing out his tournament.
ICYMI: Iowa State’s 165-pounder, David Carr talks about his win against Keegan O’Toole in their final time meeting in their collegiate careers and more in the official NCAA Wrestling Championships press conference.
Iowa State men’s basketball earned its second commitment to the 2025 recruiting class on Saturday, and he’ll be the first Cyclone out of Oshkosh, Wisconsin since Tyrese Haliburton.
Xzavion Mitchell, a 6-foot-6 forward, becomes the second top 150 prospect to join the class. He announced his commitment over social media
https://x.com/XzavionMitchell/status/1771583969831629275?s=20
Mitchell is rated as the No. 120 prospect in the country by the 247 Sports composite scale, and the No. 3 player out of Wisconsin.
He chose the Cyclones over other offers from Wisconsin and Cal Poly.
Below are a pair of highlights from some of Mitchell’s bigger performances – one where he suited up for Tyler Herro’s EYBL team against Duke commit Cooper Flagg.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – David Carr punched his ticket to the 165-pound national finals Friday night inside the T-Mobile Center while two other Cyclones – Evan Frost and Casey Swiderski – secured their spots on the podium.
In a match for the ages, Carr bested O’Toole for the third time in a historic five-part rivalry. O’Toole controlled the mat in the opening period, but Carr struck first in the second with a smooth duck-under for a takedown. O’Toole answered back and look a late lead on a takedown with 53 seconds left in the match, but Carr hung tough and secured the winning takedown with 10 seconds remaining.
Carr is now a three-time finalist and prevented O’Toole from winning his third consecutive national title.
Iowa State has four All-Americans for the first time since 2009 – Anthony Echemendia, Frost, Carr and Swiderski. The Cyclones are in a tie for fourth place with 59.5 points, along with Arizona State. Penn State leads the way with 148.0, followed by Michigan (64.5) and Iowa (60.0).
Frost earned his spot on the podium with a gritty 2-1 victory over Minnesota’s Tyler Wells. After a scoreless first, the Cyclone got out quickly from underneath in the second period. In the third, Frost put on a tough ride, wracking up over 1:30 of riding time, and held off a furious rally from Wells to get on the podium.
At 149 pounds, Swiderski gutted out a 2-1 victory in tiebreakers against Ohio State’s No. 14 Dylan DEmilio. Swiderski was in on a shot multiple times in regulation but couldn’t get past the Buckeye’s stingy defense. In tiebreakers, Swiderski earned a quick escape and held DEmilio scoreless.
Swiderski would fall later in the session to West Virginia’s Ty Watters and will wrestle for seventh place Saturday morning.
Echemendia took top-seeded Jesse Mendez of Ohio State to the brink in the 141-pound semifinals but came up just short. Echemendia was close to a takedown as the clock hit zeros in the third but didn’t have enough time to finish as he fell, 6-4, to the Buckeye.
MJ Gaitan fell just short in his blood round bout against No. 3 Edmond Ruth, 8-6.
Up Next
Medal rounds will take place Saturday at 10 a.m. on ESPNU while finals begin at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
Match-by-Match Results
125: No. 24 Kysen Terukina – DNP
First Round: L-D, 9-4 vs. No. 9 Patrick McKee (MINN)
Consis. Rd. 1: W-D, 4-2 vs. No. 25 Ethan Berginc (ARMY)
Consis. Rd. 2: LBF (5:34) vs. No. 7 Jakob Camacho (NCST)
133: No. 8 Evan Frost
First Round: W-D, 8-5 vs. No. 25 Braden Basile (ARMY)
Second Round: W-D, 4-1 vs. No. 24 Julian Chlebove (ASU)
Quarterfinals: L-D, 2-1 TB-1 s. No. 1 Daton Fix (OKST)
R12: W-D, 2-1 vs. No. 20 Tyler Wells (MINN)
R8: vs.
141: No. 5 Anthony Echemendia
First Round: W-TF, 20-4 (6:51) vs. No. 28 Greyson Clark (Purdue)
Second Round: W-D, 8-2 vs. No. 21 Josh Edmond (MIZ)
Quarterfinals: W-D, 5-3 vs. No. 4 Ryan Jack (NCST)
Semifinals: L-D, 6-4 vs. No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OHST)
R8: vs. No. 3 Real Woods (IOWA)
149: No. 8 Casey Swiderski
First Round: W-D, 2-1 vs. No. 25 Matthew Williams (ARMY)
Second Round: W-D, 8-5 TB-1 vs. No. 9 Ethan Fernandez (CORN)
Quarterfinals: L-MD, 14-4 vs. No. 1 Ridge Lovett (NEB)
R12: W-D, 2-1 TB-1 vs. No. 14 Dylan D`Emilio (OHST)
R8: L-MD, 10-2 vs. No. 5 Ty Watters (WVU)
Seventh-Place Match: vs. No. 11 Quinn Kinner (RID)
157: No. 14 Cody Chittum – DNP
First Round: L-MD, 17-6 vs. No. 19 Tommy Askey (APP)
Consis. Rd. 1: W-TF, 20-4 (5:00) vs. No. 30 Colton Washleski (RID)
Consis. Rd. 2: L-D, 14-3 vs. No. 13 Michael Blockhus (MINN)
165: No. 4 David Carr
First Round: W-TF, 18-2 (4:52) vs. No. 29 Evan Maag (GMU)
Second Round: W-MD, 10-1 vs. No. 20 Hunter Garvin (STAN)
Quarterfinals: W-D, 5-0 vs. No. 5 Dean Hamiti (WIS)
Semifinals: W-D, 8-6 vs. No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (MIZ)
Finals: vs. No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU)
174: No. 15 MJ Gaitan – DNP
First Round: L-D, 18-11 vs. No. 18 Benjamin Pasiuk (ARMY)
Consis. Rd. 1: WBF (4:11) vs. No. 31 Michael Wilson (RID)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-MD, 14-4 vs. No. 16 Jackson Turley (RUT)
Consis. Rd. 3: W-D, 13-8 vs. No. 8 Adam Kemp (POLY)
R12: L-D, 8-6 vs. No. 3 Edmond Ruth (ILL)
184: No. 17 Will Feldkamp – DNP
First Round: WBF (2:29) vs. No. 16 Nate Dugan (PRIN)
Second Round: L-TF, 19-4 (6:52) vs. No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-MD, 15-5 vs. No. 15 Reece Heller (PITT)
Consis. Rd. 3: L-D, 4-2 vs. No. 10 Dylan Fishback (NCST)
285: No. 2 Yonger Bastida – DNP
First Round: WBF (1:50) vs. No. 31 Bennett Tabor (MINN)
Second Round: W-TF, 20-5 (6:20) vs. No. 15 Lewis Fernandes (CORN)
Quarterfinals: L-D, 6-4 vs. No. 10 Lucas Davison (MICH)
R12: L-D, 8-3 vs. No. 13 Yaraslau Slavikouski (RUT)
Audi Crooks goes up for a shot during Iowa State’s 93-86 win over Maryland in Friday’s NCAA Tournament first round game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford. Photo Courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications // Luke Lu
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Stanford, Calif. – Iowa State trailed Maryland by 16 points during the halftime break of Friday’s NCAA Tournament game.
Maryland connected on 9 of its first 12 3-point attempts, and had Iowa State scrambling to find spots where the defense needed to be. It looked all the part of a game separated by 16 points.
Enter Iowa State, with a focus on post star Audi Crooks in the second half. Behind her 40-point performance, the Cyclones erased the deficit in seven minutes, and move on to the second round with a 93-86 win.
“At halftime coach (Fennelly) told us what we do is up to us,” Crooks said. “The way that this falls, if this is how we want to go out, that’s up to us. What happens on the floor is our responsibility. It’s our fault. They can’t play the game for us, and it was just a matter of pride just knowing that we weren’t playing to our best abilities, and then going out there showing what we can do and we did that.”
The Algona native nearly broke Iowa State’s single-game scoring record (42, set by Tonya Burns in 1984), and ended the night with 12 rebounds on a 18-20 mark from the field.
Crooks becomes the first player in NCAA Tournament history to score 40 or more points and finish with a 90% shooting mark from the field.
“She dropped 40 on 20 shots,” point guard Emily Ryan said. “That’s pretty eye-popping right there. It was a special night for her but, as well as our team, but couldn’t have happened to a better person and I’m glad I get to share the court with her.”
Ryan had her own superstar night – although it may be overshadowed given the circumstances. She finished with 18 points and 14 assists.
Time after time down the floor, Iowa State’s captain was dropping high, lofty passes that ended up in the arms of Crooks, who would cash in for a bucket to finish the possession.
“(I’m) just grateful,” Crooks said. “I can’t say thank you enough to the people that I’m surrounded by. When you’re surrounded by people that you love, that care about you that trust you as much as they do to get me the ball, that speaks volumes to how we play as a unit and yeah, just I bow down to the guards.”
Lob passing has been something Iowa State worked on frequently this year, and it showed on Friday.
“We worked really hard on that,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “Early in the year, we were not sure the best way to go about it. But I think what happens is, because of the positions she can get, Audi has amazing hands. So it’s like a wide receiver. It’s like my man, Austin Arnaud, the way he used to throw to Iowa State receivers, like ‘hey, I know my guy is going to catch it.’ And we have multiple people that can make the passes. Obviously Emily does most of it, but Addy Brown has been really good.
“We spend — and for us, it’s been a learning curve because we have not had a true low-post player in our program for 25 years,” Fennelly said. “And so it’s been something we’ve all had to learn, and Audi has been really patient with us (and) patient with her teammates.”
Facing the 16-point deficit, Iowa State came out swinging.
Hannah Belanger and Ryan each hit 3-pointers in two of the first three possessions of the half – they showed that they weren’t out of it, yet.
After Maryland’s Shyanne Sellers made a shot to put Iowa State down by 11, Kelsey Joens canned a 3-pointer to cut it to eight. Then the ball was rolling.
“I think more so than technical basketball, (the comeback) was more about shilling through the lows,” Ryan said. “We just stayed connected. There was a lot of belief throughout. And when it comes to March, you want to keep playing and be able to show up the next day and continue to be around
this team because it’s something special and you don’t want it to end.
That’s something you want to really remember when you’re playing, and you don’t want the season to end for your seniors because it’s their last go-around, too. So just trying to extend the season as long as possible so you can make more memories of March.”
Maryland’s Allie Kubek hit a jumper right out of the timeout.
She had given the Iowa State defense all it could handle throughout the game, going 5-5 in the first half from the 3-point line and finishing 7-8 from distance. That’s after making just 13 triples in total during the regular season.
But Iowa State took its punches.
Crooks got a layup on the other side and Kelsey Joens drew a foul that resulted in the third quarter media timeout.
The Cyclones got 12 points, three rebounds and nearly 22 solid minutes out of Joens in the victory. Her plus/minus was a team-high +14, along with Crooks (+14) and Ryan (+13) that stood out over the rest of the team in that category.
Joens hit both of her free throw’s and let the Iowa State defense go to work.
The Cyclones forced stops on five straight possessions to claw back into the game.
Then Joens capped the comeback with a game-tying 3-pointer that brought every Iowa State fan in the crowd to its feet.
The Cyclones took the momentum and ran, celebrating at the end of the night with a trip to the second round secured.
“As far as the shots go, I think we did have better looks in the second half because they were kind of collapsing a little bit more, and I think the other thing that happens is, for us, you can get a transition three once in a while,” Fennelly said. “We finally stopped them maybe once or twice and got a transition (three). It’s tough to get a transition basket or good look when you’re taking the ball out of the net all the time. So when we finally got some stops, ran it up the court and hit a skip pass or two, Kelsey, Hannah hit some big ones, Emily hit some. I think it was more coming off of our defense being better.”
The 20-point comeback is the second largest in NCAA Tournament history, only to Texas A&M’s 21-point comeback against Penn State in 2017.
Iowa State will face No. 2 Stanford on Sunday for a spot in the Sweet 16. Time and TV selections will be made available at a later time.
“This is a big night, not for me, but for Iowa State,” Crooks said.
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Audi Crooks & Emily Ryan addressed media members following their team’s 20-point comeback win over Maryland in the NCAA Tournament on Friday. There are locker room videos with Addy Brown and Hannah Belanger below as well.
Bill Fennelly, Emily Ryan, and Audi Crooks address the media following a huge comeback victory over Maryland to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
Mar 16, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones hold their ticket to the NCAA tournament after the game against the Houston Cougars at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
OMAHA, Neb. — No one needed to say a word. No one piped up with a pep talk. Instead, in the wake of Iowa State’s regular season-closing 65-58 loss at Kansas State, the Cyclones looked inward and vowed not to repeat that type of performance.
“That loss reminded us that we could lose,” senior ISU big man Robert Jones said. “That feeling of that loss kind of triggered better basketball to be played. Going into the locker room after a loss like that and knowing we could have closed out the (regular) season on a high note just kind of fueled us going into the Big 12 tournament. It reminded us how that loss feels. And from that, we kind of knew, ‘OK, we don’t want this feeling again, so we’ll do anything in our power to try to continue to win.”
So far, so good. The second-seeded Cyclones cruised past the Wildcats, No. 17 Baylor and No. 2 Houston to win the Big 12 tournament, then handled 15th-seeded South Dakota State, 82-65, on Thursday night. That losing feeling is now a distant memory, but the next time it comes, it will be accompanied by a brutal sense of finality — unless ISU can take care of seventh-seeded Washington State at 5:10 p.m. Saturday to reach the Sweet 16 and drive even deeper into March.
“Any loss like (the Kansas State loss) could wake anybody up, honestly,” said Cyclone guard Keshon Gilbert, who was named the most outstanding player of the Big 12 tournament. “We probably got a little bit too complacent. We probably thought we couldn’t be touched and then that loss kind of opened us back up — and I would rather have it then than now.”
BIG FAN OF RUNZA Washington State coach Kyle Smith‘s team is making its first NCAA tournament appearance in 15 years and he said playing the Cyclones in Omaha essentially amounts to a road game. There is a silver lining, however — and he found it at a Nebraska-only fast food chain.
“It will be a road game,” Smith said. “No secret there. We kind of have a little chip. They sent us out here to the Midwest, which has been very hospitable, and I found out what a Runza is — incredible sandwich. I want to get that on record. It’s like a Midwest Philly Cheesesteak. Put that out there. They tell you to eat them with mustard. I would have thought ketchup, but anyway.”
SECOND-SEEDED “UNDERDOGS” ISU may be one of the eight highest seeded teams in the tournament, but the Cyclones refuse to shed their perceived underdog status. It’s just too valuable of a motivating factor to give up.
“Yeah, we embrace it,” senior forward Tre King said. “Coming into this season when the Big 12 rankings came out, they had us predicted seventh I’m pretty sure. It’s nothing new to us. We love being counted out. We love being looked down upon by everybody else because, you know, the theme for us this year is, ‘We owe.’ Every time we have a big game where everybody thinks we’re going to lose, we always rise to the occasion and show up in full force and win in extraordinary fashion. Credit to our guys just for not being comfortable with the success we have and just maintaining that mentality of us being that underdog and owing everybody that we face.”
Mar 20, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) and guard Keshon Gilbert (10) warm up during the NCAA first round practice session at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
OMAHA, Neb. — When Keshon Gilbert arrived on the Iowa State campus early last summer, he needed a friend.
He found one immediately in Tamin Lipsey — Ames native and Cyclone teammate.
“I came here pretty early,” said Gilbert, a UNLV transfer who has teamed with Lipsey and others to form an elite backcourt for ISU. “Tamin was, like, the only player who was here, so seeing him in the gym and in the weight room, it kind of set the tone for me, like, ‘All right, this is what it’s about at Iowa State,’ so I had no choice but to match his work ethic.”
That’s not easy to do, but both Lipsey and Gilbert have been on postseason tears heading into Saturday’s 5:10 p.m. second-round NCAA tournament game between the second-seeded Cyclones (28-7) and No. 7 seed Washington State (25-9).
Lipsey’s dished out 23 assists to just three turnovers since ISU’s regular season ended with a disappointing 65-58 loss at Kansas State and Gilbert’s averaged 15.8 points while plucking away 14 steals in the same four-game span. And both of them will need to be similarly productive on Saturday against the long and athletic Cougars, who feature a skilled playmaker in freshman guard Myles Rice.
“The ball pressure needs to be terrific,” said Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who hopes to lead his team to the Sweet 16 for the second time in his three seasons. “It needs to be hard for them to get the ball into the post, into the paint. When they’re able to do that, we need to be sharp on our rotations, whether we trap, whether we don’t.”
Both Gilbert and Lipsey — along with sixth man Curtis Jones — are adept at speeding opponents up and forcing live ball turnovers. Showcasing those qualities will be key for ISU as it seeks to leave Omaha with two wins before packing up for a potential trip to Boston on the tournament’s second weekend.
“I’d say, probably, using (our) speed (and) some physicality as well,” Lipsey said when describing how best to defend Washington State. “Obviously, they have a bunch of length, but when you get bigger, you get a little slower sometimes. That’s sort of how it works.”
Usually, anyway. But either way, Lipsey and Gilbert provide a potent one-two combination on the offensive end, too, which is a critical component for any team that hopes to enjoy success in March.
“They’re both tremendously high character guys,” Otzelberger said of his two leading scorers, stealers, and assists men. “Both have played point guard their whole lives. Both winners. Both attacking downhill and guys who are great defenders as well. I think the respect set in early on and those guys really connected and unified. It’s an amazing dynamic for our team because when you have two guys that can make plays and decisions like they can as well as defend the way they can, it puts your team in great situations.”
Like the one the Cyclones find themselves in on Saturday, where they can extend their tournament run — and deepen that bond built last summer.
“We’re both sort of quieter people, sort of keep to ourselves, and do similar things, have similar interests,” Lipsey said. “So we bonded on and off the court and obviously it’s helped us in a major way this year.”
Their connection also aided ISU in its quick recovery from the regular-season loss to the Wildcats, which brought both introspection and a sharpened focus that’s been on full display so far in the postseason.
“We know every game could be the last game, so we just come into it with (that) mindset,” Gilbert said. “We’re gonna do whatever we’ve gotta do to win the game. We’re gonna take care of the ball. We’re gonna play for each other.”
Head Coach Kyle Smith, Isaac Jones, Myles Rice, and Jaylen Wells face the media ahead of Saturday night’s contest with Iowa State.
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Wrestling
The following is a Press Release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Anthony Echemendia and David Carr advanced into the semifinals Friday afternoon inside the T-Mobile Center. With their quarterfinal wins, Carr becomes Iowa State’s first five-time All-American while Echemendia earned his first-career honor.
Evan Frost, Casey Swiderski, Yonger Bastida all fell short in their quarterfinal matches and will wrestle in the blood round this evening with All-America status on the line. MJ Gaitan battled tough with a pair of wins on the back side and will also wrestle in the blood round.
The team race is only heating up on moving day with big points being awarded during Session III. Iowa State sits in fourth place with 42.0 points behind Arizona State (44.5), Michigan (50.5) and Penn State (86.5). Iowa sits only a half point behind with 41.5 while Ohio State has 36.0.
Kysen Terukina, Cody Chittum and Will Feldkamp saw their seasons come to an end during the consolation rounds.
How it Happened
In a 133-pound quarterfinal, No. 8 Evan Frost took top-seed Daton Fix to the brink. The pair ended regulation deadlocked at, 1-1, and neither could muster a takedown in the sudden victory period. After Fix escaped in three seconds in the first 30-second tiebreaker, Frost chose neutral for the second and was in deep on a shot, but the position was called a stalemate with eight seconds remaining.
Echemendia was much the aggressor in his 141-pound quarterfinal match against NC State’s No. 4 Ryan Jack. Echemendia’s pace finally paid off in the second period when he received a stall point and registered a takedown to take a 4-2 lead into the final period. After an escape, Echemendia held off Jack’s rally for a 5-3 decision.
In a 149-pound quarterfinal, Swiderski was unable to finish his shots on several occasions as it was Ridge Lovett’s countering ability that had the upper hand. Lovett also amassed over two minutes of riding time as Swiderski fell to the blood round, 14-4.
Carr picked up his second victory of the season against Wisconsin’s Dean Hamiti in a 165-pound quarterfinal. The Cyclone, who beat the Badger 2-0 in November, made adjustments from their first meeting and finished on his first shot attempt. Carr was tough on top and cruised to a 5-0 victory to set up a rematch with his rival Keegan O’Toole in the semifinals.
Bastida gave up a takedown at the buzzer to Michigan’s Lucas Davison, falling to the blood round after a 6-4 defeat.
Gaitan secured bonus points in his first consolation match of the day, a 16-8 major decision over Rutgers’ Jackson Turley, before gutting out a 13-8 decision over Cal Poly’s Adam Kemp to advance into the blood round.
Up Next
Semifinals and blood round matches will be contested Friday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Match-by-Match Results
125: No. 24 Kysen Terukina – DNP
First Round: L-D, 9-4 vs. No. 9 Patrick McKee (MINN)
Consis. Rd. 1: W-D, 4-2 vs. No. 25 Ethan Berginc (ARMY)
Consis. Rd. 2: LBF (5:34) vs. No. 7 Jakob Camacho (NCST)
133: No. 8 Evan Frost
First Round: W-D, 8-5 vs. No. 25 Braden Basile (ARMY)
Second Round: W-D, 4-1 vs. No. 24 Julian Chlebove (ASU)
Quarterfinals: L-D, 2-1 TB-1 s. No. 1 Daton Fix (OKST)
R12: vs. No. 20 Tyler Wells (MINN)
141: No. 5 Anthony Echemendia
First Round: W-TF, 20-4 (6:51) vs. No. 28 Greyson Clark (Purdue)
Second Round: W-D, 8-2 vs. No. 21 Josh Edmond (MIZ)
Quarterfinals: W-D, 5-3 vs. No. 4 Ryan Jack (NCST)
Semifinals: vs. No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OHST)
149: No. 8 Casey Swiderski
First Round: W-D, 2-1 vs. No. 25 Matthew Williams (ARMY)
Second Round: W-D, 8-5 TB-1 vs. No. 9 Ethan Fernandez (CORN)
Quarterfinals: L-MD, 14-4 vs. No. 1 Ridge Lovett (NEB)
R12: vs. No. 14 Dylan D`Emilio (OHST)
157: No. 14 Cody Chittum – DNP
First Round: L-MD, 17-6 vs. No. 19 Tommy Askey (APP)
Consis. Rd. 1: W-TF, 20-4 (5:00) vs. No. 30 Colton Washleski (RID)
Consis. Rd. 2: L-D, 14-3 vs. No. 13 Michael Blockhus (MINN)
165: No. 4 David Carr
First Round: W-TF, 18-2 (4:52) vs. No. 29 Evan Maag (GMU)
Second Round: W-MD, 10-1 vs. No. 20 Hunter Garvin (STAN)
Quarterfinals: W-D, 5-0 vs. No. 5 Dean Hamiti (WIS)
Semifinals: vs. No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (MIZ)
174: No. 15 MJ Gaitan
First Round: L-D, 18-11 vs. No. 18 Benjamin Pasiuk (ARMY)
Consis. Rd. 1: WBF (4:11) vs. No. 31 Michael Wilson (RID)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-MD, 14-4 vs. No. 16 Jackson Turley (RUT)
Consis. Rd. 3: W-D, 13-8 vs. No. 8 Adam Kemp (POLY)
R12: vs. No. 3 Edmond Ruth (ILL)
184: No. 17 Will Feldkamp – DNP
First Round: WBF (2:29) vs. No. 16 Nate Dugan (PRIN)
Second Round: L-TF, 19-4 (6:52) vs. No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
Consis. Rd. 2: W-MD, 15-5 vs. No. 15 Reece Heller (PITT)
Consis. Rd. 3: L-D, 4-2 vs. No. 10 Dylan Fishback (NCST)
285: No. 2 Yonger Bastida
First Round: WBF (1:50) vs. No. 31 Bennett Tabor (MINN)
Second Round: W-TF, 20-5 (6:20) vs. No. 15 Lewis Fernandes (CORN)
Quarterfinals: L-D, 6-4 vs. No. 10 Lucas Davison (MICH)
R12: vs. No. 13 Yaraslau Slavikouski (RUT)
Iowa State’s TJ Otzelberger looks ahead to Iowa State’s game against Washington State on Saturday night.
Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic look ahead to Iowa State’s second-round matchup with Washington State.
Mar 21, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Washington State Cougars guard Myles Rice (2) controls the ball against Drake Bulldogs guard Conor Enright (4) in the second half in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
OMAHA, Neb. — I admittedly went into the NCAA Tournament knowing next to nothing about Washington State basketball. However over the last 12 hours – as any Iowa State basketball sicko would do – I have been enamored with learning more about the Cougars, who the Cyclones will go toe-to-toe with in the Round of 32 on Saturday at 5:10 p.m. local time (on TNT).
Here is my deep-dive on the matchup with analysis in quick hit form.
THREE MASSIVE STATS: Before I dig into Washington State, I crunched some Iowa State numbers and wanted to point a few things out.
The below statistics are all since the postseason began:
— Tamin Lipsey has recorded 23 assists to three turnovers.
— Hason Ward is 17-for-18 from the field.
— Milan Momcilovic is averaging 13.5 points per game (up from 10.9 in the regular season), while Keshon Gilbert’s number is 15.75 (up from 13.5).
There is a lot that has gone into Iowa State’s surge here in March, but the above numbers tell a pretty good story as to why.
OTZ: Brent Blum gave me this stat earlier today and it blew my mind … No coach in the history of Iowa State basketball has led the program to two Sweet 16’s in his tenure. With a win on Saturday, T.J. Otzelberger would be the first. Wild, isn’t it?
Mar 21, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T. J. Otzelberger looks on in the first half against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY SportsLENGTH: According to KenPom.com, Washington State is the second tallest team in all of college basketball (No. 1 is Florida State). For the sake of comparison, Kansas and Baylor are the tallest teams in the Big 12. Washington State averages 4.8 blocks per game, which puts them just inside the top-40 of that category nationally.
KYLE SMITH & WAZZU: Washington State’s leader was recently tabbed as the Pac-12 Coach of the Year. What’s most impressive about the job Smith did this year is how he did it … Washington State was forced to replace four starters from last season – all players who entered the transfer portal. That squad lost in the first round of the NIT. Washington State’s 14 Pac-12 wins tied a school record for league wins. Notably, Washington State beat another NCAA Tournament 2-seed – Arizona twice this season. Iowa State and Washington State have NEVER met in the sport of basketball. Saturday will be the first time.
TWO STUDS: A freshman by the name of Myles Rice is the catalyst to all things Washington State. He’s the Pac-12’s freshman of the Year and has been incredible all season long, setting freshmen single-game and single-season scoring records. Rice averaged 15.1 points per game this season while fifth-year senior Issac Jones – an Idaho transfer – averaged 15.4. However, the Cougars are not a good 3-point shooting team. Expect Iowa State to pack it in defensively and force this squad to hit shots at a high rate.
IOWA STATE’S OPENING: It feels like there is a real opening for Iowa State’s defense to wreak havoc on Saturday night. The Cougars don’t force many turnovers and they turn it over a decent amount. Washington State’s turnover margin on the year is in the negative numbers and that’s where Iowa State will have to feast in this game.
MATCHUP PROBLEMS: If Iowa State doesn’t get into transition, I have real worries about the Cyclones’ ability to have a ton of success in the half court against this team. As far as a comparison goes to a team Iowa State has played this year, I’d have to go with VCU at the Orlando Tournament. Iowa State shot 15 percent from three and went on a 10 minute field goal draught in that game. The good thing is that this is a vastly different Cyclone squad compared to the one that took the floor in November.
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Wrestling
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Iowa State went 6-3 in First-Round action Thursday afternoon at the NCAA Championships. Four Cyclones – Anthony Echemendia, David Carr, Will Feldkamp and Yonger Bastida – secured bonus points for ISU during Session I inside the T-Mobile Center.
Feldkamp and Bastida each earned falls while Echemendia and Carr tallied tech falls. Evan Frost, Echemendia, Casey Swiderski, Carr, Feldkamp and Bastida advanced to the Second Round while Kysen Terukina, Cody Chittum, MJ Gaitan fell to the wrestlebacks.
Iowa State sits in fourth place with 13.0 points while Penn State sits atop the leaderboard with 15.5 after the opening session.
Frost got ISU on the board first at 133 pounds. Despite giving up the first takedown, Frost came back to secure an 8-5 decision over No. 25 Braden Basile (ARMY).
Echemendia tallied the Cyclones’ first bonus points of the tournament as he cruised to a 20-4 tech fall over Purdue’s Greyson Clark. Swiderski started his tournament with a gritty 2-1 decision over Army’s Matthew Williams thanks to a stall point in the third period.
Carr did what he does best and notched an 18-2 tech fall over the MAC Champion Evan Maag in 4:52. Feldkamp appeared to be back in his postseason form with a first-period fall over Nate Dugan (PRIN) in 2:29.
Bastida closed out the session on a positive note with ISU’s second fall of the tournament, and his third of the season, in 1:50 against Minnesota’s Bennett Tabor.
Up Next
Session II begins at 6 p.m. inside the T-Mobile Center and will air on ESPN. Second Round matches and consolation matches will be contested.
Match-by-Match Results
125: No. 24 Kysen Terukina
First Round: L-D, 9-4 vs. No. 9 Patrick McKee (MINN)
Consis. Rd. 1: vs. No. 25 Ethan Berginc (ARMY)
133: No. 8 Evan Frost
First Round: W-D, 8-5 vs. No. 25 Braden Basile (ARMY)
Second Round: vs. No. 24 Julian Chlebove (ASU)
141: No. 5 Anthony Echemendia
First Round: W-TF, 20-4 (6:51) vs. No. 28 Greyson Clark (Purdue)
Second Round: vs. No. 21 Josh Edmond (MIZ)
149: No. 8 Casey Swiderski
First Round: W-D, 2-1 vs. No. 25 Matthew Williams (ARMY)
Second Round: vs. No. 9 Ethan Fernandez (CORN)
157: No. 14 Cody Chittum
First Round: L-MD, 17-6 vs. No. 19 Tommy Askey (APP)
Consis. Rd. 1: vs. No. 30 Colton Washleski (RID)
165: No. 4 David Carr
First Round: W-TF, 18-2 (4:52) vs. No. 29 Evan Maag (GMU)
Second Round: vs. No. 20 Hunter Garvin (STAN)
174: No. 15 MJ Gaitan
First Round: L-D, 18-11 vs. No. 18 Benjamin Pasiuk (ARMY)
Consis. Rd. 1: vs. No. 31 Michael Wilson (RID)
184: No. 17 Will Feldkamp
First Round: WBF (2:29) vs. No. 16 Nate Dugan (PRIN)
Second Round: vs. No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
285: No. 2 Yonger Bastida
First Round: WBF (1:50) vs. No. 31 Bennett Tabor (MINN)
Second Round: vs. No. 15 Lewis Fernandes (CORN)
Mar 21, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) controls the ball against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in the second half in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
OMAHA, Neb. — Keshon Gilbert delivered the lob and leaped in the air, churning his legs furiously and joyfully as if riding a bike.
The result — Iowa State teammate Hason Ward’s fifth dunk of the game early in the second half — capped a 12-0 run that essentially sealed the second-seeded Cyclones’ 82-65 first-round NCAA tournament win Thursday over 15th-seeded South Dakota State.
“It was just fun out there,” said Gilbert, who scored 15 points, dished out five assists and snatched away a game-high three steals. “That’s my boy, (Ward). Just seeing how he played tonight, it made me happy, so being able to get that pass to him, it meant a lot to me. The moment took over at that point.”
The plucky Jackrabbits (22-13) trailed by just four points, at 42-38, before ISU (28-7) went on that 12-0 splurge en route to the runaway victory.
“I’m pretty sure they had a little confidence when it was cut to four; they were talking a little bit more than they did in the first half,” Gilbert said. “But when we got onto the run they got a little quiet.”
Milan Momcilovic led the Cyclones with 19 points, Tamin Lipsey added 17 points, Curtis Jones had 11 and Ward rammed through 10 on his five dunks. Three of those flushes came in roughly a minute and a half as ISU raced to an early 19-5 lead, but South Dakota State didn’t wilt and trimmed its halftime deficit to just seven, at 40-33.
“The game got close and we didn’t (veer) away from what we do,” said senior forward Robert Jones, who has blocked at least one shot in four straight games for just the second time in his Cyclone career. “We worked. We didn’t get scared. Didn’t shy away. We just continued to stay after it and continued to be us.”
ISU shot a torrid 58 percent overall and 47.3 percent from 3-point range. Momcilovic, Lipsey and Curtis Jones each drained three long-range baskets, while Gilbert and reserve guard Jackson Paveletzke both went 1-for-1 from beyond the arc. Even walk-on Conrad Hawley — the Cyclones’ so-called “CEO,” which is short for “chief energy officer” — positively impacted the stat sheet, snaring a steal in the final seconds as the several thousand Cyclone fans who packed the CHI Health Center Arena rejoiced.
“They have fun doing the hard work together because you’ve gotta do that work,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said of his team, which will play the winner of Thursday’s late game between seventh-seeded Washington State and 10th-seeded Drake. “We’re not a team that gets to this point in the year and stops practicing, or changes what we do. We continue doing it. Certainly there’s got to be the element where they’re enjoying it, where they have a smile on their face, but it’s hard work, and we’re gonna be the team really tries to play harder and outwork opponents, and you’re gonna have to do that hard work every single day.”
The pain associated with that arduous work eventually translates into pleasure. For Gilbert, for Ward — for every Cyclone player savoring every moment of “the Big Dance.”
“We’re just out there trying to have fun playing with each other,” Ward said. “We’ve got a lot of chemistry, a lot of trust in each other, so we’re just out there having fun and trying to win games.”
That’s the joyful state Gilbert and his teammates are residing in as they seek to make a deep run in the tournament. The former UNLV transfer’s fully enjoying the game of basketball again and shows it with every move, shot, and lob he makes.
“A lot of people forget that this is supposed to be fun,” Gilbert said. “So we’re having fun with it. Of course, we want to win, but I’m just trying to have fun. I wasn’t having fun last year, so I’m trying to have as much fun as I can right now.”
Hear from Iowa State head coach TJ Otzelberger following an 82-65 win over South Dakota State in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.
Hason Ward, Tre King, Tamin Lipsey, Milan Momcilovic, and Keshon Gilbert react to a comfortable win over South Dakota State.
Mar 21, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) shoots against South Dakota State Jackrabbits guard Zeke Mayo (2) in the first half in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
OMAHA, Neb. — Second-seeded Iowa State easily handled 15th-seeded South Dakota State on Thursday night in Omaha. Here are my five first thoughts from the win.
1 — The crowd on Thursday night was simply spectacular.
It’s difficult for Iowa State fans to surprise me these days, but the atmosphere within Omaha’s beautiful CHI Health Center at the beginning of the game was truly awesome. This atmosphere contributed to Iowa State’s fast start
During the television broadcast, South Dakota State head coach Eric Henderson referenced his team as being ‘a bit rattled’ early on. This was evident as Iowa State started the game 8-of-8 from the field, 2-of-2 from three-point range, and only missed its first shot when Hason Ward attempted a free throw at the 14:24 mark in the first half.
Things cooled down a bit energy wise.
2 — Iowa State lost its flow, but regained proper form early in the second half.
It felt like Iowa State let up a bit defensively after jumping out to such a big lead early. I give a lot of credit to South Dakota State for keeping it to a seven-point game at halftime. The Cyclones had a few sloppy turnovers late in the first half that turned into points the other way.
South Dakota State narrowed the game to within four points early in the second half, and that’s where things turned for the Jacks. The guys in blue thought they got a couple of bad whistles and started to lose their composure just before the 16 and under. There was a moment when SDSU’s Luke Appel (a Marshalltown native) had a run in with Keshon Gilbert, and it was over from there.
South Dakota State head coach Eric Henderson saw it. He was telling his team to keep its cool when Gilbert went into beast mode, leading the Cyclones on a 10-0 run. The game was over from there.
3 — Hello, Mommy.
A lot of casual college basketball fans had probably never heard of Milan Momcilovic before Thursday night. That likely changed after his performance in tonight’s game.
Momcilovic had struggled towards the end of the regular season but rediscovered his form last week in Kansas City. The freshman has hit plenty of big shots this year for the Cyclones, but I struggle to find a better overall game than the one he played in his first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Baby Dirk dropped one silky fadeaway after another, knocking down BLANK threes along the way.
When No. 22 is playing at this level, it elevates Iowa State’s offensive potential to an entirely different level.
4 — Hason Ward is really coming on strong at the perfect time.
Speaking of players who elevate this team, let’s talk about Hason Ward for a moment. Similar to Momcilovic, Ward was pretty non-existent during that sleepy stretch for Iowa State at the end of February. That is no longer the case. He re-engaged in Kansas City and lit the Omaha crowd on fire with a few dazzling dunks on Thursday night.
5 — Bad mojo
When Tamin Lipsey exited the game with around five minutes to play, the pro-Iowa State crowd was dead silent. Lipsey grimaced as he returned to the bench holding his shoulder.
Thankfully, he’s fine.
But did anybody else have flashbacks to Georges Niang’s broken foot back against NC Central in 2014?
Yikes.
All is well, and Iowa State’s season is moving on to the Round of 32 against either Washington State or Drake on Saturday.
Assistant Coach Brent Metcalf breaks down Iowa State’s performance in Session I at the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Wrestling
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Iowa State went 6-3 in First-Round action Thursday afternoon at the NCAA Championships. Four Cyclones – Anthony Echemendia, David Carr, Will Feldkamp and Yonger Bastida – secured bonus points for ISU during Session I inside the T-Mobile Center.
Feldkamp and Bastida each earned falls while Echemendia and Carr tallied tech falls. Evan Frost, Echemendia, Casey Swiderski, Carr, Feldkamp and Bastida advanced to the Second Round while Kysen Terukina, Cody Chittum, MJ Gaitan fell to the wrestlebacks.
Iowa State sits in fourth place with 13.0 points while Penn State sits atop the leaderboard with 15.5 after the opening session.
Frost got ISU on the board first at 133 pounds. Despite giving up the first takedown, Frost came back to secure an 8-5 decision over No. 25 Braden Basile (ARMY).
Echemendia tallied the Cyclones’ first bonus points of the tournament as he cruised to a 20-4 tech fall over Purdue’s Greyson Clark. Swiderski started his tournament with a gritty 2-1 decision over Army’s Matthew Williams thanks to a stall point in the third period.
Carr did what he does best and notched an 18-2 tech fall over the MAC Champion Evan Maag in 4:52. Feldkamp appeared to be back in his postseason form with a first-period fall over Nate Dugan (PRIN) in 2:29.
Bastida closed out the session on a positive note with ISU’s second fall of the tournament, and his third of the season, in 1:50 against Minnesota’s Bennett Tabor.
Up Next
Session II begins at 6 p.m. inside the T-Mobile Center and will air on ESPN. Second Round matches and consolation matches will be contested.
Match-by-Match Results
125: No. 24 Kysen Terukina
First Round: L-D, 9-4 vs. No. 9 Patrick McKee (MINN)
Consis. Rd. 1: vs. No. 25 Ethan Berginc (ARMY)
133: No. 8 Evan Frost
First Round: W-D, 8-5 vs. No. 25 Braden Basile (ARMY)
Second Round: vs. No. 24 Julian Chlebove (ASU)
141: No. 5 Anthony Echemendia
First Round: W-TF, 20-4 (6:51) vs. No. 28 Greyson Clark (Purdue)
Second Round: vs. No. 21 Josh Edmond (MIZ)
149: No. 8 Casey Swiderski
First Round: W-D, 2-1 vs. No. 25 Matthew Williams (ARMY)
Second Round: vs. No. 9 Ethan Fernandez (CORN)
157: No. 14 Cody Chittum
First Round: L-MD, 17-6 vs. No. 19 Tommy Askey (APP)
Consis. Rd. 1: vs. No. 30 Colton Washleski (RID)
165: No. 4 David Carr
First Round: W-TF, 18-2 (4:52) vs. No. 29 Evan Maag (GMU)
Second Round: vs. No. 20 Hunter Garvin (STAN)
174: No. 15 MJ Gaitan
First Round: L-D, 18-11 vs. No. 18 Benjamin Pasiuk (ARMY)
Consis. Rd. 1: vs. No. 31 Michael Wilson (RID)
184: No. 17 Will Feldkamp
First Round: WBF (2:29) vs. No. 16 Nate Dugan (PRIN)
Second Round: vs. No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
285: No. 2 Yonger Bastida
First Round: WBF (1:50) vs. No. 31 Bennett Tabor (MINN)
Second Round: vs. No. 15 Lewis Fernandes (CORN)
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Mar 12, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones center Audi Crooks (55) celebrates after a play against the Texas Longhorns during the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
STANFORD, Calif. – Before the arrival of Stephanie Soares, Iowa State women’s basketball would be doubted for its lack of size or experience at times at the post position.
It’s been well documented that Iowa State’s style of play had been intertwined with ball movement mixed with a four-guard lineup that could shoot the deep ball.
When Soares came to campus over the summer of 2022, that changed — and Iowa State was happy to adapt, which it did over the past two years.
Now, the Cyclones are preparing to face a Maryland team that lacks a true post, while Iowa State’s Audi Crooks can dominate in the paint. Oh, and there’s the fact that it’s a first-round NCAA Tournament game (6:35 p.m. Friday, ESPN2).
“Well, we hope so,” coach Bill Fennelly said on the impact that Crooks could have in the game. “I think Audi has had obviously a phenomenal year and played a lot against a lot of great players. Maryland has got great perimeter length but maybe not as big inside as some of the other teams we’ve played. That’s what makes this tournament unique and special is the matchups that you don’t see a lot during the year that we’re going to see tomorrow.”
Maryland plays two forwards in its entire lineup — not just rotation — in Allie Kubek and Emma Chardon, who hasn’t played since November.
The backcourt-driven Terrapins like to play fast and hoist shots up from the perimeter, which could make it difficult for them to guard in the post.
“That’s the first thing I noticed,” Addy Brown said when asked of her reactions to looking into Maryland following the Selection Sunday announcement. “I was like, ‘Well, who’s going to guard Audi?’ That’s exciting. I know they will have a good gameplan for us – they like to double and triple-team almost the whole team to the post because they don’t have one. So, that will open up outside shots for us. We’re excited.”
Iowa State will enter this game with the edge in the post if a favorite were to be determined at certain position battles.
But Fennelly has been to too many NCAA Tournaments to adopt an approach based entirely on that.
“Obviously any spot you feel you have a slight advantage is a good thing,” Fennellysaid. “But then all you see or hear on TV is the NCAA Tournament is all about guards. So I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Again, we’ve gotten here because of the way we’ve played as a group, and obviously Audi has been a huge part of that. But you’ve just got to go into the game and decide —get a good read early on how they’re going to guard her.”
Fennelly and his staff know best — and Iowa State will be looking to avoid the types of lengthy scoreless droughts that took it out of games this season.
The team’s Big 12 championship loss to Texas featured one, and the Cyclones had to try and chip away at the lead after the hole they got themselves into past the 15-minute mark.
“In order for us to do well tomorrow, I think we really have to focus on execution,” Crooks said. “There have been a couple games where it’s been close and we’ve had lapses or slow starts, and we can’t have that. This is March, and everybody is trying to win, and anything is possible. We have to be in our P’s and Q’s and really execute our game plan.”
Executing a gameplan is Iowa State’s bread-and-butter, but it’s hard to find a NCAA Tournament game where it’s looked this advantageous of a matchup in the paint.
That comes to fruition on Friday night in Stanford.
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Emily Ryan & Audi Crooks addressed media members at the team’s pre-game press conference at Stanford on Thursday. There are also videos below of 1-on-1 interviews with Addy Brown, Arianna Jackson and redshirt forward Alisa Williams.
Iowa State Cyclones Yonger Bastida celebrates after winning over Missouri Tigers’ Zach Elam during their 285-pound wrestling in the Big-12-conference showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Ames, Iowa
AMES — He pinned his first Big 12 tournament foe in 30 seconds. The next one? That stick took longer — 2:17. So, after Iowa State standout heavyweight Yonger Bastida won his first two matches by fall en route to his first Big 12 tournament title a week in a half ago, a question naturally arose: When did the high-energy Cuban transplant become a pinner?
“I don’t know,” Bastida said smiling as he spoke before the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which begin Thursday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. “The team (needed) some points. They (needed) some pins, so I just (went) out there (and said), ‘I will try to do my best every time.’”
Mission accomplished. Bastida scored bonus points in three of his four wins at the Big 12s, helping the Cyclones win the team title for the first time since 2009. Now he sets his sights on the national tournament, where he’s ISU’s highest seed (No. 2) and poised to make a big run for the first time since attaining All-American honors at 197 in 2022.
And to say Bastida (24-0) is confident would qualify as a gross understatement.
“They have to try to survive,” he said of his competitors. “Every time they wrestle me, they have to try to survive, because I am ready. I will be ready, every time, to go.”
That level of preparedness and precision is what ISU head coach Kevin Dresser will demand of each of his nine NCAA qualifiers and he’s convinced they can all deliver points to help the Cyclones potentially notch a top-three finish for the first time since 2010.
“I think we’ve got a good team,” Dresser said. “We’re gonna need some breaks to get up there to the top and we’re going there to get to the top.”
Especially fourth-seeded 165-pounder David Carr, who has one last shot to climb the podium at nationals. The 2021 national champion and four-time All-American’s seed may be lower than usual after he suffered an 8-2 loss to two-time defending champ Keegan O’Toole of Missouri in the Big 12 title bout, but his discipline and deep resolve make him a threat to win the whole thing for a second time.
“Just this being the last tournament gives me a lot of fuel,” said Carr, who is 115-5 in his college career. “With O’Toole, (it was) a lot of little adjustments, a lot of little things. (I was) really close to a takedown, really close to some different things, so, for me, working on those things this past week and working on the little things, I think, will make a big difference.”
Dresser said Carr’s mindset hasn’t changed. If anything, that sub-optimal seeding may drive him even more as he wrestles his last time in a Cyclone singlet.
“It’s always (been) a little bit easier for him as his career’s went on to be the hunter instead of the hunted,” Dresser said. “So he might get to be the hunter for one more time in his career and he doesn’t get to do that much. I think he’s pretty excited about that.”
No doubt. And so is Bastida, who secured his first Big 12 crown by springing a stunning six-point move on Air Force’s Wyatt Hendrickson after he’d been forced to hop around on the mat with one leg in the air.
“I wasn’t surprised,” said Bastida, who noted he’s been good on one leg ever since he started wrestling as a 10-year-old in Cuba. “I know what I can do. So I just did it.”
OMAHA, Neb. — Hason Ward felt adrift. Stranded in what most people consider a paradise. Unable to join the Iowa State team he longed to play for two summers ago as he tried to cut through maddening, visa-based red tape.
That meant the dynamic 6-9, 230-pound Cyclone forward needed to get creative when it came to his workout routine, but laboring under the unrelenting heat in his homeland, Barbados, made getting into shape — and maintaining a healthy weight — difficult.
“I was on FaceTime with (ISU’s director of strength and conditioning) Pete Link,” said Ward, who hopes to come off the bench to help the second-seeded Cyclones beat 15th-seeded South Dakota State in Thursday’s 6:35 p.m. first-round NCAA tournament game at the CHI Health Center Arena. “I was doing workouts on FaceTime with him — body weight (stuff), I had to run, different stuff like that. He was trying to keep me engaged with the team as much as possible and I just couldn’t wait to get back and be a part of the team, for real.”
Ward’s journey to ISU (27-7) included a stop at Virginia Commonwealth as well as the visa-related ordeal. But now that he’s in his second and final season with the Cyclones, he’s become one of the team’s major X-factors off the bench. Ward notched an ISU career-high 13 points in last Saturday’s Big 12 tournament title-clinching 69-41 win over top-seeded Houston. He also soared for one of his trademark alley-oop dunks, which he seems capable of springing on opponents at any time.
“He’s a human highlight reel,” fellow senior big man Tre King said of Ward. “Anytime it’s up there, I’m like, ‘Yeah, he’s definitely coming down with it.’ It just speaks to the trust that we have in each other just knowing that wherever we throw it, he’s gonna go get it. It’s kind of an exciting, like, big blow, like in boxing. It’s just demoralizing to the other team.”
The Cyclones will need all their bigs — Ward, King and Robert Jones — to control the boards and challenge shots vigorously against the Jackrabbits (22-12), who feature four players who average double figures in scoring, led by junior guard Zeke Mayo.
“They’re a really good team,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who has led his team to a Sweet 16 and three NCAA Tournament appearances in his three seasons at the helm. “They get up for the challenge. They get up for the big game.”
So does Ward, whose penchant for high-energy dunks and blocked shots has endeared him to Cyclone fans while simultaneously striking fear into his opponents.
“I really think Hason has continued to take steps forward and evolved because he didn’t have the same opportunity at the start,” Otzelberger said. “He’s someone that I continue to say I know his best is still yet to come this season. He’s still got a lot left to give.”
That all ties back to his arduous start. Ward needed to work out alone, guided by Link via his phone. There are two indoor gyms in his home parish of St. Thomas, he said, and one of his old coaches opened that up for him a couple of times. But most of the time he did pushups, chin-ups, and other body weight-bearing work in hot and humid conditions outdoors, sweating profusely, and buoyed only by the occasional ocean breeze until he finally joined the Cyclones at the beginning of August of 2022.
“I had to play catch up,” Ward said. “I was sweating and losing weight. When I got here, I had to put a lot of weight on. I put like 20 pounds on in two months and then I was trying to maintain for the rest of the season.”
With Link’s help, Ward did just that.
“It started in Barbados when he was there by himself, but when he got onto campus he really took to, ‘Hey, man, I need to get my body right to be able to play in this league’” Link said. “So he did a great job as far as weight room, as far as taking care of his body, as far as eating. He had to eat a ton. Shakes, dining hall. We would have a goal weight for him every week that he would have to hit and to his credit, he hit it every week.”
Now he’s entering his stretch run as a Cyclone, determined to prolong the last leg of a journey once-delayed that’s now only missing a happy ending.
“You don’t even know the half,” Ward said with a smile. “I’m very grateful to be here right now. I still can’t believe it, man. It’s crazy. I’m just happy to be here.”
Watch Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, along with players Tamin Lipsey, Keshon Gilbert and Robert Jones as the Cyclones preview Thursday’s first round NCAA Tournament game against South Dakota State.
OMAHA — Get to know Iowa State’s First Round NCAA Tournament opponent – the South Dakota State Jackrabbits – by watching this pregame press conference from the NCAA Tournament. Featured are head coach Eric Henderson and guard Zeke Mayo (2), guard Matt Mims (1), guard Charlie Easley (30) and forward Luke Appel (13).
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – For the first time in program history, an Iowa State women’s basketball freshman has earned All-America status. Audi Crooks was announced as an honorable mention AP All-American on Wednesday morning. She is the 11th Cyclone to earn AP All-America honorable mention. Iowa State has had one AP All-American for seven-consecutive seasons.
The Algona, Iowa native lead Iowa State with 18.9 points per game while collecting 7.7 rebounds per game. She was a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 First Team and a Big 12 All-Tournament team member. The center has made over 58 percent of her shots from the floor, the best mark by a in NCAA Division I this season. She has finished with 16, 20-point games and has posted double figure scoring in each of the last 29 games for the Cyclones.ADVERTISING
Crooks holds Iowa State freshmen records for single-season points (585) and field goals (237) and is one from owning the made free throw record with 106 makes from the line. With her field goal total, she is also third all-time for Iowa State makes in a single season regardless of class. Crooks is 17 makes from matching the all-time best for the Cyclones, set by Bridget Carleton (254) in 2018-19. Her season total for points ranks 10th regardless of class for Iowa State.
Iowa State returns to action Friday, March 22nd for the first round of the NCAA Tournament when the No. 7-seed Cyclones take on No. 10-seed Maryland. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT in Stanford, Calif.
Iowa State AP All-Americans
Audi Crooks, 2024, Honorable Mention
Ashley Joens, 2023, Third Team
Ashley Joens, 2022, Second Team
Ashley Joens, 2021, Honorable Mention
Ashley Joens, 2020, Honorable Mention
Bridget Carleton, 2019, Second Team
Bridget Carleton, 2018, Honorable Mention
Hallie Christofferson, 2014, Honorable Mention
Hallie Christofferson, 2014, Honorable Mention
Chelsea Poppens, 2013, Honorable Mention
Chelsea Poppens, 2012, Honorable Mention
Kelsey Bolte, 2011, Honorable Mention
Alison Lacey, 2010, Honorable Mention
Lyndsey Medders, 2007, Honorable Mention
Anne O’Neil, 2005, Honorable Mention
Angie Welle, 2002, Second Team
Angie Welle, 2001, Third Team
Stacy Frese, 2000, Second Team
Angie Welle, 2000, Honorable Mention
Stacy Frese, 1999, Honorable Mention
Mar 16, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) shoots the ball against the Houston Cougars in the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
OMAHA, Neb. — Tamin Lipsey doesn’t dwell on last season’s first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Pitt. Instead, Iowa State’s first-team All-Big 12 sophomore guard feeds off of it.
“Definitely,” said Lipsey, whose second-seeded Cyclones will face 15th-seeded South Dakota State in Thursday’s 6:35 p.m. first-round NCAA Tournament game at the CHI Health Center Arena. “Just knowing that all the returners are disappointed in the performance a year ago and knowing we get a new opportunity this year to go out and make a difference and sort of correct our mistakes of last year, and just go out there and enjoy the moment and go out there and win.”
ISU (27-7) rolled through the Big 12 Tournament en route to its first title since 2019. The Cyclones beat Kansas State by 19 points, Baylor by 14 points, then drubbed No. 1 seed Houston by 28 points to enter the tournament on as hot a streak as anyone in the country.
More importantly for ISU, freshman forward Milan Momcilovic rediscovered his outside shooting stroke, as expected, by sinking 7 of his 14 3-point attempts in the wins over the Bears and Cougars.
“Every time (in practice) it was always just, ‘I’ve gotta start making shots sometime soon,’” said Momcilovic, who despite his prolonged slump is still shooting a solid 35.9 percent from long range. “It was always something I was thinking about, really, so I guess it’s good on the mental side more just to have (good) thoughts and to be playing with confidence.”
That’s the headspace all the Cyclones appear to be in right now — confident, loose and poised to make a run. But the tournament’s also called “March Madness” for good reason, and even the hottest teams can be sent packing early on.
“Just going out every game knowing that it could be the last of the season and the last of (seniors such as Tre King, Hason Ward, and Robert Jones’) careers, so just not leaving anything behind when we go out (there),” Lipsey said. “And obviously for the ones that can return, going out and giving a little bit of extra fight, just digging deeper for those guys who can’t return.”
As for Momcilovic — who like Lipsey last year, is a tournament newbie — his mentality on the court hasn’t changed. He wants the ball in his hands at critical moments that may or may not come against South Dakota State, but most certainly will sometime down the road if ISU can advance.
“We see his shotmaking ability every day in practice and in games and obviously the media shine (a light) on the little slump that he had, but we see his work ethic and everything that he does, so it’s great to see what he did in the Big 12 tournament and how he was shooting the ball,” Lipsey said. “We’re all confident in that and just gonna keep feeding him on my part.”
That’s music to Momcilovic’s ears, but it’s also nothing new. When he’s shooting well, the Cyclones seem to be upset-proof, which means the synergy between him and ISU’s backcourt must remain dynamic if the team’s to drive deeper into March than it did last season.
“I respect the guards a ton just because they give me a lot of the open shots I get,” Momcilovic said. “I just respect them so much because they do so much for me. I have to move the ball because they create a lot of the attention, so when they drive, I’ve just gotta move without the ball because they’re gonna get two (defenders) to the ball a lot of times, so just moving without the ball is something I’ve gotta do to help the guards out.”
Tamin Lipsey speaks on what he’s seen from South Dakota State ahead of the NCAA Tournament matchup.
TJ Oztelberger talks SDSU, his relationships, and more ahead of Iowa State’s matchup with South Dakota State.
Mar 16, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) holds up a piece of cut net after defeating the Houston Cougars at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State sophomore Tamin Lipsey has added another award to his resume, with this one being the biggest yet: All-American.
The Associated Press has selected Lipsey to their honorable mention team. Lipsey is the first Cyclone to earn All-American honors since Marial Shayok in 2019 and the first Cyclone to earn AP All-America honors since Georges Niang in 2016.
The awards have been rolling in for Lipsey, who was selected to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team this past weekend after leading the Cyclones to their sixth Big 12 Championship. He was also named a semifinalist for the 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Presented by AXIA Time last week and named a NABC First Team All-District selection.ADVERTISING
Lipsey has been stuffing the stat sheet all season, averaging 12.3 points, 4.9 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game. He is one of just 14 NCAA Division I men’s basketball players since 1996-97 to average those numbers in a season. Lipsey has also been named to the All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team this season.
The No. 4 Cyclones return to action Thursday night, facing South Dakota State in the NCAA Tournament First Round. Iowa State is seeded second in the East Region, while the Jackrabbits are a No. 15 Seed. Tipoff is set for 6:35 p.m. in Omaha and will be broadcast on truTV.
Mar 16, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Streamers fall as Iowa State Cyclones head coach TJ Otzelberger hoists the Big 12 Tournament trophy alongside his team after defeating the Houston Cougars at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
BOSTON, Mass. – Iowa State men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been named a finalist for the 2024 Jim Phelan College Coach of the Year. Otzelberger is one of 20 coaches across the country named as finalist, including two from the Big 12.
In his third season at the helm, Otzelberger has led the Cyclones to a Top 10 ranking for the second time, as the Cyclones sit 27-7 overall on the year and are currently ranked No. 4 in the nation after winning the Big 12 Championship this past weekend.
Iowa State has a nation-leading 10 wins over AP Top 10 teams under Otzelberger. Iowa State’s 20 AP Top 25 wins under Otzelberger are also the most in the nation. His 68 wins at Iowa State are the third-most in school history by a coach in their first three years, trailing only Larry Eustachy (72) and Tim Floyd (69).
The Jim Phelan Award is named in honor of a legendary bow-tied coach who spent his entire head coaching career at Mount Saint Mary’s University.
Phelan graduated from La Salle University in 1951 and played one season in the NBA with the Philadelphia Warriors. After a brief professional career, Phelan went to Mount St. Mary’s as an assistant in 1953. One year later he began his historical career as a head coach.
He led the Mountaineers to 16 Division II NCAA tournaments. Five times they advanced to the Final Four and he led them to the DII National Championship in 1962. When he retired in 2003, after coaching for 49 years, he had amassed 830 wins (overall record of 830-524) in all divisions. In those 49 years, 19 of his teams amassed 20 or more wins in a season. In 2008 he was inducted into National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
Phelan passed away on June 15, 2021 at the age of 92 at his home in Emmitsburg, Md.
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.
The 2024 award will be announced in Phoenix, AZ, site of the men’s Division I Basketball Championship.
South Dakota State men s basketball wins the Summit League championship against Denver on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. © Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK
After winning the Big 12 Conference tournament last weekend, No. 4 Iowa State (27-7) received a No. 2 seed on Selection Sunday in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament. The Cyclones will play in Omaha, Nebraska against No. 15 South Dakota State (22-12) on Thursday night inside the CHI Health Center (6:35 p.m., truTV).
Iowa State just completed one of the most dominant conference tournaments runs by any team in quite some time. The Cyclones defeated Kansas State by 19, No. 14 Baylor by 14, and No. 2 Houston by 28 points to claim the title. It is the program’s fifth tournament title in the last 10 years.
About the Jackrabbits
Coach Eric Henderson took over the South Dakota State program in 2019 after current Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger left for UNLV. Since then, he has led his team to one other NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022, where they lost to No. 4 seed Providence in the Round of 64.
This season, Henderson’s team won the Summit League regular season title as well as the conference tournament championship to punch their ticket to the big dance.
The team enters the tournament riding an 8-game winning streak dating back to the February 17.
The Jackrabbits coaching staff is full of Iowa State connections. Assistant coach Bryan Petersen was an assistant for one season under Greg McDermott (2009-10) and two seasons under Fred Hoiberg (2010-12). Petersen also played for Iowa State for two years. He started 64 consecutive games and made 97 career 3-pointers as a recruited walk-on.
Along with Petersen, the Director of Operations Tyler Glidden also was a part of Iowa State’s program. He served as a student manager in 2006 under Greg McDermott and later became a graduate assistant coach for Fred Hoiberg in 2010 after graduating from Iowa State.
SDSU has played some common opponents with Iowa State. The Jackrabbits played both Kansas State and UCF back in November and ended up losing both games. They lost to the Wildcats by 23 and the Knights by 3.
Although the Jackrabbits have suffered twelve losses and currently rank outside the top 100 in the metrics, they remain a formidable team capable of making an upset. They are led by Zeke Mayo, the Summit League Player of the Year, who averages 18.8 points per and led the conference with 77 3-point field goals made.
The 6-foot-4 junior is capable of dropping 30 points on any given night. Dating back to last season, Mayo has scored 20 or more points 27 times. That includes multiple 30-point games and a 41-point outing against North Dakota State. Mayo loves to use the ball screen to free himself up from defenders. If Iowa State can trap the ball screen or hedge him out away from the basket, they might be able to force him into committing some turnovers.
Another key contributor is William Kyle III. The 6-foot-9 sophomore is an excellent athlete who is the leading rebounder (6.6) and shot blocker (1.6) on the Jackrabbits team.
Kyle excels as a finisher above the rim and poses a constant lob threat, boasting a 62.4 percent shooting from 2-point range. He also is the second-leading scorer for the Jackrabbits, averaging 13.1 points per game. Iowa State will be able to throw multiple bodies at him and pull him away from the basket with their side-to-side ball movement on offense.
South Dakota State has a pair of sharpshooters that can get hot in a hurry in Nebraska transfer Charlie Easley and red-shirt freshman Kalen Garry.
Easley, a senior guard, is third on the team in scoring with 12.0 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. His 3-point shooting should be a major focus for Iowa State. He shoots 46.0 percent from the field, 89.2 percent from the free-throw line, and 39.3 percent from 3-point range. Iowa State has cracked down on their 3-point defense and will need to continue to be lockdown in that area.
Garry averages 7.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. Like Easley, he can light it up from 3-point range when he’s on. He shooting 34.3 percent from behind the arc, but when left open, he makes it at a high clip.
Breaking down Omaha
Coming off a dominant Big 12 Tournament run, the Cyclones are playing as well as anyone in the country. But it’s March and the season can come to an end at any time if they don’t come out ready to play right away.
The first two rounds set up advantageously for Iowa State. South Dakota State, Drake and Washington State are great teams, but they all have flaws that can be exploited by Iowa State’s defense.
The Cyclones’ defense is what could carry them in this tournament. Defense travels anywhere the team goes, and when you rely on scoring off turnovers, it plays right into what Iowa State wants to do.
Iowa State beat Houston by forcing them to turn the ball over and locking down the 3-point line. They held the No. 17 offense (KenPom) to 41 points on 15-56 shooting. I feel confident that Iowa State can turn these teams over and score in transition.
If the Cyclones play the way they did on offense in Kansas City, there aren’t a lot of teams that can beat them. Two of the biggest takeaways from the Kansas City stretch were the ball movement and freshman Milan Momcilovic getting out of his shooting slump.
Before heading into the Big 12 Tournament, the Cyclone offense looked like it hit a wall during the last five games of the regular season. In Kansas City, fans saw the version of Iowa State that looked like the team it was in late January and early February, especially on the offensive end.
The Cyclones looked refreshed and rejuvenated in their opening-round game against Kansas State and it carried them to the championship where they dominated Houston.
Often times when teams are run down and tired, their ball movement, spacing, and cutting is lacking. That was certainly not the case for Iowa State.
They were crisp, and the ball moved with ease. Their big-to-big passing was very impressive, and it led to a lot of easy layups and dunks in the half-court.
Momcilovic was selected to the All-Tournament team along with Keshon Gilbert (MOP), Tamin Lipsey, Jamal Shead, and LJ Cryer. Momcilovic getting out of his slump is huge if the Cyclones want to make a run in the big dance. When he is hitting shots, it opens up the defense and allows for guys like Gilbert and Lipsey to get to the rim for layups or dump-offs for Tre King, Robert Jones, and Hason Ward.
With Momcilovic and Gilbert getting their confidence back, the Cyclones have a chance to make it to the Final 4 for the first time since 1944.
Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell attends with the football team at the Jack Trice 100-Year Commemoration Closing Ceremony in the university Campanile, central campus, on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Taylor Mouser grew up in a locker room. But pucks, not footballs, surrounded him as he happily carried out a multitude of menial tasks for ECHL hockey teams his dad served in various front office roles.
“He sat there in a locker room and watched his dad be a general manager and put teams together,” Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell said of Mouser, the Cyclones’ new offensive coordinator. “(He) did everything from washing the clothes, to filling up Gatorade cups, to — man, my greatest memories growing up were the same thing.”
Campbell’s father, Rick, coached high school football, Mouser’s dad, Tim, set him on a path that eventually put him in Campbell’s locker room at Toledo as a graduate assistant, where he stuffed envelopes (among other things), moved to ISU, then gradually climbed the coaching ranks to lead the tight ends room before being elevated to the offensive coordinator position after Nate Scheelhaase left in late February to join the Los Angeles Rams’ staff.
“To say I’m excited doesn’t really scratch the surface of what it means to me to be the offensive coordinator here and be with coach Campbell going into our 11th season together, (and) here at Iowa State for nine years,” Mouser said in his first news conference since being named to the job. “I love everything about this place. My wife went to school here (and) she was a Cyclone kids club member and her dad was the librarian here. So I love Iowa State.”
Mouser, as Campbell said, started his coaching journey “from the ground up,” becoming an integral part of the program’s recruiting efforts early on. Now he’ll get to serve as a general manger of sorts himself, helping to shape and guide the Cyclones’ roster through spring ball (which begins Thursday), then fall camp, and finally, game days in 2024.
“The coaching staff that we have right now, they’re all gonna work together, and (Mouser’s) told me before that he’s going to allow any input from anybody,” said sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht, who earned Big 12 offensive freshman of the year honors last season. “My input is just if I see something that I like, or I don’t like, obviously you would let him know the input about that, but it’s his show and it’s his game and I’m gonna let him run it. I’m just gonna be there to support him.”
Nine players who started five or more games last season on both sides of the ball return for an ISU team that went 7-6 overall and 6-3 in Big 12 play last season. The Cyclones’ offense led the nation in big plays in 2023, scoring 11 touchdowns spanning 50-plus yards. And with several dynamic receiving targets coming back — from receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, to tight end Benjamin Brahmer — ISU may seek to go vertical in the passing game with greater frequency.
“We’ve got the guys now to be able to stretch the field,” Becht said.
And Mouser will be at the controls, but calling plays for the Cyclones remains very much a collaborative effort.
“(The other assistants), those guys are all really good about — they don’t have egos,” Mouser said. “I’d like to think that I don’t, so we can all put our heads together and come up with the best game plan.”
Head coach Kevin Dresser, David Carr and Yonger Bastida preview the upcoming 2024 NCAA Championships that will take place March 21-23 in Kansas City, MO.
Iowa State football hosted its first press conference of the spring practice period on Monday at the Stark Performance Center in Ames. Here’s what head coach Matt Campbell, newly named offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, and Rocco Becht & Beau Freyler had to say.
Iowa State Cyclones women’s basketball head coach Bill Fennelly talks to media in a low voice due to his throat complication after the NCAA women’s basketball selection show at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly chuckled slightly when he saw who his team would play to begin the NCAA Tournament.
“The committee has a sense of humor,” he said.
That’s because the seventh-seeded Cyclones (20-11) will face No. 10 seed Maryland (19-13) at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Palo Alto, Calif. And the Terrapins are coached by one of his former assistants, Brenda Frese, who has built that program into a powerhouse for the past 22 seasons.
“Brenda’a part of the family,” Fennelly said. “Brenda started this with me. A Hall of Fame coach. A Hall of Fame person. Phenomenal family.”
Frese has led Maryland to an NCAA championship (2006), seven Elite Eights and three Final Fours. The Terrapins reached the Elite Eight last season and recently beat fourth-ranked Ohio State by 21 points.
“Brenda’s teams are always the same: skilled, tough,” said Fennelly, whose young team won six games in a row before falling to No. 1 seed Texas in the Big 12 Tournament championship. “They’re gonna be a tough out every time. But I’m happy for our kids, obviously. We get to play. This never gets old. It’s hard. People think this is easy. I mean, you look at teams in our league and there are a lot of kids that never play in this tournament.”
ISU will feature seven key contributors who have never played in the Division I NCAA Tournament. That lengthy list of postseason rookies includes five freshmen, but it also includes transfers Isnelle Natabou (from Sacramento State) and Hannah Belanger (from Division II Truman State).
“This is the whole reason why I wanted to come here,” said Belanger, who is shooting 40.1 percent from 3-point range in the past seven games. “I made it (in Division II) one time before at Truman and we lost the very first game, so hopefully it doesn’t go like that, but I definitely wanted to experience playing at a high level and whether that was the (Big 12) championship game in (Kansas City), or making the tournament, I think this was everything I dreamed of.”
Same goes for forward Addy Brown, who earned a spot on the Big 12’s all-freshman team.
“Growing up and watching the tournament, that’s what you look forward to with March Madness and filling out your bracket,” said Brown, who also attained all-Big 12 honorable mention honors. “So it’s kind of like it hasn’t hit me yet that I’m finally getting to play in it, but that’s a goal I’m gonna have every single year, is get to the tournament and play well. It’s just one step, one year down.”
Last season, ISU fell in the first round, but if it can get by the Terrapins on Friday, a daunting matchup with host Stanford — a No. 2 seed — looms on Sunday. The Cyclones, however, already boast two top-10 wins this season, so no matter the opponent, the site, or the stage, they expect to be ready.
“It’s big that they earned this,” Fennelly said. “But I also think, you know, you want them to be excited about it (and) understand how hard it was, but don’t assume it’s gonna happen every year. That’s the biggest thing. Right now, it’s go to work tomorrow, play — and March is so unique. Play to the end and when it’s over, make sure you did it the right way.”
Mar 16, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones hold their ticket to the NCAA tournament after the game against the Houston Cougars at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State men’s basketball came in at No. 4 in the final AP Poll released before the start of the NCAA Tournament.
The voters will still release a final poll following the conclusion of the tournament, and brackets were released Sunday.
The No. 4 ranking is Iowa State’s highest since it was ranked No. 4 in 2015 – which was Fred Hoiberg’s last season in Ames.
Iowa State, as a No. 2 seed, will take on No. 15 South Dakota State in Omaha on Thursday during the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Below is the full, week 19 poll from the Associated Press.
AP MBB Poll
Monday, March 18, 2024
1. UConn
2. Houston
3. Purdue
4. Iowa State
5. North Carolina
6. Tennessee
7. Auburn
8. Marquette
9. Arizona
10. Illinois
11. Creighton
12. Kentucky
13. Duke
14. Baylor
15. St. Mary’s
16. South Carolina
17. Kansas
18. Gonzaga
19. Alabama
20. Utah State
21. BYU
22. Texas Tech
23. Wisconsin
24. San Diego State
25. Washington State
Others receiving votes: New Mexico 134, Florida 120, Nevada 51, NC State 36, James Madison 31, Dayton 27, Drake 26, Oregon 12, Colorado 10, Nebraska 7, Texas 7, Boise St. 6, McNeese St. 6, Clemson 5, Mississippi St. 5, South Florida 3, Colorado St. 3, FAU 2.
Iowa State has earned its first commitment to the 2025 recruiting class in point guard Macari Moore.
The 6-foot-3 prospect out of Ann Arbor announced his commitment over social media Monday.
“Really just all of the visits,” Moore said of what made the choice for him. “I felt like it was the best thing for me and that it was a great fit. It feels like I’m getting a great opportunity by coach (Otzelberger), and all of the coaching staff, to go there and play.”
Iowa State hosted Moore on visit most recently during the team’s game against West Virginia, which was originally rescheduled so that both of his parents could attend.
The relationship built between both sides played a factor in his decision, as well.
“It was really just the relationships that we built together with the coaching staff and my family,” Moore said. “It’s the relationships and the culture that they have there.”
Moore chose the Cyclones over other offers from Louisville, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and Toledo.
He’s rated by 247 Sports as the No. 26 point guard in the country and becomes the latest top 150 overall player (rated at No. 146) to commit to Iowa State.
Moore has stayed tuned in on Iowa State’s Big 12 championship run in Kansas City, too.
“I’ve been watching,” Moore said. “I’ve been seeing. They’ve been playing real good basketball. Yeah, I’m just happy that I’m soon to be a part of it and envision myself in an Iowa State uniform.”
“I really just want to get ready for college and the next level,” Moore said. “It keeps me motivated to keep working with my school team and my AAU team.”
Iowa State Cyclones forward Addy Brown (left) and guard Hannah Belanger talk to media after NCAA women’s basketball selection show at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Iowa State’s Addy Brown & Hannah Belanger addressed media members after learning of his team’s selection in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
Coach Bill Fennelly’s lost his voice over the week, but did try his best to articulate his answers. That clip can be seen below.
Bill Fennelly did his best to answer questions despite losing his voice.
Here’s a clip from what he answered (be cautious on volume, did the best we could). pic.twitter.com/rgcqGXi5NZ
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 18, 2024
Iowa State Cyclones guard Hannah Belanger (13) celebrates with forward Addy Brown (24) and guard Arianna Jackson (2) during the third quarter of a NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on March 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
https://www.caliberiowa.com/AMES – Iowa State will travel to California to face Maryland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this week, carrying a familiar message with itself.
The Cyclones shocked the Big 12 at the start of the season, beginning the year with a 6-0 mark in conference play after a 7-4 record in the non-conference. That was partially due to the mentality Iowa State has developed over the year, despite an inexperienced team.
“Honestly, we just feel like fire,” freshman guard Addy Brown said. “Just being the underdog all year just keeps us going, knowing that people are still sleeping on us. It’s not about me proving people wrong, but it’s more about proving us right. We came into (the postseason) knowing like, ‘we can beat this team, and we can do big things.’ We’re just proving ourselves right.”
That helped the Cyclones as well, in getting to Tuesday’s Big 12 championship in Kansas City.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly will see a familiar face on the opposite sideline, with his former assistant coach Brenda Freese being the head coach at Maryland since 2002.
“The committee has a sense of humor,” Fennelly said. “Obviously, they did it with the guy’s, too. Brenda’s part of my family. Brenda started this with me. She’s a hall of fame coach and (is part of) a hall of fame family.”
Freese was in Ames as an assistant coach under Fennelly from 1995-1999 and spent years at Ball State and Minnesota before taking the Maryland job.
Her sister, Stacy Freese, played under the pair during the 1998-99 season in one of her two years at Iowa State.
“We’ll see what jersey Stacy has on for the game,” Fennelly said. “It’s not good, but at the end of the game, I’ll be happy that one of us won.”
Iowa State saw a similar situation play out last year, when the No. 5 Cyclones faced off against Toledo – the program where Fennelly got his start.
It led to a first round exit.
The Cyclones did take some solace in being able to give the group a pair of off-days during the week, to take advantage of an earlier conference championship compared to in year’s past.
That’s given Fennelly more confidence moving forward with this year’s tournament.
“Last year, we were worn out,” Fennelly said. “(We) didn’t play well. I think we’ve handled it better this year. We’ve given our kids a lot of rest. I think for our team, it’s good. We were out of gas at the end, but I think a lot of team’s are. You want to start over, re-boot it, and get your work done.”
Now, Iowa State will prepare for its 22nd NCAA Tournament in Fennelly’s 29th season at the helm of the program.
“You want to understand how hard it was (to make an NCAA Tournament), and don’t assume it’s going to happen every year,” Fennelly said. “Like yeah, we’ve had 20+ teams make an NCAA tournament, but not this team. Not these guys.”
Mar 12, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones center Audi Crooks (55) drives to the basket during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State women’s basketball is headed back to the NCAA Tournament.
The Cyclones were announced Sunday as a No. 7 seed and will begin their tournament journey facing off with No. 10 Maryland in Palo Alto, California.
The other side of the pod includes No. 2 Stanford and No. 15 Norfolk State.
The Cyclones finished the season with a 18-10 record in the regular season, including a 12-6 mark in Big 12 play.
Iowa State ended its Big 12 tournament in the championship game for the second straight season, dropping its final matchup with Texas.
Feb 6, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger observes the first half against the Texas Longhorns at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — The NCAA Tournament selection committee insists that it never looks at potential storylines when it’s determining first-round matchups.
But shortly after Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger saw his team had been tabbed as a No. 2 seed, a plot twist popped up.
The Cyclones (27-7) will face the program that gave Otzelberger his first college head coaching job — South Dakota State — in Thursday’s first-round tournament game in Omaha. And suffice it to say, Otzelberger’s ties to the 15th-seeded Jackrabbits (22-12) and head coach Eric Henderson still run deep.
“They won the (Summit) League outright, they won the tournament,” said Otzelberger, who served as South Dakota State’s head coach from 2017-19. “To do that you’ve got to have a really good group and I’ve watched them a fair amount this season, just because of, obviously, my relationship with coach Henderson and their coaching staff in my time there.”
Henderson served as Otzelberger’s associate head coach in the 2018-19 season and was elevated to the top spot when Otzelberger left to lead UNLV’s program the following season. Several members of his staff previously coached under Otzelberger there, as well, so there are myriad connections linking the two programs together.
“Those relationships and things, those matter a lot, but at the same time, we know when you get to this time of the year there are only so many options (where) things are gonna go a certain way, so you just take it as it comes like we do everything,” Otzelberger said. “Just get ready for what’s next and prepare to be at our best to go win the game.”
ISU showed throughout the season it can narrow its focus onto itself and not allow any added intrigue to seep into its habit-based approach to achieving success. The Cyclones have also been extremely balanced offensively, which helped them record three straight double-digit wins at the Big 12 Tournament to win the crown for the first time since 2019. ISU has won six of its last seven games — and each of those games featured a different leading scorer.
“This is a whole new ball game for everybody,” said ISU senior forward Tre King, who is one of those seven players to lead the team in scoring in the past seven games. “There’s different ways you’ve got to prepare for scouting and I think the one advantage that we have with different leading scorers every night is teams don’t know who to really key in on because it really could be anybody on any given night. I think that’s just a credit to how much we share the ball and care for each other and really just make the simple plays and stuff like that.”
That’s what the seventh-ranked Cyclones did in Saturday’s 69-41 rout of top-ranked Houston in the Big 12 Tournament title game. And that’s what prevents early exits from happening. King played in last year’s first-round tournament loss to 11th-seeded Pitt — a deflating upset-based storyline he’s convinced won’t receive a sequel.
“In all these big moments, we’ve all showed up and shown out, and done what we needed to do,” King said. “So I have no doubt that we’re gonna do that again.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Tre King & Curtis Jones addressed media members after learning of his team’s selection in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
Iowa State men’s basketball is headed to the NCAA Tournament for a third straight season.
The Cyclones were announced Sunday as a No. 2 seed and will begin their tournament journey facing off with No. 15 South Dakota State on Thursday in Omaha.
The other side of the bracket includes No. 7 Washington State and No. 10 Drake.
The Cyclones finished the season with a 24-7 record in the regular season, including a 13-5 mark in Big 12 play.
Thanks to a sweep in Kansas City that included three straight victories by double digits, the team finished as Big 12 tournament champions.
Mar 16, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) attempts a three-point shot while defended by Houston Cougars guard Jamal Shead (1) in the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic sat down, sighed, and attempted to clear his head.
The Cyclones had just lost, 65-58, last Saturday at Kansas State and Momcilovic tried to process what went wrong as the regular season slammed shut with a resounding thud.
“I had zero points,” Momcilovic said. “My first zero-point game I’ve ever had in my career. So I just sat down and I was like, ‘I’ve gotta turn this around. My team needs me. If we’re gonna be great, I’ve gotta be great,’ so I kind of just switched it in my head and it turned out pretty well in this tournament.”
That would be the 2024 Big 12 Tournament, which Momcilovic and his ISU teammates slammed shut with a resounding victory. The 6-8 member of the conference all-freshman team scored a game-high 18 points to help spark the seventh-ranked Cyclones’ utter demolition of top-ranked Houston, 69-41, in Saturday’s title game at what’s officially known as the T-Moblie Center, which once again morphed into “Hilton South” amid a sea of cardinal and gold-clad fans.
“I expected it to be rockin’ tonight,” said transfer guard Keshon Gilbert, who added 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. “Shoutout to the fans. That’s all I can really say, is shoutout to the fans.”
Gilbert and the Cyclones (27-7) did all their talking on the court the past three days by blowing out the Wildcats, No. 17 Baylor and the regular season champion Cougars (30-4) by a combined 61 points en route to their first Big 12 Tournament title since 2019.
“Give our guys all the credit,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team will likely be a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament when the brackets are unveiled at 5 p.m. Sunday on CBS. “Our last regular season game felt like we weren’t as focused as we needed to be in a lot of aspects. It was great to have the opportunity to get back to the practice court where truthfully we didn’t know who we’d be playing, so that we could just focus on us — especially offensively.”
ISU shot 50 percent from the field against a Houston defense that was ranked No. 1 by KenPom by a fairly wide margin entering the game. Who stood at No. 2? The Cyclones — who moved into the No. 1 spot in that metric after holding the Cougars to 28.1 percent shooting in the most lopsided win over an Associated Press No. 1-ranked team since UCLA, ironically, beat Houston by 32 points in 1968.
“Obviously, the fans helped us out a ton,” said ISU sophomore point guard Tamin Lipsey, who notched nine points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals while joining Gilbert and Momcilovic on the all-tournament team. “Hilton South is definitely real and alive.”
Even venerable Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson acknowledged that in his inimitable way as the Cyclones improved to 6-for-6 in Big 12 title games in program history.
“The other games all felt like fair fights,” said Sampson, whose team went 1-2 against ISU this season. “Today didn’t seem very fair. But, again, that’s all kudos to Iowa State’s fans. They’re always going to have — did I see somewhere where they were 5-0 in championship games? Well, correct that, will you? (It’s now) 6-0. Good chance it’s going to be 7-0 (in the future). They’re pretty good.”
Great, even. Just ask Momcilovic, whose confidence never wavered even as he searched for answers to his late-season shooting slump that’s now a vestige of the past.
“Big-time players make big-time shots,” he said earlier this season.
And Saturday — before the confetti enveloped him within colorful columns — he drilled four 3-pointers in a game for the first time since Thanksgiving. He hit three long-range baskets for the first time in a month and a half in Friday’s semifinal win over Baylor, which means, in essence, that he’s fully back.
“It means a lot to me because obviously it’s on (a big) stage versus the No. 1 team in the country and we beat them by almost 30,” Momcilovic said. “It just felt really good to knock those shots down, just because I’d been struggling for so long. I always knew I had confidence, my teammates had confidence, my coaches — even the fans had confidence in me. I knew it would come along. The last two games it kind of came along and it’s still gonna come along here moving forward.”
The Iowa State Cyclones won their fifth Big 12 championship in 10 years on Saturday with a 69-41 win over No. 1 Houston in the title game at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
Mar 16, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Robert Jones (12) reacts after a play during the second half against the Houston Cougars at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
In a rubber match battle between the top two seeds in the Big 12 Conference, Iowa State had all the answers for Houston, beating the Cougars 69-41.
The Cyclones took a seven-point lead into the halftime break and continued to build on it while Houston went nearly 10 minutes without a made shot from the field.
Milan Momcilovic led the way for the Cyclones, scoring 18 points with six rebounds. It’s the most points he’s scored in a game since Iowa State’s loss to Virginia Tech in November.
Keshon Gilbert finished with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists, playing a large role in Iowa State’s run to take control of the game.
Hason Ward was in other Cyclone to finish with double figures, scoring 13 points on a 5-6 shooting clip.
The Big 12 championship is Iowa State’s fifth as a program in the past decade, going along with its titles won in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019. It’s the Cyclones’ seventh Big 12 tournament championship, overall.
The victory gives Iowa State a 27-7 record on the season, and puts the team in a position to be considered for the final No. 1 seed slot when all is said and done.
Iowa State will find out its NCAA Tournament matchups when the bracket is released as part of Selection Sunday (5:00 p.m. CT, CBS) tomorrow.
Mar 15, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) dives after a loose ball during the second half against the Baylor Bears at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Keshon Gilbert marveled at the sheer size of the crowd. The ear-splitting cheers. The intensity Iowa State’s fan base pulsated with every night at Hilton Coliseum.
So when the former UNLV guard entered the transfer portal last spring and Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger expressed keen interest, he listened intently to the pitch.
“What brought me here was, I saw the crowd, how the crowd was, and the atmosphere of Ames having no distractions,” said Gilbert, a junior who complied a sterling stat line of 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as seventh-ranked ISU (26-7) beat No. 14 Baylor, 76-62, in Friday night’s Big 12 Tournament semifinal to reach the conference title game for the first time since the 2018-19 season. “So it meant a lot when I heard T.J. call my phone in the portal.”
The second-seeded Cyclones led by double-digits for the final 19:47 of the game after senior forward Robert Jones sank a short jumper to start the second half and the Bears (23-10) trailed by as many as 22 points while mounting an array of futile charges ISU rebuffed repeatedly down the stretch.
Six different Cyclones scored in the first six minutes of the second half to propel their team to a titanic title game matchup with top-ranked and top-seeded Houston at 5 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) at the T-Mobile Center.
“I grew up a Cyclone fan my whole life,” said sophomore point guard Tamin Lipsey, an Ames native who scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds and had five assists to zero turnovers. “Now doing it in my time — and it’s still kind of surreal, but I’m here with my teammates just having a great time.”
No kidding. So-called Hilton South’s partisan crowd in Kanas City continues to grow and it exulted when freshman forward Milan Momcilovic opened the game by swishing a corner 3-pointer. Momcilovic had gone 4-for-30 from beyond the arc in his previous nine games.
“It was big for me just to see that first one go down and just know that I’m still a great shooter,” Momcilovic said. “I put a lot of time into my shot and I’m a great shooter (so) they’re gonna go down at some point. I hit three today and I think you can continue to look for me to keep shooting well going forward.”
ISU drilled 10 3-pointers in 20 attempts and hadn’t hit that many in a game since sinking 12 in a 79-75 home win over Kansas on Jan. 27. Coincidentally, that was the last time Momcilovic had drained three or long long-range baskets in a game — and that sharpshooting prowess came after the Cyclones shot a dismal 1-for-14 from beyond the arc in Thursday’s 76-57 quarterfinal win over Kansas State.
“The one thing they’re going to do defensively is going to give them a chance each and every night,” said Baylor coach Scott Drew, whose Bears were the only Big 12 team ISU hadn’t beaten this season. “When they operate like they did offensively, they’re really hard to beat.”
Senior guard Curtis Jones scored 13 points on 3-for-6 3-point shooting, Momcilovic added 11 points while going 3-for-6 from beyond the arc and forward Hason Ward came off the bench to score 10 points, grab six rebounds, snatch away three steals and block two shots. He also soared for a poster-worthy alley-top dunk off of a feed from fellow big man Tre King with 10:27 left as Baylor applied a full-court press to no avail.
“In the moment, I’m just out there playing,” said Ward, whose big night came when Robert Jones battled constant foul trouble. “(King) saw me on the back cut. It was a good pass and I was just out there playing (and) having fun.”
Robert Jones had scored a season-high-tying 18 points on Thursday as Ward found himself drawing numerous whistles and that’s part of what fuels the Cyclones’ sense of fun. When one guy’s down for whatever reason, someone — or everyone — does something to lift him up.
“All the dinners we had together, the breakfasts we had together, all of that comes into play,” Curtis Jones said. “I think it’s because we genuinely like each other and just want to win. Everybody wants to win, so it’s fun.”
Especially for Gilbert, who after Thursday’s win sat by his locker marveling at the Hilton South turnout that continues to swell.
“I can’t believe we have more fans here than K-State fans,” he said. “It felt like Hilton out there.”
TJ Otzelberger spoke to the media following Iowa State’s 76-62 win over Baylor to advance to the Big 12 title game.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players addressed media members following their team’s 76-62 win over Baylor in the Big 12 semifinals.
Tamin Lipsey, Curtis Jones, Milan Momcilovic, and Tre King spoke to the media following Iowa State’s dominant win over Baylor to advance to their first Big 12 championship since winning it in 2019.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
ATLANTA, Ga. – Iowa State men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year. Otzelberger is one of 10 coaches across the country named as semifinalist, including two from the Big 12.
In his third season at the helm, Otzelberger has led the Cyclones to a Top 10 ranking for the second time, as the Cyclones sit 25-7 overall on the year and are currently ranked No. 7 in the nation. The Cyclones finished second in the Big 12 standings. Otzelberger has led the Cyclones to the Big 12 Championship Semifinals for the second-straight season.
Iowa State has nine wins over AP Top 10 teams under Otzelberger, the second-most in the country and the second-most in school history behind Johnny Orr’s 12. Iowa State’s 18 AP Top 25 wins under Otzelberger are also the second-most in the nation. His 66 wins at Iowa State are the third-most in school history by a coach in their first three years, trailing only Larry Eustachy (72) and Tim Floyd (69).ADVERTISING
The Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year award will be narrowed to four finalists on Monday, March 25. The winner will be announced on Sunday, April 7, at the Final Four in Phoenix.
Iowa State freshman forward Omaha Biliew (33) catches a pass against Kansas State senior forward David N’Guessan (1) in the second half of the quarterfinal round in the Big 12 Tournament inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Fifty days.
That’s how long it had been since Iowa State five-star freshman forward Omaha Biliew had checked into a game — until Thursday’s Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal win over Kansas State.
The 6-8 Biliew trotted onto the T-Mobile Center’s court at the 17:13 mark of the first half in the 76-57 rout of the Wildcats and gave the second-seeded Cyclones (25-7) a productive six minutes on both ends of the floor throughout the game.
“It was fun,” said Biliew, who scored a layup, grabbed a rebound, and bounced a nifty assist to fellow big man Tre King in the paint. “It was exciting to be out there, obviously (at) Hilton South. It was really fun to be out there with my teammates. We went out on top. We brought a lot of energy and it’s gonna be great film for us to go back and watch to prepare for (the semifinals).
That would be today’s 8:30 p.m. matchup with third-seeded Baylor, who beat 11th-seeded Cincinnati, 68-56, in Thursday’s late quarterfinal. And while it’s unclear whether Billiew will continue to come off the bench is anyone’s guess, he drew rave reviews from head coach T.J. Otzelberger and his teammates. Especially King, who scored 16 points Thursday to help ISU avenge last Saturday’s loss to Kansas State in Manhattan.
“I’m so proud of him,” King said. “Even with him not being able to play for that long stretch and him sitting out those games, he was always a great teammate. And even though it wasn’t going in his favor, he stuck with his process. He kept working. He’s one of the hardest workers on our team and credit to him for just being ready. One of the things we talk about is, if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready, and he did that. … One of the things I noticed for him, was as soon as he came in he got a rebound and got a cutting layup. It gave us a huge boost and us being proud of him gave us a boost as well. It really kicked off one of our biggest runs of the game, so I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Biliew said the Cyclones have instilled a deep sense of confidence in him despite his lack of playing time. Couple that with his formidable skill set and his future remains ultra-bright regardless of what the rest of the postseason brings in terms of minutes.
“All the work that we’ve been putting into practice, just getting a feel of them, and they’re getting a feel for me, it’s going through every single day,” Biliew said. “I’m just letting it show.”
Sophomore point guard Tamin Lipsey fully agrees.
“He’s ready for it,” the first-team All-Big 12 talent said. “I see him working every day in workouts and practice. He goes just as hard as if he’s playing, just like us. That just shows his character. The coaches realize it. The team realizes it. We love the effort that he brings, and the physicality and the energy. That obviously (has) a big impact (on) us.”
MILAN’S MUSINGS It’s no secret that highly-touted freshman forward Milan Momcilovic has struggled to hit shots lately, but he scored six points in the second half in Thursday’s win that helped spur a couple of big runs.
“This group’s so together and we knew we were gonna pull together and just take it from there,” Momcilovic said. “We knew we were gonna make a run and we knew this thing wasn’t gonna be close at the end.”
CURT’S CONFIDENCE It had been almost a month since senior sixth man Curtis Jones failed to score in double figures before he finished with six points in Thursday’s win. Call that a blip, not a trend, so unsurprisingly his confidence remains high — especially in terms of what the Cyclones can potentially do later in March.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Rob Jones & Keshon Gilbert addressed media members following their team’s Big 12 quarterfinals win over Kansas State.
Mar 14, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Robert Jones (12) celebrates after a made basket against the Kansas State Wildcats during the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Robert Jones left the court last Saturday at Kansas State with a gnawing feeling in his gut.
The trademark “energy” the senior Iowa State center exudes every time he takes the floor hadn’t been fully tapped. And the result that day — a 65-58 loss to the Wildcats — caused him to reflect, refocus and fully recharge for the Big 12 Tournament and Thursday night’s eventual rematch in the quarterfinals.
“I just feel like I owed (more),” said Jones, who erupted for a conference career-high 18 points as the second-seeded Cyclones surged past Kansas State, 76-57, at the T-Mobile Center. “I came out and played a less physical game than I’m used to playing (on Saturday) and didn’t score the ball as well. I mean, I had three points on Saturday, so I knew coming into this game I was gonna give them the best version of myself and that’s what I did tonight.”
The rest of the seventh-ranked Cyclones (25-7) followed suit, scoring their most points in nearly a month to advance to a semifinal matchup with the winner of Thursday’s late quarterfinal between third-seeded Baylor and 11th-seeded Cincinnati. Fellow senior forward Tre King added 16 points, junior guard Keshon Gilbert chipped in 12 and sophomore guard Tamin Lipsey contributed 11 as ISU used a 9-0 run midway through the second half to turn a five-point lead into a 14-point cushion. The key to that decisive stretch? Defense, as usual. The Cyclones forced three of the Wildcats’ 20 turnovers during that span and scored two points off of each of those miscues.
“We know as long as we do what we do and focus on the things we do well we can beat anybody,” said King, who grabbed a game-high nine rebounds while snaring three steals. “I feel like up to this point we’ve shown that we can do that. So I think that we have found our confidence in that and once we got in that huddle and looked at each other, it was like, ‘Ok, they made their run. We know basketball’s a game of runs, but it’s over now.’ So we made that up in your mind and you saw what happened.”
Gilbert made several crucial plays during ISU’s big splurge. He finished with a game-high six steals — a new program record in Big 12 Tournament play — and dished out a game-high five assists.
“I gotta shout out Keshon Gilbert, number 10,” said senior guard Curtis Jones, who saw his string of 14 consecutive games scoring in double figures off the bench snapped. “He just played a really good game. The whole team played a good game. We weren’t going to lose this game.”
Especially given what happened Saturday in Manhattan, where the Cyclones collectively felt they lacked the level of focus necessary to win in the pivotal month of March.
“We are very direct and we tell them the truth, and Saturday was not the standard,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “We don’t positive coach. We don’t negative coach. We coach them honestly and that wasn’t our standard, and we wanted to get back to who we are and playing the way that we’ve played all year, so hopefully a lesson learned and now we know moving forward especially how we need to focus on playing on both ends.”
That’s with purpose. Toughness. An aggressive mentality that never falters, particularly on defense. In other words: Energy. Robert Jones provided a surplus of it Thursday night and that bodes well for both the remainder of this tournament and the NCAA Tournament that follows.
“Rob was tremendous,” Otzelberger said. “He didn’t feel great about his performance on Saturday. He was unbelievable in his preparation. You could tell it was important to him to come out and play great. He set the tone from the opening jump and I think he was the guy that clearly was the most physical, prideful player in terms of wanting to win that game here today.”
Iowa State sophomore guard Tamin Lipsey (3) shoots for three against Kansas State senior forward David N’Guessan (1) in the first half of the quarterfinal round in the Big 12 Tournament inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
5 — Iowa State needed to win at least one game in Kansas City.
You don’t want to enter the NCAA Tournament on a losing streak, and Iowa State avoided that with a dominant 76-57 win over Kansas State on Thursday night in Hilton South.
We have all made a lot out of this team’s legs looking a bit shot down the home stretch of the regular season and while a shorter stay in Kansas City might ultimately not be a bad thing, losing two in a row to at best a bubble team would have given fans considerably more questions than answers for a team with Final Four aspirations.
This game wasn’t perfect, but definitely was a step in the right direction towards Iowa State re-finding its mid-season form.
4 — A wacky rotation worked.
Everyone is going to want to talk about Omaha Biliew coming out of nowhere and playing 10 minutes in this one, and you know what? I am here for it.
Prior to Thursday night, Omaha hadn’t seen the court since Jan. 24. That’s a long time for a McDonald’s All-American to ride the pine.
Omaha gave Iowa State energy, was engaged and for the most part played pretty well.
The biggest point I’d make about this is to just give Omaha and the program both a lot of credit from a cultural standpoint. The fact that he is still this positive after barely playing all season says a lot about the young man and everything going on in Ames.
I interviewed Omaha after the game. You can watch that video here. It’s well worth a couple minutes of your tie.
Note: Demarion Watson was not eligible to play on Thursday night due to a concussion. This opened the door for Biliew to get minutes.
3 — DEFENSE matters.
This game against K-State offered up a stark difference compared to last Saturday’s 65-58 loss in Manhattan. The Wildcats committed 15 turnovers in that one, compared to 20 on Thursday night.
Iowa State’s compiled 23 points off of those 20 turnovers, and added 44 points in the paint.
My favorite stat from this one: Iowa State recorded 14 steals (!!!). Keshon Gilbert had six by himself. Kansas State’s guards wanted no part of Iowa State’s pressure.
2 — On the Kansas State rivalry…
While Kansas State didn’t really live up to its end of this particular bout, the pre-game tension between these two fan bases and teams was a lot of fun. Iowa State fans just really, really despise Jerome Tang. Kansas State’s second-year coach got a first half technically that really amped up the Cardinal and Gold.
This guy just can’t stay out of his own way, and once again stepped in it postgame…
1 — Thoughts on Iowa State’s offense.
Ok, so Iowa State still was horrible from three. At least the Cyclones made one … 1-for-14. So that’s the bad.
The good news is that Milan Momcilovic, Tamin Lipsey and T.J. Otzelberger all said postgame that they felt like the offense was much smoother than in prior games. The ball didn’t stick as much and when you out-score your opponent 44-24 inside the paint, you are doing something right.
In fact, Otzelberger said that he isn’t worried about the 3-point mark. He believes those shots will eventually fall if the Cyclones are getting good looks.
“I swear I’m going to start making them,” Momcilovic told me with a smile.
Stay tuned on that.
TJ Otzelberger spoke to the media on how ISU bounced back from an ugly loss, the impact of Rob Jones, and more.
Iowa State freshman forward Omaha Biliew (33) catches a pass against Kansas State senior forward David N’Guessan (1) in the second half of the quarterfinal round in the Big 12 Tournament inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Omaha Biliew spoke to the media following Iowa State’s Big 12 Quarterfinal win over Kansas State.
Milan Momcilovic spoke to the media following Iowa State’s dominant win over Kansas State.
Milan Momcilovic spoke to the media following Iowa State’s dominant win over Kansas State.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
A general view as wrestlers warm up on eight mats during a practice session before the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2024
NCAA Wrestling Championship Brackets Announced
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Iowa State will send nine wrestlers to the NCAA Championships next weekend, held in Kansas City, Mo. at the T-Mobile Center. On Wednesday, the NCAA announced the seeds and brackets for each of the 10 weight classes.
Find full brackets here.
This marks the fourth time under head coach Kevin Dresser that nine Cyclones have qualified for the national tournament and ISU’s sixth consecutive season with at least eight qualifiers. Iowa State is one of 12 teams nationally sending nine-plus wrestlers to the tournament.
Five Cyclones received a top-10 seed in their weight class, highlighted by No. 2 Yonger Bastida at heavyweight, while 7-of-9 ISU qualifiers were given a top-15 spot. David Carr is the No. 4 seed at 165 pounds while Anthony Echemendia was given a No. 5 seed.
Evan Frost (133) and Casey Swiderski (149) are both No. 8 seeds in their respective weight classes.
Rounding out the Cyclone seeds are No. 14 Cody Chittum (157), No. 15 MJ Gaitan (174), No. 17 Will Feldkamp (184) and No. 24 Kysen Terukina (125).
The NCAA Championships are set to begin Thursday, March 21, and will be wrestled through March 23. Morning sessions will be on ESPNU, while the evening sessions will be on ESPN. All eight mats, as well as a MatCast, will have individual streams available on ESPN+.
Iowa State First Round Matches
125: No. 24 Kysen Terukina vs. No. 9 Patrick McKee (MINN)
133: No. 8 Evan Frost vs. No. 25 Braden Basile (ARMY)
141: No. 5 Anthony Echemendia vs. No. 28 Jordan Hamdan (MSU)
149: No. 8 Casey Swiderski vs. No. 25 Matthew Williams (ARMY)
157: No. 14 Cody Chittum vs. No. 19 Tommy Askey (APP)
165: No. 4 David Carr vs. No. 29 Evan Maag (GMU)
174: No. 15 MJ Gaitan vs. No. 18 Benjamin Pasiuk (ARMY)
184: No. 17 Will Feldkamp vs. No. 16 Nate Dugan (PRIN)
285: No. 2 Yonger Bastida vs. No. 31 Bennett Tabor (MINN)
NCAA Championships Schedule
March 21 – 11 a.m. – Session I – 1st Round – ESPNU
March 21 – 6 p.m. – Session II – 2nd Round – ESPN
March 22 – 11 a.m. – Session III – Quarterfinals – ESPNU
March 22 – 7 p.m. – Session IV – Semifinals – ESPN
March 23 – 10 a.m. – Session V – Medal Matches – ESPNU
March 23 – 6 p.m. – Session VI – Finals – ESPN
*All times listed are central
Iowa State head coach TJ Otzelberger talks about Iowa State’s offense slowing down at the end of the season. How to fix it, and what’s next with Big 12 Tournament play beginning tomorrow evening in KC.
Iowa State Cyclones forward Tre King (0) and Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) knock the ball out from West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jesse Edwards (7) during the second half in the Big-12 conference showdown of an NCAA college basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 24, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Iowa State’s players gathered at the Sukup Basketball Complex last Saturday night after a loss at Kansas State. They weren’t necessarily there to put shots up. Or dissect game videos. The No. 7 Cyclones fittingly assembled to watch a UFC bout — and deepen an already tight team-wide bond heading into the Big 12 Tournament.
“Just things like that (are) what we’ve been doing to get closer, but we’re already a close group,” said ISU senior guard Curtis Jones, who hopes to help his second-seeded team beat the suddenly surging 10th-seeded Kansas State in Thursday’s 6 p.m. quarterfinal at the T-Mobile Center.
Wending through a grueling 18-game conference slate, or a potential three-game sprint to a Big 12 Tournament title isn’t exactly mixed martial arts, but it does come with plenty of bumps, bruises, and strains attached. That’s the price of admission for teams committed to being contenders — which the Cyclones (24-7) have proven to be throughout the season, despite a precipitous dip in offensive production in recent weeks.
“As the season wears on and it’s just game after game after game, you don’t get the same opportunity to practice,” said ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team closed the regular season by winning 11 of its last 14 games. “So you’re always walking that line of trying to have healthy bodies and then also getting better in certain areas. (We’re) playing against some of the best defenses in the country, so there’s a mental effect that goes into it as well, and I think people experience the same thing against us.”
That’s why the Cyclones have won four of their past five games despite scoring 70 or more points just once in that span. Their defense, as usual, serves as the winning formula, but they’re convinced their offense will also revive after a reset of sorts.
“(It’s) a whole new season for us,” ISU senior forward Tre King said. “A whole new opportunity to prove people wrong and win and learn. I think we did a really good job — especially this week after the Kansas State loss — of learning what went well, what didn’t go well; what worked and what didn’t. So I think we did a really good job in our preparation these past few days of focusing on our strengths and weaknesses and what we need to get back to for us to be successful because, at the end of the day, it’s about what we do.”
That means pounding an opponent into submission via constant ball pressure that leads to live ball turnovers. It’s not always a visually pleasing gambit, but it’s proven to be highly effective.
“Once we get to Kansas City and the postseason, while you’re in it, it’s brutal for sure,” King said. “There’s no gimme game, no easy game. Every game’s a war, a battle. So having all these wars and fights you’ve got to go through night in and night out, it takes a toll on you physically and mentally.”
ISU enters the ring Thursday as rested and recuperated as possible in the thick of March. And once that bell rings for the first of potentially three straight games in as many days, the Cyclones will lean on what got them here: A grit-based, no-surrender approach that serves as their competitive foundation.
“You’ve just got to dig deep and find that extra gear,” Jones said. “I mean, this is the end of the season. There’s nothing left after this (except) the NCAA Tournament, but anything from now on, they’re all big games, so I think we just take it one game at a time and just try to survive to the next day and keep surviving.”
Iowa State seniors Curtis Jones and Tre King discuss the team’s offensive lull heading into postseason play. More on how the Cyclones have prepared for this week’s Big 12 Conference Tournament and more.
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Emily Ryan & Audi Crooks addressed media members following their team’s 70-53 loss to No. 2 Texas in the Big 12 championship game.
Mar 12, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Emily Ryan (11) brings the ball up the court around Texas Longhorns guard Shay Holle (10) during the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Iowa State followed last season’s Big 12 Tournament winning script perfectly. First, upset Baylor. Second, do the same to regular-season league champion Oklahoma. Third? Well, fourth-ranked Texas conjured up a cruel plot twist — and instead of falling to the Cyclones in the title game like last season, the Longhorns cruised to a 70-53 triumph Tuesday night at the T-Mobile Center.
“Phenomenal team,” said ISU head coach Bill Fennelly, whose team (20-11) saw a six-game winning streak snapped. “They played like a Final Four team today.”
From start to finish.
Texas (30-4) used a 16-0 first-half run to turn a 14-10 lead into a 20-point cushion that never dipped below 12 points while the Cyclones tried to mount multiple second-half runs. The Longhorns’ Madison Booker — the first freshman in Big 12 history to attain conference player of the year accolades — scored a game-high 26 points. ISU center Audi Crooks — the first Cyclone freshman to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors — compiled a team-high 25 points, with 19 of them coming in the second half.
“We did, for the most part, what we came to do this week,” said Crooks, who along with senior teammate Emily Ryan was named to the all-tournament team. “We played a really good two games, a really good half, I’d say, in this game. But we’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ve got a lot of learning to do and we still have (the rest of) the postseason, so we’re excited to see what else we can put together.”
ISU shot just 33.3 percent in the first half, but rebounded to shoot a torrid 63.2 percent in the second. The Cyclones’ improved shooting, though, was overshadowed by game-long struggles to take care of the basketball. Texas outscored ISU 23-to-5 in points off of turnovers and used nine offensive rebounds to craft a 16-to-2 advantage in second-chance points.
“They showed up ready to play and we weren’t quite where we needed to be either, so huge credit to them,” said Ryan, who had seven points and eight assists. “Congrats to them and they have a lot ahead of them, as well.”
So — as Ryan indicated — do the Cyclones, whose late-season surge ensured they’d reach the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season. Few outside observers considered that possible when ISU lost four starters to graduation or the transfer portal and five freshmen led by Crooks and Addy Brown took center stage in what could have been a rebuilding year.
Instead, ISU is NCAA Tournament-bound for the 22nd time in Fennelly’s 29 seasons at the helm.
“I’m really just proud of the way this team comes together every night and plays for each other rather than stats,” said Ryan, who missed all but one game of nonconference play because of injury. “Obviously, Audi had another great night tonight, but as a team, it’s just always next man up. Everybody’s just happy for each other. That’s the fun thing about showing up every day, is that we keep doing it together. Regardless of the outcome, the message stays the same (and) there’s no other team I’d rather be in a locker room with and be going back to Ames with.”
Soon, they’ll be going back out on the road. The initial destination is unknown. The opponent may be new. And that’s also what makes all of this fun for Ryan, Fennelly, and everyone within the Cyclones’ program.
“They’ve never made excuses,” Fennelly said. “They accomplished a lot of things that very few people thought they could. Our freshmen are phenomenal people who are turning into great basketball players — and they are led by the best leader (Ryan) I’ve ever been around. We’d be here all night if you let me talk about our team.”
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Mar 12, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Texas Longhorns forward DeYona Gaston (5) drives to the basket during the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City – No matter where Iowa State turned on Tuesday in its 64-47 Big 12 championship loss to Texas, the Cyclones had no answers.
The Cyclones were outscored 30-10 during the first 15 minutes of the game, and couldn’t make up the ground to catch up to the Longhorns.
“First of all, I certainly want to congratulate Texas, (they’re a) phenomenal team,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “They looked like a Final Four team today. On behalf of our team, our school, I really want to the thank T-Mobile, I want to thank the Big 12, amazing event. Loved everything about it. Really appreciate that.”
To go along with the early deficit, Iowa State star Audi Crooks didn’t score her first basket in the game until the last five minutes of the first half.
She finished with 25 points and nine boards, and was the only Cyclone in double figures during the loss.
The team committed 20 turnovers in the game to Texas’ seven. It shot just 8-24 from the field in the first half, and entered the break trailing by 19 points.
It put itself behind the 8-ball and paid for it.
“We dug ourselves a hole and a lot of times this season we have been able to climb out of that but tonight was not one of those nights,” Crooks said. “We can’t continue to put ourselves in those bad situations. We need to prepare. I think our preparation could have been a little bit better this game. We could have been a little more focused. It all could have been amped up a little bit, defensively. We weren’t very sound in my opinion and those are things you can’t not have together when you are playing in this league.”
Madison Booker, the Big 12 player and freshman of the year, was a consistent spark plug for Texas.
She finished with 26 points on a 12-22 mark from the field, frequently hitting shots to counter big Iowa State makes on the other end.
In the end, Iowa State couldn’t overcome the hole that it dug itself.
“I don’t know,” Fennelly said. “I’m one of those people that I don’t know that losses ever help you, to be honest, but I think it’s — what helps is what our players having through. I think our strength of schedule is rated in the top-ten in the country. We play really good teams, we play in a great league, so I think the biggest thing is when you get to the postseason, we’ve seen a lot in this league that I don’t know that we’re going to see anything in the NCAA Tournament that we haven’t seen in the Big 12.”
Iowa State will await Selection Sunday to find out its destination for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 17 (7 p.m. ESPN).
“I think that’s part of it,” Fennelly said. “Hopefully when we get home and get back to work we can clean up a few things. But whatever we see, we will be ready to prepare for it.”
Mar 11, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones center Audi Crooks (55) shoots the ball over Oklahoma Sooners forward Skylar Vann (24) during the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State returned just 17.7 points from last season’s Big 12 Tournament championship team that averaged 75.4 points per game.
Freshman Audi Crooks eclipsed the former number this season by herself.
The first-team All-Big 12 performer from Algona Garrigan scored 25 points to push her season scoring average to 18.4 as the fourth-seeded Cyclones dismantled top-seeded Oklahoma, 85-68, in Monday’s conference tournament semifinal at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
“We’re here and a lot of people said that we wouldn’t be,” Crooks said in the postgame news conference. “I just think that speaks volumes.”
Fellow freshman Addy Brown added 16 points, seven assists and six rebounds for ISU (20-10), which features four new starters as it seeks to repeat as the Big 12 Tournament champion. The Cyclones other three freshmen — Kelsey Joens, Jalynn Bristow and Arianna Jackson — drained a combined four 3-pointers and transfer center Isnelle Natabou added six points to help ISU outscore the Sooners 20-to-4 in bench points.
“Our bench continues to impact the game and I thought all of them did that today,” said ISU head coach Bill Fennelly, whose team notched its sixth top-25 win of the season. “All four of them. They couldn’t have been better.”
The only returning starter from last season’s run — point guard Emily Ryan — contributed 12 points, 10 assists and six rebounds as the Cyclones shot 58 percent from the field and avenged a 86-72 home loss to Oklahoma earlier this season.
ISU went a sizzling 12-for-23 from 3-point range and will face second-seeded Texas (29-4) in Tuesday’s 8 p.m. championship game (ESPN2).
“The big thing is just to stay in the moment and try not to do anything that we haven’t done before,” Ryan said. “Just keep doing what we’re doing.”
The Cyclones led by as many as 28 points and racked up their sixth straight win. Crooks went 12 of 19 from the field after being limited to just eight shot attempts in the regular season loss to the Sooners.
“We just brought a high level of focus and intensity,” said Crooks, who added nine rebounds and three assists. “It’s a lot easier to beat someone if you’ve seen them. And at home, it was our first time playing them and we didn’t know what to expect, but we kind of saw them and experienced that, so we knew how to combat that and we came out on top today.”
The Sooners lost for just the third time in their last 13 games, and trailed by just seven, at 31-24, with 2:19 remaining in the first half. Crooks then struck with back-to-back layups and Brown drilled a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to give ISU a 38-24 halftime lead.
“I think anytime you can hit a big bucket at the end of a quarter, or half, it’s huge for momentum because you’re going to be sitting on that last play for a while,” Ryan said. “So it was a huge (shot) for her and (it created) a lot of excitement.”
Expect more excitement to come for the no longer new-look Cyclones as they chase their second straight conference tournament crown while continuing to enhance their NCAA Tournament seeding possibilities.
“Whatever happens (Tuesday night), I think the young people on our team are going to be rewarded (by) playing in a game they all dreamed about playing in when (they came) to college,” Fennelly said.
Mar 11, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Emily Ryan (11) brings the ball up court past Oklahoma Sooners guard Kennady Tucker (4) during the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Iowa State won its 2023 Big 12 championship with consecutive wins over Baylor, Oklahoma and Texas, and will now have the chance to do the same for the 2024 title on Tuesday (8 p.m. ESPN2).
Despite the return trip, Iowa State boasts a different set of players. For many, it’s their first championship game.
“For some of us we get to come back and play in a championship game,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “We won it last year. Well, there are five freshmen, a D-2 transfer and another transfer that weren’t in Ames last year. So they’ve never done it. So it’s kind of like literally watching your grandkids open presents at Christmas because it’s new, it’s exciting for them.”
Emily Ryan is one of the few on the team that were playing during the 2023 championship.
She’s used Iowa State’s latest run to gain some perspective about just what it means.
“It’s just super special to experience it last year and now kind of getting to experience it through the freshmen’s lens,” Ryan said. “They’re going through it for the first time and it’s super special to experience it through the eyes of them and kind of lead them through it as much as I can and kind of enjoying the process. It’s really cool to do it with this group because they have been through a lot and it hasn’t been easy and I’m just grateful I get to show up with the coaching staff I get to show up with and the team that I get to show up with every day. And nothing more that I would ask for than showing up for a championship game tomorrow.”
The Cyclones have gotten used to that this season.
With 10 players, including five freshman, that had never played power conference basketball, the team has had a steep learning curve to get over.
Granted, the Cyclones found their way to a 12-6 record in Big 12 play, securing the No. 4 seed and punching a ticket to the championship in the midst of a six-game win streak.
“That’s been the case pretty much every game we’ve walked into this year is that it’s the first time and they have embraced every challenge really well and I have no doubt they will do the same thing tomorrow,” Ryan said. “I think the big thing for us is just to approach it like we do any other game, do what we need to do and take care of ourselves and then let the outcome take care of itself. The big I think is to stay in the moment and not try to do anything we haven’t done before, just keep doing what we’re doing.”
It goes back to Fennelly’s mantra: playing ‘the Iowa State way.’
The Cyclones know their strengths, and have utilized them throughout recent weeks, taking games one possession at a time and seeing increasingly stronger performances from players that average less minutes.
The system will be put to the test – undoubtedly – on Tuesday against Texas, but there’s no shortage of momentum behind the group in cardinal and gold.
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Emily Ryan & Audi Crooks addressed media members following their 85-68 Big 12 semifinal win over Oklahoma Monday.
Oklahoma’s press conference is also featured below, as well as a postgame interview with Addy Brown.
Mar 11, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones center Isnelle Natabou (0) reacts with the bench after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
https://www.caliberiowa.com/KANSAS CITY – Audi Crooks took a 3-pointer midway through the first quarter of Iowa State’s 85-68 Big 12 semifinal win over Oklahoma.
The ball rattled around the inside of the rim, and found its way through the net. It became a highlight of the 16-2 run and from then on, Iowa State never looked back.
I have the utmost respect for Oklahoma,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “That’s a great, great team who beat us really bad at our place and the way we played today — they caught us on a bad day for them and a great day for us.”
Iowa State finished the game shooting 12-23, a 52.2 percent clip, from the 3-point line.
Seemingly every time Oklahoma could use a big shot to get themselves back into the game, the ball ended up in the hands of an Iowa State player and there would be a 3-pointer coming up.
Crooks played the role that Iowa State envisioned her when she was being recruited – being the dominant post that they could continue going back to that would take over a game.
The Algona native finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and three assists on a 12-19 mark from the field.
“Yeah, we matched up really well,” Crooks said. “Like you said, they do put that emphasis on transition. So our guards sprinted back, got to the lane first and then the big’s got back and we just kind of matched up from there. So, credit to the guards for sprinting back and holding it down while we were getting boards or making buckets.”
Crooks provided a spark for Iowa State, jubilantly celebrating after big shots went in, something this team excels with.
They’re remarkably close.
“You asked something that people don’t know about our team,” point guard Emily Ryan said. “I think it’s pretty obvious, but I’m just going to say it anyway. We’re more connected than just a team playing basketball. It’s a lot bigger than that and that’s what makes showing up every day so much fun. You get to enjoy what you’re doing with the people you do it with and that’s why you just want to keep showing up every day and that’s why I’m glad we’ve got another game tomorrow.”
Ryan, the vocal captain on the team, excelled in Monday’s game, scoring 12 points and netting 10 assists in the win.
She finished with the highest plus/minus in the game at +25.
“Obviously, what you see are two — all of our freshmen, especially Addy and Audi, are extremely talented players,” Fennelly said. “You don’t play the way they’re playing at this level without having God-given talent. I say at home every day they were raised right by great parents who taught them to work hard and accept hard coaching and they get to play with Emily Ryan. You put all that stuff together, Iowa State is the beneficiary of that and they show that every single day.”
Addy Brown provided one of the integral moments of Iowa State’s win. The freshman canned a three in the closing seconds of the second quarter to give the team a 14-point lead.
She finished with 16 points, six rebounds and seven assists in the game.
“I think anytime you can hit a big bucket going into the end of the quarter or the end of the half it’s huge for momentum because you’re going to be sitting on that last play for a while,” Ryan said. “It was a huge hit by her and just a lot of excitement. That’s the fun thing about this team is that everyone was excited about it, and everyone was more excited about it than even Addy and she is the one that hit the shot.”
Ryan joked about Brown’s excitement in the big moment.
Oklahoma is a team that’s known for scoring in bunches and making transition 3-pointers that can quickly swing the momentum in a game.
However, OU scored just two points in the first five minutes of the third quarter.
“I thought our defensive effort was really, really solid and I thought A.J. (freshman point guard Arianna Jackson) was tremendous,” Fennelly said. “We ask A.J. to do a lot and I know it looks like Payton scored a ton of points and, she’s a great player, but I thought A.J. did a great job on her. And we didn’t give up as many offensive rebounds as we did at home and that helped as well.”
The entirety of Iowa State’s rotation contributed on the stat sheet.
Arianna Jackson corralled four points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals that helped Iowa State limit transition opportunities for Oklahoma.
Isnelle Natabou had four points early in the game, kickstarting the 16-2 run that Iowa State went on.
The recent play from the team’s role players has elevated Iowa State into a different team than it was when Oklahoma left Ames with its own blowout win.
“Our bench was tremendous,” Fennelly said. “Everyone that played — I mean, we played nine kids and you look out there and you’re up 10, 12, and playing great and there’s 5 freshmen in the game in the second quarter. I thought Nelle was phenomenal for the minutes she played. We really wanted to play a lot of kids in the first half and get everyone to halftime with some fresh legs because we knew they were coming. Our bench continues to impact the game and I thought all of them did that today, all four of them. They couldn’t have been better.”
Iowa State will hope to see more of the same in Tuesday’s Big 12 championship game. The Cyclones will face either No. 3 Kansas State or No. 2 Texas at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN2.
Iowa State women’s basketball star Audi Crooks has inked a NIL Deal with ClaimDOC, a West Des Moines based company.
Pumped up about this! Announced this morning that @AudiCrooks has been signed to an NIL deal with @ClaimDOC_RBP and this ad will be proudly displayed in the DSM airport! Love helping great people connect like Audi and the folks at ClaimDOC! pic.twitter.com/vJ3q3V8gId
— Brent Blum (@brentblum) March 11, 2024
The company’s social media account states that it specializes in providing sustainable healthcare plans using reference based pricing. The company’s CEO, Ben Krambeck, is an Algona native as well.
Crooks’ deal is reported to be a multi-year agreement.
Iowa State is taking home a Big 12 Championship team trophy for the first time since 2009. Anthony Echemendia and Yonger Bastida also will bring home trophies of their own as they become Big 12 Champions in their respective weights.
Take a look at the match ups and all of the celebrations that came after.
Anthony Echemendia and Yonger Bastida made a come true when they became Big 12 Champions at their respective weights.
Listen to what they had to say as they got off the mat.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
TULSA, Okla. – Iowa State clinched its first Big 12 title since 2009 Sunday night inside the BOK Center. The Cyclones crowned two champions and finished the weekend with 152.5 team points, the fourth-most in a tournament in league history and the most ever by an ISU team in the Big 12 era.
The team title marked ISU’s 17th conference championship in program history and snapped Missouri’s two-year winning streak in the tournament. The Cyclones prevailed in a tight team race throughout the entire weekend and bested Oklahoma State’s 141.5 points.
Anthony Echemendia won his first individual Big 12 title courtesy of a 4-2 decision over UNI’s Cael Happel at 141 pounds. He is the fifth Cyclone to win a conference title at 141 pounds and the first since Ian Parker did so in 2020.
Yonger Bastida was victorious in one of the most anticipate matches of the season against Air Force’s Wyatt Henrickson. Bastida hit a crafty counter while Hendrickson was in on a leg for a six-point move which proved to be the difference in a 10-7 decision.
Bonus points were key for Iowa State throughout the tournament as the Cyclones registered six falls, six tech falls and seven major decisions for 28 extra points. The Cyclones’ bonus-point tally was the difference in the team race as the Cowboys finished with just 13 bonus points.
Head coach Kevin Dresser was named Big 12 Coach of the Year for the second time in his seven-year stint at Iowa State.
Three other Cyclones were unsuccessful in their title bids.
At 133 pounds, Evan Frost was outmatched against Oklahoma State’s No. 1 Daton Fix. Frost secured a late takedown to cut his deficit to 8-5 but it wasn’t enough to dethrone the four-time defending conference champion
Cody Chittum lost a marathon match to UNI’s Ryder Downey, 5-3, in the second tiebreaker. Downey was tough on top and did not allow Chittum to escape on multiple occasions throughout the match.
In a highly anticipated national finals rematch, Missouri’s No. 1 Keegan O’Toole got the best of No. 2 David Carr once again. Carr was in on a leg several times in the match, but O’Toole’s countering ability prevailed, and the Tiger snatched an 8-2 victory.
Iowa State Results
125: No. 6 Kysen Terukina – Fourth Place
First Round: W-D, 6-2 vs. Conrad Hendriksen (OU)
QF: W-D, 3-2 vs. No. 3 Stevo Poulin (UNCO)
SF: L-D SV-1, 2-1 vs. No. 2 Troy Spratley (OSU)
Consis. Rd. 4: W-D, 10-6 vs. No. 4 Tanner Jordan (SDSU)
Third-Place Mach: LBF (4:58) vs. No. 7 Jett Strickenberger (WVU)
133: No. 2 Evan Frost – Second Place
First Round: W-MD, 12-1 vs. Jace Koelzer (OU)
QF: W-MD, 18-5 vs. No. 7 Hunter Leake (CBU)
SF: W-MD, 12-4 vs. No. 3 Dominick Serrano (UNCO)
Finals: L-D, 8-5 vs. No. 1 Daton Fix (OSU)
141: No. 1 Anthony Echemendia – Champion
First Round: W-TF, 17-2 (3:22) vs. Garrett Kuchan (AF)
QF: W-TF 21-5 (5:50) vs. No. 8 Cole Brooks (WYO)
SF: W-MD, 14-4 vs. No. 4 Jordan Titus (WVU)
Finals: vs. No. 3 Cael Happel (UNI)
149: No. 1 Casey Swiderski – Third Place
First Round: Bye
QF: W-D, 4-2 vs. No. 8 Logan Gioffre (MIZ)
SF: L-D, 8-7 vs. No. 4 Jordan Williams (OSU)
Consis. Rd. 4: W-MD, 19-5 vs. No. 2 Willie McDougald (OU)
Third-Place Match: W-TF, 22-6 (6:18) vs. No. 7 Gabe Willochell (WYO)
157: No. 4 Cody Chittum – Second Place
First Round: W-TF, 22-4 (5:29) vs. Brooks Gable (AF)
QF: W-D, 7-3 vs. No. 5 Brock Mauller (MIZ)
SF: W-D, 6-0 vs. No. 8 Jared Hill (OU)
Finals: L-D, 5-3 TB-2 vs. No. 2 Ryder Downey (UNI)
165: No. 2 David Carr – Second Place
First Round: WBF (2:07) vs. Mateo de la Pena (CBU)
QF: W-TF, 17-2 (5:47) vs. Jack Thomsen (UNI)
SF: W-D, 5-1 vs. No. 3 Peyton Hall (WVU)
Finals: L-D, 8-2 vs. No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (MIZ)
174: No. 2 MJ Gaitan – Fourth Place
First Round: Bye
QF: L-D SV-1, 6-3 vs. No. 7 Gaven Sax (NDSU)
Consis. Rd. 2: WBF (2:18) vs. Mahonri Rushton (UVU)
Consis. Rd. 3: WBF (1:43) vs. No. 6 Tate Picklo (OU)
Consis. Rd. 4: W-MD, 13-5 vs. No. 4 Peyton Mocco (MIZ)
Third-Place Match: L-D, 8-2 vs. No. 3 Brayden Thompson (OSU)
184: No. 5 Will Feldkamp – Sixth Place
First Round: Bye
QF: L-MD, 13-2 vs. No. 4 Colton Hawks (MIZ)
Consis. Rd. 2: WBF (7:00) vs. Nathan Haas (CBU)
Consis. Rd. 3: W-TF, 18-1 (6:18) vs. No. 8 Ethan Ducca (WYO)
Consis. Rd. 4: L-D, 17-11 vs. No. 6 Sam Wolf (AF)
Fifth-Place Match: L-D, 9-7 vs. No. 4 Colton Hawks (MIZ)
197: Julien Broderson – DNP
First Round: W-D, 5-1 vs. No. 8 Austin Cooley (WVU)
QF: LBF (1:47) vs. No. 1 Tanner Sloan (SDSU)
Consis. Rd. 2: L-D, 8-2 vs. No. 7 Luke Surber (OSU)
285: No. 2 Yonger Bastida – Champion
First Round: WBF (0:30) vs. Xavier Doolin (UNCO)
QF: WBF (2:17) vs. No. 7 Michael Wolfgram (WVU)
SF: W-MD, 11-3 vs. No. 3 Zach Elam (MIZ)
Finals: W-D, 10-7 vs. No. 1 Wyatt Hendrickson (AF)
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
IRVING, Texas – Three Iowa State Cyclones were named to various All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Teams Sunday by the league coaches.
Sophomore Tamin Lipsey earned All-Big 12 First Team honors and was also named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team, one of two unanimous selections on the defensive team. Junior Keshon Gilbert was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and picked up a spot on the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team. Milan Momcilovic was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
Lipsey is the second Cyclone under T.J. Otzelberger to be named to the first team, joining Izaiah Brockington in 2022. He is also the fifth Cyclone in school history, and second in the last two years, to be named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. Lipsey averaged 12.5 points, 4.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game this season. Lipsey is the only player in the country to average those numbers and just the 17th to do so since 1997. Lipsey leads the Big 12 in steals and ranks fourth in the nation. The Cyclone defense held opposing teams below its scoring average in 17 of 18 Big 12 games.
Gilbert led the Cyclones with 13.5 points per game, while also dishing out the second-most assists on the team with 4.2 per game. A starter in all 31 games, the Cyclones went 17-5 when Gilbert reached double figures, including a 6-1 mark when he hit 20 points. Gilbert was twice named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week and turned in the eighth triple-double in Iowa State history with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists against New Hampshire.
Momcilovic was one of four Cyclones to average double-digit points on the season at 10.9. He also averaged 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks per game. He was one of eight true freshmen across the country to average those numbers, with just three of them coming at Power Six schools. Momcilovic connected on 49 3-pointers, tied for the third-most in school history. His 80.6 percent free throw shooting is the third-best among freshman in school history.
The Cyclones return to action Thursday night, as second-seeded Iowa State faces either seventh-seeded Texas or 10th-seeded Kansas State in the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship Quarterfinals at the T Mobile Center in Kansas City. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
Player of the Year: Jamal Shead, Houston
Freshman of the Year: Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor
Newcomer of the Year: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
Defensive Player of the Year: Jamal Shead, Houston
Sixth Man Award: Jaxson Robinson, BYU
Most Improved Player: Dylan Disu, Texas
Coach of the Year: Kelvin Sampson, Houston
All-Big 12 First Team
Jamal Shead, Houston
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas
Dylan Disu, Texas
All-Big 12 Second Team
RayJ Dennis, Baylor
L.J. Cryer, Houston
Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State
Emanuel Miller, TCU
Max Abmas, Texas
All-Big 12 Third Team
Jalen Bridges, Baylor
Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor
J’Wan Roberts, Houston
Pop Isaacs, Texas Tech
Darrion Williams, Texas Tech
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Langston Love (Baylor), Yves Missi (Baylor), Dallon Hall (BYU), Spencer Johnson (BYU), Jaxson Robinson (BYU), Fousseyni Traore (BYU), Ibrahima Diallo (UCF), Darius Johnson (UCF), Jaylin Sellers (UCF), Dan Skillings Jr. (Cincinnati), Ja’Vier Francis (Houston), Emanuel Sharp (Houston), KJ Adams Jr. (Kansas), Johnny Furphy (Kansas), Dajuan Harris Jr. (Kansas), Arthur Kaluma (K-State), Tylor Perry (K-State), Javian McCollum (Oklahoma), Jalon Moore (Oklahoma), Javon Small (Oklahoma State), Jameer Nelson Jr. (TCU), Micah Peavy (TCU), Joe Toussaint (Texas Tech)
Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Yves Missi, Baylor
John Newman III, Cincinnati
Jamal Shead, Houston
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Dajuan Harris Jr., Kansas
Big 12 All-Newcomer Team
RayJ Dennis, Baylor
Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State
Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
Max Abmas, Texas
Darrison Williams, Texas Tech
Big 12 All-Freshman Team
Yves Missi, Baylor
Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
Johnny Furphy, Kansas
TULSA, Okla. — Iowa State Wrestling concluded Session III at the Big 12 Championships leading the team race with 144.5 points, with Oklahoma State trailing closely with 137.5 points.
The Cyclones secured four podium finishes, with Casey Swiderski claiming third place, Kysen Terukina and MJ Gaitan taking fourth place, and Will Feldkamp finishing in sixth place.
Now, all eyes are on the finals. Iowa State has five competing for Big 12 titles: Evan Frost, Anthony Echemendia, Cody Chittum, David Carr and Yonger Bastida.
Here are some of my thoughts after Session III and what to expect from tonight’s title matches:
Swiderski’s battle to third is a positive sign for the future
Swiderski is the perfect example of what it means to learn from past mistakes, make necessary adjustments and come back stronger. It is impressive he came back from such a gut-wrenching loss in the semifinals and bonus-pointed his way to a third-place finish.
Swiderski could have easily let those strong emotions he felt in his controversial 8-7 loss against Jordan Williams (OSU) defeat him. He didn’t.
The reason coaches love to say ‘the toughest guys wrestle for third’ is because wrestlers have to battle their way through the back of the bracket through several matches to get that opportunity.
Instead, while on his run after Session II, Swiderski decided to apologize to the fans for not wrestling better and enter Session III ready to win.
“My thought process was, I apologize to the Cyclone fans for wrestling for one minute in that match. I made it a point to come in here against that first dude in the consi-semi’s and wrestle for seven minutes like I did in the last minute of that semifinal match,” Swiderski said. “I think it worked out so if I can continue to do that in Kansas City, good luck.”
Swiderski’s strategy paid off. In his initial bout against Oklahoma’s Willie McDougald, he successfully took him out 19-5. He followed that up with another dominant performance, securing a 22-6 tech fall victory over Wyoming’s Gabe Willochell in the third-place match. These bonus point victories significantly helped his team in the Big 12 team title race.
Iowa State is looking better than ever
Despite watching Gaitan, Terukina and Feldkamp end their tournaments outside of a top-three finish, there were still a lot of positives to take away.
Historically, Iowa State has struggled with bonus points, which has hindered the program’s success in regular season duals and the postseason.
This season, however, bonus point victories have allowed the Cyclones to maintain their team lead throughout the tournament, crucially impacting their standing as they approach the final session.
Following Session III, the Cyclones garnered a tournament total of 28 team points from bonus point victories. Without these contributions, their position in the team race would be much lower, with Oklahoma State poised to win it all before the final session even started. Despite their final disappointing losses, Gaitan and Feldkamp have been pivotal contributors, combining for five bonus point wins.
This is a positive sign for the future of the program and showcases the Cyclones’ ability to be a top, competitive program.
The championship matchups
Evan Frost vs. No. 1 Daton Fix (OSU) – 133 pounds
Fix is a tough opponent. He is the David Carr of Oklahoma State. On paper, Fix is the heavy favorite. When they battled in the regular season dual, Fix defeated Frost, 11-3. If Frost can keep this matchup to a decision, he’ll help the team race immensely.
Anthony Echemendia vs. No. 3 Cael Happel (UNI) – 141 pounds
A much-anticipated rematch. These two met for the first time at the Cliff Keen Invitational where Happel beat Echemendia 9-3. When these two faced off against each other in Hilton Echemendia avenged the loss in a heated battle. Echemendia had a crazy toss that landed Happel on his head and propelled him to a 9-6 win. Now they’ll meet for a third time. This will be a toss-up.
Cody Chittum vs. No. 2 Ryder Downey (UNI) – 149 pounds
Another much-anticipated rematch. When they went head-to-head in the regular season Chittum fell short and lost 12-9. Chittum is a fiery guy with a very competitive nature. I like this rematch for him. Chittum is a scrappy guy who seems to thrive when there is a chip on his shoulder. This match will also be a toss-up.
David Carr vs. No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (MIZZ) – 165 pounds
The matchup everyone has been waiting for since the last time these two wrestled at the 2023 NCAA Championships. O’Toole was unable to face Carr in the regular season this year due to illness so there is an added eagerness around this matchup and the rivalry.
Carr and O’Toole wrestled each other three times over the final month of the 2022-23 season with Carr winning in the dual and Big 12 title match, but O’Toole avenged those losses and took home the national title.
Check out a detailed look at their history here.
Yonger Bastida vs. No. 1 Wyatt Hendrickson (AF) – 285 pounds
Bastida has been making a name for himself across the country as he’s been a machine in his inaugural season at heavyweight. He’s been scoring points like crazy and only allowed two takedowns all season. He’s also made it his signature to lift his opponents, something heavyweights do not do.
Tonight, he’ll face the best heavyweight in the conference, Wyatt Hendrickson, who is a pinning machine. He leads the NCAA currently in most wins by fall, something also not common for heavyweights. Bastida and Hendrickson have never wrestled against each other.
The might be the most anticipated title match because of how unpredictable it’s going to be.
The final round of the Big 12 Championships will begin at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
Mar 9, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Emily Ryan (11) brings the ball up the court while defended by Baylor Lady Bears guard Jana Van Gytenbeek (4) during the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
https://www.caliberiowa.com/KANSAS CITY — After winning its Big 12 quarterfinal game against Baylor on Saturday, No. 4 Iowa State moves on to face the only Big 12 team that handed them a loss at Hilton Coliseum this year.
In their last win, the Cyclones went on a four-minute, 29-second scoreless drought during the fourth quarter – and they know that won’t be acceptable on Monday against the Sooners (1:30 p.m. ESPN2).
“That’s the big thing for us,” point guard Emily Ryan said. “We can’t have any scoring droughts because we know they’re going to keep scoring. Like Coach Fennelly always says to us, you’ve just got to keep scoring so you can stay in the game until the end, and then hopefully you find a way.”
The two teams matched up last month at Hilton Coliseum, with the Sooners leaving Ames with an 86-72 win in a game Iowa State allowed to get away from them.
Scoring quickly in bunches is a major component of Oklahoma’s success this season, and played a critical role in the program securing the Big 12 regular season championship.
“They play really fast,” Ryan said. “When they get going, (the game) can change really quickly. And they went on, I think it was a 12-0 run in the second quarter or something. That’s kind of where the game really shifted. We weren’t able to dig out of that hole, even though we made a few runs out of it.”
Iowa State will try to avoid the big runs through its scouting report defense. However, OU boasts a unique challenge with a deep roster. The Sooners’ 11 players have each appeared in 24 games or more.
“We’re a team that’s very personnel-driven scouting wise, which is hard against them, because they play a lot of kids, and play with a lot of pace,” Bill Fennelly said. “And I think that when you look at it, they won the league, they won basically every award in the league. So I think they’re – no question in my mind – they’re a team that should be hosting in the NCAA Tournament. That’s what (the Big 12 Tournament is) about, you go from one ranked team to another one. So it’ll be a tremendous challenge. But our kids are excited about the chance.”
With as much pace and offense that Oklahoma plays with, there’s plenty to prepare for. But Fennelly doesn’t believe that team’s can accurately prep for the pace while practicing on their off-day in Kansas City. That preparation happens in the regular season.
“At this point, you really don’t,” Fennelly said. “I mean, at practice today you show up and stretch, and do something live for like 12 minutes just to get their heart rate up, but I mean, you really can’t do it. You hope that you’ve done it, preparing for other teams, but now’s not the time to do it.”
Fennelly’s program will take the approach it has used over the years that earned it a Big 12 tournament championship last season. That run featured a win over Oklahoma in the semifinals, too.
“I think we show a lot more video this time of year,” Fennelly said. “And again, our kids have played, and we’ve played, against Oklahoma a lot. And this goes back to when (coach Jennie Baranczyk) was at Drake. So it’s kind of like we’ve seen that style. And so we know what’s coming. Just sometimes knowing that doesn’t mean you have the answer for it.”
Iowa State hopes to find that answer Monday.
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and point guard Emily Ryan addressed media members on Sunday at the T-Mobile Center ahead of their team’s Big 12 semifinal matchup set for Monday against Oklahoma.
Head coach Kevin Dresser gives his thoughts on Session III at the Big 12 Championships. Plus, Casey Swiderski talks about his third place finish and what this teams bond means to him.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
TULSA, Okla. – Five Cyclones – Evan Frost, Anthony Echemendia, Cody Chittum, David Carr and Yonger Bastida – advanced into the finals Saturday at the Big 12 Championship inside the BOK Center. Iowa State went 5-2 in the semifinal round and tallied 24.5 bonus points on the day to lead the team race with 129.5 points after day one.
Oklahoma State sits close behind in second place with 119.5 points while Missouri is in third with 96.0.
Two more Cyclones – Echemendia and MJ Gaitan – punched their tickets to the 2024 NCAA Championships during the session.
Iowa State finished the day with six falls, five tech falls and five major decisions.
Frost and Echemendia each earned bonus points in their semifinal matches. Frost used a late tilt to pick up a 12-4 major decision over No. 3 Dominick Serrano while Echemendia took care of business, 14-4, against Jordan Titus.
Chittum became ISU’s third finalist with a 6-0 decision against Oklahoma’s Jared Hill in the 157-pound semifinals. Soon after, Carr dispatched of West Virginia’s Peyton Hall, 5-1. He will wrestle for his fifth Big 12 title on Sunday night.
Bastida capped the semifinal round with a dominant 11-3 major decision against No. 3 Zach Elam. The Cyclone dealt with Elam’s adjustment from their bout two weeks ago and registered three takedowns in the win.
Two tight decisions went against the Cyclones in the 125- and 149-pound semifinal matches.
At 125 pounds, No. 6 Kysen Terukina took No. 2 Troy Spratley to sudden victory after both wrestlers could only muster an escape in regulation. Terukina was called for stalling on the edge of the mat which gave Spratley the deciding point for a 2-1 decision.
Casey Swiderski dropped a hotly contested semifinal against Jordan Williams at 149 pounds. The Cyclone made a late charge in the match but came up short, 8-7, in the bout.
On the back side, Gaitan finished his day with back-to-back falls at 174 pounds. He pinned Utah Valley’s Mahonri Rushton in 2:18 before taking Oklahoma’s Tate Picklo upper body for a fall in 1:43 to advance on the back side.
Will Feldkamp picked up bonus points with a fall over California Baptist’s Nathan Hass at the buzzer in the final period before registering a 18-1 tech fall over Ethan Ducca to end the day.
Up Next
Iowa State resumes action at the Big 12 Championship Sunday at noon inside the BOK Center. Consolation semifinals and placing matches will be contested on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Finals are set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
Iowa State Results
125: No. 6 Kysen Terukina
First Round: W-D, 6-2 vs. Conrad Hendriksen (OU)
QF: W-D, 3-2 vs. No. 3 Stevo Poulin (UNCO)
SF: L-D SV-1, 2-1 vs. No. 2 Troy Spratley (OSU)
Consis. Rd. 4: vs. No. 4 Tanner Jordan (SDSU)
133: No. 2 Evan Frost
First Round: W-MD, 12-1 vs. Jace Koelzer (OU)
QF: W-MD, 18-5 vs. No. 7 Hunter Leake (CBU)
SF: W-MD, 12-4 vs. No. 3 Dominick Serrano (UNCO)
Finals: vs. No. 1 Daton Fix (OSU)
141: No. 1 Anthony Echemendia
First Round: W-TF, 17-2 (3:22) vs. Garrett Kuchan (AF)
QF: W-TF 21-5 (5:50) vs. No. 8 Cole Brooks (WYO)
SF: W-MD, 14-4 vs. No. 4 Jordan Titus (WVU)
Finals: vs. No. 3 Cael Happel (UNI)
149: No. 1 Casey Swiderski
First Round: Bye
QF: W-D, 4-2 vs. No. 8 Logan Gioffre (MIZ)
SF: L-D, 8-7 vs. No. 4 Jordan Williams (OSU)
Consis. Rd. 4: vs. No. 2 Willie McDougald (OU)
157: No. 4 Cody Chittum
First Round: W-TF, 22-4 (5:29) vs. Brooks Gable (AF)
QF: W-D, 7-3 vs. No. 5 Brock Mauller (MIZ)
SF: W-D, 6-0 vs. No. 8 Jared Hill (OU)
Finals: vs. No. 2 Ryder Downey (UNI)
165: No. 2 David Carr
First Round: WBF (2:07) vs. Mateo de la Pena (CBU)
QF: W-TF, 17-2 (5:47) vs. Jack Thomsen (UNI)
SF: W-D, 5-1 vs. No. 3 Peyton Hall (WVU)
Finals: vs. No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (MIZ)
174: No. 2 MJ Gaitan
First Round: Bye
QF: L-D SV-1, 6-3 vs. No. 7 Gaven Sax (NDSU)
Consis. Rd. 2: WBF (2:18) vs. Mahonri Rushton (UVU)
Consis. Rd. 3: WBF (1:43) vs. No. 6 Tate Picklo (OU)
Consis. Rd. 4: vs. No. 4 Peyton Mocco (MIZ)
184: No. 5 Will Feldkamp
First Round: Bye
QF: L-MD, 13-2 vs. No. 4 Colton Hawks (MIZ)
Consis. Rd. 2: WBF (7:00) vs. Nathan Haas (CBU)
Consis. Rd. 3: W-TF, 18-1 (6:18) vs. No. 8 Ethan Ducca (WYO)
Consis. Rd. 4: vs. No. 6 Sam Wolf (AF)
197: Julien Broderson – DNP
First Round: W-D, 5-1 vs. No. 8 Austin Cooley (WVU)
QF: LBF (1:47) vs. No. 1 Tanner Sloan (SDSU)
Consis. Rd. 2: L-D, 8-2 vs. No. 7 Luke Surber (OSU)
285: No. 2 Yonger Bastida
First Round: WBF (0:30) vs. Xavier Doolin (UNCO)
QF: WBF (2:17) vs. No. 7 Michael Wolfgram (WVU)
SF: W-MD, 11-3 vs. No. 3 Zach Elam (MIZ)
Finals: vs. No. 1 Wyatt Hendrickson (AF)
Head coach Kevin Dresser recaps day one at the Big 12 Championships, plus all the highs and lows heading into the final day.
Iowa State’s heavyweight, Yonger Bastida, talks about the opportunity to compete for a Big 12 title in his first season at heavyweight.
Feb 24, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger reacts during the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State entered Saturday’s Big 12 regular-season finale at Kansas State clinging to hopes of sharing the league title for the first time since 2000-01. The No. 6 Cyclones retained even fainter hopes of attaining the No. 1 seed in next week’s Big 12 Tournament, if extra help from Kansas and Texas Tech could materialize.
But for either of the aforementioned scenarios to remain viable, ISU first needed to beat the reeling Wildcats on Saturday, and instead, the Cyclones fell, 65-58, while suffering just their second loss in the past 10 games.
“For one of the (few) times this year, I just thought we lost focus from everything we need to do to be successful,” ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said on the Cyclone Radio Network after the game. “We need to guard the ball, pressure the ball, and turn defense into offense. We didn’t guard the ball the way we needed to.”
The Cyclones (24-7, 13-5) were uncharacteristically outscored in points off turnovers (20-to-11) and fast break points (15-to-2) and trailed Kansas State (18-13, 8-10) by as many as 17 points before reviving to make it a two-possession game a handful of times in the final minutes.
“We were just more careless with the basketball in terms of turnovers,” Otzelberger said. “We took a lot of early (shot) clock long shots, jump shots that — that’s not our formula for success. So I feel like it was attributable more to our focus and not being as focused as we needed to be and continuing to remember what we’ve done to have such a great regular season.”
Curtis Jones led ISU with 16 points off the bench and shot 4-for-10 from 3-point range to reach double figures in scoring for the team-leading 14th consecutive game. Fellow guards Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey scored 13 points apiece for the Cyclones, who used an 8-0 run to pull within five, at 48-43, with seven minutes remaining but trailed by that margin or greater for the remainder of the game.
“I don’t hang on to today,” Otzelberger said. “I’m really disappointed because I know we’re better than that and we’re capable of much more; the standard’s a lot higher. Still, I feel like it was more of an outlier than a problem mounting or something along those lines, so excited to get back to the practice court, excited to work and fight and compete to be the team we know we are as we move forward.”
ISU had already clinched the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 Tournament and will open postseason play at 6 p.m. Thursday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
“The season ain’t gonna go perfect,” Jones said. “In this league, everybody’s good. Just get back to what we do — playing hard defense and getting up good shots, not turning it over as much. I’m excited to play in this Big 12 Tournament. I’ve heard a lot about it and it’ll be a lot of fun.”
Especially if Saturday’s lackluster performance — as Otzelberger suggested — is merely a one-off, and the Cyclones sharpen their focus for potential deep runs both in Kansas City and beyond.
“We’ve got to do a great job getting back to the practice court and make sure that we are the team that we’ve worked to be all year long,” Otzelberger said.
Assistant coach Brent Metcalf talked how he felt Iowa State did in Session I at the Big 12 Championships.
Mar 9, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Emily Ryan (11) celebrates after defeating the Baylor Lady Bears during the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Kansas City – Iowa State went 4 minutes and 29 seconds consecutively without scoring a point in its 67-62, Big 12 quarterfinals win over No. 5 Baylor on Saturday.
The Cyclones were being hindered by a Baylor press that started to show itself late in the third quarter, but stayed within striking distance despite the lack of execution during the stretch.
“I think we were just sped up,” freshman guard Addy Brown said. “It wasn’t anything they did. It was the choices we made with our passes and we just sped ourselves up, but once we calmed down it was perfectly fine and we beat it with no problems.”
Fortunately for the Cyclones, the Bears mustered just six points – on a pair of 3-pointers – during that scoreless drought.
Baylor ended the fourth quarter with a 3-24 mark from the field.
“They were ultra aggressive,” Fennelly said. “They started trapping us. They always pressure the ball. Their press bothered us. I thought we were in the right spots and I think what happens is when you get pressed a lot people run away from the ball a little bit. And they’re down there like, hey, Emily, I hope you get it up the floor. We had trouble with it. We made a couple really bad decisions.
“The biggest thing we told our kids is, ‘you gotta play through the contact,’ and we had about four possessions in a row that were awful and we work on it constantly,” Fennelly said. “Once we changed our entry point, it was — it definitely bothered us. They don’t want to say that too much, but it was very good. They can guard you now.”
But Iowa State held strong.
Once the Cyclones were able to get into an offensive rhythm, the shots started to fall.
Fennelly credits the mindset of Iowa State’s freshmen pairing with the experience of Emily Ryan for the final three minutes and nine seconds, where the Cyclones outscored Baylor 12-1.
“I think what happens is there was – our team is balanced between the young guys that (say) let’s just keep playing and Emily Ryan, who keeps everyone organized.” Fennelly said. “And when you get that combination it’s kinda different, but I think today probably was more that way considering the moment, considering the stress level than we have had all year. There was no panic by the young ones and Emily is always talking, we’re fine, we’re fine, next one. She just — she is the leader that they needed and they needed her really bad today and she came through as she always does.”
Ryan finished the game with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists, which helped her set the program record for career assists at Iowa State.
“Obviously it’s a great record,” Fennelly said. “We’ve had a lot of great point guards that have played at Iowa State, and for her to do it says a lot about her, says a lot about the people that she has played with. You get an assist because you throw it to someone who can make a basket. Emily will never probably have her jersey retired. She won’t be viewed in some regards like some of the All-American players we’ve had, but there is no one that I’ve ever coached that loves her teammates, loves her school, loves her coaches more than her. It’s been an honor for me to coach her. I’ve had a lot of great people. You guys just don’t see it like I see it, but there is no one like her, ever will be.”
The constant throughout the game continuously went back to getting the ball to Audi Crooks in the paint.
Iowa State moved the ball around in an effort to get double and triple-team’s away from Crooks, and get her back to a 1-on-1 matchup.
Baylor had no answer, and Crooks rolled to 23 points on the day, one of which came in a shooter’s roll 3-pointer that rattled in and gave the Cyclones a big momentum swing in the first quarter.
“I got the green light from (Fennelly),” Crooks said. “It kind of bounced around a little bit and I’m like ‘Please, please, I want the green light,’ and it went in. I was so excited.”
There’s no telling if Crooks will return to the arc for a shot in Iowa State’s next game, but as long as it finds the net, she’ll be allowed to keep shooting.
Iowa State will take on No. 1 Oklahoma in the Big 12 semifinals on Monday at 1:30 p.m.
The following is a press release courtesy of Iowa State athletics communications. Photo via Jacqueline Cordova.
TULSA, Okla. – Iowa State advanced seven wrestlers into the semifinals Saturday in the first session of the Big 12 Championship. Kysen Terukina, Evan Frost, Anthony Echemendia, Casey Swiderski, Cody Chittum, David Carr and Yonger Bastida all won their quarterfinal matches inside the BOK Center.
Five Cyclones – Terukina, Frost, Swiderski, Chittum and Carr – all punched their tickets to the 2024 NCAA Championships in the session.
Iowa State sits atop the team standings after session one with 71 points but Oklahoma State is close behind with 67.5. The Cyclones have seven semifinalists while the Cowboys have eight, including two head-to-head matchups on the docket for this evening. Missouri is in third place with 58 points.
Bonus points will be crucial in the race for the team title and the Cyclones chased them to start the day, putting 14 extra points on the board. Bastida highlighted the session with back-to-back falls, his first two of the season, to begin his tournament. His Cuban counterpart, Echemendia, picked up consecutive tech falls while Carr had a pin and a tech fall.
After a major decision in the first round, Frost was the first Cyclone to advance into the semifinals and punch his ticket to the national tournament. The Cyclone 133-pounder gave up the first takedown in his quarterfinal match against California Baptist’s Hunter Leake, but cruised to an 18-5 major decision.
At 125 pounds, No. 6 seed Terukina took out the defending Big 12 Champion No. 3 Stevo Poulin, 3-2, in the quarterfinals. Terukina qualified for his third NCAA Championships with the win.
Echemendia and Swiderski followed with back-to-back-victories at 141 and 149 pounds to advance into the semifinals. Swiderski’s 4-2 quarterfinal win over Logan Gioffre secured his ticket to the national tournament.
Chittum went 2-0 in the session, highlighted by a 7-3 decision over Mizzou’s Brock Mauller, to earn himself a spot in the national tournament. Carr tallied more bonus points with a tech fall over Jack Thomsen in the quarterfinals to earn a berth in the big dance.
Both of Bastida’s pins came in the first period. The Cuban pinned Xavier Doolin (UNCO) in 30 seconds, the fastest of his career, before notching a fall in 2:17 against No. 7 seed Michael Wolfgram (WVU).
Up Next
Iowa State resumes action at the Big 12 Championship at 5 p.m. inside the BOK Center. Semifinals and consolation quarterfinal matches will be contested and streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Iowa State Results
125: No. 6 Kysen Terukina
First Round: W-D, 6-2 vs. Conrad Hendriksen (OU)
QF: W-D, 3-2 vs. No. 3 Stevo Poulin (UNCO)
SF: vs. No. 2 Troy Spratley (OSU)
133: No. 2 Evan Frost
First Round: W-MD, 12-1 vs. Jace Koelzer (OU)
QF: W-MD, 18-5 vs. No. 7 Hunter Leake (CBU)
SF: vs. No. 3 Dominick Serrano (UNCO)
141: No. 1 Anthony Echemendia
First Round: W-TF, 17-2 (3:22) vs. Garrett Kuchan (AF)
QF: W-TF 21-5 (5:50) vs. No. 8 Cole Brooks (WYO)
SF: vs. No. 4 Jordan Titus (WVU)
149: No. 1 Casey Swiderski
First Round: Bye
QF: W-D, 4-2 vs. No. 8 Logan Gioffre (MIZ)
SF: vs. No. 4 Jordan Williams (OSU)
157: No. 4 Cody Chittum
First Round: W-TF, 22-4 (5:29) vs. Brooks Gable (AF)
QF: W-D, 7-3 vs. No. 5 Brock Mauller (MIZ)
SF: vs. No. 1 Vinny Zerban (UNCO)
165: No. 2 David Carr
First Round: WBF (2:07) vs. Mateo de la Pena (CBU)
QF: W-TF, 17-2 (5:47) vs. Jack Thomsen (UNI)
SF: vs. No. 3 Peyton Hall (WVU)
174: No. 2 MJ Gaitan
First Round: Bye
QF: L-D SV-1, 6-3 vs. No. 7 Gaven Sax (NDSU)
Consis. QF: vs. Mahonri Rushton (UVU)
184: No. 5 Will Feldkamp
First Round: Bye
QF: L-MD, 13-2 vs. No. 4 Colton Hawks (MIZ)
Consis. QF: vs. Nathan Haas (CBU)
197: Julien Broderson
First Round: W-D, 5-1 vs. No. 8 Austin Cooley (WVU)
QF: LBF (1:47) vs. No. 1 Tanner Sloan (SDSU)
Consis. QF: vs. No. 7 Luke Surber (OSU)
285: No. 2 Yonger Bastida
First Round: WBF (0:30) vs. Xavier Doolin (UNCO)
QF: WBF (2:17) vs. No. 7 Michael Wolfgram (WVU)
SF: No. 3 Zach Elam (MIZ)
https://www.caliberiowa.com/Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Audi Crooks and Addy Brown addressed media members following their team’s Big 12 quarterfinal win over Baylor.
Iowa State Cyclones Will Feldkamp takes down Missouri Tigers’ Colton Hawks during their 184-pound wrestling in the Big-12-conference showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Will Feldkamp’s staring down the most important stretch of his final season as a collegiate wrestler.
The Iowa State 184-pounder — who attained All-American honors at Clarion in 2023 — is on his third school, and he’s been around so long, that some in the room jokingly call him an “old man.”
He’s cool with that.
“I still think of myself as, you know, an 18-year-old freshman a lot of the time,” said Feldkamp, who hopes to help the Cyclones win their first Big 12 title since 2009 in the conference championship, which runs Saturday and Sunday in Tulsa. “It’s still fun to mess with them and they give it back.”
Feldkamp’s missed time because of an arm injury late in the season but feels as healthy as he’s been since joining the program as March’s challenges and opportunities swing into view. And that’s vitally important for a fifth-ranked ISU team that, on paper, is considered the favorite for the Big 12 crown along with No. 4 Oklahoma State. Tenth-ranked Missouri lurks close behind, as well, which should make for a tightly contested conference meet.
“Well, first off, we don’t want to tie, we don’t like ties, all right?” ISU head coach Kevin Dresser quipped. “So we’ll clear that up, but winning the close matches and (getting) the bonus points are gonna be the difference.”
The Cyclones should expect plenty of the latter from No. 2 seeded 165-pounder David Carr and No. 2 seeded heavyweight Yonger Bastida. Carr’s seeking to become ISU’s first five-time Big 12 champ, but will likely be challenged en route to what he hopes will be a rematch with two-time defending NCAA champion Keegan O’Toole in Sunday’s finals.
“165, on paper, is the toughest weight, so they’re both gonna have really good semifinals,” Dresser said. “I’m sure they’re thinking the same thing we’re thinking, (which) is we can’t look past those matches, but if we get to that match — I’ve said it before and it’s a little bit of a broken record, but the last month, I’ve really been strong in my feeling that David’s just ready to go. He’s ready to go technically. He’s ready to go physically. His tank is big right now and more than anything, he’s ready to go mentally. They might be the same way. It might be a heckuva match, but I like our guy.”
Dresser likes the rest of his lineup, as well. 141-pounder Casey Swiderski and 149-pounder Anthony Echemendia both earned No. 1 seeds and both have been hot lately. Swiderski’s won five straight matches — including three ranked bouts — since coming back from a knee injury. Echemendia’s won 10 of his last 11 matches and has scored bonus points in 13 of his 16 victories this season.
“I’m ready to kill,” Echemendia said. “That’s how I’m coming into the postseason. The work is done and we’ve just got to throw it out there and show everybody what we can do.”
Feldkamp’s adopting a similar approach as he completes his long and winding college career.
“I know that my abilities can take me to the top,” he said.
Photo Courtesy of Big 12 Conference
Tulsa, Okla. – The Big 12 Championships are here, and the Cyclones are a legitimate contender to notch their first team title since 2009.
Iowa State and Oklahoma State are the favorites on paper with Missouri not far behind.
“Winning the close matches and the bonus points are gonna be the difference,” said head coach Kevin Dresser. “The Big 12 has gotten so much tougher over the years, even since I got here in 2017. From Saturday morning on you’ve got to be ready to go. It used to be Saturday morning if you were a top-three-seeded guy you didn’t need to worry too much, but it’s not like that anymore. It’s got great depth and it’s a great preparer for the NCAA Tournament.”
Here is everything you need to know to support the Cyclones this weekend.
THE SCHEDULE, BRACKETS AND FIRST ROUND MATCHES
Big 12 Championship Schedule:
Saturday, March 9
Session 1: Preliminary & Quarterfinal Matches — 10 a.m. (ESPN+)
Session 2: Semifinal & Consolation Quarterfinal Matches — 5 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sunday, March 10
Session 3: Consolation Semifinals and Placing Matches — Noon (ESPN+)
Session 4: Finals — 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
How to watch/listen:
Live Stats: TrackWrestling
Watch: ESPN+ (Sessions 1-3) & ESPN2 (Finals)
Listen: Varsity App & Cyclones.com
[Joe Sinclair, pxp; Ryan Rohlk, pxp; Nate Carr, analyst]
You can find full brackets here.
Iowa State’s First Round Matches
125: No. 6 Kysen Terukina vs. Conrad Hendriksen (OU, 12-10)
133: No. 2 Evan Frost vs. Jace Koelzer (OU, 13-10)
141: No. 1 Anthony Echemendia vs. Garrett Kuchan (AF, 7-11)
149: No. 1 Casey Swiderski: Bye
157: No. 4 Cody Chittum vs. Brooks Gable (AF, 1-17)
165: No. 2 David Carr vs. Mateo de la Pena (CBU, 7-6)
174: No. 2 MJ Gaitan: Bye
184: No. 5 Will Feldkamp: Bye
197: (Unseeded) Julien Broderson vs. No. 8 Austin Cooley (WVU, 13-9)
285: No. 2 Yonger Bastida vs. Xavier Doolin (UNCO, 9-7)
How does the Big 12 Conference determine who gets a first-round bye?
First-round byes are determined randomly to avoid favoritism towards any specific team, ensuring an equal opportunity to score team points. First-round matches offer the highest possibility of scoring bonus points, crucial in the team race.
Last season, Iowa State had six first-round byes, which posed challenges in earning team points and staying competitive against top teams. This season, Iowa State has only three first-round byes, putting them in a favorable position to accumulate team points, especially with potential bonus points in five out of seven first-round matchups.
Here are what first-round bye’s look like for Iowa State’s biggest competitors:
Oklahoma State: 3
125: No. 2 Troy Spratley (18-5)
149: No. 4 Jordan Williams (9-6)
174: No. 3 Brayden Thompson (9-8)
Missouri: 4
125: No. 1 Noah Surtin (14-2)
141: No. 6 Josh Edmond (11-7)
165: No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (16-0)
197: No. 3 Rocky Elam (9-2)
WHAT ARE IOWA STATE’S REALISTIC CHANCES OF WINNING A TEAM TITLE?
Iowa State could potentially have five wrestlers in the finals: Frost, Echemendia, Swiderski, Carr and Bastida. There is also a real argument to be made for Gaitan who has a very realistic pathway to the finals if he wrestles well.
Other wrestlers need to focus on earning as many team points as possible to support Iowa State’s title bid. Every point counts, and even unseeded wrestlers like Broderson could be decisive.
Statistician Chris Andringa’s analysis suggests that if Iowa State wrestles to their seeds, they can tie for first with Oklahoma State.
Potential Team Scoring (according to preseeds):
ISU: 126.5
OSU: 126.5
MIZZ: 115.5
“First off, we don’t want to tie. We don’t like ties, alright. We’ll clear that up.” Dresser said.
For instance, if Broderson earns one unexpected point, the Cyclones’ total would rise to 127. Now we’re looking at Iowa State winning the Big 12 instead of splitting the title.
This postseason lineup is one of Dresser’s strongest yet, giving the Cyclones control over their destiny.
“We’re going to need the guys that aren’t the highly seeded guys,” Dresser said. “This is a team effort. We need all 10 guys pulling along.”
Thankfully for Dresser, his team is more motivated than ever.
“I’m ready to kill,” Echemendia said. “That’s how I’m coming into the postseason. I’m ready. I’m just going to give it my all. The work is done and we’ve just got to throw it out there and show everybody what we can do.”
WHAT DID THE TEAM HAVE TO SAY THIS WEEK?
Catch up on everything Coach Dresser, Echemendia and Feldkamp had to say when previewing the Big 12 Championships:
WEIGHT-BY-WEIGHT PREVIEW ON REACTION TIME
You can also find it here if you prefer an alternative option over Youtube.
Iowa State Cyclones center Audi Crooks (55) looks for a shot around Baylor Bears forward Madison Bartley (3) during the second quarter in the Big-12 conference matchup at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
KANSAS CITY – Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly will refer back to his old adage, ‘playing the Iowa State way,’ throughout every season he coaches in Ames.
The message is simple – playing the type of basketball that his team’s play, and focusing on doing what they do well right, will set them up for success. That’s what the No. 4 Cyclones will look for Saturday, as they face No. 5 Baylor in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals.
“This goes back to the same thing of just control what you can and you play as hard as you can play, as smart as you can play… play your style of play,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “I think that’s the biggest thing when you get into postseason. Don’t let the other guy dictate how the game is played. If you play the way you play and they’re better, shake their hand, and if you let them impose their will on you, then that’s a problem.”
Iowa State took down Baylor in its lone regular season matchup – a 66-63 win in January that saw the Cyclones down by 13 points at the end of the first quarter.
The Cyclones chipped away at the lead, and won each of the final three quarters in the game at Hilton Coliseum.
“The whole theory of, ‘it’s hard to beat someone three times’ came from a coach that beat someone twice, and lost the third time,” Fennelly said. “That’s probably where that came from. I think beating anyone is hard. And I mean, we’re playing a top 20 team. I mean, we beat them on January 13. That seems like – well, it’s two months ago. I think at least you know what they’re going to be. Our kids got to see them play today. So there are no surprises. It’s just a matter of, you know, when you get into the postseason, does a ball bounce your way? Does the call go your way? You know, and that’s, that’s why they call it madness.”
Fennelly leveraged a challenge to his team late in the year to finish out its final four games with at least three wins.
He figured that a 3-1 record over the remaining games would set his team up to be in a good position to be selected for the NCAA Tournament come Selection Sunday.
Not only did Iowa State finish 4-0, but the stretch included a road win against No. 15 Kansas State, significantly boosting his team’s resume.
“I think it was really important and you hope that it carries over,” Fennelly said. “Even if it doesn’t – showing up is a skill and finishing is a skill. Even if tomorrow doesn’t go great or the next one doesn’t go great, they can always reflect on, ‘Hey, we had a huge task in front of us for two weeks. We focused for two weeks and this is what we accomplished.’ Hopefully it’s a memory for them. It doesn’t always work. There’s no guarantee that if you work hard you get rewarded, but I can guarantee if you don’t work hard, you’re not getting anything.”
That’s not to say the 4-0 stretch outweighs the importance of success in March. Fennelly – and his team – all know that.
But when the ball is tipped on Saturday (11 a.m. ESPN+), anything can happen. He just wants his team to see where the work translates, and each win elevates that from here on out.
“Hopefully, more so than what it carries over for basketball,” Fennelly said. “I hope it carries over for them to say, ‘alright, we made a collective commitment to really buy in for two weeks, and look what happened now.’ Yeah, it worked out great. So you can play that card now, but I hope it is something that they remember way beyond the end of the season. And for a while.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly previewed his team’s opening matchup against No. 5 Baylor in this weekend’s Big 12 Tournament on Friday in Kansas City.
Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball head coach T. J. Otzelberger greets Kansas State men’s basketball head coach Jerome Tang (right) before the game in the Big-12 conference showdown of an NCAA college basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.
No. 6 Iowa State (24-6, 13-4) will head to Manhattan, Kansas for a clash with Kansas State (17-13, 7-10) Saturday afternoon in its Big 12 conference regular season finale (1:00 p.m., ESPN2).
The Cyclones are coming off an emotional 68-63 comeback win over BYU on Wednesday night. The team completed a 14-point second half comeback to finish undefeated in Hilton Coliseum for the first time since the 2000-2001 season.
Kansas State is entering Saturday’s contest with two straight road losses, the most recent in a 90-68 loss to Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse Tuesday.
About the Wildcats
After making a Cinderella run to the Elite 8 in last year’s NCAA Tournament, Wildcats coach Jerome Tang and his team are in jeopardy of missing the tournament this season.
With the Big 12 tournament less than a week away, Kansas State (as of March 8) is slotted in the 7-10 matchup as the 10-seed playing the Texas Longhorns. The winner of that game would face Iowa State in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.
Tang’s three-headed guard lineup does most of their scoring on the offensive end. The trio of Tylor Perry, Cam Carter, and Arthur Kaluma combine for 62 percent of Kansas State’s scoring output – the highest percentage of scoring by any trio in the Big 12 conference. But the offense starts with Perry.
The senior guard has been on a tear for the last two weeks. He had scored in double figures in five straight games leading up to the Kansas game where he was held without a made field goal.
Perry’s shooting numbers aren’t staggering, but he can light it up from the 3-point line. In the two previous games before the Kansas game, Perry recorded back-to-back games with six made 3-pointers. In the first matchup with Iowa State, the Cyclones held Perry to 7 points on 2-9 shooting. With Perry at 5-foot-11, the length of Keshon Gilbert and Curtis Jones bothered his shooting, and fans should look for the Cyclones to repeat that effort on the defensive end Saturday.
In the frontcourt, the Wildcats have relied on a duo of Will McNair Jr. and David N’Guessan. The 6-foot-9 forward, averages 7.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while the 6-foot-11 McNair scores 7.9 points and grabs 5.4 rebounds per game.
When the Wildcats came to Ames in January, McNair and N’Guessan combined for 13 points on 5-12 shooting and recorded just three rebounds. The Cyclones dominated Kansas State on the glass, out-rebounding them by 13. That included 13 offensive rebounds. Iowa State will try to replicate that rebounding effort on Saturday, especially on the offensive end.
Kansas State freshman Dai Dai Ames is coming off one of his best games in a Wildcat jersey. The 6-foot-1 guard scored 10 points and dished out 3 assists in the loss to Kansas. On the season, Ames is scoring 4.8 points and 1.7 assists per game. Ames is becoming more and more confident by the game, especially from the 3-point line. Contesting his shot attempts and forcing him to turn the ball over will lead to transition opportunities on the other end.
All eyes on the state of Texas
Iowa State is still in the hunt for at least a share of the Big 12 regular season title entering the last game of the regular season. The Cyclones were picked to finish seventh in the preseason Big 12 poll and have exceeded expectations with a chance to split the title or finish alone in second place.
The Houston Cougars are sitting at 14-3 in league play with one game to go. Kelvin Sampson’s squad welcomes No. 14 Kansas to town. If the Jayhawks can go into the Fertitta Center and knock off the Cougars, the Cyclones will split the regular season title with Houston if they get the win in Manhattan. It would be the first time since the 2000-2001 season that Iowa State has won at least a share of the Big 12 title.
This feels like a vintage moment for Kansas and coach Bill Self. The Jayhawks Are looking for another signature win to help boost their NCAA Tournament resume and no win would be better than beating the No. 1 ranked team in the country on the road. Self’s team has a chance to end Houston’s undefeated home record and make Iowa State the only team in the conference with an undefeated home record.
Along with the hunt for a Big 12 regular season championship, the Cyclones are still trying to lock down a 2-seed in Omaha for the NCAA Tournament. The other team along with Kansas in the hunt for a top 2-seed is Scott Drew’s Baylor Bears.
The Bears head to Lubbock, Texas, on Saturday night for a clash with the Red Raiders. It will be the first time this season that the two programs will face each other. According to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, Baylor is the top 3-seed looking to jump into the 2-seed line with a loss to any teams in the top 8 overall seeds.
An Iowa State win and losses for Baylor and Houston would set up for an standout day for Cyclone fans.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Emily Ryan (11) celebrates after winning 74-49 over BYU in an NCAA women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 24 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Call it a no-brainer. Or a no-doubter. But when Iowa State senior point guard Emily Ryan considered whether or not to come back for one more season via a COVID-19 year, let’s just say she didn’t ruminate.
“It couldn’t have been an easier decision for me,” said Ryan, who hopes to propel the fourth-seeded Cyclones through the Big 12 Tournament field beginning with Saturday’s 11 a.m. quarterfinal at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. “I get to do what I love with the people I love (and) where I love (playing), so, easy decision.”
Determining whether Ryan — who is 10 assists away from breaking the program record — would return from injury this season proved to be fraught, rather than easy.
Ryan had to watch and coach from the bench while five freshmen, a senior transfer from the Division II level (Hannah Belanger) and fellow senior Nyamer Diew navigated most of an up-and-down nonconference season. The Cyclones (18-10, 12-6) stood 5-4 when Ryan was cleared to play a week before Christmas against Troy.
“It was a cool moment,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said. “You just hoped that that was, ‘All right, now we can work our way back’ — and it’s kind of been that way. So far, so good. But it was a scary time for everyone. Literally, we discussed redshirting. We discussed a lot of things that weren’t real pleasant and she wanted to give it a shot. At the end of the day, it was her call.”
It became another easy one, despite the precariousness that preceded it. And count first-team All-Big 12 freshman center Audi Crooks as one of many teammates to be grateful for Ryan’s steadying presence.
“She’s that grounding force,” said Crooks, who became just the second ISU freshman ever to attain first-time all-conference honors. “She’s the calm in the storm and she helped us a lot to grow as people and as players, so that’s impacted our season tremendously.”
The Big 12 season proved to be rocky as well, however, as the Cyclones endured a stretch of five losses in seven games before ending the regular season on a four-game win streak. Fennelly and his staff assembled a four-panel visual aid to highlight the importance of those final games and it resonated with Ryan and her teammates.
“That just made it seem attainable and kind of like, ‘This is what we have left and it’s up to us if we want to make it happen,’” said Ryan, who dished out a conference-best 113 assists in Big 12 play. “We refocused and dug our heels in and went to work, and fortunately it worked out well for us.”
Like Fennelly said, it’s a so-far, so-good situation — both for Ryan and the Cyclones writ large. ISU has almost certainly locked up an NCAA Tournament bid when the likelihood of doing so seemed dim before Ryan’s return. But enhancing the Cyclones’ seeding won’t be easy with No. 17 Baylor (24-6) lurking in Saturday’s quarterfinal.
“It’s kind of like a precursor to the NCAA Tournament,” Fennelly said. “So it’ll be a great challenge.”
One that Ryan readily embraces. Cherishes, even.
“If I had a chance to play this year, there was no way I wasn’t going to just because it’s such a special group,” Ryan said of her team.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Milan Momcilovic & Jackson Paveletzke spoke to media members ahead of their regular season finale set for Saturday against Kansas State at 1 p.m. (ESPN2).
Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) celebrates after winning 68-63 over BYU in the Senior Day Big-12 conference showdown of an NCAA college basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger shared a simple, but forceful message with Curtis Jones as the No. 6 Cyclones faced a double-digit deficit Wednesday against 20th-ranked BYU.
“(He) told me to be aggressive,” Jones said after helping ISU complete a stirring comeback win against the Cougars to finish undefeated at Hilton Coliseum for the first time since 2000-01. “Out of every media timeout, just keep being aggressive, so I was kind of looking to score, get up good shots, and just continue to play defense like we did.”
Jones scored a Big 12-season-high 18 points in that triumph — and on Saturday he’ll face the first conference foe he accomplished that feat against when the Cyclones (24-6, 13-4) face Kansas State (17-13, 7-10) at 1 p.m. in Manhattan. ISU could clinch a share of its regular season Big 12 crown since 2001-02 if it beats the Wildcats and top-ranked Houston loses to No. 14 Kansas at home. But the Cyclones aren’t looking at improbable scenarios heading into their regular season finale — even though they would tie a program record for conference wins if they emerge victorious on Saturday.
“Our guys have done a great job of keeping their focus on the next task at hand and the next coming at them, so we don’t anticipate that changing for any reason,” said Otzelberger, whose team has won 11 of its last 13 games. “But you get to this point in the year and you know there (are) other things that others are bringing up, but our guys have done such a terrific job of staying in the moment, so we expect that we’ll uphold that standard for the rest of the season.”
Eschewing so-called outside “noise” has proven to be a potent formula for success for the Cyclones this season and looking ahead gets teams beat, especially against a Kansas State team that will be seeking to avenge a 78-67 road loss in a game that will be broadcast on ESPN2.
“We’ve been locked in since day one,” said freshman forward Milan Momcilovic, who is one of four ISU players averaging double figures in scoring this season. “So now (nearing the) postseason, this is what we’ve been working for all year, so we’re extra locked in coming here to the last game of the season and (then) postseason play.”
Kansas State’s loss at Hilton started a four-game skid and the Wildcats have subsequently slid off the NCAA Tournament bubble. They’d need to both beat the Cyclones on Saturday and make a strong run in next week’s Big 12 Tournament to retain any shot of sneaking into the field, which makes them both desperate and dangerous.
“Teams, when they have their backs against the wall, they find a way to dig deep, so we just need to focus on us being at our best and doing what we can do, and the rest will take care of itself,” Otzelberger said.
And Jones will stay both poised and aggressive as he continues to shine as the sixth man on both ends of the floor. He leads the Cyclones in made 3-pointers (55), free throw percentage (81.3), and steal-to-turnover percentage (46-23).
“He’s really taken the next step forward for us and we’ve needed that,” Momcilovic said. “Coming off the bench, he’s provided scoring, defense, a little bit of everything.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State Letterwinners Club unveiled the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2024 today. Six former Cyclone athletes will be inducted into the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame this fall in a ceremony at the Sukup End Zone Club in Ames.
To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, athletes and coaches must be 10 years removed from their final season of competition at Iowa State. The 10-year waiting period can be waived if a coach or administrator ends his/her career in the Iowa State University intercollegiate athletics program.
The ceremony date and registration for the event will be announced later.
Public tickets are $50 and athletic alumni are encouraged to join us for the entire weekend with reunion benefits.
The Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1997. A total of 210 Cyclone legends have been bestowed the highest honor by the Iowa State Athletics Department via a selection committee comprised of Iowa State administrators and athletic alumni.
2024 Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees
Rich Binek (1971-74) – Wrestling
Photo Gallery
- Two-time All-American (1972, 1973)
- NCAA Champion at 177 pounds (1973)
- Finished third at NCAA Championship (1972)
- Member of two NCAA Champion teams (1972, 1973)
- Big Eight Champion at 177 pounds (1972)
- Compiled 77-16-2 overall record
- Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame (2015)
Melvin Ejim (2011-14) – Men’s Basketball
Photo Gallery
- First Team All-American by Basketball Times (2014)
- Big 12 Player of the Year (2014)
- First Team All-Big 12 (2014)
- Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2013, 2014)
- Iowa State Male Athlete of the Year (2014)
- Three-time All-Big 12 selection (2012-14)
- First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American (2014)
- One of three players in ISU history with 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in career
- Led the Big 12 in rebounding at 9.3 rpg (2013)
- Led ISU to Big 12 Tournament title and NCAA Sweet Sixteen (2014)
- Second-most career rebounds in ISU history with 1,051
- Member of Team Canada’s third-place finish at the FIBA World Cup (2023)
Victoria Henson (2007-10) – Volleyball
Photo Gallery
- Two-time AVCA All-American (2009, 2010)
- First Team All-American by the AVCA (2010)
- Three-time First Team All-Big 12 (2008-10)
- Three-time AVCA All-Central Region First Team (2008-10)
- Two-time NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team (2008, 2009)
- Led ISU to four NCAA Championships, two Sweet Sixteens and one Elite Eight appearance
- Two-time Big 12 kills leader (2008, 2010)
- Iowa State’s career leader in kills with 1,726
Lyndsey Medders (2004-07) – Women’s Basketball
Photo Gallery
- Honorable Mention All-American by the AP (2007)
- Two-time First Team All-Big 12 (2006, 2007)
- Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year (2007)
- Nancy Lieberman Award finalist (2007)
- Played on two NCAA Tournament teams (2005, 2007)
- NCAA assists leader at 7.7 apg (2006)
- Two-time Big 12 assists leader (2006, 2007)
- Third-most assists in ISU history with 719
- The 22nd overall pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft
Kelechi Osemele (2008-11) – Football
Photo Gallery
- First Team All-Big 12 (2011)
- First All-American by Sports Illustrated (2011)
- Three-time All-Big 12 pick (2009-11)
- Started final 44 games while leading ISU to a pair of bowl games
- No. 60 pick in NFL Draft (2012)
- Starter on Baltimore’s Super Bowl (XLVII) champion team (2013)
- First Team All-Pro (2016)
- Two-time Pro Bowl selection (2016, 2017)
- Started all 101 games in his nine-year NFL career (2012-20)
Mike VanArsdale (1984-88) – Wrestling
Photo Gallery
- Three-time All-American (1985, 1986, 1988)
- NCAA Champion at 167 pounds (1988)
- Big Eight Champion at 167 pounds (1988)
- 108 career victories
- Two-time Olympic alternate (1996, 2000)
- Six-time member of the U.S. National Freestyle Team
- Won a World Cup Title at 213 pounds (1997)
- A professional UFC fighter from 1998-2005
- Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame (2011)
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Curtis Jones & Tamin Lipsey addressed media members following their 68-63 win over BYU Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) celebrates after a three-point score against BYU during the second half in the Senior Day Big-12 conference showdown of an NCAA college basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES —Before the season started, Iowa State’s players gathered to sketch out several goals.
One of the most popular aspirations? Finish unbeaten at Hilton Coliseum — which the sixth-ranked Cyclones hadn’t done since 2000-01.
“I wasn’t alive the last time,” said ISU point guard Tamin Lipsey, who notched his best game of the Big 12 season in Wednesday’s pulse-pounding 68-63 comeback win over No. 20 BYU on senior night at Hilton. “It’s a great feeling. Obviously, I’ve heard a lot about that 2000-01 team. They were such a great team and (there’s) a lot of history behind that.”
That deep and talented Cyclone team eventually reached the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. This defense-driven, deep and talented ISU team nurtures similar high hopes, but the Cougars (21-9, 9-8) humbled Lipsey and his teammates most of the night. BYU led 38-27 at halftime and stretched its advantage to 14, at 46-32, with 15:56 remaining. ISU shaved its deficit to nine on a Keshon Gilbert free throw roughly three minutes later and a sold-out Hilton crowd of 14,267 reached an eardrum-assailing fever pitch, helping to buoy the far-fetched comeback along.
“I felt like (the crowd) hit a new high, even some of the volume and how loud it was in there, and we needed it,” said Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team (24-6, 13-4) capped an 18-0 home season. “We needed all of it. But it’s really cool (and) it’s a credit to our guys to win 18 straight at home, especially (because) you’re gonna have some you don’t play as well. You’re gonna have some you have to come back and win. It’s not gonna be perfect, but really proud of our guys for their resiliency. It’s pretty cool deal, so out of respect (for) everybody that’s come before us in this program, it means a lot.”
ISU closed the game on a 7-0 run while holding BYU scoreless in the final 4:32. The Cyclones recorded eight consecutive stops down the stretch while nursing a 64-63 lead for most of the final 2:51 before Gilbert sealed the win with four free throws in the last 10 seconds.
“After the game, the first thing we talked about was how we had eight stops in a row,” said Lipsey, who scored a conference season-high 19 points while reeling off a conference season-high-tying five steals. “The offense sort of takes care of itself when you lock down on defense. You don’t (have to) think as much on the offensive side. It just flows better, so we were able to just get stops back to back to back to back and we just played with a better flow and a lot of confidence that we were able to make big plays.”
The Cyclone’s biggest run — an 11-0 spurt — came on the heels of Gilbert’s free throw early in the second half that cut the deficit to nine. Lipsey drained two of his Big 12 season-best 3-pointers in that span, Curtis Jones completed a 3-point play and senior forward Hason Ward drained two free throws with 7:24 left to give ISU its first lead (58-56) since the 9:46 mark of the first half.
“(It’s) big when you go on runs like that, especially at home, because now the crowd gets into it,” said Jones, who scored 18 points and rose for a pivotal block shot of a layup attempt down the stretch. “We really didn’t have a lot of moments where it looked like we could get back into the game until that moment, so it was huge.”
Senior big men Robert Jones and Tre King combined for 13 points and 10 rebounds in their final game at Hilton and Ward added four points and a blocked shot for his local curtain call. Curtis Jones matched Lipsey with three 3-pointers — and even though he participated in senior night festivities, he might not be ready to move on. He retains one more season of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was really cool to be a part of (senior night) and get the (framed) jersey and stuff like that, but as far as next year?” Jones said, grinning. “I would say I plan to be back.”
Iowa State Wrestling held its weekly media availability. Head coach Kevin Dresser previewed the Big 12 Championships and how his team is preparing for the competition. Plus, Will Feldkamp and Anthony Echemendia preview how they’re preparing for their first time competing at the Big 12 Championships and what it has meant to them to be Cyclones.
Mar 5, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New Orleans Pelicans guard Izaiah Brockington (21) scores a basket over Toronto Raptors forward Jordan Nwora (13) during the fourth quarter at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Former Cyclone Izaiah Brockington recently signed a 10-day contract with the New Orleans Pelicans and played his first of four games on the deal Tuesday in the team’s 139-98 win over Toronto.
Brockington came into the game late, scoring four points and recording two rebounds in just three minutes on the court.
First NBA bucket for
Izaiah Brockington 🫡 pic.twitter.com/dpXCPCNJm3— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 6, 2024
Brockington received the game ball from the win, being it his official NBA debut.
game ball goes to Izaiah 🫶 https://t.co/hZynMwXIsr pic.twitter.com/B51Q5rbLwX
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 6, 2024
Brockington becomes the 37th former Cyclone to play NBA minutes.
The Pelicans next matchup will come against the Philadelphia 76ers on the road Friday, March 8 (6:00 p.m. CT).
Feb 10, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; TCU Horned Frogs guard Micah Peavy (0) shoots the ball against Iowa State Cyclones forward Tre King (0) and forward Robert Jones (12) during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Iowa State senior forward Robert Jones became one of the first players to transfer into then-first-year head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s program for one overarching reason.
“I always wanted to change a culture,” said Jones, who along with Tre King, Hason Ward and Curtis Jones will participate in senior night ceremonies before Wednesday’s 8 p.m. game against BYU at Hilton Coliseum. “Fortunately I was blessed to come in with a coach like T.J. (who’s) a culture changer, as well.”
The same could be said for all of ISU’s seniors, who have helped the sixth-ranked Cyclones (23-6, 12-4 Big 12) become one of the nation’s hottest teams. ISU has won 10 of its last 12 games and seeks to finish undefeated at home for the first time since the 2000-01 season.
“I’m gonna try to make the night memorable and try to just have fun,” Ward said. “The three of us, it’s our last game at Hilton, so trying to (make it) as fun as we can.”
Ward said “the three of us” because Curtis Jones could return for one more season via his COVID year. But it’s going to take all of the Cyclones’ best to beat a Cougars team (21-8, 9-7) that routed them, 87-72, in Provo a month and a half ago.
“Certainly a unique team with the way they shoot the basketball and as many 3(-pointers) they take,” Otzelberger said. “They play the 5-man a lot on the perimeter, so we expect them to come in here and be highly competitive. We expect them to be hungry for a win. They’ve been playing great lately.”
Case in point: BYU’s 86-78 win last week at Kansas. The Cougars forged a late comeback in that game and have won seven of their last 10 games as they navigate through their first season in the Big 12.
“I’m sure they will be coming in with the mindset that they really want to get the ‘W,’” Otzelberger said.
The Cyclones will counter with their daily habits-centered approach to the game that starts with suffocating defense that leads to transition baskets. ISU ranks second nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, second in opponent turnover percentage, and third in steal percentage, according to KenPom.com.
“We’re doing the habits every day and it’s showing up for us,” said the 6-10 Robert Jones. “It’s continuing to work and win games for us and it’s almost come easy, just because we’re doing the things that we do every day, and we’re doing those things in a game and it’s come back successful for us.”
So far, a least, but with much more to potentially come. ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi currently pegs the Cyclones as a No. 2 seed opening the NCAA Tournament in Omaha against Eastern Washington. But a loss to the Cougars Wednesday and/or Saturday at Kansas State, would hurt them both in terms of seeding and location, so finishing strong is of paramount importance — and the seniors aim to ensure that it happens.
Especially Robert Jones, who joined a program that went 2-22 before he arrived and will soon begin play in its third consecutive NCAA Tournament.
“He deserves a lot of credit for what we’ve been able to accomplish,” Otzelberger said. “He deserves a lot of credit for how our guys carry themselves and the belief they have, so really proud of him for the mindset he’s cultivated and how essentially his body has followed the mindset he set in his time here.”
Jan 16, 2024; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) posts up against Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) during the second half at Marriott Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
No. 6 Iowa State (23-6, 12-4) will close out the Big 12 conference home slate with No. 20 BYU (21-8, 9-7) in front of a sold-out Senior Night crowd (8:00 p.m., ESPN2).
The Cyclones escaped Orlando, Florida with a 60-52 win over the UCF Knights. They closed out the final 3:05 on an 11-2 run to shut the door on UCF and return home to Ames with the eight-point win.
BYU has won three of their last four games, which includes home victories over Baylor and TCU, and a signature road win at Kansas. They close out the regular season at No. 6 Iowa State and home against Oklahoma State.
Iowa State has the chance to finish undefeated at Hilton Coliseum for the first time since the 2000-2001 season. With two regular season games remaining, Iowa State and Houston are the only teams in the Big 12 with an unblemished home records.
About the Cougars
BYU coach Mark Pope and his program have had an exceptional first year in the Big 12 conference. The Cougars sit at 9-7 in conference play and are contending to receive the last double-bye for the Big 12 Tournament down in Kansas City.
In the first matchup between the two schools, BYU bested the Cyclones by 15 points in the Marriott Center back in early January. The Cougars made 13 3-pointers in that game and ran away with it late in the second half. Coach Pope’s team is the number one offense in the Big 12 averaging 82.7 points per game as a team.
On the season, BYU has seven players averaging over 9.0 points per game and they are led by a Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jaxson Robinson. The 6-foot-7 guard is one of the best-scoring guards in the Big 12. He averages 13.9 points per game on a 42.3 percent shooting clip and 35.4 percent from behind the arc.
Robinson scored 15 points and made 3 triples against the Cyclones in the first meeting. Iowa State will try to run him off the line and force him into taking tough 2-point jumpers.
The Cougars were without their best 3-point shooters when they played the Cyclones in January. Trevin Knell is coming off his second-best scoring output of the season in their win over TCU last Saturday.
The 6-foot-5 junior scores 11.4 points per game but more importantly shoots 40 percent from behind the arc on 158 attempts this season. Knell will look to shoot at every opportunity he can, so the Cyclones need to limit his catch-and-shoot chances.
Iowa State struggled to defend the 3-pointer in the first game against the Cougars and Spencer Johnson was a main reason why. The 6-foot-5 junior scored 28 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists in the win over the Cyclones.
On the season, Johnson averages 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. In his last six games, Johnson has struggled to get it going from behind the arc. He is just 5-20 from 3-point range in those last six games.
The leading assist men on the BYU team are starting point guard Dallin Hall and starting center Aly Khalifa.
The 6-foot-4 Hall is a pass-first point guard but can score the ball when needed to. He excels at dribble driving into the paint and kicking out to his shooters on the perimeter. His 9.3 points per game ranks sixth on the team in scoring, but his 5.0 assists lead the team.
Khalifa, a junior center, is one of the best passing big men in college basketball. He is not your traditional back-to-the-basket type post player. Most of his damage is done on the perimeter with his passing and 3-point shooting. Khalifa only averages 5.9 points and 3.9 rebounds, but he has the second-best assists per game numbers on the BYU team with 4.1.
What makes Khalifa a matchup nightmare is his pick-and-pop ability. At 6-foot-11, 270 pounds, Khalifa sets hard screens and pops to the top of the key for open threes. Robert Jones and Hason Ward will need to play good ball screen defense to help prevent the dribble drive and get out to the shooter.
Senior night farewell for Rob, Tre, and Hason
After the 2020-2021 season concluded with a 2-22 record, T.J. Otzelberger was hired to rebuild the Iowa State program to where it once was during his times as an assistant coach.
Otzelberger was looking for impact transfers to help change the culture of the program during his first offseason and none were more important than Robert Jones and Tre King.
Both King and Jones took a chance on a coach, program, and fanbase that was desperate for the winning tradition to return.
In their first year, the Cyclones completed the biggest turnaround in college basketball history, going from 2 wins to 22 wins in one year. It was capped off with the program’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 2016.
Although King could not play due to the mid-season transfer rules, he was a vital part of the success of that team through his positive attitude and enthusiasm on the bench.
Jones on the other hand, played in every game that first season. That included nine starts during the Big 12 conference slate.
The following year, a 6-foot-9 forward from VCU in Hason Ward transfers into the program with high expectations. After not seeing much major action most of the season, Otzelberger called on Ward to give them a boost in their regular season finale at Baylor.
Off the bench, Ward gave the Cyclones energy to help propel them to a win over No. 7 Baylor heading into March.
Now, 29 games into the season, the trio are each playing some of the best basketball of their careers. These three seniors still have yet to determine the outcome of their final colligate season, but they will all be remembered long after they leave Ames.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Two Iowa State freshman have earned All-Big 12 women’s basketball postseason honors announced by the conference office on Tuesday. Audi Crooks was a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 First Team while Addy Brown earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. Both Crooks and Brown were also honored on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
Crooks finished the regular season as one of Iowa State’s most impactful freshmen in program history, breaking records for most points and field goals by a rookie. She is also the first Cyclone freshman to earn a spot as an All-Conference First Team member. Averaging 18.3 points per game, Crooks also tallied the highest field goal percentage by freshman in NCAA Division I. Her 58.2 percent clip from the floor was nearly three percent better than any other freshman in the country. With 512 points so far this season, she is one of just 12 Cyclones all-time to eclipse the threshold in a single season. Crooks’ 203 made field goals are not just the top mark among Iowa State freshmen, but also the No. 10 mark for all Cyclone women’s basketball players in a single season heading into the postseason. A two-time Big 12 Player of the Week and four-time league Freshman of the Week award winner, the Algona, Iowa native recorded 13 20-point performances this season and has scored in double figures in each of the last 27 games.
Brown nearly averaged a double-double through the regular season as Iowa State’s second leading scorer and distributor as well as the Cyclones’ top rebounder. Brown is one of just three Cyclones and the only freshman since 1999-00 to record at least 370 points, 230 rebounds and 135 assists in a single season. She has posted the second-most assists by an Iowa State freshman in program history with 138 dimes so far, following teammate Emily Ryan’s program-best 164 assists in 2020-21. The Derby, Kansas native is also fourth among all-time ISU freshman for points, made field goals and rebounds with 372 points on 142 makes with 234 boards. Brown has turned in the fourth-best assist total in the conference with 138 dimes through regular season play while also tallying the sixth-highest field goal percentage in the league with a .467 clip. The percentage ranks fifth among all NCAA Division I freshmen.
The dynamic freshman duo for Iowa State marks the fifth time in the previous six seasons a at least one Cyclone has appeared on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. It is the third time in program history that two Cyclones have appeared on the league’s All-Freshman Team (Emily Ryan and Lexi Donarski, 2021; Jadda Buckley and Seanna Johnson, 2014).
Iowa State begins postseason play on Saturday, March 9th with the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championships. The Cyclones earned the No. 4 seed and a double bye into the quarterfinal round with a 12-6 Big 12 record, the fourth time in the last six seasons ISU has posted at least 12 conference wins. Iowa State will play the Game 3 winner at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
The following is a press release from the Big 12 Conference:
Today, the Big 12 Conference announced a variety of entertainment and fan experience enhancements for the upcoming Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships at T-Mobile Center.
Music and Entertainment Enhancements
Shaquille O’ Neal – AKADJ Diesel – will return to the Big 12 Basketball Championships as he performs a 45-minute DJ set following the Men’s Championship game on March 16. DJ Diesel will perform at 9:00 p.m. at the Kansas City Live! Stage of the Power & Light District. Rising DJ star LC Danger will serve as the opening act for DJ Diesel.
Both the Men’s and Women’s Championship games will feature notable artists performing the National Anthem. The Men’s Championship final will see the national anthem performed by BRELAND, while Lanie Gardner will sing the anthem at the Women’s Championship game.
2024 Partnerships & Collaborations
The Big 12 continues its WWE partnership with a WWE x Big 12 Championship Title Belt that will be presented to the Most Outstanding Player of both the Men’s and Women’s Championship.
The Conference will make its return to New York City, partnering with TSX to live-stream the Men’s and Women’s Championship games in Times Square. The live stream of the Women’s Championship will be sponsored by Sprouts Farmers Market, while the Men’s Championship will be sponsored by Modelo.
Additionally, the Big 12 is teaming up with Planet Comicon Kansas City, one of the nation’s largest and longest-running comic book and pop culture events held annually at the Kansas City Convention Center. This partnership will see Planet Comicon KC and the Big 12 engage in cross-promotion marketing, with cosplay characters visiting the Women’s Championship on March 8.
Premium Seating & Fan Experience
The 2024 Big 12 Basketball Championships will mark the return of the Championship Club, a premium food and beverage experience for courtside seat ticket holders. Additionally, 400+ premium seats have been added for the Championships.
Two new premium club spaces – the Modelo Courtside Lounge and the Concourse Club – are also being introduced. The Modelo Courtside Lounge features 16 semi-private tables that offer unparalleled views of Big 12 Basketball, as well as in-seat service. The Concourse Club is a private club that will be located by Section 113, offering fans access to upscale dining options and a VIP experience throughout the Championships.
#Big12Eats
In partnership with Levy Restaurants, #Big12Eats is back! The return of school-specific menu items has expanded to feature 15 culinary creations (photos here), including:
- BAYLOR BRISKET SLIDERS: Dr Pepper glazed brisket, sweet slaw, brioche bun.
- COSMO’S CHURROS (BYU): Caramel-filled churro, sweet cream drizzle, mini marshmallows, cinnamon sugar and toffee crumble.
- UCF CITRONAUT DRINK: Orange soda and vanilla ice cream.
- CINCY CHEESE CONEY: Jumbo hot dog, Cincinnati-style chili, onion + cheddar cheese.
- SHASTA’S BRISKET TACOS (HOUSTON): Chopped beef brisket, corn & black bean salsa, cilantro, lime, corn tortillas.
- ISU GREEN CHILI PORK WALKING TACO: Doritos, green chili pork, shredded lettuce, cheddar and Jack cheese, sour cream.
- BIG JAY’S LOADED MAC AND CHEESE: Cavatappi pasta, creamy cheese sauce, house-smoked pulled pork, BBQ sauce, crispy fried onions with a dash of Crimson Red pepper flakes.
- POWERCAT PB&J (K-STATE): Fried PB&J sandwich.
- OKLAHOMA ONION BURGER: Tobacco onions, ranch dipper.
- OSU’S ORANGE POWER PIZZA: Pepperoni, sausage, ham, sweet pepper bacon, mozzarella, cheddar, ranch drizzle.
- COWTOWN LOADED TOTS (TCU): Fried tater tots, spicy queso sauce, chopped house smoked brisket, corn and black bean salsa, topped with Horned Frog Purple sour cream.
- BIG BERTHA LOADED BAKED POTATO (TEXAS): Chopped house-smoked brisket, cheddar cheese, green onion, sour cream, butter, BBQ sauce.
- THE MASKED RIDER BURGER (TEXAS TECH): All beef patty, cheddar, fried onion ring, sweet pickled jalapenos, Red Raiders BBQ sauce.
- MOUNTAINEER PEPPERONI ROLL (WEST VIRGINIA): Sliced pepperoni and mozzarella cheese roll.
- BIG 12 DOG: Foot-long, all beef hot dog, ketchup, mustard, red cabbage slaw, black sesame seeds, diced white onion, spicy cheese sauce and sautéed orange peppers.
Local Businesses and Community
The Big 12 Conference continues to recognize and support Kansas City-based businesses in conjunction with Championship Week. The Conference will partner with KC-based apparel company Charlie Hustle for custom Big 12 merchandise available at a pop-up shop in downtown Kansas City. Additionally, the Conference will recognize McClendon Foundation fellows during the Women’s Championship Game, and will host daily pep rallies with bands and spirit squads at the Power & Light District. Lastly, The Big 12 is bringing the Hoopbus to Kansas City for Fan Fest on Monday, March 11 to Friday, March 15.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
AMES, Iowa – The Big 12 Conference released brackets for the 2024 Big 12 Wrestling Championship Monday evening. In total, nine Iowa State wrestlers received a top-eight seed, seven of which are seeded fourth or better. Seven Cyclones will have an opening-round match while three drew a bye into the quarterfinals.
Anthony Echemendia (141) and Casey Swiderski (149) both earned the No. 1 seed in their respective brackets while Evan Frost (133), David Carr (165), MJ Gaitan (174) and Yonger Bastida (285) all received a No. 2 seed. Other Cyclones to earn seeds are No. 4 Cody Chittum at 157 pounds, No. 5 Will Feldkamp at 184 pounds and No. 6 Kysen Terukina at 125 pounds.
The Big 12 Championship will be held March 9-10 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. Sessions 1-3 will be streamed via Big 12 Now on ESPN+ while the Finals will be televised on ESPN2.
Full brackets can be viewed, here.
Iowa State First Round Matchups
125: No. 6 Kysen Terukina vs. Conrad Hendriksen (OU)
133: No. 2 Evan Frost vs. Jace Koelzer (OU)
141: No. 1 Anthony Echemendia vs. Garrett Kuchan (AF)
149: No. 1 Casey Swiderski received a bye
157: No. 4 Cody Chittum vs. Brooks Gable (AF)
165: No. 2 David Carr vs. Mateo de la Pena (CBU)
174: No. 2 MJ Gaitan received a bye
184: No. 5 Will Feldkamp received a bye
197: Julien Broderson vs. No. 8 Austin Cooley (WVU)
285: No. 2 Yonger Bastida vs. Xavier Doolin (UNCO)
Big 12 Championship Schedule
Saturday, March 9
Session 1: Preliminary & Quarterfinal Matches — 10 a.m. (ESPN+)
Session 2: Semifinal & Consolation Quarterfinal Matches — 5 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sunday, March 10
Session 3: Consolation Semifinals and Placing Matches — Noon (ESPN+)
Session 4: Finals — 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Big 12 Allocations By Weight
125: 6
133: 6
141: 5
149: 6
157: 6
165: 6
174: 6
184: 5
197: 6
285: 5
Total: 57
A trio of lawyers representing Iowa State athletes in the state’s sports gambling investigation has responded to the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s support of the DCI’s methods of investigating.
The full statement, shared by WHO’s Keith Murphy over social media, can be read below.
Breaking: Full statement from Van M. Plumb, Matt Boles, and Sandy Law Firm’s reply to DPS Statement of March 1, 2024.
“The Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (“DPS”) support of DCI’s unregulated use of GeoComply’s geolocation search tool to conduct warrantless criminal investigations without reasonable cause is deeply concerning, especially given the knowledge it had prior to issuing its statement on January 31, 2024. For example:
“DPS knew, or should have known, that GeoComply terminated DCI’s access to Kibana due to DCI’s apparent abuse of the geolocation search tool. Although the effective date of termination was January 26, 2024, GeoComply and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (“IRGC”)—the agency responsible for enforcing Iowa’s administrative rules and regulations related to sports wagering—decided to terminate DCI’s access to Kibana as early as October 2023.
“DPS knew, or should have known, that the stated basis and ultimate termination of DCI’s Kibana access was exculpatory evidence that should have been disclosed to the State prosecuting the individuals criminally charged in DCI’s collegiate gambling investigation. In fact, Sandy Law Firm discovered this information in an IRGC open records response produced in late February 2024, which also included other exculpatory evidence, such as other DCI special agents’ belief that the use of GeoComply’s geolocation search tool required warrants supported by probable cause.
“DPS knew, or should have known, that DCI Special Agent Brian Sanger not only used Kibana to geofence standalone restricted access athletic facilities at Iowa and Iowa State, but also obtained comprehensive geolocation history logs for those accounts he identified. Special Agent Sanger was able to see exactly where and when these online sports wagering apps were opened, including the confines of these individuals’ homes.
“DPS knew, or should have known, that DCI was not using Kibana to enforce Iowa’s administrative rules and regulations related to sports wagering. Aside from the fact that IRGC decided to terminate DCI’s access to Kibana, Special Agent Sanger confirmed multiple times throughout his deposition that DCI only used Kibana for investigating crimes, not to enforce Iowa administrative rules and regulations related to sports wagering. As Special Agent Sanger made clear, IRGC reports potential crimes to the DCI, and then DCI investigates those potential crimes. However, the DCI received no such report from the IRGC, GeoComply, or any online sportsbook operator.
“DPS doubling down on its support of DCI’s investigation is alarming, and its failure to disclose some of the aforementioned exculpatory information to the prosecution appears to have been concerning enough for the Story County Attorney’s Office to dismiss its pending criminal cases against our clients.
“We understand Commissioner Bayens’ comments supporting the agents involved in the investigation of Iowa’s Student Athletes, as well as his recognition that law enforcement officers take an oath to uphold the law without exception, even when it’s difficult. Special Agent Mark Ludwig, other Special Agents and their families, including one that may have experienced significant health issues related to this investigation, need that support. It takes people of true character and fortitude to stand up against their co-workers, supervisors, and employer when those Special Agents are not following the rules because they take their oaths seriously.
“Special Agent Mark Ludwig took an oath to tell the truth during a deposition where he answered: DCI violated individuals’ constitutional rights to privacy when DCI searched and obtained those individuals’ geolocation data without a warrant or reasonable, articulate suspicion to conduct the search; and other DCI agents shared his beliefs about DCI’s investigation and “refused” to take part in it.
“We truly hope these Special Agents, and their families, are receiving the same support as those we allege broke the rules and laws they were expected to uphold against 100s of people. “The greater tragedy herein is the enormous impact on private lives law enforcement can wield when given unfettered access to technology to search and seize your electronic geolocation data and communications without so much as reasonable cause.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Robert Jones & Hason Ward addressed media members Monday ahead of their team’s upcoming matchup against No. 20 BYU.
Iowa State Men’s Basketball was ranked No. 6 in the latest AP Poll, going into the final week of the regular season.
The Cyclones (23-6, 12-4) have two games left to play in the regular season, with No. 20 BYU in town on Wednesday for Senior Night and a road trip to Kansas State on Saturday.
The No. 6 ranking ties the highest spot the program has been ranked since the beginning of the T.J. Otzelberger era.
The full AP Poll can be seen below:
AP MBB Poll | Mar. 4, 2024
- Houston
- UConn
- Purdue
- Tennessee
- Arizona
- Iowa State
- North Carolina
- Marquette
- Duke
- Creighton
- Baylor
- Illinois
- Auburn
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Alabama
- South Carolina
- Washington State
- Gonzaga
- BYU
- San Diego State
- Utah State
- Saint Mary’s
- USF
- Dayton
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Nevada 42, Florida 39, Boise St. 26, Texas 10, Texas Tech 10, Indiana St 9, Appalachian St 6, New Mexico 5, FAU 4, James Madison 4, Princeton 3, Michigan St. 2, Villanova 2, Colorado St. 2, McNeese St. 2, Richmond 1.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Hannah Belanger & Audi Crooks addressed media members following a 76-60 win over Cincinnati on Senior Day.
Wisconsin Badgers guard Brad Davison (34) guards Iowa State Cyclones guard Izaiah Brockington (1) as he drives to the hole during the second half of their game in the 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Sunday, March 20, 2022, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Iowa State defeated Wisconsin 54-49. © Ebony Cox / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
The NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans have signed former Iowa State guard Izaiah Brockington to a 10-day contract.
Brockington formerly played for the Pelicans’ G-League affiliate team, the
Birmingham Squadron.
There, the former Cyclone averaged 13.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in 40 games with the Squadron this season.
The contract begins Monday, March 4 and runs to Thursday, March 14. It will allow Brockington to be eligible to play in four games with the Pelicans.
During that stretch, the Pelicans will face the Raptors, 76ers, Hawks, and Cavaliers (March 5-13).
He becomes the first player from the T.J. Otzelberger (head coaching) era to make an NBA roster.
With its 12-6 record in Big 12 Conference play, Iowa State has secured a No. 4 seed in the upcoming week’s Big 12 tournament in Kansas City.
The Cyclones will face off with an undetermined opponent on Saturday with tipoff coming at 11:00 a.m. CT on ESPN+.
Baylor – the No. 5 seed – will take on the winner Thursday’s game between No. 13 Houston and No. 12 Texas Tech. The winner of that game will take on the Cyclones in the quarterfinals.
The full bracket can be seen below.
The 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship bracket is officially official.
Thursday. March 7. T-Mobile Center. KCMO pic.twitter.com/OfjtFv6qeR
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) March 3, 2024
Mar 2, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights guard Shemarri Allen (2) shoots the ball against Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) during the second half at Addition Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State’s latest comeback started where it usually does.
With a stop.
The No. 8 Cyclones trailed UCF, 50-49, with 3:05 remaining Saturday in Orlando, but forced the Knights to miss a 3-pointer. Curtis Jones rebounded the ball, was fouled, and calmly sank two free throws.
That small spark — rooted in a simple stop — led to a decisive 11-0 run that propelled ISU (23-6, 12-4 Big 12) to a gritty 60-52 triumph at Addition Financial Arena.
“We did a good job of responding to that adversity and getting stops when we needed to, especially in the (final) minutes,” Cyclone senior forward Tre King said on the Cyclone Radio Network after the game.
King led ISU with 16 points on 7 of 11 field goal shooting. Milan Momcilovic added 11 points and matched foul trouble-plagued point guard Tamin Lipsey with four assists.
“I’m still gaining confidence,” Momcilovic said. “Getting better out there every single game. I think here towards the end of the season I’m still gonna get a lot better.”
The Cyclones forced 22 UCF turnovers, but coughed up 17 of their own. Both teams shot 33 percent from the field in a grinding second half, but ISU made the shots it needed to down the stretch to notch its 10th win in the last 12 games.
“A lot of teams at this time of year get a little too excited and end up dropping games,” King said. “That’s one thing we’ve really talked about, especially these past two in a half, three weeks, not being that team to let one slip away and losing one we’re not supposed to, so credit to our guys for just staying focused and staying in the moment.”
Jones went 4-for-4 from the line during the Cyclones’ last-gasp run. Momcilovic added a short jumper and Keshon Gilbert may have made the play of the game by scraping away a steal and finishing with a layup and free throw to give ISU a 56-50 lead with 1:53 remaining. The Knights (15-13, 6-10) didn’t score from the field in the final 5:08 and went a dismal 1-for-19 from the 3-point line.
“We practice what we call ‘winning time,’ just finding a way to get stops late in the game,” Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “We’ve learned our lesson, obviously, earlier in the year when we didn’t focus on doing that. Credit goes to our guys for locking in the last five minutes or so and doing what we needed to do to get a stop — and not only a stop, but to finish the play on the glass because they’re such a great rebounding team. You could see our confidence going (up) a little bit when we put the stops together.”
The Cyclones return home to Hilton Coliseum to face BYU on Wednesday at 7 p.m. It’s ISU’s senior night — and the last home game for program mainstays such as King, Robert Jones, and Hason Ward.
“I know it will be an unbelievable atmosphere,” said Otzelberger, whose team is 17-0 this season at Hilton. “It’s a joy to honor these guys who play Cyclone basketball with all their heart, with all their soul, with all their effort. So excited to get back before the fan base. Excited to have this opportunity for our guys and can’t wait for that opportunity come Wednesday.”
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova / Cyclone Fanatic
AMES — Hannah Belanger’s smile seemed to become a permanent facial feature as she strode toward the bench.
The Iowa State graduate transfer guard left the Hilton Coliseum floor to a rousing standing ovation in the closing moments of the Cyclones’ 76-60 win over Cincinnati on Saturday and that grin remained on her face through every hug on her long journey to the end of the bench.
“The day I committed here I felt like I made it,” said Belanger, who scored 14 of her 17 points in the second half on senior day. “I really trusted the process and I deserved to go Division I.”
Belanger — along with versatile senior forward Nyamer Diew — closed one chapter of their college careers, but they and their teammates can look forward to the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments.
ISU (18-10, 12-6) finished the regular season with two top-10 and four top-25 wins and will earn a double bye in the Big 12 Tournament if No. 21 Baylor beats Oklahoma State on Sunday in Waco.
“Every setback, we’ve come back from,” said freshman center Audi Crooks, who scored a game-high 22 points while grabbing 10 rebounds. “We’ve just shown (we have) tenacity as a team and we’ve grown. I’m so excited for our postseason run, for the Big 12 Tournament. I think we’re gonna continue to surprise a lot of people.”
Senior point guard Emily Ryan scored seven points and clutched eight rebounds while dishing out a game-best 12 assists. Freshman forward Addy Brown added 10 points and five assists. The Cyclones trailed the Bearcats, 36-32, at halftime, but reeled off 14 consecutive points to start the third quarter and led by at least seven points the rest of the game.
Crooks scored 13 points in the third quarter and Belanger added 12 as ISU outscored Cincinnati, 28-9, to essentially seal their fourth straight win.
“The last thing I told (the seniors) before the game, at halftime, and right after the game was, ‘This is (your) last time in this building,’” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said. “‘You need to walk up the ramp with a smile on your face and your heart full because of what you did today,’ and I think they did that.”
Belanger sank three of her four 3-pointers to help stoke the Cyclones’ second-half surge and after the game, she gave up at the video board to watch her own pre-recorded senior speech. Her parents flanked her as her smile briefly became faint and tears began to flow — both in real time and on video. Belanger had zero Division I offers out of high school, then starred for four seasons at Division II Truman State. She yearned to play at college basketball’s highest level and Iowa State gave her that long-awaited opportunity.
“My parents are truly the two people people that have believed in me the entire way,” an emotional Belanger said. “They knew that I could play at this level when not many people did. So I feel like finally getting here and finally proving to everyone what I and my parents knew all along was literally my, ‘I made it,’ moment. I wouldn’t change my journey, but I’m just glad I get to end it here.”
Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell gets congratulation from Ohio Bobcats head coach Tim Albin after winning 43-10 at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK AMES — Jarrod Hufford will likely owe some of his Iowa State teammates a few favors after … Read more…
Iowa State captions O’Rien Vance (34) and Anthony Johnson Jr. (1) alone with Kids Caption Savannah Gunn shake hands with Ohio captions Bryce Houston (32), Kai Caesar (50) and Tariq Drake (11) before the game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. The Cyclones defeated the Bobcats, 43-10. © Margaret … Read more…
Three-star linebacker Dawson Merritt planned on visiting Ames last weekend for the Cy-Hawk football game, but things quickly changed the day before the game. Merritt got a text on Friday from Iowa State linebackers coach Tyson Veidt saying to answer a phone call. He was about to receive his first Division 1 offer. “I didn’t … Read more…
Iowa State linebacker Jacob Ellis tries to complete a tackle during Saturday’s 20-13 loss to Iowa at Jack Trice Stadium. The redshirt sophomore from Roseville, Calif. had five tackles in his first career start. Photo courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications. AMES — When Jeff Ellis summoned his son, Jacob, for grueling conditioning work, no … Read more…
Below are weekly press conferences from Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and Ohio coach Tim Albin.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications & George Strait: NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Setting venue attendance records across seven stadium shows this summer, country music icon George Strait and eight-time GRAMMY winner Chris Stapleton continue the excitement into 2024 with nine new dates. Also returning alongside the King of Country and Stapleton for the extended … Read more…
Iowa State football had a slew of visitors in Ames on Saturday for this year’s Cy-Hawk football game, including a top 10 prospect from the state’s 2025 class in Brody Clubb. The Clear Creek Amana standout’s lone offer comes from Iowa State and he’s already working on setting up a second visit with the Cyclones … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones’ kicker Chase Contreraz (19) kicks the ball for a field goal against Iowa during the first quarter of the Cy-Hawk football game at the Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa blocked the field goal. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK Iowa State will open … Read more…
A look into Iowa State’s game against Iowa. The beauty of photography is that even though there is a score who declares a winner and loser, I get the opportunity to tell the parts of the game you don’t always get to see.
I hope you can all enjoy a look into game day from my time on the sidelines!
Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) catches the ball for a touchdown around Iowa Hawkeyes’ defensive back Deshaun Lee (8) during the fourth quarter of the Cy-Hawk football game at the Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Jayden Higgins’ hands kept hope alive.
The tall and talented transfer wide receiver clutched Iowa State teammate Rocco Becht’s lone touchdown pass late in Saturday’s 20-13 Cy-Hawk setback against Iowa at Jack Trice Stadium and one thought immediately crossed his mind as he handed the football to an official.
“We definitely knew the defense was gonna get a quick stop,” he said.
Sound prediction — and it proved to be prophetic. But did it come too late? The Cyclones needed 14 plays and nearly seven minutes of clock to finally breach the end zone on Becht’s 18-yard hook-up with Higgins on fourth and nine. Once the defense did force Iowa’s offense to go three-and-out, just 1:48 remained for Becht to exploit. ISU (1-1) failed to get a first down and its fate was sealed as a question emerged: Should the Cyclones have been operating more urgently, which could have potentially left time for a more extended final offensive possession, or maybe even two possessions?
ISU head coach Matt Campbell essentially answered “no.”
“I think the biggest thing you wanted to do regardless of what anyone else wants is you want to score the touchdown,” said Campbell, whose team lost the Iowa for the seventh time in the past eight meetings. “So the fool is, oh man, go fast and be wrong, or how about do it right and give yourself a chance to win the game, which is exactly what we did. I think the only thing there is there were a couple of plays when we had a chance to maybe score a little bit earlier and I think we’ll learn from it and grow from it, but at the end of the day the response to when it didn’t work to come back and make it work is all that matters.”
One thing that worked as the Cyclones struggled to score points while fighting from behind all day? The Becht-Higgins connection. Higgins — who caught 10 touchdown passes in his final season at Eastern Kentucky — snared just one pass for 15 yards in ISU’s season-opening 30-9 win over Northern Iowa. The 6-4, 210-pound senior from South Miami caught eight passes for a team-best 95 yards in his only Cy-Hawk game, and looks to be one of the Cyclones’ most sure-handed and potent targets going into Saturday’s 11 a.m. game at Ohio and beyond.
“We put a plan together (and) got him the ball a lot (on Saturday),” said Becht, who notched career highs in passing yards (203), completions (23) and attempts (44). “I think we could have gotten him the ball more, but it’s just gonna make him better and (make) his confidence go up for these next 10 weeks. You know he’s gonna get better every week.”
The same signs of improvement need to come team-wide, of course — and especially on offense. Becht floated up a pick-six late in the first half that gave Iowa a commanding 17-0 lead. He also blamed himself for the loss, which while admirable, doesn’t tell the full story of a defeat marred by a handful of high-profile mistakes in each phase of the game for the Cyclones.
“Pick-sixes are gonna happen,” said Campbell, who saw safety Jeremiah Cooper return an interception for a touchdown the previous Saturday against the Panthers. “(Becht’s) response was to go down and get the field goal to put it back to a two-score game to start the second half. I think that was huge and I think it showed a lot about who he is and his moxie.”
Higgins demonstrated how seriously he takes his craft, as well, and at least on teammate saw his breakthrough game coming.
“It’s crazy because I was talking to him (Friday) night and I just knew,” said safety Beau Freyler, who totaled a team-high 10 tackles on Saturday and notched the Cyclones’ only sack. “I was telling him he’s gonna catch the ball, he’s gonna get his touchdown, he’s gonna make a big play, kind of talked it all into existence. I really had confidence in him the whole time, knowing he was gonna do something.”
Now Higgins yearns to do more for an offense that ranked last in the Big 12 last season and must make rapid gains if that trend’s to be reversed as ISU seeks to rebound from its first losing season since 2016.
“That’s my big thing, just make plays when they come to you,” Higgins said. “So that’s what I’m gonna continue to try to do.”
Head coach Matt Campbell met with the media to discuss Iowa State’s performance in 20-13 loss against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
AMES – Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht walked off the field at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday late in the first half of his team’s 20-13 Cy-Hawk loss.
The signal-caller who won the starting quarterback job through the off-season had just thrown a pick-six to give his team’s in-state rival a 17-0 lead. Then, his head coach, Matt Campbell, pulled him aside for a pick-me-up.
“I threw it,” Becht said. “I made a bad read. (Campbelll) was just telling me, ‘This is adversity. So what are you going to do about it?’ And, you know, I felt like we did a good job coming out after that, and putting together drives, we just weren’t able to execute those at the end.”
Iowa State had falln behind by three scores against a program that was 63-2 in its last 65 games while leading by eight or more points at any point in the game.
Some fans may have been calling for true freshman J.J. Kohl to enter the game. The highly touted early enrollee from Ankeny had split snaps with Becht during the week 1 win over Northern Iowa.
But Campbell didn’t flinch. Becht ran out with the offense again, prepared to try and drive down the field to at least get some points on the board before the halftime break.
“I love Coach Campbell,” Becht said. “I’m excited that he’s got all that trust in me to keep me in there. I felt like that just made the bond bigger, especially for this team — just getting them riled up for the next drive and getting them ready. This next coming week for this following this next season, you know, we’re gonna be, you know, firing out on every drive.”
Iowa State eventually drove down the field successfully for the second time before settling for a 42-yard field goal from Chase Contreraz. From that point on, Iowa State outscored Iowa 10-3, but Becht fully owned the costly pick-six that preceded the late comeback.
“I’m gonna take this one on me,” he said. “Take away that pick six, we’re going into overtime.”
Becht ended the game with with 203 yards through the air on 23 completions. Each of those numbers are career highs.
The mistake may have been glaring, but even so, Campbell put trust in his quarterback and the importance of that shouldn’t be minimzed in the redshirt freshman’s second career game against a Power 5 program.
“I felt like we had a good game plan coming in,” Becht said. “I felt like we executed on a lot of things. There’s definitely a lot of stuff we can clean up. But we’re just going to think about the positives right now. And, you know, going into week three, we’re gonna execute on those mistakes and we’re gonna get better.”
Iowa State will take the field for its final non-conference game of the season next Saturday, traveling to Ohio, a team without its starting quarterback that the Cyclones beat 43-10 last season.
It will be a second dress rehearsal for the program before it opens Big 12 play against veteran head coach Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State.
The last thing fans want to hear after a rivalry loss is about how the team is young and full of potential. Cubs fans will understand this the most.
However, regardless of how overstated it may feel, it remains true and the trust placed today in Becht and the team around him may point to strong potential moving forward.
“I haven’t played a game and lost in a while,” Becht said.
His only other game against a power 5 team came in clean-up duty against TCU a season ago.
“Having this first loss on my hand, it’s just gonna give me the confidence and the growth that I’m going to need to lead this team for the rest of the season,” Becht said. “And like I said, (I’m) just taking this one on me, I feel like the team — they’ve got my back and I’ll have their back.”
AMES — A drive-spoiling special teams mistake? Check. Allowing a devastating defensive touchdown? Check, again. An offense that sputtered all day until a last-minute surge? Well, you get the drift. The litany of miscues that have doomed Iowa State to defeat in six of its last seven Cy-Hawk series games against Iowa once again served … Read more…
Iowa State quarterback, Rocco Becht (3), leaves the field after 20-13 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. / Jacqueline Cordova, Cyclone Fanatic Iowa State players met with the media to talk about their initial thoughts following 20-13 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Former Iowa State Cyclone Enyi Uwazurike’s representation filed a second discovery motion in court Friday.
Van M. Plumb’s full motion, posted by WHO’s Keith Murphy, can be seen below:
“The Defendant believes, based upon the forgoing, that either an Agent of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission or Department of Criminal Investigation used the Gaming Commission’s GeoComply software to target male athletes at Iowa and Iowa State in 4 of the men’s programs for a reason yet to be known. The Agent or Agents did not follow the rules as set out by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission in reporting their activity nor did they follow the Terms of Use established by GeoComply for use of their software.
“GeoComply was in fact used to obtain personal data that should have required a warrant and such use of GeoComply to obtain personal data was a violation of their rights. The State’s actions, whether intentional or not, have villainized the targeted young men for making young men mistakes.
“These young men have been held to account and have held themselves accountable to the NCAA and NFL for their actions, actions as argued by the Defendant, with the exception of underage gambling, are not violations of Iowa Law.
“Iowa Racing and Gaming as well the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation are not codified enforcement agencies for the NCAA or the NFL. But, they are State of Iowa Enforcement Agencies governed by their own set of rules and procedures, with such rules and procedures appearing to have been violated from the evidence supplied to the Defendant as of this date. The Defendant is requesting the additional information so that the agents, as grown-trained members of our state agencies, can also be held accountable if they have in fact violated these young men’s rights or broken the rules established for them to ensure equal protection to all Iowans.”
I did a special article previewing the Cy-Hawk football game from an Iowa State perspective with Tom Kakert of On3’s Hawkeye Report – you can check that out, as well as their site here. He was kind of enough to allow us to use the same format and answer questions from the opposite perspective. Hope you all enjoy!
1. Both Iowa and Iowa State have had to deal with and adjust to the loss of players in the sports gambling investigation. What has been the impact to the Hawkeye roster and how much of a distraction/challenge has it presented to the team and coaching staff?
TK: I think more than anything it’s been an annoyance for Kirk Ferentz and his staff. Ferentz has expressed some frustration at feeling like Iowa (and ISU) are being singled out nationally on this issue. They have really only lost three players to the gambling investigation and only one was really significant in terms of time and that was to Noah Shannon.
Shannon is a leader and key figure on the defensive line, but it’s also a pretty deep positon for the Hawkeyes, so it’s not a huge impact. Iowa still hopes the NCAA changes course and cuts into his season long suspension.
They probably feel the loss of Jermari Harris a bit more this weekend. He’s an experienced cornerback who would help Iowa in their first road test of the season. The good news for the Hawkeyes is that he will be back next week from suspension and into the lineup..
2. Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz is set up with a 25.0 points per game contract stipulation. Did the Utah State game bring any clarity to potential offensive changes?
TK: What changed probably depended on when you were watching the Utah State game. If you were an Iowa fan watching the first half of the first quarter, you would say, that’s a new offense and we like it.
If you were watching the second and third quarter of the game, Iowa fans would tell you that it looked like last year and not in a good way.
The run game looked a little different in terms of scheme, but the results were not different from last year as Iowa gained just 88 yards on 36 carries. Kirk Ferentz has spent all fall camp praising the improved offensive line, so if it’s not good this week, there’s going to be some complaining from the fans. The passing game was close to the same as well with 10 of the 18 completions to tight ends Luke Lachey and Erick All.
3. What can you tell us about quarterback Cade McNamara’s style of play of both and do you expect them to play two on Saturday?
TK: The story of Cade McNamara at Iowa took a turn on August 12th when he strained his quad on a scramble during the annual Kids Day open practice. Since then he has been trying to recover as much as possible. His status last week was listed as questionable and he played every snap until Iowa was able to build up a 24-6 lead in the fourth quarter. Then he gave way to Deacon Hill.
McNamara is going to be questionable again this week. He’s not 100% and his mobility is limited, but he’s a tough guy with a high tolerance for pain. He will be out there on Saturday until he can’t be or if the score get out of hand, one way or another.
As far as his style of play, he has a quick release and if you take away the drops last week, he should have had a completion percentage of 74% against Utah State. But, as mentioned, his mobility is not great right now and I would look for more shot gun than Iowa normally runs to help keep him safe and upright.
4. Who are some of the other players that Iowa State fans should be aware of on the offensive side of the ball?
TK: I will start at running back where the lead two backs are Kaleb Johnson and Leshon Williams. Johnson is big, strong, fast, and powerful. He’s the lead back with Williams likely to get a good amount of work. He’s a grinder type back who will get the tough yards when needed.
At receiver, you start with Luke Lachey and Erick All at tight end. They were targeted 13 times in the opener with Lachey catching a team high seven passes. Iowa only had two wide receivers catch passes last week and one scored and that was Seth Anderson. Veteran Nico Ragaini caught a pair of passes on six targets. I’d also keep an eye on Kaleb Brown and Diante Vines.
5. The Iowa defense once again looks strong. Who are the key players to watch on that side of the ball?
TK: This should be a pretty strong defense again this year even after losing All American Jack Campbell. New middle linebacker Jay Higgins had a career high 16 tackles in the opener and Nick Jackson is his solid running mate.
Up front, Ames native Joe Evans is a strong edge player, along the Deontae Craig, who had Iowa’s only sack last week. Logan Lee, Yahya Black and Aaron Graves man the middle.
On the back end, Cooper DeJean is a big time player and Xavier Nwankpa had the Hawkeyes only pick last week and seems poised to take a significant leap as a player this year.
6. Give us a couple of keys to the game from a Hawkeye perspective and how do you see this one playing out?
TK: I think this will be a pretty tight and low scoring game. The most talented units, IMHO, are on the defensive side of the ball and when you throw in the fact that both defensive coordinators are among the best in the country it leads to the conclusion that points will be at a premium.
Turnovers are going to be huge. Can Iowa create any on defense against a young quarterback? I think special teams will be massive. One big return could be significant if it leads to points.
I also think the health of McNamara is huge for Iowa. He got banged around in the second half last week and he was already pretty limited. Can Iowa get their wide receivers more involved this week?
This one comes down to the fourth quarter and probably a field goal decides it. Could go either way.
7. Iowa State punter Tyler Perkins outkicked Tory Taylor last week by a yards per kick measurement. Do you have any strong feelings on this competition?
TK: This is a good and fun question. I think it’s flying in the radar as a good head to head battle. I think both sets of fans would say they would be exceedingly happy if they didn’t see their punter at all because they were scoring points on every possession. I think it’s a neat little battle within the battle type story. But, I will say this, both guys will have a say in the outcome because field position will be extremely important.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communication:
Iowa State has announced its women’s basketball non-conference schedule for the 2023-24 season.
The schedule features eight home contests in Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones will play a preseason exhibition game against Truman State on November 1 before opening the season on Monday, November 6 against Butler. Both matchups will be played in Ames.
Iowa State travels to Drake on November 12 for its first road contest before returning to Hilton ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday to play Southern on November 20. The Cyclones are set to travel to the South Point Shootout November 24-25 where they face Vanderbilt and Syracuse. Iowa State’s final non-conference road game will be played November 29 at St. Thomas.
The Cyclones close the non-conference slate with five home contests in December, returning to Ames to face UNC Wilmington (Dec. 3). The annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series game against Iowa returns to Hilton Coliseum on December 6 before the Cyclones play host to North Dakota State on December 10. Breaking for finals, Iowa State will return to action with games against Troy (Dec. 17) and UNI (Dec. 20).
2023-24 Iowa State Women’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 1 – Truman State (Exh.) – Hilton Coliseum
Nov. 6 – Butler – Hilton Coliseum (Education Day)
Nov. 12 – Drake – Des Moines, Iowa
Nov. 20 – Southern – Hilton Coliseum
Nov. 24 – Vanderbilt – Las Vegas, Nev. South Point Shootout
Nov. 25 – Syracuse – Las Vegas, Nev. South Point Shootout
Nov. 29 – St. Thomas – St. Paul, Minn.
Dec. 3 – UNC Wilmington – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 6 – Iowa (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series) – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 10 – North Dakota State – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 17 – Troy – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 20 – UNI – Hilton Coliseum
2023-24 Season Ticket Information
Season tickets are on sale now! To purchase season tickets, please click here.
Should you have questions in regard to requesting season tickets, please contact the Iowa State Athletics Ticket Office by phone at 888-478-2925 or by email at tickets@iastate.edu.
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Sep 10, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back T.J. Tampa (2) and linebacker Carston Marshall (46) and teammates carry the Cy-Hawk after the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — John Walters sank into his sofa, grasped the remote control and fired up his tube-based TV.
The then-sports director at WOI-TV felt “sicker than a dog,” so resigned himself to watching the 1998 Cy-Hawk game between Iowa and Iowa State from his living room instead of the sideline or press box.
“Everybody thought that Iowa was gonna smoke them like they had been (doing) for 15 years in a row,” said Walters, who is set to call his 21st Cy-Hawk game as ‘the Voice of the Cyclones’ when the in-state rivals clash at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (FOX) at Jack Trice Stadium. “They were a huge favorite and I am never sick. I mean, I’m never sick.”
Except for that fateful day in which he felt much better by the time the horn sounded and his TV turned off, fading to black.
Final score: ISU 27, Iowa 9. It would be legendary Hawkeye coach Hayden Fry’s last Cy-Hawk game and Walters exulted despite the occasional wince of pain.
“We just did a documentary on this (game) on Cyclones.tv,” Walters said. “(It’s) ‘1998: A Cyclone State,’ and (we) interviewed tons of guys who played in that game and guys who came along since on how important that game was to turn the tide in the series, and to draw a line in the sand, as (former ISU head coach) Dan McCarney said. Just had to draw a line in the sand at some point that said we’re gonna stop getting pushed around in this thing.”
Since then, Iowa’s won 13 in the series. The Cyclones have won 11, including five in a row from 1998-2002. Nerve-fraying, white-knuckled affairs have largely replaced the guffaw-filled blowout victories the Hawkeyes typically enjoyed from 1983 to 1997 — and to this day, the 1998 game is the only one Walters has missed as either a TV reporter or radio broadcaster.
“When you play this game, your warts are exposed,” he said. “And you’re gonna find out who you are real quickly — and that’s a really valuable thing for both programs going into their conference races.”
Flash forward to this week. ISU seeks to win a second straight game against Iowa for the first time since 2011-12. The Cyclones haven’t triumphed over the Hawkeyes at home since 2011, but the keys to doing so remain the same: Take care of the football. Banish special teams gaffes. Establish a solid running game and let the defense serve as a boa constrictor, slowly squeezing the life out of the opposing offense.
“I think that no matter (first-year ISU starting quarterback) Rocco (Becht) or any of the other (Cyclone) players that are out on the football field, efficiency and fundamentally sound (football) is gonna be critical,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, who broke a six-game skid against the Hawkeyes with last season’s 10-7 win at Kinnick Stadium. “If not, you’re gonna get exposed.”
The 2023 edition of the Cy-Hawk game features a slew of intriguing matchups, from the aforementioned Becht making his second career start to banged-up graduate transfer Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara making his 16th career start — but just his second as a Hawkeye. Across every unit — for instance, each offensive line versus each defensive line — a perceived question mark meets a well-established strength. So when deciding what to expect on Saturday, the best answer tends to delve into the depths of the unknown. Who knows? There’s beauty in the mystery of it.
“It’s just a great feeling to play in this game,” said senior ISU cornerback T.J. Tampa, who will also make his second Cy-Hawk series start.
Those emotions, of course, can crest like a wave or plummet like a rock. Tampa and his teammates absorbed the letdown of a turnover-filled 27-17 loss to the Hawkeyes in 2022, then felt the elation after last season’s narrow and imperfect win that hinged on ISU’s remarkable 99-yard touchdown drive. Winning or losing this game doesn’t necessarily serve as a bellwether for what’s to come — as the Cyclones proved last season. It merely measures which team can put together an iconic drive and/or stop when the tension tightens and the pressure pulsates.
Just like in 1998, when ISU made the series competitive — and it’s been back and forth ever since, with each side enjoying one positive streak of five games or more.
“We both have other rivals, for sure,” said Eric Heft, who is calling his 40th season of ISU football alongside Walters on the Cyclone Radio Network. “But this is the one. Both schools start with the name Iowa, ok? It’s Iowa and Iowa State. It is for the state.”
It brings out the best and the worst of Iowans. Trash talk reigns until it’s silenced. High hopes remain until they’re dashed — and bragging rights may be overrated, but it sure feels good when they’re upheld.
“You get your little digs in but it’s nothing malicious,” Heft said. “But it is important to everybody. And I guess that’s the cool part of it. All eyes are on one game, for one week, in the state on one Saturday as opposed to being split. You always want to see how you measure up to the other team and we’re gonna find out on Saturday.”
That’s about the only certainty until the usual twists of fate take hold and refuse to relent.
“This is like a lot of the fans’ Super Bowl,” Becht said. “I know it’s a big game, but I’m gonna go into it like another game. I’m gonna prepare the same. I’m gonna do everything the same; come out of the week prepared (to) get a win.”
Three former Cyclone football players have agreed to plea deals following court proceedings related to the state’s investigation into sports gambling on Wednesday.
Hunter Dekkers, Dodge Sauser and Jake Remsburg each agreed to underage gambling charges that — similar to a speeding ticket — yield just $645 in fines in total.
The trio is under the same representation, and each player was initially charged with tampering with records, but the charge was dropped and no legal penalties remain outside of the $645 fine for each player.
Others included in the investigation have not yet received news on their legal penalties, including Jirehl Brock, Isaiah Lee, DeShawn Hanika and Enyi Uwazurike.
Hanika and Remsburg still hope to retain an amount of NCAA eligibility, and it’s expected that Remsburg will be allowed to rejoin the team on the field beginning with Iowa State’s seventh game of the season, against Cincinnati, on the road.
The full statement from Attorney Mark Weinhardt can be read below:
Today, Hunter Dekkers, Jake Remsburg, and Dodge Sauser are each
resolving the criminal cases brought against them by the Story County
Attorney. For each student, the State is replacing the original charge of
Tampering With Records with a charge of Underage Gambling. Each of the
students is entering a plea of guilty to the Underage Gambling ticket and
receiving a $645 fine. The County Attorney’s Office agreed in each case that
this is the end of the criminal proceedings against our clients.The Underage Gambling ticket is a vastly reduced charge compared to
the original Tampering With Records allegation. Tampering With Records is
an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a maximum two-year prison term. By
contrast, the only possible penalty for Underage Gambling is a $645 fine—
what we expect the court to imposed promptly.The original records tampering charge against these young men never
fit this case, either legally or factually. Hunter, Jake, and Dodge are not and
never were guilty of that charge. The charge has nothing to do with gambling.
Other than the fact that Hunter, Jake, and Dodge placed some bets
before they turned 21, nothing about those bets was a crime under Iowa law.These three young men have very bright futures. We are happy that this
outcome frees Hunter, Jake, and Dodge to focus on the educational and
eligibility aspects of this matter. They plan to pursue the sport that they love
and the careers they envision for themselves.MARK WEINHARDT
Former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy has been named as a Captain for the San Francisco 49ers for the 2023 NFL season.
The Arizona native set the league off in his stretch late last year, guiding the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game.
The team announced its captains on social media Wednesday:
2023 team captains
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 6, 2023
Alongside Purdy in the Captain spot is 49ers tight end and former Hawkeye George Kittle. Trent Williams, Arik Armstead, Fred Warner and Deebo Samuel were also named as Captains.
The 49ers open their season on Sunday, traveling to face the Pittsburgh Steelers at Noon on FOX.
Former Iowa State Cyclone Darren Wilson Jr. has signed a contract with the Indoor Football League’s Iowa Barnstormers for the 2024 season, the team announced Wednesday.
During his career in Ames, Wilson Jr. spent four seasons with the Cyclones, appearing in 44 games and corralling 21 receptions for 249 yards and a touchdown.
“Darren is a big time receiver who was very well respected at Iowa State,” Coach Dave Mogensen said in a release. “He played behind a lot of guys who are now in the NFL and we feel he is the kind of guy who will explode when given the opportunity. I know the local Cyclone fans will appreciate seeing him in a Barnstormers uniform.”
The wideout now takes his talents to Des Moines.
“I signed with the Iowa Barnstormers because they offer a great opportunity for growth and a platform where I can showcase my abilities at a professional level,” Wilson said. “I am extremely excited to return to Iowa, make an impact on this team, and the opportunity to compete for an IFL National Championship.”
Wilson will join the team at training camp in February or March.
Iowa State Cyclones’ offensive line Jim Bonifas (63) celebrates with the team after a touchdown during the first quarter in the season-opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — When Jim Bonifas called for the ball in the paint, his defender winced. One move later and that opposing player lay sprawled on the floor, bruised and battered, beset by pain.
A whistle blew and Bonifas trudged the other way, familiar with the inelegant pattern.
“Yeah, I got a lot of charge calls,” the 6-5, 310-pound former basketball center for Dubuque Senior and current starting football center for Iowa State said. “I had to figure out how to change my play a little bit, but it was fun.”
Now Bonifas, a redshirt sophomore, is poised to mount charges of a different sort for the Cyclones as he prepares to make his second career start overall and first against in-state rival Iowa at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (FOX).
“We know they’re a good team and we’ve got to take them and just figure out what they do and just try to do what we can,” Bonifas said. “I’m really excited.”
The burly but not bulky former high school tackle is one of ISU’s most important players. The center is, well, at the center of everything on offense. He surveys the opposing defense. He shouts out commands to his cohorts up front and must establish and maintain a deep rapport with his quarterback, or things tend to go haywire.
That can be especially true in the typically unpredictable and topsy-turvy Cy-Hawk game. The Cyclones (1-0) snapped a six-game losing streak in the series last season at Kinnick Stadium, but haven’t vanquished the Hawkeyes (1-0) at Jack Trice Stadium since James White strode into the end zone to seal a 44-41 triple-overtime triumph in 2011. That, of course, occurred at the height of then-head coach Paul Rhoads’ era — and now eighth-year ISU head coach Matt Campbell seeks to lead his team to back-to-back wins over Iowa for the first time since 2011-12.
“I think it’s a great test for both teams in the early part of the football season,” Campbell said. “It’s a very unique rivalry game, too. You get two teams that are so close that are in two different conferences and you play that game at the beginning of the season rather than at the end of the season, so I think that makes it a unique football game, for sure.”
It’s a unique challenge as well — and primarily because of the strength of both team’s defenses. Six years have passed since both teams rushed for more than 100 yards in the Cy-Hawk game, so from an ISU perspective, Bonifas’s growth along with his fellow offensive linemen looms large with respect to Saturday’s outcome.
“He’s grown a ton,” the Cyclones’ first-year offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase said of Boniface. “(New offensive line coach Ryan) Clanton has taught all of those guys in a different way and I think their growth and just understanding of our run schemes and understanding our pass protection has grown immensely. But at the center spot, that’s critical. You’ve got to be in charge. You’ve got to be the captain up front. You’ve got to get guys organized with what’s going on, what changes are being made, and he’s done a great job of just taking ownership of that leadership opportunity.”
Bonifas’s emergence at center is a natural outgrowth of Clanton’s propensity to drill all of his offensive linemen at every position. He doesn’t slot players into starting roles based on an “eye test.” If a player looks like a tackle but excels at guard, he’ll play guard — and vice versa. ISU’s needed improvements along its offensive front are still decidedly a work in progress, but Clanton’s exhortation to be violent and versatile seems to be having the desired effect. And for Bonifas, that means charges are no longer penalized. They’re welcomed and celebrated.
“It’s football at the end of the day,” Bonifas said. “Once you get that first snap out of the way, you kind of realize that you’ve done this 1,000 times, right? So just getting those nerves out of the way early and being able to play fast will be important for us.”
Keaton Roskop looks downfield while on crutches during Linn Mar’s week 2 game against Washington. Photo Courtesy Christina Wolfe / Linn Mar Athletics
Iowa State 2024 commit Keaton Roskop watched from the sidelines after being taken out of Linn Mar’s week 2 game against Washington.
Roskop had came down with an injury, which he found out on Tuesday to be an ACL tear, sidelining him for the rest of the year.
Unfortunately, my Senior season will be cut short with a complete ACL tear. Not the news I hoped for, but it won't stop me from supporting my teammates on the sideline! @TheLMFootball #NotTheEnd pic.twitter.com/wLNzd41bGB
— Keaton Roskop (@KeatonRoskop) September 5, 2023
“It was just a punt block, kind of in the back 20 yards of the field,” Roskop said. “I went in and saw (an opposing player) go to cut up field so (the kick) didn’t get blocked. When I went to plant, to make the tackle, my leg just buckled and I think my ankle kind of got caught underneath and bent my knee the wrong way.”
Roskop will have appointments over the coming days to determine his rehab process, and Iowa State’s staff is already aware and supportive in Roskop.
“Yeah, they all know about it now,” Roskop said. “They just gave their condolences. They knew that this wasn’t how I wanted my senior season to go. They let me know that they were there for me and let me know that they’re still going to be there for me in the future. They know I’ll get through this and come out on the stronger side of it.”
Roskop committed to play tight end for Iowa State over Texas A&M, Kansas State and Northern Illinois amongst others. He plans on continuing to support his high school teammates from the sidelines.
Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard appeared on 106.3 KXNO’s Murph & Andy show Tuesday afternoon to address concerns of the ticketing situation at Jack Trice Stadium that left a number of fans without a viable path into the stadium for the entirety of the first quarter.
Pollard started by explaining that Iowa State currently employs 500 less people to its Game Day staff than it did during games in the 2019 season.
“We need people to work and since COVID, we’ve been down about 40% on people that want to work on game days,” Pollard said. “We have to employ about 1200 part-time people on a home football game (day), and we lost about 40% of our workforce, (which leaves) nearly 500 Less people working. So it just helps staff the parking lots and staff all the ticket areas.”
Pollard said that Iowa State would be removing turnstiles and bringing people that are struggling by the gates to assist them in finding their tickets in an effort to mitigate things Saturday.
Pollard also noted that from people he had personally talked to, those who had arrived at the gates by 12:30 p.m. CT – 30 minutes before the scheduled start to the game – did not have issues entering the stadium.
“Well, you know the Cy-Hawk is always a little more amped up,” Pollard said. “I would, as a fan, try to be in by 1:45 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. at the latest. Anybody at Saturday’s (game) that got in before 12:30 p.m. said they didn’t know there was even a problem. People that came after 12:30 p.m. clearly ran into problems.”
It was announced on Tuesday, as well, that former president Donald Trump would be present at the game on Saturday, as well.
Despite the increased security presence and concerns around the ticketing situation, Pollard was not overtly worried about the potential of added traffic surrounding Trump.
“We’ve long had the challenge here because whenever (the Cy-Hawk) game has been played, and I’m assuming the same about Iowa City, in an election year, all the politicians want to come grandstand and be able to be front and center in front of all of the Iowans that attend this game… Some of these candidates have pretty big entourage and security detail. And so yeah, those are some challenges for us. But you know, it’s not our first rodeo dealing with them.”
Trump also came to the event in 2015.
“That’s something that (our) police work heavily with their people,” Pollard said. “They have to be inside the stadium and they don’t get any special favors. They don’t get any special passes. If they’re gonna be in a suite, somebody’s got to have their tickets. That goes for all candidates.”
Fans wanting to watch the game on TV can see it live on FOX on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, and players Rocco Becht, T.J. Tampa, and Jim Bonifas addressed media members Tuesday to preview the Cy-Hawk game:
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht (3) hands the ball off to running back Deon Silas (22) during the game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. The Cyclones defeated the Bobcats, 43-10. © Margaret Kispert/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht’s baptism into the Cy-Hawk rivalry with Iowa came while standing on the sideline. Tension tinged every series and every play last season as the Cyclones eked out a 10-7 win over the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium — and Becht, a true freshman at the time, remembers basking in the endorphin-fueled, rain-soaked afterglow.
“It was the first time I’d been in a college stadium where the (road) environment was like that,” said Becht, who is expected to make his second career start when Iowa (1-0) strides into Jack Trice Stadium to face ISU (1-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (FOX). “That was a good experience to take away and hopefully it’s like that this year.”
Maybe not exactly “like that,” though.
Iowa State overcame three turnovers and two blocked punts to escape Iowa City with a win last season — but the Cyclones couldn’t fully exhale until Hawkeye kicker Aaron Blom’s 48-yard field goal attempt missed its mark as time expired.
So expect more high-stakes, low-scoring drama on Saturday as ISU seeks back-to-back triumphs in the series for the first time since 2011-12.
“It was great for us a year ago to be able to get (the win) and quite honestly, we didn’t play a very good football game,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “But to be able to win the football game was a positive for last year’s team. We’re so young right now that, it’s like, man, there’s two things: Number one, this game and what comes with it, but the biggest thing is our young football team growing from week one to week two.”
Typically for the Cyclones, the most growth is required from the offense, and that’s particularly true this season because of new starters at quarterback, tailback and several other spots.
Becht went 10-for-13 for 113 yards and two touchdowns in ISU’s 30-9 season-opening win over Northern Iowa. He looked poised and polished while operating efficiently and avoiding mistakes. He still may split time with true freshman and early enrollee J.J. Kohl on Saturday, but he’s made a strong case to at least continue to play the majority of snaps.
“I think Rocco certainly has put himself in a great position to obviously be a starter this coming week and just continue to move himself forward,” Campbell said. “My guess is, just as football goes, we’ll need both of those guys to continue to grow forward if our team wants to have success.”
If Becht’s to fully secure the No. 1 quarterback spot, he must be the consummate game manager — a bland, but exceedingly important duty that the record-setting Brock Purdy ably fulfilled early in his ISU career. Becht doesn’t need to make big plays. He simply needs to execute the right play adroitly — or, as he says, “take the money.”
“Take what they give you,” he said, “and, you know, roll with it.”
Take the win over UNI, for example. The Cyclones ran just 45 plays — their fewest in a game they won since 1961 — but the offense turned those limited opportunities into a solid 5.6 yards per play, three touchdowns and a field goal. That’s efficient production and that’s Becht’s formula for success against the Hawkeyes and beyond.
“He knows what it looks like to lead an offense, to step out there confidently on the field,” ISU offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase said. “Those things are invaluable at a position like his.”
Dec 12, 2020; West Point, New York, USA; President Donald J. Trump walks on to the field before the first half of the Army-Navy game at Michie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
Former president Donald Trump will be in attendance for Saturday’s Cy-Hawk game at Jack Trice Stadium, his team announced today.
“We’re thrilled to invite Donald J. Trump to the Iowa vs. Iowa State football game this weekend,” Trump’s acting Attorney General and former tight end Matt Whitaker said. “President Trump attended this game in 2015 and remembers the incredible passion and electricity of the fans.”
“Tens-of-thousands of Iowans will gather to tailgate and cheer on their favorite team,” Senate Majority Leader and former Iowa State receiver Jack Whitver said. “I’m proud to have President Trump witness the greatest rivalry in college sports.”
Fans unable to make it to the game can tune into it live on FOX (2:30 p.m.) on Saturday.
Iowa State received two votes in this week’s AP Poll, unveiled Tuesday afternoon.
The Cyclones started the season with a dominant, 30-9 win over UNI on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.
Saturday, the team will face Iowa, who received 73 votes in the poll, in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk game (2:30 p.m. FOX).
AP Poll
September 5, 2023
1. Georgia (58 first place votes)
2. Michigan (2)
3. Alabama
4. Florida State (3)
5. Ohio State
6. USC
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Tennessee
10. Notre Dame
11. Texas
12. Utah
13. Oregon
14. LSU
15. Kansas State
16. Oregon State
17. North Carolina
18. Oklahoma
19. Wisconsin
20. Ole Miss
21. Duke
22. Colorado
23. Teas A&M
24. Tulane
25. Clemson
Others receiving votes: Iowa 73, UCLA 55, Arkansas 28, TCU 27, Kentucky 15, Pittsburgh 8, Mississippi St. 5, Miami 4, NC State 4, Auburn 3, Troy 3, Fresno St. 3, Minnesota 3, Wyoming 3, Iowa St. 2, Texas St. 2, Texas Tech 1, Louisville 1, Washington St. 1, Illinois 1, Houston 1, UCF 1, James Madison 1.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Jeremiah Cooper has been named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. It is the first Big 12 weekly honor of Cooper’s career.
Cooper was integral in Iowa State’s season-opening 30-9 victory over Northern Iowa Saturday. He grabbed a pair of interceptions in the game, including a pick six on UNI’s first drive for ISU’s first points of the season.
The sophomore defensive back became the first Iowa State defender with two interceptions in a game since Marcel Spears against Texas Tech in 2018 and the first Cyclone with two takeaways since O’Rien Vance in the 2020 Fiesta Bowl. With one Week 1 game remaining Monday night, Cooper is one of seven players nationally with at least two interceptions in a game this season.
Cooper jumped a five-yard out route to grab his first-career interception and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown. Cooper’s second interception set up a 56-yard field goal for the Cyclones at the end of the first half.
The El Paso, Texas native finished the game with four tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss in addition to his two takeaways.
Iowa State football is back in action Saturday, Sept. 9 at 2:30 p.m. when it hosts Iowa in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. The game will be aired live on FOX.
Photo Courtesy of Jon / @CycloneJonny on X
AMES — In season-opener against Northern Iowa, Iowa State Athletics introduced a new ticket scanning system in order to enter Iowa State Football games.
Athletic Director, Jamie Pollard, released a statement on Sunday following fan complaints about the new process taking a long time causing major delays for fans to enter the game prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff time.
The following is official statement from Pollard.
Dear Cyclone Fans:
Thank you for cheering on the Cyclones to a season-opening win over UNI yesterday! Your support of our student-athletes, coaches and staff is greatly appreciated, and helps create a tremendous home field advantage.
Our goal is to provide you with an outstanding game-day experience every time that you enter Jack Trice Stadium. Unfortunately, we did not live up to that standard yesterday.
After successfully piloting 20 turnstile scanners at Gate 2 a year ago, the decision was made to expand their use this season to Gates 1 and 3. Unfortunately, the combination of many fans arriving closer to kickoff, our staff’s inability to help fans understand the technology, and the excessive heat, came together to create a perfect storm of poor customer service.
Please accept my apology for the inconveniences we caused for many of you yesterday. We do appreciate your understanding and patience as we work through improvements for this week’s game.
Go Cyclones!
Jamie Pollard
Director of Athletics
Iowa State University
A look into Iowa State’s 30-9 win over Northern Iowa from my time on the sideline!
Follow the link below to view the full gallery in Adobe Spark.
Iowa State Cyclones running back Abu Sama (24) breaks a tackle from Northern Iowa Panthers defensive back Dalesean Staley (7) during the third quarter in the season-opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.© Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK AMES — When Rocco Becht took his first … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones’ punt runner Jaylin Noel (13) runs with the ball against Northern Iowa during the first quarter in the season-opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK AMES — Iowa State faced Iowa in the 2019 Cy-Hawk football game … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones’ defensive back Jeremiah Cooper (4)runs with the ball for a touchdown after an interception during the first quarter in the season-opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY AMES — Jeremiah Cooper merely executed his read. The sophomore … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell reacts after a touchdown against Northern Iowa during the third quarter in the season-opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. / USA TODAY Listen to everything head coach Matt Campbell had to say following 30-9 win over Northern Iowa in the … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones’ quarterback Rocco Becht (3) runs with the ball for a first down against Northern Iowa during the first quarter in the season-opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. / USA TODAY Following Iowa State’s 30-9 win over Northern Iowa, the media had a chance to … Read more…
Iowa State football players Jake Remsburg and DeShawn Hanika got a clearer picture, officially, on their eligibility on the field following the gambling investigation conducted by the state this summer, according to report from Keith Murphy. Remsburg, who is alleged to have placed wagers on non-Iowa State sports, will serve a six-game suspension. That leaves … Read more…
The lines for Iowa State’s season opening matchup against UNI are finally out, and the Cyclones opened at -21.
Since opening, the spread as dropped to -19.5 at BetRivers. The over/under for the game is set at 41.5.
Fans wanting to tune in can watch the game live on ESPN+ at 1:00 p.m. CT.
Cyclone Fanatic publisher Chris Williams previews Saturday’s bout between the Cyclones and UNI in the season opener. Here are the top five things he is looking for along with a score prediction courtesy of our friends at the Iowa Clinic.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell and team celebrate with Jones Jensen as he scored during Cyclones Victory Day on Friday Aug. 25, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Veteran Iowa State offensive lineman Grant Treiber may or may not start in Saturday’s 1 p.m. (ESPN+) season opener against Northern Iowa.
He’s cool with that. Excited, even. New offensive line coach Ryan Clanton has elevated the competition and camaraderie in that room to such heights, that the most burly Cyclones have happily settled into a simpatico state known as “mudita.”
“(That’s) pure joy in others’ success,” said Treiber, who will be a key component along a once-embattled O-line that must improve if ISU is to handle the Panthers and rebound from its first losing season since 2016.
But why “mudita?” And why now?
It started when the Cyclones’ head coach, Matt Campbell, read “Twin Thieves: How Great Leaders Build Great Teams.” One of the book’s co-authors, Steve Jones — a former high school football coach — leans heavily on “mudita” and calls it “a key indicator of a strong, high-performing culture both in sports and in business” on social media.
Campbell absorbed the concept and relayed it to his team, which also went on an offseason retreat designed to repair any frayed threads in its self-titled “five-star culture.”
The gambit worked, but whether it leads to an improvement in the win-loss ledger remains unclear. That’s not the point, though.
“We’ve obviously gotten some adversity along the way already,” said Campbell, who notably lost last season’s starting quarterback and running back because of charges stemming from the state’s probe into sports gambling. “I think until you get out under those lights and until you play the sport of football, you just don’t know what you have until you get out there and see it. But the foundation — the roots — of this group is really special so it’s gonna be really fun to watch.”
Not always. Maybe not even on Saturday when UNI quarterback Theo Day — a preseason FCS All-American — peppers the Cyclones’ esteemed secondary with well-placed passes. But ISU’s young team has cultivated the desired mindset to rediscover success after a 4-8 season marred by critical mistakes in pressure-packed situations. The challenge hinges on whether that state of “mudita” is durable; that it doesn’t crumble when adversity strikes.
“I feel like everybody’s been excited,” said legacy defensive end Joey Petersen, who’s slated to make his first career start on Saturday. “If we get an interception (in practice) the whole defense is in a roar. The offense scores, the offense is in a roar. I just feel like everybody’s excited when somebody makes a play.”
Especially when somebody else makes a play. The Cyclones could experience quite a but of vicarious joy against the Panthers, given how many times the word “or” dots the depth chart.
There’s an “or” between Rocco Becht and J.J. Kohl at quarterback. There are four “ors” separating tailbacks Cartevious Norton, Eli Sanders, Abu Sama, Carson Hansen and Arlen Harris Jr. from each other. There’s also an “or” after Treiber’s name at right guard, as the 6-6 325-pound redshirt senior has been pushed by 6-4, 315-pound redshirt freshman Deylin Hasert. Both will play and both will be — or are fully expected to be — thrilled by each other’s individual triumphs.
“It’s just not putting that pressure on yourself,” Petersen said. “Just do your job and somebody will make the play. If you’re in your gap, that means somebody else is free to fly through theirs, so now if you make the play, everyone else celebrates with you. And if they make a play, then you celebrate with them. We’re a team a the end of the day, so whether you’re having a bad day or a good day, you’ve just got to be happy for everybody.”
Except, of course, for the opposition. “Mudita” doesn’t apply there. Nor should it.
“I think we take every (game) and we don’t look beyond,” Campbell said. “We look at the moment and (try to) be ready to seize the moment and seize the opportunities at hand. Yes, there may be youth on our football team, but we’ve been here before.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell has announced the captains for the 2023 football season.
Seniors Easton Dean, Ben Nikkel and Gerry Vaughn are joined in the leadership role by juniors Beau Freyler and Jaylin Noel.
Easton Dean – R-Sr. – Oswego, Kan.
Dean arrived at Iowa State as a quarterback recruit and moved to tight end in 2019. He started six games last year while battling injury and is listed as an expected starter for the season opener Saturday against UNI. Dean has excelled in the classroom as well, earning Academic All-Big 12 first team honors three times.
Beau Freyler – Jr. – Colorado Springs, Colo.
A safety for the Cyclones, Freyler has started 12 games and compiled 109 tackles in 24 games. He earned honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades in 2021 and 2022. Freyler is also a leader in the classroom, being named a College Sports Communicators (CSC) All-District selection last season.
Ben Nikkel – R-Sr. – McPherson, Kan.
Nikkel joined the Cyclones as a walk-on in 2021 and redshirted his initial season. In 2022, he played in all 12 games as a special teams standout and in August of 2023 he was placed on scholarship. Nikkel was initially a wide receiver before moving to defensive back.
Jaylin Noel – Jr. – Kansas City, Mo.
Noel is entering his junior season as a very productive wide receiver for the Cyclones. He enters his third season with 99 career receptions for 841 yards and three career touchdowns. Noel is on the Paul Hornung Award watch list, which recognizes the most versatile player in college football. He was named to the Big 12 Academic All-Rookie Team in 2021 and was an Academic All-Big 12 Second Team selection in 2022.
Gerry Vaughn – R-Sr. – Atlanta, Ga.
Vaughn, a linebacker, has made 18 career starts for the Cyclones and led the team in tackles a season ago with 71. He is Iowa State’s 2023 Jack Trice Endowed Scholarship recipient and is also on the Wuerffel Trophy watch list, which honors players who are inspired to serve others and make positive impacts on society. Vaughn is a four-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree.
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Carson Willich in action last season. Photo courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications. AMES — When a severe knee injury forced Iowa State redshirt freshman linebacker Carson Willich to miss his entire senior season of high school football, a bleak prospect popped into his mind: What if the Cyclones rescind their scholarship offer? Willich needn’t have … Read more…
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members on Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center in Ames, previewing this week’s season opener against UNI. Some takeaways from this afternoon: At the quarterback spot, Campbell held his cards close to his chest once again, saying that both Rocco Becht and J.J. Kohl could see the field … Read more…
Sep 3, 2022; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; Northern Iowa Panthers quarterback Theo Day (12) passes the ball under pressure from Air Force Falcons defensive lineman Caden Blum (87) in the fourth quarter at Falcon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports AMES — Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock is firmly convinced Northern Iowa … Read more…
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, as well as defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, linebacker Carson Willich, defensive lineman Joey Petersen, offensive lineman Grant Treiber, defensive back Malik Verdon, and wideout Jaylin Noel addressed media members on Tuesday ahead of the team’s season opener on Saturday against UNI (1 p.m. ESPN+).
Here’s what UNI coach Mark Farley had to say about Iowa State during his weekly press conference on Monday: Farley begins speaking at the 22:10 mark.
Nov 26, 2022: Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) is pressured by TCU Horned Frogs linebacker Dee Winters (13) during second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports AMES — Usually by the time Victory Day — Iowa State football’s ultimate feel-good event — … Read more…
As is the case with Iowa State’s weekly game notes release, the program has unveiled it’s depth chart ahead of the team’s first game of the season on Saturday against UNI (1 p.m. ESPN+). I’m inserting the chart below through both a Twitter link and as a photo – hopefully it shows up properly on … Read more…
AMES — Another Victory Day, or night, is in the books and the smiles spread from end zone to end zone, and sideline to sideline. They always go. ISU head coach Matt Campbell brought the annual inspirational event from his previous head coaching spot, Toledo, and now it’s become a fixture at Jack Trice Stadium … Read more…
AMES — Iowa State offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase famously described running back Cartevious Norton as a powerful athlete intent on “running through people’s faces.” He still is, but with a fast-twitch plot twist. “I still run through people’s faces,” the 5-11, 225-pound sophomore said with a grin. “But there’s something else in the bag.” That … Read more…
Iowa State defensive back Beau Freyler stands for a photo during media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK AMES — Iowa State’s top returning wide receiver, Jaylin Noel, smiled at the question. Just how daunting is it to see Cyclone safety Beau … Read more…
Iowa State tight end Easton Dean hurdles Texas Tech defensive back Rayshad Williams en route to the end zone for a touchdown during a NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. © Bryon Houlgrave/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK AMES — Easton Dean felt like his moment had … Read more…
While 2024 Iowa State defensive line commitment Jace Gilbert strained to improve in the youth ranks, a Cyclone great helped boost his development. Will McDonald IV — ISU’s first player selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in 50 years — was playing at Waukesha (Wis.) North High School and assisted Gilbert during … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones linebacker O’Rien Vance (34) and defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) take down West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback JT Daniels (18) during the fourth quarter in the Big-12 showdown at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Nov. 5. 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Syndication: The Ames Tribune. AMES — They call him “the Dominator” and it’s easy … Read more…
Iowa State running back Jirehl Brock runs the ball in the first quarter against West Virginia during a NCAA football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. Syndication: The Des Moines Register Jirehl Brock — Iowa State’s leading rusher last season — has voluntarily left the program, an ISU athletics … Read more…
Iowa State linebacker Gerry Vaughn stands for a photo during media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register-USA TODAY NETWORK AMES — Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock was recently asked to break down the depth chart at linebacker. The veteran coach didn’t flinch. “I can’t,” Heacock said. … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) runs with the ball after making a chatch around West Virginia Mountaineers defensive back Aubrey Burks (2) during the first half in the Big-12 showdown at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Nov. 5. 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Syndication: The Ames Tribune AMES — It didn’t take long for Jaylin … Read more…
Iowa State veteran tight end Stevo Klotz received a full scholarship on Friday, as the team and coaching staff surprised him during a meeting. Watch the full reaction below:
Dear Cyclone Fans, On behalf of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, thank you for your support of our athletics program. Your continued generosity to the Cyclone Club helps provide the necessary resources to allow our student-athletes to pursue their academic and athletic dreams at Iowa State University. The intercollegiate athletics landscape is undergoing dramatic and … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser announced the 2023-24 schedule Thursday, which includes home duals against Iowa, Pittsburgh, Northern Iowa and Missouri. “I know my team and my staff are really excited about this schedule,” Dresser said. “Our home schedule is particularly exciting … Read more…
Iowa State coordinators Jon Heacock and Nate Scheelhaase previewed their 2023 units for media members at the Stark Performance Center:
We caught up with a multitude of players from the Iowa State football program to preview the 2023 season and get their thoughts at this point in fall camp:
Iowa State Cyclones’ defensive coordinator Jon Heacock talks to players during warm-up in the university’s Spring Football game at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, April 22, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK AMES, Iowa – Iowa State had already lost defensive linemen Will McDonald IV and M.J. Anderson to the … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) looks for ta throw the ball against the Ohio Bobcats during the fourth quarter at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK AMES — It’s been precisely one week since Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell … Read more…
Former Iowa State Cyclones dealing with injuries going into the 2023 NFL preseason period got good news back on Tuesday. Brock Purdy will be able to practice in three-straight practices this week without having a built-in off-day. Purdy came down with an elbow injury during last season’s NFC Championship game. Running back Breece Hall was … Read more…
Iowa State football is coming off of a 4-8 season, it’s first since 2016, but that hasn’t impacted ticket sales. The program is still on track to see it’s second-most season tickets sold in the history of its existence, according to Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard: Issues stemming from the potential of tailgating … Read more…
Former Iowa State defensive lineman Isaiah Lee has officially left the football program, CycloneFanatic has confirmed. The defensive lineman was one of the players charged in the gambling investigation conducted by the state. Lee allegedly placed a wager on Iowa State to lose to Texas in the program’s 30-7 win over the Longhorns at Jack … Read more…
Running back Jirehl Brock, tight end DeShawn Hanika, defensive lineman Isaiah Lee and offensive lineman Jake Remsburg have each been charged wih tampering with records as part of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s probe into sports gambling. The Des Moines Register‘s Travis Hines was first to report the news Thursday afternoon. Lee is accused … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State senior defensive back T.J. Tampa has been selected as part of the 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, announced Thursday by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association. Tampa is one of 35 defensive … Read more…
The following is a press release courtesy of Iowa State athletics communications. NASSAU, Bahamas – The Iowa State men’s basketball team closed its foreign tour to the Bahamas with a 79-66 victory over the Puerto Rico National Team Wednesday afternoon at the Imperial Ballroom. The Cyclones held an 18-12 lead after the opening quarter and … Read more…
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, special teams coach Jordan Langs, defensive back Ben Nikkel, and punter Tyler Perkins spoke to media members on Wednesday at the Stark Performance Center in Ames:
AMES — Iowa State special teams standout Ben Nikkel calls it “controlled chaos.” It ensues the moment a football is kicked or punted and he and his teammates descend downfield like an avalanche, or herd of wild horses, or raptors zeroing in on their prey. “It is crazy because you’re running full speed right into … Read more…
AMES — New Iowa State special teams coordinator Jordan Langs joined the program with one simple goal in mind: Be of help, not a hindrance. “We want to be the edge,” said Langs, who is also the Cyclones’ running backs coach. “We want to be the edge in big wins. We don’t want to be … Read more…
Iowa State’s top recruiting target left uncommitted in the 2024 class announced his final four choices over social media Tuesday. Witt Edwards, a four-star ATH prospect out of Wagner, Oklahoma, will now decide between, Iowa State, TCU, Houston and Vanderbilt later on this summer. Edwards stands at 6-foot-5, and ranks as the No. 21 overall … Read more…
Ben Nikkel looks down on the field during Iowa State’s 2022 matchup against Ohio. Photo Courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications Iowa State surprised redshirt senior Ben Nikkel with a scholarship following his senior speech during camp this week. The defensive back has been apart of the program since 2021, after he transferred in from his … Read more…
Iowa State men’s basketball will face off with VCU on Thanksgiving night as part of the ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando. The official bracket was announced Tuesday, confirming the date of the holiday MTE (Mid-season tournament/event). Boise State and Virginia Tech sit on the other side of the pod as the Cyclones and the team … Read more…
In just a few weeks time following Iowa State’s hire of new offensive line coach Ryan Clanton, a common theme arose in what he utilizes with his coaching philosophy. Violence. It’s the reoccurring message that pops up in almost every piece of content put out on Iowa State social media channels, and it just happens … Read more…
Steph Copley and Alisa Woods discuss USWNT’s early exit, the return of Simone Biles, World Cup marketing numbers, and Alisa’s state fair entries.
Iowa State moved to 2-0 in Bahamas trip games Monday with a 78-52 win over BC Zalgiris Kaunas. Tre King led the Cyclones in scoring with 14 points and also added a pair of rebounds. Full stats here: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BBFN/2278066/ Jackson Paveletzke again led the Cyclones with five assists while Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert aided … Read more…
Iowa State kicked off its three-game Bahamas trip slate on Sunday afternoon with a 119-48 win over Lucayans, led by a 32-point performance by Buffalo transfer Curtis Jones. Jones was 12-18 from the field and connected on eight of his 12 3-point attempts during the game. Full stats from the game can be found here: … Read more…
Photo Courtesy of the Big 12 Conference Website. It’s official. The Big 12 Board of Regents voted unanimously on Friday evening to admit Arizona State, Arizona, and the University of Utah to the Big 12 Conference. Here is the official statement from Commissioner Brett Yorkmark: “We are thrilled to welcome Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah … Read more…
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova / Cyclone Fanatic Matt Campbell opened up Media Day with a formal press conference where he talked about the upcoming season, plans for quarterback, and much more.
AMES — “Violence and Versatility.” Those two words form the framework of Iowa State’s first-year offensive line coach Ryan Clanton’s physical and philosophical approach to his craft. They collide and commingle, creating a powerful condition that makes his linemen smile from ear to ear. “I could play right tackle tomorrow and then the next day … Read more…
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell took to the podium at his program’s annual media day on Friday, just days removed from news breaking of the gambling investigation that included starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers. Here’s what we learned throughout the day: On the gambling story, Campbell understandably couldn’t say much. “This is … Read more…
AMES — Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell took his seat and began mentally dissecting what just happened. The date: Nov. 26, 2022. The site: A tarmac in the vicinity of Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The situation: The dam had just burst for the Cyclones after a season filled with … Read more…
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova / Cyclone Fanatic The Cyclone Fanatic team had the chance to catch up with several players for Iowa State at their 2023 Media Day.
You guys probably think that I love this conference realignment stuff, don’t you? I gotta be honest with you. I am not a fan of it. I am fascinated by it. There’s a difference. The mix of sports, politics and the media business is right in my wheelhouse – everything that I love rolled into … Read more…
According to a report from Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, one of the later moves in the conference realignment process has been completed by Arizona. The Big 12 Conference, Thursday, met to approve the application to join from Arizona, according to Dellenger: The move would go into effect to begin the 2024 athletics season, but … Read more…
Sep 4, 2021; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Mike Rose (23) gets ready for the snap against the Northern Iowa Panthers in the first half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports Former Iowa State linebacker Mike Rose is headed to Miami. Rose waded through XFL waters with the St … Read more…
Mar 4, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Hason Ward (24) and Baylor Bears forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (23) battle for the loose ball during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports AMES — Iowa State men’s basketball will set out on its preseason trip to the … Read more…
Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Curtis Jones and Jackson Paveletzke spoke to media members Wednesday in Ames ahead of their upcoming pre-season trip to the Bahamas.
As football season approaches, and Iowa State makes the later additions to its 2024 recruiting class, attention will shift to the 2025 group what the program could be targeting. One area where that becomes more apparent than others is in the receiving corps currently in Ames. The Cyclones have just one wideout committed in in … Read more…
Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard released the following statement Wednesday afternoon: “Since becoming aware of potential NCAA eligibility issues related to sports wagering by several of our student-athletes in May, Iowa State University has been actively working to address these issues with the involved student-athletes. This process is ongoing and will take time before … Read more…
Introducing the newest show to the Cyclone Fanatic Podcast Network – Kickin’ It – with Jeff Woody and Grant Mahoney.
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) looks for ta throw the ball against the Ohio Bobcats during the fourth quarter at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State had a good feeling that it would be without Hunter Dekkers for the majority – if not all of the 2023 … Read more…
Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers and The Weinhardt Law Firm, of Des Moines have released a statement on gambling allegations that surfaced Tuesday afternoon. The entire statement can be read in full, here: “Hunter Dekkers denies the criminal charge brought against him. He will plead not guilty to that charge because he is in fact … Read more…
According to a report by Randy Peterson and Travis Hines of the Des Moines Register, Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers has been accused of gambling on sporting events he was competing in. The report states that the Story County Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint against Dekkers. The accusation says that Dekkers placed 26 wagers … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State senior defensive back T.J. Tampa has been named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The trophy is awarded annually to the nation’s top defensive player. Tampa, a preseason All-Big 12 pick by the league’s coaches, returns for his … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State senior offensive lineman Jarrod Hufford has earned a spot on the 2023 Outland Trophy Watch List, announced Tuesday by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). The trophy is awarded to the top interior lineman on offense or defense. … Read more…
Spots are filling up fast for the August 16 Cyclone Fanatic / We Will golf outing – here’s all the information to sign up courtesy of Brent Blum: Greetings all! Wanted to share some details on the Cyclone Fanatic/We Will golf outing and encourage you to sign up and tell your friends. We will be … Read more…
Jul 21, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The Pac-12 Conference logo during Pac-12 Media Day at Resorts World Las Vegas. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Reports have surfaced about a meeting scheduled for Tuesday amongst the nine remaining members of the PAC 12. The news was first reported by WildcatAuthority’s Jason Scheer stating that … Read more…
The Big 12 Conference and University of Colorado announced Thursday that the program would be arriving to the conference at the start the 2024 season. However, the Big 12 is prepared to add one more team – and solely one more – to put the conference at 14 programs going forward for this round of … Read more…
During a board meeting held on Thursday afternoon, Colorado University officially voted to make the move to the Big 12 Conference, beginning in the 2024 athletics season. “Rick George and I are of the strong belief that a move to the Pac-12,” Chancellor Phil DeStefano said during a live-streamed meeting. “I’m sorry, the Big 12, … Read more…
According to the Action Network’s Brett McMurphy, Colorado’s move to the Big 12 is all but official. The Buffaloes will make a move to the conference they left just over a decade ago to return to the league in 2024, one that has seen a burst of talent and reputation on the basketball court in … Read more…
You don’t hire Deion Sanders as your school’s head football coach if you are ultimately going to choose “academic prestige” over athletics and television revenue. Period. That’s what Colorado did by hiring the unconventional “Prime” to head perhaps what has been the worst Power-5 football program in America, to clean house and help push forward … Read more…
Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, The Big 12’s presidents and chancellors voted unanimously on Wednesday to accept Colorado as a new member to the league. It’s one of the earlier steps in the official moves that are necessary to complete the realignment for the program. Colorado was already a member of the conference, going back to … Read more…
Iowa State earned its latest commitment to the 2024 recruiting class from Texas wideout Brett Eskildsen. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound receiver held offers from Kansas State, Northwestern, UTSA, Tulane, North Texas, Texas State, Tulsa and Western Michigan and announced the news over his social media channels. Eskildsen becomes the 16th commitment to the 2024 recruiting class, … Read more…
Things have started to pick up in conference realignment as of a little after 4:00 p.m. CT this Wednesday. The news particularly surrounds the Big 12 Conference and a familiar program to the league. Per a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Colorado is having discussions about a move to the conference that it left following … Read more…
Former Cyclone and current San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy received surgery over the off-season following the injury he was dealt in the 2023 NFC Championship Game. Today, 49ers GM John Lynch told media members that Purdy is ready to go and will start practice on the field with the team. After injuries sustained to … Read more…
Every college football player goes through weight gains and weight losses during any given offseason. We’re detailing the five biggest number changes from last season to this year all in order for you here. The largest difference came from defensive lineman Braden Simonsen, who redshirted a season ago and will be considered a redshirt freshman … Read more…
Bills right guard Cody Ford (74) blocks Denver defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike (96) as his quarterback Case Keenum looks downfield in the first half of the Bills preseason game against Denver Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022 at Highmark Stadium. Former Iowa State Cyclone Enyi Uwazurike has been suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL’s gambling policy, according … Read more…
Former Iowa State Cyclone Osun Osunniyi is headed to Belgium to continue his career with Limburg United of the BNXT League. The post standout took the final roster spot with the team when he signed on Friday. The team, founded in 2014, was crowned Belgium Cup champions for the first time during the 2021-22 season … Read more…
In a report posted by Heartland Sports, Paul Finebaum decided to take a shot at Iowa State while comparing the Big 12 Conference to the southeastern league he drools over year-round. Finebaum took exception to the fact that so many have suggested Ames, Iowa as a college football destination: “You can’t limp into this league. … Read more…
Dedric Willoughby was the MVP of the last Big 8 Men’s Basketball Tournament. And now he is gone. The news hit me like a ton of bricks Thursday afternoon, like most of Cyclone Nation. Dedric was one of those rare Cyclone supernovas that entered all of our orbits. He was here, he was electric and … Read more…
AMES, Iowa – Dedric Willoughby, an Iowa State Hall-of-Famer and one of the greatest shooters in Cyclone men’s basketball history, died yesterday at the age of 49. A native of New Orleans, Willoughby was the linchpin on two of Iowa State’s most successful teams in 1995-96 and 1996-97, earning first team all-league honors and leading … Read more…
Iowa State’s 2023-24 men’s basketball opponents have been announced officially for the 14 programs set to participate in the upcoming season. The Cyclones will play two-game series with BYU, Houston, Kansas State, Oklahoma and TCU, while facing the remaining eight programs just once during the 18-game conference schedule. Hilton Coliseum will host Kansas, Oklahoma State, … Read more…
Iowa State’s 2023-24 women’s basketball opponents have been announced officially for the 14 programs set to participate in the upcoming season. The Cyclones will play two-game series with BYU, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and West Virginia, while facing the remaining eight programs just once during the 18-game conference schedule. Hilton Coliseum will host Baylor, … Read more…
After being waived by the Dallas Wings on June 28, Ashley Joens is back in the WNBA signing an emergency hardship contract with the Las Vegas Aces. The team is currently in first place in the league standings boasting a record of 19-2 through 21 games so far this year. Emergency hardship contracts are given … Read more…
Jacqueline Cordova photo The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – For the second time in his career, Iowa State wrestler David Carr has been named the Gary Thompson Iowa State Male Athlete of the Year. Carr is the seventh Cyclone to win the award at least twice in his career. Carr … Read more…
Iowa State men’s basketball commit Nojus Indrusaitis announced over social media Tuesday that he would be playing his final season of prep basketball at Brewster Academy. The program has put a multitude of players into the NBA and also produced former Iowa State great Melvin Ejim. The 2024 player is top 100 talent in the … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – For the second-straight year, Iowa State women’s basketball’s Ashley Joens has been named Iowa State Athletics’ 2022-23 Celia Barquin Arozamena Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year. Joens becomes the sixth Iowa State female athlete to earn the award multiple times and just … Read more…
Late last week, Iowa State’s men’s basketball roster got another big addition. Four-star center JT Rock announced he was reclassifying from the 2024 class to join the program a year early. The decision boosted Iowa State’s 2023 recruiting class back into the top-10 nationally and rounded out one of the top classes in program history. … Read more…
Mar 17, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T. J. Otzelberger gestures during the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports Happy Monday, Fanatics! Iowa State’s men’s basketball roster got another major boost at the end of last week when four-star center JT Rock … Read more…
The June and July live periods are behind us and they saw a couple new names added to Iowa State’s list of targets for the 2025 recruiting class. Here, in no particular order, are the Cyclones’ priority targets for the 2025 cycle as it stands. Jamarion Batemon – Guard – Milwaukee, Wis. The 6-foot-3 combo … Read more…
Iowa State has made the final 8 for four-star wide receiver Witt Edwards, the 2024 prospect announced over social media Friday. The Cyclones join Tennessee, TCU, Oklahoma State, Houston, Vanderbilt, Tulsa, and Central Arkansas on the Oklahoma prospect’s latest cut. Edwards is a 6-foot-5, 210-pounder that is rated as the No. 21 ATH prospect in … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger announced Friday the signing of JT Rock. Originally a member of the 2024 recruiting class, Rock has reclassified and will join the Cyclones this fall as a member of the 2023 recruiting class. “We are thrilled … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Hunter Dekkers (12) nthrows the ball against Kansas State during the fourth quarter at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. ARLINGTON, Texas — Matt Campbell had only been at the podium for a few minutes on Thursday at the Big 12’s media day event at Jerry World. … Read more…
ARLINGTON, Texas — What an odd couple of days in the “Big D.” Here we are, about to (somehow) enter Iowa State’s eighth season under Matt Campbell (notable that he’s aging significantly better than your’s truly), and hardly anybody wanted to talk about football with the Cyclones at the Big 12’s annual media day event … Read more…
One of Iowa State’s highly-touted commits in the 2024 class will be joining the program a year early. Four-star center JT Rock announced on Thursday he intends to graduate from high school early in order to enroll at Iowa State this fall. He will join the men’s basketball program as a freshman. This fills Iowa … Read more…
Iowa State linebacker Gerry Vaughn talks about stepping into a leadership role, the young guys in the linebacker room and more.
Iowa State Head Coach Matt Campbell speaks at his press conference on the second day of Big 12 Media Days in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, July 13, 2023. Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell discusses the ongoing gambling investigation, how the team is physically at this point and more at Big 12 Media Days … Read more…
Iowa State safety Beau Freyler speaks on the defensive backfield’s development, how the strength program changed with new coaches and more.
Jul 13, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell is interviewed during the Big 12 football media day at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports The following is a transcript of a conversation about the ongoing investigation into gambling activity in the Iowa State football program between Iowa State … Read more…
Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa dives into the Cyclones’ offseason program and more at Big 12 Football Media Days in Dallas.
Iowa State veteran wide receiver Jaylin Noel updates us on the state of the offense heading into the 2023 football season. What the Cyclones learned from a tough 2022 and more.
Jul 12, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark speaks to the press during Big 12 football media day at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports The following is a transcript of Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark’s annual Football Media Day address on Wednesday in Dallas. BRETT YORMARK: I appreciate everyone … Read more…
ARLINGTON, Texas — For years, Midwest sports writers have traveled to the blistering hot Dallas metroplex in the middle of July, only to leave more confused about the current state and future of the league than when we arrived. The Big 12 has been damn entertaining over the years but despite what anybody tells you, … Read more…
The Big 12 basketball tournaments appear to be locked into Kansas City for the foreseeable future. The current deal between the league and city locks the tournament in place through 2026-27, but Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said there are discussions underway to extend that agreement. “[The 2023 Tournament] was my first time spending significant … Read more…
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark watches a new promotional video during the first day of Big 12 Media Days in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, July 12, 2023. When it comes to potential expansion, the Big 12 has a plan. League commissioner Brett Yormark made that much clear during his annual press conference at Big … Read more…
Former Iowa State Cyclone women’s basketball star Ashley Joens has been named as the first recipient of the Big 12 Conference’s Bob Bowlsby Award. The honor, which was introduced by league commissioner Brett Yormark at Wednesday’s kickoff to Big 12 Media Days, is given to one male and one female athlete from the conference’s previous … Read more…
A trio of former Iowa State Cyclones should grace the TV’s of fans a little before the start of the 2023 NFL season this year. The New York Jets, who have three former Cyclones on their team in Breece Hall, Allen Lazard, and Will McDonald IV, have been selected as the team to follow HBO’s … Read more…
Jul 14, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell is interviewed during the Big 12 Media Day at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Well, well, well… I leave for 10 days and come back to find it’s nearly time to start the football season. The weather over the … Read more…
The following is a press release from the Big 12 Conference: For the first time since the Conference went to a divisionless format, Texas was picked atop the Conference’s 2023 preseason poll as voted on by media representatives. The Longhorns were slotted fourth in last year’s preseason poll behind Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. First-place … Read more…
Iowa State men’s basketball commit Nojus Indrusaitis is impressing the crowd nearly every time he’s on the floor during the Nike EYBL Peach Jam being played in South Carolina this week. Indrusaitis has helped his 17U team to a 3-0 start in the heralded tournament, behind a slew of standout performances. The latest came on … Read more…
Iowa State’s T.J. Tampa was named as the lone Cyclone to appear on this year’s all-Big 12 preseason team on Wednesday. Tampa’s 2022 season ended with 39 total tackles, 10 pass breakups and an interception, each being career high’s during his time as a Cyclone. The St. Petersburg native ended the year as a second-team … Read more…
We’re in the heart of the off-season, having just passed the 4th of July holiday, which means NBA Summer League action is about to kick off again. So far, a pair of former Cyclones have agreed to summer league deals in Gabe Kalscheur with the Golden State Warriors, and Osun Osunniyi with the Washington Wizards. … Read more…
Tyrese Haliburton has signed one of the most valuable contracts in the entirety of the NBA. The former Cyclone has agreed to a contract potentially worth $260 million, that will keep him with the Indiana Pacers for five seasons. The contract averages out to approximately $52 million per year, which is more than the $48 … Read more…
Former Cyclone Monte Morris is heading back to his home state. The Flint, Michigan native was traded late Friday night from the Washington Wizards to the Detroit Pistons for a second round pick. Morris averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 assists per game in the past season while shooting 48 percent from the field. He will … Read more…
Former Cyclone Georges Niang has signed a $26 million, free agent contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Friday. The Massachusetts native is gearing up for his eighth year in the NBA and the deal signed is a three-year contract to play for the team. Niang’s two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers … Read more…
Iowa State’s 2024 recruiting class is nearly complete – at least in the sense that the program has seen verbal commitments from over half of its class, should each player sign their NLI’s on Signing Day. Although, there’s still targets to be had out there throughout the rest of the summer. Emerson MandellIOL, Irondale (MN)6-foot-5, … Read more…
Omaha Biliew and Team USA improved to 5-0 in FIBA U-19 World Cup play Friday, beating Japan 101-65 to advance to the tournament semifinals. The Iowa State freshman tied for a team high 15 points in the game, adding three rebounds in just under 20 minutes on the court. Biliew also tallied three triples on … Read more…
Iowa State football earned not one, but two commitments to the 2024 recruiting class on Wednesday, with the announcement of the Helton twins’ decision. Wade and Brent Helton, a pair of offensive linemen out of Corona, California, made their choice official to join offensive line coach Ryan Clanton in Ames. “It’s awesome (to get to … Read more…
Former Iowa State Cyclone Ashley Joens has been waived in a roster space move by the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. The team announced the news Wednesday, parting ways with Joens, who they selected with the 19th overall pick in the draft this year. In eight games with the Wings this season, Joens averaged 1.7 minutes per … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Jaron Maestas (pronounced MA-es-tas), who has spent the past two seasons as the Associate Head Women’s Tennis Coach at the University of Kansas, has been named the 11th head coach of the Iowa State Women’s Tennis program, Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today. … Read more…
The NCAA has announced guidelines for wagering-related violations by division 1 athletes, with a press released that came out Wednesday afternoon. The release includes penalties that range from betting $200 or less on a sport the athlete does not play to rules on athletes betting on games that involve their own team: For all wagering-related … Read more…
Omaha Biliew and his Team USA teammates are headed to the FIBA U-19 quarterfinals this week, after a 92-69 win over China Wednesday. Although it wasn’t Biliew’s best performance, the future Cyclone’s team is moving on. Biliew finished the game with an 0/2 mark from the field, with one rebound to his name and a … Read more…
Talen Horton-Tucker will return to the Utah Jazz for the 2023-24 season, opting into his $11 million contract option with the franchise. The former Cyclone spent the entirety of last season with the Jazz, averaging a career high 10.7 points per game for the team. It was the fourth-straight season where Horton-Tucker improved on his … Read more…
USA Basketball came out of the gates making shots and never looked back in Wednesday’s 122-70 win in the final pool play game of the FIBA U-19 World Cup. Iowa State freshman Omaha Biliew ended the game with eight points, two boards, two steals and two blocked shots to help his team finish pool play … Read more…
Happy Monday, Fanatics! I’m on vacation for the rest of this week and most of the following, but I still wanted to take the time to write this column to get some thoughts out before you guys don’t hear from me for 10 days. Iowa State released its 2023-24 non-conference schedule late last week, and … Read more…
Iowa State earned its latest commitment to the 2024 recruiting class on Friday in Oklahoma prospect Cooper Alexander. Rated as the No. 5 prospect in the state, Alexander will bring his talent to the tight end room led by coach Taylor Mouser. Alexander chose Iowa State while having other offers from Stanford, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Texas … Read more…
Former Cyclone Osun Osunniyi will be in action with the NBA Summer League next month, playing with the Washington Wizards. Osunniyi is coming off his final collegiate season in Ames, where he averaged 8.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. The Wizards begin their NBA Summer League slate on Saturday, July 8 where they will … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State has announced its men’s basketball non-conference schedule for the 2023-24 season. The schedule features nine home games at Hilton Coliseum. The season opener is slated for Nov. 6 against Green Bay, the first of three games in the first … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications AMES, Iowa – David Carr and Sam Schuyler have been named to the 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America First Team, the organization announced Wednesday. Carr and Schuyler, who were named to the CSC Academic All-District At-Large team last month, both make the … Read more…
San Francisco 49ers quarterback and former Cyclone Brock Purdy is a finalist for an ESPY. The soon-to-be second-year NFL quarterback is among the nominees for Best Breakthrough Athlete at this year’s award show scheduled for July 12 in Los Angeles. Purdy starred at Iowa State from 2018-21 before being taken with the last pick in … Read more…
Tamin Lipsey is already noticing a difference. After only a few days of Iowa State’s summer workout program, the infusion of talent via the transfer portal and a highly-touted recruiting class has made its mark in practices. “They’re all dogs,” Lipsey said of the newcomers on Wednesday. “Everyone’s coming in to compete. No one’s taking … Read more…
Omaha Biliew has a unique opportunity. Last week, the former five-star recruit and Iowa State freshman was named to the Team USA U19 squad for the 2023 U19 FIBA World Cup starting later this week in Hungary. For Biliew, it is an opportunity to play collegiate-level games with collegiate-level coaching before he’s ever even stepped … Read more…
Iowa State point guard Tamin Lipsey and forward Tre King dish on the Cyclones’ first few days of summer workouts, how the newcomers fit into the equation and more in the videos below.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger gives his thoughts on the Cyclones’ first few days of summer workouts, how the newcomers fit into the equation and more.
Iowa State found its 11th commitment to the 2024 recruiting class on Tuesday in Colorado offensive line prospect A.J. Burton. The 6-foot-5, 275-pound prospect was in town over the weekend for his official visit, along with a number of others either already committed or considering Iowa State. “They knew how I was feeling coming into … Read more…
Wade and Brent Helton each visited Iowa State’s campus during the official visit weekend over the recent days and came away with a lot. The pair of twins, who want to play football and attend college together, have Iowa State at the top of their lists after being on campus. “Probably No. 1,” Wade said … Read more…
Iowa State picked up its second commitment to the 2024 recruiting class of the week on Monday when Dyeon Batiste announced he had made his choice. “Iowa state is special and there’s no place like it,” Batiste said. “It’s a family in Ames, Iowa and I want to be apart of it.” The 6-foot-4, 200-pound … Read more…
Iowa State’s 2025 recruiting plan is starting to come into view. Through this past weekend’s live period, the Cyclones have extended four scholarship offers in the 2025 class, and all four players appear poised to become priority recruits for the Cyclones in the coming months. This feels like a good time to reset the board … Read more…
Iowa State earned its latest commitment of the 2024 recruiting class on Sunday, in running back Dylan Lee. The Arizona prospect announced the news over his social media accounts: Lee, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound recruit chooses Iowa State over top competitor Boise State as well as Arizona State, Utah State, Bowling Green, New Mexico State, UNLV, … Read more…
Iowa State has extended an offer to another priority target in the 2025 class. Lincoln, Neb. forward Braden Frager picked up an offer from Iowa State on Sunday. The 6-foot-6 Lincoln Southwest prep took an unofficial visit to Ames earlier this week and was among the targets T.J. Otzelberger watched this weekend in Kansas City. … Read more…
Another player from Nebraska’s 2025 recruiting class is on Iowa State’s radar. Lincoln Southwest forward Braden Frager took an unofficial visit to Iowa State on Thursday. The 6-foot-6 forward has already generated Power 5 interest and will be among the players Iowa State watches closely during this weekend’s live period. “[The visit] was really good,” … Read more…
Omaha Biliew will represent the United States at the U19 FIBA World Cup later this month. The Iowa State freshman made the final roster announced on Friday after spending the last week at the team’s training camp in Colorado. He’s the first Cyclone to make the U19 roster since Tyrese Haliburton represented Iowa State at … Read more…
Photo via Amare Bynum Iowa State has made a strong early impression on one of its priority targets in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Omaha Bryan forward Amare Bynum landed a scholarship offer from T.J. Otzelberger’s program on Wednesday during an unofficial visit to the school. Bynum’s father, Omar, played for Iowa State in the early-2000s, … Read more…
Linkon Cure picked up his second offer of the week after camping with Iowa State on Wednesday. The 2025 tight end out of Goodland, Kansas impressed coaches throughout the night to earn an offer out of Iowa State. “It was awesome, especially with Matt Campbell,” Cure said. “He personally got to know me, and that … Read more…
It is that time of year again. The preseason magazines have hit the shelves and it’s time to react to other people’s preseason college football predictions two and a half months before we’ll have any idea how accurate those predictions are. I went out and grabbed a copy of Athlon so that we can go … Read more…
Iowa State tight end commit Keaton Roskop recaps his experience at the Cyclones’ prospect camp on Wednesday in Ames in the video below from our Connor Ferguson.
Iowa State quarterback commit Connor Moberly recaps his experience at the Cyclones’ prospect camp on Wednesday in Ames in the videos below from our Connor Ferguson.
Iowa State has extended a new offer in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Omaha Bryan forward Amare Bynum landed an offer from T.J. Otzelberger’s program on Wednesday during an unofficial visit to Ames. The 6-foot-6 wing is the son of former Cyclone Omar Bynum, who played three seasons for the program in the early 2000s. Bynum … Read more…
Bill Fennelly and his staff have added another piece to their 2023-24 roster. LSU transfer Alisa Williams announced her commitment to Iowa State on Tuesday. The 6-foot-2 forward appeared in 20 games for the 2023 national champions, playing 58 total minutes and averaging 0.9 points per game. Williams, a native of Denton, Texas, joined LSU … Read more…
Omaha Biliew reportedly remains in the mix for a spot on U19 Team USA. Biliew is one of 18 finalists for a spot on the 12-man roster that will compete at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup later this month in Hungary. Iowa State freshman Milan Momcilovic and sophomore Jackson Paveletzke also participated in the … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State Head Men’s Basketball Coach T.J. Otzelberger has announced updates to his staff for the upcoming season. Stevie Taylor has been named the assistant director of player development, while Brian Pearson and Lavonte Davis have been named graduate assistants. “Stevie is an … Read more…
Iowa State edge prospect Ryan Jenkins took his official visit to Ames over the weekend along with a number of other 2024 recruits – which includes a majority of the committed members of the class. Jenkins, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound prospect out of Georgia was the only defensive line prospect present for the weekend, and his … Read more…
The next two weekends are setting up to be major visit-focused weekends for Iowa State football, with a slew of targets in the 2024 class set to be on campus. Nearly the entire group of 2024 commits will be on campus Saturday. Here’s a look at who’s coming: 2024 commitsQB Connor MoberlyTE Keaton RoskopDL Jace … Read more…
College wrestling fans have yelled their last collective, “TWOOOOOOOO,” after a takedown. Instead, they’ll have to get used to yelling, “THREEEEEE!” On Thursday, the NCAA Playing Rules and Oversight Panel approved several rules and rule changes that could have a seismic shift in the sport of wrestling, including making all takedowns worth three points instead … Read more…
Iowa State earned its ninth commitment to the 2024 recruiting class Wednesday night in Carson Van Dinter, a safety out of Wisconsin set to aid in the defensive backs room. The prospect is expected to play in the middle safety position at Iowa State, following his senior year at Kaukauna High School. “He’s just that … Read more…
After a standout performance during Wednesday’s prospect camp in Ames, Iowa State extended an offer to 2025 wide receiver Keynan Cotton out of Omaha. The kicker for Cotton is that he didn’t even know if he would be at the camp. “I wasn’t really expecting to get offered,” Cotton said. “I kind of signed up … Read more…
Iowa State earned its latest commitment to the 2024 class Wednesday night in Wisconsin prospect Carson Van Dinter. Van Dinter, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound defensive back is the program’s ninth of the commitment of the class. He had interest from Nebraska as well as Northern Illinois, but Iowa State moved quickly after offering him on Tuesday. … Read more…
Iowa State picked up its eighth commitment of the 2024 class Tuesday, as Cael Brezina made his commitment official. The three-star linebacker out of Illinois announced his choice over social media: Brezina picks the Cyclones over Syracuse, Indiana, Marshall, Army, Air Force, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. With his commitment, Iowa State has three linebackers, … Read more…
Iowa State’s third prospect camp of the month of June is set to take place on Tuesday night, where Omaha’s Pierce Mooberry is set to compete.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound recruit holds an Iowa State offer and has been on campus on more than one occasion.
“They’ve been really good,” Mooberry said. “It’s become more of (the Iowa State coaching staff) getting to know me and (myself) getting to know the coaches more, instead of like always talking football.”
As Mooberry has gotten to know the staff, Iowa State has emerged as his top target for the time being.
Mooberry has gone on multiple visits to a number of power five schools in the Midwest, but still only has received the lone Iowa State offer.
“I always wonder, you know, if it could happen today,” Mooberry said. “But at the end of the day, all it takes is one – and I have that one right now.”
The Millard North product is being recruited as both a tight end and a linebacker.
His off-season goals include improving in every aspect that he can.
“I just want to improve my (overall) craft,” Mooberry said. “Maybe it’s pass rush moves or just kind of covering tips.”
Mooberry is set to camp with Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kansas State, Iowa and potentially Kansas as well, over the next three weeks.
Happy Monday, Fanatics!
We’re less than 90 days away from the college football season and rosters are nearing completion as the transfer portal slows down. Teams either are or will be soon returning to campus in order to prepare for the 2023 seasons.
Today, we’re going to take a look at the 12 games on Iowa State’s 2023 schedule and rank the games from least difficult to most difficult.
Let’s get started.
12 – Northern Iowa – Sept. 2Iowa State has won the last three in this series, but it has rarely been easy. The Panthers are expected to be FCS Playoff contenders again, but that isn’t surprising to anybody who knows Mark Farley’s program.
The Cyclones have struggled to own the trenches in these games, so it will be interesting to see how well they fare up front this time under new offensive line coach Ryan Clanton, who came to Ames by way of Northern Iowa.
11 – @ Ohio – Sept. 16The Cyclones dominated the Bobcats at Jack Trice Stadium last September, finishing with a 43-10 win to cap a 3-0 start to the season. Hunter Dekkers was fantastic in that game, completing 28-of-36 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns.
Iowa State is 8-0 all-time against the Bobcats, including one win on the road in Athens back in 2001.
10 – @ Cincinnati – Oct. 14This will be Iowa State’s first date with one of the four new Big 12 schools and the Cyclones’ second trip to Ohio this season. After a College Football Playoff berth in 2021, Cincinnati went 9-4 last season.
The Bearcats are expected to take a step back as they move into their new league and new head coach Scott Satterfield takes over. This will be the first meeting between Iowa State and Cincinnati in football.
9 – @ BYU – Nov. 11This is the early leader for the season’s best potential road trip and has the potential to be one of the league’s best new rivalries. The Cougars have added 20 transfers to their roster this offseason after going 8-5 last year under Kelani Sitake.
8 – Kansas – Nov. 4Iowa State would have won this game last season in Lawrence if only two of three missed field goals in the contest had found the uprights. They probably would have won if Jirehl Brock hadn’t been injured in the game’s opening series, too.
It feels like the Cyclones owe the Jayhawks one, and they’ll try to get them back when KU rolls into town for homecoming.
7 – Oklahoma State – Sept. 23The Cowboys were hit hard by the transfer portal during the offseason, and Mike Gundy will bring his new-look team to Ames for the Big 12 opener. Oklahoma State won this game 20-14 last season with help from five Iowa State turnovers, including three interceptions by Dekkers.
6 – TCU – Oct. 7The reigning national runner-ups will be one of the most interesting teams in the country to track early on in the season. They’ll visit Ames as part of the Jack Trice Legacy weekend festivities, and Iowa State will wear its brand-new throwback uniforms for the first time.
5 – @ Baylor – Oct. 28Five of the last seven games between these two programs have been decided by one score or less, including last season’s 31-24 Bears win in Ames. You can always expect a tight one between these two teams even though Iowa State hasn’t won in Waco since 2017.
The last two games between these two teams in Waco, both Bears wins, were decided by a total of four points.
4 – Iowa – Sept. 9Iowa State will look to defend the Cy-Hawk trophy after its 10-7 win last season in Iowa City. Cade McNamara is expected to lead a new-look Iowa offense that was heavily bolstered by the transfer portal, but how much different will Kirk and Brian Ferentz’s offense really look?
3 – @ Kansas State – Nov. 25Manhattan has long been a house of horrors for Iowa State football, but that changed during its last trip there in 2021, which ended with a 33-20 Cyclone victory. Chris Kleiman and the defending Big 12 champions are expected to contend at the top of the conference again, so this regular season finale could carry some heavy stakes.
2 – @ Oklahoma – Sept. 30The Cyclones will make their last trip to Norman, at least for awhile, as Brent Venables looks to get his program back into Big 12 title contention in his second season at the helm. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel is back to lead what should be one of the league’s best offenses.
1 – Texas – Nov. 18Who knows what to ever expect from the Longhorns, but, on paper, they’ll be one of the best teams in the country, and should have the best top-to-bottom roster in the league. The Longhorns will have to make the trip north in November, and Iowa State has won the last three November games between these two programs.
Former Iowa State linebacker Mike Rose is getting another shot at the National Football League.
The 2020 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection has been invited to camp with the Cleveland Browns. Rose spent the spring playing for the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL.
Two more NFL camp invites.
Two more opportunities.
pic.twitter.com/d5puXLUeWi— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) June 3, 2023
Rose is the second former Iowa State player to turn his XFL success into another chance at the best football league on the planet, joining Hakeem Butler, who signed a multi-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers after his breakout season in St. Louis.
Rose, a native of Brecksville, Ohio, tallied 35 tackles, including 15 solo stops, while appearing in every game for St. Louis as a rookie.
He finished his collegiate career as one of the most decorated defenders in Iowa State history. In his career, Rose racked up 321 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, six interceptions and a forced fumble. His 41 tackles for loss rank second in program history.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and other executives met at the end of the week for its annual league meetings in which details came out of on Friday.
One of the topics mentioned includes that the conference’s 10 member schools will receive $440 million in distribution, or $44 million apiece, but there was far more the commissioner put onto the table.
Yormark said that the Big 12 is going through a brand refresh for the upcoming season. However, it will not feature a name change nor will the logo change.
Brett Yormark on Big 12 branding: "Next year, you will see a brand refresh, which we're very excited about."
— Max Olson (@max_olson) June 2, 2023
With ongoing talks of expansion between a number of programs around the country, it was expected that had any school been close to making a change official, that the league would hold a vote.
No vote was held, although, the executives in the room did discuss situations around expansion and what makes a good fit for the conference.
Brett Yormark on #Big12expansion: “We have guiding principles we think about expansion… at the top is the academic alignment and the leadership and the cultural fit and the geography and the athletic performance and the upside.” pic.twitter.com/bTy3gnXr97
— Heartland College Sports (@Heartland_CS) June 2, 2023
Yormark expended on it further, saying that if an opportunity presents itself ‘to create value,’ then the Big 12 will ‘pursue it.’
Pretty simple. If Yormark sees value, he’s gonna make a move. If he doesn’t then he won’t. It’s been clear that Brett is ok with adding schools for basketball only. pic.twitter.com/1F2c2lec09
— Derek Duke (@DerekDuke25) June 2, 2023
Yormark also mentioned that details will soon be announced to an international strategy in Mexico.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said that they will announce an international strategy in Mexico and address a data rights deal in the coming weeks.
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) June 2, 2023
Things are fluid, and although there were an amount of updates out of the meeting session, it certainly feels like there are more dominoes to fall in the coming months before the start of the 2023 college football season.
Iowa State will hold not one, but two prospect camps on Saturday in Ames with the morning’s ‘big man camp’ preceding the ‘Saturday Night Lights’ session in the evening. Treynor High School standout wide receiver / defensive back Karson Elwood will be in attendance with the overall goal of earning a scholarship down the road. … Read more…
Iowa State will play host to a pair of prospect camps on Saturday that will feature a number of potential scholarship offers being handed out by the end of the weekend. One of the players hoping to earn one comes in 6-foot-7, Illinois offensive tackle Lucas Austin. “The goal is always to pull an offer, … Read more…
Chat GPT is all the rage.
The artificial intelligence technology banned by colleges across the country for its ability to write papers for students has become one of the leading fads on the internet for its ability to rank things.
I’ve seen it rank everything from professional athletes to mascots.
Today, we’re going to put Chat GPT to the test to rank some things connected to Iowa State and the Big 12, then we’re going to judge these soulless computers on their rankings.
Let’s get started…
Stanz: Who are the 10 best Iowa State basketball players since 2000?Chat GPT: As an AI language model, I do not have personal opinions, but here are the 10 best Iowa State basketball players since 2000 according to statistics and expert analysis:
- Marcus Fizer
- Georges Niang
- Monte Morris
- Melvin Ejim
- Jamaal Tinsley
- Craig Brackins
- DeAndre Kane
- Royce White
- Curtis Stinson
- Will Clyburn
Analysis: There’s already somebody out there reading this who is pissed as hell about where Jamaal Tinsley falls on this ranking. It is hard to argue against Chat GPT’s top two of Fizer and Niang, but there’s an argument to be made for Tinsley over both Monte Morris and Melvin Ejim.
All in all, I’d say this is a pretty solid and accurate ranking, though. Tyrese Haliburton is the only guy off the top of my head who feels like he should’ve been included.
Stanz: Who are the 10 best Big 12 basketball players since 2010?Chat GPT: Here are the 10 best Big 12 basketball players since 2010:
- Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
- Frank Mason III, Kansas
- Kevin Durant, Texas
- Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
- Perry Ellis, Kansas
- Georges Niang, Iowa State
- Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech
- Monte Morris, Iowa State
- Devonte’ Graham, Kansas
- Jevon Carter, West Virginia
Honorable mentions include Andrew Wiggins, Trae Young, DeAndre Jordan, Joel Embiid and Taurean Prince.
Analysis: Tough to argue with Buddy taking the top spot, and I’m fine with Frank Mason at No. 2, as well. Obviously, Kevin Durant’s inclusion on the list is suspect considering he played at Texas in 2006-07, and honorable mention DeAndre Jordan played at Texas A&M in 2007-08.
I do have to give Chat GPT respect for having the gumption necessary to list Jevon Carter ahead of Trae Young. That’s something only a true Big 12 hoops head would be willing to do.
Stanz: Who are the 10 best Iowa State football players since 2000?Chat GPT: Here are the 10 best Iowa State football players since 2000:
- Seneca Wallace, Quarterback (2001-02)
- Troy Davis, Running Back (1994-96)
- Allen Lazard, Wide Receiver (2014-17)
- A.J. Klein, Linebacker (2009-12)
- Todd Blythe, Wide Receiver (2004-07)
- Jake Knott, Linebacker (2009-12)
- David Montgomery, Running Back (2017-18)
- Kelechi Osemele, Offensive Tackle (2008-11)
- Enyi Uwazurike, Defense End (2017-20)
- Bret Meyer, Quarterback (2004-07)
Honorable mentions include Joel Lanning, Hakeem Butler, Mike Rose, Jon Davis and George Amundson.
Analysis: Time to get weird, I guess. To no surprise, Seneca draws the top spot. Also not shockingly, Troy Davis comes up in this conversation, because no discussion of the greatest players in Iowa State history can be held without mention of Troy Davis regardless of era we’re discussing.
Shout out to David Montgomery and Enyi Uwazurike for being the only Matt Campbell era players to make the top 10. Breece Hall and Brock Purdy being absent from the discussion is starting to make me wonder if Chat GPT is an old head.
Stanz: Who are the best coaches in Iowa State football history?Chat GPT: Here are the best coaches in Iowa State history:
- Johnny Majors (1958-60)
- Dan McCarney (1995-2006)
- Pop Warner (1895-99)
- Earl Bruce (1973-78)
- Jim Walden (1987-94)
- Matt Campbell (2016-present)
- George Veenker (1931-36)
- Clay Stapleton (1949-57)
- Paul Rhoads (2009-15)
- Lou McCullough (1928-30)
Analysis: Everything about this list makes me laugh. I’d expect to see it from someone who is 27 beers deep after watching Iowa State lose a close one to a Big 12 rival and now they’re convinced Matt Campbell needs to be fired.
The thread on the Cyclone Fanatic message boards would be titled, “Are we sure Campbell’s worth the hype?” The entire post would be, “I’ve got him as the sixth best coach in Iowa State history on my list. How about you guys?”
Stanz: Who are the best basketball coaches in Iowa State history?Chat GPT: Here are the best basketball coaches in Iowa State history:
- Johnny Orr (1980-94)
- Larry Eustachy (1998-03)
- Fred Hoiberg (2010-15)
- Tim Floyd (1995-98)
- T.J. Otzelberger (2020-present)
Analysis: I’m sure there are a lot of people who would put Hoiberg ahead of Eustachy on this list. Otzelberger’s inclusion is interesting considering it has only been two years, and I fully expected Chat GPT to put Steve Prohm on this list.
Stanz: Who are the 10 best Iowa State athletes ever?Chat GPT: Here are 10 of the most accomplished and successful Iowa State athletes across various sports:
- Cael Sanderson, Wrestling
- Fred Hoiberg, Basketball
- Seneca Wallace, Football
- Betsy Saina, Track and Field
- Troy Davis, Football
- Georges Niang, Basketball
- Jake Varner, Wrestling
- Bridget Carleton, Basketball
- Nick Weiler-Babb, Basketball
- Martin Smith, Track and Field
Analysis: Okay, the inclusion of the former track coach as one of the 10 best athletes in Iowa State history might need to mark the end of this exercise.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications.
AMES, Iowa – The Big 12 Conference has announced television broadcast assignments for Iowa State’s football non-conference games.
The Cyclones’ season-opener against Northern Iowa on Sept. 2 at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium will be on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ at 1 p.m. Iowa State owns three-straight wins against the Panthers after beating UNI, 16-10, in the last meeting in 2021.
Iowa State’s second game, a home tilt against Iowa in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series on Sept. 9, will kick off at 2:30 p.m. with the game being televised on FOX. The Cyclones are looking to win back-to-back games against the Hawkeyes for the first time since 2011 and 2012.
The Cyclones conclude the non-conference schedule on the road Sept. 16 against Ohio. The game will be televised at 11 a.m. on ESPN2 or ESPNU. The game is the return trip of a home-and-home series against the Bobcats after ISU won last season’s meeting, 43-10.
Iowa State returns 15 starters from last year’s team, eight on offense and seven on the defensive side of the ball, for Matt Campbell’s eighth season at the school.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger amd three players set to join the 2023-24 roster in Ames are headed to Colorado Springs this summer.
Incoming recruits Omaha Biliew and Milan Momcilovic along with incoming transfer Jackson Paveletzke will represent Iowa State at the Team USA U19 training camp.
The camp will provide an opportunity for the players to qualify for the U19 national team, as 12 spots are set to be filled.
Otzelberger is one of four coaches that will be assisting in training camp activities, along with Georgia State’s Jonas Hayes, UNLV’s Kevin Kruger, and Notre Dame’s Micah Shrewsberry.
The camp is set to take place June 11-18, 2023 in Colorado Springs.
Iowa State University Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger reacts from the side line during the second half against Baylor Bears at Hilton Coliseum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune Welcome to summer. Schools are out across the state, the weather is quickly heating up and Memorial Day weekend is … Read more…
Iowa State’s newly named offensive line coach in Ryan Clanton grew up in California, and it didn’t take long for him to find any prospects out of the state.
For twin brothers Wade and Brent Helton, Clanton managed to find two in the same household.
“It’s awesome (to get to be recruited with my brother),” Wade said. “It’s a dream come true and it’s a dream to go play Big 12 or Big 10 football.”
Wade and Brent, a pair of 6-foot-5 recruits out of Corona, Calif. in the 2024 class, have each been targeted by a number of high-major programs.
They want to go to college together, as a packaged deal and had an in-house visit from Clanton in May.
“He was really cool,” Helton said. “We talked a lot about Iowa State and the program that they’re trying to build. He said that he loved our film and how mean and physical we played. We scheduled our visit for June 16 with him.”
The twins were also reached out to by coach Matt Campbell over the phone and have set three visits up for the month of June.
Before visiting Iowa State, they will see Arizona State on June 9 and will then visit SMU on June 23 following their time in Ames.
The pair wants to commit before their high school seasons begin in the fall.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State has signed Clarion transfer Will Feldkamp, a 2023 All-American at 184 pounds, head coach Kevin Dresser announced Friday.
Feldkamp brings big-move and bonus-point potential with him to Ames. The Pinckney, Michigan native was third in NCAA Division I last season with 14 pins.
He compiled a 29-6 record with 18 bonus-point wins and placed seventh at the NCAA Championships, scoring 10.5 team points. His only losses in the national tournament were to eventual champion Aaron Brooks and No. 5 seeded Marcus Coleman.
Feldkamp won the 2023 MAC Championship and went a perfect 11-0 against conference opponents in the regular season.
In 2022, his first season at Clarion, Feldkamp qualified for his first NCAA Championships. He posted a 20-6 record during the year, which included nine wins by fall, and was the MAC runner-up at 184 pounds.
Prior to Clarion, Feldkamp spent four seasons at Northern Illinois. He compiled a 26-14 overall record for the Huskies, including a 9-3 mark wrestling unattached in his redshirt season.
Feldkamp enters his seventh year of collegiate wrestling and will have one season of eligibility with the Cyclones.
Iowa State University Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger reacts during the during the first half against Kansas at Hilton Coliseum Saturday Feb. 4, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune
T.J. Otzelberger is hoping to see his returners make a leap.
Player development is one of the areas where Otzelberger and his staff feel they thrive. They think they’re at their best when they’re helping guys to perfect their craft, and that’s precisely the stage the program has been in since the end of last season and ahead of the entire team’s return to campus next month.
“We take a lot of pride in our program with player development,” Otzelberger said on Wednesday during a Cyclone Tailgate Tour stop in Des Moines. “We feel like that’s something we really hang our hat on. For those guys coming back, Rob (Jones) is entering his third year with the program, Tre (King)‘s been with us for two and a half years, and Hason (Ward), Tamin (Lipsey) and Demarion (Watson) going into their second year, we’ve seen guys take a big jump.”
One of the examples of the leap Otzelberger hopes to see from his returners is Gabe Kalscheur, who went from an inconsistent role player first at Minnesota then in year one at Iowa State before earning a second-team All-Big 12 selection this past season.
He saw it from Jones, too, who doubled his scoring average and saw increases across nearly every major statistical category between 2021-22 and 2022-23.
“That was something Gabe Kalscheur did from his first year to his second year,” Otzelberger said. “I think we saw Rob make progress from year one to year two. We know he can do more now.”
Otzelberger noted that he’s seen great progress during the spring from Ward, which backs up what associate head coach Kyle Green told me last week during a Tailgate Tour stop in Paton.
The 6-foot-9 center from Barbados averaged 2.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in 23 appearances for the Cyclones this past season but did so after spending the entire summer in his home country while working through visa issues.
Now, they’re starting to see some of the skills that made him a first-team A-10 All-Defense selection at VCU in 2020-21 shine through.
“Hason Ward had a really terrific spring,” Otzelberger said. “Made some great strides.”
Perhaps the most intriguing year one to year two leap to track will be that of Lipsey, the sophomore point guard who stuck out as a freshman after arriving on campus expecting to come off the bench.
Otzelberger said Lipsey continues to work on his shooting while also stepping out as more of a vocal leader within the program. The head coach hopes to see more of that leadership, especially from Lipsey and King.
“Tamin and Tre are guys we see as leaders,” Otzelberger said. “Tamin can be more vocal and he’s worked on his shooting.”
Watson will be another one who is interesting to track, especially from a physical standpoint, as he gets his second college offseason in the weight room under his belt. He has as much potential as any of the returners if he’s able to develop at a strong rate.
” For Demarion, we saw flashes from him last year,” Otzelberger said. “All five guys, we’re excited about the progress they’re going to make through the summer and into next season.”
Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly addressed media members at the final stop of the Tailgate Tour on Wednesday.
Iowa State Wrestling’s Kevin Dresser and Yonger Bastida detailed their summers during the final stop of Iowa State’s Tailgate Tour:
Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger spoke to media members at the final Tailgate Tour stop.
Former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton will be the honorary pace car driver for Sunday’s 107th Indianapolis 500, the series announced Wednesday.
Getting Revved up for the #Indy500. @TyHaliburton22 will lead the field to green in the 2023 @TeamChevy Corvette Z06 hardtop convertible to start the 107th #Indy500. pic.twitter.com/mYeKqP4ztG
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) May 24, 2023
Haliburton, who made his first NBA All-Star game with the Pacers this season, has made a splash in the state which undoubtedly helped aid in his selection.
Fans wanting to see Haliburton at the front of the 33-car field can see all of the action beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday on NBC.
Iowa State earned a commitment from Butte College transfer Tanner Hughes, which was first reported by Rivals’ Bill Seals, on Tuesday.
It makes him the fourth scholarship quarterback on the roster for newly named offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
The Cyclones originally offered Hughes Saturday and the California school transfer will join the room this summer.
Super excited to receive an offer from Iowa State University!! @CoachNateISU @Coach_Hays2 @Coach_Snelling pic.twitter.com/anc06dw2yE
— Tanner Hughes (@_thughy7) May 20, 2023
Hughes’ highlights from the past season can be seen here: http://www.hudl.com/video/3/12694868/61b24ec517635008a48fa101
During the 2022 season at Butte, Hughes finished with 32 touchdowns and 2,193 yards with a 60 percent completion rate and just three interceptions.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach Kevin Dresser announced the addition of Sam Schuyler to his 2023-24 staff as a graduate assistant Monday afternoon.
“Sam sets a great example in the wrestling room for how our guys should go about their business and we are so excited to keep him in the program,” Dresser said. “He will work towards his master’s degree while continuing his wrestling career at the international level.”
Schuyler spent his final two collegiate seasons at Iowa State following three years at Buffalo. The heavyweight finished his career with a 70-35 record, including a 37-13 mark as a Cyclone, and as a three-time NCAA Qualifier.ADVERTISING
After going 0-2 at the 2022 NCAA Championships, Schuyler devoted his offseason to the weight room and perfecting his craft. The improvement was noticeable in his final season.
In 2022-23, Schuyler wrestled to a 20-5 record with 12 wins over ranked opponents, including seven ranked in the top 15. None of his five losses came against anyone seeded worse than No. 11 at the NCAA Championships.
Schuyler battled through injury to reach the blood round (Round of 12) at the NCAA Championships, but ultimately fell one win shy of All-American status. He logged the best conference finish of his career as a senior, placing second at the Big 12 Championship.
He became a reliable anchor to the Iowa State dual lineup. In four duals during the season, Iowa State’s opponent had a chance to win the dual in the final match and Schuyler’s win sealed it for the Cyclones. Most notably, when he secured a takedown with less than 15 seconds remaining to defeat No. 5 Dayton Pitzer (PITT) and win the dual.
Schuyler is currently a resident athlete at the Cyclone Regional Training Center.
He received his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Iowa State in 2022 and is working towards a master’s degree in higher education.
Apr 22, 2023; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders during the first half of the spring game at Folsom Filed. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The dog days of the offseason are upon us, but we still have plenty to discuss in Big 12 country.
Realignment is never far off the brain in this part of the United States. We’ve been dealing with it nearly every summer for more than a decade.
The difference is the Big 12 is in a position of power for the first time, holding cards that allow it to be the aggressor and the pursuer rather than the home of the pursued.
Last week, Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger reported a list of potential expansion options for the Big 12 from a variety of leagues spanning from coast-to-coast.
There’s the corner four Pac-12 schools of Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah, which could be looking for more solidarity and media rights safety than its current league can provide. There’s the Mountain West schools looking to elevate themselves in San Diego State and UNLV.
There’s even the reigning men’s basketball national champions, UConn.
Each school brings its pros and cons, and we’re going to dive into them here. This is the ranking of the teams I’d most like to see the Big 12 poach this summer.
- ColoradoIt’s time to come home, Buffaloes.
Colorado has a long history with Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State that dates back to the Buffaloes joining the Big Eight Conference in 1947. Oklahoma State joined that group a little more than a decade later when they entered the league in 1958.
Those ties lasted all the way until 2011 when Colorado bolted from the Big 12 for the Pac-12.
Hardly anything has been the same since for Colorado.
After winning four Big 12 North titles during the early 2000s, Colorado has struggled mightily on the football field in the Pac-12, compiling a 48-84 overall record and 27-76 record in conference play over the last 12 seasons.
The Buffaloes have gone to only two bowl games in that span, and those were the only two years Colorado finished above .500 in conference play, finishing 8-1 in the league in 2016 before losing in the Alamo Bowl then going 3-1 against Pac-12 foes during the shortened 2020 campaign before once again losing in the Alamo Bowl.
Perhaps Deion Sanders is the man to turn the tide for Colorado in the Pac-12, but those numbers make how glaringly clear it is that the Buffaloes’ glory days in the Big Eight and Big 12 are well behind them.
Colorado’s found more success on the basketball court since moving west, going to five NCAA Tournaments during the last 12 years and twice advancing to the round of 32. The program made the NCAA Tournament only twice from 1970-2011.
A Colorado return to the league would also give it a strong foothold in the Denver television market, which ranks as the No. 17 market in the country.
Is Colorado a perfect addition to the league? I’m not sure a perfect addition exists, but the Buffaloes have history with the programs in the league, bring strong visibility to the league and they bring something to the table in both football and men’s basketball.
It’s time for the Buffaloes to make their way back home to the plains.
Feb 2, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45) and Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd on the sidelines in the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports2. ArizonaOnly one school on this list brings a stronger men’s basketball tradition to the table than Arizona.
The Wildcats have a national championship to their names (1997) and have been to the Final Four four times in program history. They’ve also been to 11 Elite Eights and 20 Sweet Sixteens with 11 of those Sweet Sixteen berths coming since 2000.
The Wildcats are a perfect fit for the best men’s basketball conference in America, and Tommy Lloyd has that program rolling right now with back-to-back Pac-12 Tournament titles, a Pac-12 regular season title in 2022 and back-to-back top-two seedings in the NCAA Tournament.
The flip side of this is Arizona doesn’t bring a ton in the football space right now.
The Wildcats haven’t been to a bowl game since 2017, but went to six bowl games in a seven year stretch in the years prior to their last appearance, so the road map to football success at Arizona does exist.
The strength of the basketball program is enough to make the Wildcats a no-brainer addition if they’re looking to make the leap.
- UtahIf you’re looking for recent football success from potential additions, then look no further than the Utes.
Utah has won the Pac-12 South five times since 2015 and has gone to back-to-back Rose Bowls after winning the Pac-12 title game. They were even on the verge of a potential berth in the College Football Playoff in 2019 before being upset by Oregon in the Pac-12 title game.
Obviously, you have to consider the fact Utah would be joining a league with its in-state arch rival BYU, if it were to make the leap. The possibility of making the Holy War an annual Big 12 rivalry makes my mouth water.
This is going to be a league largely devoid of natural historic rivalries, so any opportunity to add one to the league slate organically should be welcomed. The Holy War would immediately move near the top of the list for rivalries within the league.
The Utes are traditionally solid on the basketball court with eight NCAA Tournament appearances since 2000, but only two of those appearances (2015 and 2016) have come since Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011.
Basketball success isn’t why you’re adding the Utes, though. That would be entirely tied to their success in football, and the idea of uniting the state of Utah as Big 12 country.
Apr 3, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley celebrates after cutting down the net after defeating the San Diego State Aztecs in the national championship game of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports4. UConnWould any of this make any sense on either side? Probably not, but it is okay for a basketball junkie to dream.
Only Kansas would eclipse the basketball resume the Huskies could bring to the Big 12 with five national championships, including the most recent NCAA Tournament, to their names.
The football piece of this equation would be more or less irrelevant. Nobody would care about the fact UConn has been largely terrible at football in its recent history if it meant the league was getting its basketball brand out of the deal.
The issue is just general fit with the conference.
Sure, UConn could make more money, but UConn also is a perfect fit in its current situation playing Independent in football and in the Big East for basketball. In fact, I think you could argue that UConn’s return to the Big East in basketball played a central role in the Huskies’ return to power to begin with.
This one probably isn’t going to happen, and it probably shouldn’t for the health of college basketball. The sport is better when the Big East is good. The Big East is at its best when UConn is good. Its a match made in heaven that I’m not sure should be messed with no matter the potential monetary gains.
- Arizona StateWhen I think of Arizona State, I think of a solid program all-around.
Are the Sun Devils going to move the needle by themselves? Probably not, and they’d need to be bringing a few of their Pac-12 friends along with them, but nobody would be mad to have them at the party.
Arizona State is the guy you invite to the party in hopes he brings a few of his hot chick friends along with him. By himself, he’s fine. Not a bad guy, but not your best friend. If he’s bringing his friends, though, the party can go to another level.
The Sun Devils have been to nine bowl games since 2011 and have had only three losing seasons during that stretch. They’ve twice won double digit games during that period, but they’re generally just a solid football program that has a chance to go bowling on an annual basis.
On the basketball side, they’ve gone to four NCAA Tournaments since 2014, including an appearance this past season.
I imagine most people would want the other Pac-12 schools more than they want Arizona State, but nobody is going to be mad if the Sun Devils are included along with their west coast friends.
Apr 3, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; San Diego State Aztecs forward Keshad Johnson (0) reacts after a play against the Connecticut Huskies during the second half in the national championship game of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports6. San Diego StateI won’t lie, I very nearly put the Aztecs ahead of Arizona State. This just feels like an athletic department that is on the rise.
San Diego State’s run to the national championship game this past March is exhibit one. The Aztecs have had a solid basketball program for more than a decade with 10 appearances in the NCAA Tournament since 2010. They’ve played a significant role in the Mountain West becoming one of the country’s best mid-major leagues on an annual basis.
On the football side, San Diego State has won better than 60 percent of its games since 2011, and has been to 10 bowl games during that span. They’ve also won three conference championships and played for three more.
Oh, and they’re playing football in a brand new stadium. And that stadium is in San Diego, which has to be one of the most attractive untapped cities in the country for a Power 5 league.
I would also like to go to San Diego, and their addition to the league would probably aid me in that pursuit.
San Diego State is without a doubt the second-best non-Power 5 option left on the table for the Big 12 behind only UConn, and we’ve already discussed how realistic of an option that is.
This is the best realistic option outside of the Pac-12 schools.
- MemphisThe folks in Memphis have been trying to get into the Big 12 for a long time. There has to be a reason they haven’t been invited already, and that’s what gives me pause on them being invited now.
I’d argue if we get this deep on the list, then we might be trying to hard to make additions when they’re not necessary. Like Arizona State, I’d take Memphis if other schools were coming along and you just needed numbers, but Memphis by themselves is not a very sexy option.
The Tigers are competitive most every year on the football field and on the basketball court, but neither one matches up with some of the other options on this list.
There are worse options out there, but if the Big 12 were to add Memphis alone, it would feel like doing too much.
- UNLVI guess you get yourself into the Vegas market, but what good does being in the Vegas market do for a league dominated by Midwest programs? Again, UNLV would be a fine addition with others coming along, but nobody should be putting their eggs into the UNLV by themselves basket.
The Rebels don’t bring anything to the football equation, and have struggled in basketball in recent years to the point where I’m not sure how much they even bring on that side of the coin.
Like Memphis, this would be trying too hard.
-
SMUDoes the Big 12 really need more Texas? I rest my case.
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Fresno StateCan you imagine Big 12 teams playing 10 p.m. games on the road in Fresno on a Saturday night? You get some ties in Silicon Valley and a solid football program, but what else?
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Colorado StateThis, like the last four on the list, feels like scraping the bottom of the barrel, and would definitely fall into the category of trying too hard.
In conclusionI think the best case scenario for the Big 12 would be to nab four of the schools on this list and take the league to 16 teams with a solid pod of teams out West, your core group in the Midwest and your solid grouping of programs in the East.
I’d start with locking in the four Pac-12 programs then move on to potentially adding UConn and Memphis if you’re dead set on getting to more than 16 teams. I’d still love to see San Diego State work its way into the mix, though, because that program feels like a real fit in every way if you’re able to strengthen your west coast mix of programs.
Those are my rankings. What are yours?
Iowa State picked up another commitment to its 2023 recruiting class in Auburn transfer Tobechi Okoli on Sunday.
The 6-foot-5, 272-pound defensive lineman elected to transfer away from Auburn after his redshirt freshman season in 2022.
pic.twitter.com/omQHFswiCP
— Tobechi Okoli (@OkoliTobechi) May 21, 2023
Okoli appeared in one game for the Tigers during the 2021 season before redshirting and did not see the field in 2022.
Out of high school, Okoli was a top 10 prospect in Missouri and had seven sacks during his senior season.
He will have three years of eligibility when he arrives in Ames.
Iowa State became the second program to offer 2025 safety Ja’Torian Mack last week, and since they did, three more extended offers to Mack.
That says a lot about where the program is today, but also about Mack as a prospect.
“It feels good,” Mack said. “I felt like (the offers) were going to start coming in the spring, because I’d be able to talk to coaches more. It was better for my recruitment.”
Although Mack doesn’t yet have a rating on 247 Sports, the young prospect played varsity football in the fall as a sophomore.
Over the season, he collected 38.0 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and also a fumble recovery.
His season helped lead the team to an undefeated mark in the regular season.
“I really don’t know too much about Iowa State right now, I’d love to get on their campus, though,” Mack said.
It’s too early to tell where Mack might end up, but Iowa State defensive backs coach Deon Broomfield is the primary recruiter and wants to see Mack improve.
“He just wants to see me progress with my technique and things,” Mack said. “He said that next time he comes up here, he just wants to see me get better. He wants to see me go up, not down.”
Jan 17, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T. J. Otzelberger (right) talks with forward Tre King (0) during the first half against the Texas Longhorns at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State men’s basketball is ready to hit the ground running this summer.
That’s the feeling T.J. Otzelberger conveyed on Wednesday during a Cyclone Tailgate Tour stop in Webster City. After back-to-back offseasons filled with a coaching change then a turbulent player departure, Iowa State has rolled through this offseason with little drama.
“I would say more than anything our roster settled a little bit quicker, which is good,” Otzelberger said when asked about the biggest difference in this offseason compared to the last two. “Our guys know what the standards are. The guys coming into the program have seen that visual picture of the games over the last two years so they have an understanding of what’s coming.”
The Cyclones are currently slated to return five key members from last year’s NCAA Tournament team in point guard Tamin Lipsey, wing Demarion Watson, centers Robert Jones and Hason Ward and forward Tre King.
Those five will be expected to fill leadership roles as guys who already understand and have experienced the expectations of being in the program.
They’ll help bring along three transfer additions in Wofford guard Jackson Paveletzke, Buffalo guard Curtis Jones and UNLV guard Keshon Gilbert. The trio joins a talent group of freshmen recruits, headlined by five-star forward Omaha Biliew and four-star forward Milan Momcilovic, as newcomers to the Cyclones’ program.
“I think it’s also helped guys develop more pride in our program and understand that things we’re demanding of them and the standards that we’re upholding every day are going to pay off,” Otzelberger said. “I think we’re just in a more solid footing as we move forward.”
For just the sixth time this season, Iowa State Tennis conceded the doubles point to its opponent in No. 3 NC State, and it was just enough to close the book on a Cinderella story.
After getting wins from Ange Oby Kajuru, Anna Supapitch Kuerum, Sofia Cabezas, the Cyclones climbed to a 3-2 lead, but surrendered the ensuing pair of matches that gave NC State the 4-3 victory.
The Cyclones end the season with a 21-6 record as well as a 7-2 mark in conference play in the regular season. Both marks are the program’s best ever.
Iowa State’s run to the Elite 8, as well as the Sweet 16 before, both also serve as program bests.
Feb 23, 2023; Seattle, WA, USA; St. Louis Battlehawks wide receiver Hakeem Butler (88) runs towards the endzone to score a touchdown against the Seattle Sea Dragons during the second half at Lumen Field. St. Louis defeated Seattle 20-18. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Hakeem Butler appears to be back in the NFL to stay.
The former Cyclone signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday after turning a breakout XFL season into an invitation to the Steelers’ mini-camp this month.
We have signed CB Luq Barcoo, WR Hakeem Butler and QB Mason Rudolph to one-year contracts. @BordasLaw
: https://t.co/UYFhptGFPX pic.twitter.com/4JkOzsJBI0
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 17, 2023
Butler, a Baltimore native, caught 51 passes for 599 yards and eight touchdowns during his one season with the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but did not play as a rookie then was released prior to the 2020 season.
He spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles then playing in the Canadian Football League before landing the opportunity in the XFL.
That all followed a standout collegiate career in which Butler caught 110 passes for 2,149 yards and 18 touchdowns in three seasons.
Iowa State wrestling coach Kevin Dresser is not one to hold back.
He certainly didn’t do that on Monday during the Cyclone Tailgate Tour stop in Webster City when asked about the newly formed Cardinal and Gold Collective, which will benefit Iowa State student-athletes in the sport of wrestling.
“I’m excited about our folks,” Dresser said. “We got a bunch of people that kind of spearheaded that out of the Okoboji area and it just gives us a chance to to give our athletes some opportunities. We’ve got a lot of big time athletes, we got some big time recruits and so now these guys are gonna get to go out and do a little work and make some money. That’s the college way right now.”
Every common fan knows that’s the college way right now if they follow football or men’s basketball, but the average fan might be surprised to learn how big of an impact NIL has played in wrestling and women’s basketball.
Dresser says he’s seen and heard of numbers in the six figures for a high-level wrestler.
“Really heavily in wrestling. Maybe more than football or basketball in terms of dollars unless you’re Alabama or Georgia or wherever,” Dresser said. “I think in women’s basketball and wrestling it’s really big right now. We’re seeing six figure numbers. I don’t think football or basketball at Iowa State are seeing those numbers yet but they’re different sports right now.”
Ashley Jones has made the Dallas Wings’ opening night roster.
One of the best players to ever wear an Iowa State uniform, Joens was selected with the No. 19 overall pick in the WNBA Draft earlier this year, but that didn’t guarantee her a spot on the club’s active roster.
Now, that spot is secured ahead of Dallas’ season opener against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on ABC at noon.
Joens, a three-time All-American and three-time Cheryl Miller Award winner, averaged 20-plus points in each of her last three seasons with the Cyclones, finishing as the program’s all-time leading scorer and ranking among the top in most every other major statistical category in program history.
Mar 17, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) goes to the basket past Pittsburgh Panthers guard Jamarius Burton (11) during the first half at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
It has been a busy offseason for Iowa State men’s basketball.
The Cyclones have already added three highly productive players via the transfer portal and have one scholarship left open if they choose to use it for their 2023-24 roster. The more time goes on, I find myself more and more confident the staff will just bank its last open spot.
The returning players are already deep into their offseason preparations before the rest of the team will join them early next month.
Things will only keep getting busier as the staff prepares to hit the recruiting trail to continue its pursuit of the next crop of Cyclones, and nobody knows that busy time better than associate head coach Kyle Green.
Green, speaking with Cyclone Fanatic during the annual Cyclone Tailgate Tour yesterday in Paton, said he’s pleased with the way the offseason has come together for the Cyclones, starting with the three transfer additions of Wofford guard Jackson Paveletzke, UNLV guard Keshon Gilbert and Buffalo guard Curtis Jones.
“First and foremost, we wanted to continue to get guys that fit the culture that we have in the program,” Green said. “The competitiveness and the toughness and that defensive minded mentality, but obviously we need some guys that could shoot the ball, right? We needed to add more ball handling on the perimeter offensively and guys that could shoot the ball, play within our system, stretch the floor, and put a little more more space on the floor on the offensive end. I think with these three guys, we address those needs, without a doubt.”
All three guys fit well alongside returning point guard Tamin Lipsey, who earned All-Big 12 Freshman honors this past season while averaging 7.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
Green hopes the added ability to handle the basketball will take pressure off of Lipsey, and allow him to operate in different ways besides always having to handle the pressure of Big 12 defenses on the basketball.
“Tamin’s such an unselfish player and does a great job of getting to the paint and creating offense,” Green said. “One, now he’s got guys to go to that can make it, right? Now, they’ve got to defensively stand close to those guys, which gives him a little more space to operate and get into the paint and play off of him well. It will alleviate some of the ball handling pressure that he was under. Really, he was our primary ball handler last year. Had to play a lot of minutes. That wears on you whether you’re a freshman or a senior. I think we got some other guys that can do some of those things and put him in different positions to be successful.”
The biggest knock on Lipsey’s game at this point is his shooting, which was more or less non-existent during his freshman season with the program.
That will be one of this biggest focuses during the offseason, and Green expects to see improvement in that area purely because he knows Lipsey will put in the work to make it better.
“A lot of it is just putting him in those situations to be successful and develop that confidence,” Green said. “The thing about Tamin is he’s going to put the work in, and he’s in the gym, shooting and shooting and shooting and shooting. That won’t be for lack of effort in that regard. I don’t know if that’ll ever be who he is, right? He’ll always be the kind of a score second, pass first, defend first, create offense and in that he’s got other things offensively that you can’t teach like offensive rebounding. I’m not sure I’ve coached a guard who’s got a better knack for offensive rebounding that can create offense in different ways other than scoring. I think he’s extremely valuable offensive player just not a scorer.”
The Cyclones will also return three of their top four frontcourt options and the staff is excited to see what that group, especially Hason Ward and Tre King, are able to do with full offseason programs.
Ward showed up on campus very late last summer after issues with his visa left him spending nearly the entire period in his home country of Barbados, which Green said has few basketball courts in the entire country to work on your game.
If you’re looking for a returning player with the potential to make a huge leap, that’s your guy right there.
“Gonna be fun to see how Hason after having a whole year in the program, improves and shows kind of what he can do,” Green said. “He’s so athletic. Now, he’s put on some weight. He’s got a better feel for how we want to defend and where we want to go offensively. He’ll take another step offensively with his ability to roll the rim and finish and offensive rebound. Rob (Jones), same thing. Rob’s got to continue to, like we talked about with Tamin, gaining that confidence offensively to be a consistent workhorse threat. He’s certainly got that ability. We’re excited about that. Tre King, again, Tre had a semester, right? He had a conference season. To have him for the whole offseason now, going into next year, get a whole non-conference season under his belt, I think that’ll be a tremendous help.”
Iowa State wrestling coach Kevin Dresser addressed media members Monday during the first stop of the 2023 Tailgate Tour, and spoke about the gambling situation inside his program.
Dresser said he believes it’s a witch hunt.
“We’re in a wait-and-see mode right now,” Dresser said. “I think we’re going to see what we’ve got here and we’re still sorting it out right now. To be quite honest, there’s a part of me that kind of thinks – and I’m usually one that says what I think – there’s part of me that thinks there’s a little bit of a witch hunt. I also know that there’s rules and if they didn’t follow the rules, there will be some penalties.”
Dresser told media members that he’s looking at the situation in a big picture and will cross bridges when they can.
“I know it’s a lightning rod, right now, and we’ve got to get it sorted out,” Dresser said. “At the end of the day, will there be some guys that sit out a little bit? Yeah, there probably will be. But, I also look at it in the big scheme of things – these guys didn’t assault anybody. These guys didn’t get a drunk driving.”
The allegations also come across to Dresser as another unfair standard that athletes in this spot are held to – one that he is passionate about.
“It’s kind of another example of division 1 athletes being held to another standard than the normal college student. The frustrating part to me sometimes is that it sure would be nice if our athletes sometimes could just be college students, because you can tell I’ve got mixed emotions about it. But, we’ll deal with it when it comes along and hey – we get a lot of things thrown at us. They threw NIL at us, they threw (the) transfer portal at us. They just keep throwing shit at us and we figure it out, so we’ll figure it out.”
His full comments can be seen below:
“I’m usually one to say what I think and part of me thinks that there’s a little bit of a witch hunt but at the same time I know there’s rules.”
Dresser was asked today at the Cyclone Tailgate tour about the current investigation into student athletes sports gambling. pic.twitter.com/6nVjx5u03x
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) May 15, 2023
Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell addressed media members on Monday in Paton, Iowa during the annual Tailgate Tour to speak about the program’s potential gambling-related penalties.
Campbell will cross that bridge when his group needs to.
“We’ll just deal with whatever comes our way,” Campbell said. “Really, we don’t know a whole lot, and at least what we do know, I don’t know if it has a profound effect one way or another – and, you know, it’s part of college athletics in today’s world.”
The concerns arose after Iowa State released a statement saying 15 different athletes surrounding different sports were being included in accusations.
“I don’t even know enough about it to be quite honest with you, and obviously, we’re going to learn a lot about it it sounds like,” Campbell said. “It’s one of those things – there’s rules and there’s regulations and over time those rules and regulations may continue to change in some way, shape or form. But there’s rules and part of (it) is that you have to follow the rules.”
“We had a great spring,” Campbell said. “I really love what our football team looks like coming back and we’ll be ready for whatever comes our way.”
Iowa State earned its latest commitment to the 2024 recruiting class on Sunday in Quentin Taylor Jr., a three-star defensive back out ot Florida.
Taylor Jr. held a number of offers and chose Iowa State over Duke, Temple, Tulane, Washington State and Virginia among others.
pic.twitter.com/tpNaHhBmYQ
— Quentin Taylor Jr (@QuentinT_3) May 14, 2023
Taylor Jr. stands at 6-foot, 180 pounds and is rated as the No. 93 safety prospect in the country.
Sofia Cabezas in action during Iowa State’s 4-1 Sweet 16 win over UCLA. Photo Courtesy Jared Larson, special to CF.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State’s Sofia Cabezas had lost three match points in a row to UCLA’s Sasha Vagramov.
While Cabezas’ match was in the waning moments, Thasaporn Nacklo – Iowa State’s top player and the No. 66 ranked player in the country – upset UCLA’s Fangran Tian (ranked No. 14) – winning six straight sets in the second game to clinch it. It was Fangran’s second singles match loss of the season.
The delay in a match point for Cabezas allowed the rest of the team available to see Cabezas secure the Elite Eight clinching point.
There it is. Iowa State is headed to Orlando. pic.twitter.com/rcD6VRGBDU
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) May 12, 2023
“I know we can beat anyone in the country, Cabezas said after the match. “I’m sure of that.”
The Cyclones started the day with the same mentality and strategy that has allowed it to thrive in matches this season, and for the 21st time in 26 tries, they secured the doubles point again. The team is 20-1 when securing a doubles point and 1-4 when failing.
Iowa State’s No. 2 and No. 3 doubles pairs – Ange Oby Kajuru/Xinyi Nong and Miska Kadleckova/Sofia Cabezas – improved to a combined 30-7 on the year.
“We were hungry and we talked about that – about how our mindsets need to be right going into that doubles (session) and man, did we come out ready to go,” Iowa State coach Boomer Saia said. “Two and three just put a big point on the board and that carries a lot of momentum in these matches. We talked about you know, ‘hey, all we need to do is go win 51 or 52 percent of these points and it’s going to swing our way.'”
The trip to the final weekend of the tournament is something Iowa State has never sniffed before as a program.
“I’m just proud,” Saia said. “To watch a group of special individuals go and put it on the line here in front of 200 people, to go make final site – it’s cool. I’m elated. I’m so happy for our group, for our staff, and for Iowa State Athletics. The vision we had – to see that come to fruition and play and compete for a national title, legitimately. Golly, Im so proud of what this group accomplished.”
That has this group as motivated as any – and they don’t see any reason to slow down.
“It’s another step forward, going to the Sweet 16 – where we’ve never been, and now to the Elite 8,” Saia said. “We might as well make a run at the whole darn thing.”
Iowa State will play against either No. 4 NC State or No. 18 Auburn in Orlando on Wednesday in the quarterfinal match.
A win would secure a birth in the final four.
“I think we’re peaking,” Saia said. “That’s what you want. That’s what you preach. Hey, we want to peak in April and May, and this group’s coming together. We’re just finding ways and that’s the Cyclone mentality.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
ORLANDO, Fla. –The 2023 ESPN Events Invitational field was announced today and Iowa State will be one of the teams in the 17th annual tournament. The Cyclones will be one of six teams that played in the 2023 NCAA Tournament that is part of the eight-team field. The tournament will take place at the State Farm Field House at the ESPN Wide World of Sports near Orlando November 23-26.
The 2023 appearance marks the second time the Cyclones take the floor in Orlando, having appeared in 2016. The 2016-17 Cyclones earned wins over Indiana State and Miami (Fla.) to advance to the championship game before falling to No. 11 Gonzaga 73-71.
Joining the Cyclones in Orlando will be Boise State, Butler, Florida Atlantic, Penn State, Texas A&M, VCU and Virginia Tech. FAU, Penn State, Boise State, Texas A&M and VCU joined Iowa State as 2023 NCAA Tournament participants, while Virginia Tech played in the 2023 NIT.ADVERTISING
“With six returning NCAA Tournament teams, the ESPN Events Invitational figures to be one of the strongest early-season tournaments in the country,” said Clint Overby, Vice President, ESPN Events. “We look forward to hosting all eight teams and their fans at Walt Disney World Resort this Thanksgiving.”
Oklahoma won the most recent ESPN Events Invitational in 2022. Previous winners include Dayton in 2021 and 2011, Maryland in 2019, Villanova in 2018, West Virginia in 2017, Gonzaga in 2016, 2012 and 2008, Xavier in 2015, Kansas in 2014, Memphis in 2013, Notre Dame in 2010, Florida State in 2009, N.C. State in 2008 and Arkansas in 2007.
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has a rich history of hosting world-class nationally televised sporting events. The best athletes in the world from the NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS and more have competed at the facility which features multiple venues capable of hosting a variety of events. Within the last few years, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has been used for Major League Baseball Spring Training, the NFL Pro Bowl Experience and the return of the NBA in 2020. The facility and the rest of Walt Disney World Resort connect fans to the excitement in a way no other sports complex can offer.
More information, including travel packages, can be found on the ESPN Events Invitational web site.
Iowa State men’s basketball became the second program to offer Curtis Stinson Jr., the son of former Cyclone Curtis Stinson on Tuesday, joining Missouri.
The class of 2025 point guard is rated as a four-star prospect by 247 Sports as well as the No. 6 point guard in the nation.
Stinson Jr. led West Des Moines Valley, his high school team, in scoring during just his sophomore season, helping his team to a state championship.
Iowa State is expected to target Stinson Jr., and he could end up being the latest four-star prospect to come to Ames in the Otzelberger era.
Former Iowa State linebacker Mike Rose is headed to rookie camp for another shot at making a 53-man roster.
Rose will get a second shot with the NFL thanks to an invite from the Miami Dolphins.
After playing his final season at Iowa State and spending a stint of time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Rose was drafted to the XFL.
Rose finished the season with 15 solo tackles, 25 total tackles, four tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry as he anchored the St. Louis Battlehawks’ defense.
Rose becomes the second Cyclone to sign a rookie camp deal this week, joining Colby Reeder.
Former Iowa State linebacker Colby Reeder will get a shot at a 53-man roster this summer, as he earned a rookie camp invite from the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.
Reeder, who came to Iowa State for his final season of college football from Delaware, made eight starts during the 2022 season and sat out four games due to injury.
He finished the year seventh on the team with 38 tackles including 4.5 tackles for loss.
Reeder led the team in takeaways during the year, finding two interceptions and recovering a fumble.
J.T. Rock, a 2024 Iowa State commit, has been invited to the UA Next Future 60 basketball training camp, set to be held in June this summer.
The camp, which will take place at IMG Academy brings in some of the top prospects in the country to train with one another.
Appreciate the invite for a great opportunity @UANextBHoops @RiseCircuit ! https://t.co/z7lTXu7xFY
— JT Rock (@JTRock12) May 9, 2023
The 7-foot-1 center in Rock is rated as a four-star recruit by 247 Sports and is listed as the No. 12 center in the country by the same metric.
One of the top prospects in the 2023 recruiting class flipped his commitment from Iowa to Iowa State Tuesday.
Cody Chittum, the No. 1 rated prospect by FloWrestling, will be headed to Ames this fall in a move that was first reported by StaleMates.
BREAKING: Cody Chittum has flipped his commitment from the University of Iowa and will be signing NLI later this afternoon to wrestle for the Iowa State Cyclones pic.twitter.com/wAgAMzckla
— StaleMates (@stalematesshow) May 9, 2023
This isn’t the first time Chittum has flipped his commitment, either. He was originally committed to Minnesota in 2021 and flipped to Iowa in June of last year.
Now, the highly touted prospect known for his physicality is headed to Iowa State.
NFL Hall of Famer Paul Hornung was on hand to place the first bet at the new sports book service at Horseshoe Casino. He placed a bet on the New Orleans Saints to win the Super Bowl. Sept. 12, 2019
What a Monday afternoon news drop.
Hours after the Iowa Gaming Commission acknowledged it had opened an investigation into the Iowa baseball program for sports wagering activity, Iowa State acknowledged allegations of its own involving three of its athletic programs.
“Iowa State University and its Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is aware of online sports wagering allegations involving approximately 15 of our active student-athletes from the sports of football, wrestling and track & field in violation of NCAA rules,” an Iowa State release said. “The university has notified the NCAA and will take the appropriate actions to resolve these issues.”
Iowa has since acknowledged allegations of sports wagering activity by 26 student-athletes in five sports.
Now, before we let this turn into a bigger story than it could end up being, let’s lay out some ground information.
Student-athletes wagering on any sport with an NCAA-sponsored championship is against NCAA rules. It doesn’t matter if you’re a football player or a wrestler, you’re not allowed to even bet on The Masters, because the NCAA holds a sanctioned golf championship.
Make sense?
Just because these athletes come from football, wrestling and track and field does not directly matter to their circumstances. These approximately 15 individuals could have been betting on anything, and there are checks in place now that are capable of weeding those things out, as we learned again just last week after the Alabama baseball coach was fired for sports gambling-related issues.
I wanted to get that information out of the way before anyone started to think there was some sort of grand conspiracy going on regarding Iowa State athletics. There is no indication of points shaving or really anything nefarious at all.
Student-athletes were placing bets on sports like millions of people do across this country each day. The difference is these individuals are not allowed to do that while active student-athletes.
The facts are simple… the system is good at catching the people who are doing what they’re not supposed to.
How do we know this to be true? The Alabama coaching situation is exhibit one. The fact the NFL suspended five players for violating their sports gambling rules last month is exhibit two. Today’s information regarding both Iowa State and Iowa are exhibit three.
If you’re betting on sports, and you’re not supposed to be, you’re probably going to be caught.
What happens next will be interesting to track. We might not even get true clarity until the fall once football has to lace up the cleats against Northern Iowa and we’re forced to guess who might be on an NCAA suspension for gambling-related activity.
The NCAA is going to have an interesting situation on its hands with sports gambling being easier than ever and becoming even more present in our current sports landscape.
Will they eventually amend their rules, or will they continue to evaluate every one of these instances on a case-by-case basis?
Things like this are only going to be more common, and you can bet the schools will be doing more to educate their athletes on the dangers of betting on sports in their positions.
Clearly, that education had not been effective enough in at least 15 cases, and now we’re going to find out what the NCAA wants to do about it.
Iowa State has acknowledged allegations of online sports wagering activity by approximately 15 of its student-athletes in football, wrestling and track and field.
“Iowa State University and its Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is aware of online sports wagering allegations involving approximately 15 of our active student-athletes from the sports of football, wrestling and track & field in violation of NCAA rules. The university has notified the NCAA and will take the appropriate actions to resolve these issues.”
The news comes just hours after the Iowa Gaming Commission acknowledged it had opened an investigation into the Iowa baseball team on Monday.
Sports wagering of any kind is against NCAA rules even if it is legal in the school’s state. The rules “prohibit participation in sports wagering activities and from providing information to individuals involved in or associated with any type of sports wagering activities concerning intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competition.”
The NCAA website further reads, “Student-athletes found in violation of NCAA sports wagering rules will be ineligible for competition, subject to appeal to the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement. The appropriate penalties will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on the division’s student-athlete reinstatement sports wagering penalty guidelines.”
Stay tuned to Cyclone Fanatic for more on this story.
It wasn’t until his freshman year of high school that Pennsylvania offensive tackle Michael McMonigle started his football career, but it hasn’t stopped him from gaining plenty of attention.
Last week, Iowa State became one of the 15 programs to extend an offer to the 6-foot-6, 290-pound prospect.
“It’s pretty crazy,” McMonigle said. “I started playing football my freshman year. If I could talk to myself then, I mean, I didn’t expect it to be like this. I’m very happy that it is like this, but it’s really crazy.”
McMonigle’s dad pushed him to try it, which has led to an offer sheet that includes Syracuse, Western Michigan, Army, Buffalo, Marshall, Kent State, Old Dominion, Charlotte, James Madison, Towson, Rhode Island, Dartmouth, Penn and Colgate.
“My dad was pushing me to try it,” McMonigle said. “He just wanted me to give it a try – at first I was nervous, but once I started actually practicing, I really just fell in love with it. I fell in love with the whole brotherhood and the entire idea of it.”
Iowa State was hitting the recruiting trail in the region and stopped by William Penn High School to officially extend an offer.
“They said the offensive line coach (Ryan Clanton) really liked my film,” McMonigle said.
The 2024 prospect is rated as a three-star player by 247 Sports.
Syracuse looks to be Iowa State’s main competitor.
“Some schools will offer you and not necessarily keep in contact and like if a school doesn’t show interest in me, it’s hard for me to really show interest in them. Other schools, such as Syracuse, they’ve offered me and kept in contact and I’ve been up there on campus a couple of times.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell announced Monday that seniors Jake Remsburg and Gerry Vaughn are this season’s recipients of the Nick Bassett Perseverance Award.
Nick Bassett was a supporter, fan and friend not only to the Cyclone Football program, but to the entire Iowa State Community. He had various health struggles from age two until he passed away in January of 2022 at 29 years old.
Nick served as an inspiration to everyone he met. His continued positive spirit, attitude toward adversity of all kinds, ability to persevere through challenges he faced and continued support and love for those he cared about provided an illustration all people can learn from – both in the Iowa State community and around the world. Nick’s life and legacy continues to impact Iowa State’s players, staff, fans and the entire program in tremendous ways.ADVERTISING
The award recognizes two football players annually at the conclusion of spring football practice each season. The players that earn the honor are selected based on exemplifying the characteristics that we remember Nick by: positive spirit, perseverance and selflessness.
Remsburg, a redshirt senior from West Des Moines, Iowa, and Vaughn, a redshirt senior from Atlanta, Georgia, will wear a Nick Bassett Perseverance Award decal on the back of their helmets next season.
Nick Bassett Perseverance Award Recipients
2022 – Zach Ross, Tayvonn Kyle
2023 – Jake Remsburg, Gerry Vaughn
Feb 23, 2023; Seattle, WA, USA; St. Louis Battlehawks wide receiver Hakeem Butler (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Sea Dragons during the second half at Lumen Field. St. Louis defeated Seattle 20-18. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Hakeem Butler picked up all-XFL honors on Monday upon the conclusion of the 2023 season which saw the former Cyclone as the league’s leading touchdown receiver.
pic.twitter.com/OOISDeAYy8
— XFL (@XFL2023) May 8, 2023
With eight touchdowns and 599 yards on 51 receptions, Butler was turning less into more.
His performances during the year landed him a spot with the Pittsburgh Steelers to try and make the 53-man roster come Fall.
Mar 17, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T. J. Otzelberger gestures during the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State has another open spot.
After we all thought the Cyclones’ 2023-24 roster was set, Jeremiah Williams entered his name into the transfer portal late last week, opening up another scholarship for T.J. Otzelberger and his staff to fill, presumably with another addition from the portal.
Williams’ transfer didn’t come as a surprise to those close to the program. There had been questions about how the former Temple transfer would recover from his torn Achilles suffered prior to last season.
Once Iowa State added three highly productive guards from the portal, the writing was probably on the wall. Carving out playing time in the Cyclones’ backcourt is going to be much more complicated than it has been the last two years.
The question now is where do the Cyclones look to fill the open spot?
It wouldn’t surprise me to see Iowa State take its time and be selective with this last spot. The Cyclones already hit on their biggest needs of the portal season, and now they can afford to be choosey.
Expect to see Iowa State become a player in the pursuit of a frontcourt man, but not in the sense of the biggest fish that pond has to offer. Big men across the country are getting the bag right now, making it one of the most difficult positions to recruit in the portal.
For that reason, I’d expect Iowa State to target a developmental big who can help the program more down the road than in the immediate future.
After all, Iowa State is pretty darn set in the frontcourt with returners Tre King, Robert Jones and Hason Ward, plus incoming five-star freshman Omaha Biliew.
Again, there isn’t much playing time left to be carved out here.
That fact is a testament to Otzelberger and his staff’s ability to build a roster to this point. There have been years (usually under the former head coach) where a late defection could’ve sent the entire program into a frenzy.
That is no longer the case.
Late open spot or not, there is no reason to hit the panic button or to make irrational decisions and end up reaching for someone who won’t fit what has already been built in Ames to this point.
That isn’t overly exciting or dramatic from a fan perspective, but it speaks to the overall health of the program going into year three under Otz.
More Musings* Iowa State tennis continues to roll after beating Drake and Wisconsin in the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
The Cyclones will host UCLA on Friday at 1 p.m. at Ames High School for a trip to Orlando and the national quarterfinals. Fans are allowed and admission, at least for this past weekend, was five dollars.
Would it surprise anyone if people were posted up with cases of beer and their grills early Friday afternoon in preparation for the big match?
* The best transfer in the portal is headed to Kansas. Michigan center Hunter Dickinson announced his pledge to Bill Self’s program on Thursday and immediately vaulted the Jayhawks back into the national title conversation.
I’d be surprised if Dickinson doesn’t thrive in Self’s system, which has been pumping out quality big men for two decades. In fact, I’d go as far as to say Dickinson will be a first-team All-American playing for Self.
* Iowa State guard Jaren Holmes took one of his first steps toward his professional future last week during the NTX Combine in Texas. He scored 18 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished two assists during his last game at the event.
I’d be very surprised if Holmes doesn’t have a long professional future, but if basketball doesn’t work out, he could be an absolute star in the sports media world by using his sports media degree from St. Bonaventure.
* The NCAA rules committee proposed further changes to the block/charge call late last week. The proposed change will for defenders to be in a position to “draw a charge at the time an offensive player plants his foot to go airborne to attempt a field goal,” according to the NCAA release.
The proposal comes in response to coaches’ feedback that too many charges were being called in college basketball, and I would tend to agree. The charge has been weaponized with defenses building their scheme around forcing offenses into player-control fouls.
Who knows if the rule will be applied correctly, that is if it is approved by the NCAA oversight committee next month, but it feels like a step in the right direction to preventing defenders from being rewarded for basically being fallen on.
* DraftKings released its initial win totals for the college football season on Friday, and Iowa State’s came in at a projected 5.5 wins in 2023. I thought it was interesting to see new Big 12 members Cincinnati and Houston projected with 4.5 in their first year in the league.
Right now, gun to my head, I’d lean over on Iowa State’s total, but I’d probably only put Chris Williams’ money on it.
Iowa State tennis coach Boomer Saia got to say words he never dreamt he would five years ago on Saturday in ames.
“We’re going to the Sweet 16,” he said in the huddle after the clinching point celebrations of his team’s 4-1 win over Wisconsin had wrapped up.
For the first time in program history, the Cyclones are headed to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
“Maybe tomorrow or Monday or maybe come June,” Saia said as far as when he thinks the accomplishment will set in. I’m going to enjoy this moment and be really present and celebrate this with our team tonight. I’m just so proud, gosh.”
Iowa State came out of the gates hard, clinching the doubles point in a swift 24 minutes.
It was the 20th time in 25 matches this season that the Cyclones had done so.
“I think we were hungrier to come out today than we were yesterday and we turned it on. All three doubles teams showed up ready to play from the first point. That’s something we preach, but to put that into motion – in the biggest of moments in the NCAA Tournament to make a Sweet 16 – wow.”
They finished it out in singles, winning three matches to clinch the victory early in front of a packed crowd.
“There’s nothing like playing in Ames,” Saia said. “To see the hundreds that came out and supported – it’s amazing and they deserved that.”
Iowa State will face the winner of No. 6 Duke and UCLA in the next round, with details to be confirmed later this weekend.
Iowa State has landed a commitment from Dontrell Holt, an offensive tackle in the 2024 class.
Holt, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound prospect, had offers from Kansas State, Eastern Michigan and Missouri State. It’s Iowa State’s sixth commitment of the 2024 class.
The commitment becomes Iowa State’s sixth get for the class, and Holt comes in as a highly rated prospect.
The Missouri native is rated as a higher three-star prospect on the 247 composite scale, and is the No. 63 ranked prospect in the country at his position.
The first college football win totals have arrived via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Iowa State has opened at 5.5 wins for the 2023 season after its 4-8 campaign last season. Only three teams in the Big 12 opened with a lower win total than the Cyclones.
Oklahoma and Texas both opened at 9.5 wins while Kansas State came in at 8.5. TCU, Texas Tech and Baylor all opened at 7.5 wins. Kansas, Oklahoma State and UCF are at 6.5 while BYU’s opening total is six.
Houston, Cincinnati and West Virginia rounded out the league at 4.5 wins.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications.
AMES, Iowa – No. 11 Iowa State handled its business in the First Round of the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships. The Cyclones (19-5, 7-2 Big 12) defeated Drake (16-8, 7-1 MVC), 4-0, Friday afternoon at the Ames High Tennis Complex and Life Time Fitness in Urbandale.
ISU advances to the NCAA Second Round for the second time in school history where it will square off with No. 22 Wisconsin Saturday at 1 p.m.
The victory marked Iowa State’s eighth sweep of the season, its most under head coach Boomer Saia and one shy of the most in a season in school history.
In the win, Miska Kadleckova notched her 28th singles victory of the season which matched a school record that has stood since 1984-85 (Ann Camblin, Kathy Reisinger).
How it Happened
Drake started doubles play fast by winning at the No. 2 spot where Ines Stephani and Oriana Parkins-Godwin upset the Cyclone duo of No. 77 Xinyi Nong andAnge Oby Kajuru, 6-1. Sofia Cabezas and Kadleckova got the Cyclones back in it at No. 3 with a 6-3 victory over Elizabete Klavinska and Rebecca Ehan.
The doubles point came down to tiebreakers in the No. 1 slot where No. 54 Anna Supapitch Kuearum and Thasaporn Naklo clinched the point for Iowa State, 7-6 (3), against Mille Haagensen and Darinka Stepan.
Iowa State is now 18-1 this season when winning the doubles point.
The top half of the Cyclones’ singles lineup then took control of the dual.
Kadleckova won in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0, against Klavinska at the No. 3 singles spot to extend ISU’s advantage to 2-0.
No. 60 Thasaporn was dominant in the No. 1 spot for the Cyclones. She was victorious, 6-1, 6-1, over Stephani to bring the Cyclones within one point of clinching.
After rain moved into the area, the match was halted, and the teams moved to the Life Time Fitness in Urbandale where play later resumed.
At the time of the delay, Oby Kajuru was just two points away from clinching the No. 2 singles match and the dual for the Cyclones. When play resumed in Urbandale, she quickly closed out her match, 6-1, 6-3, against Mille Haagensen and pushed the Cyclones through to the Second Round.
The No. 4, 5 and 6 singles matches went unfinished.
DOUBLES RESULTS
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
1 – No. 54 Anna Supapitch Kuearum/Thasaporn Naklo (ISU) def. Mille Haagensen/Darinka Stepan (DRAKE), 7-6 (3)
2 – Ines Stephani/Oriana Parkins-Godwin (DRAKE) def. No. 77 Xinyi Nong/Ange Oby Kajuru (ISU), 6-1
3 – Sofia Cabezas/Miska Kadleckova (ISU) def. Elizabete Klavinska/Rebecca Ehan (DRAKE), 6-3
SINGLES RESULTS
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
1 – No. 60 Thasaporn Naklo (ISU) def. Ines Stephani (DRAKE), 6-1, 6-1
2 – No. 66 Ange Oby Kajuru (ISU) def. Mille Haagensen (DRAKE), 6-1, 6-3
3 – Miska Kadleckova (ISU) def. Elizabete Klavinska (DRAKE), 6-0, 6-0
4 – Anna Supapitch Kuearum (ISU) vs. Darinka Stepan (DRAKE), 6-4, 3-1 uf
5 – Sofia Cabezas (ISU) vs. Oriana Parkins-Godwin (DRAKE), 6-2, 5-2 uf
6 – Rebecca Ehn (DRAKE) vs. Chie Kezuka (ISU), 6-3, 1-0 uf
Iowa State has announced reserve linebacker Aidan Ralph is no longer a member of the football program.
The announcement came one day after Ralph was arrested and charged with sexual and domestic abuse stemming from an incident between Ralph and his girlfriend late last year.
According to the criminal complaint, Ralph accused his girlfriend of cheating and then shoved her multiple times, including into a set of stairs, which caused her to suffer a stress fracture in her spine. Ralph proceeded to lay on the victim and rape her.
Ralph never appeared in a game for Iowa State in two years with the program and would have been a redshirt sophomore with the program this fall.
Iowa State guard Jeremiah Williams has reportedly entered the transfer portal.
The 6-foot-4 Chicago native originally transferred to Iowa State from Temple, but suffered a torn Achilles tendon during preseason practice last fall and never played a game for the Cyclones.
At Temple, Williams averaged 9.5 points and a team-high 4.3 assists per game. He was expected to battle with Tamin Lipsey for the starting point guard job before his injury last season.
Iowa State has added a trio of perimeter players to its 2023-24 roster over the last month in Wofford guard Jackson Paveletzke, UNLV guard Keshon Gilbert and Buffalo guard Curtis Jones.
Stay tuned to Cyclone Fanatic for more on this story.
The Big 12 train is leaving the station.
If you’re not already on board, be prepared to be left behind.
New league commissioner Brett Yormark’s plans for the conference are starting to come into focus this week after a pair of reported initiatives by the league aimed at pushing the envelope and propelling the league into its next phase of existence.
First, the league floated the possibility of playing football and men’s basketball games in Mexico. On Wednesday, it was reported the league is looking into modernizing its football broadcasts with enhanced access to the locker rooms and sidelines.
The biggest thing I can appreciate about these two ideas is the willingness to try new things. The Big 12 has done too much chasing over the years, trying to follow other leagues and how things are done.
I’m all the way behind the possibility that the Big 12 is going to be the aggressors in pushing change into the medium.
With that said, I think both of these possibilities exhibit the fact there are going to be some hits during this process, and there are going to be some misses, too.
The idea of playing a football game in Monterrey or a basketball game in Mexico City feels like a miss. I understand why leagues like the NFL or NBA would do such a thing when you consider the possibilities of future expansion franchises, but the same logic does not extend to the Big 12, or any collegiate conference, for that matter.
My dislike for the idea is amplified by the reported hopes of hosting a Houston and Kansas men’s basketball game in Mexico. Why in the world would we take a home game away from either of those schools, which each sport one of the best homecourts in all of college basketball?
It would make more sense to me to play a game like Kansas and Houston in, oh, I don’t know, Houston, where it would be a lock to garner an absolutely raucous atmosphere made for television.
Moving a game of that stature falls squarely into the category of trying to do too much.
Now, for the broadcast changes, which would be expected to include access to the locker rooms before and after games, coaches wearing microphones before and after games and in-game interviews, is an example of exactly the kind of changes I want to see from the Big 12.
Those are things that only make broadcasts feel more real for the people at home, even if the interviews and mic-up opportunities can lead to some coach-speak fluff at times.
They’re attempts to take us inside the game, inside the minds of players and inside the minds of coaches. It helps the viewers at home understand exactly what is happening in the game they’re watching.
Things like this increase the entertainment value of games, and, hopefully, in turn, increase the number of people watching the product.
The Big 12 appears ready to swing and miss sometimes in order to hit home runs, though. The league is going to do its best to push this medium forward.
I’m most certainly on board with that.
After a dominant performance during the XFL season, Hakeem Butler is getting another shot at the National Football League.
The former Cyclone wide receiver has received an invite to camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a stellar 10-game run with the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Hakeem Butler from the @XFLBattlehawks invited to @steelers camp#XFL | #LeagueOfOpportunity pic.twitter.com/LE0PQhmGpV
— XFL (@XFL2023) May 3, 2023
The Baltimore native was one of the best offensive weapons in the league, catching 51 passes for 599 yards and eight touchdowns during the 10-game slate. He showed off his big-play ability on multiple occasions with long catch and runs to help the Battlehawks have one of the league’s best records.
Butler was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft after leaving Iowa State following his junior season. A broken hand prevented him from making the roster that season, but he did end with the Eagles, appearing in two games in 2020.
An Iowa State football player has been suspended from the program indefinitely after being booked into the Story County jail for charges of sexual and domestic abuse.
Aidan Ralph, a redshirt sophomore linebacker from Chicago, was arrested Wednesday for charges stemming from a 2022 incident involving his girlfriend. The arrest was first reported by WHO-TV.
An Iowa State spokesman says Ralph has been suspended from all team activities indefinitely.
The criminal complaint says an argument between Ralph and the victim started when he accused the victim of cheating on him. The complaint says Ralph shoved the victim multiple times, including into a set of stairs, which caused a stress fracture in her spine. Police say Ralph admitted to shoving and injuring the victim.
The complaint alleges that the victim asked Ralph to call emergency services, and he declined. She proceeded to remove her pants in order to examine and relieve pressure on her injuries. Ralph allegedly then forced himself onto the victim and raped her.
The full, frankly sickening, details of the incident can be read here.
Ralph, who is listed at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, has not appeared in a game for Iowa State during his first two seasons with the program. He was a three-star recruit out of De La Salle in Chicago as a member of the 2021 recruiting class.
AMES — Before Boomer Saia arrived at Iowa State, the women’s tennis program did not have a single season with more than two conference wins.
Now, in its 50th year – and fifth season of the Saia era – Iowa State tennis will host the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament as the No. 11 overall seed in the country this weekend.
“If I would have told our administration five years ago that in year five we’re going to host the NCAA Tournament, I would have probably gotten laughed out of the room by many (people), even my peers,” Saia said.
The turnaround includes doubling the program’s number of all-conference players, a semifinal appearance at the indoor national tournament, and the program’s best-ever Big 12 record at 7-2.
Hosting this weekend! pic.twitter.com/KtkVp0vVgP
— Iowa State Tennis (@CycloneTEN) May 1, 2023
That’s all happened in the past five years, but it started in Lawrence, where Saia used to wear Jayhawk colors.
Saia began his coaching career on a volunteer basis, in a role he remained in for five seasons from 2010-2014. Going into his fifth year at Kansas, a new coach was hired to take the reigns of the KU program. Saia didn’t know if he would even be retained as a volunteer.
The newly hired Todd Chapman decided to keep Saia on staff, and the two remain friends today. Saia learned under Chapman, whose team has been to five NCAA Tournaments and won the Big 12 in 2019.
From there, he took assistant coaching jobs at Oklahoma, Vanderbilt and lastly at Texas Tech, where he planned on staying for a while.
Then, the Iowa State job opened up.
“I’ve got a lot of Big 12 blood,” Saia said. “I’ve been at Kansas, OU and Texas Tech, so I was very familiar with the conference. I grew up in Kansas, so I was kind of again a Big 12 guy myself. I always knew of Iowa State and felt like there was a lot of untapped potential here. I felt like we could be a program to be reckoned with.”
Saia arrived at his interview with a detailed plan, printed out into a sizeable packet. He can’t remember every detail about it, but it didn’t include making it to a No. 11 overall seed in year five.
“It was probably a detailed plan of how we’re going to get this program on the right path,” Saia said. “From a recruiting aspect, from a timeline – like, I wanted to be very aggressive and not just (say) ‘this is going to be a five or ten-year process.’ Let’s roll up our sleeves and chase it right now.”
“In there, I might have had ‘make the (NCAA) tournament in year three,’ and sure enough it worked out really well,” Saia added.
With the new Bruce McKee Indoor Tennis Complex having been completed in the previous year, the gas pedal was pushed to the floor.
Saia became the new head coach and began his path on the recruiting trail.
“I think back (to that year) and we got a lot of no’s early on in the recruiting process, but man, we got the right yes’s,” Saia said.
Saia faced the limitations that an older Iowa State fan is used to hearing about. It’s colder in Ames than it is in Florida or other warm-climate states. Iowa State has literally no history to prove that its program could be successful, let alone make the tournament. That goes without the battle of finding ways to bring international talents to Iowa.
“We’re not in the most attractive geographical location,” Saia said. “So, sometimes you speak to recruits and you use the word ‘Iowa,’ and it can probably scare some people off. I think we’ve had a lot of success of when people get here and they actually see the people, and Ames, and the campus – they’re really wide-eyed. The key is probably getting people on campus as much as anything.”
Those limitations didn’t hinder Saia – he’s built his roster this season with all eight players being natives of countries outside North America.
“Our philosophy when we stepped in here is, no rock will be unturned and we will look all over the country, whether domestic or internationally, for the best players that can represent our program and compete for Big 12 titles.”
In 2018 – Saia’s first year at the helm – Iowa State was 5-10 through its first 15 matches.
In the final weekend of the regular season, it battled No. 5 Texas to a narrow, 3-4 defeat before turning around and beating Baylor for the first time in program history.
“Man, that built a lot of momentum,” Saia said. “These kids deserved it, they worked for that moment. It was a proud moment. It definitely helps, right, you can sell that in the recruiting process, but more so just for the belief of our kids on that team – that was a big step. The belief is probably the hardest thing to battle and instill in kids I would say.”
Before that, Iowa State tennis didn’t have a single win against a Big 12 Conference foe from the state of Texas.
It just hadn’t been a competitive program.
In 2021, Iowa State got off to a hot start, going 7-0 to open the season.
The team finished 4-4 in the Big 12, earning a .500 mark in conference play for the first time in school history, and knocking off No. 24 South Carolina in its first trip to the NCAA Tournament.
“That was another step that you had to take, and I find myself all of the time talking so much in coach-speak,” Saia said. “You hear ‘the process,’ or ‘the fundamentals’ or ‘you have to take these steps,’ but there is so much truth and I can see why there are these lingo words. If you buy in, and you think that way, and you progress that way as a team, there’s so much validity to it. Yeah, that was a huge step, getting four wins in this conference nowadays… that’s no easy task.”
And………..the 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝟏𝟐 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫@boomer_saia #1PercentBetter | #Cyclones pic.twitter.com/6EW35fCVOg
— Iowa State Tennis (@CycloneTEN) April 28, 2023
Fast forward to 2023, a year where Saia received his second Big 12 Coach of the Year award in three seasons and the Cyclones are solidified as a top 15 team.
But, how are they doing it?
“We put a high premium on doubles,” Saia said. “I always put it in football terms, because my dad always told me, ‘If you want to get good, get better at special teams right away.'”
In the NCAA, team matches start off with three matches of doubles, with the school that has more wins in the best-of-3 series earning a 1-0 lead before singles start.
In 23 matches this season, Iowa State has earned the double’s point 18 times.
“We play a very aggressive brand of doubles, but we instilled those principles, the system and technique in our style right from the first year,” Saia said. “Now, I think you have a senior-led team that knows each other and knows exactly how to play proper doubles. I think we’re reaping the fruits of our labor.”
Saia wants those watching Iowa State to know – they will attack in doubles.
“We will be the aggressor. Our big saying is ‘Go make something good happen, don’t wait for something bad to happen.'”
The Cyclones are finding success in a less traditional way, too.
There isn’t the one-star player that is carrying the rest of the team – it’s almost as rounded as it can get.
Thasaporn Naklo has a 10-8 singles record as Iowa State’s No. 1 option, but holds six wins over ranked opponents and earned her second invite to the NCAA Tournament.
The Cyclones’ No. 2 and No. 3 players – Ange Oby Kajuru and Miska Kadleckova – combined to finish 33-8 on the season, and Kadleckova recorded the most ranked wins of any player on the roster during the regular season.
“I think we are a true team,” Saia said. “Whether that’s our doubles – or (in singles) we don’t have like a top-ranked No. 1 or No. 2 player in the country. We have really, really good players. I think all of our players have the potential to be in the top 125 in the rankings, and that’s the kind of level you need across the board… We have some really good records at certain spots, but you look down through the whole season and there’s been different people stepping up in each match and that’s the coolest thing to see as a coach.”
That recipe and roster makeup provided Iowa State with a run that had everyone’s eyes on the program back in January and February before conference play had started.
Iowa State traveled to Miami to play in the ITA Kickoff – a smaller event similar to that of a college basketball Thanksgiving tournament. The Cyclones took home back-to-back 4-3 wins against No. 18 UCLA and No. 10 Miami.
“Wow,” Saia said when looking back on the 2023 season. “Every year is different and ideally you’re at your best when you have a bunch of seniors and juniors. We came out of the gates and lost a tough match to Auburn, and I was really curious to see how they respond. (We went) to Miami and you beat UCLA – a storied program. Then you play Miami, who might have 10 losses in the last 10 years at home – it’s a snake pit. Nobody goes in there and wins.”
The weekend earned Iowa State a spot in the ITA National Indoors championship, comprised of some of the top programs in the country.
It’s likened to a mid-year national championship tournament.
“Our big (message to the team) was are you just happy making that tournament or do you want to put something together and do you believe we can make a run?”
The Cyclones took down No. 9 Vanderbilt and No. 1 Texas before losing in the semifinals to No. 5 Georgia.
“Beating Vanderbilt and No. 1 Texas there, and have a great, great battle with Georgia in the semis,” Saia said. “Wow, what a run. We just did a really great job riding that momentum and showing up in each match.”
Although Saia and the team take every victory and defeat in stride, the moments pieced together become stepping stones to larger and larger goals.
The team’s motto is ‘one percent better.’
“I think a lot of people might have looked at this job and saw the limitations,” Saia said. “I think your vision has to be stronger than some of the limitations, but you win with people. If you get the right people in here, whether its (associate head coach) Kenna Kilgo or (volunteer coach) Colt Tegtmeier, or obviously the players – that’s where the winning is really done.”
The Cyclones ended their regular season by making the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament for the second time in program history.
“We really wanted – and we were really excited for the opportunity at a rematch with Oklahoma – but we came up a little short against a really good program. What a battle. It was a four-hour match. We finished at 11:00 p.m. and I was really proud of our group. My message to them was, ‘I know it didn’t feel like it, but we did take a really big step in that.'”
Iowa State will square off with Drake (who won its conference tournament) in the first round of the NCAAs on Friday (2:00 p.m. at Ames High School). A win would put the Cyclones into the second round with a Saturday time slot at 1:00 p.m.
Whether Iowa State wins or gets bounced this weekend, there won’t be any deterrent to what Saia has done in five years.
“I think there is no place like Iowa State, right? When you come in and then you build something really special, nothing like that happens. There is (pride in building a program). There is. You stake your career and come into a non-traditional, non-blue blood program and now you’re beating UCLA’s. You’re beating Texas’. This is kind of (my) baby. This is a special place.”
Saia is full of pride for Ames and even used the city’s name as one of his son’s middle names.
If he has it his way, he’ll be in Ames for a long time, and Iowa State fans should feel refreshed knowing so.
“I envision a long, long career. I don’t see myself anywhere else, and there’s so many great things, with CyTown and we’ve got the (facility) and this is really something that you can build upon and make. I think we were missing a few things and now we’ve put those pieces together and this has the potential to be a long-lasting career for me.
“My family and I are so appreciative to Iowa State for this opportunity – it’s been special, man.”
During a town hall zoom meeting Tuesday with Cyclone Fanatic premium subscribers, Iowa State offensive lineman Jake Remsburg said he fell back in love with football last month.
Remsburg, who’s battled injuries throughout his career, detailed a rejuvenation with listeners on the call.
“It was it was awesome,” Remsburg said of the spring season. “Like, I feel like I fell in love with the game again after spring ball like which is like, so important to me. Coming after last season is like kind of a struggle, and like that was rough.”
Iowa State is coming off of a 4-8 season in 2022 and a healthy Remsburg makes the path back to a bowl game more attainable than if he’s on the sidelines.
“And then to just get refreshed with a great spring ball,” Remsburg said. “I could not complain about spring ball at all. But that was huge. My main goals for spring ball was to come back and start to feel like myself again. Like I to be honest, I haven’t really felt like myself since my redshirt freshman year, like I and then in that little part in the 2020 season. In that case, I was still young – I didn’t really have any exposure to an offseason program because we were at home.”
Remsburg discussed his time battling injury, and practicing at that time against a first round NFL Draft pick in Will McDonald IV, with subscribers that tuned in.
You can view the townhall by subscribing to the Cyclone Fanatic Premium Forum.
Former Iowa State Cyclone Georges Niang and the Philadelphia 76ers are beginning their second round series of the NBA Playoffs after sweeping Brooklyn in the first round.
Niang averaged 4.3 points per game during the first round on 15.5 minutes on the court.
Niang and the sixers will take on the Boston Celtics in a seven game series that starts Monday night, with a trip to the Eastern Conference finals on the line.
Below is the schedule for the series.
NBA Playoff Schedule – former Cyclone Georges Niang
all times CST
Mon. May 1 | Game 1 @ Boston (6:30 p.m. TNT)
Wed. May 3 | Game 2 @ Boston (7:00 p.m. TNT)
Fri. May 5 | Game 3 vs. Boston (6:30 p.m. ESPN)
Sun. May 7 | Game 4 vs. Boston (2:30 p.m. ESPN)
Tues. May 9 | Game 5 @ Boston (TBD TNT)
Thurs. May 11 | Game 6 vs. Boston (TBD ESPN)
Sun. May 14 | Game 7* @ Boston (TBD)
Feb 27, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Bob Huggins watches his team play against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
April is in the rearview mirror and we’re full head of steam into the month of May.
The last six weeks in the college basketball transfer portal have been a whirlwind, and there are still things left to shake out, but we’re starting to see the majority of rosters come together in their nearly final form.
That’s why this feels like a good time to dive into the Big 12 teams and all of their transfer additions to this point. The following rankings come from On3, which has a full team transfer class ranking, but we’ve only pulled 11 of the teams for this exercise as Kansas State, BYU and UCF are all yet to take a transfer in this cycle.
Still, here are the top transfer classes in the Big 12, a breakdown of each addition and some analysis from your’s truly on each group.
- West VirginiaRaeQuan Battle – First-team All-Big Sky in 2022-23, 2023 Big Sky Tournament MVP
Started his career at Washington before transferring to Montana State. Averaged 17.7 points, shot 52.3 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from 3-point range and 83.3 percent from the free throw line. Bucket getter who carried a significant load for a team that made the NCAA Tournament. Rated as the No. 41 transfer in the portal.
Jesse Edwards – Third-team All-ACC in 2022-23, ACC All-Defense
Considered one of the best big men to enter the portal, the 6-foot-11 IMG Academy product averaged 14.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game this past season for Syracuse. Averaged nearly three blocks per game each of the last two seasons. Rated as the No. 13 transfer in the portal by On3.
Kerr Kriisa – One of the best playmakers and sharpshooters in the portal
Led the Pac-12 in assists in 2021-22 then finished second in 2022-23. Led the league with 5.1 assists per game as a junior this past season while adding 9.9 points per game. Shot 39.4 percent from 3-point range in 2022-23 after knocking down 40.8 percent in 2021-22. Rated as the No. 16 transfer in the portal by On3.
Jose Perez – First-team All-MAAC in 2021-22, Preseason MAAC Player of the Year in 2022-23
Sat out last season after transferring to West Virginia at semester after his coach was fired weeks before the season at Manhattan. Averaged 18.9 points, 4.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game in 2021-22. Played 2020-21 at Marquette and appeared in only 10 games. Averaged 15-plus points per game as a freshman and sophomore at Gardner Webb.
Stanz’s Stance: Nobody in the league reloaded their roster quite like Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers. West Virginia added impact players at every level of the court in Arizona point guard Kerr Kriisa, Montana State combo guard RaeQuan Battle, Syracuse center Jesse Edwards and Manhattan swingman Jose Perez. Any questions about Huggins’ ability to thrive in today’s college basketball climate have been answered.
Mar 16, 2023; Orlando, FL, USA; Oral Roberts Golden Eagles guard Max Abmas (3) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-USA TODAY Sports2. TexasMax Abmas – Two-time Summit League Player of the Year, three-time first-team All-Summit
If there’s a better pure scorer in the portal, I haven’t found him. Abmas has been one of the best scorers in college basketball each of the last three seasons, averaging 20-plus points in each for Oral Roberts. He burst onto the scene while helping Oral Roberts reach the Sweet 16 in 2021. Rated as the No. 2 transfer in the portal by On3. Rodney Terry has his replacement for Marcus Carr.
Kadin Shedrick – Experienced Power 5 big man
Shedrick’s numbers don’t leap off the page as he averaged 6.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game this past season for the Cavaliers, but big men with Power 5 experience are always going to be highly valuable in the portal. He’s rated as the No. 40 transfer in the class by On3.
Stanz’s Stance: The addition of Max Abmas could be one of the most impactful of the transfer season. He’ll immediately slide into the role vacated by Marcus Carr and fit well alongside Tyrese Hunter, assuming Hunter elects to return to school next season after testing the NBA Draft waters. Shedrick adds depth to the Longhorn frontline alongside returning breakout star Dylan Disu.
- Iowa StateJackson Paveletzke – 2022-23 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year
High-level scorer at all three levels of the court averaged 15.1 points with 49 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3-point range and 84 percent from the free throw line shooting splits as a freshman this past season. Added 3.7 assists per game so he has some playmaking ability as well. Three years of eligibility remaining. Rated as the No. 25 transfer in the portal by On3.
Keshon Gilbert – High-level two-way player with elite speed
Gilbert brings a level of speed and athleticism desperately needed in the Iowa State backcourt. He averaged 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game this past season for the Runnin’ Rebels after originally committing to T.J. Otzelberger when he was the head coach in Vegas. Rated as the No. 17 transfer in the portal by On3.
Curtis Jones – Third-team All-MAC in 2022-23
Jones had a breakout season this past year by averaging 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game for the Bulls while shooting 47 percent from the field, 36 percent from deep and 78 percent from the free throw line. The 6-foot-5 Minneapolis native started his career at Indian Hills Community College.
Stanz’s Stance: T.J. Otzelberger and his staff located a need on their roster, and hit that need hard, adding three high-level scorers and playmakers to the backcourt. All three players will fit nicely alongside returning point guard Tamin Lipsey while also bringing additional playmaking to relieve some of the ball-handling pressure off Lipsey’s shoulders. The Cyclones will have their most talented team — on paper — of the Otzelberger era to this point next season.
- CincinnatiC.J. Fredrick – 2019-20 Big Ten All-Freshman
Fredrick emerged as one of the best sharpshooters in the country during his freshman and sophomore seasons at Iowa, shooting better than 45 percent from 3-point range in each season. He transferred to Kentucky then sat out all but one game of the 2021-22 season due to injury then played in 27 games, starting 15, for the Wildcats this past year, but shot only 32 percent from deep. It will be interesting to see if a return to his hometown of Cincinnati helps him get back to his old form.
Jamille Reynolds – Impact forward with nearly 70 career games under his belt
Reynolds was a role player during two seasons at UCF to start his career then transferred to Temple and had a breakout 2022-23, averaging 10.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Owls while shooting better than 60 percent from the floor.
Stanz’s Stance: I’m not as familiar with Cincinnati’s roster due to their recent addition to the league, but this transfer class feels like it will be judged on Fredrick’s ability to get back to the level of play he put on display at Iowa. If he does, the Bearcats will have added one of the highest-impact shooters available in the portal. If he doesn’t, this transfer cycle will have been a dud for Wes Miller and Co.
- HoustonLJ Cryer – Third-team All-Big 12 in 2022-23, 2021 national champion
One of a couple in-conference transfers in the league this year, Cryer was a star at Baylor, averaging 15.0 points and shooting 42 percent from 3-point range this past season. He’ll slide into the role vacated by Marcus Sasser, and I’d imagine will be one of the favorites to earn a preseason All-Big 12 selection next fall. Rated as the No. 12 transfer in the portal by On3.
Damian Dunn – Two-time All-AAC selection
The Temple transfer was one of the most productive players available in the portal after averaging 13-plus points in each of the last three seasons. The 6-foot-5 combo guard averaged 15.3 points with 45 percent from the field, 35 percent from deep and 81 percent from the free throw line shooting splits. Rated as the No. 26 transfer in the portal by On3.
Stanz’s Stance: Don’t expect the Cougars to miss a beat next season as they join the Big 12. Kelvin Sampson and his staff needed to reload their backcourt, and that’s exactly what they did. Houston very well might be a top-five team in the country to start the season, and if they’re not top-five, they’re certain to be top-10 in most every list you find.
- BaylorJayden Nunn – 2021-22 A-10 All-Freshman
Familiar face alert as Nunn was originally committed to Iowa State out of high school then decommitted and ended up at VCU after T.J. Otzelberger took over in Ames. The 6-foot-4 Flint, Mich. native has been an impactful player the last two years for the Rams, averaging 8.6 points as a freshman and 9.3 points per game as a sophomore. He shot 40 percent from 3-point range this past season on 99 attempts. Rated as the No. 116 transfer in the portal by On3.
Stanz’s Stance: The Bears needed to supplement their roster more than rebuild it during the transfer season, but the addition of Nunn is notable nonetheless. This team will be built around returning forward Jalen Bridges and five-star freshman combo guard Ja’Kobe Walter. Scott Drew’s likely to have another preseason top-25 team.
Delaware’s Jameer Nelson, Jr. drives in the first half of Delaware’s 58-54 loss to Drexel at the Bob Carpenter Center, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023.Ncaa Basketball Wil Hens Drexel Bball Drexel At Delaware7. TCUAvery Anderson III – Third-team All-Big 12 in 2021-22
Another in-conference transfer, Anderson has been one of the league’s more underrated scorers each of the past three seasons in Stillwater, averaging 11-plus points each year. He averaged 11.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals for the Cowboys this year. Rated as the No. 99 transfer in the portal by On3.
Trey Tennyson – Two-time All-Southland selection
The 6-foot-4 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi transfer brings even more depth to the Horned Frogs’ backcourt. He averaged 15.7 points per game this past season while shooting 49 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 89 percent from the free throw line. He’s likely to be a key piece of the bench if things shake out as expected.
Essam Mostafa – Impact big man, led the Sun Belt in double-doubles this past season
Jamie Dixon needed to add frontcourt depth after Eddie Lampkin’s departure, and he found it in the highly-productive 6-foot-9 center from Coastal Carolina. Mostafa averaged 12.4 points and 10 rebounds per game this past season while shooting 55 percent from the field. He’ll be a key piece off the bench behind returning center JaKobe Coles.
Jameer Nelson Jr. – Two-time All-CAA selection, CAA All-Defense in 2022-23
Dixon needed to find a replacement for departing star guard Mike Miles. Here’s the guy. Nelson averaged 20.6 points per game while shooting 45 percent from the field, 30 percent from three and 78 percent from the free throw line this past year for the Blue Hens. Rated as the No. 8 transfer in the portal by On3.
Stanz’s Stance: TCU’s projections will hinge heavily on the NBA Draft decisions of Damion Baugh and Emmanuel Miller. If both come back, this team could be pretty loaded. If one comes back, the transfers will see their opportunities increase, and this is a solid class of transfers. Either way, this backcourt appears to be heavily stocked with versatility and scoring.
- OklahomaLe’Tre Darthard – First-team All-WAC and WAC All-Defense in 2022-23
The 6-foot-4 Utah Valley transfer averaged 13.8 points while shooting 43 percent from the field, 36 percent from deep and 89 percent from the free throw line this past season. The Denton, Texas native was also one of the league’s best two-way players.
John Hugley – Productive Power 5 big man who missed most of last year
The Pitt transfer played in only eight games for the Panthers this past season, but he was one of their most important pieces in 2021-22, averaging 14.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-9 Cleveland native will be asked to make an immediate impact in Norman. Rated as the No. 44 transfer in the portal by On3.
Javian McCollum – Third-team All-MAAC in 2022-23
This feels like Oklahoma’s most impactful transfer addition when you consider McCollum still has two years of eligibility left. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 15.9 points and 3.9 assists per game this past season at Sienna while shooting 43 percent from the field, 36 percent from deep and 89 percent from the free throw line. Rated as the No. 101 transfer in the portal by On3.
Stanz’s Stance: Oklahoma’s roster just needed to get better, and I’d say they made strides in that department with these three additions. McCollum will be the most interesting one to watch as he’s probably got the highest ceiling of the bunch.
Nevada forward Darrion Williams (5) drives past Air Force forward Rytis Petraitis (31) during the first half of a basketball game played at Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nev., Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.Air Force At Nevada Basketball 019. Texas TechDarrion Williams – 2022-23 Mountain West Freshman of the Year
Williams was an instant impact player as a freshman at Nevada averaging 7.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 41 percent from the field, 36 percent from deep and 80 percent from the free throw line. Interestingly, he was the only transfer to visit Iowa State this offseason and not end up signed with the Cyclones. Rated as the No. 47 transfer in the portal by On3.
KyeRon Lindsay – Impact Power 5 forward with three years left
Lindsay played in only 10 games for Georgia this past season, but was impactful in his time on the floor, averaging 6.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He’ll have three years to continue growing his game in Lubbock.
Stanz’s Stance: The Red Raiders need talent and they found it in a pair of versatile wings who can do a lot of different things. It will be interesting to see how this roster comes together under first-year head coach Grant McCasland.
- KansasArterio Morris – Former five-star recruit
Another in-conference guy, Morris was a role player as a freshman at Texas, averaging 4.6 points per game for the Longhorns this past season. The 6-foot-3 guard should get opportunities to shine in a Kansas backcourt that needed a replenish.
Nick Timberlake – Two-time first-team All-CAA
Like I said before, Kansas needed a replenish in the backcourt and Timberlake will be a key piece in immediately improving that area of the roster. He averaged 17.7 points per game this past season while shooting 46 percent from the floor, 42 percent from 3-point range and 85 percent from the free throw line. He’ll be the next high-level Jayhawk sharpshooter.
Stanz’s Stance: Nobody in the league stands to gain more from the players left in the portal than Kansas, who remains one of the main competitors for Michigan center Hunter Dickinson, the highest-rated player in the portal this year. As it stands, Kansas has added significant talent to its backcourt, which had been depleted by departures. Failing to add Dickinson could leave Bill Self’s team as vulnerable as its been from a roster standpoint in recent years.
- Oklahoma StateJavon Small – High impact scorer in a shortened season for ECU
Oklahoma State has to rebuild its backcourt, and Small will go a long way toward helping with that process. The 6-foot-2 Small averaged 15.8 points, 5.6 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game this past season for the Pirates while appearing in 18 contests.
Stanz’s Stance: The Cowboys likely have more work to do in the portal to fill some of their needs, but Small is a solid start to rebuilding its backcourt that lost most of its major pieces from last season.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
LAS VEGAS – Three Cyclones finished on the podium at the 2023 US Open in the U20 division at the Southpoint Hotel & Casino over the weekend. Paniro Johnson had an impressive weekend and placed third at 70 kg Freestyle while incoming Cyclones Tate Naaktgeboren and Blake Gioimo found the podium as well. Naaktgeboren placed seventh in 86 kg Freestyle and third in 87 kg Greco-Roman while Gioimo finished eighth in 55 kg Greco-Roman.
Johnson, the No. 6 seed, went 7-1 on the weekend and made a run to the semifinals which included four-straight tech falls to begin the tournament. He fell to No. 10 Antrell Taylor in the semifinals before defeating No. 12 John Wiley and No. 4 Daniel Cardenas on the back side to finish third.
Naaktgeboren began his weekend with a run to the semifinals in the U20 87 kg Greco-Roman bracket before eventually finishing third. In 86 kg Freestyle, Naaktgeboren reached the quarterfinals before suffering his first loss. Overall, he went a combined 9-3 over the weekend with seven tech falls.ADVERTISING
Gioimo went 3-3 in the 55 kg Greco-Roman bracket. He reached the championship Round of 16 before falling to the back side and eventually placing eighth. He defeated No. 1 seed Stefton Douglas, 3-3 VPO1, to get on the podium. In Freestyle action, Gioimo, reached the Consis Round of 16 in the 57 kg bracket. Gioimo, who logged a 3-2 record in the tournament, lost his first match but battled hard on the back side before falling to Joshua Vazquez.
Several other Cyclones competed in the tournament as well. Connor Euton went 3-2 in the 70 kg Freestyle bracket and reached the Round of 32. MJ Gaitan posted a 4-2 record at 79 kg freestyle and reached the quarterfinals where he suffered a close 6-5 loss to No. 1 seed Rocco Welsh.
At 65 kg Freestyle, Evan Frost drew the No. 2 seed Kannon Webster in the first round and fell to the consolation side early. Frost then rattled off three-straight wins on the back side, including a pair of tech falls, before bowing out in the Consis Round of 32.
RESULTS
U20 Greco-Roman
55 kg – Blake Gioimo, 8th Place
87 kg – Tate Naaktgeboren, 3rd Place
U20 Freestyle
57 kg – Blake Gioimo, DNP
65 kg – Evan Frost, DNP
70 kg – Paniro Johnson, 3rd Place
70 kg – Connor Euton, DNP
79 kg – MJ Gaitan, DNP
86 kg – Tate Naaktgeboren, 7th Place
Following the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft, three former Cyclones agreed to UDFA deals with teams in the league.
Linebacker O’Rien Vance was given a rookie camp tryout for the New York Giants.
Defensive lineman M.J. Anderson has signed a UDFA contract with the Seattle Seahawks.
Offensive lineman Trevor Downing has signed a UDFA contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Iowa State offensive lineman Hunter Deyo officially entered his name into the transfer portal Sunday, following the completion of the spring practice area.
As a member of the 2022 recruiting class, Deyo was one of the highest rated incoming recruits, measuring out as a four-star prospect by 247 Sports.
Deyo was in Ames for just one season – in 2022 – where he was ultimately redshirted.
He will have four years of eligibility for wherever he goes.
Former Iowa State defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr. became the third Cyclone drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, being selected by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round.
Johnson Jr. spent five seasons with the Cyclones, starting with his first year on the field in 2018.
In each season, he appeared in at least 12 games, recording 40 or more tackles in all but one.
Johnson Jr. finished with 14 career interceptions, five forced fumbles, and 243 career tackles.
Former Iowa State wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson became the second Cyclone drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday, being selected by the Houston Texans in the sixth round with the 205th pick overall.
During his time in Ames, Hutchinson amassed 15 touchdowns and 2,929 yards as a receiver, including 1,171 during his final season as a Cyclone.
Hutchinson’s stout season also saw him earn 107 receptions, an average of nearly nine catches per game.
Iowa State point guard Tamin Lipsey talked about the trio of incoming transfers on the latest episode of the Corner 3 podcast presented by Mechdyne.
“Yeah, I think it’s gonna be really fun,” Lipsey said. “TJ did a great job. I’m going to get into guys that he wanted. I think they’re gonna fit well with our program and our culture that we’re building. There guys that are going to
work hard. Do whatever it needs to be done to win. I think that’s the main point. TJ just wants dudes that are gonna come in here and compete.”
The Cyclones will see Keshon Gilbert, Jackson Paveletzke and Curtis Jones each arrive in Ames over the summer to get prepared for the 2022-23 season.
“Besides that, they’re all very gifted offensively,” Lipsey said. “So I think that will help us a lot next year, scoring the ball, and then defensively they all have that, that Knack too. So I’d say, you know, they’re, they all can handle the ball well, so that that’ll take some pressure off of me.”
Lipsey touched on the situation that put him in position to be the No. 1 point guard as a true freshman last season, as well.
“I know this last year, I was sort of the main point guard, I would say, obviously, Jared handled the ball also too, but with Jeremiah getting hurt and made it more pressure on us to handle the ball didn’t have a lot of guards that could do that,” Lipsey said. “So next year, just looking to you know, have other guys that can step up and handle the ball and not just have one person you know, that has to run things. So just being able to play with pace and attack offensively, I think that’s what we’re looking for.”
You can listen to the full episode of the Corner 3 podcast here.
Iowa State has an NFL Draft first-round selection for the first time in half a century.
Defensive end Will McDonald was selected by the New York Jets with the 15th pick on Thursday in Kansas City, ending a drought that dated back to 1973 when the Houston Oilers selected George Amundsen with the 14th pick.
McDonald’s name was already etched into the program’s history after he finished his career as the program’s all-time leader in sacks with 34, which also tied the Big 12 career record.
The Milwaukee native burst onto the scene during the second half of the 2019 season after switching to the defensive line from linebacker. He recorded 15 tackles and six sacks, with five of the six coming in the program’s last four games of the year.
In 2020, McDonald emerged as one of the best pass rushers in all of college football, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors for the first time after recording a Big 12-leading 10.5 sacks while helping Iowa State to its best season in school history, a berth in the Big 12 title game and a Fiesta Bowl victory.
He earned All-American honors for the first time in 2021 by breaking his own school record for sacks with 11.5 and recording 14 tackles for loss, which ranked second in the Big 12. He was also named the Big 12’s co-Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Despite facing double or triple teams and being held consistently on a weekly basis, McDonald was just as dominant as a senior even if the statistics don’t reflect that fact. The first-team All-Big 12 selection recorded 36 tackles, a team-high five sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, seven quarterback hurries, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
In his career, McDonald posted 123 total tackles, 42 tackles for loss, 34 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, eight passes defended and one fumble recovery. He played on some of the best defenses in Iowa State history, including the 2022 bunch, which led the Big 12 in pass defense, rushing defense and scoring defense.
The former three-star recruit chose Iowa State over Minnesota and Baylor, then went on to become one of the best to ever wear a Cyclone uniform and the man to break one of the program’s longest-running bad streaks.
All who watched it happen will tell you there will never be another quite like Will McDonald in cardinal and gold.
Apr 26, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) stands in the center of the court after a 128-126 loss to the Miami Heat during game five of the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
This is not a column about the Cyclones.
This is a column about sports, life and a quote from one of the best basketball players on the planet that will hopefully lend some folks some perspective.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was surely heartbroken Wednesday night after his team’s 128-126 overtime loss to the Miami Heat, ending the No. 1 seed in the East’s season with a 4-1 first-round series loss.
Many people would consider the Bucks, the team with the best record in the NBA, coming up short a resounding failure. It would be hard to argue against that fact when talking about a title contender.
The Greek Freak didn’t see it that way, though, when asked if the season was a failure.
“Do you get the promotion every year on your job? No, right? So every year you work is a failure,” Giannis asked the reporter. “Every year you work, you work toward something. Whether it’s to get a promotion, take care of your family, provide a house or take care of your parents, it’s not a failure. There’s steps to success.”
Giannis is outstanding: “There’s no failure in sports. There’s good days, bad days, some days you are able to be successful, some days you are not, some days it is your turn, some days it’s not. That’s what sports is about. You don’t always win.” pic.twitter.com/aTnFpnGtdx
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 27, 2023
This is something I think is often lost in our society today, especially in athletics. I might even say it is lost most specifically in youth athletics.
Everyone wants everything right now. They want the promotion right now. They want to win right now. They want their child to succeed right now. They want their child to win right freaking now.
We too often forget about the struggle it takes to win, the painstaking hours of work it takes to find victory. Wins don’t come overnight, they come in the work you’re doing when the lights aren’t on.
Does that mean you’re going to always win? No, it doesn’t, and it doesn’t matter if you’re Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, Nick Saban and Alabama football or Bill Self and Kansas basketball.
That is the secret these individuals understand.
Success is not measured by the end result on the scoreboard. It is measured by the process you used to get there, and the scoreboard is the ultimate measuring stick of your process.
“There’s always steps to it,” Giannis said. “Michael Jordan played 15 years. He won six championships. The other nine years were a failure? That’s what you’re telling me. There’s no failure in sports. There’s good days, bad days. Some days you’re able to be successful. Some days you’re not. Some days it is your turn. Some days it’s not your turn. That’s what sports are about. You don’t always win.”
What a concept, right?
That’s one of the highest achievers on the planet, an NBA champion, telling you that things aren’t always going to go their way. The recognition of that fact is the only way those individuals are able to find peace in their lives.
Why, then, is it so hard for some others to understand and accept?
“This year, somebody else is going to win,” Giannis continued. “It’s simple as that. We’ll come back next year and try to be better, try to build good habits, try to play better, not have a 10-day stretch playing bad basketball, and hopefully win a championship.”
I hope the young people out there reading this take something away from Giannis’ words and can wrap them into their own lives. The next time you’re lifting weights with your team or in the gym putting up shots, think about the best player on the planet and his words knocking down the walls of failure.
There is no such thing as failure. There is only another opportunity to get back on the horse and try to be better the next day so you don’t get bucked off.
These were important words spoken late Wednesday night, and everyone should take a minute to hear them.
Iowa State earned a commitment from a place kicker out of Nebraska on Wednesday night.
Chase Contreraz announced the decision over his social media accounts:
I am excited to announce that I will be finishing my college career at Iowa State University! I want to thank Coach Campbell, Coach Langs, Coach Grande, Coach Hoodjer and the rest of the staff for this opportunity! I can’t wait to get to work!
Go Cyclones! pic.twitter.com/QJNiv3C9rB— Chase Contreraz (@Dr3amCh6ser) April 27, 2023
During his time with Nebraska, Contreraz was 11-11 on extra points and 2-4 on field goals with a long of 39 yards.
He will have at least two years of eligibility remaining.
Thursday marks the start of another NFL Draft – an event that hasn’t seen a Cyclone picked in the first round in 50 years.
That could change, depending on the fate of Iowa State edge Will McDonald IV. Here’s where McDonald and his Iowa State teammates are slated to be selected in the three-day event:
Will McDonald IV
Range – 1st round, early 2nd
McDonald IV projects as a late first-round pick in the ESPN Staff Mock Draft, going No. 26 to the Dallas Cowboys. Mel Kiper ranks him as the No. 25 overall prospect in the draft and the No. 3 outside linebacker in the entire class. One of the strengths of the Dallas defense is its pass rushing, so it might not be best to read into that as hard for team fans, but it’s a possibility depending on how things shake out.
McDonald IV is one of the best chances Iowa State has had at snapping the drought, now it just comes down to what Thursday night brings.
Xavier Hutchinson
Range – Day 3
Hutchinson is slated as a fourth-round pick but could sneak into Friday with the right circumstances. Iowa State fans know better than anyone that Hutchinson’s senior season in Ames was as impressive as anybody’s. It’s most likely that Hutchinson will be picked on Saturday, but it’s something to watch for on Friday night.
Anthony Johnson Jr.
Range – Day 3
Johnson Jr. is rated as the No. 13 safety in the draft and obviously has experience at a pair of positions on the defensive level. That will be very valuable to teams, especially late in the draft process.
MJ Anderson
Range –
Anderson left Iowa State early to pursue a career in the NFL and could very well find himself drafted on Saturday. He comes in as the No. 249 overall player in the class, so if he’s not drafted, expect a solid UDFA deal to be signed.
Others to mention:
O’Rien Vance and Trevor Downing each appeared in ESPN’s position rankings, set by Todd McShay – Vance is rated No. 335 overall and is the 24th-ranked inside linebacker. Trevor Downing appears as the No. 16 center.
Catch the draft:
Round 1: Thursday at 7 p.m. CT (ESPN, ABC)
Rounds 2-3: Friday at 6 p.m. (ESPN, ABC)
Rounds 4-7: Saturday at 11:00 a.m. (ESPN with ABC simulcast)
Iowa State wasn’t at the top of Tyson Terry’s interest list coming into this spring, but following his latest visit to Ames, the Nebraska prospect says the program has moved up.
Terry, a three-star defensive line prospect, is rated as the No. 2 prospect in his home state.
“Iowa State – just visiting last spring and going up for a game day – they were always kind of in the back of my mind,” Terry said. “I probably wouldn’t say they were one of the few at the top of my list, but after the visit this spring, I would say they’re one of the top schools.”
The 6-foot-3 lineman visited Colorado, Kansas State, Nebraska and Iowa through the month of April.
It appears as though those four programs along with Iowa State are the front runners for Terry, a member of the 2025 recruiting class.
“It’s been fun,” Terry said. “I’ve kind of visited more of the schools I’m most interested in – (places) I kind of feel like I can be at in the future. That’s kind of where I’ve been at in the spring and then, this summer, I don’t think I’m camping anywhere. I’m not sure if I’ll get up for any summer visits, I’m just getting ready for next football season.”
Terry plays both ways at Omaha North High School as an offensive guard and defensive tackle, but Iowa State is recruiting him primarily as a defensive lineman.
The Cyclones first offered Terry in January of 2022, and he’s since grown a little more and impressed on the wrestling mat.
“My weight goes up and down,” Terry said. “I can lose weight and gain weight super easy. Last year I was weighing around 260-ish. Last summer was when I kind of hit that growth spurt – maybe the last one, if not one more little one. I got to around 285 for football. I felt good, not the greatest, but I got to 6-foot-3 and got to wrestling and with working out every day was at 265, so I was pretty lean.”
Terry will take on his 2023 high school seasons with goals of state championships in mind before the push for him really takes off in the spring of 2024.
Former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy revealed on a podcast Monday that he’s been working on throwing left-handed throughout the off-season.
During a segment on New Heights – Travis and Jason Kelce’s podcast –
“That’s all I’ve- yeah, man,” Purdy said on the show. “I was telling all the guys – we just got back today for OTA’s. (I’ve) just been throwing the ball lefty around the house and stuff. (I’ve) got to be ready for anything at this point.”
Purdy helped lead the San Francisco 49ers to the NFC Championship game, before an injury to his UCL dampened the team’s shot to ride the rookie to the Super Bowl.
The former Cyclone is preparing for his sophomore season in San Francisco as he continues to rehabilitate the injury.
Mar 1, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa State defensive lineman Will Mcdonald IV (DL38) speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
I’m allergic to the offseason.
We avoid that entirely around these parts.
Unfortunately, I’m also allergic to pollen, and allergy season can’t be avoided right now in Central Iowa. Alas, we power through, because there is no such thing as an offseason here.
We start today with a simple question…
What would be the value of Will McDonald IV being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday in Kansas City for Iowa State football?
What kind of impact would it have on the program to snap its 49-year drought without a first round pick in the NFL Draft?
There might not be a more embarrassing statistic that pops up on a yearly basis than Iowa State’s streak without a first rounder since the Houston Oilers took George Amundsen with the 14th pick in the 1973 draft.
Every other Power 5 team in America has had at least one first round draft selection this century. Schools like UC-Davis, Alcorn State and Morehead State have had at least one since Iowa State’s last first round pick.
Wyoming, Nevada, SMU and Boise State have had at least two since Iowa State’s last first round pick.
Yeah, like I said, this stat is rough, but it feels more and more likely the streak will come to an end sooner rather than later.
It nearly ended last year when Breece Hall was taken No. 36 overall in the draft. It only makes sense that Iowa State’s best running back in a generation would enter the league at the only time in history where elite running backs carry hardly any draft value.
But, don’t worry, because we’re back with another opportunity in McDonald, the superstar edge rusher who finished his career as the Big 12’s all-time leader in sacks.
Even still, McDonald, the greatest pass rusher in Iowa State football history and one of the best statistical pass rushers the Midwest has ever seen, is considered by many to be a fringe first round pick despite the fact Edge rushers are some of the most coveted prospects on the board.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper has him ranked No. 20 overall on his big board and slots him in as the No. 3 Edge in the class. Those numbers mesh well with the rest of them that have McDonald going anywhere from the middle of the first to the start of the second.
Either way, Will McDonald won’t be waiting too long to hear his name called.
But, what’s the value of all this for Iowa State?
After all, this is Iowa State’s streak that is on the line, and I’m here to tell you that I’m not sure how much it really matters to the program in the long run.
This streak matters more for the people who are tired of seeing it come up social media and feel embarrassment because their program hasn’t been lucky enough to have one single player who was a surefire first round pick since Richard Nixon was in office.
What matters for Iowa State is just putting guys into the league, and that’s exactly what they’re doing. McDonald will be in the league. Anthony Johnson will be in the league. Xavier Hutchinson will be in the league. MJ Anderson will be in the league.
There will be others who stick as priority undrafted free agents, too.
Simply having a guy picked doesn’t matter for Iowa State football anymore. That’s old hat. We’ve been doing that for nearly five years now.
Having multiple guys picked? Yep, that’s old hat, too.
Iowa State has proven it is the kind of place you can go and be developed into a player who can make an impact at the next level.
First round selections or not, that means something to a program that literally went five straight years without any picks at all within the last decade.
“We’re not in the phase where we were five years ago where man having a draft pick is important,” said Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell last week. “Man, that’s common here now.”
Now, don’t get me or Matt Campbell wrong, everybody associated with Iowa State football will be over the moon if McDonald’s name is called and he’s able to walk across the stage to shake Roger Goodell’s hand Thursday night as a first round selection.
Fans will be over the moon once they know Iowa State won’t be associated with any tweets that start with, “How long it’s been since every Power 5 team’s last first round draft pick.”
But, the potential selection of Johnson or Hutchinson will mean just as much, because they believed in a vision and felt Iowa State could help them get there, and the school did just that.
You have to remember Iowa State is not getting the type of players who come to school with the expectation that they’ll be a first round draft pick. There have been guys in recent years who came to school to study engineering then ended up in the NFL.
Do you think you’re studying engineering if you’re banking on going to the league? Hell no!
This is what Iowa State football is, and probably always will be, and the streak is going to come to an end eventually. It could even be this Thursday night in Kansas City.
Nobody should fret over it, though, because Iowa State has held up its end of the bargain, and so have the guys who could have their names called this weekend.
“When I think about those guys, I think about who they are and really the growth as young men into men,” Campbell said. “I think you’re really grateful that they led here and you’re you’re grateful that with their leadership and them reaching their full potential as individuals, they’re going to reap the great benefits of having the opportunity to play at the highest level.”
That, my friends, is valuable.
More Musings* I can’t stop thinking about the physicality level of Iowa State’s offensive line during Saturday’s Spring Game. I wish the season could start this Saturday so that we can see how real that improvement truly is.
We’ll break it down on a new episode of Football (And Random Things) later on Monday.
* Georges Niang and his Philadelphia 76ers are on their way to the second round of the NBA playoffs. The Sixers were lucky to secure a sweep and a few days of rest while soon-to-be MVP Joel Embiid recovers from a sprained knee.
* Basketball never stops, especially if you’re Hollywood. NCAA referee John Higgins was spotted wearing the stripes and blowing the whistle this weekend at an AAU basketball tournament somewhere around the country.
I’m not even kidding, but if someone created a ‘Where in the World is John Higgins?’ book in the style of Where’s Waldo, I’d buy it, and it would probably be pretty freaking sweet with all the different basketball themed things you could come up with.
* S/O to Hakeem Butler for being an absolute dawg. How could an NFL team pass on inviting the former Cyclone to training camp after what he’s done during the XFL season?
He’s been dominant nearly every single week.
That’s a mf DAWG right there. pic.twitter.com/OQSznkJHiz
— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) April 22, 2023
*** The tweet of the weekend goes to our old friend, former Cyclone and now Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar, who reacted to the Jack Trice Legacy uniforms with the following:
Can’t believe you made us wear a bugel on our helmet and now you come out with these masterpieces https://t.co/W0jd7nbbhn pic.twitter.com/4nFpjx9hxt
— Charlie Kolar (@charliekolar_) April 22, 2023
Never change, Charlie. Never change.
Iowa State defensive end Johnny Wilson entered the transfer portal on Monday, following the conclusion of spring practices with the program.
As a redshirt junior, Wilson has been with the program for three seasons and will have two years of eligibility remaining when he transfers.
He did not record a stat during his time at Iowa State.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State coach Matt Campbell warned that Saturday’s spring football game wouldn’t provide much of a gauge on what his team will look like in the fall.
“It’s going to be 43 degrees and we’re going to keep it pretty simple,” Campbell said Thursday. “Nothing Saturday will tell you if we’ll be good or not, but I think what I’ve seen is I’ve seen is this group really grow in terms of the areas that take no talent to get better.”
Nothing is set in stone, and nothing will be for a while, but there were still some things that stood out.
Hunter Dekkers feels different about this off-season. The quarterback, who will take the field for his second season as a starter this fall, says that there’s been a shift in the mindset of the team.
“I would just say that the whole mindset that everyone has this spring – it’s just completely different,” Dekkers said. “We thought last year that we were working hard, but this year we’ve just taken it to a whole new level.”
The offensive line raised the most eyebrows of any unit Saturday. If there was a group that was given an award for the most consistent day, it’d be that unit.
While keeping in mind that it amounts to just having a solid day of practice, the line was giving its quarterbacks time to throw the ball and getting consistent movement in the run game.
“Honestly, they’ve made huge strides through this off-season,” Dekkers said. “In the run-game and in the pass-game, (they’ve made huge strides) in everything, and even in their bodies, in the weight room. It’s just been incredible to see.”
New offensive line coach Ryan Clanton is making an early impact.
Jayden Higgins is making an impact in the receiving room. The Eastern Kentucky transfer made a trip to the end zone on Saturday, which was ultimately called back by a penalty.
Higgins had a productive day, catching four passes for what would have been 25 yards and a touchdown had a spring game flag not been assessed.
Iowa State wasn’t going to open up the playbook for a practice in 40-degree weather, but from what they did, Higgins performed up to the standard.
Jirehl Brock looked like his pre-injury self. In the waning weeks of the 2022 football season, Brock was trying to return to 100 percent while battling an injury that, at times, kept him out of games.
Getting rest and making sure he was healthy was going to be a big aspect to the first part of the off-season for the program, and it looks like they accomplished that.
Brock rushed the ball 11 times during the game, earning 47 yards along with a 16-yard touchdown run. There was nothing that indicated he was any level of limited, and that’s encouraging for Iowa State fans.
Who knows if Iowa State will have an improved football team in 2023.
It would be disingenuous to say I have a vibe either way after Saturday’s Spring Game at Jack Trice Stadium, but it is hard to not be impressed by some of the things we saw in the condensed offense vs. defense format.
The offensive line looked more physical, but who knows what that means against a Spring Game defense. Jirehl Brock carried the football and looked great after his season-ending injury last season. The defense was dominant at times, and got diced by the offense at others.
There isn’t a ton to take away from this one individual day in Ames, but it is easier to take something away from the totality of 15 practices for the program’s head man.
“I don’t look at it as just today,” said Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. “I look at the collective whole, your 15 practices. Honestly, I think you’ve seen great growth from our football team. The one thing I really appreciate about our group, I thought our coaches, from everybody in the organization, the goals we had set out in January to grow ourselves forward, you’ve really seen that happen through the first eight weeks of January and February to really all spring practice. I think a collective win for our program from our coaches and our players.”
Iowa State is going to take any win it can get after last year’s 4-8 season that stalled the momentum of a rising program. You have to take any win you can get when you’ve got a young team, and Campbell has a young team.
Of the 12 players who caught passes on Saturday, Brock and fellow tailback Eli Sanders are the only ones who consistently saw significant snaps a year ago, and Brock’s season was abbreviated.
There were 31 Cyclones who recorded a tackle in the spring game, and I think you could consider one, linebacker Gerry Vaughn, a veteran.
That’s a lot of new faces.
It won’t be that way once this team is all back together this August considering a handful of Iowa State’s starters on both sides of the ball, including wide receivers Jaylin Noel and Dimitri Stanley, cornerbacks T.J. Tampa and Myles Purchase, tight end DeShawn Hanika, defensive tackle Isaiah Lee and others, did not play.
We know what those guys can do.
Saturday was about all the other guys getting another opportunity to show what they can do, and to do it on a stage in front of people who aren’t affiliated with the football program.
This day, like the 14 days of practice before it, was about growth.
“When you’re young, you grow forward,” Campbell said. “You saw it as a team a year ago and I don’t think we’ve stopped. I think we’ve only accelerated it since January. When you are young, the nice thing as coaches is you can personally see the growth happening. Even today, there was a lot of real positive growth forward. Believe me, the growth process isn’t done. There’s a lot of work to do. We’re going to have to have a great summer. We’re going to have to have a phenomenal fall camp. The challenges aren’t getting any easier from the first game of the season, a really great UNI team coming in here and they’ve been a great challenge and a great opponent to us. We’ve got 12 opponents and they’ve all got great talent and great players. We’re going to have to continue to grow forward to be ready for the challenges coming.”
The big challenges for this program will arrive on those 12 Saturdays this fall, but its already faced adversity this offseason with coaching changes on the offensive side of the ball and just the general noise that follows a disappointing season.
The next challenge will be pushing momentum forward into the summer, especially with players set to take their final exams and return home before rejoining the team in May for workouts.
“When we’ve been at our best, I feel like we’ve mastered that,” Campbell said of carrying momentum through this period. “When we’re doing really well, you’ve got to take the humility of what did we do well through 15 practices individually and where are your gaps? We’ll look at that from a schematic standpoint. Where do we need to be better? Each individual, starting on Monday, we’re going to meet with every kid in our program, where are you at, what do you need to do well, how do we move forward. We’ll finish with exams then we’ll come back here at the end of May and we’re going to have to attack it no different than we did in January or February. There’s a lot of work to do. Now, it becomes personal growth until we come back together in August as a football team.”
Iowa State made a splash on the Internet on Saturday when it unveiled throwback uniforms that will be worn on Oct. 7 against TCU to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Jack Trice’s death.
The photos and videos unveiling the uniforms got nearly universal praise, and the man in charge is a fan, as well.
𝐓𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫, 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞.
pic.twitter.com/KoFw81Clon
— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) April 22, 2023
“I think they’re awesome,” said Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. “What a powerful story we have the ability to continue to tell the country. Obviously, what he’s meant to this university and the trailblazing demeanor that he’s given so many of our kids an opportunity to succeed, it’s a huge story.”
Iowa State will be celebrating the life of Trice all season leading up to the Jack Trice Legacy game against the Horned Frogs. It will culminate that weekend in October, which will mark 100 years since Trice tragically passed away due to injuries suffered in a game against Minnesota.
“It’s a powerful story,” Campbell said. “Obviously, all season, we’ll have the opportunity to tell the Jack Trice story to not only Iowa but the entire country.”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and players Hunter Dekkers, Arlen Harris Jr., and Jayden Higgins addressed media members following Saturday’s Spring Football Game at Jack Trice Stadium.
Iowa State unveiled its new Jack Trice throwback uniform combination for 2023 on Saturday at the spring football game.
The uniform will be utilized during the October 7 game against Kansas State.
pic.twitter.com/75KfGb8kFp
— Cyclone Equipment (@CycloneEQUIP) April 22, 2023
𝐓𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫, 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞.
pic.twitter.com/KoFw81Clon
— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) April 22, 2023
The following is a press release from the We Will Collective.
We Will Collective is excited to offer Cyclone fans the opportunity to win unique memorabilia from NFL stars and former Cyclones Brock Purdy, Breece Hall, and Allen Lazard. To celebrate the Iowa State Spring Game and the upcoming NFL Draft, We Will Collective, a nonprofit organization supporting Iowa State student-athletes, is hosting a free giveaway for all Cyclone fans that features an autographed Brock Purdy autographed jersey, Beckett Authenticated; custom-made, worn, Breece Hall cleats, and a signed pair of game-worn NFL gloves from Allen Lazard.
It is free to sign-up at https://swee.ps/zkllLGbgO. The giveaway will conclude and the winners announced on the Cyclone Fanatic Sunday night podcast on April 30th.
“These Cyclone legends have been incredibly generous by providing these items to us with hopes it helps spread the word and brings awareness to the work we are doing to help current Cyclone student-athletes,” said Brent Blum, executive director of the We Will Collective.
“In under a year, we have grown to over 2,000 donors to We Will, but we need all of Cyclone Nation to be a part of this and support. Brock, Breece and Allen are providing a great impact to help spread the word in a fun way through this giveaway.”
The We Will Collective is 501c3 and was launched in April of 2022. It has supported over 70 Iowa State student-athletes in that time.
“The current Cyclones see the support of our We Will donors and it is having a tremendous impact on keeping Iowa State competitive in this new climate. We can’t thank the Cyclone Nation enough for their continued, loyal support,” Blum said.
Iowa State has been welcoming visitors throughout the past 30 days as part of spring practices and opportunities for prospects to tour campus and see a practice up close.
On Saturday, the program will welcome a slew of recruits, including six from the 2024 class they have their eyes on.
Defensive lineman Terrell Spruill has a large offer sheet, containing offers from Arkansas, Tennessee, Indiana, USF, West Virginia and Florida Atlantic. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound prospect out of Florida received his Iowa State offer in February and is making the lengthy trip to Ames for the weekend.
On Wednesday, the Cyclones became the second team to offer wideout Jalen Smith, who’s only other offer comes from Kent State. The 6-foot-1 Minnesota product had 729 yards for eight touchdowns on 49 catches during his junior season.
The group will be joined, as well, by 2024 commits, Keaton Roskop and Connor Moberly.
Roskop, a tight end, picked Iowa State over Texas A&M and Moberly is a top talent in the state at the quarterback position, coming off of a state championship.
Also in attendance will be tight end Cooper Alexander. He doesn’t have a star rating on 247 Sports, but does hold offers to Colorado, Duke, Pitt, Vanderbilt, UNLV, Tulsa and Liberty. The 6-foot-4 recruit visited Ames in March and will be back Saturday.
With new offensive line coach Ryan Clanton getting into the swing of things, offensive tackle A.J. Burton will be in town. The Colorado prospect will attend Iowa State’s spring game this week before going to Oregon next week for their spring showcase.
There will be a number of other visitors in town throughout the weekend, but these are the names Iowa State is keeping a close eye on.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
Ames, Iowa – Iowa State Athletics and its multimedia rightsholder, LEARFIELD’s Cyclone Sports Properties, announced today that Nationwide will serve as the title sponsor for the 2023 Jack Trice Legacy Game.
The University’s centennial commemoration of Trice and the trails he blazed at Iowa State began last fall with the dedication of the Breaking Barriers statue on the Albaugh Family Plaza at Jack Trice Stadium, and will culminate with the Legacy Game, presented by Nationwide, on Saturday, Oct. 7, against 2022 College Football Playoff finalist TCU. The Cyclones will wear throwback jerseys against the Horned Frogs to pay tribute to Trice’s legacy in the stadium that bears his name a day before the 100th anniversary of his tragic death.
The game will be anchored by numerous events and featured programming to commemorate Trice’s life and enduring legacy, creating an extremely meaningful weekend for Cyclone fans, alumni and the community.
In addition to the throwback jerseys and specially designed helmets that the Cyclones will don against the Horned Frogs, the University and Athletics Department, along with Cyclone Sports Properties and Nationwide, are collaborating to create meaningful opportunities to honor Trice, including a special commemorative game ticket for season ticket holders.
“The legacy that Jack Trice left lives on today at Iowa State and we look forward to honoring his impact on our campus and community this fall,” said Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard. “We deeply appreciate Nationwide’s commitment to the Jack Trice Legacy Game during the 2023 football season.”
The Cyclones officially kick off the 2023 football season with their Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, at 11 a.m. on Mid-American Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium. Fans are welcome and admission is free.
For Nationwide, a loyal, longtime supporter of Cyclone Athletics, this weekend’s Spring Game serves as the formal launch of its dedicated sponsorship of the Jack Trice Legacy Game against TCU.
“As a longstanding partner of Iowa State and a company with thousands of Iowa-based associates, and a Trice family member within our ranks, this centennial commemoration holds great meaning for Nationwide,” said Nationwide Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer Ramon Jones. “We’re honored to join the university, community and the Trice family in recognizing Jack’s legacy as a trailblazer.”
About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by Standard & Poor’s. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities, mutual funds and ETFs; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side, and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2023.Print Friendly Version
Oct 15, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell during the first against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell took the mic on Thursday ahead of his team’s upcoming spring game. Here’s a summary on his thoughts on a few of Iowa State’s position groups:
On quarterbacks – “We haven’t really done a whole lot on offense, you know. I think we’ve really been trying to be purposeful on what’s our process. How do we do all of the things that it takes for us to be successful? Whether it’s how we call the play, how we get to the line of scrimmage or how we work on snap count, and then I think the growth of situational football and how you understand that. I think all three of those guys (Hunter Dekkers, JJ Kohl and Rocco Becht) have really handled the ‘how to’ really well and they’ve grown in that aspect of it. And obviously, if we’re going to be successful on offense, it starts with our understanding on the ‘how to’ prior to the ball being snapped and then the understanding all of the situations that come with playing quarterback.”
On how new offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase relates to that – “I really think our staff, and Nate, has done a great job of starting back at square one and rebuilding it forward. I really think, for the quarterbacks, that it’s been really beneficial for them… I think all three guys have had really positive moments. All three guys have played really well and at times, guys have made some mistakes, but have been able to learn from it. I think it’s been positive for all three.”
On transfer running back A.J. Harris – “You’ve got to remember he was a true freshman last year. I think for A.J., number one, you knew his high school talent. We had recruited him a little bit going into his senior year of high school. The first thing for him is character and the second thing – you saw the guy that’s got the ability to take it the distance. He’s got great long speed. He’s got the ability to stick his foot in the ground and get vertical. He’s a guy that you saw some of those traits we look for at the tailback position.”
On wide receivers, and how newcomers have fit themselves into the wide receiver room – “I think the simple thing that I can say about all three of those guys in a collective whole, is that they’re elite talent. They have elite traits. I think one of the things that, when we’ve been at our best, we’ve had skill players with elite traits that, when the game’s on the line, they’ve been able to make the plays. I’d say all three of those guys have flashed elite traits and that at some point in this program, they’re going to be great difference makers for us. (I’m) really excited for all three of those guys and I think they fit the mold of the Lazard’s, the Butler’s, the Xavier Hutchinson’s – you know, the big bodied guys that have great hand coordination that can make the 50-50 catch, and can make the play in the moment. I think they’ve all shown great traits of that, I think Jayden Higgins has been a guy that’s obviously a little more mature than the two freshmen, but man he’s been uber impressive. He’s come in with those elite trait mindsets from day one. And then, boy, Beni (Ngoyi) and Kai (Black) are two guys that have big, physical tools and traits to help our football team, so we’re excited about those guys.”
On new offensive line coach Ryan Clanton – “I think what Ryan’s been able to do and what’s impressive is that he is a great teacher. I’ve always said ‘coaching is teaching.’ I think sometimes we get skewed in the world of coaching – it is still a form of education in teaching. Great coaches are certainly great teachers and Ryan has done a really great job on simplifying (things). I really think that offensively, there has been a (question of) how do we be the best communicators and how do we simplify the best way we can. (It’s) going back to not how we do, but it’s how we do what we do. I think that has been a real positive for that group. There’s a lot of guys that are back playing football for that group, so I think that’s a huge positive, and then there’s some really talented young guys that have really flashed. I think a lot of that has occurred because we’ve been able to simplify. I think they’re bigger and stronger than they’ve been really in a while here. I think that’s certainly helped those guys have confidence, and I think just the holistic approach has given that group some confidence to move itself forward. And again, there’s a lot of room to continue to work to, it will be a big summer for that group as well, but they’ve made great growth so far.”
On offensive linemen that have taken advantage of some 1st or 2nd team reps – “With the offensive line, Tyler Miller and Jarrod Hufford have been limited. I think the reps that a guy like James Neal, Oluwafunto Askinshilo, Deylin Hasert and Brady Petersen have gotten. I think all of those guys have made significant strides. Obviously, being able to get those reps – whether they’ve been first string or second string, there aren’t really any strings, it’s just quality of reps. Those guys have been able to take great advantage of that, in my opinion.”
On transfer linebacker Zach Lovett – “Zach’s a guy that just continues to grow in the system. We recruited Zach in that COVID year. We were part of his recruiting process through high school. I just think you’re talking about a guy that, in a lot of ways, is not a true freshman, but is kind of like a freshman because you’re learning a new scheme playing linebacker. I feel like that guy has grown every day in practice, but you see a guy that’s got great athletic tools, he can really run, he’s physical at the point of attack. I think him and Jack Sadowsky have probably been two ‘wow factors’ for us already in terms of practice at the mike linebacker position.”
Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell leads warmup drills prior to kickoff against West Virginia during a NCAA football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.
If you’re hoping to learn something significant about Iowa State’s 2023 football team in Saturday’s spring game at Jack Trice Stadium, you’re likely to be disappointed.
The Cyclones will be approaching Saturday’s festivities like the game is what it is, and that’s the program’s 15th and final spring practice before they enter their offseason program this summer.
“The 15th practice,” Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said when asked what he’s hoping to get out of Saturday. “Nothing, to be quite honest with you. I think the last couple years, we’ve tried to play games in front of people with a young team. A year ago, we did it twice, and not really games, just practice. I just think it adds another piece of the puzzle to a young football team.”
As a result, fans can expect to see a pretty basic version of Iowa State football.
Everything is expected to get started shortly after 10 a.m. on Saturday as players will warm-up and go through drills before the “game” starts at 11 a.m. The format is expected to be offense versus defense with some sort of scoring system decided on prior to the game and should last a little more than an hour.
“We won’t even know what our team is going to look like until September and we get out in front of 70,000 people,” Campbell said. “I think the opportunity to put people in the stands, and, you know, a year ago, we had to go to Ames and some other places because our field was getting redone. This year, to be able to do it at home is great, because you’re in your stadium that you’re going to play in, but I just think the dynamic of that, honestly, it’ll be another practice. We’ve always kind of used these open deals as just another practice, but I think, again, putting people in the environment is phase to evaluating the football team and where you’re at, and where some individuals are at, quite honestly.”
One of the biggest things for fans and media alike will be to not jump to conclusions based on what you see on Saturday. There will be guys who don’t play at all, and there will be guys who are asked to play a ton that might not play a down for Iowa State this season.
It will be part of the process of building the football team, especially a new-look offense with a revamped staff.
If you’re hoping to leave Jack Trice Stadium feeling vastly better about the direction of the offense, you’ll probably be disappointed.
“First of all, hopefully, there’s enough trust in the results of six years or seven years of football here to know, we’ll be just fine,” Campbell said. “I think the second piece of it, I would tell you is it’s going to be hard to make any… man, it’s going to be 43 degrees and we’re going to keep it pretty simple. Nothing Saturday will tell you if we’ll be good or not, but I think what I’ve seen is I’ve seen is this group really grow in terms of the areas that take no talent to get better.”
Iowa State picked up a second player by way of the transfer portal during the off-season on Thursday, with the addition of former Sacramento State post Isnelle Natabou.
The 6-foot-5 center averaged 15.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game during her sophomore season at her previous school.
With that, she collected 15 double-doubles and was rated in the top 10 nationally in both field goal percentage and offensive boards.
Natabou will have two years of eligibility remaining.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications.
Ames, Iowa – A $5M gift from the Kirk and Rae Malcolm family, coupled with today’s initial approval from the Iowa Board of Regents, will allow Iowa State’s Department of Athletics to move forward with the planning of a transformational project for its wrestling and track & field programs, Cyclone Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced.
“We are grateful for the Malcolm family’s generosity in supporting our student-athletes’ quest for academic and athletic excellence, and for the Board of Regents allowing us to advance our planning for this important project,” Pollard said. “Iowa State is fortunate to have tremendous individuals leading our wrestling and track programs in Kevin Dresser and Jeremy Sudbury, and this transformational gift from the Malcolm family was given in large part because of the donor’s belief in the vision our coaches have cast for their programs.”
The proposed project, which will be named in honor of the Malcolm family, will renovate approximately 45,000-square feet of existing space within in the Lied Recreation Athletic Center and construct approximately 16,000-square feet of new space with an addition to the building’s Southeast corner. The project will expand and collocate facilities used by the wrestling and track programs to include new weight rooms, locker rooms, team lounges, sports medicine areas, meeting areas and coaches locker rooms. It will also create a separate entrance to the facility for use by Cyclone student athletes, athletics department staff, and visitors to the wrestling and track programs.
“The state-of-the-art Malcolm Performance Center will touch the lives of more than 100 of our student-athletes on a daily basis and greatly enhance their Cyclone experience,” Pollard said. “The Lied Recreation Athletic Center has served our student-athletes well, however, this renovation and new addition will allow our wrestling and track teams to remain competitive nationally.”
Currently, about two-thirds of the 236,000-square foot Lied Recreation Athletic Center is used by ISU’s Department of Recreation Services while athletics utilizes the remaining space. As part of the new project, the departments will exchange some space to improve adjacencies for both departments. The total space currently allocated to ISU’s Department of Recreation Services will not decrease due to the project.
Kirk Malcolm earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State in 1968, and is a partner in Shepard International, Inc. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta as an undergraduate, and supports ISU’s College of Engineering through the Malcolm Family Scholarship, which honors students within the college with a preference given to residents of Iowa’s Northwest corner. In addition, they have also supported the Marston Hall renovation, naming the Malcolm Conference Room on the main ground floor hallway.
An ISU Foundation Governor Emeritus, Kirk is a lifetime member of the Iowa State University Alumni Association. He and his wife, Rae have been married for 51 years, and have three children and six grandchildren.
The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2025 and will cost between $20-25M, which will be paid through additional fundraising and athletic department revenues.
“While we still have some work to do before getting this project underway, the momentum generated from the Malcolm’s generous gift will go a long way toward getting us to the finish line, and making a positive impact on our student-athletes in these sports,” Pollard said.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell gives his thoughts on the Cyclones’ spring practice, what he’s seen from the quarterbacks, other position groups and players that have stood out and what fans can expect from Saturday’s spring game here.
Fans look on as Cade Kelderman of Waukee Northwest puts up the game winning shot as Vance Peiffer of Waukee defends during a game at Waukee Northwest, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.
Waukee Northwest guard Cade Kelderman announced on Wednesday he’ll be walking on at Iowa State next season. The 6-foot-1 guard chose the Cyclones over a host of other lower division opportunities, including an offer from Division II powerhouse Northwest Missouri State.
Kelderman breaks down his commitment to the Cyclones in the conversation below edited lightly for brevity and clarity.
CF: Why Iowa State?
Kelderman: “I’d say the biggest thing, being a lifelong Cyclone fan, it’s so hard to pass up the opportunity to play in Ames and play for the team that I grew up rooting and cheering for. The other big thing is just the coaching staff, they’re great at relationships, reaching out and making you feel that you’re wanted and those are the two main factors for me.”
CF: There aren’t that many walk ons that are being pursued by coaching staffs in today’s age of college basketball. How has this opportunity been presented to you?
Kelderman: “All the coaches have told me about how I need to work hard and you never know what can happen. It wasn’t me reaching out, and, (saying), ‘Hey, can I come join the team or whatever it was.’ It was them reaching out every week, making me feel wanted, like I said earlier. Yeah, I am really excited for this.”
CF: What were some of the other schools that were recruiting you?
Kelderman: “I had some NAIA and JUCO offers then some Division II, most recently Northwest Missouri State.”
CF: Growing up a fan, who are some of your favorite Cyclones?
Kelderman: “Oh, man. I feel my favorite is probably Monte (Morris) but that whole era with Monte, Georges Niang, DeAndre Kane, all them. That’s kind of the team that I grew up rooting for even earlier like Tyrus McGee, Korie Lucius, those are the guys that I grew up watching and supporting.”
CF: Are you looking forward to playing with Omaha Biliew rather than against him?
Kelderman: “100 percent. We were on the same team my sophomore year in high school, so that was good, but this past year, playing against him three times, that’s enough. Definitely excited to be on his team. He’s an incredible talent, so it’ll be awesome.”
CF: What’s your relationship with Coach T.J. like?
Kelderman: “Yeah, great relationship. He’s a great guy, reaching out, asking me how I’m doing, answering any questions I might have, that my family may have and making them feel like they want me to be a part of the team. The culture that they’ve set there, it’s something that is hard to pass on.”
CF: How would you describe yourself as a player?
Kelderman: “I am a playmaker. I get my own if needed, but also I can facilitate and get others involved. I can shoot it, if you’re gonna leave me open or go under ball screens, but overall, just a playmaker. Kind of do whatever it takes to win and just compete, give it my all and see where it takes me.”
Waukee Northwest guard Cade Kelderman (2) steals the ball from Waukee forward Omaha Biliew (0) during the second quarter in the class 4A boys state basketball semi-final at Wells Fargo Arena Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Iowa State has landed one of central Iowa’s top prep basketball players.
Waukee Northwest’s Cade Kelderman announced on Wednesday he’ll join the Cyclones as a walk-on next season. The 6-foot-1 guard chose Iowa State over a host of other opportunities, including an offer from Division II powerhouse Northwest Missouri State.
Dreams Come True! Go Cyclones pic.twitter.com/JsKhAQl064
— Cade Kelderman (@cade_for3) April 19, 2023
Kelderman averaged 16.7 points and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 58 percent from the field, 48 percent from deep and 83 percent from the free throw line as a senior for the Wolves.
He played one of his best games of the season in a Class 4A semifinal win over archival Waukee, and fellow future Cyclone Omaha Biliew, by dropping 26 points, including going 4-of-5 from 3-point range, to lead Waukee Northwest into its first state title game. The Wolves ultimately lost to Valley in the final.
Stay tuned to Cyclone Fanatic for more on this story.
Mar 17, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T. J. Otzelberger gestures during the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger has announced the addition of three transfers to the 2023-24 Iowa State roster. UNLV transfer Keshon Gilbert, Wofford transfer Jackson Paveletzke and Buffalo transfer Curtis Jones will all join the Cyclones this summer.
“We’re ecstatic to add three high-character, multi-dimensional, experienced guards to our backcourt,” Otzelberger said. “They will undoubtedly bolster our offensive efficiency and up-tempo style of play. All three averaged more than three assists last season and will help spread our offense in that regard.”
Gilbert is a 6-4 guard out of St. Louis who played for the Runnin’ Rebels the last two seasons. Gilbert comes to Iowa State with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Gilbert appeared in 31 of the Runnin’ Rebels 32 games this season, making a start in 29 of them. He was second on the team with 11.4 points per game, while also ranking fourth on the team with 3.8 rebounds. He led UNLV in steals with 1.7 per game, while being one of two players on the roster averaging over three assists per game at 3.2.
“Keshon brings a downhill and attacking style of play to the team,” Otzelberger said. “He has a relentless ability to get in the paint, making plays for himself and his teammates. Defensively, he takes tremendous pride in locking up the other team’s primary perimeter option.”
Gilbert scored in double figures 19 times, including a season-high 25 points in a victory over Washington State. He also had a 23-point performance in a victory over Incarnate Word. Both point totals helped the Runnin’ Rebels to a 10-0 start to the season, with Gilbert scoring in double figures in nine of those 10 victories. He had a season-high 10 rebounds in a victory over Southern Miss. He had multiple assists in 26 games, including a season-high eight against High Point.
During his freshman season, he appeared in all 32 games, while starting four of them. He led the Runnin’ Rebels in steals and ranked ninth in the Mountain West with 1.2 per game. He averaged 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, while dishing out 1.7 assists. Gilbert also recorded three steals in a game on four separate occasions.
Gilbert led Vashon High School to a state title as a senior, averaging 13.2 points per game. He spent his junior year at Durango High School in Las Vegas, where he led the Trailblazers to the state tournament for the first time in 17 years. He averaged 14 points and five assists that season. Coming out of high school, Gilbert was the 29th ranked point guard in the nation by 247Sports, while also being tabbed a three-star prospect by ESPN and Rivals.
Paveletzke is a 6-3 guard out of Kimberly, Wis. who played for the Terriers this season. Paveletzke comes to Iowa State with three seasons of eligibility remaining.
The Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, Paveletzke started all 33 games for Wofford last season. He was one of two Terriers to average double figure points, tallying 15.1 per game. His 15.1 points per game were the seventh-most by a freshman in NCAA Division I this past season. He averaged 3.7 assists per game, the 11th-best average by a freshman this season. He shot 49.4 percent from the floor and 39.3 percent from 3-point range, while also hitting at an 84.2 percent clip at the charity stripe.
“Jackson possesses tremendous skill, playmaking ability and long-range shooting.” Otzelberger said. “He has produced consistently against high-level opponents. He’s crafty with the basketball and thrives at making his teammates better.”
He scored in double figures in the final 14 games of the year, bringing his total to 28 games. He had 10 games with 20 or more points, including a career-high 25 against Furman Jan. 22. Paveletzke tallied his first career double-double with 23 points and 10 assists against Montreat on Dec. 17. He finished the year with 10 games with five or more assists.
Paveletzke led Kimberly to the regional championship as a senior, averaging 30 points. 6.1 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. He dropped 50 points in a game as a senior. Kimberly’s all-time leading scorer, Paveletzke led KHS to a state runner-up finish as a junior.
Jones is a 6-5 guard out of Minneapolis who played for the Bulls this season. Jones comes to Iowa State with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
“Curtis has a high basketball IQ with terrific decision-making abilities,” Otzelberger said. “He has positional size and length that makes him an excellent passer and helps him get a lot of steals. He has proven to be a terrific rebounder from the guard position.”
Jones earned All-MAC Third Team honors this past season for Buffalo. Jones led the Bulls with 15.0 points per game, while also adding 4.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He shot 35.9 percent from 3-point range and 41 percent from the field. Jones started all 31 games for Buffalo this season, scoring in double figures in 24 of those games. He tallied a career-high 32 points in a victory over St. Bonaventure Dec. 30 and added another 30-point performance later in the year in a victory over Western Michigan. He had 10 games with at least 20 points.
During his sophomore, he came off the bench in 28 games for the Bulls, averaging 2.5 points and 1.3 assists per game. He twice scored 11 points against Bowling Green. He had six assists and four rebounds in a victory over Rider.
Prior to his two years in Buffalo, he spent the 2020-21 season at Indian Hills Community College. In 24 games, he averaged 12.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He was a Second Team All-Region selection, while shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from 3-point range. He had 20-plus points four times, including back-to-back 26-point games against Ellsworth CC and Marshalltown CC. He dropped a career-high 11 assists against DMACC.
In high school, he led Cretin-Derham Hall to the Minnesota Class 4A State Title as a senior.
Iowa State Cyclones linebacker O’Rien Vance (34) and defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) take down West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback JT Daniels (18) during the fourth quarter in the Big-12 showdown at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Nov. 5. 2022, in Ames, Iowa.
Iowa State will host its first spring game since 2017 on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.
The team’s new Jack Trice throwback uniforms will be unveiled, but there are plenty of other things to look forward to for the day.
Here’s 10 players to watch:
J.J. Kohl will be in action for the first time in an Iowa State uniform Saturday, as one of the highest rated recruits in program history. He’ll be battling with Rocco Becht for the back-up quarterback position behind Hunter Dekkers.
When Iowa State hit the transfer portal over the off-season, a pair of offensive skill players ended up finding their ways to Ames. Former Stanford running back Arlen Harris and former Eastern Kentucky star wide receiver Jayden Higgins are both with the program this spring. Both have showed out since arriving on campus and could be regular rotational players when the season rolls around.
Iowa State held off a late push from Nebraska to sign wideout Beni Ngoyi last fall and with the class of 2023 product enrolling early, he’ll have plenty of time to get ready for college ball. The same can be said for redshirt freshman Greg Gaines, who enrolled early last year. He’s suiting up in the No. 8 jersey this year for the Cyclones.
The defensive line boasts a number of eye-opening players that could be on the cusp of breakout years in 2023. Domonique Orange and Tyler Onyedim have been on the field in the past, but are in spots to take big steps with the departures from Will McDonald IV and M.J. Anderson. On top of it, Ikenna Ezeogu has impressed the staff early this year. All three could see regular action this year.
Missouri linebacker transfer Zach Lovett will make his first appearance in the cardinal and gold this weekend, as one of the program’s big portal pickups. He was rated as the No. 35 linebacker in his class out of high school by Rivals and saw action at 13 games at Missouri.
Jeremiah Cooper might have had one of the most underrated freshman seasons in recent memory in Ames, starting seven games and appearing in each of the first nine in 2022. He recorded 32 tackles, despite missing the final three games with an injury and will be a major piece on the defense this season.
Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) runs with the ball after making a chatch around West Virginia Mountaineers defensive back Aubrey Burks (2) during the first half in the Big-12 showdown at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Nov. 5. 2022, in Ames, Iowa.
Spring football is coming to a close, and for the first time in six years, that close brings with it a spring football game. Too bad it is expected to be 40 degrees and windy.
Knowing Iowa State fans how I do, I don’t expect the bad weather to keep them away from a chance at a football party.
Here are five things to keep an eye on while at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday…
The offensive lineI wrote about my early cautious optimism surrounding Iowa State’s offensive line earlier this week, but I’m looking forward to seeing this group in action even in a practice-type setting.
Ryan Clanton says his group has made major strides, and veteran tackle Jake Remsberg says the same. He’ll be one of the leaders of a group that also returns Tyler Miller, Jarrod Hufford and Darrell Simmons.
Guys like Jim Bonifas, Deylin Hasert, James Neal and Oluwafunto Akinshilo have been mentioned as standouts this spring, as well.
We won’t truly understand this group’s growth until the fall, but we should get some hints on how things are coming together on Saturday.
A new-look group of linebackersFor the second straight year, there are some big shoes to fill on the second level of Iowa State’s defense. O’Rien Vance and Colby Reeder are gone, but Gerry Vaughn returns as a veteran presence in the room.
Missouri transfer Zach Lovett figures to play a significant role in filling the gaps. So does the talented group that joined the program last year in Will McLaughlin, Jacob Imming and Carson Willich.
Carston Marshall came on strong last season, and Cole Pedersen is another veteran with significant experience playing special teams.
There is a ton of talent in this room.
Who is catching passes?We know Jaylin Noel will play a significant role in filling the loss of Xavier Hutchinson, but who else steps up to play a bigger role? Former Colorado transfer Dimitri Stanley, who caught 33 passes for 420 yards last season, will be expected to step up.
We’ll also get our first in-person look at Eastern Kentucky transfer Jayden Higgins, who people inside the program believe has the potential to be a star for the Cyclones.
Daniel Jackson and Aidan Bitter have both shown flashes of their potential and there’s a talent group of youngsters, including Greg Gaines and Beni Ngoyi, battling to carve out their own niche.
Who is rushing the passer?The interior of the defensive line is strong with Isaiah Lee, J.R. Singleton, Tyler Onyedim and Domonique Orange all returning. Questions arise once you start looking at the edge, where Iowa State lost star pass rushers Will McDonald and MJ Anderson to the NFL Draft.
Ikenna Ezeogu is a name that has come up with consistency. Myles Mendeszoon and Joey Petersen both have experience in the defense.
This position feels like one of the most wide-open going into the summer.
The back-up quarterback battleHow does J.J. Kohl look in his first live collegiate action? What did a year of development do for Rocco Becht?
The reality is Hunter Dekkers will be the starting quarterback for Iowa State when Northern Iowa visits on Sept. 2, but the Cyclones need someone to step into the role behind him.
Becht seems like the obvious choice having spent a year with the program, but Kohl has big-time talent.
I’d expect we’ll get to see a healthy dose of them both Saturday afternoon.
Feb 21, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) shoots over Texas Longhorns guard Arterio Morris (2) during the second half at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State’s 2023-24 men’s basketball roster is set.
The group was finalized on Monday when Buffalo guard Curtis Jones announced his pledge to T.J. Otzelberger’s program, completing a three-man transfer recruiting class that brings scoring, playmaking and versatility to Iowa State’s program.
Let’s take a look at the 13 scholarship names that will make up the Cyclones’ 2023-24 roster, how they’ll fit into their role and what can be expected of them going into the season.
GuardsTamin Lipsey – When you’re thinking of Lipsey’s development track at Iowa State, think of Kansas point guard Dajuan Harris, who might be the favorite for preseason Big 12 Player of the Year.
Harris is the quintessential floor general. Lipsey has the potential to be that kind of player as his career progresses.
He needs to improve as a jump shooter, but his improvement doesn’t necessarily need to be drastic in year two. Just keep getting better.
Jeremiah Williams – What can be expected from the 6-foot-4 Temple transfer as he works back from an Achilles injury that cost him all of last season?
At the very least, he’ll be a steady, experienced back-up point guard. In a best-case scenario, he pushes Lipsey for the starting job and gives Iowa State two really solid primary ball-handlers who could even play together. Williams is the type of player who personifies what Iowa State’s team appears to be going into next season.
He’s versatile in that he can score (averaged 9.5 per game at Temple in 2021-22) and he can make plays for others (averaged a team-high 4.3 assists per game in 21-22).
Dec 20, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Wofford Terriers guard Jackson Paveletzke (1) drives to the basket against the Texas A&M Aggies during the first half at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY SportsJackson Paveletzke – More offensive versatility on display. Iowa State’s staff located a need this offseason and Paveletzke was a big piece in filling that need.
The Wisconsin native and Southern Conference Freshman of the Year is a capable scorer at all three levels of the floor, is a proven 3-point shooter and is capable of making plays for others. He’ll have the ability to be a solid secondary ball-handler alongside Williams or Lipsey, and probably could take over the primary role in a pinch.
When I watch Iowa State’s three transfers, versatility is just what screams at me. They’re all capable of doing different things in different ways and don’t feel like players who are one-dimensional.
Keshon Gilbert – Gilbert brings an element of speed and strength that was missing for Iowa State’s team this past season. He’s fast with the ball in his hands, fast on the defensive end and fast in the open floor. His ability to turn the corner offensively is dangerous and he’s got the potential to be one of the biggest match-up nightmares on the roster.
Plus, he’s another proven 3-point shooter and is capable of making plays for others. All three of Iowa State’s transfer additions averaged three or more assists this past season.
Curtis Jones – The thing I like most about Jones’ game is his craftiness in getting to the rim and being able to finish. He’s tough with a myriad of floaters and runners to combat the fact he isn’t he fastest or most athletic player. He reminds me a little bit of Jaren Holmes in that sense.
He’s another smooth shooter with the ability to knock down from well behind the 3-point line. He’s also effective with the ball in his hands off the ball-screen and has a strong pull-up game from deep and the mid-range.
Jelani Hamilton – I hope the 6-foot-6 three-star guard is ready for a challenge. Working with this group of guards on a daily basis is going to make someone a lot better, at the very least. If Hamilton is able to carve himself a role in this group, then Iowa State will probably have a pretty special player on its hands. There’s nothing wrong with a year to develop alongside this group, though, with the idea of taking over Jeremiah Williams’ role in 2024-25.
WingsOmaha Biliew – Is the second McDonald’s All-American in Iowa State history a big man or a wing? The fun thing about Biliew’s game is there is no answer.
Offensively, he’s capable of playing around the perimeter and can knock down shots from deep while also being a ferocious finisher around the rim. Defensively, he can guard players on the perimeter and can anchor a defense as a rim protector.
He’ll be the most versatile and dynamic player on Iowa State’s roster with the ability to impact everything on both ends of the floor.
Pewaukee’s Milan Momcilovic (22) gets inside for two during the WIAA Division 2 state boys basketball championship against La Crosse Central at the Kohl Center in Madison on Saturday, March 19, 2022.Mjs Bball State Semifinal 4711Milan Momcilovic – The 6-foot-8 four-star forward from Wisconsin is one of the smoothest scorers in the 2023 recruiting class. He has the ability to score all over the court, including a dynamic post game with an elite fading jumper.
He’s also long, which should give him the ability to make some impact defensively. He’s the type of scorer who will draw a lot of attention from opposing defenses, creating openings for everyone. I call that a player who takes up airspace. You always have to be mindful of where they are on the floor as a defender.
Demarion Watson – What Biliew projects to be as a freshman is what Watson could become with development. He’s still slight after his first year with the program, but I’d expect that to change significantly in the not so distant future.
Watson needs to continue developing his jumper, but he was the best off-ball cutter on Iowa State’s roster last season. Defensively, he projects as a true 3 and D wing with the ability to guard players all over the court and the length to impact shots on the perimeter and inside the painted area.
Kayden Fish – The 6-foot-6 forward from Kansas City caught T.J. Otzelberger’s eye while helping Omaha Biliew and MoKan Elite win Peach Jam last summer. He projects as a Melvin Ejim type as he develops and, much like his classmate Hamilton, will likely have to really make a splash this summer to carve out a major role next season.
BigsTre King – If you’re looking for someone from Iowa State’s last team to make a major leap for its next one, look no further than the likely starting big man. King was just working his way back into things as he improved on a nightly basis for the Cyclones in 2022-23. He seems poised to have a big season next year after getting his feet wet.
Fran Fraschilla says he’s the type of guy who could average 12 points and eight rebounds in the Big 12. Those are the type of numbers that put you on the All-Big 12 radar.
Mar 4, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Robert Jones (12) reacts after a made basket against the Baylor Bears during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY SportsRobert Jones – Love or hate him, Big Rob Energy will be one of the best back-up big men in the Big 12 next season. That’s a more important job than people probably realize. He brings physicality, toughness and energy off of the bench. Somebody has to do it, and he does it as well as just about anybody even if he does have his shortcomings.
Hason Ward – He’s great at what he’s great at. Get Ward the ball around the rim and it is a near guaranteed bucket as he shot 80 percent on his close two-pointers last season while finishing second on the team in dunks. Can Iowa State find more from him?
If they’re able to, he could carve out significant minutes for himself off the bench. We know how disruptive he can be defensively, but limiting fouls will be key to fully unlocking that disruptiveness.
Iowa State became the first Division I program to offer Nebraska linebacker Pierce Mooberry last week.
As a member of the 2025 class, it seemed like a matter of time that Mooberry would get one, but it hits a little different with the first offer on the table.
“It’s amazing,” Mooberry said. “Just with all of the hard work, staying humble the past couple of years – it’s just kind of paying off. It feels pretty great.”
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound prospect visited Iowa State Thursday, and came away with a lot.
“Going there Thursday, I really just liked everything they did,” Mooberry said. “They keep all of their athletes at a very high standard academically. You’ve got to be in the front rows (of classes)… I like that because it keeps everyone on the same page.”
Iowa State is looking at Mooberry as a linebacker, although he does play both ways (tight end, offensively) at Millard North.
Last season, he turned 16 receptions into 404 receiving yards with five touchdowns on offense, and brought home 45 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, four sacks as well as an interception in his sophomore year.
Being from Nebraska, Mooberry mentioned the campus layout as something he liked about Ames.
“I really liked Iowa State – just with how their setup was and everything being right by each other,” Mooberry said.
Mooberry, who has visited Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin so far this April, also touched on Iowa State’s pitch to him.
The program in Ames didn’t come off like the others.
“They make you feel like they want you there and want to get you better,” Mooberry said. “A lot of other schools – not to say they brag about their facilities – but (Iowa State) said they were so thankful for them. Like they were blessed to be able to have them.”
The 2025 class won’t come together for a while, but this is certainly a piece to watch for.
Watch new Iowa State commit, Buffalo transfer guard, Curtis Jones and get familiar with his game in the videos below.
Dec 18, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Buffalo Bulls guard Curtis Jones (3) shoots aa three pointer during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State has made its last expected addition to its 2023-24 roster.
The Cyclones landed Buffalo transfer guard Curtis Jones on Monday to complete its three-man transfer recruiting class that already included UNLV guard Keshon Gilbert and Wofford guard Jackson Paveletzke.
Jones, a 6-foot-5 Minneapolis native, averaged 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 41 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from 3-point range and 78.1 percent from the free throw line this season for the Bulls.
NEWS: Buffalo transfer Curtis Jones has committed to Iowa State, he tells @On3sports.
Averaged 15 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3 assists per game this season.
Story w/ quotes: https://t.co/sgzRCmYWcl pic.twitter.com/yUJd4mDYHF
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 17, 2023
The Cretin-Derhman Hall prep product isn’t the most athletic, quickest or fastest player you’re going to watch, but he’s effective attacking the rim and has range to knock down shots from well behind the 3-point line.
He’s at his best in spot-up and plays off the catch when he’s able to attack or knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers. He’s crafty in the paint scoring with a myriad of runners and floaters with each hand. He’s also got a nice ability to work some running hook shots and other variations into his game off the bounce.
His shooting is what leaps off the screen with the ability to knock down deep 3-pointers and a smooth, easily repeatable release that looks the same every time.
Jones is also strong playing off the bounce off of ball screens with the ability to attack the paint and knock down pull-up jumpers from deep or the mid-range.
It is clear that the staff was able to locate a need and did its best to hammer that need in the transfer portal. That pursuit was a near smashing success with three quality players who can knock down shots and score at all three levels joining the program.
Dec 18, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Buffalo Bulls guard Curtis Jones (3) drives past West Virginia Mountaineers guard Erik Stevenson (10) during the first half at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State landed the third piece of its 2023 transfer recruiting cycle class on Monday when Buffalo guard Curtis Jones announced his pledge to T.J. Otzelberger’s program. Jones goes in-depth on his commitment in the following conversation edited lightly for clarity and brevity.
CF: What was it that made you want to pull the trigger on committing to Iowa State?
Jones: “I just felt like Coach T.J. believed in me. It felt the right spot. I just felt like T.J. believed in me. The whole staff believed in me.”
CF: What is it about T.J. that helps him connect with guys?
Jones: “He’s a hard worker. He expects all of us to work hard. I know that hard work is what wins games. Just seeing the day-to-day schedule and all the things put into the basketball program was really attractive.”
NEWS: Buffalo transfer Curtis Jones has committed to Iowa State, he tells @On3sports.
Averaged 15 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3 assists per game this season.
Story w/ quotes: https://t.co/sgzRCmYWcl pic.twitter.com/yUJd4mDYHF
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 17, 2023
CF: What were some of those things that made Iowa State attractive?
Jones: “Just the development plan, the food, everything. Just their entire development plan really stuck out.”
CF: How would you describe yourself as a player?
Jones: “I would say I’m pretty unselfish. I try not to turn the ball over. I can shoot it well. Take charges and things like that.”
CF: What did you think of being around the guys on your visit?
Jones: “The guys were cool. We went bowling. Just got to be around them a little bit. Demarion (Watson), obviously he’s from Minnesota, so he came to a couple of meals. Tamin (Lipsey) came to a couple. It was all good. Good vibes with everybody.”
CF: Are you much of a bowler?
Jones: (laughing) “Nah, whenever somebody wants to go, I’ll go, but it’s not one of my hobbies I’d say.”
CF: What would you have to say to Iowa State fans? What’s the goal coming in here to play for the Cyclones? What’s the vibe you’re hoping to bring?
Jones: “I’m excited. Just got a good dude and a passionate, very competitive player. I’m excited to get out there and play in Hilton.”
Iowa State will unveil its new Jack Trice throwback uniforms on Saturday during the spring football game (11:00 a.m.).
The program announced the unveiling in a video posted on social media platforms Monday:
𝐈 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥.
On October 7th, the Cyclones will wear throwback uniforms as part of ISU’s 100-Year Commemoration of Jack Trice.
The uniforms will be 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 on Saturday at the Spring Game.
See you then. pic.twitter.com/yK6LQrbTtV
— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) April 17, 2023
The team will wear the uniforms during its October 7 home game against TCU, which celebrates the 100-year Commemoration of Jack Trice.
Former Iowa State Cyclone A.J. Klein will be back in Buffalo for the 2023 NFL season.
The linebacker re-signed with the team on Monday, according to Adam Schefter.
Bills re-signed LB A.J. Klein to a one-year deal.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 17, 2023
After playing two games with Baltimore in 2022, Klein returned to Buffalo to finish out the season. There, he collected 11 tackles in six games as the Bills qualified for the playoffs.
This will be his 11th season in the league.
Iowa State has lost some depth along its defensive front.
Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Howard Brown has entered the transfer portal, according to Rivals’ Chris Hummer. The 6-foot-2, 325-pound defensive tackle appeared in six games last season for Iowa State.
Those six appearances in reserve and special teams roles led to two tackles on the year for Brown.
Iowa State is facing replacing two key pieces along its defensive line, but the tackle and nose spots are not among them. Isaiah Lee is returning for another season while Tyler Onyedim and Domonique Orange have both emerged as key players at the interior positions.
Brown’s notoriety within the program grew before he’d ever even arrived in Ames as he starred at quarterback and defensive line for his high school program.
There are still 138 days left to tick off the calendar before Iowa State football hosts Northern Iowa to open its 2023 season.
There will be a spring game on Saturday for the first time since 2017. There will be summer workouts and fall camp. There’s still plenty of time for the program to work out kinks and target its strengths.
It has been difficult to get too much of a read on the happenings at spring practice, but I find myself cautiously optimistic about one position group anyway.
I’m cautiously optimistic about Iowa State’s offensive line.
Now, none of this feeling is due to what I’ve been able to see out on the field with my own two eyes, because I’m not allowed at practice. This is a take that could end up being totally wrong, but I don’t think it will.
I could not have come away more impressed with new Iowa State offensive line coach Ryan Clanton when he met with the media late last week.
Some people just have that “it-factor.” Clanton is one of those people.
He describes offensive line play, a really difficult topic to describe, in terms that make it easy to understand. You can tell he’s a teacher, and he knows how to connect with his students.
“It doesn’t have to be perfect,” Clanton said in a video circulated this weekend by Iowa State football’s Twitter account. “But, it has to be violent.”
@RyanClanton pic.twitter.com/LM8CEJ0WCx
— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) April 14, 2023
That’s obviously a significant simplification, but it is a window into the offensive line room’s new mentality with its new leader.
Couple the new leader with some returning talent and experience, including multiple-year starters Jake Remsberg, Darrell Simmons, Jarrod Hufford and Tyler Miller, and you could have a recipe for success.
That group is learning how to do things a different way with a different mentality. They’re learning new schemes and have to pick things up quickly in order for the offense to progress this spring.
That is a tall task, especially with a group of experienced guys who could be set in their ways, but Clanton seems to be more than up to the challenge.
“I think it’s all about how you teach it,” Clanton said on Thursday. “If you make it too complicated, then everyone’s gonna trip over each other, and it’s gonna be a complete failure. You really have to be mindful of how you teach it. That’s something that we’ve, I feel, done really well of really presenting it to the players in a new form and fashion and saying, ‘So, here’s the deal, a lot of offensive linemen, they think about their box, and this is what I do on this play versus this defense specifically.’ I’ve tried to give them the overview and teach defense and truly understand why are we running this play with this technique? What are they defending? What are they defending, and not just to our defense, but to the defenses that we’re going to be seeing? They’re starting to truly understand football as a whole. That creates confidence that lets you play faster. That allows you to come off the ball and be more violent. That’s the key. I believe in truly playing fast.”
I’m all the way here for Iowa State’s offensive line playing fast, and it was notable to me when Iowa State football analyst and former Cyclone Ben Bruns responded on Twitter to a story I wrote last week.
I saw one live video scrimmage clip from the sideline on Insta and immediately commented to my family the positions are the best I’ve seen from us in forever.
— Ben Bruns (@benbruns) April 15, 2023
That’s a ringing endorsement, and we’re all going to have to wait another 138 days before we can truly see it for ourselves, but I’m cautiously optimistic. I’m looking forward to seeing it in action for the first time in Saturday’s spring game.
Iowa State offensive line play has a mentality.
“It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it has to be violent.”
More Musings* I’d be surprised if we didn’t see more Iowa State men’s basketball recruiting news sometime Monday evening. Perhaps involving another high-scoring guard from an East Coast school, who was just on a visit to Ames this weekend.
* Iowa State women’s basketball landed a significant transfer addition on Friday when Truman State guard Hannah Belanger announced her commitment to the program. She averaged 21.7 points and shot an eye-popping 47.1 percent from 3-point range last season. Maintaining that shooting percentage will strike fear in defenses all across the Big 12.
* Don’t look now, but West Virginia’s Bob Huggins might be building a wagon. The Mountaineers already made a splash when they added Arizona guard Kerr Krisa a couple of weeks ago, but they made another one this weekend when Syracuse forward transfer Jesse Edwards made his pledge. He averaged 14.5 points and led the ACC with 2.7 blocks per game this year while earning All-ACC and ACC All-Defense honors. The 6-foot-11 big man sounds like he’ll fit right in out in Morgantown.
pic.twitter.com/R77V9TFvl5
— no context wvu (@no_context_wvu) April 16, 2023
* One of the coolest things I saw this weekend was the team-up between Iowa State softball and West Virginia baseball. Now, that might sound random to some, but it makes sense when you remember Iowa State does not have a baseball team and West Virginia doesn’t have a softball team.
It all started when an Iowa State Twitter account stated there are no sports left to follow for the remainder of the school year. Cyclone softball player Lea Nelson saw it, and that led the WVU Barstool account to see it, too.
a story in four parts.
what a friendship that has been formed #VivaWV pic.twitter.com/JQzdyjUk4H
— WVU Barstool (@WVUBarstool) April 16, 2023
Before long, you’re seeing Cyclone softball posted up supporting Mountaineer baseball in Stillwater, and they’re hopping on the bus celebrating a win over No. 3 Oklahoma State by singing Take Me Home Country Roads at the top of their lungs.
By the way, that’s the highest-ranked win in Iowa State softball history. We might need to keep this collaboration alive for the long haul.
Iowa State earned its first off-season addition from the transfer portal in Truman State guard Hannah Belanger.
In her final season with Truman State, Belanger averaged 21.3 points per game and shot 47.1% from the the 3-point line. She’ll have one year of eligibility, being used in the upcoming season.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity, but I’m also pretty relieved at the process – I’ve been in the portal for a month – so, I’m happy that it’s coming to an end and I found the right home for me,” Belanger said.
Iowa State reached out to Belanger early this week. On Wednesday, she was on a visit.
“They reached out to me and within I think three or four days, I was on a visit,” Belanger said. “It just seemed like they really wanted me and I think that was kind of just an initial spark I had with them. I could see how badly they wanted me there, how quickly they wanted me there and how hard they worked to set up everything up for me. That was really exciting for me to see.”
Belanger’s visit only lasted about five hours, but the connections came together quickly.
Part of the visit included a meal with Emily Ryan, who is stepping into a captain’s role going forward with the 2023-24 season.
“Although it was a very quick visit, and everything happened really fast that day, I felt a great relationship and connection with the girls and the entire staff,” Belanger said. “I just felt like they all wanted me to be a part of their family.”
Belanger had interest from a number of programs, but wanted to play at the highest level possible with aspirations of playing overseas following the conclusion of her collegiate career.
“I was definitely looking to explore playing at the highest level I could and get the best experience possible out of it,” Belanger said.
The 2023 Big 12 Tournament championship along with the pair of former Cyclones selected in Monday’s WNBA Draft surely helped aid in that aspect of landing the sharp shooter.
“Seeing the work that the staff does in player development, how successful they were last season and obviously, the WNBA Draft – seeing just how involved they were with there players, I think that was the biggest thing for me,” Belanger said. “Just understanding that they love their players and they want all of them to succeed just had me feeling great about my future there.”
Ryan Clanton is about the details.
It doesn’t matter if he’s coaching Iowa State’s offensive line or answering questions about offensive line play with the media. He doesn’t shy away from the details or speak in vague terms.
He’s direct. He’s sharp. He’s impressive to listen to talking offensive line play.
It all goes back to those details.
“They’ve been very physical,” Clanton said about the Cyclones’ first 10 spring practices. “A lot of teaching, a lot of learning. Those guys have, every single day, made huge progress. A whole different way of playing offensive line. I believe in those guys really raging off the ball, getting after the defense and creating that competition level. Really raising the standard from the, from the room and like, really unlocking everybody’s full potential. That comes with simplification. You really got to lock into what are the three most important things that we need, in this run scheme and bringing in new run schemes. Some of the run schemes that we’ve been doing that are new to the program have been the most explosive plays that we’ve had. Those guys have really bought in and they’re fighting every day out there, like really getting after it. I’m really proud of those guys.”
Talent and experience are not the issue in the Iowa State offensive line room this season. The program returns multiple guys with significant experience at this level, including Jake Remsberg, Tyler Miller, Jarrod Hufford and Darrell Simmons.
Those four players alone account for 58 starts along Iowa State’s offensive front, but, under Clanton, everyone is facing the reality of a clean slate.
Previous positions don’t matter. Previous experience doesn’t matter.
All that matters is how you’re performing now, and how that will translate into helping the Cyclones put their five best out on the field when Northern Iowa rolls into town on Sept. 2.
“There’s some guys that are playing at a very high level that may have never played a down at football here before,” Clanton said. “Those guys are getting after it out there. The competition level is high. I’ve really tried to teach the offensive linemen, even in individual drills, how to play both sides of the football, multiple positions, to truly give Iowa State the opportunity to put the best five players on the field for the first game.”
“There’s so many little details. Are you right handed or left handed? Which way do you have a deficiency stepping first? There’s so many, and who do you work well next to? As an offensive line, you’ve got to work well with the people that are next to you. That communication and that understanding that you guys are both on that same wavelength, that goes a lot farther than what people think. We’ve moved a lot of guys. I’ve taught people how to play different positions, both sides. We don’t just do like individual drills that this is the position you’ve played for the last four years. It’s like, ‘Well, you gotta learn how to play another position or the other side, too, because we’re gonna put the best five players on the field for the first game.'”
More from Clanton* On Tyler Miller…
“He’s 25 pounds heavier, but he’s moving like a deer. He’s gigantic. He’s long. He’s explosive. He’s a great athlete. I’ve just gotten to work with him on some movement stuff, and individual drills. When you really watch him push, and get off the ball and pass set with his length, and some of the new techniques that I’ve been teaching those tackles, I think that he’s a force.”
* On young guys who have stood out…
“I think Jim (Bonifas), he’s been amazing. Playing at a high level, he can bend, he can run. Deylin (Hasert) is extremely impressive. He’s been able to play multiple positions. As a young player, like truly get off the ball and be violent, and I’ve really enjoyed teaching him. (Oluwafunto Akinshilo) is an amazing athlete. He is gigantic. He can run and he’s quick for his size. It’s been really fun coaching him. James Neal is a dude. He’s athletic. Every day he picks up a new technique, and really starts to understand what he’s doing. He’s playing fast. I could name just about all of them. They’ve all been impressive, but those guys specifically I’ve been really impressed.”
* On guys learning multiple positions…
“Since I’ve been a player, as a coach, and just kind of a school of thought I have, I believe that, truly, to benefit the team, you’re gonna have to mix and match people around and try to find the best fit for them long term. Sometimes, as an offensive lineman, if you get stuck on, one side of the of the line too long, you might have some bad habits that you can’t break. Just moving people around, and try to find the best fit for the team.”
“That creates competition. It also sparks interest and I know specifically for me as a player, when I was moved multiple positions, because I really had to play all five spots, it was like, every time I learned a new position, it was like I was restarting and I was learning. It really helped me understand football as a whole. I think that’s the most important part for offensive lineman, like if you can truly understand defense, and understand not just the play, why coach Scheelhaase is calling the play, why we’re asking you to block it this way, where the running backs aim point is, this past protection, where the quarterbacks can set up, the true purpose of play action pass, what play are you trying to action on the pass.”
“The little details that we kind of gloss over at times. I’ve tried to bring back the focus to that for those guys. I think playing multiple positions and different sides, like sparks a new interest in what they’re doing.”
Iowa State offensive line coach Ryan Clanton, and offensive lineman Jake Remsberg, go in-depth on the Cyclones’ first spring with Clanton leading the group, Clanton’s coaching philosophy, how the group has improved since last season and more in the videos below.
Iowa State has pieced together nearly the entirety of its 2023-24 non-conference schedule, according to Bracketeer’s Rocco Miller.
The Cyclones are slated to open the season on Monday, November 6 with a matchup against Green Bay.
According to the report, the team will then play home games against Lindenwood (Nov. 9), Idaho State (Nov. 12) and Grambling State (Nov. 19).
The Cyclones will face off in the ESPN Events Invitational before the previously announced road matchup with DePaul on December 1.
Miller projects the Cy-Hawk game to remain on Thursday, December 7 with home games against Prairie View A&M (Dec. 10), Florida A&M (Dec. 17), Eastern Illinois (Dec. 21), as well as the report that the Cyclones will face New Hampshire on New Years Eve.
The entire tweet from Miller can be seen below:
Updated:
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Cyclones' non-conference schedule for 23-24 is complete. Just awaiting the draw for the ESPN Events Invitational. #Big12 https://t.co/Bw5v2lNlxj pic.twitter.com/waREJdoJZy
— Rocco Miller (@RoccoMiller8) April 12, 2023
Dec 18, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Buffalo Bulls guard Curtis Jones (3) shoots aa three pointer during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State will host another priority transfer target later this week.
Buffalo guard Curtis Jones is scheduled to officially visit Ames this weekend, a source close to the program has confirmed to Cyclone Fanatic publisher Chris Williams.
The 6-foot-5 Minneapolis native averaged 15.0 points per game this season for the Bulls while shooting 41 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from 3-point range and 78.1 percent from the free throw line. He also added 4.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest.
The Cretin-Derham Hall prep product played one year of junior college basketball at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. He was a third-team All-MAC selection as a sophomore in 2022-23 and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Iowa State has already landed two of its priority targets out of the portal in UNLV guard Keshon Gilbert and Wofford guard Jackson Pavelezke. The Cyclones currently hold the No. 11 group of transfers in the country, according to On3.
Stay tuned to Cyclone Fanatic for more on this story.
Former Cyclone Hakeem Butler leads the XFL with six touchdown receptions through eight games of league play this season.
Over the weekend, he helped secure the victory for his team in the first overtime finish in league history.
FIRST OVERTIME WIN ST LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS !!!!!! #XFL #XFL2023 #footus pic.twitter.com/ONPi0zbVjt
— Spring Football News (@SpringFBnews) April 8, 2023
Butler has 435 yards this season on 42 receptions, good for 10.4 yards per catch as the postseason approaches.
Hakeem Butler TD for the Battlehawks. That’s 6 receiving touchdowns for him this season.
I think an NFL team will make the call for him to join a roster for training camp this summer/fall.
pic.twitter.com/SYci4ten5R
— Full-Time Dame (@DP_NFL) April 8, 2023
The Battlehawks currently sit second in the XFL’s North Division with a 6-2 record and can clinch a playoff spot with a win on Sunday against Seattle (2:00 p.m. ESPN).
Iowa State earned its fifth commitment of the 2024 football class this week in Colorado linebacker Mason Miller.
Miller, a three-star prospect, is rated as the No. 7 prospect out of the state and says that he chose Iowa State because of the cultural fit between players and coaching staff.
“The family – like all of the coaches and all of the players – there’s just a different bond there,” Miller said.
Committed Go Clones pic.twitter.com/3O0Wb8M5kE
— Mason miller (@Masonmiller202) April 10, 2023
Miller had other offers to Washington State and Wyoming, and will bring his 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame to Ames.
He thanked Iowa State linebackers coach Tyson Veidt as well as tight ends coach Taylor Mouser in his commitment post.
“It’s awesome,” Miller said of the coaches. “They’ve always reassured me, treated me as a priority, tried to talk to me whenever they were able to, try to know what’s going on in my life, just everything.”
Iowa State sees Miller slotting in at the mike linebacker position in its defense, where O’Rien Vance played during his career.
“(I watched) Vance,” Miller said. “I went to the Baylor game last year and he plays like a mad man. The 3-3-stack is a great defense and the mike linebacker just thrives in it.”
Miller joins quarterback Connor Moberly, tight end Keaton Roskop, defensive end Jace Gilbert, and ATH Danny Inglis as the first group of commits to the 2024 class.
Ashley Joens was selected as the No. 19 overall pick in Monday’s WNBA Draft, joining fellow Iowa State draftee Stephanie Soares as picks for the league’s Dallas Wings.
“It means a lot,” Joens said on the ESPN broadcast. “Obviously, Coach Fennelly and the staff at Iowa State did an amazing job getting us ready.”
The pair of Cyclones become the 15th and 16th WNBA Draft picks in program history, and also the first since Bridget Carleton was selected in 2019.
“To know that Steph’s also going to be there, and getting the opportunity to play with her again is really exciting,” Joens said.
Joens is the all-time leading scorer in Iowa State history and helped lead the Cyclones to their first Big 12 tournament championship in over two decades in March.
Iowa State’s Stephanie Soares was selected as the No. 4 overall pick in Monday’s WNBA Draft, becoming the highest picked player in program history for the Cyclones.
Soares was originally selected by the Washington Mystics, but shortly after the pick was announced, her draft rights were traded to the Dallas Wings for one first round and one second round pick in future drafts.
The Wings finished 18-18 in the 2022 season and were eliminated by Connecticut in the first round as the No. 6 seed in the playoffs.
“I think part of it was a lot of the people that surrounded me,” Soares said of her journey. “They helped me grow as an individual and as a player.”
Soares entire family was present in New York to be with her for the moment she was selected.
“It means a lot, we haven’t been together as a family since my brother’s wedding a few years ago.”
Soares, who became the second first round pick in Iowa State history, said on the broadcast that she was focused on getting healthy after undergoing season-ending surgery that cut her time at Iowa State short.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – After guiding the Iowa State men’s basketball team to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight season and signing the highest-rated recruiting class in program history, head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension, Cyclone Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today.
“In just two years, Coach Otzelberger and his staff have reimagined the Cyclone program while instilling a culture which has led to great success in the classroom, on the court and in recruiting,” Pollard said. “The complete transformation of our program in such a short time is a testament to Coach Otzelberger’s leadership and vision for Cyclone Basketball, and he is most deserving of this extension and a compensation increase.
“When we hired T.J., he agreed to take a lower salary on the front end to help us manage the buyout costs associated with the transition with the understanding that we would increase his salary over the first few years of his contract to be more in line with his Big 12 peers,” he added. “This extension allows Iowa State to reward T.J. for the outstanding job he has done first and foremost, while also keeping our promise to him when he was hired. The future of Cyclone Basketball is bright, and I believe even greater success is on the horizon for our program under Coach Otzelberger’s direction.”
Otzelberger’s contract now extends through June 30, 2029, and his total compensation will increase to $2.5M on July 1, 2023, $3M on July 1, 2024 and $3.5M on July 1, 2025, followed by $100,000 increases for each subsequent contract year. All other terms of his original contract remain unchanged.
Only the third coach in the program’s 116-year history to lead Iowa State to the NCAA Tournament in each of their first two seasons on the ISU bench, Otzelberger’s 2022-23 Cyclones went 19-14 overall and 9-9 in the Big 12 Conference, good for fifth place in the nation’s toughest league. Iowa State produced a nation-leading six victories over Associated Press (AP) Top 10 teams and was one of two teams to register eight or more wins over AP Top 25 teams, as Texas (10) and Iowa State (nine) led the nation. ISU’s nine AP Top 25 wins tied the program’s single-season record first set during the 2013-14 season and matched a year later.
A 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List member, Otzelberger’s 41 wins rank fourth among Cyclone head coaches in their first two seasons at the helm. He owns a 41-27 (.603) record in two seasons at Iowa State, and a 140-90 (.609) record in seven years as a Division I head coach.
Four Cyclones earned 2022-23 honors by the Big 12 Conference coaches. Gabe Kalscheur garnered second-team All-Big 12 honors and was also named to the Big 12 All-Defensive team. Jaren Holmes was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, while also earning a spot on the Big 12 All-Newcomer team. Osun Osunniyi also earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. Tamin Lipsey picked up a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman team. Kalscheur also received NABC All-District 8 second-team recognition and played in the Reese’s College All-Star Game, leading the West Team to victory.
Iowa State signed the highest-ranked recruiting class in school history, a consensus Top 10 class by ESPN (8th), 247 (9th) and Rivals (10th). Five-star signee Omaha Biliew, a McDonald’s All-American, and four-star signee Milan Momcilovic, Wisconsin’s consensus Player of the Year and a MaxPreps All-American, headline the four-member class that also includes Kayden Fish and Jelani Hamilton.
Otzelberger’s debut season in Ames produced a 22-13 overall record, the school’s 21st NCAA Tournament bid and sixth Sweet 16 appearance en route to a season-ending ranking of No. 23 in the coaches poll. ISU registered the third-best improvement in NCAA history, a +20-win improvement over the program’s 2020-21 record. Unanimously picked last in the Big 12 Conference preseason poll, the Cyclones defied all odds in making the NCAA Tournament and finishing seventh in the nation’s toughest league.
Dec 20, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies guard Wade Taylor IV (4) presses Wofford Terriers guard Jackson Paveletzke (1) on the inbound pass during the second half at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State has landed its second major commitment out of the transfer portal.
Wofford guard Jackson Paveletzke announced his pledge to T.J. Otzelberger’s program on Monday. The 2022-23 Southern Conference Player of the Year is considered the No. 25 available transfer by On3.
“Before I even got there, I kind of knew it was the place to be,” Paveletzke told Cyclone Fanatic. “Just since day one, T.J.’s kind of stood out to me and made me a priority. They were in the NCAA Tournament, practicing the morning before they played Pitt. T.J. was FaceTiming me in the arena. There hasn’t been a day where I haven’t talked to T.J. or J.R. or the staff. Right when I got there, I kinda got a feeling that this is the place for me. Just seeing the arena and seeing all the stuff that Iowa State has to offer, it really made me feel like it’s a family atmosphere and I really liked it.”
CYCLONE NATION, y’all ready? pic.twitter.com/vT6zRjlev8
— Jackson Paveletzke (@jacksonpavvv) April 10, 2023
This is Iowa State’s second commitment in as many days after UNLV guard Keshon Gilbert did the same on Sunday.
Paveletzke was one of the top freshmen in the country this past season while averaging 15.1 points, shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from 3-point range for Wofford.
The Kimberly, Wis. native is adept at scoring on all three levels of the court, but is especially lethal from deep where he can score off the catch or bounce. He’s especially strong scoring in the pick and roll, knocking down mid-range pull-up jumpers or attacking all the way to the basket.
The 6-foot-3 combo guard played AAU basketball for Wisconsin Phenom, the same team as Iowa State 2023 signee Milan Momcilovic. Wofford was his only reported offer out of high school.
Gilbert and Paveletzke will both fit well alongside returning point guard Tamin Lipsey, who hosted Paveletzke on his official visit this past weekend. The duo will be asked to help fill big shoes left behind by Gabe Kalscheur and Jaren Holmes.
“I spent some time with Tamin this weekend,” Paveletzke said. “He’s a great kid. Everything from I’ve experienced and heard, he’s a really humble kid who works really hard. He proved that this year in the Big 12 doing as well as he did. That’s no mistake. That’s who he is. That’s why I think he really fits. He’s got that mentality. He’s just a really hard worker, which helps him out. I was around the guys this weekend and I loved them. I see that I fit right in. I can really see myself taking the court with these guys.”
Dec 20, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Wofford Terriers guard Jackson Paveletzke (1) drives to the basket against the Texas A&M Aggies during the first half at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
The following is a transcript of a conversation with Wofford transfer guard Jackson Paveltzke, who announced his commitment to Iowa State on Monday after visiting Ames over the weekend.
CF: So, what stuck out about your visit and what made you want to commit to Iowa State?
Paveletzke: “Before I even got there, I kind of knew it was the place to be. Just since day one, T.J.’s kind of stood out to me and made me a priority. They were in the NCAA Tournament, practicing the morning before they played Pitt. T.J. was FaceTiming me in the arena. There hasn’t been a day where I haven’t talked to T.J. or J.R. (Blount) or the staff. Right when I got there, I kinda got a feeling that this is the place for me. Just seeing the arena and seeing all the stuff that Iowa State has to offer, it really made me feel like it’s a family atmosphere and I really liked it.”
CF: Tell me about your relationship with T.J. Otzelberger.
Paveletzke: “Since I entered the portal, T.J. really stood out to me as a guy that really cares. His mentality and how he goes about his work, T.J.’s a worker. He cares so much about his guys. He’ll go to war with his dudes. That’s something I really noticed and something my family noticed. He’s got a lot of energy and every day I’ve talked to him, it’s been that energy and it’s been consistent. Consistency with me is something that stood out. He’s made me a priority since day one.”
CF: What do you bring to the table as a player?
Paveletzke: “I really think I bring a lot of playmaking to the table. I can score the ball at all three levels. Whether that’s hitting open threes or creating threes, getting to the mid-range or finishing at the rim. Just making the right play is something that I do all the time. I’m a team guy and I’m going to do whatever the team needs to win.”
CF: What are your thoughts on Iowa State’s returning point guard Tamin Lipsey? What was the feeling being around the guys this weekend?
Paveletzke: “Tamin was my host. I spent some time with Tamin this weekend. He’s a great kid. Everything from I’ve experienced and heard, he’s a really humble kid who works really hard. He proved that this year in the Big 12 doing as well as he did. That’s no mistake. That’s who he is. That’s why I think he really fits. He’s got that mentality. He’s just a really hard worker, which helps him out. I was around the guys this weekend and I loved them. I see that I fit right in. I can really see myself taking the court with these guys.”
CF: Iowa State’s had a lot of players from Wisconsin have success in the program. What was your exposure to Iowa State growing up in the state?
Paveletzke: “Obviously, Tyrese Haliburton is a marquee name that sticks out for me. He went to Oshkosh North High School and they’re a team in my high school conference. I kind of grew up 30 minutes from him and seeing the success he had at Iowa State, then obviously Tyrese Hunter, going there too and having some success. Wisconsin’s had some… man, even Matt Thomas, Deonte Burton. There’s a lot of guys who have had success at Iowa State. It’s no mistake. Their player development and how much time and energy they put into the guys is really why. Also, those guys all worked really hard too and that’s something that really sticks out.”
CF: There will be another one with Milan Momcilovic joining you guys this summer. What do you know about his game?
Paveletzke: “I’ve actually talked to Milan a couple times throughout this process. He played with Phenom, who I played with, but a year younger than me. Milan’s the real deal. He’s 6-foot-8. He can space the floor. He’s really skilled. He can shoot threes. He’s got really good footwork in the post. He’s got a signature fadeaway that he really knocks down at a high rate. He’s super long which helps on the defensive end. I’m excited to play with him and he’s a great player.”
CF: Was part of your decision to transfer just looking for a new challenge with a higher level of competition in the Big 12?
Paveletzke: “That was part of it. I’m looking forward to the challenge, but I think I’m going to be ready. I’m looking forward to getting to campus in June with these guys and starting to work with them. I think this group could be really special next year with the incoming guys and the returning guys. We’ve got a lot of skill and versatility. Guys that can shoot the ball and create. I’m ready to see what this team can do and get to work with them in the summer.”
Iowa State has earned its fifth commitment of the 2024 recruiting class in Colorado linebacker Mason Miller.
The 6-foot-2 linebacker out of Colorado Springs was rated as the No. 8 recruit in the state and boasted offers from Washington State and Wyoming.
Miller is the second addition to the class in April, joining Southeast Polk quarterback Connor Moberly as the latest commits.
Other members of the class include defensive end Jace Gilbert, tight end Keaton Roskop, and ATH commit Danny Inglis.
It’s Draft Day for a pair of Iowa State Cyclones as Ashley Joens and Stephanie Soares are slated to be selected during Monday’s WNBA Draft in New York City (6:00 p.m. ESPN).
Both players are being projected in mock drafts as top 10 overall prospects, as is the case in M.A. Voepel’s final mock draft.
Should they be selected, it will be the first time Iowa State has seen two players drafted in the same year since Chelsea Poppens and Anna Prins were each picked in the second round in 2013.
Iowa State has had just one first round pick among the 14 players drafted to the league in Alison Lacey.
If either Soares or Joens is selected in the first nine picks, they will become the highest picked player in Iowa State history.
Jan 28, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; UNLV Runnin’ Rebels guard Keshon Gilbert (10) dribbles around Nevada Wolf Pack guard Kenan Blackshear (13) in the second half at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
There is one thing that jumps out to me when you turn the tape on and watch new Iowa State commit, UNLV transfer guard, Keshon Gilbert.
Speed, speed and speed.
The 6-foot-4 St. Louis native is fast turning the corner off of screens. He’s fast in transition. He’s fast defensively. He’s just fast.
He plays fast getting downhill toward the rim and is a strong finisher at the rack with the ability to convert through contact. He’s an explosive leaper which gives him the ability to finish over the top of bigger defenders after utilizing his speed and quickness to attack help defenders in the pick and roll.
Perhaps the most refreshing part of his game is his ability to score in spot up situations, which ranked in the 94th percentile last season with a 1.25 points per possession average. He’s smooth with the catch-and-shoot in addition to having the ability to knock down shots off the dribble.
He’s even efficient at the charity stripe, where he shot 79.8 percent last season on 94 attempts. He would’ve been Iowa State’s team-leader in percentage and followed only Jaren Holmes in attempts.
There is more work to be done for Iowa State’s 2023 transfer class, but this is a very good start. The former Mountain West Freshman of the Year has all the tools to be a very good player for Iowa State in the Big 12.
He’s got the athleticism and strength needed and he’s got some knockdown shooting ability that has been lacking in Ames in recent seasons.
Sign me up.
More Musings* I wouldn’t be surprised to see more Iowa State basketball transfer recruiting news in the not so distant future. That’s all I’m gonna say about that.
* I went through and updated the Big 12 standings based on projected T-Rank after the last few weeks of attrition and transfer portal additions. Remember, this is all based on projected returning and added production. I went through the first rankings in this column a few weeks ago. Here’s where they stand after two weeks of portal news:
- Houston
- Kansas
- Baylor
- Iowa State
- Oklahoma State
- Cincinnati
- Texas
- Texas Tech
- BYU
- West Virginia
- Kansas State
- TCU
- Oklahoma
- UCF
* Baylor guard LJ Cryer’s transfer to Houston is the most significant Big 12 transfer news of the offseason — so far. He was a legitimate candidate for preseason Big 12 Player of the Year after averaging 15.0 points per game for the Bears this season.
Well, I guess he still is a candidate for preseason Big 12 Player of the Year. He’s exactly the kind of replacement Kelvin Sampson needed for Marcus Sasser and will fit in nicely alongside Jamal Shead.
The Cougars will likely be one of the five best teams in the country next year.
* The second biggest transfer news of the offseason so far belongs to West Virginia and Bob Huggins for landing Arizona point guard Kerr Krisa, who was one of the best floor generals in the portal. He’s an elite playmaker and shooter with a bit of a mean streak. Sounds like a Bob Huggins type of guard.
* No offense to DePaul, but why can’t Iowa State get a marquee game in one of its league’s annual non-conference events? I’m not saying Iowa State needs to go on the road and play defending national champion UConn, but it feels like it has been years since Iowa State got a genuinely exciting match-up from the Big East or SEC events.
Creighton visiting Hilton Coliseum would be big-time television. Iowa State visiting its longtime feeder school Marquette would be fantastic. Hopefully, things like that will happen in the next iteration of the league without Texas or Oklahoma.
* Georges Niang and the Philadelphia 76ers will start their NBA Playoffs run this Saturday when they open their first round series against Brooklyn. Unfortunately, he’s the only former Cyclone with a shot to win a ring this season.
Feb 8, 2023; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; UNLV Runnin’ Rebels guard Keshon Gilbert (10) drives against Wyoming Cowboys forward Jeremiah Oden (25) during the second half at Arena-Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Watch highlights of Iowa State’s new transfer commit Keshon Gilbert in the videos below.
Feb 14, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; San Jose State Spartans guard Alvaro Cardenas (13) guards UNLV Runnin’ Rebels guard Keshon Gilbert (10) in the first half at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State has landed the first major piece of its 2023 transfer recruiting class.
UNLV guard Keshon Gilbert has announced his pledge to T.J. Otzelberger’s program after a visit to Ames late this week. He will have two years of eligibility remaining upon transferring to Iowa State.
NEWS: UNLV transfer Keshon Gilbert has committed to Iowa State, he tells @On3sports.
Story: https://t.co/fA2WopccdP pic.twitter.com/4f40bNYbbm
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 9, 2023
“First of all, when I got in the portal, T.J. was one of the first coaches to call,” Gilbert told Cyclone Fanatic. “Of course, I was hearing the same thing every call I got. For me, it was just being consistent and I was really just trying to see who was going to stay consistent in what they were saying. Keep calling me, doing the little things.”
“When I got in the portal, T.J. was there in Vegas to see me in the next couple days. The assistant was there in the next couple days to see me. That played a big part. Their coaches got on the horse that fast. Really, that and I feel Ames is the perfect place for me to lock in and work on myself and work on my game.”
This is actually Gilbert’s second time committing to Otzelberger. He did so as a three-star member of Otzelberger’s UNLV 2021 recruiting class before going on to average 6.9 points per game in 63 appearances across two seasons for the Rebels.
Gilbert, a 6-foot-4 combo guard from Las Vegas, averaged 11.4 points and shot 38.4 percent from 3-point range this past season while adding 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
“The part of it is just his energy,” Gilbert said about Otzelberger. “I’m big on energy. I like being around people that like the game. I like being around people who say, ‘We get to go to practice,’ and not, ‘We gotta go to practice.’ I like people like that. He’s been like that from the first day I met him. He’s been an upbeat guy. You can tell he’s really passionate about what he does. I feel like that’s real because I feel like I’m the same way and a lot of people don’t have that.”
Gilbert will slide into an important role in the Iowa State backcourt alongside returning starting point guard Tamin Lipsey, who burst onto the scene as one of the best freshmen guards in the country this season.
“Being a person that does it all,” Gilbert said when asked about Iowa State’s pitch from a basketball standpoint. “Playmake, defend, get downhill, make open shots, I’m just going to be a do-it-all guy.”
For now, Gilbert is glad to be done with an overwhelming transfer process by linking back up with an old connection.
“It was really kind of annoying because every coach is saying the same things every call,” Gilbert said. “It’s kind of hard to figure out who’s being real or not. Me and T.J. already had a relationship before I even hit the portal so that played a big part in it.”
Iowa State has its quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class.
Southeast Polk signal-caller Connor Moberly announced his pledge to Iowa State’s program on Saturday. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound three-star prospect is on a visit in Ames this weekend.
I’m Home… pic.twitter.com/YIq5izcxgW
— connor moberly (@connor_moberly) April 8, 2023
Rated as the No. 53 quarterback and No. 11 player in the state of Iowa by the 247Composite, Moberly chose Iowa State over an offer from Northern Iowa plus reported interest from Iowa and Tulane.
Moberly was one of the best quarterbacks in the state last season, completing better than 70 percent of his passes for 1,954 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions, while leading Southeast Polk to the Class 5A state championship alongside 2023 Iowa State running back signee Abu Sama.
This is Iowa State’s fourth commitment in the 2024 cycle and the second in-state player to join the class after Linn-Mar tight end Keaton Roskop. The class is currently rated as the No. 58 class in the country.
Stay tuned to Cyclone Fanatic for more on this story.
According to a report from Bracketeer’s Rocco Miller, Iowa State will take on New Hampshire in a men’s basketball game on New Year’s Eve this season.
Iowa State will host New Hampshire on New Year's Eve, December 31st in Ames.
Additionally, Rhode Island will host New Hampshire on December 21st in Kingston.#AEMBB #Big12 #A10MBB
— Rocco Miller (@RoccoMiller8) April 7, 2023
The report sets the program’s sixth game of the projected non-conference schedule, following the reports this week of the Big East-Big 12 Battle slate.
Below is a look at penciled in games for the season:
2023-24 Iowa State MBB non-conference schedule
Nov. 23 | ESPN Events Invitational vs. TBA
Nov. 24 | ESPN Events Invitational vs. TBA
Nov. 26 | ESPN Events Invitational vs. TBA
TBA | DePaul (Big East-Big 12 Battle)
Dec. 9* | Iowa
Dec. 31 | New Hampshire
With the college basketball dead period in the rearview mirror, Iowa State is set to host three official visitors via the transfer portal this weekend.
Nevada forward Darrion Williams and UNLV guard Keshon Gilbert are expected to be on campus Thursday and Friday while Wofford guard Jackson Paveletzke will be in Ames on Saturday and Sunday.
The trio includes two players who were named Freshmen of the Year in their respective leagues with Williams winning the honor in the Mountain West and Paveltzke taking the Southern Conference’s award.
Williams, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound Las Vegas native, averaged 7.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a freshman at Nevada this season. He shot 41.4 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from 3-point range. He’s regarded as the No. 39 player currently in the portal by On3.
Gilbert, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard from Las Vegas, averaged 11.4 points, shot 46.4 percent from the field and 38.4 percent from 3-point range this season for the Rebels. He’s already played two seasons of college basketball and is considered the No. 20 player in the portal by On3.
Paveltzke was one of the best freshmen in the country this season, averaging 15.1 points per game while shooting 39.3 percent from deep and 49.3 percent from the field. The Kimberly, Wis. native is considered the No. 25 player in the portal by On3.
Landing all three players visiting this weekend could be seen as a home run for T.J. Otzelberger and staff early in the transfer portal cycle and pairing this trio with the returning players and the highly-rated incoming recruiting class would have Iowa State as a borderline top-25 team going into next season.
Stay tuned to Cyclone Fanatic for more on this story.
Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers (12) looks down field for an open player during the Iowa State, Southeast Missouri State game on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones defeated the Redhawks, 42-10.
Hunter Dekkers is preparing to take his next steps as a quarterback.
That’s the mindset with which the redshirt junior is approaching Iowa State’s 2023 spring drills. He got his feet wet, and then some, last season while leading the Cyclones, but, now, it is time to hone in on the details of being the signal-caller.
“For me, personally, I would say a lot of stuff would just be the small details within the quarterback position,” Dekkers said when asked about his goals for the spring. “Also, just growing in leadership.”
The leadership piece will be key for Dekkers as he tries to help Iowa State bounce back from last year’s 4-8 campaign that snapped a streak of five-straight bowl game appearances for the program.
Dekkers completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,044 yards, 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season while earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors.
That experience and accolades, along with the nature of the quarterback position, make Dekkers one of the most important Cyclones going through spring practice.
“I think time plays a huge, huge part into that,” Dekkers said about building leadership credibility. “I think just building belief and having your team have belief in you, I think is what really, really builds leadership.”
Dekkers is doing all of this with a new position coach and man in charge of the offense, Nate Scheelhaase, who played quarterback at Illinois before entering the coaching ranks.
“(Working with Scheelhaase has) been really enjoyable,” Dekkers said. “It’s been really good so far. It’s been really exciting to see what he can do as an offensive coordinator, and it’s also been a huge plus for us as quarterbacks to have him be our coach.”
Scheelhaase being the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach creates an interesting dynamic the program did not have previously under former offensive coordinator Tom Manning and quarterbacks coach Joel Gordon.
For the first time since Matt Campbell has been in Ames, the offensive coordinator is working directly with the quarterbacks on a day-to-day basis in order to refine and improve the offense based on how they’re working together.
“Obviously, as the offensive coordinator, you want to be on the same like wavelength as the quarterback,” Dekkers said. “Him being the person in the quarterback room to tell us what he’s thinking for each play is a huge plus for us.”
Iowa State will face DePaul on the road during the 2023-24 college basketball season as part of the Big East-Big 12 Challenge according to a report from CBS’ Jon Rothstein.
2023 Big East-Big 12 Battle
UConn at Kansas
Texas at Marquette
Houston at Xavier
Villanova at Kansas State
St. John’s at West Virginia
Creighton at Oklahoma State
Providence at Oklahoma
Iowa State at DePaul
Texas Tech at Butler
TCU at Georgetown
Seton Hall at Baylor
Last season, DePaul finished 10-23 with a 3-17 record in Big East Conference play.
The 11-game series matchups being released gives Iowa State fans a look at at least five games on the team’s schedule set for next season.
Iowa State will play in the ESPN Events Invitational during Thanksgiving weekend along with Boise State, Butler, Penn State, Texas A&M, VCU, Virginia Tech and one TBA team from the MAAC. The tournament will use a traditional, 8-team and 3-game format over November 23, 24 & 26.
Along with that, Iowa State is set to face Iowa at Hilton Coliseum as part of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. If game dates hold as they have in recent years, the game will be played Thursday, December 9.
2023-24 Iowa State MBB non-conference schedule
Nov. 23 | ESPN Events Invitational vs. TBA
Nov. 24 | ESPN Events Invitational vs. TBA
Nov. 26 | ESPN Events Invitational vs. TBA
Dec. 9 | Iowa
TBA | DePaul (Big East-Big 12 Battle)
– unconfirmed
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Hunter Dekkers (12) nthrows the ball against Kansas State during the fourth quarter at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Ames, Iowa.
Iowa State offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase met with the media on Tuesday to break down his first spring in his new role, what it has been like coaching the quarterbacks, Hunter Dekkers development and much more.
The following are excerpts of that conversation lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
On Hunter Dekkers’ growth during the winter…“It’s been fun to work with him these last few weeks, especially in spring ball. He’s got a lot of really good reps under his belt. It’s fun to go back and watch the film from last year, because he’s able to talk through what he saw, decisions he made, reasons why he went to certain spots on the field, and really, just to be able to dial back into to what we’re trying to do, how we’re trying to execute, some of the tweaks and changes that we’ve made, and, honestly, to get out there on the field and get reps. It’s one thing to theorize about things all offseason. The blessing of spring ball is you get to put those things in action and start to see some of those results in the field. Start to see things you may have tweaked from last year. He’s responded well to that.”
On competition in the quarterback room from Rocco Becht and J.J. Kohl…“It’s been a really competitive spring. Overall, from position to position, you’ve got young guys that have been chomping at the bit. It’s no different in the quarterback room.
I think the experience that Rocco had even going through last season, the reps that he got in game, in practice, you’ve seen a lot of growth from him. You’ve seen his maturity, even even in the last few practices. He’s made a lot of huge strides in understanding the offense and making throws and great decision making, even throughout the course of practice. That’s good to see that consistency.
Obviously, JJ coming in, you’ve got a guy that’s, obviously, really talented, but he really, really cares about football. That’s a part that stands out to him, or since working with him, is that and he’s passionate. He wants to be in the film room as much as he can. He wants to get extra reps behind the scenes.
That’s the type of competitive spirit that you want from a position group, from an offense in general, from a team overall. We’ve got that from those guys. Those guys have all pushed each other, force each other to get better every day that they’re out there and really be dialed in.”
How the running backs have looked in spring ball…“Number one, I would say those guys really dialed in this offseason to the weight room. You’ve seen those guys transform their bodies, you’ve seen them really amp up the nutrition and just get themselves ready to go. I think sometimes, it’s one thing to think, ‘Man, I want to go and be the guy and I want to go and have this incredible breakout season.’ There’s another thing when you get a ton of those reps and what that really feels like playing the running back position.
They’ve all felt that in some moments. Cartevious (Norton), Jirehl (Brock), Eli (Sanders), I think they have more urgency to get their bodies ready, to get themselves ready for this season. Our strength staff has done a great job. Our training staff has done a great job of working with those guys.
What we’ve seen so far is, man, you’ve got all those guys in there, they’re all a little bit different, but I think the positive part for us is they all have a level of physicality that they bring to the table. They have the ability to make explosive plays, which we want from our running backs. I’m really excited to see those guys continue to grow.
Again, that starts in the weight room with those guys in preparing themselves. I think what I’ve seen on the field from those guys is they’ve got the ability to to go and be explosive runners for us and playmakers for us, because we’re gonna need to do that come season.”
On working with new position coaches…It’s been a huge positive to get into practice. You can get away from theorizing about things and, ‘Man, we can do this,’ or ‘Man, we should do this,’ and you actually get some reps to see, what are we good at? What are the things that fit us and fit our players?
You can really start to figure that out as an offense. I think it’s been cool to have guys with different experiences come into the fold, that obviously have different ideas, but even just, man, their ability to teach, their ability to coach, man, maybe they see things that I’ve never really realized or things that Coach (Taylor) Mouser, man, we’ve had a different take on it. They’ve been able to add just a different experience to the fold, which has been huge for us.
They’re great teachers, who care about the kids that they coach a ton. You’ve seen them with a lot of fire, I think from position to position, just in the group overall, and how they’re attacking it, the tenacity that each group is bringing to the table, as well as the precision and detail with what their position is expected to do and the techniques and fundamentals it’ll take to be successful. It’s been a lot of fun to get out on the field, to get back in a meeting room after practice, to go over stuff and figure out exactly, man, what fits our guys, and we’re moving as far as the direction of the offense, but I’ve been fired up about it.
I’ve been fired up from a football standpoint, but I think I said back then and I probably feel even more strong about it now that who they are as men and what they brought to the table as far as like, how they coach our kids, just just the type of men they are, who they are as family men as husbands as fathers. It’s been inspiring just to be around as a fellow coach, to be honest with you.”
On being the quarterbacks coach…“Man, I think it’s been a huge positive, and it’s probably one I didn’t even anticipate early on. I think at any level of football, the offense in a lot of ways, can only go as far as the quarterback is ready to take it. I think being able to dial in with those guys and understand where they’re at to understand what they like, what they feel confident in, man, the install and how fast or slow we’re going just based on those guys, and what they can pick up, I think has been really, really cool.
It’s important, obviously, for the coordinator to understand those guys, and just being able to meet with them daily, being able to get the feedback from them in the meeting room has been huge. I’ve enjoyed it a lot. I’ve enjoyed getting to know those guys on a personal level number one, but just coaching them and figuring out what they do well, what they like, what they feel confident in out on the field. It’s been really cool for me.”
Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers and running back Jirehl Brock broke down the Cyclones’ spring drills with the media on Tuesday. Hear Dekkers’ thoughts on his mindset heading into the spring and Brock on his recovery from injury in the videos below.
Iowa State offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase gives his thoughts on the differences of his new position on the staff, how Hunter Dekkers has grown since last season and more.
Wisconsin coaches Jim Leonhard, left, Hank Poteat and Alvah Hansbro are shown before their game against Illinois State Saturday, September 3, 2022 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell and Toledo coach Jason Candle are good friends off of the football field.
It’s made the transition of Iowa State’s new cornerbacks coach in Hank Poteat much easier, as he moves into a position room entirely of players he hasn’t coached before.
“The transition for me has been good,” Poteat said. “Just coaching at Toledo, and how coach Campbell and coach Jason Candle at Toledo are good friends, so the programs are ran pretty similar. Just being here in this environment and with these coaches, it feels like home with all the similarities.”
Poteat spent his last two seasons as cornerbacks coach with Wisconsin, where both of his full-time starters at the position ended up in the NFL. Before that, he was in the same position on the Toledo coaching staff.
After playing college ball at Pittsburgh, he was a third round draft pick in the 2000 NFL Draft before spending a decade in the league and spending time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, New York Jets and Cleveland Browns.
That NFL experience is something he wants to utilize with cornerback T.J. Tampa, who opted to return to Iowa State for another season rather than enter the draft.
“Everything’s a teachable moment,” Poteat said. “Anything that I do with the whole group is really talking about my experiences – especially when I was in New England, Bill Bilichek challenges his players. I’m just trying to help (Tampa) understand the big picture of the game and understand situational football – just every little detail of the position that’s going to allow him to elevate his game and be able to take his game to the next level.”
It’s early in Poteat’s time at Iowa State, but one of the first things he noticed about Tampa was an aspect of leadership.
“Normally when I first come to a program, I always try to get a feel for who will everybody respond to in the room,” Poteat said. “He’s been a guy that people look up to and has earned the right to lead.”
That’s important for the role Poteat wants Tampa to take on.
“I make sure me and him communicate a lot, because he will be an extension of me when I’m not around being able to take leadership in that room,” Poteat said. “As he continues to get more comfortable with our room in that leadership role, it will allow him to be more confident when it comes to the whole team.”
As far as the rest of the room goes, Poteat mentioned a pair of redshirt freshmen that have stood out to him early.
Jontez Williams and Terrell Crosby each redshirted during the 2022 season and look to play their way onto the field in 2023.
“Jontez has done some walk-throughs and some individual (practice periods),” Poteat said. “He’s not full-go yet with team-type stuff, but like his footwork, and him wanting to learn and being able to retain information and different technicues. I like where he is.”
“I love the confidence in Terrell Crosby,” Poteat said. “He’s doing a good job. I like how he plays at his own tempo and he likes to compete. I talk to my guys every day about having that dog mentality and I like where he is right now, being a young guy.”
The transition for Poteat also comes in working with an entirely new coaching staff.
He’s getting his first practices working alongside defensive coordinator Jon Heacock.
“I love (working with Coach Heacock),” Poteat said. “He’s real detailed. Even when we sit through meetings, everyone talks through their positions and just learning the front and what the backers were doing. We’re just trying to get a feel for how everybody fits and why we’re doing certain things.”
It’s still early in the process of the 2023 college football season, but Poteat likes what he sees so far.
“As far as the first couple days of practice, I really like my guys. They’re eager to learn. (We’re) just continuing to work on discipline on technique but I really like their effort and how they go about their day-to-day to get better.”
Remaining Iowa State spring practice schedule
April 4 – Practice 6
April 6 – Practice 7
April 8 – Practice 8
April 11 – Practice 9
April 13 – Practice 10
April 15 – Practice 11
April 18 – Practice 12
April 20 – Practice 13
April 21 – Practice 14
April 22 – Iowa State Spring Game @ Jack Trice Stadium (11 a.m.)
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
MAUI, Hawaii –The 2024 Maui Jim Maui Invitational field was announced today and Iowa State will be one of the teams in the 41st annual tournament. The Cyclones will participate in what is expected to be one of the strongest fields in tournament history. Joining the Cyclones in Maui will be Auburn, Colorado, Dayton, Memphis, Michigan State, North Carolina and 2023 National Champion UConn.
The 2024 appearance marks the third time the Cyclones take the floor in Maui, having appeared in 1990 and 2018. In 2018, ISU dropped the opener to Arizona before defeating Illinois and San Diego State. The 1990 Cyclones went 1-2 under Johnny Orr’s guidance, defeating Chaminade and falling to Syracuse and Santa Clara.
The 2024 Maui Jim Maui Invitational will be played Nov. 25-27 at Maui’s famed Lahaina Civic Center. All 12 Maui games will be telecast by ESPN networks, with the bracket being announced at a later date. The 2024 teams bolster a total of 218 NCAA Tournament appearances, 45 Final Four berths and 13 NCAA Tournament titles. Half of the teams competing rank within the top-40 of the winningest programs of all-time in men’s college basketball. ADVERTISING
UCONN has won the NCAA Championship five times in the last 25 years, and also has won the Maui Title twice in that span. This year’s National Championship game in Houston was a prime example of ‘Maui Magic,’ as San Diego State finished fourth in the 2022 Maui Jim Maui Invitational.
All eight teams have been to the Maui Jim Maui Invitational before at least once, with North Carolina holding the most previous trips at eight. Memphis will be making its sixth trip, first since 2011, while Dayton, Michigan State and UCONN will return for their fifth appearances.
Additionally, half of the teams have previously won the Maui Jim Maui Invitational: North Carolina has won four times, UConn twice and Michigan State and Dayton each hold one coveted title apiece.
“The goal of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational is and always has been to bring together the top programs in college basketball in one of the most stunning places in the country. The 2024 field will accomplish that and more,” said Tom Valdiserri, executive vice president of KemperLesnik, the operator of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. “The field includes a variety of iconic programs and coaches, as well as respected up-and-comers. We are confident when we say that the Maui Jim Maui Invitational does not disappoint, and we think fans back home and on-island will be in for an epic few days of college basketball with this stacked field.”
All-Tournament travel packages and school Booster travel packages for the 2024 Maui Jim Maui Invitational will be available at a later date. For more information on the Tournament, please visit mauiinvitational.com.
Welcome to the final day of the college basketball season.
Connecticut and San Diego State will square off tonight in Houston for all the marbles, and the result feels like a foregone conclusion after the way the Huskies have rolled through their first five games of this tournament.
Iowa State’s first round loss to Pittsburgh feels like a lifetime ago. The Cyclones are already deep into the offseason and are digging into the transfer portal.
Activity on that front is set to heat up significantly this week when the dead period ends on Thursday. We’ll have plenty to talk about at that point as visits are set and next year’s roster starts to come into focus.
For now, we’re going to focus on the players who will be returning to Iowa State and some of the things those players could be focused on from a development standpoint as the summer progresses.
How will the Cyclones be expanding their bags this summer? Let’s discuss.
Tamin Lipsey — There are no questions as to Lipsey’s No. 1 priority in the offseason, and that’s jump shooting. Lipsey was unquestionably fantastic around the rim this season, shooting an eye-popping 69.1 percent on close 2-point shots, which is a number more comparable to centers than fellow point guards. Osun Osunniyi shot 69.5 percent on such shots this season for Iowa State.
But, the issues for Lipsey arise once he gets away from the rim, where he shot 31 percent on long 2-pointers and was just 5-of-25 from 3-point range (20 percent). Again, those numbers are more comparable to centers than the average point guard as, for reference, Robert Jones shot 35.9 percent on those longer 2-pointers this season on one more attempt than Lipsey.
A significant leap for Lipsey would be getting that mid-range number closer to 40 percent and connecting on 30 percent of his 3-pointers as a sophomore next season with more volume. It would be unrealistic to expect much more than that in one summer.
Still, Lipsey’s mechanics as a shooter aren’t the problem. It comes down more to having the mindset of being a shooter and scorer. He needs to improve with catching the ball ready to shoot, which means getting his feet set and being ready to let it fire once you make the catch.
Failure to improve in this area will allow defenses to sag off Iowa State’s point guard in the same way many teams did late in the season. It has to get better for Iowa State’s offense to get better.
Tre King — I’m not sure there’s a player already on Iowa State’s roster who seems poised to make a bigger leap than King. He’s already one of the team’s best around the rim, connecting on 67.3 percent of his close twos, and proved to have a versatile bag on the block that could make him one of the league’s best low-post scorers next season, especially if Iowa State’s outside shooting improves.
Outside shooting is where King can find more consistency as he was just 4-of-15 from deep for 26.7 percent. Bumping that number up another five percentage points to get it above 30 percent will be more than enough to keep teams honest when King leaves the painted area offensively.
Another key for King will be improving as a defender without fouling. His 5.7 fouls per 40 minutes were the third-highest number on the team. You can’t make an impact if you can’t stay on the floor because you’re in foul trouble all the time.
He played 23 games for Iowa State this season and had three or more fouls in 15 of them. He scored in double figures in five of the eight games without three or more fouls. When he’s able to stay on the floor, he’s one of the best the Cyclones have got.
Demarion Watson — If you’re looking for another guy poised to make a significant leap, look no further than the wing from Minneapolis with sky-high potential. The mold for the kind of player Watson could become fits the traditional NBA archetype of a “3 & D Wing.”
He’s already a high-level defender, who has proven capable of effecting shots at all three levels and defending players across nearly every position, but now it’s time for the second half of that equation to come into form.
Watson shot just 4-of-19 from 3-point range this season, and, until late in the season when his off-ball cutting shined, was more or less an offensive zero once he stepped on the floor. Being able to consistently hit corner threes will help Watson’s minutes increase drastically even as Iowa State actively searches for extra help on the wings.
You can bet that extra help will be able to knock those shots down, so if Watson wants to see his role expand, he better be able to as well.
Mar 4, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Robert Jones (12) reacts after a made basket against the Baylor Bears during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY SportsRobert Jones — Big Rob Energy’s bread and butter is on the block, and he’ll need to continue to improve his footwork and touch around the rim to remain a consistent threat down low. If he can make improvements from this season to next in the same way he did from last season to this season, he’ll continue to grow as an option in the post despite the expectation that Iowa State’s arsenal of weapons will grow, as well.
The question becomes whether or not Jones can facilitate some offense on the block rather than being a black hole. If guys dump the ball into the post, is there any chance it will come back out without a turnover? Can Jones improve enough to force teams to double him, allowing him to kick back out to open shooters on the perimeter?
Jones will need to continue to improve as a defender, especially from a timing aspect, in order to drop his foul production as well. He averaged more than six fouls per 40 minutes this season.
Hason Ward — Defending without fouling might be the biggest area of growth Ward can make this offseason. He averaged more than seven fouls per 40 minutes, which makes it difficult to keep him on the floor even despite his high-level ability to create havoc defensively.
Nobody on the team shot better around the rim than Ward, connecting on 80 percent of his close 2-pointers on 35 attempts and he finished the year with the team’s second-most dunks behind only Osun Osunniyi despite having a long stretch of the year where he barely played.
Being able to step out and knock down a mid-range jumper to keep teams honest would be nice, but it might be best to just focus on helping Ward get the ball in the spot where he’s most comfortable, which is right around the rim.
More Musings
*** The officiating in Sunday’s women’s basketball national championship game couldn’t have been worse for both teams. Nobody tunes in to watch the people in stripes rather than some of the best players in the country, but the officials blew their whistles for an NCAA Tournament record 37 fouls anyway.
Instead, fans were forced to watch stretches where LSU star Angel Reese and Iowa star Caitlin Clark were forced to the bench by some really poor whistles. I’m not one to say star players should be protected by the officials, but officials need to have enough wherewithal to understand the time and situation.
This is another of those situations when officials should have to talk to the media and answer real questions (not stock questions from pool reporters where officials can hide behind the bylaws of the rulebook) after the game in the same way coaches and players have to talk. How did you guys approach officiating this game? Was there ever a point when you wondered if you were calling too many fouls? We’ll never get the answers to those questions even though we should.
It’s the freaking national championship game. If there was ever a time to just let the players play, this was it.
Angel Reese (10) shows Iowa Caitlin Clark her ring finger during the final seconds of the women’s NCAA Tournament national championship game.Syndication Hawkcentral*** The conversation around Reese’s trash talk toward Clark near the end of Sunday’s final has become an absolute cesspool. I’m not going to wade into the cesspool region, because I think it is the dumbest conversation we’ve had in awhile.
I’m willing to bet there wasn’t a person on the planet less offended by Reese’s actions than Clark. Clark is one of the best women’s basketball players on the planet, and is one of the most vocal women’s basketball players on the planet, too.
You don’t dish out what you can’t take back. Caitlin Clark did a lot of dishing out during his tournament, and, thus, nobody can be upset when she’s forced to take it back.
You don’t have to like it, but Reese talking her mess did nothing but elevate the conversation around women’s basketball. You want entertaining basketball? You want drama? You want excitement? You want tension? You want passion and theatrics?
Then, you want one of the best players in the country talking the talk after walking the walk against another of the best players in the country.
*** On that note, get Iowa and LSU on next year’s non-conference schedule, please.
*** Former TCU big man, and former Cyclone Fanatic podcast guest, Eddie Lampkin is headed to Colorado via the transfer portal. I hope things work out for Big Eddie out west. I’ll be cheering for the Buffaloes.
*** The Horned Frogs picked up a massive transfer addition over the weekend when Delaware guard Jameer Nelson, Jr. announced his commitment to Jamie Dixon’s program. He’ll have a chance to be TCU’s lead guard after Mike Miles announced his intentions to enter the NBA Draft.
Does Jameer Nelson’s son being old enough to be a college star make you feel old? It’s only been… checks calendar … 20 years since Jameer led St. Joe’s to a dream season and won National Player of the Year.
Where does the time go?
Former Iowa State Cyclone Gabe Kalscheur netted 14 points as part of a 104-99 overtime win for the West in the Reese’s NABC All-Star Game.
The West team trailed by 16 points at one time, before sparking a comeback to force overtime and come away with the win.
Kalscheur added two rebounds along with his three triples and finished with the team’s second best +/- mark with a +7.
Of Kalschuer’s 14 points, 13 came in the first half.
𝗡𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗯𝗲!
A game-high 13 points at the half for @GabrielKalsche1.#Cyclones | #C5C pic.twitter.com/I1XvKAaiJN
— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) March 31, 2023
Sep 16, 2017; Akron, OH, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive coordinator Jon Heacock walks in the first quarter in a game assign the Akron Zips at InfoCision Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock met with the media on Thursday to give updates on the Cyclones’ first few days of their 2023 spring practices.
The veteran coach gave updates on position battles at defensive end, linebacker and more. Here are some excerpts of that conversation lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
Who stands out at edge?“Joey Petersen obviously from last year. You know, Ike (Ezeogu) is in there doing a good job. Samuel Same is in there getting some reps. Moving some other guys around, Trent Jones, just trying to figure out who that’s going to be. Just kind of by committee, but, Joey Peterson’s running with the ones. Ike’s running with the twos.”
How about Tyler Onyedim?“He’s at the boundary, where he really kind of played a year ago, playing at the boundary. He’s with the first group over there. Trying, again, is over there a little bit back and forth. Just kind of by committee a little bit there. It’s been really good. I like what I see. Getting the reps and learning and some guys that haven’t played a lot, obviously, behind a couple of those guys, but it’s been good. I’ve been pleased with what I see.”
How have young early enrollees stood out?“They’ve been an impressive group, just from the standpoint of some maturity. I think that’s been impressive. Going to class, being on time eating meals, checking in with nutrition, going to the training room. I think those guys have done a lot of the off the field little things very well. That’s the first part and that usually is a great example of guys playing good football. Those guys have gotten along well, but it’s a great group. They’re very close. I’m gonna leave some guys out, Cam Smith done a good job, JJ Jones has done a good job. A lot of those young kids have done really good work off the field. They’ve just continued to learn on the field. Impressive group as people and as taking care of business.”
How are the linebackers shaking out?“Zach Lovett, Carson Willich‘s been working in at some of the SAM and Carston Marshall‘s been at Sam. Cole Pederson at Sam. MIKE linebacker has been Will McLaughlin and Zach Lovett. Back at WILL side has been Jacob Ellis and, obviously, Gerry Vaughn, Jacob Imming, so a lot of depth there, a lot of bodies. I think that group has done a good job. A couple of those guys were moving into some different spots, role playing them as we go along. It’s been a good group, very competitive as well.”
How does T.J. Tampa go from good to great?“I think the key for a guy like that is, again, breaking down his craft, becoming a real craftsman at playing the position. I think you can always improve that. I think there’s guys playing for years and years in the NFL. I think that’s the whole key to becoming an elite player. I think it’s just all the finer points and I think Coach Hank (Poteat)’s done a good job with them. I just think that becomes the key, breaking your craft down enough and your eyes are right all the time. Your feet are right all the time. Your leverage on on wideouts is right all the time. I think just the little things, and I think guys that that play that position, having coached corners, like that’s how they live, that’s the world they live in. An inch or six inches is six points. That’s how you live on that corner and in the back end, so I think he’s really done a great job, and I think he’ll continue to improve.”
Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock gives his thoughts on the Cyclones’ first few days of spring, updates some position battles and more before defensive ends Joey Petersen and Tyler Onyedim breakdown their offseasons.
The Iowa State women’s basketball program has seen five players depart by way of the transfer portal in the 11 days since its NCAA Tournament loss to Toledo.
The latest came moments before the start of the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game future Cyclone Addy Brown was playing in. She’s one of five players in her highly-rated recruiting class that remain committed to Iowa State.
“We’re not too worried about it,” Brown said. “Everyone has a different path and a different view and those players chose to take that path – that’s OK, we wish them the best, but I think the class coming in has just bought in to what the coaches want to do. We’re not too worried about it.”
The incoming class has developed a chemistry already and is set to arrive in Ames this summer.
“Yeah, we’re 100 percent committed still,” Brown said. “We’ve talked about it among ourselves, too, and I think – like I said, everyone’s path is different – but we know where we want to be and that’s in Ames, Iowa, playing in Hilton under one of the best (coaching) staffs to ever do it.”
Brown said the group shares a group text that they use almost daily to stay in touch before they arrive. While Brown’s main accolade comes as her invitation to play in Tuesday’s national showcase game, the rest of the class brings some of its own.
Arianna Jackson took home MVP honors in last weekend’s IBCA all-star game, playing alongside Audi Crooks, who has gone viral on social media for her post play talents along with leading Algona Bishop Garrigan to back-to-back Class 1A state championships. Jalynn Bristow was rated as ESPN’s No. 47 recruit and Kelsey Joens, the sister to graduating star Ashley, racked up a top 100 ranking by Blue Star.
The class is well-heralded.
“It was surreal, I’d probably say that first,” Brown said of the All-American game. “Just being able to play in a really competitive game like that with the best of the best on the court – it was a great experience just being able to play against and with some of the best players. I just tried to take every minute I got and just do something with it and play hard.”
As a native of Derby, Kansas, Brown has heard plenty of Iowa State point guard Emily Ryan. The fellow Kansas native is in a big leadership spot as she steps into her senior year.
“I’m definitely excited to play with Emily,” Brown said. “She’s one of the best players to come out of Kansas and she’s been very successful at Iowa State. To be able to come in and have her as our senior leader – that’s something a lot of kids don’t get. We’re blessed to have the opportunity.”
Ryan has kept in touch with the class, too.
“She’s already reached out to us and told us she’s excited to get to work,” Brown said. “We’re going to work hard and come in and fill some spots.”
As Ryan said in a tweet posted Tuesday, it seems like this group is ‘ride or die with Iowa State,’ and the opportunities for each player will be aplenty.
Iowa State is just three practices into its 2023 spring football period, and while its impossible to take away any certainties from it, new wide receivers coach Noah Pauley likes what he’s seeing so far.
Pauley comes to Iowa State from North Dakota State, where he was on staff since the 2019 season. The spring period has been made of him getting his first impressions of the position group on the field.
“It’s been one of the fun things about this process so far – being the new guy and really giving everyone a blank slate when they come in,” Pauley said. “You can always take the feedback from Coach Campbell and Coach Scheelhaase, and the guys that have been here offensively, but (it’s good) for me to form my own opinions on guys.”
The top returner for the Cyclones this season comes in Jaylin Noel, who secured 60 catches for 572 yards and three touchdowns a season ago.
Noel took a large step between his freshman and sophomore seasons, adding 22 catches to his total and doubling his yards per game average.
Pauley hopes to keep pushing the junior wideout in the same direction, despite the extra pressure of being the top option a year after losing star pass catcher Xavier Hutchinson.
“To be the guy when you lose a guy like Xavier, that had 107 catches, I mean that’s a lot to do,” Pauley said. “One thing we’re going to push him to do is continue to learn multiple spots. He’s been a great guy in the slot, but I think he could be a guy that can play out in the Z receiver spot and be a little position flexible. Just the way that he runs, he can put a little more pressure on DB’s.”
Throw in the added positions to learn and it becomes a taller feat, but this staff believes in Noel.
“Then you go to the next step, in the return game, and just continuing to get him more comfortable with more reps out there,” Pauley said.
Iowa State will also see a pair of veteran receivers that made their way to Ames through the transfer portal.
Dimitri Stanley will enter his second year in the program after appearing in 11 games and securing 33 catches for 420 yards and a score last season.
Between Stanley and new Eastern Kentucky transfer Jayden Higgins, the Cyclones have some sort of a foundation to their room at the position.
“I’ve pushed Jayden ever since I got here and he was here,” Pauley said. “He’s a kid where, you look out there and he’s got the size. He’s 6-foot-4, probably around 210 right now that just brings a different element to that room right now. We’re just going to push him to see how much he can handle early.”
The Duluth, Minn. native in Pauley mentioned a trio of young route runners that impressed him thus far this spring, too.
Greg Gaines, who enters his second year in Ames, will be one fans take notice of.
“Overall it’s been a fun group, there’s a lot of young talent. Greg has done a great job so far,” Pauley said. “You can just tell from watching stuff from last year what he’s taking into the spring season – he’s really putting it all together and being a guy that I hope we can lean on moving forward.”
On top of Gaines, Pauley brought up two players who enrolled early from the 2023 recruiting class.
“There’s been a bunch of young guys that have done well, even the two guys that came in at semester in Kai Black and Beni Ngoyi,” Pauley said. “For guys that have been here for two months, they’ve done a great job of just getting out there, learning the system, and doing as much as they can to be prepared when they step on the field.
According to Pauley, Black was 213 pounds when he arrived on campus and is now weighing in at 222.
“The way that his body is maturing, he certainly looks like he’s been here for a few years,” Pauley said.
There’s no easy way to replace a talent like Hutchinson, but there’s no shortage of players available to do it with this season in Ames.
Iowa State Cyclones forward Nyamer Diew (1), guard/forward Ashley Joens (24), guard Emily Ryan (11), and guard Lexi Donarski (21) celebrate from the bench during the fourth quarter against TCU at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.
Let’s ride with Emily Ryan.
Iowa State’s point guard needed only 10 words, three photos and two emojis to make a major statement Tuesday evening.
Amid a week of teammates hitting the transfer portal and rumors of problems within Iowa State’s women’s basketball program, Ryan made her commitment to Iowa State University and its fans clear.
“Ride or die through it all,” Ryan wrote in a tweet that accompanied three photos of Bill Fennelly and two heart emojis. “Love you Cyclone Nation.”
There are questions about the current state of Fennelly’s program that need to be answered. Fans deserve assurances that this off-season’s transfers are a by-product of today’s era of college athletics – an era in which players come and players go – and not something more concerning. Perhaps some self-reflection is needed in order to help the program evolve in this ever-changing world of college athletics.
But those answers, assurances, and reflections won’t come overnight. And in the meantime, let us not overlook the players who remain – the players who have chosen to stay in cardinal and gold.
Emily Ryan is one of those players.
Things were feeling awfully thin Tuesday afternoon after it was announced Denae Fritz was entering the transfer portal. Ryan held the fate of the program’s near future in her hands. And she very publicly chose to stay.
As much as this is Fennelly’s program, Tuesday night made clear this is Emily Ryan’s team.
This entire week has been a signal of who truly holds the power in these programs in today’s day and age. It is the players who control the fates of programs across the country, and it is time for coaches everywhere to reckon with that fact.
And now, for Iowa State, Ryan will be the one who holds the keys to whatever success the Cyclones are able to find next season.
Iowa State’s staff will be tasked with building a good team around her. She’s more than good enough to carry that load. Nyamer Diew has proven capable of being a major piece alongside.
What’s next is assembling a team to complement them and a group of freshmen rated among the best classes in the country. That’s easier said than done in today’s day of college basketball with name, image and likeness playing a significant factor across the country.
Iowa State will have to be a player in that game if it hopes to compete.
They’ve got a good starting point, though.
The Cyclones will ride or die with Emily Ryan.
Iowa State cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat, wide receivers coach Noah Pauley, wide receiver Jaylin Noel and cornerback T.J. Tampa give updates on the Cyclones’ first few days of spring drills.
Mar 28, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; McDonald’s All American West forward Omaha Biliew (0) drives to the basket as McDonald’s All American East guard Matas Buzelis (13) defends during the first half at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State signee Omaha Biliew scored seven points and dished two assists in Tuesday night’s McDonald’s All-American Game, but saw his West squad lose 109-106 in thrilling fashion.
The five-star forward from Waukee got in on the action immediately upon checking into the game as he passed out of a double team to find Bronny James, the son of NBA star LeBron James, for a wide open 3-pointer.
Biliew Bronny pic.twitter.com/0pMcY7QPBP
— cyclone.sports (@clones_sports) March 29, 2023
Biliew, Iowa State’s first McDonald’s All-American since Marcus Fizer, is one of the most highly regarded players in the 2023 recruiting class, rated as the No. 14 player in the class and No. 5 power forward by 247Sports. He put that talent on display in Houston, tallying some tough finishes around the rim and connecting on one 3-pointer.
In the end, the all-star game setting might not have been the best outlet for Biliew’s talents, especially defensively, to really shine through, but he made an impact on the game in the minutes he gave his team.
Iowa State’s Emily Ryan posted a message through her social media accounts on Tuesday afternoon, seemingly in reference to earlier happenings in the day.
The message was posted less than two hours after the news broke that Denae Fritz would become the fifth player from Iowa State to enter the transfer portal since the team’s season ended with a NCAA Tournament loss to Toledo.
Ryan, the team’s point guard, posted three photos with the coaching staff in Ames along with the message, ‘Ride or die through it all. Love you Cyclone Nation.”
Ride or die through it all. Love you Cyclone Nation pic.twitter.com/JYh79SQCrj
— Emily Ryan (@ryan_emily11) March 28, 2023
If there were any worries Ryan’s return might be in question, they’re squandered now.
Iowa State has five commits coming into the program with the 2023 recruiting class – which is the highest rated in program history.
It includes McDonald’s All-American Addy Brown, another ESPN top 50 recruit in Jalynn Bristow, an ESPN top 100 prospect in Audi Crooks, IBCA All-Star MVP Arianna Jackson and Blue Star top 100 prospect Kelsey Joens, the sister to graduating star Ashley Joens.
Nyamer Diew, Izzi Zingaro, Shantavia Dawkins and Mary Kate King all look to be returning for the 2023-24 season, with Ryan.
Iowa State guard Denae Fritz will enter the transfer portal after spending two years in Ames, Iowa.
The Tennessee native, who will be a redshirt sophomore entering the 2023-24 season is the latest Cyclone to put their name in the portal since the season ended in a loss to Toledo in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Fritz averaged 8.8 points during the season for the team.
She becomes the fifth player to put her name into the transfer portal.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
HOUSTON, Texas – Iowa State senior Gabe Kalscheur has been selected to play in the 2023 NABC-Reese’s College All-Star Game. Kalscheur is the eighth Cyclone selected to play in the game.
The All-Star game will take place on Friday, March 31 at 3:30 p.m. at NRG Stadium in Houston as part of Reese’s Final Four Friday. The game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network, and admission to the game and Reese’s Final Four Friday is free.
In two years at Iowa State, Kalscheur appeared in 68 games for the Cyclones, leading Iowa State to back-to-back NCAA Tournament Appearances and a Sweet 16 trip in 2022. He scored 761 points, while connecting on 113 3-pointers as a Cyclone. In his five-year career that started at Minnesota, Kalscheur scored 1,677 points over 156 games. He tallied 293 3-pointers and 166 steals, while playing nearly 5,000 minutes on the floor.
Kalscheur is a member of the West All-Stars, coached by Texas A&M’s Buzz Williams.
Iowa State NABC All-Star Game Participants
1985 – Barry Stevens
1986 – Jeff Hornacek
1988 – Jeff Grayer
1995 – Fred Hoiberg
2005 – Jared Homan
2013 – Will Clyburn
2017 – Deonte Burton
2023 – Gabe Kalscheur
A pair of future Cyclones are suiting up for the McDonald’s all-American games on Tuesday night in Houston.
Five-star men’s basketball commit Omaha Biliew will play in the boy’s game following four-star women’s basketball commit Addy Brown taking the floor for the girl’s game.
Both players will suit up for the West teams in their respective games.
The girls game will tipoff at 5:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2, while the boys’ will take the floor at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN.
A pair of Iowa State signees were honored during the Iowa BCA All-Star games in Arianna Jackson and Audi Crooks.
Jackson, who played her prep career at Des Moines Roosevelt, took home the MVP award for her performance over the weekend, while Crooks was honored with the Miss Basketball award she won during the 2022-23 season.
Iowa State commit Arianna Jackson at the IBCA All-Star Games! @a_jackson2205 pic.twitter.com/U0d9UIHhqf
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) March 26, 2023
Arianna Jackson from DM Roosevelt @DMRoosevelt was the Girls MVP of the 2023 Pizza Ranch IBCA All-Star Games! pic.twitter.com/rCWhoMG1Ib
— IowaBCA (@IowaBCA) March 26, 2023
The pair are both a part of the 2023 recruiting class coming into the program this fall.
Audi Crooks @AudiCrooks was honored for winning the 2023 Miss Basketball Award during the 2023 Pizza Ranch IBCA All-Star Games! pic.twitter.com/yTRRYaHr82
— IowaBCA (@IowaBCA) March 26, 2023
The class is rated as the highest incoming class in program history.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
CLEVELAND – For the second time since 2019, Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard has been selected as one of 28 Cushman & Wakefield AD of the Year (ADOY) honorees by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Pollard was one of four 2023 winners from the Football Bowl Subdivision and will be honored in conjunction with the 58th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla., June 13.
“I am honored and humbled to accept this award on behalf of our entire athletics program,” said Pollard, the 20th individual to earn multiple FBS AD of the Year honors in the award’s 25-year history. “The award is a great testament to the success our department has experienced as the result of the hard work performed by our coaches, staff and student-athletes. In my opinion, this award not only recognized the Athletics Director of the Year, but also acknowledges the Athletics Department of the Year!”
Pollard, Iowa State’s longest-tenured Director of Athletics and fourth-longest serving individual at their current Power Five institution, is in his 18th year leading the Cyclones. His vision for ISU student-athlete’s academic and athletic success, coupled with an unbridled passion to execute that vision, continues to impact the campus and Ames communities, the Big 12 Conference and intercollegiate athletics.
Based upon the NCAA’s 2022 Division I metrics, Cyclone student-athletes continue to thrive academically under Pollard’s leadership. ISU led the Big 12 and set school-records for both its overall (95 percent) and female (99) Graduation Success Rates, while its male GSR (90) was a school-record.
Pollard, who inherited a department whose average Learfield Directors’ Cup finish had been 67th with a high of 41st in 1996-97, has methodically engineered a competitive program that has averaged a final Directors’ Cup placement of 48th over his tenure while producing seven Top 50 finishes, including a school-record 34th-place showing in 2009-10.
Landmark highlights of Pollard’s tenure include:
- In September 2022, he unveiled plans along with ISU President Dr. Wendy Wintersteen and ISU Research Park Director Rick Sanders to build the nation’s first-ever multi-use entertainment district in the center of a college campus, CYTown, between Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum.
- An investment of more than $320M in new construction and facility renovations impacting nearly all Cyclone student-athletes; the most-recent being the $90M Stark Performance Center.
- Secured the largest donation ever received by ISU Athletics – a $25 million gift from the Reiman family – that was the lead donation for the south end zone enclosure at Jack Trice Stadium.
- Assembled, arguably, the strongest coaching staff in ISU history.
- The Cyclones have won 21 of their 29 all-time Big 12 team titles on his watch.
“Because of Jamie’s leadership, Iowa State Athletics is truly a model for college athletics departments across the country,” said Iowa State University President Dr. Wendy Wintersteen. “Jamie has an unwavering commitment to winning and achieving with integrity while fostering a positive and caring culture for our student athletes, coaches and staff.”
The only individual to have ever served as President of NACDA, the I-A Athletics Director’s Association and CABMA, Pollard currently serves on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee.
The ADOY Award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities. The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior College/Community Colleges) and honors four winners from each division annually.
“The Cushman & Wakefield Athletics Director of the Year Award has grown to become a universally recognized and respected honor for leaders in college athletics over the last two decades,” said Pat Manak, NACDA’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year we are proud to honor many seasoned veterans, as well as a few new faces, who have faithfully guided their departments through the steady waves of change the industry has overcome in the last few years. This deserving group of athletics directors are a source of inspiration not only for their peers, but for young administrators everywhere who are climbing the ladder to follow in their footsteps.”
Cushman & Wakefield is in its second year of sponsoring the award. The ADOY Award program is in its 25th year and has recognized a total of 556 deserving athletics directors to date. In addition to Pollard, winners of the 2022-23 Cushman & Wakefield AD of the Year Awards at the FBS level are Utah’s Mark Harlan, Pitt’s Heather Lyke and Kansas State’s Gene Taylor.
“Cushman & Wakefield is thrilled to welcome the 28 new recipients into the ADOY family,” said Craig Cassell, Executive Managing Director, Leader, Education Advisory Group and Co-Leader, Sports & Entertainment Group at Cushman & Wakefield. “We are humbled by the leadership and initiative the candidates demonstrated to achieve this designation. We are also inspired to emulate their actions and qualities and be a steward of the candidates’ commitment to student-athletes and the communities they serve. Cushman & Wakefield is proud to be a NACDA partner and honored to sponsor the ADOY award.”
All NACDA-member directors of athletics in the United States, Canada and Mexico who met the criteria were eligible for the award. Among the criteria were service as an AD for a minimum of five academic years; demonstration of commitment to higher education and student-athletes; continuous teamwork, loyalty and excellence; and the ability to inspire individuals or groups to high levels of accomplishments. Additionally, each AD’s institution must have passed a compliance check through its appropriate governing body (i.e., NCAA, NAIA, etc.), in which the institution could not have been on probation or cited for a lack of institutional control during the tenure of the current athletics director.
Nominators were NACDA-member directors of athletics, institutional presidents and conference commissioners, as well as other respected intercollegiate athletics administrators. Special Divisional Selection Committees composed of current and former directors of athletics, current and former commissioners and other key athletics administrators voted on nominees for the award.
About NACDA: Now in its 58th year, NACDA is the professional and educational Association for more than 22,000 college athletics administrators at more than 2,200 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. NACDA manages 18 professional associations and four foundations. In addition to virtual programming, NACDA hosts six professional development events in-person annually. The NACDA & Affiliates Convention is the largest gathering of collegiate athletics administrators in the country. For more information, visit www.nacda.com.
Mar 23, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson watches practice at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
The Big 12 basketball season is officially over.
That moment arrived on Sunday when Texas fell to Miami, 88-81, in the Elite Eight, officially ending the league’s national championship streak at two. The Longhorns’ loss made it a double-gut punch weekend for the league after Kansas State was knocked out of the dance by Florida Atlantic on Saturday.
We will get to both of those games in a few minutes, but first, we’re going to start our look ahead to next season’s new-look Big 12 with four new schools and a bunch of fresh faces.
Using BartTorvik.com, I compiled the projections for the league next season based on returning players, freshmen who have already signed and transfers who have already committed.
Obviously, we’re still at the beginning of the college basketball silly season, and one team in the league doesn’t even have a head coach right now. So, with that said, there will be a lot of room for movement between now and next November.
I’ve broken down each team into categories of notable returners and incomers. Each category will include players BartTorvik projects to average five or more points per game next season.
This is where things stand one day after the Big 12’s 2022-23 season ended in order of their projected analytics ranking.
No. 4 – HoustonNobody else in the league returns more proven firepower than Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars in their first year as members of the Big 12. Jamal Shead and Tramon Mark are the headliners with both projected to average more than 13 points per game next season. J’Wan Roberts, Ramon Walker Jr., Ja’Vier Francis and Emanuel Sharp are all returners expected to make significant contributions. They’ll get help from a pair of four-star freshmen centers in Joseph Tugler and Jacob McFarland. The Cougars could be the preseason No. 1 team in the country if star guard Marcus Sasser elects to return.
No. 8 – KansasDaJuan Harris is expected back and will be one of the frontrunners for Big 12 Player of the Year going into the season with a projected 13.6 points and five assists per game. The analytics expect a significant jump from junior center KJ Adams, who projects with 14.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Other key returners include MJ Rice, Ernest Udeh and Zuby Ejiofor. Five-star point guard Elmarko Jackson will help Harris with the ball-handling duties while first-year four-star classmates Chris Johnson, Marcus Adams Jr. and Jamari McDowell will also join the program. I’d imagine help on the wings will be a driving force behind Kansas’ transfer portal pursuits over the next month.
No. 16 – BaylorScott Drew’s team returns three players projected to average double figures with LJ Cryer‘s projected 16.8 points per game leading the way. He’ll be a preseason first-team All-Big 12 guy. Jalen Bridges is expected to make a leap as more of a focal piece of the attack with a projected 15 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Langston Love is predicted to average 11.1 points per game in his second year with the program. Veteran stretch big Caleb Lohner will be back, too. The Bears’ recruiting class doesn’t have the same kind of firepower at the top, but Ja’Kobe Walter and Miro Little are four-star players expected to contribute. I’d expect the Bears to be in the market for some veteran help up front at the center position.
No. 28 – Texas TechThis is the league’s toughest team to project right now until they officially hire a head coach, but it sounds like that could be coming soon with North Texas’ Grant McCasland considered the frontrunner. He’ll inherit a roster with high-level returners Pop Isaacs and Jaylon Tyson both projected to average more than 14 points per game. Daniel Batcho will have a chance to be one of the league’s top centers as a junior. Lamar Washington, KyeRon Lindsay and Kerwin Walton will all have a role. It will be hard to project the impact of any freshmen newcomers until we know who the coach is going to be.
No. 30 – Oklahoma StateMike Boynton’s returners are spearheaded by the three-headed monster of Bryce Thompson, Moussa Cisse and Quion Williams, all of which are projected to average in double figures next season. Tyreek Smith and Woody Newton will have roles. Brandon Garrison, a 6-foot-8, four-star center from Oklahoma City, is the only freshman projected above five points at this time. The Cowboys need some guards.
No. 33 – Iowa StateBartTorvik didn’t include Tre King or Robert Jones as returners for Iowa State, so the projections are a little harder to nail down. Using the site’s RosterCast tool, I can tell you those additions bumped the Cyclones up more than 20 spots in the rankings. Tamin Lipsey is projected to make a leap and average 11.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists as a sophomore. The projections we have list five-star freshman Omaha Biliew as the team’s leading scorer at 13.7 points per game with a team-high 7.1 rebounds. Four-star forward Milan Momcilovic joins him in double figures with 10.7 points per game projected. King would be a candidate for a double-digit projection if he were included. Jeremiah Williams, a Temple transfer who sat out last year with an Achilles injury, and Demarion Watson will be significant contributors as well. Strong shooting guards and an offensive big man will be the focal points in transfer pursuits.
No. 36 – CincinnatiThe Bearcats’ first Big 12 team includes four returners projected to average double figures scoring, led by Jeremiah Davenport and Mika Adams-Woods‘ projected 14.3 and 13.8 points per game, respectively. Junior 6-foot-11 center Viktor Lakhin is projected to average 12 points and 7.7 rebounds. Daniel Skillings is projected with 10.3 points per game. The Bearcats also have the best name in the league with freshman Jizzle James, a four-star point guard from Orlando, set to join the program.
No. 37 – TCUWill Mike Miles return for another go-around in Fort Worth? That will be the biggest story of the offseason for the Horned Frogs, and he’s projected to average 18.6 points per game if he does elect to come back. JaKobe Coles is expected to make a jump and projects with 16 points per game and 7.5 rebounds. Micah Peavy joins them with a double figures projection at 12 points game. Xavier Cork and Rondel Walker will be key returners. I’d expect the frontcourt to be a focus on the portal hunt.
No. 40 – BYUJunior forward Foussenyni Traore is expected to be the centerpiece of BYU’s first Big 12 team and is projected to average 16.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game next season. Spencer Johnson and Jaxson Robinson are projected to average 13.7 and 10.3 points per game, respectively. Dallin Hall and Trevin Knell are returners expected to make an impact. They’ll have to wait another year to add 2022 Utah Gatorade Player of the Year Collin Chandler, who will be starting year two of a two-year mission overseas. They’ll also add Jake Whalin, who has been on a two-year mission overseas after signing with the program in 2020. That’s a concept that will take some getting used to.
No. 42 – Kansas StateI have no idea who the point guard will be, but the Wildcats should be pretty well set in the frontcourt with Nae’Qwon Tomlin, Ismael Massoud and David N’Guessan all slated to return. Cam Carter is the only contributing guard currently expected back. The Wildcats will also add freshmen guards Dai Dai Ames and RJ Jones. I’d imagine this roster will look a lot different in a few weeks after the portal ramps up.
No. 47 – TexasThis projection comes under the assumption that Tyrese Hunter will not return to Texas for his junior season, but, looking in from the outside, I’d be very surprised if that were the case. Adding Hunter back into the mix leaps this team into the top 30 nationally. Arterio Morris and Alex Anamekwe are the only other returners projected to make significant contributions. Freshmen Ron Holland, AJ Johnson and Rowan Brumbaugh are three of the team’s projected top-five scorers when Hunter isn’t included. The portal will probably impact this team’s roster next season more than any other.
No. 64 – OklahomaReturners Milos Uzan and Otega Oweh are projected to average double figures while Sam Godwin checks in at just under 10 a game. Kaden Cooper will be the top freshman and is projected to average 11.2 points per game. This is another team I’d expect to see significantly remade in the portal over the next month.
No. 71 – West VirginiaThe Mountaineers have already added a pair of Manhattan transfers, including 2022-23 MAAC preseason Player of the Year Jose Perez, who sat out last season after transferring at mid-year. He’s projected to average 15 points per game at this point. Seth Wilson and Mohamed Wague are returners expected to average double figures. Only two other players are projected over five points per game. Another team will be digging through the portal.
No. 165 – UCFWelcome to the hornet’s nest, Golden Knights. I can’t imagine this program is looking forward to next season after going 8-10 in the American this year. Darius Johnson, Tyem Freeman and Thierno Sylla are returners expected over 10 points per game. UCF’s current projected adjusted offensive efficiency slates them at No. 233 nationally.
More Musings*** I was fired up on Sunday after Creighton’s one-point loss to San Diego State in the Elite Eight. This was an intensely physical game from the opening tip. It was the kind of game that requires bone breaking skin in order to get a call around the rim. Blue Jays big man Ryan Kalkbrenner will be needing more than one ice bath to forget about this one.
That’s why I was disappointed to see the foul call against Ryan Nembhard send Darrion Trammell to the free-throw line with 1.2 seconds left, effectively deciding the game. This was after Creighton had to foul with 30 seconds left to even put SDSU into the bonus, and the Blue Jays never reached the bonus. The officials decided to let this game be physical for 39 minutes and 58.8 seconds.
It was the kind of call the officials could have been making the entire game. But, they didn’t… until there were 1.2 seconds on the clock, the entire game was hanging in the balance and a trip to the Final Four was on the line.
There are people who will say, “If it’s a foul, it’s a foul,” and they might be right, but where was that argument when Kalkbrenner was being grabbed, shoved and mauled around the basket for 40 minutes?
I’m not going to lose sleep over it, but it was a weird time to decide to call a bump on a floater in the paint when that hadn’t been a call all day.
*** Credit where credit is due… San Diego State’s defense is some of the best I’ve seen at the college level in a very long time. While they’ve incredibly physical in the paint, they do a fantastic job of guarding without fouling on the perimeter. Brian Dutcher and his staff have built a steel curtain on the hardwood.
*** Kansas State’s staff will be kicking themselves for a long time over the way they approached Saturday’s Elite Eight match-up with Florida Atlantic. Keyonte Johnson getting into early foul trouble didn’t help, but the follow-up to Markquis Nowell’s breakout performance against Michigan State was way too much Markquis Nowell.
Yes, the 5-foot-7 dynamo had been one of the best players in the tournament. Yes, he’s one of the best point guards in the country. Yes, he’s capable of putting the team on his back.
This team also had a lot of good players, though, and it felt like there wasn’t enough of an effort to involve them in what was happening on the court rather than Nowell dribbling the ball around for long stretches before trying to make something happen while everyone else stood around and watched.
Credit Florida Atlantic for taking advantage, but the K-State team we saw in the last six minutes of that game was not the Kansas State team that had advanced to that point in the tournament, which is disappointing.
*** I knew walking out of the arena in Portland back in November that UConn had a special type of team if they could keep things together. They had a midseason lull, but they’ve been spectacular this entire tournament and will enter the weekend as the resounding favorites to take the entire thing.
That said, I’ll take the Huskies to win the title over San Diego State next Monday night. Hopefully, the Huskies will remember to pack their hard hats for that one.
Over the weekend, Iowa State signee Omaha Biliew was tearing up McDonald’s All-American game workouts.
The five-star recruit continues to impress scouts as the country’s biggest high school all-star game (Tuesday, 8 p.m. CT ESPN) approaches.
In a report from On3 Sports, Biliew’s energy was brought up:
“The energy from Omaha Biliew was apparent throughout the day. On both ends of the floor, Biliew was able to get production done using his frame and his explosive pop. Biliew’s defense was impressive. He has quick feet with good length and explosive pop. He was able to impose his will around the basket as well as move his feet around the perimeter.
“Biliew made his bones on the offensive glass and out of the dunker spots with his aggressive mentality. He finished multiple dunks that caused the entire gym to perk up with excitement. He also looked comfortable taking the three. While he still has some work to do, the developments there are clear.“
His performance continued on Sunday, where he was named as the defensive MVP of the session:
“In a setting where offensive play typically gets the headlines, it was Omaha Billiew’s ability to erase opportunities that stood out. The lengthy 6-foot-8 forward weighs 215 pounds and is blessed with a great deal of explosive pop. He can slide his feet at the point of attack, defending guards in the open floor. He can also bang with post players on the block, using his strong base to fight for position and his length to affect shots around the basket.“
“On the offensive end of the floor, Biliew played within himself. The Iowa State signee gets high above the rim and aggressively hunts dunks in the half-court set.”
Biliew will be on the floor in the all-American game Tuesday.
Iowa State guard Lexi Donarski is entering the the transfer portal, according to a report from the Des Moines Register.
The third-year player started all of her 95 games during her career at Iowa State and averaged 13.2 points per game during her three seasons in Ames.
Donarski becomes the fourth Cyclone to exit the program this week, joining Maggie Vick, Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw, and Morgan Kane in the portal.
As Matt Campbell and a new-look staff embark on the 2023 spring football season, there’s no shortage of things to figure out.
The program is coming off a 4-8 year, its first season outside of bowl eligibility since Campbell’s opening campaign in Ames. However, the Iowa State coach is looking for more of what he saw last year in spring ball.
“I think I came away a year ago really happy with how spring practice looked and probably fall camp,” Campbell said. “I felt like us getting off to a good start – and not just even with (wins or losses) – but how we played early, I think we’ve maybe found the right formula for us in spring and fall camp.”
A year ago in spring practices, Iowa State was entering its first year removed from the Brock Purdy era in Ames and had a plentiful amount of impactful departures.
Campbell plans for this session to be just as competitive.
“Spring practice last year was competitive,” Campbell said. “You guys got to see a lot of that just because of the open practices at some of the high schools. I think it will take on a very similar form.”
Highly rated quarterback J.J. Kohl enrolled early at Iowa State and will have the pressure on starter Hunter Dekkers.
A number of incoming players will do the same at their own respective spots.
“It’s such a young team,” Campbell said. “Competition and evaluation are going to be very important for us, nor do I think will come out of this and know exactly what the starting lineup is going to look like on both sides of the ball. I think that would be false – we’re so young and you still want to grow physically during spring practice.”
Campbell will still have the team in the weight room every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the spring.
On top of growing a young team, the new coaching staff hires are able to be on the field together for the first time during the 15 practices allowed.
“To be able to get some of our new coaches, be on the practice field with these coaches, really continue to hone in on fundamentals and then create competitive environments so we can grow as a football program – I think it’s really critical and really a very similar model to what we tried to do a year ago,” Campbell said.
The spring period officially began with Iowa State’s first practice on Thursday and will lead up to up to April 22’s Spring Game return at Jack Trice Stadium. The finale practice, open to all fans, will start at 11 a.m.
Oct 1, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones place kicker Jace Gilbert (20) attempts a field goal during the fourth quarter against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State has a special teams coordinator. Now what?
One of the fanbases’ biggest gripes against Matt Campbell’s program was resolved earlier this year when the program announced the hiring of Jordan Langs as the program’s special teams leader and running backs coach.
This will be the first time Iowa State’s had a designated full-time on-field assistant coaching special teams since Bryan Gasser left the program in 2017. Quality control assistant Joe Houston filled the role in 2018.
The Cyclones’ special teams have slid significantly in the years since, ranking near the bottom nationally in most special teams statistics.
Langs will start molding the Cyclones’ special teams units during spring practice, which starts this week. That’s when the real work will begin now that the fans have their wish with a designated special teams coach.
“I don’t know if there’s a global schematic change to schematically what we’ve done in special teams,” Campbell said. “Man, at Toledo, we always had a special teams coordinator. We’ve kind of done both and one of the things I do like about having a special teams coordinator or one voice is there’s a central location to the verbiage that’s coming out of his mouth. There’s a unity of all four phases, kind of getting the same language, the same lingo.”
Langs will also play a key role in identifying and putting players in the best positions to be successful on the special teams units, especially in the case of injury when depth charts have to be shuffled.
“You also have one person that is really evaluating in terms of position,” Campbell said. “Are we building the depth charts the right way? If we have an injury, we’ve got the right guys filling in. I think those are all real positives when you look at that.”
How will things change on the field now that Iowa State has a special teams coordinator? We won’t have an answer for that until the Cyclones take the field next fall.
Behind the scenes, things have changed from an organizational perspective, though. Fans can take solace in the fact something is changing even if we don’t know the impact of that change yet.
“I think Coach Langs will do a great job of that,” Campbell said. “I think in terms of organization, drill work, man, we do spend a lot of time on that. It’s really important. I’m a huge believer in obviously special teams play and I’m involved in it myself. That’s the great value of having a special teams coordinator. I am excited to have somebody that that’s building the foundation of that.”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members at the start of the 2023 spring football season – beginning his eighth year as the head coach of the program.
Iowa State offensive lineman Tyler Miller (66) waits for the snap against West Virginia during a NCAA football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.
Matt Campbell knew it was time for a new voice in Iowa State’s offensive line room.
The group’s improvement had grown stagnant recently, and the program moved on from Jeff Myers after last season. Enter Ryan Clanton, formerly of Northern Iowa, and the architect of some of the FCS’ best offensive lines in recent seasons.
While it was time for a change in that sense, Campbell remained confident in the talent in the room. After all, he’s already seen some of them perform at a high level for the Cyclones.
“Well, I think even when you go back and you watch the video, there are individual successes from a year ago,” Campbell said on Thursday ahead of the start of Iowa State’s 2023 spring practices. “There are guys that are doing really good things. You look at 2020, 21, and even at times in 22, the offensive line… It’s hard because you judge the collective whole, right? There are a lot of individual pieces there that are having great success, and a lot of guys that have played a lot of football for us, and played it at a really high level at times.”
Iowa State’s inability to find cohesiveness as a unit up front played a significant role in the offense ranking only No. 114 out of 131 schools in scoring offense last year.
Despite finding some individual success, the five guys on the offensive line couldn’t find the rhythm together to put their best performance out there on Saturday afternoons.
Campbell feels he’s already seen progress from that group during the Cyclones’ winter workouts.
“The small reward that I’ve watched in eight weeks, the transformational physical change that has occurred in that group, and I think sometimes that’s hard when you have older guys to make such drastic physical changes, but you’re seeing that,” Campbell said. “I think for that group, there’s a lot of guys that have played a lot of football, and a lot of times, they played really well.”
Redshirt junior Tyler Miller is one player Campbell singled out as having a strong winter and said Miller has added 22 pounds of weight since last season to get up to 338 pounds. He also noted veterans Darrell Simmons and Jake Remsburg as looking good coming out of the spring.
To Campbell, though, the talent and ability of the players in the room have never been in question. They’re looking for the other things that go along with being a great offensive line.
“If we want to be the best, we have to be able to consistently play at our best,” Campbell said. “I have a great expectation that the group can do that. They certainly have the talent and ability to do that. Now, we’ve got to put that together.”
Iowa State’s Morgan Kane has entered the NCAA’s transfer portal and will depart from Ames to play her final season of college basketball next year.
Kane averaged 5.9 points and 4.4 rebounds for the Cyclones during her final season on the court.
She becomes the third player to transfer away from the program this week, joining Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw and Maggive Vick.
Iowa State has a class of five incoming freshman that is the highest rated class in program history.
Iowa State’s Eli King entered his name into the transfer portal Wednesday, according to VerbalCommits.com, following his freshman season in Ames.
Iowa State G Eli King has entered the transfer portal. https://t.co/sTaERlZ2DE
— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) March 22, 2023
The Caledonia, Minn. native appeared in 10 games for the Cyclones during the 2022-23 season.
In those games, King averaged 1.1 points per game as well as 0.6 rebounds per game. His career high for minutes played came in the season opener against IUPUI where he was on the floor for seven minutes.
The NCAA has denied Stephanie Soares’ waiver to return to Iowa State for an extra division 1 season.
Mired by an ACL injury, Soares played in 13 of Iowa State’s 32 games this season – her only experience at the NCAA Division 1 level.
Soares and Iowa State submitted the waiver on the basis that Soares wanted to return to play an extra season due to the large amount of time she’s missed in her career because of injuries.
The rest of her collegiate basketball career came in the NAIA ranks with some international experience during the off-season.
During the year, Soares averaged 14.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game and will now look forward to the WNBA Draft, set for Monday, April 10 on ESPN.
Soares and teammate Ashley Joens were each projected as top 10 picks in M.A. Voepel’s latest WNBA Mock Draft.
Iowa State’s 2023 recruiting class is rated above any other in program history.
They’re coming in with comparatively the most team success in their high school school careers.
Three of the four signees of the 2023 class capped off their seasons with runs to state championships, and the odd one out ended up being five-star Omaha Biliew’s Waukee team getting upset in the semifinal round.
In Wisconsin, four-star forward Milan Momcilovic helped his team to hoisting a trophy behind 29 points on 10-15 shooting, with nine rebounds and three assists in his school’s third title in a row.
4 @MilanMomcilovi5 delivered a DOMINANT performance with 29 points and 9 rebounds, leading Pewaukee to a third straight Wisconsin state title pic.twitter.com/Fj8H5lmeru
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) March 20, 2023
Three-star guard Jelani Hamilton helped a loaded Wheeler High School roster in Georgia to its ninth championship in program history a week ago.
Hamilton put in 16 points while a pair of USC commits led the team in scoring during the game.
Proud & Happy are understatements! I am ELATED! 2022-2023 GA High School 7A State Champions . . . THE WHEELER WILDCATS! pic.twitter.com/O7bdMYbwGs
— Kristina Hamilton (@KristinAlysia) March 12, 2023
Meanwhile in Missouri this past weekend, Kayden Fish and his Staley High School team brought home their program’s first ever state championship win.
Fish finished with 11 points and six boards as Staley completed the year at 29-2 and got to celebrate at Great Southern Bank Arena.
@kaydenfish1 it has never been as simple as just win or rebound the ball! However you and your teammates seem to Just Do IT ! Watching you set your goals and off one by one is amazing! There is only a handful of kids that can say they have achieved pic.twitter.com/nkqArSPGOk
— Liz (Fish) Haynes (@LizFishHaynes1) March 20, 2023
The class is rated as the No. 9 class in the country by 247 Sports and will see each player in Ames over the summer to get prepped for the 2023-24 basketball season.
Will McDonald wants to be his own kind of player.
The Iowa State edge rusher put that unique versatility on display in Ames while tallying a school-record 34 sacks, earning All-American and three-time first-team All-Big 12 honors.
Now, he’s putting that versatility on display for professional scouts ahead of the NFL Draft next month in Kansas City.
“I did martial arts, basketball, wrestling. I played a bit of soccer. I kind of just took all of that and that’s made me a versatile player. I’m kind of built like Will McDonald,” McDonald told the media at Iowa State’s Pro Day on Tuesday. “Kind of just wanted to like build my own character. Obviously, watching TJ Watt, Von Miller and Aaron Donald and all of them, I just kind of put everything together and everything they got in common is smooth and smooth is fast and so I just kind of made it into my own versatile player.”
McDonald, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound Milwaukee native, is currently regarded as a fringe first-round or early second-round pick in most mock drafts. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has him going No. 24 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
That area of draft prognostication puts McDonald in line to potentially be Iowa State’s first selection in the first round since George Amundson in 1973.
Even with the ability to make program history, McDonald isn’t worrying about where he’ll be selected or who will be the ones selecting him.
“I never really got into that. God led the path. I don’t care about being first round, second, third,” McDonald said. “At the end of the day, we’re all doing the same job. It’s about production and doing what you do.”
McDonald said he was hoping to put a little bit of everything on display for the NFL scouts on Tuesday in Ames. He specifically noted his speed, drop and bend as things he hoped scouts took note of from the drills.
This was his first opportunity to put his skills on display at full strength since the end of his senior year at Iowa State. He battled through an illness that left him with a fever over 100 degrees during the NFL Scouting Combine last month.
The assembled NFL personnel even included Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
“It’s an honor,” McDonald said when asked about Tomlin’s presence. “Getting a lot of information and a lot of knowledge. Whole bunch of new stuff being thrown at me but I’m able to take it and make it into something.”
McDonald will continue to work on his game and hopes to bring his weight up to 250 pounds before starting his rookie season. He has only a little more than a month left before he’ll find out whose uniform he’ll be wearing.
“It’s a pretty cool process,” McDonald said. “It went exactly how I expected. God gave me the plan and just led the way. I did how I expected to do.”
Iowa State Cyclones’ forward Maggie Vick (32) tries to drive to the basket around Texas Longhorns’ forward DeYona Gaston (5) during the second quarter at Hilton Coliseum Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State forward Maggie Vick announced on social media Tuesday that she would enter the transfer portal.
thank you cyclone nation pic.twitter.com/aCl1ZSKXZN
— maggie (@maggie_vick32) March 21, 2023
During her career at Iowa State, Vick appeared in 30 games over two seasons in Ames.
The Tennessee native collected 1.0 rebound per game, while averaging 5.4 minutes per game over the course of her career at Iowa State.
Cyclones Will McDonald, Xavier Hutchinson, O’Rien Vance, Anthony Johnson and MJ Anderson react to their performances at Iowa State’s 2023 Pro Day in the videos below.
Iowa State’s Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw has entered the transfer portal, she announced over social media on Monday.
Thank you Iowa State, ready for the next challenge! pic.twitter.com/cye95nimgx
— Maggie Espenmiller – McGraw (@mcgraw_maggie) March 20, 2023
Espenmiller-McGraw was in her fourth season at Iowa State and has one year of eligibility remaining.
During the past season, the Iowa native averaged 0.8 points per game in 9.5 minutes per game.
Feb 21, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) shoots over Texas Longhorns guard Arterio Morris (2) during the second half at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to the first off-season edition of Monday Musings for 2023.
Could this weekend have gone any worse for Iowa State fans? The men’s basketball debacle against Pitt on Friday. The women’s basketball disappointment against Toledo on Saturday.
Then David Carr came up one match short in his pursuit of a national title later in the evening on Saturday.
If I were to rank my favorite weekends since I’ve been around Iowa State, this one would almost certainly slate somewhere near the bottom.
Anyway, let’s muse.
* Xavier hammered Pitt on Sunday to advance to the Sweet 16 and scored nearly 90 points. Does that confirm Friday was more of an Iowa State problem than something Pitt caused?
It doesn’t really matter either way, but there’s no doubt the Panthers saw a different type of beast in the round of 32. The Musketeers had seven more points at halftime on Sunday (48) than the Cyclones in their entire game on Friday (48-7).
Upon further consideration, it still doesn’t feel much better.
* T.J. Otzelberger gave us some insight into the offseason early Saturday morning when he met with a small group of reporters. You can find some of those details here, but I saved a few notes from that conversation for today.
First, on the development of Tamin Lipsey, and where he’ll need to make strides before his sophomore season as Iowa State’s floor general. The first order of business is continuing to work on his body now that he understands the rigors of the Big 12.
“Look for this year, everything that he accomplished, even with playing whatever 33, 34 games, with his body and the minutes that he played, we need to do a great job making sure that in the offseason, that from a strength and conditioning, flexibility standpoint, that we’re taking care of his body and doing what he needs to do,” Otzelberger said. “You hear so many times guys hit this freshman wall or go through these challenges and Tamin powered through that, and was able to be really effective for us in heavy minutes.”
The second priority will be something Iowa State fans are glad to hear, and that’s working hard on his jump shot in order to prevent teams from guarding him the way they did for basically the last month and a half of the season.
“Certainly, for him, he’s gonna get in the gym and continue to work on shooting the ball from the perimeter,” Otz said. “The next step for him is going to be his confidence in that shot. We have belief in him. We’re going to continue every day to work diligently and Tamin is an unbelievable worker, but that’s a step I know he’ll want to take now that he’s seen what defenses are going to do and how they’re going to play him. I know that he’ll live in that gym and find ways to make people pay if they choose to guard in certain ways.”
Lipsey is already so good at basically everything else on the floor that his inability to shoot the ball becomes an even bigger detriment. It takes away from his ability to do all the things he’s good at.
Good on teams for recognizing that and taking advantage of it, but that can’t be the case in his second year with the program. He has to take strides forward as a shooter if he wants to be a better player in year two.
He will already enter next season with All-Big 12 potential. He’ll start knocking on bigger doors than that if he can find confidence in his shot from the perimeter.
* The next most intriguing development to follow this offseason will be Demarion Watson’s. The lanky wing from Minneapolis boosted his stock significantly over the last few weeks of the season.
Watson’s work on the defensive end proves his sky-high potential in that area. His long arms make him a threat to block shots all over the floor and he’s rangy enough to guard just about anyone you put in front of him.
He’s also one of the program’s best cutters without the basketball offensively, but, again, there has to be an improvement on the jump shot so he can become an even bigger threat on the offensive end.
“He really embraced defensively, coming in and giving us a guy that can have a lot of length in terms of disrupting shots, reversal passes, being impactful on the glass,” Otz said. “He’s extremely coachable and he wants to get better. He really embraced the defensive side of things and started to gain a lot of confidence in being a lockup type of defender. Almost watching Gabe (Kalscheur) and saying, ‘Hey, I want to try to be something like that.’ The next step in the progression is similar to Tamin with that perimeter shot, right? It’s getting in the gym. It’s confidence. It’s defining the job. Then it’s repping it out and putting the time in. Both of those guys are extremely coachable. They’re awesome high-character guys, so I know that they’re going to do the work and I’ll always believe in the guys that do the work.”
This guy’s stock is going to explode if he’s able to put a consistent jump shot on display sooner rather than later, and I mean really explode. He has an NBA-type of ceiling if he can find the right buttons to push in the offseason.
* A quick shout out to Cyclone legend Ashley Joens as the book closes on her career in Ames. She’s a truly special player who redefined greatness for Iowa State women’s basketball. I look forward to seeing her name and number in the rafters at Hilton Coliseum.
* The Big 12 put two teams in the Sweet 16, and it is hard to argue those two teams weren’t deserving of this all year long.
Texas is playing as well as any team in the country right now. Rodney Terry very well might get that squad to the Final Four. He’s proven he should be the full-time head coach whether he gets them to Houston or not.
How cool is the Kansas State story? Watching Jerome Tang coach his team just brings a smile to my face. You can tell he’s having more fun than anybody else in his profession.
On Sunday, prior to K-State’s win over Kentucky, they had a segment with Tang where they asked him three things he’d like to learn about. He said, “Cryptocurrency, how to save the environment, and TikTok.”
Someone let Coach Tang know that TikTok probably has some answers to the crypto and environment conversations, but I’m not sure he wants to dive that deep into TikTok.
* Iowa State football pro day is coming up on Tuesday. Is Will McDonald going to run the 40? That will be the biggest storyline to come out of Ames if he does. Either way, this will be another great opportunity to showcase for the NFL squads.
* I love the Big 12’s new Pro Day format coming in 2024. Holding an event for all the Big 12 schools at The Star in Frisco, Texas, will make it easier for every Big 12 player to get in front of pro scouts, and I’d imagine this will be replicated by nearly every other league in the coming years. Give pro scouts an opportunity to see more than one school’s guys and you’re going to get some big-time decision-makers in the building.
This is a perfect example of Brett Yormark’s Big 12. Looking for inefficiency and then fixing it in a way that pushes the envelope.
* I have Alabama, Creighton, Tennessee, Kansas State, Houston, Texas, Arkansas and UCLA in my Elite Eight after the first weekend. I’ll take Alabama, Kansas State, Texas and UCLA to advance to Houston and the Final Four.
Alabama is going to win the national championship.
It was a whirlwind of a weekend but the perfect place for crazy emotions. Take a look into Iowa State’s time competing at the NCAA tournament behind my lens.
Photos Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova/CycloneFanatic
Iowa State ended its run at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships with a runner-up finish from David Carr at 165 pounds and a fifth-place finish from Marcus Coleman at 184 pounds.
Championship Match
In their third matchup in the last month, Carr and Missouri’s No. 2 Keegan O’Toole met on the biggest stage in college wrestling.
Unfortunately for the Cyclone, he fell to O’Toole 8-2. This brought him his only loss of the season to finish 27-1 overall. But, regardless of the loss, Carr continues to make a difference in the record books. He became Iowa State’s first two-time NCAA finalist since Jake Varner (2007-10).
Carr O’Toole
In championship match up at the NCAA Championships, Carr fell to O’Toole 8-2. A tough pill to for Care but this rivalry is going to be a lot of fun next season.
A lot of respect between these two. A rivalry that will continue on.
: @JacquelineCord pic.twitter.com/aj9miyFL3k
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 19, 2023
Coleman closed his Cyclone career
Coleman’s six years as a Cyclone came to a close on Saturday when he finished in fifth place.
He went head-to-head with NC State’s No. 2 Trent Hidlay in the consolation semifinals and lost 5-2. Due to a medical forfeit from Trey Munoz, this earned Coleman a fifth-place finish in his final NCAA run.
The Ames native ends his career with an impressive two-time All-American finish.
Overall, Iowa State finished the tournament in 11th place with 47.0 team points. The Cyclone’s best finish since 2013.
Listen to what the Cyclone had to say about his time as a Cyclone:
Listen to Coach Derek St. John talk about Coleman’s impact and what it’s been like to see him grow into the high-caliber athlete he became:
Listen to Kevin Dresser give his thoughts on David Carr runner-up finish, Coleman’s impact, and more:
Full Iowa State Results
133: No. 14 Zach Redding – DNP
First Round: W-D, 7-2 vs. Domenic Zaccone (CAMP)
Second Round: L-MD, 12-4 vs. Vito Arujau (CORN)
Consolation Second Round: W-MD, 11-3 vs. Angelo Rini (COL)
Consolation Third Round: W-D, 5-3 SV-1 vs. Cody Phippen (AF)
Round of 12: L-MD, 12-0 vs. Aaron Nagao (MINN)
141: No. 24 Casey Swiderski – DNP
First Round: L-D, 4-1 vs. Mosha Schwartz (OU)
Consolation First Round: W-D, 7-3 vs. Carmen Ferrante (PENN)
Consolation Second Round: WBF (6:48) vs. Vince Cornella (CORN)
Consolation Third Round: W-D, 10-5 vs. Frankie Tal Shahar (NW)
Round of 12: LBF (6:05) vs. Parker Filius (PUR)
149: No. 5 Paniro Johnson – DNP
First Round: W-D, 2-2 TB-1 (RT) vs. Alec Hagan (OHIO)
Second Round: L-D, 14-8 vs. Shayne Van Ness (PSU)
Consolation Second Round: L-D, 3-2 vs. Doug Zapf (PENN)
157: No. 25 Jason Kraisser – DNP
First Round: L-D, 5-3 vs. Ed Scott (NCST)
Consolation First Round: W-D, 7-2 vs. Tommy Askey (APP)
Consolation Second Round: WBF (2:06) Kaden Gfeller (OSU)
Consolation Third Round: L-MD, 10-1 vs. Vinny Zerban (UNCO)
165: No. 1 David Carr– 2nd Place
First Round: W-MD, 10-2 vs. Josh Kim (HARV)
Second Round: W-MD, 15-4 vs. Austin Yant (UNI)
Quarterfinals: W-D, 2-1 vs. Shane Griffith (STAN)
Semifinals: W-D, 6-5 vs. Quincy Monday (PRIN)
Finals: L-D, 8-2 vs. Keegan O’Toole (MIZ)
184: No. 5 Marcus Coleman – 5th Place
First Round: W-MD, 12-3 Jacob Ferreira (HOF)
Second Round: W-D, 2-1 TB-1 vs. Abe Assad (IOWA)
Quarterfinals: L-D, 3-1 SV-1 vs. Trey Munoz (ORST)
Round of 12: W-D, 4-3 vs. Matt Finesilver (Michigan)
Round of 8: WBF (2:43) vs. Will Feldkamp (CLAR)
Consolation semifinals: L-D, 5-2 vs. Trent Hidlay (NCST)
Fifth-Place Match: W-MFF vs. Trey Munoz (ORST)
197: No. 13 Yonger Bastida – DNP
First Round: W-D, 5-2 vs. Evan Bockman (UVU)
Second Round: L-D, 3-1 vs. Ethan Laird (RID)
Consolation Second Round: W-D, 3-1 vs. Andrew Davison (NW)
Consolation Third Round: L-D, 2-1 vs. Michael Beard (LEH)
285: No. 8 Sam Schuyler – DNP
First Round: W-D, 4-2 vs. Michael Wolfgram (WVU)
Second Round: L-D, 2-1 vs. Lucas Davison (NW)
Consolation Second Round: W-D, 3-2 vs. Jacob Bullock (IND)
Consolation Third Round: W-D, 4-2 vs. Josh Heindselman (OU)
Round of 12: L-D, 3-1 SV-1 vs. Trent Hillger (WIS)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Ashley Joens’ career in Ames has come to a close.
The three-time all-American, four-time all-Big 12, two-time Cheryl Miller Award, the 2023 Big 12 Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and 2023 Big 12 Player of the Year has played her last game in an Iowa State uniform.
“I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Joens said. “I love Iowa State, my teammates and my coaches. I’ve been blessed to be here and get the opportunity to play along with this team.”
She’ll be remembered as one of the best basketball players to ever suit up for Iowa State.
That’s on both the women’s and men’s sides.
“Ash is certainly one of the best basketball players I’ve ever coached, ever been around or ever seen,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “She’ll go down as one of the greatest college women’s players ever. The honors, the records… we could sit here all day and talk about them.”
On top of the overarching and lengthy list of accolades Joens collected, she was as much of a part to the best moments the program has seen in her five years in Ames.
“She’s been someone that showed up every day and did everything we asked her to do,” Fennelly said. “She put this team on her back, especially after (Stephanie Soares) got hurt. It’s just been a joy to be around her. She’s a tremendous person and she’ll be very successful no matter what she ends up doing in life.”
Behind a Sweet 16 run, five-straight NCAA Tournaments (with once canceled due to COVID-19), and numerous wins against rivals Texas, Baylor and Iowa, Joens helped deliver some great nights to be a Cyclone.
The top of the list may have came a week ago in Kansas City.
“Playing with this team, obviously winning a Big 12 championship was a goal we had and to be able to do that was really fun and a great success,” Joens said of her favorite memory.
What’s up next for Joens – aside from preparing for April’s WNBA draft – hasn’t been decided yet.
“I’ll figure it out, I don’t know, tomorrow,” Joens said in the same concise words she had for five seasons.
She just wants to go work and after the sting of this loss fizzles out, she’ll be on to a new job.
“Not the way we wanted the season to end, but looking back it was a great five years,” Joens said.
“I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Iowa State players look down the court as Ashley Joens shoots a free throw during an 80-73 loss to Toledo. Photo Courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications // Luke Lu
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Iowa State didn’t score for a five-minute, 22-second stretch in the second quarter of its NCAA Tournament first round
It found itself down by 16 points in the third quarter and later saw the ’22-’23 season come to an end when the clock hit zero in a 80-73 defeat to No. 12 Toledo.
“I certainly applaud the effort of our team, I just- when you get into the NCAA Tournament, I’ve always said its a make-shot, miss-shot game,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “They made a lot of shots and we missed a lot of shots.”
That five-minute stretch was one the biggest impacts that contributed to the loss.
Without it, Iowa State couldn’t get into its transition offense that it had found success in throughout the game.
“They guarded us really well and we missed some shots. We only turned the ball over eight times in the pace of the game. The one play – it happens – we have a post player underneath the basket that misses three shots in a row. That happens. We missed a couple of layups, we missed an open three and a few free throws. It’s a combination of things.
“When the other team’s making shots, you can’t get into transition and when they’re making shots, we can’t get in transition,” Fennelly said. “That’s, for five minutes, I think that was the thing. They could get it up and down and we didn’t. They made the plays.”
As a team, the Cyclones shot 6-31 from the 3-point line.
That number, being low at 19.4 percent, is something that was usually rare for an Iowa State team. Although it happened more frequently this season.
“The 3-pointers are shots that we- that’s a big part of our offense,” Fennelly said. “We couldn’t make them tonight. When you’re not making them, and defensive transition becomes a problem, it just kind of spirals from there… I would say most of them were pretty open or wide open. That’s a shot you have to take to open up the defense.”
Ashley Joens, despite being double-teamed in the block and at times fully encompassed in a pair of Toledo players’ arms, finished with a team-high 23 points along with 13 rebounds.
“They doubled in a lot, so trying to find my teammates on the perimeter (was tough),” Joens said. “They did a great job defensively, doubling down on that.”
Joens finishes her career as one of the most decorated players in Iowa State history.
“Yeah, it’s bittersweet, but I’ve been blessed to play here,” Joens said before the tears started to take over in the postgame press conference.
Fennelly told Joens ‘it’s OK.’ Morgan Kane took the mic.
She wanted to do what she could to help her teammate when she needed it.
“Ashley just had a huge impact, not only on the court through her leadership, but also off of the court, she’s really brought us together as a team,” Kane said. “When things get hard and challenging, she’s the first one to bring us together. I’m really grateful for that.”
For her entire career in Ames, that was the kind of player that Kane was – one that would do anything for the greater good of the team.
It’s no surprise that even once the game had ended, that same player showed up.
“I do, you think about what this team’s gone through… our two best post players are in street clothes,” Fennelly said. “They had to deal with what I had to go through with my family, losing my mother. It was a group that showed up every day with no complaints. The great thing about this tournament is that you get to be a part of the greatest sporting event their is and the worst part is, it always ends this way, except for one team.”
For the Cyclones, who finish the season 22-10, they’ll be remembered as a group like all the others.
But they’re only one of three in program history that won a Big 12 championship.
“A week ago, we win the Big 12 and today we lose in the tournament,” Fennelly said. “The narrative is always different, but success to me is what I saw every day from people that represented our university in a great way.”
Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly, Ashley Joens, Morgan Kane and Denae Fritz reflected on their team’s season following an 80-73 NCAA Tournament loss to Toledo.
Here’s everything from the postgame press conference to the locker room in one spot:
What was called the most anticipated matchup of the collegiate season, is set to take place for a third time. David Carr and Keegan O’Toole will battle for the 165-pound title at the NCAA Wrestling Championships on Saturday night.
Carr and O’Toole have been looking forward to the opportunity to face each other again since the moment the whistle blew at the Big 12 Championship earlier this month.
Carr is 2-0 over O’Toole in his first season at 165 pounds. A decision that came because the Ohio native was ready for a tougher challenge and a tougher rival that he’s found in O’Toole.
“It was a blessing having someone like David Carr move up. He’s such an elite level wrestler and has been for a while,” O’Toole said following his semifinal win. “I hate losing but those losses are much more important and much more valuable to my character and how I bounce back.”
In a unique opportunity, the rematch will happen in the same exact spot they wrestled just two weeks ago in the title match at the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa at the BOK Arena.
“I look forward to wrestling him every time because he pushes me,” Carr said following his semifinal win over Princtons Quincy Monday.
Mar 25, 2022; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger yells during the second half against the Miami Hurricanes in the semifinals of the Midwest regional of the men’s college basketball NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
Greensboro, N.C. — T.J. Otzelberger is already thinking about what comes next.
Iowa State’s head coach met with reporters Saturday morning to look toward the future of the Cyclones’ men’s basketball program after Friday night’s 59-41 loss to Pittsburgh in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
There is no resting on laurels. The preparation for next year’s team is already starting.
“We’re really proud of what our guys accomplished this year,” Otzelberger said. “As disappointing as it was how it ended. It was a lot of great memories and moments when you look at nine top 25 wins, six top 10 wins and the way our guys rallied late in the season. It says a lot about their character. I think the foundation for our program moving forward is in place. We’re going to continue to be very selective of who we bring in and make sure that the character and everybody are in alignment. We feel really good about where we’re at and how things work where they stand moving forward.”
Iowa State already knows it will lose four seniors in Gabe Kalscheur, Aljaz Kunc, Jaren Holmes and Osun Osunniyi. Tre King and Robert Jones have the opportunity to and are both currently expected to return to the program next year.
They’ll join Tamin Lipsey, Demarion Watson and a top-10 recruiting class to form the foundation of next year’s roster.
Attrition, as always in today’s age of college basketball, can probably be expected on some level, as well.
“We’re one scholarship under, so this week, and then the next week, it’s time to meet with all the young men in our program and just talk to them about the vision and the future. You see where things are at that point,” Otzelberger said. “We anticipate there’s probably going to be room for a transfer or two, but, at this point, I don’t exactly know how that all shakes out until you have those meetings.”
Fans can expect to see shooting be a significant emphasis with anyone Iowa State pursues out of the transfer portal this offseason. Further help in the frontcourt would be welcomed as well.
Those things will be sorted out in the coming weeks, though.
In the meantime, Otzelberger will meet with the remaining members of this year’s team, and start a comprehensive review of the program’s direction in order to chart the path forward.
“I think more than anything, you look at every aspect of the program, you really evaluate what are some things that feel like we’re doing well, where some areas we can improve,” Otzelberger said. “You look at scheme. You look at personnel. All those things are factors. We’ll continue to evaluate those accordingly. To me, the most important thing is the people that are in your program, right? Even more than, ‘Hey, this guy is a great shooter. This guy’s a point guard,’ it comes down to, are they great human beings? Are they great people? Do they love being a Cyclone? That’s where we’ll start.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2023
TULSA, Okla. – David Carr punched his ticket to the 165-pound national finals with a 6-5 victory over Princeton’s Quincy Monday Friday night inside the BOK Center. Marcus Coleman became a two-time All-American with a 2-0 record during the session.
Iowa State sits in eighth place as a team after day two with 44.0 points.
Just over 40 years after their fathers, Nate Carr and Kenny Monday, wrestled for a national title in Oklahoma City, their sons, David and Quincy, wrote the next chapter of the family rivalry in Tulsa.
Carr fell into an early 4-0 deficit Friday evening after Monday got a takedown and a quick tilt for two near fall points. The Cyclone responded with a reversal and eventually ended the first period trailing 5-2.
The Canton, Ohio native went down to begin the second and, after a quick escape, secured a match-tying takedown with 1:08 remaining in the second period. Carr put on a ride for the ages, riding out Monday for the final 3:08 of the match to earn the riding time point and a 6-5 victory.
Coleman secured his second consecutive All-America honor with a narrow 4-3 win over Michigan’s Matt Finesilver in the blood round. The Ames native then, after falling into a 6-0 deficit, pinned Clarion’s Will Feldkamp in 2:43 to advance to the consolation semifinals.
Zach Redding, Casey Swiderski and Sam Schuyler all fell one win shy of the podium.
Redding never managed to get to his offense as he fell, 12-0, to Minnesota’s Aaron Nagao. Swiderski and Purdue’s Parker Filius were knotted 2-2 in the third period when Swiderski was whipped to his back and pinned.
Schuyler suffered a heartbreaker in sudden victory, 3-1, after giving up a takedown on the edge of the mat to Wisconsin’s Trent Hillger.
Up Next
Marcus Coleman is back in action Saturday morning for Session V of the NCAA Championships at 10 a.m. on ESPNU.
Finals are set for 6 p.m. on ESPN.
Iowa State Results
133: No. 14 Zach Redding – DNP
First Round: W-D, 7-2 vs. Domenic Zaccone (CAMP)
Second Round: L-MD, 12-4 vs. Vito Arujau (CORN)
Consolation Second Round: W-MD, 11-3 vs. Angelo Rini (COL)
Consolation Third Round: W-D, 5-3 SV-1 vs. Cody Phippen (AF)
Round of 12: L-MD, 12-0 vs. Aaron Nagao (MINN)
141: No. 24 Casey Swiderski – DNP
First Round: L-D, 4-1 vs. Mosha Schwartz (OU)
Consolation First Round: W-D, 7-3 vs. Carmen Ferrante (PENN)
Consolation Second Round: WBF (6:48) vs. Vince Cornella (CORN)
Consolation Third Round: W-D, 10-5 vs. Frankie Tal Shahar (NW)
Round of 12: LBF (6:05) vs. Parker Filius (PUR)
149: No. 5 Paniro Johnson – DNP
First Round: W-D, 2-2 TB-1 (RT) vs. Alec Hagan (OHIO)
Second Round: L-D, 14-8 vs. Shayne Van Ness (PSU)
Consolation Second Round: L-D, 3-2 vs. Doug Zapf (PENN)
157: No. 25 Jason Kraisser – DNP
First Round: L-D, 5-3 vs. Ed Scott (NCST)
Consolation First Round: W-D, 7-2 vs. Tommy Askey (APP)
Consolation Second Round: WBF (2:06) Kaden Gfeller (OSU)
Consolation Third Round: L-MD, 10-1 vs. Vinny Zerban (UNCO)
165: No. 1 David Carr
First Round: W-MD, 10-2 vs. Josh Kim (HARV)
Second Round: W-MD, 15-4 vs. Austin Yant (UNI)
Quarterfinals: W-D, 2-1 vs. Shane Griffith (STAN)
Semifinals: W-D, 6-5 vs. Quincy Monday (PRIN)
184: No. 5 Marcus Coleman
First Round: W-MD, 12-3 Jacob Ferreira (HOF)
Second Round: W-D, 2-1 TB-1 vs. Abe Assad (IOWA)
Quarterfinals: L-D, 3-1 SV-1 vs. Trey Munoz (ORST)
Round of 12: W-D, 4-3 vs. Matt Finesilver (Michigan)
Round of 8: WBF (2:43) vs. Will Feldkamp (CLAR)
Consolation semifinals: vs. Trent Hidlay (NCST)
197: No. 13 Yonger Bastida – DNP
First Round: W-D, 5-2 vs. Evan Bockman (UVU)
Second Round: L-D, 3-1 vs. Ethan Laird (RID)
Consolation Second Round: W-D, 3-1 vs. Andrew Davison (NW)
Consolation Third Round: L-D, 2-1 vs. Michael Beard (LEH)
285: No. 8 Sam Schuyler – DNP
First Round: W-D, 4-2 vs. Michael Wolfgram (WVU)
Second Round: L-D, 2-1 vs. Lucas Davison (NW)
Consolation Second Round: W-D, 3-2 vs. Jacob Bullock (IND)
Consolation Third Round: W-D, 4-2 vs. Josh Heindselman (OU)
Round of 12: L-D, 3-1 SV-1 vs. Trent Hillger (WIS)
Mar 17, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T. J. Otzelberger gestures during the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Friday marked the end of something.
It marked the end of Iowa State’s 2022-23 men’s basketball season. It marked the end of careers. It marked the end of the roller coaster.
Could this be the end for the grind-it-out style of play Iowa State has lived off the last two years, too?
That remains to be determined, but it would be hard to blame anyone who is wishing for the end of this ugly style of basketball after the Cyclones’ 59-41 loss to Pittsburgh in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Iowa State shot just 23.3 percent from the field and 2-of-21 (9.5 percent) from 3-point range. The Cyclones were 5-of-29 from the field and 1-of-10 from deep in the second half.
It will live as one of the worst offensive performances in modern NCAA Tournament history.
“Those are shots that we take every day,” said Iowa State senior guard Jaren Holmes. “Shots that we make every day. Today, we just didn’t make them. It’s basketball. If there was a way to control the basketball, we definitely would. But it just didn’t happen today.”
There is not a whole lot more to unpack from this particular game. Iowa State couldn’t put the ball in the basket. It didn’t matter where the shot went up, it probably wasn’t going in on this day for Iowa State.
An already not-very-good offensive team picked a really bad day to play its absolute worst game of the season. A defensive team built on dictating the action to the opposing team had the game taken to them from the opening tip.
They reversed the fortunes for a while, but credit Pitt for digging Iowa State a hole so deep it couldn’t be climbed out of.
“When you put yourself in that big of a hole, and you put that much pressure on yourself to make shots, they just weren’t falling,” Holmes said. “We didn’t dictate the way we needed to and it put a lot of pressure on our offense. We’re a defensive team.”
How much longer will that defensive team mentality persist?
T.J. Otzelberger’s last two teams at South Dakota State ranked in the top-50 in adjusted offensive efficiency on KenPom. They played at a top-100 pace in each of those seasons.
Otzelberger’s teams have played the way they have more out of necessity than desire, both at UNLV and in two years at Iowa State. The Cyclones are hopefully approaching a point where they’ll have the horses to not have to hope every game is played in the fifties and sixties.
As bad as Friday was, let’s not forget the bright future that awaits this Iowa State basketball program. The Cyclones will welcome the No. 7 high school recruiting class in the country into the program this summer.
Omaha Biliew will help to cushion the blow of losing key frontcourt pieces in Aljaz Kunc and Osun Osunniyi. Milan Momcilovic will instantly give Iowa State the type of bucket-getter and shooter the program’s been in need of for two years.
Jelani Hamilton and Kayden Fish might not be the immediate impact guys that Biliew and Momcilovic have a chance to be, but they’ll be foundational pieces key to keeping the Cyclones’ culture moving forward.
Tamin Lipsey will return for his sophomore season as Iowa State’s floor general with another summer of development (and jumper practicing) under his belt. Temple transfer Jeremiah Williams will also reenter the fold after missing this season with an Achilles injury.
Tre King and Robert Jones can be expected to return as the anchors of Iowa State’s frontcourt. King showed All-Big 12-type flashes down the stretch. Jones remains one of the most important cultural leaders on the Cyclones’ roster despite the noise from a vocal minority in the fanbase.
Demarion Watson will return on the wing with another summer of development and a quickly rising stock, especially defensively where he’s already shown the ability to make an instant impact.
Add in walk-on Conrad Hawley and that is already the most talented roster foundation T.J. Otzelberger and his staff have worked with since arriving back in Ames two years ago.
This is not expected to be another complete overhaul type of summer.
“It’s on the up and up,” Holmes said about the program. “I think this will be another hotspot for another transfer, because of the way Coach T.J. instills work and the way he puts his trust in his seniors is second to none. You think about it, this coaching staff changed this entire program around. There’s life back in Iowa State.”
The fact it won’t be a complete overhaul doesn’t mean there won’t be attrition, and there are two names on paper that seem like transfer portal possibilities.
Eli King played some for Iowa State down the stretch, but he seems like the kind of player who could benefit from dropping down a level to find playing time elsewhere. The same could be said for Hason Ward, who probably should have played more for Iowa State this season than he did.
Both of those guys should garner opportunities to find starring roles elsewhere. Think Tre Jackson or Tristan Enaruna and the success they had at Western Carolina and Cleveland State this season, respectively.
Could both guys be back? They certainly could. We’ll see.
My projection is that Iowa State will have anywhere from two to four spots to fill with impact transfers.
The Cyclones absolutely must take at least one proven shooter. They would preferably take at least two of them, and I’m not saying guys who are theoretically good shooters.
I’m saying guys who are proven 40 percent 3-point shooters already at the collegiate level. Anything else would be a disappointment when you consider the pieces this team already has in the fold.
Help on the wing, especially long and athletic help, would be welcomed. Watson has the potential to be a star in that role, but there needs to be a veteran presence in that position.
Think of a guy like Kansas’ Kevin McCullar, who transferred from Texas Tech and has made a massive impact on Bill Self’s team.
Iowa State still won’t have the NIL juice to play with the biggest players in that game, but there is more than enough here to make the Cyclones an attractive option to plenty of potential transfers.
Take it from someone who knows firsthand.
“Don’t pick it because of NIL,” Holmes said. “Pick it because of the work. Pick it because you want to become a better player, and you want to bet on yourself. That’s what I would say. If you’re money hungry and you want to be in a situation where you know, you can go and achieve those NIL deals, hey, go for it. If you think about Iowa, it’s not a big place for NIL deals. The work is here. The fans are here. The love of the game is here. There’s no better place than Hilton. There’s no better place to play basketball than at Iowa State.”
Friday marked the end of something for Holmes and every member of this 2022-23 Iowa State men’s basketball. It was the end for Gabe Kalscheur and Kunc, two of the program’s cornerstones over the last two seasons.
It could be the end of this grind-it-out style built to shorten games and lessen the impact of not having enough talent. The Cyclones are going to have enough talent to compete at a high level next season.
Success in the transfer portal should put them in a position to be right back here in the NCAA Tournament. Otzelberger and his staff have proven they’re capable of doing that year in and year-out.
So, while this might mark the end of some things.
Something else is only just beginning.
Following Iowa State’s 59-41 loss to Pitt on Friday to open the NCAA Tournament, Cyclone Fanatic’s Chris Williams caught up with Gabe Kalscheur, Jaren Holmes and Tamin Lipsey. Check out these interviews below.
Postgame talk with Gabe Kalsheur. On the cold shooting, his time at Iowa State and the program’s future. pic.twitter.com/KlqzDXgTNL
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 17, 2023
Postgame with Tamin Lipsey. On his incredible freshman year. Off-season goals and more. pic.twitter.com/4I2jNaqoCs
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 17, 2023
Postgame with Jaren Holmes. He’s disappointed in today, but proud of his team’s season. pic.twitter.com/3UJkipVb55
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 17, 2023
Below is a transcript of T.J. Otzelberger’s postgame press conference following Iowa State’s 59-41 loss to Pitt in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
T.J. OTZELBERGER: Credit Pitt for a really good game plan and executing it. They were the better team here today.
Really proud of our guys, how they continued to fight, but it just wasn’t our best today. Unfortunately, hate that it happened on this stage, but, again, all the credit goes to Pitt and the game that their coaches put together and their players executed.
Q. Hey, Coach, is there anything that you can point to as to, you know, shooting 23 percent, why that might have happened?
T.J. OTZELBERGER: Yeah, I mean, for us, we’re a team that is fueled by our defense and felt like early we didn’t dictate and disrupt quite as well as we needed to to get our natural rhythm going.
You know, I feel like our guys were working really hard to get great opportunities and their effort was good, but, you know, Pitt had a sound plan. They were playing personnel really heavy, and it worked for them here today.
So, you know, credit to their defense. Just we didn’t see it go through the hoop enough.
Q. For either of the players. Is there a level of frustration that starts to build after a while when you miss a few of those shots particularly early on that it tends to be a little bit of a snowball effect?
TRE KING: Definitely there’s always a little bit of frustration. You know you always want to have your shot falling and stuff like that. Like Coach said, we are a team that prides ourselves on defense. One thing that he has instilled into us is whenever our offense is not falling, take pride on the defensive end to get it falling on offense.
GABE KALSCHEUR: Like Tre said, we fuel ourselves with defense, and that kind of gets us going. When the ball is not going in, we work on these shots. We stay true to who we are with mechanics and confidence.
So, I mean, that’s not a factor of kind of why the ball was going in. It just wasn’t going in. Sometimes that happens, and you just have to eat the punches, but we kind of wish we had that one back and wish our offense was going smoothly, but…
Q. The NCAA said you guys asked to have that basket checked, the one that you shot in the first half. By any chance did that mentally possibly play into the kids’ minds?
T.J. OTZELBERGER: Yeah, I don’t know. I can’t speak for our guys. I wasn’t sure what all happened by the time they came out. They were checking it, and obviously there was a delay.
I like to think our guys have enough mental toughness. We’ve been in a lot of big games and a lot of tough environments that that wouldn’t impact us, but I can’t speak for them exactly on that and how it affected them mentally.
GABE KALSCHEUR: Definitely wasn’t a factor. One thing that we’ve always talked about is how adversity is always coming. You know how we deal with it, and that was one of those things that wasn’t for us in the beginning. We knew that, and we played it in our mind and we just knew we had to come out and play even harder.
Mar 12, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Ashley Joens (24) drives to the basket during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Municipal Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
When Iowa State’s name appeared on the NCAA Tournament selection show on Sunday, coach Bill Fennelly had all the familiar feelings going through his mind, much like in his other 21 appearances.
Then he saw his opponent – the No. 12 seed Toledo Rockets (2:30 p.m. CT ESPN2) – a program Fennelly got his start at and helped build.
“Damn, I don’t want to play my friends,” Fennelly said on his thoughts when he noticed Toledo would be his team’s opponent. “Literally, (Toledo coach Tricia Cullop) and I had been texting. (I congratulated) them on winning (their conference tournament). It’s always great when Toledo wins. It’s always great when Toledo beats Bowling Green, too. That’s always a bonus for us, Toledo people.”
Fennelly joked to the media members in attendance, with the same moxy he shows in Ames, about his time in Toledo.
It’s still very much a part of him, and how it built his coaching philosophy.
That goes without even mentioning his duo of assistant coaches that came to Ames with Fennelly.
“You don’t win 16 games in a row by accident,” Fennelly said. “I coached in the MAC for seven years. That’s a really, really good league. And to know that you go into a conference tournament, believe me, we did it seven times, and you have to win to get in the NCAA Tournament, the edge that you build up is really something that a lot of people don’t understand. Our fans at Iowa State don’t understand that. Tennessee fans don’t understand that. ‘Hey, if we finish fifth or sixth in our league, we’re in the tournament.’ That doesn’t happen in the MAC. You know how good they are or how tough they are, and they just have a winning culture. Tricia has been there 15 years, and you look at what they have done with their team, it’s very impressive.”
The Rockets are led by by Quinesha Lockett, a senior guard that averages 19.8 points per game away from home.
She’s the engine that helped lead Toledo past Bowling Green in the MAC championship, where she recorded 17 points, five rebounds, and six assists on 6-11 shooting.
“She’s a dynamic athlete,” Fennelly said. “She reminds us of J.J. Quinerly at West Virginia – a kid that can just find ways to score. She’s really good, you’re not the MAC player of the Year without being really good. She gets a lot of shots off – she shot it 200 more times than anyone else on her team. She’s got kind of the Ashley Joens playbook.”
That comes with a unique offense that Cullop’s team runs.
“They’ve got a very complicated offense – they run a lot of stuff, so that’s going to be unique to us,” Fennelly said. “They’ve got a lot of kids that can shoot the three, interchangeable post play – anything you would expect from a good team and they’re obviously playing with an amazing amount of confidence right now.”
That offensive philosophy was part of how Toledo was able to beat No. 14 Michigan on the road earlier this season.
And you don’t have to tell Fennelly when the 71-68 victory occurred, he knows what that can do to a group no matter when it was.
“Well, I think no matter when the game was at Michigan, I promise you, I’ve done this — I don’t know anything about their team personality-wise, but I would promise you that my guess is they talk a lot about, ‘Hey, we beat Michigan at Michigan. We beat Michigan at Michigan,'” Fennelly said. “Doesn’t matter when it was. They know how to win. They have won some close games. Only a good team, a tough-minded team, a connected team, a well-coached team wins that game against Buffalo. And that’s how you get to this point.”
Iowa State ended up earning a five seed, which means a trip to Tennessee instead of a weekend in Ames where its the favored team. That couldn’t be further from the focus to close out the week.
“We’ve had a good couple days preparing,” Emily Ryan said. “Couple good practices, high energy coming into the tournament. So I like the spot we’re in, and we have another opportunity to practice on the court, we’re going to play on today. So we’re going to have another good practice and get ready to go.”
The Cyclones are in the NCAA Tournament, and their first two games just happen to be in Knoxville, Tennessee.
“We’re just happy to be in the NCAA Tournament,” Ashley Joens said. “Obviously, you dream about it as a little kid, you watch it. So to be able to be here and get the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament is huge. When we step out on the court you are not really thinking about what’s going on around you, you’re focused on what’s going on at that moment and focused on your scouting report, what you’re doing, and the game itself.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
TULSA, Okla. – Iowa State pushed two through to the quarterfinals during Session II of the NCAA Championships Thursday evening inside the BOK Center. David Carr and Marcus Coleman each earned second-round victories to stay on the championship side of their respective brackets.
Iowa State sits tied for 13th place with 12.0 points after day one action. All eight Cyclones are still alive for day two with two wrestlers on the championship side and six in the wrestlebacks.
Carr was Iowa State’s first quarterfinalist. He controlled from start to finish as he picked up his third win of the season against Northern Iowa’s Austin Yant. Carr secured six takedowns in the 15-4 victory.
The win sets Carr up with a quarterfinal match up against 2021 165-pound NCAA Champion Shane Griffith of Stanford.
Coleman won a nail-biter over Iowa’s Abe Assad in the second round. The pair were deadlocked at 1-1 entering TB-1 but the Cyclone managed a 30-second ride out in the first half. Assad gave Coleman an escape, looking for the winning takedown, but Coleman managed to evade the Hawkeye for a 2-1 win.
Casey Swiderski lived to fight another day with a 7-3 win over Pennsylvania’s Carmen Ferrante in the consolation first round. Swiderski had three takedowns in the match, including two in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory.
Jason Kraisser also picked up a win in the wrestlebacks with a 7-2 victory over Appalachian State’s Tommy Askey. Kraisser was active early with a takedown in the first period before adding another in the third.
Zach Redding fell to the wrestlebacks after a 12-4 defeat to the No. 3 seed Vito Arujau of Cornell.
Paniro Johnson couldn’t overcome an early 6-0 deficit after Penn State’s Shayne Van Ness took him feet-to-back in the first period. Johnson battled back but couldn’t dig out of the hole as he fell, 14-8.
At 197 pounds, Yonger Bastida was much the aggressor but couldn’t finish several prime opportunities against No. 4 seed Ethan Laird of Rider. Bastida was in deep on a leg several times but was eventually countered by Laird and gave up a takedown with 22 seconds remaining, falling 3-1.
Sam Schuyler dropped a heartbreaker, 2-1, to Northwestern’s No. 9 Lucas Davison. Schuyler began the final period on bottom, trailing 1-0, when Davison returned Schuyler to the mat hard and the Cyclone was forced to take injury time. The mat return was reviewed for an illegal slam, but no call was made.
Out of the review, Davison was given his choice, chose bottom, and earned an escape. Schuyler received a late point for stalling but was unable to secure the winning takedown.
Up Next
Session III of the NCAA Championships is set for 11 a.m. on ESPNU. Quarterfinals, as well as the consolation second and third rounds, will be contested.
Iowa State Results
133: No. 14 Zach Redding
First Round: W-D, 7-2 vs. Domenic Zaccone (CAMP)
Second Round: L-MD, 12-4 vs. Vito Arujau (CORN)
Consolation Second Round: vs. Angelo Rini (COL)
141: No. 24 Casey Swiderski
First Round: L-D, 4-1 vs. Mosha Schwartz (OU)
Consolation First Round: W-D, 7-3 vs. Carmen Ferrante (PENN)
Consolation Second Round: vs. Vince Cornella (CORN)
149: No. 5 Paniro Johnson
First Round: W-D, 2-2 TB-1 (RT) vs. Alec Hagan (OHIO)
Second Round: L-D, 14-8 vs. Shayne Van Ness (PSU)
Consolation Second Round: vs. Doug Zapf (PENN)
157: No. 25 Jason Kraisser
First Round: L-D, 5-3 vs. Ed Scott (NCST)
Consolation First Round: W-D, 7-2 vs. Tommy Askey (APP)
Consolation Second Round: Kaden Gfeller (OSU)
165: No. 1 David Carr
First Round: W-MD, 10-2 vs. Josh Kim (HARV)
Second Round: W-MD, 15-4 vs. Austin Yant (UNI)
Quarterfinals: vs. Shane Griffith (STAN)
184: No. 5 Marcus Coleman
First Round: W-MD, 12-3 Jacob Ferreira (HOF)
Second Round: W-D, 2-1 TB-1 vs. Abe Assad (IOWA)
Quarterfinals: vs. Trey Munoz (ORST)
197: No. 13 Yonger Bastida
First Round: W-D, 5-2 vs. Evan Bockman (UVU)
Second Round: L-D, 3-1 vs. Ethan Laird (RID)
Consolation Second Round: vs. Andrew Davison (NW)
285: No. 8 Sam Schuyler
First Round: W-D, 4-2 vs. Michael Wolfgram (WVU)
Second Round: L-D, 2-1 vs. Lucas Davison (NW)
Consolation Second Round: vs. Jacob Bullock (IND)
TULSA, Okla. — Marcus Coleman was born a Cyclone. He grew up in Ames just minutes from Hilton Coliseum. Sam Schuyler grew up 1,170 miles away in Kings Park, N.Y.
This weekend, the two Cyclones find themselves finishing out their collegiate careers side-by-side as staples within the Iowa State wrestling program.
They had totally different journeys leading them to Iowa State, but their impact will be felt long after they leave.
Once a Cyclone, always a Cyclone
Kevin Dresser once shared that when he first began recruiting at Iowa State, he found it could be difficult to pursue kids in-state who had grown up with black and gold rooms.
Coleman was the opposite. He grew up with cardinal and gold dreams. Some dreams even led him to think he would become an Iowa State football player and make it to the NFL. Eventually, those goals changed to wrestling.
When Coleman was a kid he often attended Iowa State duals with his uncle. He remembers being one of the kids who waited for the wrestlers to stop and give autographs. His eyes became set on becoming one of those wrestlers.
Photo Courtesy of Erica Andorf / Coleman’s motherColeman made his verbal commitment to then-head coach Kevin Jackson in 2016.
When Coleman was preparing to compete for a final time at the Iowa High School State Wrestling tournament, he was surprised when news broke on Twitter that Dresser had been hired as the new head coach.
One of the things at the top of Dresser’s list when taking over the program was ensuring the Ames native still wanted to wrestle for Iowa State. Dresser was worried Coleman was leaning towards leaving.
“Marcus is going to hold a special place for this staff,” Dresser said. “When I got hired, there was a recruiting class that was kind of on the ropes. I remember calling Marcus and trying to talk him into staying and he cut me right off and said ‘Coach I’m not going anywhere.'”
Coleman remembers that call differently because he knew Dresser had nothing to worry about.
“He’s a good salesman. He told me they believed I could still be a superstar,” Coleman laughed as he reminisced on the call that happen over six years ago. “It was a no-brainer for me. I did research and saw what he was able to do for Virginia Tech so I knew I’d be successful. It was an easy decision for me.”
In his first season as a Cyclone, Coleman went 24-18, finished fifth at the Big 12 Championship, and qualified for the NCAA Championship. The next few seasons for Coleman rollercoasters. But it wasn’t until the end of the 2021-22 season that things finally clicked, propelling him to be the wrestler he is today.
Coleman admits he is a poor loser.
When he stepped off the mat in St. Louis at the 2021 NCAA Championship (after getting pinned in the Round of 16), Coleman found himself crying under the bleachers.
“I remember him coming off the mat and bawling his eyes out,” Dresser said. “I love it when guys bawl their eyes out because it shows me that it’s really important to them. He made a decision at that time that he was going to finish this the right way.”
Since then, Coleman has completely elevated his presence, not only in the practice room but nationally.
Two seasons ago, Coleman was the No. 21 seed at the national tournament at 197 pounds. This season, he’s the No. 5 seed at 184 pounds. He finished in second place at the Big 12 Championship, his highest finish. He went 17-2 overall with 50 takedowns to his name this season. His most notable win of the season was taking down Penn State’s No. 1 Aaron Brooks at the Collegiate Duals in December.
Coleman credits his success to assistant coach Derek St. John and teammates David Carr and Yonger Bastida who have trained with him day in and day out to refine his style, and technique and challenge him as a person.
David Carr, Marcus Coleman, and Yonger Bastida all earned All American honors at the 2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships. Photo via Iowa State WrestlingSo what does it feel like for Coleman to finally see himself become a staple to the success of the program?
“Seeing myself become the type of athlete they (the coaching staff) wanted their guys to be when I first came here, preaching consistency and hard work and doing the right things on and off the mat, it means a lot,” Coleman said.
Six years will come to a close for Coleman and the reality hasn’t fully set in.
“I’ve said many times, I grew up coming to duals and getting signatures at the end of matches,” Coleman said. “It hasn’t really hit me yet but I’ve lived out my dream. I’m blessed to have been able to wrestle in a place like Hilton. It’s pretty cool being one of those guys now who gives out the signatures.”
Blind leap of faith
Schuyler had never stepped foot in the state of Iowa when he committed to Dresser, and he didn’t need to when it came to making the decision to wrestle for him.
Photo Courtesy of Andrea Schuyler, Sam Schuyler’s mother Schuyler didn’t have a lot of offers coming out of high school so he took the first opportunity that he could get. That landed him at Buffalo. After getting a few seasons under his belt and earning an NCAA Championship qualification, he felt he had enough leverage to enter the transfer portal.
It was through Zach Redding’s dad, Gary Redding, that Schuyler found his in with the Cyclones. Through a lot of phone tag, the day finally came when Schuyler got the call from Dresser. Iowa State’s then-starting heavyweight, Gannon Gremmel, had announced he was forgoing his extra year of eligibility so he knew this was his chance.
“I told myself, if I’m transferring, I’m gonna go to a better school. I’m going to go to a school that does it right,” Schuyler said. “When they (Iowa State) reached out I was like ok this is the Big 12. I’m all in. When you lay out all the traditions this university has in wrestling and all of athletics, how can you not want to go to a school like that?”
Schuyler’s father suggested they buy tickets to a dual and go experience it. Schuyler said no.
“I told him no, I’m just gonna go. I’m just going to commit. I didn’t even come to check it out,” Schuyler said. “I was just so deadset on Ames. I called Dresser and said ‘Ok I’m coming,’ and he told me, ‘Ok be here in two days’ so my dad and I took off.”
Schuyler’s first experience with Ames was eating breakfast at The Grove Cafe located on Main Street which is considered “old Ames”.
“I sat quietly and ate my food and thought to myself, this is crazy. I looked out the window and I saw like a little tumbleweed,” Schuyler recalled with a laugh. “I thought to myself like, ok, this cannot be it.”
Despite the first impressions, Schuyler had no trouble making himself at home.
In his two seasons as Cyclone, Schuyler went from 9-4 overall, a fifth-place finish at the MAC Championships, and a trip to the NCAA Championships through an at-large bid to a top 10 guy in the nation at the DI level. Today, the heavyweight is 17-3 overall, finished in second place at the Big 12 Championships, and is the No. 8 seed at the NCAA Championships.
“When you’re surrounded by guys who all want to win, you get better. You don’t have to think about winning, subconsciously you just win,” Schuyler said when reflecting on his transfer.
Being a Cyclone and wrestling at Hilton Coliseum has exceeded all of Schuyler’s expectations, even ones he didn’t know he had. When it comes time to reflect on his final days he has refused to let that sink in.
“I didn’t really know exactly what I was looking for in a transfer. I had an idea but Iowa State’s been way better than I could’ve imagined. My workout partner is world-class. I didn’t even know Yonger Bastida existed when I was transferring and getting to wrestle with a guy like that is awesome. I mean, I’m coached by guys like Brent Metcalf and St. John that are guys I grew up watching,” Schuyler said. “Wrestling in Hilton and having all those fans, I never had that. Everything about this school is everything I wanted and I didn’t even know I wanted it. It checked all the boxes.”
Sam Schuyler has his hand raised in Hilton Coliseum / Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova Schuyler has been an anchor to the lineup, literally. As the heavyweight, you’re always the closer. Some are able to live up to that pressure and some aren’t. For Schuyler, it’s where he finds himself most comfortable. It’s where he has made the most impact. When he reflects on his career, his favorite memory was being able to bring the win home in dual against Pitt. He had a match-winning takedown over then-No. 5 Dayton Pitzer.
“I think I’ve always been capable of having success in wrestling but I needed a coach and a program that could pull it out of me,” Schuyler said.
The New York native found just that in Ames.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, and starters Jaren Holmes, Gabe Kalscheur and Tamin Lipsey, preview the Cyclones’ game against Pitt in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in the videos below.
Mar 16, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Jeff Capel with his ten year old son Elijah Capel addresses the media before a practice round for the NCAA Tournament first round at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Pitt head coach Jeff Capel, plus players Blake Hinson, Nike Sibadne and Greg Elliot, preview the Panthers’ first-round match-up with Iowa State in Greensboro on Friday in the videos below.
Mar 14, 2023; Dayton, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Blake Hinson (2) reacts to a play in the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at UD Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
GREENSBORO, N.C. — When T.J. Otzelberger was named Iowa State’s head coach almost exactly two years ago from this day, former Mississippi transfer Blake Hinson was potentially going to be a key piece of the program’s rebuild.
Until he wasn’t.
Hinson, who was recruited to Iowa State under Steve Prohm, left the program before ever playing a game under Otzelberger.
Frankly, it turned out to be a brilliant move on his behalf.
Hinson has been an incredible offensive asset under Jeff Capel at Pitt. The former Rebel, and kind of former Cyclone, was recently named to the All-ACC second-team after averaging 15.5 points per game. Hinson scored in double-digits 29 times this season and is one of only three places in the ACC to average over 15.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Pitt’s turnaround this season has come at a good time too. In his four previous seasons, Capel’s program had yet to reach an NCAA Tournament – or even notch a winning record. He very well could have been fired this offseason if not for the 180-degree reversal in production.
In Capel’s fifth season, the Panthers have won an impressive 12 more games than that of a year ago – and eight more in ACC play. Hinson has been a huge part of that turnaround.
But Hinson made it very clear on Thursday that doesn’t want to talk about his time or exit from Iowa State.
“I would rather not say,” Hinson replied when asked about leaving Ames.
Ok.
Well, do you still keep in contact with any of the guys at Iowa State?
“No,” he said.
Alright.
T.J. Otzelberger gave a more political view of the situation on Wednesday.
“I’ll say this about Blake, he came to Iowa State to play for a different coach. There was a change that was made. There are no hard feelings. He felt it was best for him to go elsewhere. He’s done great with it. I think there’s nobody that hasn’t done well in that scenario, right? He’s having a great career at Pitt. Our programs are in a great place. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”
I really appreciated what Jeff Capel had to say.
“For us, it’s Pitt against Iowa State. It’s not Blake against Iowa State or Iowa State against Blake. They have an outstanding team. They have an outstanding coaching staff. They’ve done an incredible job, T.J. has, in his second year. The run they made this year, they played in an incredible conference. We have our hands full with Iowa State, not just the emotion of — or not just the emotion of Blake playing against Iowa State.”
Nailed it.
Is this an interesting side story leading up to Friday’s NCAA Tournament game?
Absolutely. I woke up charged to learn more about the situation and write about it.
Does this actually matter?
Not really. Both can be true. But it’s still interesting. A lot of these Iowa State guys know Hinson well.
“Just gonna play him like any other opponent,” said Robert Jones. “Just like we played Tyrese earlier in the year twice. Just going to be another guy we’ve got to take down.”
Without saying anything, Hinson made it quite clear that he doesn’t have warm feelings about his time in Ames. It was smart of him to not air any grievances 24 hours before tip. That would have been beneficial to nobody, except an Iowa State coaching staff scrapping for last-second bulletin board material to show its team.
Think about it from Hinson’s perspective: He committed to play for a coach (Prohm) who I’m sure promised him as many shots as he could get off in a game. Then, that coach got fired and a man with a totally different basketball philosophy took over.
This is why the transfer portal is a good thing.
Hinson said that he is as happy as he has ever been at Pitt and the Cyclones are about to play in their second NCAA Tournament in a row two years after going 0-19 in conference play.
Otzelberger was right. It was a win-win.
Mar 13, 2023; Dayton, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Jeff Capel III talks to the press during the NCAA Tournament First Four Practice at UD Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The following are excerpts from Pitt head coach Jeff Capel’s official NCAA Tournament press conference on Thursday ahead of Friday’s first-round game against Iowa State in Greensboro.
Q: Blake (Hinson) wasn’t very talkative about his time at Iowa State and leaving, but this is going to be a more common occurrence in the transfer portal era where guys end up running up against teams they had seen before with more player movement. Have you addressed that much with him at all, or do you have to, and is that something you will as a coach generally have to be more cognizant of the emotional connections or whatever to a previous stop?
CAPEL: Yeah, I really haven’t. You know, it’s interesting. I don’t think young people are as emotional about this stuff as we maybe adults are. They’re able to move on very, very quickly and turn the page. So for us, it’s Pitt against Iowa State. It’s not Blake against Iowa State or Iowa State against Blake. They have an outstanding team. They have an outstanding coaching staff. They’ve done an incredible job, T.J. has, in his second year. The run they made this year, they played in an incredible conference. We have our hands full with Iowa State, not just the emotion of — or not just the emotion of Blake playing against Iowa State.
Q: You mentioned Iowa State is a great team, I think you said, with the outstanding staff. What did you kind of see basically on how they play defensively? What has stood out? Also, how does kind of a quick turnaround affect your preparation process?
Capel: Well, they are outstanding defensively. They’re very physical. They’re very disciplined. They play with great energy. They’re unbelievably connected on that side of the basketball. You can tell that that’s their identity and that’s what they hang their hat on.
They rotate well. They defend the basketball well. Their ball screen defense, their bigs are athletic. They’re energetic, just the physicality in which they play with. So that’s what makes them one of the better defensive teams in the country.
As far as the short turnaround, you know, fortunate we’re not playing today. So we were able to, after the travel and everything yesterday, get a lot of rest. You know, we didn’t get out of the arena in Dayton until 1:00, a little bit after 1:00 in the morning. We spent the night. We got up the next morning and flew here.
So hopefully we’re rested, and I know we’ll be excited. The adrenaline will be going, and we’ll be ready to go.
Q: When you look at Iowa State, what is your biggest concern? What do you guys have to do well to win?
Capel: We have to rebound the basketball. They’re a really good offensive-rebounding team. We have to be able to play through physicality and not turn the basketball over. Especially live ball turnovers. They turn those into baskets. Then we have to be able to execute with strength against their defense.
Q: You guys did a relatively good job of containing Smith against Mississippi State the other day. Turned the ball over five times. Do you see anything similar from Iowa State’s bigs that could present similar challenges to what Smith gave you?
Capel: They’re similar. There are probably more of them. They’re physical. They’re athletic. They have great motors. They play really, really hard, and they’re threats down there. So we’re going to have our hands full with all of them, with their whole team, with the way they play. They play a lot of guys, and they get after it. They’re well-coached. I know they’re going to be anxious and hungry.
Q: As a little bit of a follow-up to that, when you watch them on film preparing for this, is there a guy or two who stands out to you that you think, could give you a problem?
Capel: I never go into it thinking about one or two guys. I think about their team. I think what makes them good is they’re a really good team. They have guys that can step up, guys to make plays for them on both sides of the floor. I’ve been really impressed with their whole team, and so, again, we’ll have our hands full. We’re anxious. We’re excited about it, and we’ll be ready to go.
Mar 14, 2023; Dayton, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Jeff Capel III looks on in the first half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at UD Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The following quotes are excerpts from T.J. Otzelberger’s conversation with the media upon arriving in Greensboro for Iowa State’s NCAA Tournament first-round match-up with Pittsburgh.
On what he saw from the Panthers on Tuesday…Otz: “They’re a terrific offensive team. They can really space you out. A lot of veteran guys that can make plays and shoot the basketball. They’re great in transition, and when they can get a rhythm offensively, they can put up points and scoring bunches. We’re going to have to do a great job guarding the three point line, limiting their looks there and then also contain the dribble.”
On Pitt co-leading scorer, and former Cyclone, Blake Hinson…Otz: “I’ll say this about Blake, he came to Iowa State to play for a different coach. There was a change that was made. There’s no hard feelings. He felt it was best for him to to go elsewhere. He’s done great with it. I think there’s nobody that hasn’t done well in that scenario, right? He’s having a great career at Pitt. Our program’s are in a great place. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”
On Pitt’s resiliciency against Mississippi State…Otz: “Certainly, later in the year they picked up a lot of momentum overall. In last night’s game, you could see that. Blake hit a big three to put them up six late and then even when they got down one, just the resiliency they had, the togetherness as a group. You can tell that they’ve got belief in one another and showed up last night for them late when they needed it.“
On keys of winning the battle in the paint…Otz: “For us, having played Baylor a few times lately, where they have really good guards who can space you and shoot you, we feel like we can do a good job getting to the boards and going inside to guys. It’s going to be important. It’s going to be part of our attack plan. We pride ourselves on being the team that’s more physical, rebounds better and scores more in the paint. It’s going to definitely be important against Pitt.”
On comparing Pitt to Baylor…Otz: “I’d say as much as any team in our league, that would be the one you’d say. They have multiple guards who shoot it well from three and that can do it in transition. Baylor’s the team that is probably the closest comparison in our league.”
Mar 10, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Tre King (0) handles the ball while defended by Kansas Jayhawks forward Jalen Wilson (10) in the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
GREENSBORO, N.C. — In the overall scheme of things, Iowa State’s 73-57 win over Western Michigan back on Dec. 18 wasn’t a very big deal. When you are a member of the toughest conference in America, double-digit victories in “buy games” during the doldrums of December are quite forgettable.
Grab the dub, and on to the next.
But for Iowa State forward Tre King, this marked a momentous return to the basketball court after an excruciating two-year absence. King tallied an impressive 5-of-6 from the floor for 11 points in his debut for the Cyclones, but for once, the box score could not have mattered less.
“I think that was my proudest moment,” said Tre’s father, Marvin. “The moment where he checked in the game. It was the sign that okay, it’s gonna be alright. We had endured the worst part of it. That moment was above any made shot or anything else he has done on the court. He made it back to the court, and he survived.”
A distinctive moment, indeed. The end of a tumultuous era also marked the beginning of a much brighter time in Tre’s life.
The road to getting back on the court was not easy. It is a story of resilience, patience and trust.
What an impression this young man has made on Iowa State basketball.
“Tre King is an amazing young man with a bright future at Iowa State and beyond,” T.J. Otzelberger said. “He is fortunate to have terrific parents who have instilled an excellent work ethic and character in him. Even though he didn’t play last season, his spirit and enthusiasm positively impacted our program on a daily basis.”
King, a Kentucky native, started his college career at Eastern Kentucky during the 2018-19 season. After three years, averaging 14.9 points per game and becoming one of the top players in the Ohio Valley, King had a hunger for high-major hoops.
He ended up at Georgetown, where he never saw the floor.
That program’s loss equaled Iowa State’s gain.
Jan 17, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T. J. Otzelberger (right) talks with forward Tre King (0) during the first half against the Texas Longhorns at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY SportsWhere he came from …
Before you know about Tre’s ascent within Otzelberger’s program, it’s best to know where he came from.
Marvin, Tre’s dad, played basketball at Drake under Rudy Washington in the early ’90s.
Small world: Drake’s play-by-play man at the time was none other than the Voice of the Cyclones, John Walters.
“Marvin was a good player,” Walters said. “He was not as physical, but Tre is a different beast. Marvin was a good player at Drake and worked his way up and got better every year to the point where he helped quite a bit his senior year.”
The two old friends randomly reunited in West Virginia last season before Iowa State’s game vs. the Mountaineers.
“We’re sitting there at West Virginia,” Walters laughed. “I looked up behind our bench and saw Marvin King just sitting there! It was great to see him. He’s just an awesome guy.”
Marvin, who is now a pastor and entrepreneur, had that previous familiarity with the state of Iowa, which absolutely helped Iowa State’s chances of landing the promising transfer.
So did the specific structure within T.J. Otzelberger’s program.
“It was the idea that T.J. created this culture,” Marvin said. “I’m a firm believer in strong leadership values. I’m a firm believer in family values. And Coach T.J. embodies that.”
Finding the right fit for school No. 3 is absolutely critical for a transfer. It’s your last chance. There is no margin for error because this is it. The Kings knew exactly what they were looking for and found it in Ames.
“I did not want my son to experience some of the pitfalls that I’ve seen in terms of character and coaches,” Marvin said. “I took a great deal of pride in raising Tre, as well as my other son. I did not want him to be around any less of a man than I am to him. I believed T.J. was shooting it straight in our dialogues and conversations. It was very easy to align and trust your son with someone who actually cares, who didn’t look at him as just another statistic, another point, another rebound, but looked at him as a person. And that meant a lot to me.”
Iowa State University Cyclones forward Tre King (0) celebrates after a dunk the ball against Kansas State Wildcats during the second half at Hilton Coliseum Tuesday, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.Kansas State And Iowa State Men S BasketballNow the hard part …
And now we have gotten to the not-so-happy part of the story … The dreaded denied waiver, which forced Tre to go a full two years without playing the game he loves.
“It was definitely disappointing, for lack of a better word,” Tre said. “They tell you not to get your hopes up just for the possibility that won’t happen. But you know, there’s always that bit of optimism. When they finally said no, it was like a punch in the gut.”
One of the trailblazing programs in college basketball when it comes to having success with transfers, Iowa State is familiar with how to make sit-out years not only work but for players to thrive during them.
But Tre’s story is different than many Cyclones of the past. Not the standard one, but two years is a long time to go without playing competitive ball.
“It was agonizing,” Marvin said. “But I think what happens is when good people have to go through adversity, you see it for what it is.”
That’s how Tre approached his time “off.” Except it was anything but that.
“There were a lot of lonely days,” Tre said. “A lot of days where I would live by myself.”
Let’s put it this way: Tre got to know strength and conditioning coach Pete Link very, very well.
“We’d go at it in hotels,” Tre said. “I’d come in on off days after they play and workout in the morning before the team does recovery and stuff like that. So it was a lot of moments when I was by myself.”
That’s another unique aspect of Tre’s story. So many times at Iowa State, multiple transfers have come in and had one another to lean on, practice and bond with. That wasn’t the case here. Quite often, Tre was by himself.
“To me, it just says that he has the wherewithal and the ability to fight through it on his own,” said Iowa State director of basketball operations, Micah Byars. “I just think he’s a very mature guy. And for him, he really embraced the graduate assistants. And the managers that really helped him get on track. But he always worked out with a singular focus on how he was going to help the team. Some of that really was him, recognizing that he knew the duration of how long he was going to sit out. And just embracing that and just saying, ‘I know that I’m gonna pour everything I can in,’ because you can see it on the bench when he was sitting there like it’s all genuine with him. But then he would cheer like heck, and then he’d go and turn around and work out on his own after.”
Credit to Iowa State’s process. Clearly, the Cyclones have it down.
“The first thing is that the person that comes in has to have a clear direction for what you know what their plan is going to be,” Byars, who has worked with transfers dating back to the beginning of the Hoiberg era, said. “But then they also have to have the ego to be able to know that they’re helping the team get better in their time off, and then also work on their own personal game and how they feel like they can fit in with the team and acclimate with us. Because if anybody came in and deviated from the system that we have, they would be in a tough spot, or if they didn’t have a low enough ego to help our guys, they wouldn’t make it during that time that they sit out.”
The human part of the process – fitting in with the guys – was easy for Tre. He’s just a very likable human being and credits his teammates with integrating him into the program regarding the more social aspects of things.
“When an outsider comes in, there are a lot of times and a lot of cases of apprehensiveness when you bring a new person into a group,” Tre said.
But they were all welcoming and they got me in as best as they could. And it made me feel included and welcomed. That helped a lot too.”
For a competitor at this level, though, not being having your hard work rewarded with playing time for that long is very hard. A guy can have all of the humility that he wants. Sitting out and watching while knowing you can help isn’t something that you learn from a textbook.
“You’re dying to play,” Tre said. “You see yourself being out there, and you want to do everything you can to help your teammates, and just be in that environment. I was so close, but so far away.”
Iowa State University Cyclones forward Tre King (0) takes a shot over TCU Horned Frogs forward Emanuel Miller (2) during the first half at Hilton Coliseum Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.Tcu And Iowa State Men S BasketballMeeting expectations, and beyond
Now to the fun part.
Not only did Tre make it to Dec. 18, 2022, but he has been a key piece to Iowa State’s NCAA Tournament run while playing in the toughest league in America. He’s averaging just under six points per game with 4.4 rebounds in 17.5 minutes of action.
“It was a unique challenge to integrate Tre into our team at semester, but he did everything in his power to make it as smooth as possible,” said Otzelberger. “Tre has been very coachable and willing to do what is needed to make our team successful this season. As we move into next season we will look to expand his game from a development standpoint, and count on him as a go-to type player.”
Tre’s biggest fan, his father, has even been somewhat surprised by now naturally his son has become acclimated to the Big 12.
“He has exceeded my expectations,” Marvin said. “I knew Tre would come in and perform. I did not anticipate he would perform as well so soon. There were eight to 10 games where he really had to go through a learning curve going from scout team to a key part of the rotation.”
After knocking the rust off, Tre says he feels like a new player.
“I feel like I’m a lot more physical,” Tre said. “I think I’ve adjusted to that because playing here is just one of the most physical places in the country. The speed of the game has slowed down for me. I’ve done a lot of film-watching with the coaches as well. You know, just wondering what reason making positioning on the defensive and I think that that’s all slowed down for me as well. So I think that a combination of all that stuff and kind of feel a lot better than I did you know when I first came out.”
The best is yet to come
Tre King made his college basketball debut five years ago. This weekend, he will be playing in his first NCAA Tournament. That alone is an accomplishment.
But Tre’s success this season has people within the program rightfully excited about next season already.
“Tre’s upside is incredible,” Marvin said. “I think his athleticism was an asset. But I think to match that he has a tremendously high IQ for the game, that he does a lot of things that do not show up on the stat sheet. He does a lot positionally to help his teammates out. Whether it’s clearing out a lane taking two guys with him and then guys getting easy layups, whether it’s guys double-teaming him in the post, because he’s a threat to score in the post and then they get easier shots because close outs are not as easy for other teams. He does so much that just doesn’t show up on the stat sheets, but he’s a team player. For two years, he had to be a cheerleader. How many guys would sit on the bench? It’s hard. One year is hard. One year is hard. Two games. It’s hard. Or a game is hard. I think it just demonstrates the fact that he really, he really loves this program. He really loves his coaching staff. He loves his teammates. And I think it showed because he had to cheer for two years.”
Regardless of how the Cyclones fare this weekend in Greensboro, Tre King’s patience and humility deserve to be celebrated. It also helps to know that his best days as a Cyclone are yet to come.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus seniors Tre King and Robert Jones, preview the Cyclones’ first-round match-up with Pittsburgh in the NCAA Tournament in Greensboro in these videos courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
Mar 12, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones hold the ticket to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big 12 Championship game against the Texas Longhorns at Municipal Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
During Iowa State women’s basketball media day in November, coach Bill Fennelly will typically mention an X-factor; a player punching above their weight class, making plays, and showing early improvement ahead of the start of the season.
It’s nearly impossible to predict before the season starts, but after 31 games this year, the answer to who this team’s X-factors are is definitive:
That’s Denae Fritz and Nyamer Diew.
“Oh, no question,” Fennelly said. “I think especially with what happened to Steph (Soares), we needed something. You knew what you were going to get out of ‘the big three.’ I think you knew what you were going to get out of Mo (Morgan Kane). The X-factor within the game, and I think the last three-four weeks, those two have been a huge reason that that trophy is in my office and that we’re in the NCAA Tournament.”
Fritz stepped into her starting role right off the get-go, beginning the year in the starting five and staying put in every game sans senior night.
It’s a tough ask for a player that was forced to sit out with an injury for nearly an entire season, but Fritz was finally starting to click during the back half of the conference season.
Beginning with the team’s matchup against Texas at Hilton Coliseum, Fritz and only shot below 50% from distance once over the regular season stretch to end the year.
“I don’t really know exactly when, but I think the KU game really gave me time to show myself that I’m capable of doing that,” Fritz said. “(I feel) a lot more confident from three months ago – it’s a long time. I hadn’t played that much and sitting out kind of put a damper on my confidence… but where I’m at now is a very good place.”
Against Kansas, she was a near-perfect 9-10 from the field and missed just one of her five 3-point attempts, tallying 26 points in the game.
“Denae’s a great player,” Diew said. “She’s always going to come and bring the fight, no matter what. She always wants to be scrappy or get out there and get a rebound or drive to the basket.”
Diew on the other hand has been making her presence felt in other ways.
While she comes off as an innocent, kind-hearted player off the court, the intensity she shows on the court is unmatched, especially after a big bucket.
I asked Nyamer Diew today who was more intense, her or Conrad Hawley.
She claims she's the true CEO. pic.twitter.com/IhxX9oZ1kN
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) March 14, 2023
Diew wants to give Conrad Hawley a run at his ‘Chief Energy Officer’ title.
The personality has been there all season and came out in an even louder feel on the big postseason stage in Kansas City.
“She brings a lot of energy and excitement to the game,” Fritz said. “She had some really crucial buckets there (in Kansas City) late in the game and I think she’s just someone other teams might count out. I think for us, though, we know she’s going to hit that shot. She’s going to rebound and do the little things, and I think that’s really special.”
Iowa State Cyclones forward Nyamer Diew (1) reacts after made a three-point shot against Baylor during the third quarter at Hilton Coliseum Thursday, Nov.10, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORKIt showed for Diew in the Big 12 semifinal game against Oklahoma.
After a solid first half, Diew told the coaching staff to allow Kane to take the starting spot for the second half.
She does better when she can get a feel for the game and wanted Kane, a senior, to get that shot to play in the Big 12 tournament for the final time in her career.
“Everyone likes to call me a streaky player, but I’m also an emotional player,” Diew said. “I’m going to take that and I’m going to go out there and be emotional – cheer for my teammates if they score or (celebrate) otherwise.”
Diew finished the game with 19 points.
The pair buying into their roles on the team may be as big as Ashley Joens dropping 30 points in a single night.
What prevented Iowa State’s group from going further in the NCAA Tournament a year ago was a lack of X-factors.
“They’ve grown into their roles, they’ve accepted their roles and they play at a really high level,” Fennelly said. “That has really given us a chance the last month where we didn’t know that we’d be in this situation.”
Now they’ve got two, and it brought them the program’s first Big 12 tournament championship since 2001.
“I think what it says is – and I’m happy for this team, obviously – but it shows how hard it is,” Fennelly said. “There’s a lot of teams – there’s a lot of people that never did it… It’s just one of those moments that, when you coach, you wish and pray that you get.”
For Iowa State to make a run in this year’s tournament, it will take that same fight from Diew and Fritz.
If either of them starts scoring in the double digits, look for the Cyclones to start putting some space between themselves and their opponent.
It’s got them one big trophy already.
“To see the look on our players’ faces when all of that confetti was coming down, that will be in my mind until the day I die,” Fennelly said. “I’m good with that.”
On Saturday against Toledo (2:30 p.m. ESPN2), they start their quest for another.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
The Big 12 and the NFL today announced a partnership to launch the Big 12 Pro Day, a reimagined Pro Day experience with state of the art medical and player skill assessments designed to maximize the student-athlete prospect experience.
The Big 12 Pro Day, debuting in spring of 2024 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas will be the first-ever conference-wide pro day, replacing and advancing traditional on-campus pro days. The event will showcase Big 12 football talent at a world-class facility, providing maximum exposure for Big 12 student-athletes as they prepare for their professional careers.
Off the field, the Big 12 Pro Day will offer a job fair and non-football career networking opportunities for Big 12 student-athletes. Additionally, Big 12 football student-athletes will have the opportunity to network and meet with individuals from the Big 12 Business Advisory Board, who will lend guidance on several topics, including professional development and career growth.
While the Big 12 Pro Day on-field workouts will be closed to the public, the Conference will be hosting a Big 12 Fan Fest outside of the event, complete with special VIP appearances, fan engagement experiences, screens broadcasting NFL Network’s coverage of the Pro Day and more.
“The first-of-its-kind Big 12 Pro Day will provide our student-athletes an opportunity to showcase their talent and skill as they turn their NFL dreams into reality,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “Through this partnership with the NFL, Big 12 student-athletes will receive national media exposure across NFL Network and NFL Media platforms. We are thrilled to partner with the NFL to host this Pro Day, and we look forward to creating a special experience for our student-athletes.”
“With the creation of a Big 12 Pro Day, our conference and Commissioner Yormark continue to prioritize the enhancement of the student-athlete experience,” said TCU head coach Sonny Dykes. “The Big 12’s partnership with the NFL, its programming through NFL Network and its powerful social media presence will provide an unbelievable amount of exposure for all the participants from each member institution and the conference as a whole. The opportunity to host this event in a first-class facility like The Star at the Dallas Cowboys’ complex is another positive for the student-athletes in preparing them for the next stage of their careers. It is a powerful statement on how the Big 12 is at the forefront of innovation.”
“The Big 12 unified approach will provide world-class maximum exposure, mentorship, and development opportunities for potential future prospects pulling on the vast resources of these Big 12 institutions,” said Troy Vincent, Sr., NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. “From state of the art medical and talent evaluations to maximized media exposure and classroom professional development, these future leaders will experience a dignified, respectful and comprehensive assessment.”
NFL Network will bring its talent and production capabilities onsite to capture drill performances and workouts as well as provide expert commentary and analysis around the event, packaged into nightly coverage of the event on NFL Network. The Big 12 Pro Day coverage will be featured within additional NFL Network programming and promoted across NFL digital and social channels.
The inaugural Big 12 Pro Day will be held at Ford Center at The Star, the 91-acre campus of the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters and practice facility in Frisco, Texas. The Star was developed as a first-of-its-kind partnership between the City of Frisco and Frisco ISD.
Iowa State signees Omaha Biliew and Milan Momcilovic were announced as Gatorade Players of the Year Wednesday for the states of Iowa and Wisconsin.
The pair of touted recruits are two of Iowa State’s three highest rated commits in program history and will take the court later this year in November.
Biliew’s 22.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game wowed area high school crowds throughout the 2022-23 season.
Although it didn’t end with a state championship for Biliew, the hype hasn’t died down.
“A rare combination of strength, power and skill, Biliew has elite ability to play low-post defense, rebound, block shots and take charges,” ESPN’s National Director of Recruiting Paul Biancardi said in the announcement. “He’s a tremendous lob threat as well as a screen and roll target, but also, his 3-point point shot has developed and he’s become a viable threat to be a short, straight-line driver. What makes him special is he cares about his teammates and plays with big heart.”
Momcilovic averaged 22.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game during his senior season at Pewaukee High School.
His awards seemingly don’t stop coming in.
“Momcilovic is a skilled forward who makes plays as a facilitator and as a scoring threat,” Biancardi said. “When you study his game, his footwork is on point, his shot and pass fakes are clever, allowing him to create space for his own shot and drive. Momcilovic knows how to draw fouls and has a great understanding on how to play both with and off the ball.”
Iowa State’s schedule will be announced far later in the year, but these two along with the rest of the 2023 class will arrive in Ames over the summer.
Mar 14, 2023; Dayton, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Guillermo Diaz Graham (25) celebrates a play in the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at UD Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State has its opponent for Friday’s NCAA Tournament first round game in Greensboro.
The Pitt Panthers advanced into the round of 64 with a thrilling 60-59 win over Mississippi State in the First Four in Dayton on Tuesday. The Panthers moved to 23-11 with the win and finished tied for third in the ACC this season with a 14-6 record in conference play.
Iowa State and Pitt have played basketball against each other only once before, back in 1981, in a game the Panthers won 81-65 in Portland.
Here are a few takeaways from Pitt’s win over the Bulldogs:
* The Panthers securing the win simply came down to their ability to make more shots than Mississippi State. I know, duh. That’s the point of the game.
But, neither team tore of the nets in this contest. Pitt did just enough against the Bulldogs’ elite defense to come out on top, and that’s largely because Mississippi State’s offense was really, really not good.
It was a hottly contested game throughout with the largest lead both ways reaching only six points.
Pitt secured its largest lead of the night after Blake Hinson connected on a deep 3-pointer to make it 58-52 with 3:13 to play. Mississippi State was in the midst of a four-plus minute scoreless streak at the time, which was one of the themes of this game.
The Bulldogs broke out of that drought by scoring seven straight points in roughly a minute and a half to take a 59-52 lead with a little more than 30 seconds left to play.
Jamarius Burton’s mid-range jumper with 14 seconds left sealed the win for Pitt in a game that featured roughly 20 lead changes.
* Mississippi State’s inability to put the ball in the basket was what really defined this game. The Bulldogs were the aggressors defensively and really dictated the pace of the game from the opening tip.
They just couldn’t make a freaking shot.
After starting the game 4-of-5 from 3-point range prior to the under-16 timeout of the first half, the Bulldogs finished just 6-of-23 from 3-point range, and a significant number of those shots were what amounted to wide open shots.
They shot just 38.1 percent from the field while out-rebounding Pitt, 49-28, and securing 18 offensive rebounds.
Rebounding will be an important area of Friday’s game, and it is something I would expect Iowa State hopes to dominate in a similar fashion. The Cyclones will need to do a better job taking advantage of those opportunities than what Mississippi State did.
* Pitt’s win was fueled by timely shot-making and efficienct shot selection from downtown. The Panthers were 9-of-19 from 3-point range, and did a solid job of navigating Mississippi State’s defense.
The Bulldogs did a great job of forcing Pitt to make difficult shots. The Panthers just made the most important ones when it mattered most.
The formula for Iowa State will be much the same with an added emphasis on creating turnovers.
* Limiting Burton’s ability to get into the paint and collapse the defense will be another of Iowa State’s biggest keys. The 6-foot-4 senior guard doesn’t shoot from deep often, but he’s capable.
He does most of his damage attacking the rim, scoring in the mid-range, finishing around the basket and creating opportunities for others. He’s shooting 53 percent on 2-point shots this season and is one of the team’s leaders in assist rate.
* Hinson, who spent approximately a year and a half with the Iowa State program, but never played a game, is the kind of guy who is open the second he walks in the gym. He’s not afraid to pull that thing from anywhere, as proven by his deep 3-pointer late to give Pitt its biggest lead.
He’ll also work the mid-post area if he feels he has a favorable matchup down low.
* Nelly Cummings was the team’s most effective player against Mississippi State, tallying a game-high 15 points on 6-of-13 from the field and 2-of-4 from 3-point range. He’s the team’s leader in assist rate and will be equally important to keep out of the middle of the defense as Burton.
* Iowa State currently sits as a four-point favorite on Friday, according to KenPom. The Cyclones will be favored in this game, and I think they should be.
Of the two teams, this is the one I probably would have leaned toward wanting to see Iowa State play. I believe a team playing a style different than Iowa State’s is a better match-up for this Cyclone team at this point in the year.
Iowa State cannot allow Pitt to get into an early rhythym and find its shooting stroke. Keeping the Panthers off balance and being the aggressor from the opening tip will dictate how this game plays out.
Mississippi State didn’t hit enough shots to beat Pitt on Tuesday.
Iowa State hopes to reverse the fortune on Friday.
The next time David Montgomery returns to play a NFL game in Chicago, he’ll be dressed in a lighter shade of blue.
The former Bears running back and Iowa State Cyclone has signed a three-year deal with the Detroit Lions, worth $18 million.
Montgomery’s contract also contains $11 million of guaranteed money.
The #Lions are signing former #Bears RB David Montgomery, per sources. pic.twitter.com/d62L4OyUsF
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 15, 2023
During the 2022 season with the Bears, Montgomery carried the ball 201 times for 801 yards rushing over the season, along with five touchdowns.
He’s had 26 rushing touchdowns in his NFL career.
Some remember Montgomery’s career with the Chicago Bears fondly, and often will bring up his 57-yard rush against the Packers in 2020, which Bears’ fans refer to as ‘The run.’
It’s not goodbye David Montgomery, it’s see ya later pic.twitter.com/1RngUxNLmh
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) March 15, 2023
Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly, Denae Fritz, and Nyamer Diew addressed media members prior to their team’s departure for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament later this week:
Former Iowa State Cyclone Allen Lazard has found a new home for the next four seasons.
Lazard, who may presumably be playing alongside his quarterback from Green Bay in Aaron Rodgers, agreed to a four-year deal with the New York Jets worth $44 million.
The contract, according to NBC Sports, contains $22 million of guaranteed money.
In five seasons with Rodgers in Green Bay, Lazard corralled 169 receptions for 2,236 yards and 20 touchdowns.
The Cyclones are headed back to Tulsa.
Iowa State will send eight wrestlers to compete in the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships that will be held March 16-18.
The eight Cyclones that will compete are Zach Redding (133), Casey Swiderski (141), Paniro Johnson (149), Jason Kraisser (157), David Carr (165), Marcus Coleman (184), Yonger Bastida (197) and Sam Schuyler (285).
Here are three key storylines to follow as the Cyclones compete in Tulsa.
As Iowa State continues to improve as a team, the expectation for the national tournament continues to rise.
Iowa State has been able to propel itself to new heights this season.
They went toe-to-toe with No. 1 Penn State and No. 2 Iowa in early season duals. They did something not many teams do and bumped up three of their guys in weight to take down Cornell at the Collegiate duals.
They received their highest team ranking since 2009 when ranked No. 3 in the nation.
Heading into the most important tournament of the season, Dresse notches his fifth consecutive season with at least eight qualifiers for the tournament. That makes them one of 15 teams sending at least eight of their wrestlers.
The Cyclones had four wrestlers seeded in the top 10 of their respective weights: No. 1 Carr, No. 5 Johnson, No. 5 Coleman, and No. 8 Schuyler.
The expectation for Iowa State is bringing home more than three All Americans to feel they’re continuing to move upwards.
Last season, Carr, Coleman and Bastida earned that honor.
The expectation is to see repeat All-American finishes from Carr, Coleman and Bastida and have Johnson and Schuyler join them.
To become an All-American, you must have a top-eight finish.
If Schuyler and Johnson at minimum wrestle their seed and avoid any upsets, they should find themselves on the podium and join their teammates in becoming All-Americans and help bring home the most All-Americans in one season of the Dresser era.
Swiderski was named the “sleeper pick” by the NCAA to become an All-American at 141 pounds. The freshman had an impressive debut at the Big 12 tournament. He entered unseeded and finished in fourth place.
Paniro Johnson is in a good position to end up in a rematch against defending champion Yianni Diakomihalis.
Diakomihalis isn’t just a national champion, he’s a world champion. He is the heavy favorite to take the title at 149 pounds. Johnson is on the same side of the bracket as Diakomihalis and has a very strong chance of a rematch Friday night of the tournament.
Earlier in the season, Johnson found himself only losing to the Cornell wrestler 3-1 in sudden victory. Diakomihalis hasn’t been untouchable this season either as he lost to Wisconsin’s, Austin Gomez, who Johnson beat handily in a 9-4 decision in the Battle in the River City where Wisconsin and Iowa State went head-to-head.
Anything could truly go at 149 pounds and thankfully, Johnson is wrestling his best in March. Regardless, a podium finish for the freshmen
will be huge.
David Carr is the heavy favorite to win the 165-pound title in his debut season at the weight
In his first season at 165 pounds, Carr finished the regular season 23-0 with 15 of those wins being over ranked opponents.
He led the team in overall wins, win by fall and bonus point wins.
He also currently has a 29-match win streak since his loss at the 2022 NCAA tournament. His dominance also shows in the 82 takedowns he’s tallied (the most on the team) this season and has only allowed three. For reference, 72 of those 82 takedowns were scored in the regular season. The teammate behind him is Bastida who notched 69.
Carr’s most notable win came at the Big 12 Championships, when he won by fall over No. 2 and defending champion, Keegan O’Toole, to win the Big 12 title. This elevated him to a four-time Big 12 Champion making him only the second Cyclone in history to earn four conference titles since 2002 behind Cael Sanderson.
If Carr and O’Toole wrestle to their seeds, they’ll have a rematch but this time for an NCAA title. Both wrestlers have expressed their excitement in this newfound rivalry which Carr currently leads 2-0 over O’Toole.
With the dominance of Carr’s season and if he wins a second NCAA title, in arguably the deepest weight in the country, there’s a real argument to be had about Carr deserving to win the Hodge Trophy. Which, hypothetically speaking, if he did win it he would be the first Cyclone to earn it since 2002 when Cael Sanderson earned his third.
It’s shaping up to be a special season for Carr.
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) takes a three-points shot against Kansas State during the last minute of the second half at Hilton Coliseum Tuesday, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications.
AMES, Iowa –Iowa State guard Gabe Kalscheur has earned a spot on the NABC All-District 8 Second Team after averaging 12.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists for the Cyclones this year.
Kalscheur, a senior from Edina, Minn., earned a spot on the All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Big 12 Defensive Team last week. Kalscheur has started the last 21 games for the Cyclones, scoring in double figures in 20 of 32 games played this year. He scored a season-high 26 points against West Virginia in his final game at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State returns to action on Friday, facing either Pitt or Mississippi State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. (CT) on truTV in Greensboro, N.C.
NABC All-District 8 First Team
Marcus Carr, Texas
Adam Flagler, Baylor
Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State
Marquis Nowell, Kansas State
Jalen Wilson, Kansas
NABC All-District 8 Second Team
Timmy Allen, Texas
Gradey Dick, Kansas
Keyonte George, Baylor
Gabe Kalscheur, Iowa State
Mike Miles Jr., TCU
Coach of the Year: Jerome Tang, Kansas State
Mar 17, 2022; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger answers questions during practice before the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State isn’t worried about playing a play-in winner, and you shouldn’t be either.
That was one of the biggest things I took away from T.J. Otzelberger’s meeting with the media after it was announced Iowa State would play the winner of a First Four match-up between Mississippi State and Pittsburgh on Friday in Greensboro.
Sure, teams come from the First Four to make a solid run all the time, but this time of year is more about Iowa State than anything its opponents do.
“I think, for us, it’s still far more about what we do and who we need to be,” Otzelberger said. “Getting back from Kansas City, getting some bodies rested, getting back to working on the things we work on. It’s going to be important. Regardless of who we play, obviously, it’s a unique dynamic when you don’t know, we’ll prepare, doing what we need to do, and get to that soon enough.”
This is one of the most refreshing realities of Iowa State’s status as a member of the best basketball conference in America.
There isn’t anything the Cyclones haven’t seen at this point in the year.
They’ve played teams that want to junk up the game the same way they do. They’ve played teams that want to get up and down the floor and put up a bunch of shots.
This team is ready for this moment. The Cyclones just need to be the best versions of themselves in order to make a return trip to Kansas City for their second-straight berth in the second weekend.
“We’ve had quick turnarounds as we’ve moved through the season,” Otzelberger said. “It’s going to be a lot more working on the things that we do and we need to be better at. When we learn who we play, we still have a day and a half to implement a game plan, if you will.”
Diving Deeper* Let’s dive deeper into Mississippi State and Pittsburgh with some help from our friend KenPom.com:
Mississippi State– No. 49 in overall adjusted efficiency
– No. 164 adjusted offensive efficiency
– No. 6 adjusted defensive efficiency
– No. 363 in team 3-point percentage
– No. 347 in team free throw percentage
– No. 257 in offensive turnover percentage
As you can see, Mississippi State fits much closer to Iowa State’s profile than most other teams around the country. Chris Jans’ team is here on the back of its defense and has had success in spite of its below-average to poor offense.
Iowa State and Mississippi State matching up in the second round will have the same vibe as an Iowa and Wisconsin football game. This would be the type of game where you’re living on the edge if you bet the under.
PittsburghNo. 77 in overall adjusted efficiency
No. 24 adjusted offensive efficiency
No. 142 adjusted defensive efficiency
No. 174 tempo
Pitt isn’t an elite shooting team, but their offensive talents across the board are all well above average, which combines for a top-25 offense in the country. The Panthers have four guys who have played more than 70 percent of the team’s minutes to this point in the year and three of them shoot better than 35 percent from 3-point range.
The trade-off is Pittsburgh has one of the worst defenses of any power conference program in the tournament. Only Missouri and Iowa are power league teams rated lower on the defensive metrics than Pittsburgh.
* Both teams have a few common opponents with Iowa State…
Mississippi State split its season series with Missouri then beat TCU in overtime in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
North Carolina is Iowa State’s only common opponent with Pittsburgh. The Panthers swept their season series with the Tar Heels.
* Jans, a Fairbank, Iowa native, who got his degree from Loras College in Dubuque, gave Otzelberger his first job in college at Chipola Junior College, and that Chipola connection draws in Iowa State’s director of basketball ops Micah Byars, too.
“Coach Jans, gave me my first opportunity to coach in college,” Otzelberger said. “He’s from Iowa. We still have a relationship and stay in touch. A lot of respect for him and how he runs a program.”
Jans is what you could call a college basketball lifer, and he’s had success at nearly every level of the game. He won a Division II junior college national title as the head coach at Kirkwood in 1998. He won a Division I junior college national title at Chipola in 2004. He was a member of the staff at Wichita State when the Shockers went to the Final Four in 2013 then finished the regular season undefeated in 2014.
That success in Wichita propelled Jans to the head coaching job at Bowling Green then New Mexico State, where he won four WAC titles in five years and qualified for three NCAA Tournaments, even winning a game in the dance last season.
* A game against Pittsburgh would pit the Cyclones against Blake Hinson, who was a member of the program in Steve Prohm’s last season before parting ways with the program in the fall prior to T.J. Otzelberger’s first year at the helm.
This season, Hinson is tied for a team-high 15.6 points per game, is snagging 6.2 rebounds per game and shooting 38 percent from 3-point range.
More Musings* My initial run-through picking the bracket left me with a Final Four of Alabama, Purdue, Kansas and Texas.
The Longhorns are the one I’m least convinced about of those four, and I say that as a Big 12 guy who also picked them to win the Big 12 Tournament last week.
I do think there’s an element of Timmy Allen’s injury eliminating a cook from the kitchen. We all know Marcus Carr owns that kitchen anyway so the fewer cooks the better, perhaps.
* There is no doubt in my mind that Purdue is Final Four good, but that is only because Zach Edey is one of the most unstoppable college players of my lifetime.
All the other guys on that team give me pause, but you only need a couple of them to show up for you on any given night. Such is life when you have a guy who is basically a guaranteed 30 points and 12 rebounds a night.
* I have three Big 12 teams in my Elite Eight — the aforementioned Jayhawks and Longhorns along with Kansas State — and five of them in the Sweet 16, adding Iowa State and TCU.
Baylor is one Big 12 team I’d have on upset alert as they prepare to play UC-Santa Barbara in the first round. There was something about the Bears’ body language against Iowa State last week that really turned me off on the direction of that team.
I also have Drake advancing through the first two rounds and ending up in the Sweet 16 against Houston in Kansas City.
* The folks in Kansas City are surely praying for a scenario in which Iowa State, Iowa and Drake are all playing in the Sweet 16 at the T-Mobile Center.
The entire city might be out of beer before the first game tips off.
Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly and Denae Fritz talked to media members about their team’s NCAA Tournament selection:
Mar 12, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones players stand mid court during a break in play during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Municipal Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
The Iowa State women’s basketball team will play its first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament in Knoxville, Tenn. following its run to the Big 12 championship Sunday.
In its first round matchup, No. 5 Iowa State will take on No. 12 Toledo – the program that Bill Fennelly coached at in his first years as a head coach.
“There’s still a lot of connections there,” Fennelly said. “I think the committee had a sense of humor when they scheduled that.”
Iowa State had hoped that winning the Big 12 tournament would put the Cyclones in position to host the opening two rounds as a top 4 seed.
“The bottom line for us is to get in the tournament,” Fennelly said. “Yeah, hosting is part of it, but at the end of the day, we’ve proven that we can leave Hilton and play really well. Hopefully that’s the case next weekend.”
Iowa State will play Toledo on Friday and if it advances, it will face the winner of No. 4 Tennessee and No. 13 Saint Louis.
“A NCAA Tournament game – you never take that for granted, never,” Fennelly said. “And obviously, we’re going to play in one of the most re-known facilities and programs in the country.”
TV selections and tipoff times will be announced at a later time.
Hear Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus senior guards Gabe Kalscheur and Jaren Holmes, give their initial thoughts on Iowa State’s 2023 NCAA Tournament draw in the videos below.
Mar 12, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones coach Bill Fennelly cuts down the net after winning the Big 12 Championship against the Texas Longhorns at Municipal Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Iowa State lost three games in a row to open the month of February this season. This was heading into a week where it would face Big 12 powerhouses that are Texas and Baylor.
Not good.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly called his team’s ensuing practice its best of the year and on Sunday, just 28 days later, the Cyclones defeated Texas 61-51 to win its first Big 12 championship since 2001.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt – you lose three in a row and you’ve got Texas and Baylor next, it’s not looking real good,” Fennelly said. “(That) Sunday, we practiced 30 minutes and it was the best practice we’ve had all season. I told my staff, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to beat Texas, but we’re going to show up.'”
On Sunday in Kansas City, playing a NCAA Tournament team for the third day in a row, Iowa State showed up in the same way it did during that practice, beating Texas 61-51 in a raucous Municipal Auditorium to win the Big 12 championship.
“That Sunday afternoon (after the practice), I was surprised because we were kind of down,” Fennelly said. “But when you have the kind of kids that we have, I shouldn’t be surprised.”
Ashley Joens broke down in tears after Iowa State’s 76-52 win over Texas Tech on senior night. It was a rare sight to see for the composed Big 12 tournament’s unanimous selection for Most Outstanding Player. Even Fennelly didn’t believe that it happened at first.
At that time, earning a top four seed in the NCAA Tournament had seemed almost out of reach, unless something like this happened in Kansas City.
“I don’t know. That’s for someone else to decide. I would think that that was discussed. We have a really good team that’s playing really well and we have amazing fans that will show up.”
While the team waits to hear what’s next, there will be plenty to reminisce on from the 40 minutes on the court Sunday.
Joens’ 28 points came with eight free throws and 11 fouls drawn during the game. She drew five fouls in the third quarter and helped contribute to a 21-12 advantage in the frame.
“I think it’s just one of those things we talked to Ash about,” Fennelly said. “The great players don’t always have the biggest moments, and not that she needs validation, but when you lead a team to a tournament championship, you’re in rarified air.”
Emily Ryan was tasked with facing a hellacious guard in Rori Harmon, who uses her physicality to try and create turnovers while point guards carry the ball up.
Ryan finished the game with only three turnovers.
Lexi Donarski collected nine points, four rebounds, two assists as well as a pair of free throws that gave Iowa State a 12-point lead in the final six minutes.
“From a leadership standpoint – Emily Ryan and Lexi Donarski – I wouldn’t trade anything. We have the best backcourt in the country when it comes to playing, competing, leading, and taking responsibility. I think all of that stuff kind of came together.”
The win give the team more confidence.
One of the few knocks on Fennelly as a coach includes his team’s inability in the post to beat taller, more physical opponents.
“All three teams that we played have very, very different styles – both offensively and defensively,” Donarski said. “I think that prepares us for the tournament. Now, no matter what type of team that we face, whether they’re super physical or they’ve won a ton, we have some experience against that and we no we can win against that.”
This team did it in front of a crowd that was louder than any through the weekend in that building, even though the men’s team lost its semifinal game on Friday.
“I’m just so proud of our team and so proud of our fans,” Fennelly said. “Not just winning, but they’re going to remember that atmosphere for the rest of their lives.”
For all the times Iowa State was counted out this season, whether it was that three-game stretch, the injury to Stephanie Soares, or the late loss it took to Kansas in Big 12 play, Iowa State responded on Sunday.
It was a storybook ending to a season that started with high expectations, and those might just be back, too.
Iowa State is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the 21st time in program history.
The Midwest region’s sixth-seed Cyclones will open their Big Dance journey on Friday against the winner of a play-in game between Mississippi State and Pittsburgh in Greensboro.
Iowa State is in the tournament for the second straight season after advancing to the Sweet 16 last year. To get back to the second weekend, Iowa State could face match-ups with three-seed Xavier or 14-seed Kennesaw State.
The Cyclones are one of seven Big 12 teams to make the field.
Stay tuned for more on this story.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Ashley Joens and Nyamer Diew addressed media members following their team’s 82-72 Big 12 semifinal win over Oklahoma:
Iowa State’s forward Nyamer Diew (1) gestures after scoring a 3-pointer against Oklahoma in the Big 12 basketball tournament semifinal, Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. © Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the second straight day, Municipal Auditorium played host to an Iowa State postseason game that had the atmosphere that felt like a heavyweight boxing match.
Every point packed a punch and the next big one could come at any time. And for the second straight game, Iowa State earned its way to a win defeating Oklahoma 82-72 to clinch a spot in Sunday’s Big 12 title game.
“Another great game,” Fennelly said. “Two teams that played as hard as they could play. A great environment. We made some big shot at big times.”
The Cyclones saw acceptional performances from both Ashley Joens and Lexi Donarski, who combined for 42 points
But what put this game over the top, as far as the double-digit result on the scoreboard, was because of the game of Nyamer Diew, who collected 19 points and three rebounds.
Diew even gave up her starting role at the halftime break.
“It speaks to the character of our team and I think everyone needs to hear this,” Fennelly said. “Ny, obviously, was great in the first half and we were going to start her in the second. She said, ‘Coach, Mo is a senior, she should start.’ When is the last time you heard that? That’s the kind of team I get to coach every day.”
That’s speaks to the ‘we over me’ mantra that Fennelly has rolled with in recent years, but might more speak to Diew as a player.
Iowa State fans know how tight of a group it has in its current team, which spans the better part of four years for some on the roster and obviously five with Joens. And at times, Diew can play streaky – coming off of the bench just seemed like the better decision – and it led to her asking Fennelly if Kane could start things off.
“Mo is not going to play at the Big 12 tournament again – she deserves the starting spot,” Diew said. “I can be a little streaky sometimes and (Kane) is always there supporting me.”
Iowa State led by three points going into halftime. The lead grew to six before Diew checked then and grew again to 11 forcing Oklahoma to take the first timeout of the second half.
“I just knew,” Diew said. “I was more comfortable coming off of the bench.”
Oklahoma staged a late charge after Iowa State had gone ahead by 17 points in the game, but the Cyclones were able to close it out.
“We had about a four or five-minute spurt where we really looked confused,” Fennelly said. “We went to a zone – and we don’t see a lot of zone – and that’s on me. Everyone kept thinking we should call a timeout. My dad’s probably yelling at me because I didn’t. That’s what March is about. Emily turns and hits that one at the buzzer and it’s a fluke, but that’s what makes it cool.”
Now it turns the page to a matchup that feels bigger than the last two – as Iowa State will face Texas on Sunday for the Big 12 championship.
It’s come full circle for Ashley Joens, who was a freshman the last time the Cyclones played in the final game of the tournament.
“The thing about Texas is obviously their size,” Fennelly said. “You have the best on-ball defender and a lot of size. We will try to figure out something. I told my players not to think about Texas and just celebrate what they did today.”
Iowa State knocked down the other two big dogs they’ve faced off with in recent years over the past two days.
They have a chance to complete the ultimate sweep on Sunday.
“If you lose today, it doesn’t mean there are a lot of good things that hasn’t happened,” Fennelly said. “Certainly playing in your conference championship game in the last time (at Municipal Auditorium), which is sad for me in a lot of ways.”
“There’s only two teams playing tomorrow, and we’re one of them, so that’s kind of cool,” Fennelly said.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Ashley Joens and Emily Ryan addressed media members following their 74-63 win over Baylor in the Big 12 quarterfinals Friday:
Iowa State’s guard Ashley Joens (24) attempts to shoot the ball against Baylor in the Big 12 basketball tournament, Friday, March 10, 2023, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. *© Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK*
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Iowa State and Baylor entered the final four minutes of their Big 12 tournament quarterfinal game in a deadlocked tie at 63 points.
The Cyclones ended the game on an 11-0 run, beating No. 6 Baylor 74-63 to advance to Saturday’s Big 12 semifinal.
“When the biggest moments show up, the biggest players show up,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said.
Ashley Joens hit back-to-back three’s 25 seconds apart, Baylor didn’t score again and Lexi Donarski hit a dagger off of a pass from Emily Ryan.
“When you have (Joens and Ryan), you just feel comfortable,” Fennelly said. “I’m not saying we are going to win the game, but we are going to make the right plays. It was an amazing finish to the game.”
Joens finished the night with 30 points and 15 rebounds while Ryan recorded 15 points, eight assists and six boards. Each of them played a full 40 minutes.
“The execution down the stretch was really, really good,” Fennelly said. “Those two won the game. We have Emily Ryan. The ball goes to the right place at the right time 90 percent of the time.”
Throughout the game, more and more Iowa State fans piled into Municipal Auditorium, which is a short walk away from where the men’s program was taking on Kansas.
Little by little, the intensity rose. Reactions got louder and so did the cheers – and Iowa State feeds off of it more than any program on the women’s side at this event.
By the fourth quarter, it had all the feels of a championship game and the Cyclones fed off of it to come away with the win.
“Baylor gave us a really good run,” Joens said. “We were able to counter it. It’s fun to play in games like this.”
Between the atmosphere and stifling numbers Joens put up, the game will be remembered as one of the classic nights No. 24 has had in her career.
“(That was) the kind of game that this tournament is about,” Fennelly said… “When people talk about Hilton South, that’s not a catchphrase that somebody puts on a shirt. It’s real. It’s a really, really cool thing. I am glad they made the effort and hopefully we will see a few of them hanging around tomorrow afternoon.”
Behind the performances from two of the team’s leaders, Morgan Kane and Denae Fritz might have been just as impactful. The pair of players each fought their way to 10 rebounds and led the team with Fritz’ +22 and Kane’s +18 plus/minus numbers.
“I think it is a talent to show up to work every day, I do,” Fennelly said. “Mo (Kane) shows up every day.” “Denae (Fritz) is becoming the kind of player that our fans are going to love watching. She doesn’t back down from anything.”
Those numbers went into Iowa State outrebounding the Bears by 25, collecting 54 rebounds to Baylor’s 29 despite a considerable size disadvantage.
Iowa State earned the win from almost every angle that it could attack towards, and Donarski only finished with six points.
“I wish we could bottle that last 3:59, that’s for sure,” Fennelly said.
That recipe has come out more frequently in the closing months of Iowa State’s season, and it’s the exact thing that this group needs to make another run to the second weekend of the big dance.
On Saturday, Iowa State will put the recipe to the test again, facing No. 2 Oklahoma in the semifinals at 2:30 p.m.
Reaction: TJ Otzelberger on tonight’s loss to Kansas. Looking ahead to the NCAA Tournament. pic.twitter.com/1jIm1F6WWi
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 11, 2023
Locker room reaction: Tamin Lipsey on Iowa State’s time in KC. pic.twitter.com/Q4nJkxJX0L
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 11, 2023
Great stuff from Jaren Holmes on the experience playing in KC and looking toward Sunday.
“I think we found ourselves again.” pic.twitter.com/ryPYg6cXWr
— Jared Stansbury (@JaredStansbury) March 11, 2023
KANSAS CITY — There were no tears or hanging heads.
Iowa State’s locker room after Friday night’s 71-58 loss to Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals was quiet. There were no smiles, but there were no frowns either.
This was a quiet locker room, but it remains a confident one.
The Cyclones will not be taking a trophy back to Ames with them this weekend. There will not be a mass exodus from central Iowa to northwest Missouri this time.
And that’s okay.
This team knows something still waits for them out there. They know the ride is not over. The best part is they’ll continue that ride with a feeling of quiet confidence.
The Cyclones feel like they’ve found their mojo again.
“To be honest with you, I think we found ourselves, again,” Iowa State senior guard Jaren Holmes, who scored a team-high 16 points against the Jayhawks, said. “Yeah, the outcome wasn’t what we wanted, but, at a time like this, you just need to get back to what got you there in the first place. I think that we have. Our locker room is just that much better. We’re together. We’re playing for each other. Our energy coming out to play, it’s just on another level right now. Having that in your corner is second to none. We’re ready to go.”
Great stuff from Jaren Holmes on the experience playing in KC and looking toward Sunday.
“I think we found ourselves again.” pic.twitter.com/ryPYg6cXWr
— Jared Stansbury (@JaredStansbury) March 11, 2023
Nothing seemed to bounce Iowa State’s way in this game at the T-Mobile Center. The Cyclones couldn’t get a roll on the rim. They had a tough time coming down with difficult catches. They had a hard time securing steals.
Iowa State had 22 turnovers and was whistled for 21 fouls. Kansas coughed up 17 turnovers of their own and was whistled for 14 fouls, too.
It was just one of those nights. It was one of those sloppy games.
The ball was bouncing Kansas’ way, and that’s the last thing you want when you’re already playing arguably the best team in college basketball. In fact, I’ll make the call right now.
Kansas is going to repeat as national champions over the next few weeks.
The Cyclones proved something in Kansas City, though, too. They’re every bit good enough to win two games next weekend and find their way to the second weekend for the second straight year.
“Our guys, the unity, the connectedness, the fun they’re having playing for one another, it’s great,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “Certainly, wish we could have done some things better tonight, but feel really good about the way we’re playing and where we’re at as a team heading into the postseason.”
Nobody should be shocked to learn another of the sentiments coming out of Iowa State’s postgame locker room. Everybody seems excited to prepare for a team outside of the Big 12.
We all love the best conference in America, but there is no doubt the grind of this league wears on people. Everyone goes through rough stretches, and Iowa State’s rough stretch was as bad as just about anyone else in the league.
The difficulty of the league has prepared Iowa State, and every other Big 12 team that makes the field, for what they’re about to face over the next several weeks.
“There’s no better conference in the country,” Holmes said. “There’s no conference that’s more physical. I still believe this conference calls the least amount of fouls in the country. When you think about that, playing with that physicality, that defense that we play, I don’t think a lot of teams are ready for that.”
Or you can take the sentiment from Gabe Kalscheur, who struggled on Friday, scoring eight points on 3-of-12 from the field.
“I’m excited to see what Selection Sunday has for us, where they place us,” Kalscheur said. “Hopefully, it’s not a Big 12 team right away. I don’t think they can do that. I feel like we’re in a good spot with who we play. This is the best conference in the country. We’re one of the best teams in this conference.”
No, Gabe, luckily, the committee cannot pair Iowa State with another Big 12 team for at least the first two rounds. The Cyclones are guaranteed a few games against some fresh competition.
We know how well that went for Kalscheur and that group a year ago.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate Kalscheur’s contribution to the program, and the contributions of Robert Jones and Aljaz Kunc, the only remaining players from last year’s team on this roster.
These were a bunch of guys who committed to a program that had just gone 0-18 in league play. Iowa State men’s basketball quite literally could not have been further away from the NCAA Tournament.
Now, the Cyclones are about to appear in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. That might be a surprise to some when you consider where this program came from, but Kalscheur is not one of those people.
“Yes, I’m a winner,” Kalscheur said when asked if he expected to get to “The Big Dance” twice at Iowa State. “I’ve been in a winning culture. I expect myself to play in opportunities like this with this coaching staff and this group of guys. We work hard in the offseason. All the work we put in, doesn’t happen to pay off. It is supposed to pay off. We’re supposed to have this opportunity.”
Iowa State has proven it is deserving of this opportunity. There will be no Selection Sunday sweat or anything along those lines. Joe Lunardi currently projects them as a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
“Shoot, if you look at these guys and where we were at when a guy like Gabe, Rob and Jaz committed to us, where this program was at and those three guys who have been here for two seasons, and where we’re at now,” Otzelberger said. “So much pride in what they’ve done. They deserve so much credit for the work and for taking that leap of faith. The guys who came in this year, we’re positioned as a program, we’re in a really good spot. We’ll keep our focus on what’s in front of us with the tournament coming up, but, as much as I love Iowa State, you know how much that means to me personally, I’m just really proud of these guys for restoring that pride and that faith in our program and who we are.”
That’s why there weren’t any hanging heads or tears in Friday night’s postgame locker room. The air was quiet, but it was the kind of quiet that exudes confidence for moving forward.
The Cyclones have their mojo back, and they found it just in time to put their dancing shoes on.
Iowa State Cyclones guard/forward Ashley Joens (24) high-five with teammates after a three-point play during the third quarter on a senior day at Hilton Coliseum Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.
The No. 3 seeded Iowa State women’s basketball team will face off with No. 6 Baylor on Friday in a Big 12 tournament quarterfinal game.
Below is all the info needed to find the game online or via TV.
No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Kansas
Fri. March 10, 2023
Tipoff:7:30 p.m. CT
Arena:Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo.
TV:ESPN+ (Tyler Denning & Andrea Lloyd)
Radio:Varsity/Cyclone Radio Network (Noah Wolf & Jamie Steyer Johnson)
Mar 9, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Jaren Holmes (13) handles the ball while defended by Baylor Bears guard Dale Bonner (3) in the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
The No. 5 seeded Iowa State men’s basketball team will face off with No. 1 Kansas on Friday in the Big 12 tournament semifinal game.
Below are the lines for the game, courtesy of Bovada, and where to watch it on TV.
No. 5 Iowa State vs. No. 1 Kansas
Fri. March 10, 2023
Tipoff:6:00 p.m. CT
Arena:T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Mo.
TV:ESPN (Jon Sciambi, Fran Fraschilla & Kris Budden)
Radio:Varsity/Cyclone Radio Network (John Walters & Eric Heft)
Odds:Iowa State +4.5
Over/Under:130.0
Moneyline:Iowa State +180
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Iowa State will face off with the No. 1 seeded Kansas Jayhawks on Friday in the Big 12 tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
The Cyclones defeated No. 5 Baylor 78-72 on Friday morning and will square off with KU for the third time this year, following its 78-61 win over West Virginia.
Reportedly, Kansas head coach Bill Self, who did not coach in the team’s win Thursday, will remain out for the remainder of the tournament.
KANSAS CITY — Following Thursday’s 78-72 quarterfinal win over Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament, here are my current thoughts on the status of Iowa State basketball in quick-hit form.
5 — Looking back….
None of the guys in the locker room have anything bad to say about Caleb Grill. So I don’t want to make this resurgence by the team about that young man.
But … in hindsight, making the move that he did at the time that he did took some massive grapefruits by T.J. Otzelberger.
Nobody can prove that it is indeed why the Cyclones have snapped out of that late-season coma, but it is an awfully strong coincidence.
This is as connected as we have seen Iowa State play all season long.
4 — Iowa State out-toughs Baylor, again
Scott Drew’s team is considerably more talented than Iowa State. We all know this. But looking back at Iowa State’s three wins over the Bears this season – one constant stands out. The Cyclones have been the much tougher team. It was never more evident than with Thursday’s astounding 41-17 rebounding advantage by the Cyclones. Iowa State had more offensive rebounds (21) than Baylor had in total!
Insanity!
The Bears do not like pressure and while they have the talent to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, I am not sure this team is cohesive enough to be a real threat to win the national championship.
Stay tuned.
3 — I’ll get to the stars in a minute, but what about …
… The end of the bench guys who are contributing solid minutes to Iowa State down the stretch? Guys like Demarion Watson and Hason Ward come to mind.
Watson had a career-high with three blocks with four rebounds in 15 minutes of play.
Ward had four important rebounds with two points in 11 minutes.
It is more difficult than most fans can imagine going through the season playing a smaller role than you’d generally like.
Shout out to these guys – specifically the senior Ward – for fighting through it and really impacting this team down the stretch.
2 — That’s especially important for this reason …
I’m not saying that Otzelberger has anybody on a pitch count but I don’t think it is crazy to want to save some of your legs for the NCAA Tournament.
When Grill got dismissed, we all immediately got concerned about depth heading into March. These guys picking up the slack will help tremendously in tournament play.
1 — BIG. ROB. ENERGY
Started great. Hit a wall. He’s back.
Rob’s impact on this team goes well beyond the box score in terms of leadership. I’m not sure Iowa State is in this good of a spot mentally without his presence behind the scenes.
Bonus: Finally, the studs …
Elite stuff from Gabe Kalsheur. He is hitting shots again while continuing to be a menace on defense.
Jaren Holmes’ tough buckets continue to be the difference maker for this team when points are hard to come by.
Tamin Lipsey notched a career-high 11 rebounds to go with 13 points and five assists.
I’m writing a long-form profile on Tre King for next week. Stay tuned.
A lot of good stuff for Iowa State right now. The last two games, perhaps, were the best this team has played all season long.
The Cyclones are peaking at the perfect time.
Cheers to Hilton South.
Osun Osunyiyi on Iowa State’s late season turnaround and today’s win over Baylor. pic.twitter.com/VUw8MRJNao
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 9, 2023
Tamin Lipsey postgame. pic.twitter.com/SRF8ehQb3m
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 9, 2023
Robert Jones postgame. Dude is an all-time quote. Never disappoints. pic.twitter.com/vECJG2HKSX
— Chris Williams (@ChrisMWilliams) March 9, 2023
The following is a transcript of T.J. Otzelberger’s press conference after Iowa State’s 78-72 Big 12 quarterfinal win over Baylor in Kansas City.
Q. Coach, Bridges got off to a hot start. I’m not sure he got a shot off the last 10 minutes or so. What did you guys do to prevent him from getting the ball in his hands?
COACH OTZELBERGER: He was tremendous. He was 9/9 at one point and finished 10/11. We switched more. We were more conscious with our effort, getting a stick hand up early, trying to make him play inside the three. He got going even early in the second half in transition off an offensive rebound. It comes down to being more intentional, sprinting off and finishing plays. He had a hot hand. We were fortunate in a last ten minutes or so we were able to do the job.
Q. Coach, comment on the rebounding. Jaren Holmes getting his own offensive rebound on the free throw in the second half, it epitomized your hustle play today. Can you speak to that and the importance of the offensive rebound?
COACH OTZELBERGER: We like for Jaren to make the free throws. That’s a good alternative. Really heads up play from him, tremendous effort and energy. That was an impactful play. That gave us that extra cushion. Those are the type of plays that, you know, you need to make if you want to beat a great team. It’s very well coached. And much respect we have for Baylor. We’re fortunate to make just enough of those plays.
Q. When you look at Baylor, number one team offensively in the Big 12, you have beaten them three straight times. How confident does that make you feel about your team heading into March.
COACH OTZELBERGER: We are fortunate. We have so much respect for the program. They have great coaches, great players, they have a winning culture. And so for us, we knew how hard it was going to be. We’re confident in our guys, the work they do every day. And you know, this time of the year you want to be playing your best. And you know, we’re going to need to keep playing our best. Fortunate, thankful for our guys for how they worked each and every single day. A lot of humility knowing what it’s going to take moving forward here and beyond this year how well we have to play.
Q. Coach yesterday you talked about in terms of what you wanted to see from your guys. You wanted them to tap back into the habits that made you guys so successful this season. And really just enjoy the moment. Do you feel that was the difference-maker today and why you were able to have the performance that you did?
COACH OTZELBERGER: I do. This time of the year, unity and togetherness, having a great locker room is very important. Want our guys to have fun, enjoy this . These are special times in their life. And we want to be in that moment. And really fortunate that all the guys on our team are stepping up and doing that. And that’s why we have been putting them all in the game, you know, getting everybody in and be part of that excitement and have fun and be together. So you know, credit to our players for really embracing that.
Q. Not every season is like this. There’s so much depth in this league. And I imagine it can be demoralizing. Every night you’re going out and it’s a tough opponent. You haven’t had an easy game in a long time. Does that get demoralizing when you are heading into a tournament like this? How do you flip out of that not letting that get you down when you’re going into these tournaments where like every one matters a little bit more.
COACH OTZELBERGER: It’s challenging because the league is so good. What we try to do is remind our guys throughout the season that you are playing in the best league in America. The other teams are really good. There’s nights that you can play well and still lose. And it’s how you handle adversity. Just like life. How you bounce back. Coming together in those tough times and, you know, we certainly had them. You know, we had challenges — we had lost four in a row. You know, had some stretches where we’ve had those tough times. Our guys have been fortunate through the work togetherness to come out and come through those. But what a good league. And you know, you just got to be so mentally tough because everybody had their challenges this year, and everybody is going to have them, but it’s out of respect for the coaches, players, teams are so good that you know it’s part of it.
Q. Coach, I’m sure you heard that Bill Self missed today’s game, in the hospital. And a team you could play. Stressors with the job and late nights and all that stuff. I wonder if that kind of news hits home for a fellow coach.
COACH OTZELBERGER: Yeah, Coach Self has always treated me well. Respect him and respect their program. Certainly want to wish him the best. Texted him earlier today and letting him know we’re keeping him in our thoughts and prayers. For all of us, it takes a lot out of everybody. There’s a lot of time demands. And you hope that everybody is doing everything they can. And you wish everybody the best. But you also know it takes its toll. We’ll continue to keep Coach in our thoughts and prayers and hope that he’s able to be healthy and return soon.
Mar 9, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones players huddle during a time out in the second half against the Baylor Bears at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY — Robert Jones slowly stood up and peaked around the camera with the widest smile imaginable. Gabe Kalscheur looked away and tried his best not to laugh.
Osun Osunniyi lamented his inability to get into his locker and shower with the assembled media huddled around Kalscheur’s adjacent locker.
“I can’t even get in my area with double deuce next to me,” Osun exclaimed with a smile. “How am I supposed to get in my area with double deuce right here?”
Can you tell the Cyclones are having fun? You only have to spend about five minutes in Iowa State’s locker room to see it firsthand.
This team is having a lot of fun, and it is easy to understand why after its 78-72 win over No. 10 Baylor in a Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal on Wednesday at the T-Mobile Center.
Kalscheur isn’t the guy this media member would pick as the likeliest Cyclone to crack jokes, but he could hardly contain his laughter as Jones and Osunniyi tried to distract him from his interviews.
It is awfully easy to laugh after you score 24 points and connect on six 3-pointers to lead your team into the Big 12 semifinals on Friday against the winner of Thursday afternoon’s game between Kansas and West Virginia.
After all, it is that time of year again. “Neutral Site Gabe” is back.
“We’re having a lot of fun right now,” Kalscheur said. “These guys are trying to make me laugh by doing dumb stuff. We’re just having a great time, even in the locker room and even at the hotel. We play spades. We try to just have fun, kind of give each other crap. These guys are having a great time. This is a great senior season for me. We’re not done yet, but I’m going to always remember these guys.”
You can see that fun come out in the way these guys play. You can see it come out in how they defend and how they share the basketball offensively.
This team is as connected as it has been all season, which is impressive when you consider how well Iowa State has played at different times throughout the year.
“I feel like you can see it come out,” Kalscheur said. “We’re all kind of there for each other. Someone’s down, we pick them up. Even in our layup lines, we kind of give each other crap. It’s all love. We’re a brotherhood and we do this stuff together.”
Jaren Holmes always seems to be having fun. It doesn’t matter if he’s playing basketball or not. That’s a guy who just has fun living life.
He’s having fun playing basketball right now, though, too. He added 17 points, five rebounds and five assists against the Bears, and was the most animated of the bunch after knocking down big shots and making big plays.
Do you think Tre King is having a good time playing the game right now? It sure looked like it as he stacked another high-level performance against the Bears, tallying 10 points and six rebounds to lead the Cyclones’ frontcourt.
That entire frontcourt is having fun right now. All you have to do is look at the rebounding numbers from this game to know that group is having fun.
They’re having fun kicking asses and taking names. It is easy to have fun when you can snag more offensive rebounds (21) than Baylor had total rebounds (17).
Iowa State out-rebounded Baylor 44-17 in this game. That’s the Bears’ lowest single-game rebounding total since grabbing only 25 in a loss to Iowa State back in 2005.
The Cyclones kicked Baylor’s butts so badly on the boards that the Bears grabbed the program’s fewest rebounds in 18 years — and shattered that mark by eight.
Yeah, the Cyclones are having fun.
“I’ll give credit to the coaches,” Jones said. “It’s just something that we emphasize all the time every day. We come out and try to get as many boards as we can. We have more offensive boards than they had total boards, and that’s one of our biggest key emphasis for our team.”
Tamin Lipsey hasn’t lost a March tournament game since he was a junior in high school. A year ago, he was posting a triple-double while leading Ames High to a Class 4A state championship.
On Thursday, he was in Kansas City posting 13 points, a career-high 11 rebounds, five assists and five steals in 30 minutes of play. He joins Kemba Walker (UConn) and Paolo Banchero (Duke) as the only players to compile that stat line in a conference tournament game.
Those guys are pretty good. One of them won a national championship and went down as one of the greatest to ever play the college game. The other was only the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft.
Lipsey went through that mid-season swoon and hit the freshman wall, but he’s rebounded better than you ever could have expected. His first experience in Kansas City will go down as one of his best performances of the season.
It helps a lot when you’re having fun.
“I’ve been on some teams, obviously, not college, but different AAU teams where guys aren’t really connected, and that’s when you start to lose games and you lose those close games,” Lipsey said. “Just being on a team where everyone is connected and just always having fun, always cracking jokes, that just makes it fun.”
Nobody was having fun on Thursday as Jalen Bridges got red-hot for the Bears, connecting on his first nine shots from the field and first six 3-point attempts while helping Baylor build an eight-point lead early in the second half.
Iowa State responded by unleashing a 9-0 run of its own that was capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Kalscheur and Holmes. It was the type of moment that felt like, well, a moment.
Every one of Iowa State’s runs through this tournament has been unique in its own way, but they all that moment. Monte Morris’ shot at the buzzer against Texas in 2015. Marial Shayok’s shot to beat Kansas State in 2019, the day after Tyrese Haliburton put Baylor on a poster in the quarterfinal.
There is a moment when Iowa State teams seem to indicate they will be here for more than one night, and folks should start making their plans to head south for their spring home.
That run to erase Baylor’s lead and retake control of the game felt like a moment. It felt like the kind of moment that indicates this team has the juice to win three games this weekend.
It is the kind of moment that indicates this team is having so much fun, they’re not about to let it end without a significant fight.
We will soon find out the outcome, but there is no doubt about how folks should feel after this game. They should be glad to know the Cyclones are back to being themselves.
Iowa State is back to having fun, and now they’re ready for a long stay at Hilton South.
Iowa State Cyclones guard/forward Ashley Joens (24) wives to the crowd with teammates after winning 76-52 during the third quarter on a senior day at Hilton Coliseum Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. Texas Tech And Iowa State Ncaa Women’s Basketball. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
KANSAS CITY — Ashley Joens will play between two or nine more games in her Iowa State career.
“Well, I sure hope nine,” Joens said when being asked about her final postseason stretch as a Cyclone.
Iowa State opens Big 12 tournament play in the quarterfinal round, facing Baylor on Friday night at Municipal Auditorium (6:30 p.m. ESPN+).
For Joens, the stretch is about finishing the legacy that she started when she arrived in Ames.
“A lot of people talk about (how) it’s easy for people to start things, but it’s hard to finish,” Joens said. “Obviously, you don’t want to go out and end your career on not playing hard, so you just have to go out and give everything you have.”
Iowa State had expectations that were perhaps as high as ever coming into the year.
While the regular season saw losses come in different ways, it can all be forgotten with a successful run in March.
“I don’t think we’ll ever get over what happened to Steph and Beatriz,” Fennelly said. “It breaks your heart that they’re not a part of this, but I think this group has really been amazingly resilient in a lot of ways. They’ve been through a lot of stuff on the court and off… I just think it’s a tribute to what they’ve done from June on. I keep saying it – they found a way to show up.”
Iowa State has done particularly well in finding ways to win.
The group is the first Iowa State team in program history to avoid being swept by any team in conference play over the 18-game season. They’ve beaten every team at least once.
“In both games, there were moments where we had like a three to four-minute spirit where we just couldn’t guard them and we couldn’t score. I think we gave up 77 and 76 (points in those games). You just have to avoid those moments where you go three possessions (each) where you’re not scoring and they are.”
Iowa State split this season with Baylor, winning on the road and suffering a defeat to the Bears at Hilton Coliseum.
Capitalizing on key stretches will be the reason the Cyclones advance if they beat Baylor again.
“It’s a 40-minute game and it turns into who gets the best of those two or three minutes,” Fennelly said. “That always seems to change the game.”
Joens will put aside the pressure, and focus on being the player she is during that stretch.
Aside from some extra nerves and a bit more motivation, the next 40 minutes are just that for No. 24.
“You don’t want to end on a bad note,” Joens said. “You don’t want to have someone say, ‘You didn’t play hard enough.'”
“Whatever happens, happens. (I’ll) leave it all out on the court,” Joens said.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly and Ashley Joens previewed their team’s postseason on Thursday at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.
The following is a press release from the Iowa State Athletic Communications
Iowa State will send eight wrestlers to the NCAA Championships next weekend, held in Tulsa, Okla., at the BOK Center. On Wednesday, the NCAA announced the seeds and preliminary brackets for the national championships. All 33 wrestlers at each of the 10 weight classes were seeded.
This marks the fifth consecutive season Iowa State has sent at least eight wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. The Cyclones are one of 15 teams nationally sending at least eight wrestlers to the tournament.
David Carr is the No. 1 seed at 165 pounds after a 23-0 regular season which included wins against the rest of the top six seeds. Paniro Johnson and Marcus Coleman are both a No. 5 seed at 149 and 184 pounds, respectively. Sam Schuyler is Iowa State’s fourth top 10 seed, coming in at No. 8 in the 285-pound bracket.
The NCAA Championships are set to begin Thursday, March 16, and will be wrestled through March 18. Morning sessions will be on ESPNU, while the evening sessions will be on ESPN. All matches will be available on WatchESPN.
Full brackets can be found, here.
NCAA Championships Schedule
March 16 – 11 a.m. – Session I – 1st Round – ESPNU
March 16 – 6 p.m. – Session II – 2nd Round – ESPN
March 17 – 11 a.m. – Session III – Quarterfinals – ESPNU
March 17 – 7 p.m. – Session IV – Semifinals – ESPN
March 18 – 10 a.m. – Session V – Medal Matches – ESPNU
March 18 – 6 p.m. – Session VI – Finals – ESPN
*All times listed are central
Iowa State First Round Matches
133: No. 15 Zach Redding vs. No. 18 Brayden Palmer (CHAT)
141: No. 24 Casey Swiderski vs. No. 9 Mosha Schwartz (OU)
149: No. 5 Paniro Johnson vs. No. 28 Jarod Verkleeren (UVA)
157: No. 25 Jason Kraisser vs. No. 8 Ed Scott (NCST)
165: No. 1 David Carr vs. No. 32 Josh Kim (HAR) or No. 33 Cole Moody (WYO)
184: No. 5 Marcus Coleman vs. No. 28 Jacob Ferreira (HOF)
197: No. 13 Yonger Bastida vs. No. 20 Evan Bockman (UVU)
285: No. 8 Sam Schuyler vs. No. 25 Michael Wolfgram
Iowa State Cyclones head women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly reacts against Texas Tech during the first quarter on a senior day at Hilton Coliseum Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In the coming days, fans from around the Big 12 Conference will make the trek to Kansas City for the weekend, some taking a couple of days off of work to see their favorite programs’ men’s and women’s basketball teams compete in the league’s postseason tournament.
In 2024, on the standard 9-5, Monday-Friday job, those same fans would need to take at least six days off to ensure they could watch each of their team’s games in person. That number grows to seven if their women’s team finishes outside of the top four in conference standings and fails to earn a bye.
“I won’t lie, I don’t like it,” Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly said. “I think the way we’re doing it now is absolutely perfect for everyone, but kind of like at home, my vote doesn’t really count.”
The Big 12 voted to keep the tournament in Kansas City through 2027, and with it came a move for the women’s tournament to the weekend prior to the men’s tournament.
The move also includes the women’s tournament going to the T-Mobile Center, instead of where it currently is held at Municipal Auditorium.
I asked Bill Fennelly about his thoughts on changing the @Big12Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments to separate weekends in future seasons.
He's not a fan of the split-weekend format. pic.twitter.com/gGQzvDVeXH
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) March 7, 2023
Part of the move considers the amount of locker rooms available in Municipal Auditorium. During some rounds of the women’s tournament, only the higher seed gets its own, set-up locker room.
Some think that moving the women’s tournament up would also increase TV ratings for the event, however the concerns come from the attendance battle.
“I don’t know how many fans are going to take 10 or 11 days off of work,” Fennelly said. “I don’t think most people could do that. I think it’s going to split the media.”
Fennelly has long had this opinion, and although he and others have been vocal about it over the years, it’s fallen on deaf ears.
“I don’t know what else to say,” Fennelly said. “I’ve been on this track forever. Our administration has been on this track for ever. To have them at the same time (and) in the same city is the best way to do it. I think it’s the best for the fans. That’s just my opinion and I’ll probably get in trouble – and that’s O.K., I’ve been in trouble before.”
Now, ahead of the final tournaments set to take place within the same five days, the realization is setting in more.
The perfect setup, as Fennelly has called it, will not continue – at least without a drastic shift in thought by those at the top.
“I’m just disappointed because our kids love it,” Fennelly said. “I think the idea of the fans going back and forth (between arenas for different games) and having the pep rally together…
“Everything that’s the celebration of basketball in the Big 12, to me, has been better when it’s together, but smarter people that make those decisions don’t agree.”
Mar 4, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Scott Drew reacts on the bench during the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
The following are excerpts from conversations with Baylor head coach Scott Drew and freshman guard Keyonte George ahead of Thursday night’s Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal matchup with Iowa State.
Scott Drew on playing Iowa State in back-to-back games“Well, I think, for TJ and us, it’s probably an easier scout because we just got done preparing for each other and you don’t have to watch a new opponent and their last four or five games and whatnot. At the same time, it is the Big 12 Tournament. New excitement, and we know the challenges of playing in the Big 12 Tournament. It’s win or go home. I know Iowa State, K-State, Kansas really draw well here so we know how hard it is to win on the road. We have to be that much better since we just lost at home to Iowa State.”
Scott Drew gives his thoughts on Iowa State ahead of tomorrow’s Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal pic.twitter.com/Z5havEpHSr
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 8, 2023
Drew on what makes Iowa State a tough match-up“I think it starts with the number one defense in conference. Great length, size, physicality. T.J. and his staff really do a great job x’s and o’s wise. They put the guys in position to be successful. If you have the number one defense in our conference, that’s saying something, and I think we shot 27 percent in the first half. It’s not all our fault. Let’s give them credit. Their defense was tremendous.”
Drew on what he hopes to see fixed from the game on Saturday“We’d like to score a little more, but I think definitely the ball got stuck on sides, got stuck on the baseline, too many turnovers and then when we did have open shots, we didn’t make them. I think, for us, we get shots up, we got a much better chance. Our defense and their defense are similar so it’s frustrating that we would turn the ball over as much as we did. At the same time, I think we’ll keep it out of the areas where we’ve had problems.”
Scott Drew said seeing three Big 12 teams in the Final Four is on his bucket list and that’s the most Scott Drew thing I’ve ever heard pic.twitter.com/VMrlszvpu2
— Jared Stansbury (@JaredStansbury) March 8, 2023
Keyonte George on having another crack at Iowa State“Iowa State’s a great team. They beat us at their place and our place. It’s crazy how we get another shot. We get another chance to show everybody that wasn’t us. We need to start off this tournament the right way. Play Baylor basketball. Play with joy. That’s what we came here to do.”
George on what went wrong for Baylor on Saturday“I’d just say we got to play harder. We got to box out, do all the little things, even when we’re not making shots. Our offense can’t dictate our defense. That’s what I feel like happened. But, we figured that out. We understood what we need to get better at. That’s what we’ve been focused on these last couple of days leading up to playing them again.”
George on what makes Iowa State’s defense so tough“I’ll just say their length. Their bigs are really high. The ball-screen defense is really good. They help the helper. They communicate. Hats off to them. They play really hard on that end.”
March 4, 23: David Carr and Paniro Johnson warm up prior to the championship round at the Big 12 championships in Tulsa. Courtesy of Davis Van Egdom – Iowa State Wrestling
Teammates, roommates, and best friends.
Paniro Johnson and David Carr walked into Tulsa with the same mission: To become 2023 Big 12 champions.
The significance of an individual title meant something different to each wrestler. Carr was looking to notch his fourth straight and Johnson his first.
Before heading to Tulsa, Carr shared he had been encouraging Johnson to share the same goal as him, to not fight for anything less than the title.
“I was telling Paniro, there aren’t a lot of freshman Big 12 champs at Iowa State. I have the list. There are five of them and I think I am the fifth. Four of them are all national champions and one was a three or four-time All-American.” Carr said. “I told him aim high, go win that Big 12 title and go to NCAA nationals”
Johnson took the advice of his friend and did just that.
Paniro Johnson celebrates as he’s named the winner of the 149-pound title match / Jacqueline Cordova – Cyclone FanaticThe freshman notched wins over Colin Realbuto (UNI) and Mitch Moore (OU) to enter the championship round in a rematch against Brock Mauller (MIZZ). A rematch he had been hoping for after Mauller pinned him in the regular season.
Three takedowns and an explosive toss that earned Johnson a four-point near fall at the buzzer claimed him the title to become Iowa State’s first Big 12 Champion at 149 pounds and the 24th wrestler in Big 12 history to win the title as the No. 3 seed or worse.
Carr was matside cheering him on along the way.
David Carr sits mat-side cheering on his teammates at the Big 12 championships / Jacqueline Cordova – Cyclone Fanatic “That’s my roommate. I’ve been training with him a lot this year. I have seen so much growth. I’ve been telling ‘Hey, you want to be champion as a freshman. You’re putting yourself in history. You put yourself in a good position at Nationals’. I’m so proud of him. The way he wrestled was phenomenal.”
Johnson plans on continuing to carve his name into the record books and follow in his teammate’s footsteps.
“I’m planning on joining him (Carr) next week as one of the few freshmen to win a national title so get ready for that. This is all part of the plan. I’m not surprised, not even the slightest,” Johnson said after the championship match.
In his debut season at 165 pounds, Carr followed suit as the final match of the night with a rematch against No. 2 Keegan O’Toole (MIZZ).
The 165-pounder pinned O’toole, the defending Big 12 and national champion, in sudden victory, making this only the 14th championship match in Big 12 history to be decided by fall.
Carr also became the second Iowa State wrestler in program history to become a four-time Big 12 Champion and the 11th wrestler in conference history to win four titles in the Big 12.
David Carr becomes the Big 12 champion at 165-pounds after pinning Keegan O’Toole / Jacqueline Cordova – Cyclone FanaticCarr continues to credit his confidence and success to his relationship with God, keeping things light and focusing on the impact this has on his team.
“It’s not about me. Not I but through Christ in me. It’s all been a blessing,” Carr said. “I think that’s a good thing for young guys to know, I just don’t put too much pressure on wrestling. It’s just a wrestling match. To me, it’s just a sport. So really, my emphasis is on giving glory to God. I have a lot of fun. I really enjoy tough matches like that. I really enjoy a tough environment.”
Both Cyclones will return to Tulsa for the NCAA Wrestling Championships in two weeks with the same mission: Becoming 2023 national champions.
Oct 1, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Lindell Wigginton (28) dribbles past Memphis Grizzlies guard Kennedy Chandler (1) in the second half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
Former Cyclone Lindell Wigginton officially signed a two-way deal with the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, after having played two seasons with the team predominantly in its G-League program.
Wigginton is averaging 18.6 points per game this season in the G-League and made multiple appearances with the big league club a year ago.
In the 35 games, Wigginton made 18 starts and collected 5.8 assists as well as 3.9 rebounds per game with the team.
This move would indicate that Wigginton is closer to seeing NBA action again, as the playoffs approach in the league.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Ashley Joes, Emily Ryan, and Denae Fritz addressed media members on Tuesday prior to the team’s arrival in Kansas City for the annual Big 12 Conference tournament:
Mar 6, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) dribbles the ball in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Former Iowa State Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton has been raising eye brows around the NBA throughout the season, doing so again despite a loss on Monday night.
In a 147-143 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Haliburton put down 40 points and 16 assists.
It’s the third-straight game that Haliburton has tallied 29 points or more, as he reached the mark on Sunday along with 11 assists and last week when he scored 32.
Georges Niang also played 11 minutes for the 76ers, scoring five points, two assists and a rebound.
Tyrese Haliburton tallied 40 points and 16 assists in the Pacers' 147-143 loss to Philadelphia.
Georges Niang recorded five points, 2 assists and a rebound in 11 minutes off the bench. #CyclonesInTheNBA pic.twitter.com/2HsgCfgbtf
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 7, 2023
The Pacers currently sit two games out of a play-in spot for the postseason in the Eastern Conference standings.
Him and the Pacers will return to the court on Thursday, March 9 to face Houston in a home matchup. Tipoff is slated for 6:00 p.m.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Ashley Joens has been named the 2022-23 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, highlighting the Cyclones’ honors in the Big 12 Postseason Awards announced on Monday. Joens, who was also a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection for the fourth time in her career, is the second player in Iowa State history to earn conference Player of the Year, joining 2019 Big 12 Player of the Year Bridget Carleton.
Also collecting honors on Monday was Emily Ryan (All-Big 12 Second Team), Lexi Donarski All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, Big 12 All-Defensive Team) and Denae Fritz (Big 12 All-Freshman Team).
For Joens, this was one of the few awards not in her expansive collection of honors during her Iowa State career, but has now been checked off the list. Joens leads the Big 12 in scoring at 21.0 points per game (21.9 ppg in league play) and ranks third in rebounding at 9.4 per game (9.6 in conference games). She has three games with at least 30 points, 16 with at least 20 and 13 double-doubles. Joens finished the season, going for at least 20 in ISU’s last six games, and posting four double-doubles in that run.ADVERTISING
Ryan earned All-Big 12 honors for a second-straight season after being on the All-Big 12 First Team last year. The junior point guard demonstrated her all-around game throughout the season, averaging 10.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game. She was a reliable shooter across all parts of the floor as well, splitting with a shooting line of .444/.375/.920.
Donarski became the first Cyclone to earn Big 12 All-Defensive Team multiple times, with her lockdown defense on the perimeter helping hold her primary assignment over 40 percent below their scoring output heading into the contest. On offense, she scored in double figures 19 times on the season, ranking third on the Cyclones at 12.1 points per game.
Fritz’s appearance on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team marks the fourth time in the last five years a Cyclone has appeared on the squad, as she becomes the fifth member of this current Iowa State team to have earned All-Freshman Team honors (Joens, Maggie Espenmiller-McGrwaw, Ryan and Donarski). Fritz averaged 8.8 points per game, but made a step up in Big 12 play to average 9.6 points per game with shooting splits of .418/.357/.897 against conference opponents.
The Cyclones begin the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship on Friday at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City against Baylor. Tip will be at 7:30 p.m. on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State football program will conclude its spring season with a Spring Game on Saturday, April 22 at 11 a.m. at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium. Admission to the game will be free to the public.
The format of the game will be determined by the coaching staff later based on player availability.
More information for fans will also be provided closer to the date of the game.
Matt Campbell is entering his eighth season leading the Cyclones. ISU returns 16 starters, nine on offense and seven on defense, for the 2023 season.
Football season tickets are on sale now. Six home games, including games against UNI, Iowa and Texas, for only $249. Order now at: https://bit.ly/23FBSeason
Get all the latest information on the program by following @CycloneFB on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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Iowa State men’s basketball was again in the received votes category for Monday’s edition of the AP Poll.
The Cyclones received 23 votes in the poll after beating Baylor on the road in Waco.
Although the polls mean less as the year goes on, the Cyclones have an opportunity this weekend in Kansas City as the Big 12 tournament gets going.
No. 5 seeded Iowa State faces No. 4 Baylor on Thursday in the tournament, with tipoff slated for 11:30 a.m.
AP MBB Poll
Monday, March 6, 2023
1. Houston
2. UCLA
3. Kansas
4. Alabama
5. Purdue
6. Marquette
7. Texas
8. Arizona
9. Gonzaga
10. Baylor
11. UConn
12. Kansas State
13. Virginia
14. Miami
15. Xavier
16. St. Mary’s
17. Tennessee
18. Texas A&M
19. Indiana
20. San Diego State
21. Duke
22. TCU
23. Kentucky
24. Creighton
25. Missouri
Others receiving votes: Oral Roberts 54, Florida Atlantic 53, Utah State 32, Providence 26, Iowa State 23, Northwestern 16, West Virginia 15, Toledo 10, Pittsburgh 10, Charleston 9, Michigan State 9, VCU 8, Boise State 7, Iowa 5, USC 5, Vanderbilt 3, Maryland 3, Memphis 3, Arkansas 2, North Texas 1, Drake 1
Feb 11, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns interim head coach Rodney Terry and players react after a timeout is called during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports ac
The best time of year has arrived.
Set your DVRs or do your best to avoid your boss this week. We’ve got a lot of basketball to watch over the next six days before Selection Sunday.
The Big 12 Tournament bracket has officially been set, and picking that bracket is where we start this week’s Musings.
No. 8 West Virginia vs. No. 9 Texas Tech (Wednesday at 6 p.m.)It was an interesting weekend in Red Raider country. Texas Tech lost to Oklahoma State on Saturday then it was announced head coach Mark Adams has been suspended indefinitely for racially insensitive comments made to a player. As of this writing, Tech hasn’t even named an interim head coach. This is just the latest in some long-running rumblings of discontent with the head man in Lubbock.
Meanwhile, West Virginia finished its regular season with a big home win over Kansas State, likely securing their place in the NCAA Tournament field. The Athletic has them as an eight-seed as of this writing.
KenPom Prediction: 77-73, West Virginia
Stanz’s Pick: Mountaineers
No. 7 Oklahoma State vs. No. 10 Oklahoma (Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.)After a stretch as one of the league’s hottest teams, Oklahoma State finished the regular season by losing five of its last six, but the one win did come in the regular season finale against Texas Tech. The Cowboys won both of these regular season games by double digits, but Oklahoma’s been playing good ball as of late and finished the year by winning two of three. I lean Cowboys in a very close one.
KenPom Prediction: 68-67, Oklahoma State
Stanz’s Pick: Cowboys
No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 5 Iowa State (Thursday at 11:30 a.m.)This feels like a horrible spot for Iowa State. We saw how difficult it is to play a team twice in a week when Drake smashed Bradley in the Missouri Valley title game on Sunday, just one week after getting smashed in Peoria to end the regular season. The Cyclones won both of the games against the Bears by 15 points, though, so they could have the formula to stop that high-powered offense. I’m strongly leaning toward the Bears here, but it wouldn’t shock me at all to see the Cyclones playing on Friday.
KenPom Prediction: 69-68, Baylor
Stanz’s Pick: Bears
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 8 West Virginia (Thursday at 6 p.m.)Despite losing their regular season finale, Kansas woke up on Monday with the inside track to potentially being the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. If they win this whole thing in Kansas City, they’ll definitely get that top spot. The Mountaineers had the Jayhawks on the ropes two weeks ago in Allen Fieldhouse. Can they finish the job the third time around?
Stanz’s Pick: Jayhawks
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 7 Oklahoma State (Thursday at 8:30 p.m.)Back-to-back losses down the stretch might have knocked Texas from the Big 12 title race, but they proved how dangerous they are by smashing Kansas on Saturday to end the regular season. Rodney Terry’s team is more than good enough to win this event. Mike Boynton’s team is not.
Stanz’s Pick: Longhorns
No. 3 Kansas State vs. No. 6 TCU (Thursday at 8:30 p.m.)Kansas State had its mid-January through mid-February swoon, but bounced back to win four straight and play some really good ball down the stretch. TCU can’t stay healthy long enough to string together a few weeks of good ball. I imagine this Frogs season will go down as one of TCU’s great “what ifs.”
KenPom Prediction: 74-73, Kansas State
Stanz’s Pick: Wildcats
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 4 Baylor (Friday at 6 p.m.)Bill Self was seen lamenting how much better Baylor was than his team during the first meeting of these two clubs. The Jayhawks promptly got their revenge in game two by coming out with a 16-point win. This rubber match would be a fun one.
Stanz’s Pick: Jayhawks
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 3 Kansas State (Friday at 8:30 p.m.)These two teams split with each taking the win on the other’s home floor. Kansas State did that by making waves early in league play and scoring 116 points. Texas did that by locking down in Manhattan and holding the Wildcats to 69 the second time around. Another fun rubber match that Texas gets the edge in due to their depth of weapons.
Stanz’s Pick: Longhorns
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 2 Texas (Saturday at 5 p.m.)Wow, way to go out on a limb here with the picks, Stanz. What an idiot. The reality is these were the two best teams in the league basically from start to finish. They split their two games in the regular season and Texas got their half of that just this past Saturday. Kansas’ spot on the one-line is already locked in, but could Texas jump up by winning in Kansas City? I think we’re going to find out.
Stanz’s Pick: Longhorns
More Musings I hope you’ve already bought your *Demarion Watson stock because it is soaring after his performance off the bench in Iowa State’s win over Baylor on Saturday. The freshman from Minneapolis’ ability to pass on the interior and cut for open buckets and dunks made him one of the biggest highlights of the win in Waco. He projects to be an absolute menace defensively, but Watson’s ceiling on both ends is very high.
How about *Tre King? He played his best game as a Cyclone and had Fran Fraschilla singing his praises all afternoon on Saturday. Fran even said he sees Tre as a 12 points, eight-rebounds-a-night guy next season. That would probably make him a borderline All-Big 12 player. Sign me up.
I don’t know how much attention folks around here pay to *Fred Hoiberg anymore, but The Mayor has had his team playing some great ball over the last few weeks, and Nebraska could secure its first postseason berth of the Hoiberg era later this week.
This program was left for dead, and their head coach was well on his way to the unemployment line before they turned it around to win six of their last eight, including a regular-season finale win over Iowa in Iowa City.
I know Cyclone fans can root for that last part no matter how disappointed they still are with Fred. The best part is Fred’s done it all with his son, Sam, playing a key rotational role for the Huskers.
The NIT is probably Nebraska’s best chance at the postseason, but don’t be shocked to see the Huskers make some noise in the Big Ten Tournament. This has been Fred’s best coaching job in more than a decade.
Congrats are in order for former Iowa State assistant coach *William Small, who helped Kennesaw State reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history with a win over Liberty in the Atlantic Sun title game on Sunday.
Former Cyclone *Tre Jackson‘s season came to an end on Sunday when his Western Carolina squad lost in the semifinals of the SoCon Tournament. He scored 22 points in the loss to Furman and averaged a team-high 15.8 points per game this year while shooting 40 percent from deep and nearly 90 percent from the free throw line.
This is one of the biggest positives of the transfer portal. Jackson spent several years as a bench piece at Iowa State and turned that into a starring opportunity at the mid-major level. He surely earned himself some money at the next level overseas in the process.
A quick Musings shout out to Iowa State signee, and one of the best high school basketball players in Iowa history, *Audi Crooks for her 49-point performance in Saturday night’s Bishop Garrigan state title win over Newell-Fonda. The Mustangs had bested the Bears in each of Crooks’ first two years, and she finally was able to exact revenge on the only program to truly get the best of her in her four years.
Crooks finishes her career as one of the most dominant high school basketball players (boys or girls) this state has ever seen. It will be a long time before we ever see another player like her. If we do at all, that is.
Speaking of dominance, one last shout out to *David Carr, who joined Cael Sanderson as the only Cyclones to win four Big 12 titles in a career late Sunday night with a thrilling sudden victory pin of Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole. Both matches between those wrestlers have delivered, and I’d be shocked if we don’t get round three in a few weeks at the NCAAs.
Iowa State signee *Omaha Biliew‘s Waukee team will be going for its second state title in three years this week in downtown Des Moines. The Warriors will open with defending state champion Ames on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Unfortunately for the Little Cyclones, last year’s hero, Tamin Lipsey, will be in Kansas City with the other Cyclones. I’d be surprised if we don’t see the Warriors playing for the title Friday night.
Iowa State will leave Tulsa with two Big 12 Champions in Paniro Johnson and David Carr. There was tons of action and battling at the Bok Center. Take a look back behind my lens.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2023
Johnson, Carr Win Big 12 Titles
TULSA, Okla. – Paniro Johnson and David Carr both secured individual Big 12 titles for Iowa State Saturday night inside the BOK Center. Johnson, who entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed, earned his first conference title at 149 pounds while Carr won the fourth of his career and his first at 165 pounds.
Carr is the second Iowa State wrestler, and first since 2002, to win four Big 12 titles. He becomes the 11th wrestler in conference history to win four titles in the Big 12 era (1997-pres.).
In a highly anticipated rematch from last month, Carr pinned defending Big 12 and National Champion Keegan O’Toole in sudden victory (7:38). It is the 14th title match in Big 12 history to be decided by fall.
Carr was named the 2023 Big 12 Championship’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, becoming the sixth Cyclone to ever receive the honor.
Johnson won his rematch over top-seeded Brock Mauller, 10-4, thanks to three takedowns, including a feet-to-back toss for a pair of near fall points as time expired in the match. Johnson, a freshman, is Iowa State’s first Big 12 Champion at 149 pounds is the 24th wrestler in Big 12 history to win a title as a No. 3 seed or worse.
Iowa State finished third in the team race with 131 points behind Oklahoma State (134) and Missouri (148), which wrapped up its second consecutive team championship.
Three other Cyclones secured runner-up finishes on the night.
At 184 pounds, Coleman couldn’t overcome a pair of first-period takedowns by Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen and fell, 7-2. Coleman’s runner-up finish is the best Big 12 placement of his career.
Schuyler struggled on bottom against Air Force’s Wyatt Hendrickson in the heavyweight title bout. The Kings Park, N.Y. native dropped the match, 8-2, to Hendrickson. Schuyler’s runner-up finish is the best Big 12 placement of his career.
In the 133-pound title match, Redding fell to Daton Fix, 10-2. The Cyclone was unable to stop Fix from his fourth Big 12 title.
Up Next
Iowa State returns to Tulsa in two weekends for the NCAA Championships March 16-18.
Iowa State Results
125: Corey Cabanban – 8th Place
First Round: L-D, 5-3 SV-1 vs. Stevo Poulin (UNC)
Consolation First Round: Bye
Consolation Second Round: W-D, 5-2 vs. Tanner Jordan (SDSU)
Consolation Quarterfinals: L-D, 7-3 vs. Jore Volk (WYO)
7th-Place Match: L-F, 4:46 Kase Mauger (UVU)
133: No. 3 Zach Redding – 2nd Place
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-D, 4-2 vs. Hunter Leake (CBU)
Semifinals: W-D, 4-1 vs. Kyle Biscolglia (UNI)
Finals: L-MD, 10-2 vs. Daton Fix (OSU)
141: Casey Swiderski – 4th Place
First Round: L-D, 6-3 vs. Clay Carlson (SDSU)
Consolation First Round: Bye
Consolation Second Round: W-D, 8-6 vs. Cael Happel (UNI)
Consolation Quarterfinals: W-D, 3-1 vs. Job Greenwood (WYO)
Consolation Semifinals: W-Inj. Def. vs. Carter Young (OSU)
3rd-Place Match: L-D, 3-3 TB-1 (RT) vs. Clay Carlson (SDSU)
149: No. 3 Paniro Johnson – 1st Place
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-D, 3-2 vs. Mitch Moore (OU)
Semifinals: W-D, 3-2 vs. Colin Realbuto (UNI)
Finals: W-D, 10-4 vs. Brock Mauller (MIZ)
157: No. 7 Jason Kraisser – 4th Place
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: L-D, 8-3 vs. Kaden Gfeller (OSU)
Consolation Second Round: W-MD, 9-1 vs. Alex Hornfeck (WVU)
Consolation Quarterfinals: W-D, 5-2 vs. Jarrett Jacques (MIZ)
Consolation Semifinals: W-D, 5-4 vs. Cael Swensen (SDSU)
3rd-Place Match: L-D, 7-6 vs. Jacob Wright (WYO)
165: No. 1 David Carr
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-TF, 21-6 (6:33) vs. Austin Yant (UNI)
Semifinals: W-D, 3-1 vs. Peyton Hall (WVU)
Finals: W-F, 7:38 vs. Keegan O’Toole (MIZ)
174: Julien Broderson – 8th Place
First Round: L-MD, 14-4 vs. Peyton Mocco (MIZ)
Consolation First Round: W-MD, 9-0 vs. Hayden Hastings (WYO)
Consolation Second Round: W-D, 6-2 vs. Lance Runyon (UNI)
Consolation Quarterfinals: L-D, 3-2 vs. Cade DeVos (SDSU)
7th-Place Match: L-D, 7-4 vs. Scott Joll (WVU)
184: No. 2 Marcus Coleman – 2nd Place
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-TF, 20-5 (7:00) vs. Noah Blake (AF)
Semifinals: W-D, 5-3 vs. Travis Wittlake (OSU)
Finals: L-D, 6-2 vs. Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
197: No. 3 Yonger Bastida – 6th Place
First Round: W-TF, 24-9 (6:24) vs. Tyce Raddon (WYO)
Quarterfinals: W-D, 9-5 vs. Evan Bockman (UVU)
Semifinals: L-D, 6-0 vs. Rocky Elam (MIZ)
Consolation Semifinals: L-D, 4-2 Owen Pentz (NDSU)
5th-Place Match: L-D, 3-2 vs. Evan Bockman (UVU)
285: No. 2 Sam Schuyler – 2nd Place
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-D, 6-0 vs. Tyrell Gordon (UNI)
Semifinals: W-D, 3-2 vs. Zach Elam (MIZ)
Finals: L-D, 8-2 vs. Wyatt Hendrickson (AF)
Andy StubblefieldAthletics Communications Specialist (WR, No. 2 FB)
Iowa State Athletics
astubb@iastate.edu
O: (515) 294-2008
C: (712) 898-6771
Paniro Johnson and David Carr are Iowa State’s 2023 Big 12 Champions. They both discuss what it feels to earn their respective titles and what it meant to have their team in their corner. Plus, Dresser recaps the whole weekend, the championship matches, and more. Courtesy of Fareway.
Former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton hit the biggest shot of the day in the NBA ranks, helping the Indiana Pacers to a 125-122 win over the Chicago Bulls.
Haliburton finished the game with 29 points on an 11-17 clip from the field that included six 3-pointers.
Tyrese Haliburton hit the game winning shot today in the Pacers' win over Chicago:pic.twitter.com/EHqTm8Ve1G
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) March 5, 2023
TYRESE HALIBURTON GAME WINNER pic.twitter.com/CpgypBMqS8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 5, 2023
Haliburton added 11 assists to his line on Sunday as well as three rebounds.
The Pacers will play the second half of a back-to-back on Monday as they square off with Georges Niang and the 76ers.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
IRVING, Texas – Four Iowa State Cyclones were named to various All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Teams Sunday by the league coaches.
Senior Gabe Kalscheur earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors and was also named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. Senior Jaren Holmes was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, while also earning a spot on the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team. Senior Osun Osunniyi also earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. Freshman Tamin Lipsey picked up a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
Kalscheur is just the fourth Cyclone in school history to earn a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team and the first since Jameel McKay in 2015. Kalscheur was second on the team with 12.7 points per game, while also averaging 1.5 steals per game. Defensively, Kalscheur was tasked with locking down the oppositions top scoring threat. The Cyclones held the opposing team below its season scoring average in 17 of 18 Big 12 games.
Holmes led the Cyclones with 13.2 points per game, while also dishing out the second-most assists on the team with 3.3 per game. A starter in all 30 games, the Cyclones went 17-4 when Holmes reached double figures, including a 4-0 record when he went for 20 or more points.
Osunniyi averaged 1.1 blocked shots per game, while also adding 8.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He went over 1,000 career rebounds during the season, becoming just the second active NCAA Division I player with 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 300 blocked shots in their career.
Lipsey was one of three unanimous selections on the all-freshman team. He averaged 4.6 assists per game, the most among any freshman in America. A starter in all 30 games, Lipsey dished out five or more assists in a game 14 times this year, with the Cyclones going 10-4 in those games. Lipsey’s 137 assists this season are the fourth-most by a freshman in ISU history, while his 62 steals are the third-most among Cyclone freshmen.
The Cyclones return to action Thursday morning, as fifth-seeded Iowa State faces fourth-seeded Baylor in the 2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship Quarterfinals. Tipoff is set for 11:30 a.m. on either ESPN or ESPN2.
Player of the Year: Jalen Wilson, Kansas
Freshman of the Year: Keyonte George, Baylor
Newcomer of the Year: Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State
Defensive Player of the Year: Dajuan Harris, Kansas
Sixth Man Award: Sir’Jabari Rice, Texas
Most Improved Player: KJ Adams Jr., Kansas
Coach of the Year: Jerome Tang, Kansas State
All-Big 12 First Team
Adam Flagler, Baylor
Jalen Wilson, Kansas
Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State
Marquis Nowell, Kansas State
Marcus Carr, Texas
All-Big 12 Second Team
Keyonte George, Baylor
Gabe Kalscheur, Iowa State
Gradey Dick, Kansas
Damion Baugh, TCU
Mike Miles Jr., TCU
All-Big 12 Third Team
LJ Cryer, Baylor
Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas
Kalib Boone, Oklahoma State
Sir’Jabari Rice, Texas
Erik Stevenson, West Virginia
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Jaren Holmes (Iowa State), Osun Osunniyi (Iowa State), KJ Adams Jr. (Kansas), Dajuan Harris Jr. (Kansas), Jalen Hill (Oklahoma), Grant Sherfield (Oklahoma), Emanuel Miller (TCU), Timmy Allen (Texas), De’Vion Harmon (Texas Tech), Kevin Obanor (Texas Tech)
Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Gabe Kalscheur, Iowa State
Dajuan Harris Jr., Kansas
Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas
Markquis Nowell, Kansas State
Moussa Cisse, Oklahoma State
Big 12 All-Newcomer Team
Keyonte George, Baylor
Jaren Holmes, Iowa State
Gradey Dick, Kansas
Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State
Sir’Jabari Rice, Texas
Big 12 All-Freshman Team
Keyonte George, Baylor
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Gradey Dick, Kansas
Milos Uzan, Oklahoma
Pop Isaacs, Texas Tech
TULSA — Iowa State closed day one of the Big 12 Championships on a high note with five wrestlers set to compete for titles on Sunday.
But yet, some of the biggest storylines of the day came from gritty performances of those who have had to battle their way through the back of the bracket after suffering first-round losses.
Here are my biggest takeaways from Iowa State’s day-one performances.
1 – Casey Swiderski and Paniro Johnson are the real deal
Swiderski was one of four Cyclones who received a first-round match. Unfortunately, he fell 6-3 against No. 3 Clay Carlson from South Dakota State. It was a frustrating match because much of Swiderski’s best action didn’t come until there was only a minute left and it was too late.
Whatever he did during the session break lit a fire in him. When he returned to action it was some of his best wrestling of the season.
An unseeded Swiderski found himself facing off against No. 3 Cael Happel (UNI). Happel beat Swiderski in the regular season 4-3. The freshman was able to avenge that loss and upset Happel in a gritty 8-6 win.
The Cyclones needed someone to outwrestle their seed to help them in the team race. Swiderski answered the bell.
“That’s my guy,” said Paniro Johnson. “Everybody stopped believing in him so I told him, ‘Hey you perform best when nobody believes in you anyway so let’s go.'”
Johnson had a phenomenal first day in his own right. He notched wins over Mitch Moore (OU) and Connor Realbuto (UNI) to stride his way into the finals. It was refreshing to see the freshmen secure a match and not allow it to go into overtime.
“I feel like this is where I expected myself to be and I expect myself to be on top of the podium as well,” Johnson said. “I’m here to make history. Every single match I say I don’t plan on ever losing again. I plan on winning a Big 12 title, a national title, a world title, and an Olympic title, everything. This is all part of the plan.”
He will next face off against Missouri’s Brock Mauller, who pinned Johnson in the regular season.
2. Iowa State still has a chance to wrestle for a team title and it’s because of the guys who battled in the back of the bracket
Iowa State started the tournament with Corey Cabanban, Casey Swiderski, Jasson Kraisser, and Julien Broderson finding themselves in the back of the bracket after going 0-4 in Session I.
The back of the bracket is a tough place. As Kevin Dresser likes to say, “The toughest wrestlers wrestle for third,” and these guys pulled some gritty wins to try and get that opportunity.
Johnson, Carr, Coleman, Bastida, and Schuyler all took care of business and made it to the semifinals but when it comes to the team race those aces for the team were going to need the rest of the team to outperform.
The Cyclones went 12-3 in Session II and without those wins from the four grapplers on the back side, the Cyclones would not have had a chance to stay competitive against Missouri, who pinned its way through day one. Oklahoma State consistently performs well in the tournament.
Iowa State is in second place. The Cyclones tallied 112 team points and are only trailing Missouri by 23. There are major point opportunities still on the table to keep Iowa State in contention. It’s not going to be necessarily easy because there isn’t much room for setbacks, but having a realistic chance going into day two is a really big deal.
The Cyclones will have five to Missouri’s six in the final rounds with two of the matches being head-to-head. Things could get uncomfortable for the Tigers if the Cyclones show up ready for day two.
3 – Iowa State’s growth this season has shifted the ceiling for this program
The Cyclones accomplished a lot in one day for the Dresser Era. They notched the 300th individual NCAA qualifier for the program with Jason Kraisser’s upset win over No. 3 Jarrett Jacques of Missouri, 5-2, in the consolation quarterfinals.
Carr is looking to become Iowa State’s second four-time Big 12 champion in school history and the first since 2002. He’s also only one of two wrestlers competing for a fourth title in the entire tournament.
Sending Zach Redding, Johnson, Carr, Marcus Coleman, and Sam Schuyler to the finals is the most for Dresser and the most Iowa State has had since 2015.
This program has gone from a rebuild to a program that consistently competes with the best in the country in six years with Dresser.
There’s still a lot this team has to accomplish and places they need to improve on but this season has shown tremendous growth. You can go as far as to say that Iowa State can make the argument that they are a tournament team and back it up. The expectations for Iowa State have shifted and that’s a good thing.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
TULSA, Okla. – Iowa State sent five of its six semifinalists through to the finals Saturday night inside the BOK Center. The Cyclones’ five finalists are their most since ISU had six in 2015, when the tournament was still a four-team format.
Zach Redding (133), Paniro Johnson (149), David Carr (165), Marcus Coleman (184) and Sam Schuyler (285) were all victorious in their semifinal bouts. Redding, Johnson, Coleman and Schuyler are all first-time finalists while Carr will wrestle in his fourth conference title match.
Carr will aim to become Iowa State’s second four-time Big 12 champion in school history and the first since 2002. Oklahoma State’s Daton Fix (133), along with Carr, are both vying for their fourth Big 12 titles tomorrow night. If both succeed, they will become the 10th and 11th wrestlers, respectively, to win four championships in the Big 12 era (1997-pres.).
Combined, Iowa State wrestlers went 12-3 in Session II as three more Cyclones punched their tickets to the 2023 NCAA Championships. Coleman, along with Casey Swiderski (141) and Jason Kraisser (157) earned an automatic spot in the national tournament, bringing ISU’s total to eight.
Iowa State finished the day in second place with 112 team points trailing only Missouri (135). Oklahoma State sits in third place with 102.5 points.
How it Happened
Redding used a first-period takedown and locked up a riding time point as he defeated Northern Iowa’s Kyle Biscoglia, 4-1, in a 133-pound semifinal. Johnson made it two finalists in as many tries after he picked up a tight, 3-2, decision over Northern Iowa’s Colin Realbuto.
Carr defeated West Virginia’s Peyton Hall, 3-1, in the 165-pound semifinal match. The pair were tied, 1-1, late in the match but Carr secured a takedown with 27 seconds remaining to win it.
At 184 pounds, Coleman punched his ticket to nationals with a 5-3 decision over Oklahoma State’s Travis Wittlate. Schuyler became Iowa State’s fifth finalist with his second consecutive victory over Missouri’s Zach Elam, 3-2.
Yonger Bastida was Iowa State’s only semifinalist to lose as he dropped a 6-0 decision to Rocky Elam of Missouri.
The Cyclones started session two strong with Julien Broderson, Corey Cabanban, Swiderski and Kraisser going a combined 5-0 to advance into the Consolation Quarterfinals, where all four faced win-and-they’re-in qualifying matches for the NCAA Championships.
Swiderski secured his ticket back to Tulsa after grinding out a 3-1 decision over Wyoming’s Job Greenwood. Kraisser became Iowa State’s 300th individual to qualify for the NCAA Championships with an upset over No. 3 Jarrett Jacques of Missouri, 5-2, in the consolation quarterfinals.
Cabanban (125) and Broderson (174) both fell one win short of an automatic NCAA Championship bid and will wrestle in the seventh-place match tomorrow.
Up Next
Session III begins at noon Sunday with consolation semifinals and placing matches. The session will be streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Iowa State Results
125: Corey Cabanban
First Round: L-D, 5-3 SV-1 vs. Stevo Poulin (UNC)
Consolation First Round: Bye
Consolation Second Round: W-D, 5-2 vs. Tanner Jordan (SDSU)
Consolation Quarterfinals: L-D, 7-3 vs. Jore Volk (WYO)
7th-place match: vs. Kase Mauger (UVU)
133: No. 3 Zach Redding
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-D, 4-2 vs. Hunter Leake (CBU)
Semifinals: W-D, 4-1 vs. Kyle Biscolglia (UNI)
Finals: vs. Daton Fix (OSU)
141: Casey Swiderski
First Round: L-D, 6-3 vs. Clay Carlson (SDSU)
Consolation First Round: Bye
Consolation Second Round: W-D, 8-6 vs. Cael Happel (UNI)
Consolation Quarterfinals: W-D, 3-1 vs. Job Greenwood (WYO)
Consolation Semifinals: vs. Carter Young (OSU)
149: No. 3 Paniro Johnson
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-D, 3-2 vs. Mitch Moore (OU)
Semifinals: W-D, 3-2 vs. Colin Realbuto (UNI)
Finals: vs. Brock Mauller (MIZ)
157: No. 7 Jason Kraisser
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: L-D, 8-3 vs. Kaden Gfeller (OSU)
Consolation Second Round: W-MD, 9-1 vs. Alex Hornfeck (WVU)
Consolation Quarterfinals: W-D, 4-2 vs. Jarrett Jacques (MIZ)
Consolation Semifinals: vs. Cael Swensen (SDSU)
165: No. 1 David Carr
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-TF, 21-6 (6:33) vs. Austin Yant (UNI)
Semifinals: W-D, 3-1 vs. Peyton Hall (WVU)
Finals: vs. Keegan O’Toole (MIZ)
174: Julien Broderson
First Round: L-MD, 14-4 vs. Peyton Mocco (MIZ)
Consolation First Round: W-MD, 9-0 vs. Hayden Hastings (WYO)
Consolation Second Round: W-D, 6-2 vs. Lance Runyon (UNI)
Consolation Quarterfinals: L-D, 3-2 vs. Cade DeVos (SDSU)
7th-place match: vs. Scott Joll (WVU)
184: No. 2 Marcus Coleman
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-TF, 20-5 (7:00) vs. Noah Blake (AF)
Semifinals: W-D, 5-3 vs. Travis Wittlake (OSU)
Finals: vs. Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
197: No. 3 Yonger Bastida
First Round: W-TF, 24-9 (6:24) vs. Tyce Raddon (WYO)
Quarterfinals: W-D, 9-5 vs. Evan Bockman (UVU)
Semifinals: L-D, 6-0 vs. Rocky Elam (MIZ)
Consolation Semifinals: vs. Owen Pentz (NDSU)
285: No. 2 Sam Schuyler
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-D, 6-0 vs. Tyrell Gordon (UNI)
Semifinals: W-D, 3-2 vs. Zach Elam (MIZ)
Finals: vs. Wyatt Hendrickson (AF)
Garrigan’s Audi Crooks (55) drive to the hoop during the Class 1A Iowa girls state basketball championship between Newell-Fonda and Bishop Garrigan, on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Iowa State signee Audi Crooks broke an Iowa State high school basketball record Saturday night, scoring 49 points in Algona Bishop Garrigan’s 68-57 Class 1A state championship victory.
No player has ever that many points in the tournament, and it earned Crooks the Captain spot on the all-tournament team:
Your 1A all-tournament team captain, Audi Crooks.
She scored 49 points in Bishop Garrigan’s second straight state championship. pic.twitter.com/JIHJzJje9G
— Jake Brend (@JakeBrendTV) March 5, 2023
Crooks will join Iowa State for her first year in the collegiate ranks in the 2023-24 season this fall.
Audi Crooks is UNBELIEVABLE. 43 points with 6:30 to go as Bishop Garrigan leads 60-49. pic.twitter.com/9Mmn5rKZaO
— Jake Brend (@JakeBrendTV) March 5, 2023
Iowa State’s coaching staff was present to see Crooks and her team score another state championship, as well.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State fans ended Senior Day at Hilton Coliseum in the same way they did a year ago, saying goodbye to one of the program’s most decorated and accomplished players, Ashley Joens.
This time, it was goodbye for real.
“It was a pretty amazing moment because I got the opportunity to come back for another year and play with this team,” Joens said, trying to hold back tears.
She finished the game with a team-high 22 points for her team and added 10 rebounds along the way in the 76-52 win over Texas Tech.
“Senior days are always hard,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “There’s so much emotion – I mean I’ve watched teams warm up and their seniors are crying in the layup line. The good thing is Ash is like, ‘It’s March 4th. We’re playing Texas Tech. What time’s the game? Let’s play.'”
When told that Joens teared up in her postgame interview, Fennelly nearly didn’t believe it.
“I don’t believe you, I’m going to have to see the video,” Fennelly said. “I’m glad she did. She should. Sometimes I think she doesn’t want to show any emotion. She doesn’t want to let people see that.”
Barring a run through the Big 12 tournament championship, Iowa State has played its last game of the year at Hilton Coliseum.
Although that run could still happen, nothing is guaranteed, and the fans showed their appreciation for not only Joens but the other four seniors being honored in Ames.
Emily Ryan helped Iowa State with 12 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in the game.
She sat next Joens and reflected on what seeing the reaction for Joens meant to her.
“It just goes to show how much the program means to her – and she means just as much to this program,” Ryan said. “She’s put in countless hours, blood, sweat and tears. There’s not enough good things we can say about everything Ashley Joens has done.”
Morgan Kane and Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw both started the game and scored during the win. Stephanie Soares and Beatriz Jordao helped will them on from the bench.
The program applied for a waiver to bring Soares back for another season, but Joens will enter the WNBA Draft after March Madness as Iowa State’s career leader in points, scoring average, rebounds, games played and many more categories.
Denae Fritz and Lexi Donarski each added nine points on three triples in the blowout.
Iowa State won’t simply replace Joens on its roster next season, but it will remember her for a long, long time.
And now, she’ll lead the Cyclones into Kansas City as the program holds the No. 3 seed in the weekend’s Big 12 Tournament.
“It’s kind of a new season – if you lose, you’re done,” Joens said. “You’ve got to leave it all out on the court.”
The Cyclones will face either West Virginia or Baylor at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 10 (ESPN+) in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.
Iowa State earned its second commitment of the day Saturday afternoon when Linn-Mar High School recruit Keaton Roskop announced his commitment to the program.
Roskop, a 6-foot-3 tight end, becomes the third commit of the 2024 class, joining defensive end Jace Gilbert and ATH Danny Inglis, who committed Saturday morning.
“It’s definitely relaxing,” Roskop said of finishing his recruitment process. “Now I can just focus on my high school sports and my relationship with my future team.
Roskop is rated as a 3-star prospect by 247Sports and is currently the highest rated prospect of the class.
He’ll be the latest player in a tight end room led by Taylor Mouser that has seen plentiful success over the years.
“Mouse – he’s energetic,” Roskop said. “He’s energetic and a down-to-earth person. It feels like friendship… I would say (I look up to) any of (the former tight ends). I know they’ve all worked hard to get where they’re at.”
Roskop added that the coaching staff made the difference in earning his commitment.
“I’d say it was the coaching staff,” Roskop said. “The relationship I’ve built with them (feels) like a brother.”
The in-state tight end will take the field once again in the fall at Linn-Mar before arriving in Ames.
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
TULSA, Okla. – Iowa State sent six wrestlers to the semifinals Saturday in the opening session of the 2023 Big 12 Wrestling Championship. Of the six semifinalists, five of them have already locked up a spot at the 2023 NCAA National Championships in Tulsa March 16-18.
Zach Redding (133), Paniro Johnson (149), David Carr (165), Marcus Coleman (184), Yonger Bastida (197) and Sam Schuyler (285) all advanced to tonight’s semifinals. Redding, Johnson, Carr, Bastida and Schuyler all punched their ticket to the national tournament.
As a team, Iowa State sits in third place with 52.5 points behind Oklahoma State (71.5) and Missouri (87.5).
At 133 pounds, Redding avenged a loss from earlier this season against California Baptist’s Hunter Leake with a 4-2 decision in the quarterfinals.
Johnson won a tight matchup against Oklahoma’s Mitch Moore, 3-2, to advance into the semifinals. The freshman scored the only takedown of the match in the second period and got an escape in the third to break the tie.
Carr looked the part in a dominant 21-6 tech fall against Austin Yant of Northern Iowa. The Cyclone registered eight takedowns in the win.
Iowa State made some noise at the upper weights starting with Coleman’s 20-5 tech fall over Air Force’s Noah Blake at 184 pounds.
Bastida was Iowa State’s only seeded wrestler to draw a first-round match. He racked up 10 takedowns in a strong showing against Wyoming’s Tyce Raddon which he won via 24-9 tech fall. In the quarterfinals, Bastida took care of business against Evan Bockman of Utah Valley, 9-5, for his second win of the day.
Schuyler closed out the session with his second win of the year over Northern Iowa’s Tyrell Gordon. The Cyclones’ anchor didn’t allow a point in a solid 6-0 victory.
Up Next
Session II of the Big 12 Championship begins at 5 p.m. with first-round consolation matches followed by second-round consolation matches at 7:30 p.m. and semifinals at 8:30.
Iowa State Results
125: Corey Cabanban
First Round: L-D, 5-3 SV-1 vs. Stevo Poulin (UNC)
Consolation First Round: vs. Tanner Jordan (SDSU)
133: No. 3 Zach Redding
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-D, 4-2 vs. Hunter Leake (CBU)
Semifinals: vs. Kyle Biscolglia (UNI)
141: Casey Swiderski
First Round: L-D, 6-3 vs. Clay Carlson (SDSU)
Consolation First Round: vs. Cael Happel (UNI)
149: No. 3 Paniro Johnson
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-D, 3-2 vs. Mitch Moore (OU)
Semifinals: vs. Colin Realbuto (UNI)
157: No. 7 Jason Kraisser
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: L-D, 8-3 vs. Kaden Gfeller (OSU)
Consolation First Round: vs. Alex Hornfeck (WVU)
165: No. 1 David Carr
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-TF, 21-6 (6:33) vs. Austin Yant (UNI)
Semifinals: vs. Peyton Hall (WVU)
174: Julien Broderson
First Round: L-MD, 14-4 vs. Peyton Mocco (MIZ)
Consolation First Round: vs. Hayden Hastings (WYO)
184: No. 2 Marcus Coleman
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-TF, 20-5 (7:00) vs. Noah Blake (AF)
Semifinals: vs. Travis Wittlake (OSU)
197: No. 3 Yonger Bastida
First Round: W-TF, 24-9 (6:24) vs. Tyce Raddon (WYO)
Quarterfinals: W-D, 9-5 vs. Evan Bockman (UVU)
Semifinals: vs. Rocky Elam (MIZ)
285: No. 2 Sam Schuyler
First Round – Bye
Quarterfinals: W-D, 6-0 vs. Tyrell Gordon (UNI)
Semifinals: vs. Zach Elam (MIZ)
Mar 4, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Robert Jones (12) reacts after a made basket against the Baylor Bears during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
There will be no further questions about Iowa State’s NCAA Tournament destiny.
With seemingly everything stacked against them on Saturday in Waco, T.J. Otzelberger’s team unleashed perhaps its most impressive, dominant and cold-blooded performance of the season in a 73-58 upset win over No. 7 Baylor.
The Cyclones did it by playing with the spirit and defensive intensity Otzelberger sought earlier this week after it was announced Caleb Grill had been dismissed from the program.
Iowa State held Baylor, which entered the game with the No. 2 adjusted offensive efficiency in college basketball, to just 35.8 percent shooting from the field and 35.7 percent shooting from 3-point range.
The Cyclones did it by utilizing, literally, every player on their bench. All 11 Cyclones who suited up for the game on Saturday saw the floor and 10 of them attempted at least one shot.
Each of the players who saw the floor brought major contributions even if it didn’t appear in the stat sheet, including walk-on Conrad Hawley, also known as the team’s Chief Energy Officer, who played in the first half of a game for the first time this season and played one minute without recording a stat.
Jaren Holmes played one of his best games in weeks by scoring a team-high 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field with seven rebounds, five assists and a 1-of-3 mark from downtown.
Gabe Kalscheur scored 12 points on 3-of-9 shooting, but all 12 of those points came at crucial moments for the Cyclones.
After Iowa State led by 11 at halftime, Baylor came out in the second half and unleashed a 10-0 run that ultimately cut their deficit to four points. Iowa State responded with an 11-0 run fueled by multiple tough shots from Kalscheur, including a mid-range jumper and two 3-pointers.
Tre King highlighted a dominant effort in the painted area for the Cyclones by scoring 12 points on 5-of-11 from the field and seven rebounds. He was a key reason why Iowa State was able to dominate the points in the paint battle, 36-14.
Another reason for that dominance was the Cyclones’ interior passing along the baseline as King, Robert Jones and Demarion Watson had Baylor defenders on skates throughout the afternoon.
This was unquestionably the best performance of Watson’s young career as he came off the bench to tally four points, three rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes of play. Watson’s biggest impact for this program projects on the defensive end, but he is already an elite-level cutter without the ball offensively and is a very good passer in tight spaces.
Jones drew the start for Iowa State on Saturday and responded by scoring seven points, snagging five rebounds and dishing two assists. His work on the glass and in the paint helped Iowa State own the boards, 36-24, and grab seven offensive rebounds.
Osun Osunniyi and Hason Ward came off the bench to provide sparks in their own rights, posting eight points and four points, respectively, on a combined 5-of-6 from the field with six combined rebounds.
Iowa State’s ability to share the basketball was on display as they posted 19 assists on 26 made baskets for a 73 percent assist rate. That ability to share the ball helped Iowa State’s offense generate efficient looks the entire afternoon, finishing by knocking down 54.2 percent of their shots from the field.
There is no doubt this is one of the most improbable wins for Iowa State men’s basketball in recent memory. You’re on the road against a top-10 team just days removed from one of your best players being dismissed from the team and in the midst of a stretch where you’ve lost 10 of your last 14 games.
Not only was this team unfazed by the chips stacked against them, but they also responded to that adversity with a chip on their shoulders. They came out ready to play from the opening tap, owning the lead for more than 35 minutes.
Iowa State has now rebounded from its skid to finish with a .500 record in Big 12 play for the first time since 2018-19. The Cyclones will be either the five-seed or the six-seed in the Big 12 Tournament next week in Kansas City and have completely avoided playing in Wednesday night’s first-round contests.
Next week in Kansas City gets a lot more interesting if Iowa State is able to replicate the energy and effort it played with on Saturday in Waco. If they’re able to defend and share the ball the same way they did in this game, it could be a longer stay than many expected earlier in the week.
Few saw the last extended stay for this program coming. This is no prediction, but simply a statement of the facts. The 2018-19 team, the last Iowa State team to finish .500 in league play before this one, seemed to have the deck stacked against them, too.
That’s where the similarity between the two teams dies, though. There is something different about this Iowa State team than many of the others that have come before them.
On Saturday in Waco, against all odds, they proved that again.
Iowa State earned its second commitment of the 2024 recruiting class on Saturday morning, in ATH prospect Danny Inglis.
It’s early in the cycle, and Inglis isn’t rated yet, but the Ohio native had other offers from Ball State, Central Michigan and Youngstown State.
The 6-foot-1 Canfield, Ohio recruit joins defensive lineman Jace Gilbert as commits in the class thus far.
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) lays up the ball around Baylor Bears guard Adam Flagler, guard Dale Bonner (3), and forward Flo Thamba (0) during the second half at Hilton Coliseum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune
Let’s get back to basketball.
There hasn’t been much discussion of Iowa State’s on-court abilities over the last couple of days after it was announced that Caleb Grill had been dismissed from the program for an inability to live up to its standards.
It is an unfortunate situation with many layers that we’ll surely be unpacking for a long time. That is not the kind of story that goes away in one, two or three days.
We have to get back to basketball eventually, though.
That fact rings true because this Iowa State team still has plenty left out there to achieve. The first potential achievement opportunity arrives on Saturday when Iowa State visits No. 7 Baylor in its regular season finale.
“Regardless of what additional opportunities in the conference tournament or beyond, what may be in front of us, our focus right now is a game on Saturday,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “Our focus is have a great practice today, have great team meeting today, have a great practice tomorrow, and carry that forward and put ourselves in great position to win against a really good team.”
We’ve already seen some of the on-court implications of Grill’s dismissal play out this season. He’d already missed four games, and Iowa State is 1-3 in those games with the only win coming against McNeese State when Grill was out with an illness.
The Cyclones are not the kind of team where you can expect one person to step into Grill’s role and suddenly the machine is back on the tracks. Replacing Grill’s 9.5 points per game is more likely to come from a by-committee approach.
That means Gabe Kalscheur and Jaren Holmes will have to step up to be the best versions of themselves if Iowa State is going to upset the Bears.
Jaz Kunc’s role with the team expands as he’ll be one of the Cyclones’ best 3-point shooting options on the perimeter outside of Kalscheur and Holmes.
Bench depth pieces like Tre King will be likely to see more minutes with more ticks left to go around.
Demarion Watson is another bench player who could see his opportunities grow with Grill’s dismissal. The freshman has proven to have the tools to be a strong defender, but we know his offense is still starting to come around.
The good news for Watson is his head coach knows where getting back to being the Iowa State team we’ve come to know this season has to start.
“Demarion gives us someone particularly defensively, he’s got the length, athleticism, instincts,” Otzelberger said. “He’s had some really good defensive moments for us. When someone’s not with you that’s made some shots and scored some points, it’s like, well, now can somebody else just score those points and like I mentioned, I feel strongly that our defensive identity that we’ve created will be the way to do that. For Demarion, there’s going to be more opportunities for him certainly, and as he steps into more of those opportunities with a defensive intent and effort based focus.”
There might not be a stiffer challenge for Iowa State to get back to its defensive roots against than the Bears, who enter Saturday’s game with the No. 2 adjusted offensive efficiency in the country, according to KenPom.
Scott Drew’s team is led by one of the nation’s most dynamic backcourts and the three-headed monster of Adam Flagler, LJ Cryer and Keyonte George.
Flagler and Cryer are two of the league’s best long-range snipers, connecting on better than 40 percent of their shots from downtown this season, while George doesn’t lag far behind, hitting roughly 36 percent of his shots from deep.
All three players are capable of penetrating the defense and scoring at all three levels of the court. Keeping them out of the paint and preventing them from collapsing Iowa State’s defense will be one of the game’s biggest keys.
“Their backcourt is phenomenal,” Otzelberger said. “They’re as prolific offensively as probably any team in the country. They’ve got a handful of guards that can all dribble, pass, shoot, and not just kind of shoot but like shoot it with great consistency and regularity.”
Up front, Baylor has received a significant boost during Big 12 play from the return of Johnathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, who was a key piece of Baylor’s 2020-21 national title team and has appeared in each of the last eight games after missing the start of the year while recovering from an injury suffered last season.
“Everyday Jon” combines with Flo Thamba for one of the league’s more versatile frontcourts, especially on the defensive end.
“On their frontline, they do an unbelievable job doing effort based things,” Otzelberger said. “Rebounding, hitting the boards and doing all those things so well.”
The reality for Iowa State is they’ll be facing a steep uphill climb going into this game. The Bears are playing great basketball, and are considered a team capable of winning a national championship for a reason.
This game is sure to come down to how well Iowa State can do against those guards, and they’ve proven they can handle that by holding Baylor to one of its lowest point totals of the season in their first game.
That game was a long time ago, though, and a lot has happened since then.
At least Iowa State can get back to basketball.
“For us to be successful, we’ve got to be very intentional defensively, we got to finish plays on the glass, gotta get the loose balls,” Otzelberger said. “We’ve got to challenge that offense with our defense. That will allow us to gain the momentum we need offensively to be successful.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Ashley Joens, Morgan Kane and Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw spoke to media members Thursday ahead of their final game in Hilton Coliseum set for this Saturday at 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+).
A general view as wrestlers warm up on eight mats during a practice session before the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich.
The postseason has officially arrived and the Cyclones are all set to compete in the Big 12 Championships this weekend in Tulsa.
There is a lot on the line for Kevin Dresser and his team as they are in contention to win a team title and earn Iowa State its second four-time Big 12 champion in David Carr.
Here are five thoughts heading into Tulsa.
1 – Iowa State once again cursed with several first-round byes
This is not the first year the Cyclones see themselves get more than a generous amount of first-round byes in the Big 12 Championships which isn’t what you’re hoping to get as a team.
The reason behind this is that it will put Iowa State at a disadvantage in the team race. The first round is where wrestlers will find their highest chances to score bonus points for their teams early which only gives them an advantage in the overall team race. Iowa State has six byes.
The Cyclones’ biggest competition in the team race is Missouri. They were given eight first-round matches. That means you will likely see Missouri lead right off the bat and Iowa State will most likely trail by a good margin as they wrestle their way through the tournament.
Although you can count on guys like David Carr, Marcus Coleman, and Yonger Bastida to have high-scoring matches, Dresser is going to need those lower weights to step up and surprise a few opponents along the way to better their chances at winning a team title.
Here’s a look at first-round matches for the Cyclones:
125: Corey Cabanban vs. No. 4 Stevo Poulin (UNC)
133: No. 3 Zach Redding received a bye
141: Casey Swiderski vs. No. 5 Clay Carlson (SDSU)
149: No. 3 Paniro Johnson received a bye
157: No. 7 Jason Kraisser received a bye
165: No. 1 David Carr received a bye
174: Julien Broderson vs. No. 1 Peyton Mocco (MIZ)
184: No. 2 Marcus Coleman received a bye
197: No. 3 Yonger Bastida vs. Tyce Raddon (WYO)
285: No. 2 Sam Schuyler received a bye
Full brackets here
Here is the breakdown for points earned based on how a wrestler finishes at the tournament:
- 1st (16 points)
- 2nd (12 points)
- 3rd (10 points)
- 4th (9 points)
- 5th (7 points)
- 6th (6 points)
- 7th (4 points)
- 8th (3 points)
Wrestlers earn one point when winning a match and there are advancement points that you don’t earn with a bye. They are also awarded extra points for bonus point wins. This is where having wrestlers who can earn bonus point wins is crucial. Someone like Carr can not only perform as an individual but can directly impact his team’s chances at a title because he could add an extra two or three team points each match if he’s able to bonus. As we’ve seen during the regular season, he’s very good at that.
Here’s what Dresser had to say about those first-round byes:
"The one thing we lead the Big 12 in is byes in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. We're the gold medal champs every damn year."
Coach Dresser discussed initial thoughts on the brackets, and the seeding process and cracks some jokes about the number of first-round byes… https://t.co/QKEIFXrj5g pic.twitter.com/g9Pkewp26N
— Jacqueline (@JacquelineCord) March 2, 2023
2 – How will Corey Cabanban step up for the Cyclones after months of recovering from an injury?
A big hit to the lineup for the team was having Kysen Terukina get injured when he competed in the All-Star Classic in November. He had the potential to be an All-American and unfortunately, his injury was bad enough that he had to end his season and have surgery.
Corey Cabanban stepped up in his absence but, unfortunately, also suffered an injury during the Penn State match in December.
Cabanban is back, however, to compete in Tulsa. He showed great potential when taking the starting spot before his injury. He even became one of the few wrestlers who can say they’ve taken down No. 1 Spencer Lee of Iowa. But, after so many weeks of being sidelined, it makes me a bit nervous to see him make a comeback at this point in the season. He is diving head first from no action to a full grueling two days of back-to-back wrestling.
This is what athletes train for and this is what they’re built for. But, regardless, Cabanban has had no live action in over two months. The most we’ve heard he’s had was the wrestle-off between the 125-pounders to solidify Cabanban was the best man up.
Something working in his favor is he is one of the lucky ones with a first-round match. He’ll face off against No. 4 Stevo Poulin from Northern Colorado. If he can get passed Poulin then I don’t see why he couldn’t find himself in the semifinals against No. 1 Killian Cardinale from West Virginia if he really is feeling 100 percent again.
3 – Casey Swiderski and Paniro Johnson can make a serious impact on the team race
The two freshmen have been a big storyline this season. They were hyped up by the coaching staff on day one and then they let their wrestling do the talking. They had gritty wins at the beginning of the season that earned them national recognition like Johnsons’ staple win over Austin Gomez who is currently ranked No. 2 in the country.
Unfortunately, the growing pains of being a young wrestler hit and they faced some tough losses toward the end of the season that seemed to knock their confidence a bit.
Assistant coach Brent Metcalf has been vocal that they already have the tools they need to be successful they just need to remember to use them.
That’s the message Metcalf gave Swiderski before he went out and had an impressive win over Illinois which finally broke his losing streak after the winter break.
The bracket draws for both of them, I believe, actually worked out in their favor. There’s no opponent they’ll face that I don’t see a realistic chance for them to beat to wrestle their way to the semifinals. It’s just a matter of mental toughness with these two.
With the disadvantage of the first-round byes, I think Johnson and Swiderski are those key pieces to helping the team try and stay competitive against Missouri. If the two wrestlers we saw at the beginning of the season show up in Tulsa they could make some real noise.
After all, Dresser has said Johnson believes he’s the best in the country and he’s been calling Swiderski a savage since day one. Now is the time to put that on display.
4 – David Carr is in a position to make history for Iowa State
Carr is so consistently good for the Cyclones that he has barely been talked about this season.
With injuries and the early impact of the freshmen, Carr has managed to fly under the radar until the final dual of the season when he faced off against then-No. 1 Keean O’Toole, who he beat in a dominant fashion in what was considered the most anticipated match of the season.
Carr will walk into this weekend as a three-time Big 12 Champion looking to earn his fourth title. If he does that, he will become only the second Cyclone to accomplish that achievement since joining the Big 12. The only Cyclone to achieve that goal is Cael Sanderson.
For Carr, it also means he’ll have surpassed his father.
“I think it’s important. It’s the next thing in front of me. It’s going to be cool. My dad only won two and I’m always trying to one-up him,” Carr said.
If Carr makes it to the championship match we’ll see a round two for him and O’Toole. Something the two athletes have said they look forward to.
5 – Iowa State has a real chance at having several wrestlers in the championship round
If there is a year to feel confident the Cyclones have a real chance at having more than just Carr in the championship round, it’s this one.
Marcus Coleman has been one of the most improved Cyclones of the Dresser era and this is his final season. He finished in third place last year and that was not enough for him.
“I don’t have one yet (a title) so it’s something I’ve been eyeing. It’s a huge goal of mine,” Coleman said.
The championship match is the expectation for Coleman. If he wrestles for anything less than a title I’ll be surprised.
Sam Schuyler has put on quite the campaign this season. He finished 15-2 overall. The bracket draw he received has a pretty solid route to the championship match because he’ll face his biggest foe, No. 3 Zach Elam of Missouri, early in the tournament. This puts him in a good position to get one for Iowa State over Missouri in the team race.
Yonger Bastida earned a first-round match in the tournament. This is a positive not only for the team race with Bastida being a consistent bonus point earner but he does his best the more he’s wrestling. I feel good about his bracket draw as the No. 3 seed because if he handles his business he’ll find himself most likely against Rocky Elam from Missouri in the semifinal match. This has been a tough match for Bastida but not an impossible one. If he’s cleaned up the mistakes we saw at the end of the season there is no reason why he shouldn’t be in the championship match.
That would give Kevin Dresser three Cyclones in championship matches with very real chances at winning.
Jan 14, 2023; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Caleb Grill (2) shoots a three point shot against Kansas Jayhawks guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) during the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State is looking to get back to playing with joy.
That was the prevailing thought coming out of T.J. Otzelberger’s time with the media on Thursday after Caleb Grill was dismissed from the program the previous day “due to a failure to meet the program’s expectations.”
Otzelberger declined to provide many specifics behind the decision to dismiss Grill from the team, but he made clear the intention of the guys remaining in the locker room as the postseason looms.
“I stand behind the fact that there was a point in this season, probably a month ago, where the spirit that we had, the energy we played with, the enthusiasm and the passion that our guys played with on the court and exuded as a team, was as strong as any team in the country,” Otzelberger said. “Right now, more than spacing the floor, shooting the three or those sort of things, what we’re trying to do is work extremely intentionally to make sure that we get that back, that we reclaim that the best we can or get it all the way back so that we’re playing with that spirit.”
Grill was a crucial piece of Iowa State’s team this season, especially when he was knocking down shots in significant wins over North Carolina, Baylor, TCU and Texas.
Something changed, though, both for Grill and the program, after the win over the Longhorns on Jan. 17. In that game, Grill suffered a back injury that continued to linger and held him out of multiple games as Iowa State’s season took a steep downturn.
Even when he was on the floor, Grill was a shell of himself, knocking down just six of his last 26 attempts from 3-point range and getting visibily frustrated at times, including multiple occassions that led to criticial technical fouls in games against Oklahoma State and West Virginia.
You can read between the lines of what Otzelberger’s saying and the timeline he’s detailing of when his team stopped playing with the level of joy and intensity to which he’d become accustomed.
“What I can say for a team is it’s something that we’ve clearly had, and everybody’s seen. Everybody knows what it looks like,” Otzelberger said. “We’ve been fortunate to have it in our program, not only this year, but last year, where you watch our guys play and it’s the passion, the enthusiasm, the energy, and doing all those things. Why ever or why not that hasn’t happened for the last three weeks or so, I can tell you that we are working tirelessly in every way possible to make sure we bring that back to our program.”
The previously strong relationship between Otzelberger and Grill has been well-documented. Otzelberger was the first coach to recruit him and earned his letter of intent at South Dakota State before leaving to be the head coach at UNLV.
After spending his freshman season at Iowa State, Grill joined Otzelberger in Las Vegas for one season before coming back to Ames along with his coach.
Otzelberger was visibly emotional after Grill’s breakout performance in Portland helped Iowa State upset (at the time) No. 1 North Carolina in the Phil Knight Invitational.
The fact that this strong baseline relationship existed should be a clue to fans wondering where all of this went wrong. This is something that had to have been brewing behind the scenes for some time, and finally just came to a head this week.
“The standards and expectations and what we talk about a lot are very, very high level in our program,” Otzelberger said. “It’s not for everybody, and so it’s important that on a daily basis, everybody upholds those standards and lives up to those expectations. I don’t want to get into particular instances or things that have happened, specifically, but what I can say is, all those daily habits that we talked about, and things that are important in our program and upholding those standards, we’ve got to make sure that those are intact every single day.”
This story took another turn Wednesday afternoon when Grill released a statement thanking Iowa State and members of the program for their support during his career. He also noted a mental illness he’s been battling while playing for Iowa State.
“One day, when I am brave enough, I hope to be able to share my story about my mental health and my mental illness I have been battling through all season,” Grill wrote. “While everyone was commenting about the hair, or the funny actions on the court, it was a way for me to get out of that state of mind and feel like me being myself instead of the dark place I have been in this season.”
Otzelberger reiterated that Grill will have all the mental health resources the school offers still available to him despite not being a member of the basketball team.
He also noted how important strong mental health is to him, his staff and the program’s entire culture. He also made clear how difficult it is to weigh the contexual factors of what Grill’s been going through with what’s happening within the program.
“I think anybody who comes to our program knows it’s a very relationship fueled program,” Otzelberger said. “We want guys in here that we want to be around that we want around our family, and we spend a lot of time together. You develop those close bonds. You develop those relationships. That’s where it gets challenging, because you want the individuals so badly to be successful. Yet, there’s decisions that need to be made as a leader of this program, at a time they need to be made when you know that it’s best for the program. As much as you care for those individuals. we’ve always got to keep the program at the forefront. What I can say is, obviously, that’s something that’s happened here very recently. That’s the position that we’re currently in right now.”
Otzelberger did not go as far as to say this was the most difficult situation he’s handled as a leader in college basketball, but his mannerisms made clear this was an uncomfortable situation for him. Nobody wants to cut loose someone who has stood by their side for six years.
Still, this should be further indication of the importance of Iowa State men’s basketball and the program’s culture to its head coach. It does not matter who you are or what the relationship is, there is a high standard to live up to within that program.
If you don’t live up to that standard, you will not be part of it.
“I really care about being the head coach at Iowa State,” Otzelberger said. “This program really matters to me. It’s personal. It’s my family. It’s my wife who played here, it’s a place I’ve grown up coaching, and there’s no position or job I honor more than being the head coach of this program. Regardless of how difficult the choice may or may not be in the given time, I have a responsibility, and I have a job to do. I have to carry that out because it affects a lot of people. We’re going to continue to make sure that we make the best decisions at the right time for this program, regardless of how challenging they may or may not be for me personally.”
The NFL Combine kicked off this week at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, where four former Cyclones are competing ahead of April’s NFL Draft.
We’re keeping track of all of the happenings here:
Both Will McDonald IV and Anthony Johnson Jr. have done interviews with media members in attendance.
𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁. @WILL_JUN1OR
#NFLCombine March 2-5 on @nflnetwork
pic.twitter.com/OPleSQfPWF
— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) March 1, 2023
𝐖𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.
#NFLCombine March 2-5 on @nflnetwork
pic.twitter.com/OxrIdvdfLz
— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) March 2, 2023
MEASUREMENTS
This will be one of the stars of the week
Will McDonald IV (Iowa St)
6035
239
9 1/2 hand
34 7/8 arm
82 1/4 wing— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 2, 2023
Both MJ Anderson and Will McDonald will participate in on-field drills on Thursday with their bench press sessions set for Friday.
Johnson Jr. will participate in drills on Friday and Xavier Hutchinson is set to drill on Saturday with each of them recording a bench press the following day.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger addressed media members on Thursday at the Sukup Practice Facility on the situation of Caleb Grill.
The Big 12 Championships are set to begin on Saturday, March 4th in Tulsa. Dresser, Coleman, and Carr talk about the energy around the team heading into the competition. Plus Carr and Coleman look ahead to their individual matchups.
Iowa State was downed by Kansas Wednesday 98-83, despite putting up the second highest point total of the season as a team.
The team went on a late run in the game to come back from being down by 16 points, but wasn’t able to finish things off at Phog Allen Fieldhouse.
“Anyone that knows me, I’m not into moral victories at all,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “We just couldn’t guard them. We tried everything.”
Kansas was able to get by Iowa State’s defenders, using its size and much-improved offense over the past few years.
Emily Ryan only played 31 minutes – which is a lot for a normal player – due to foul trouble. That deviates from her usual 40 minutes from the floor.
“We’ve got to quit fouling,” Fennelly said on the radio broadcast. “When there’s size on the other team, and when we get into foul trouble, we’re in trouble.”
Ashley Joens led the team with 33 points and five rebounds.
Denae Fritz finished the game with a career high 26 points, as well as five rebounds in 39 minutes on the court.
“I just shot it with confidence and (the shots) fell tonight,” Fritz said. I just think that’s good offense, finding the right player that’s hot.”
With the loss, Iowa State falls to 10-7 in Big 12 play, falling into a three-way tie for third place in the conference.
The tiebreaker scenarios for Iowa State suggests that if Oklahoma State and Baylor end the season in a tie, the Cyclones would be the No. 4 seed in the Big 12 tournament.
“We have to look at it and say, ‘we can beat every team in this league,'” Fennelly said. “‘And every team can beat us.'”
The Cyclones will finish the regular season with a matchup against Texas Tech on Saturday (3:00 p.m. ESPN+) at Hilton Coliseum.
Big 12 Standings
1. Texas 13-4
1. Oklahoma 13-4
3. Iowa State 10-7
3. Oklahoma State 10-7
3. Baylor 10-7
6. West Virginia 9-8
7. Kansas 8-9
8. Texas Tech 6-11
9. Kansas State 5-12
10. TCU 1-16
After being dismissed from the Iowa State men’s basketball team, Caleb Grill released this statement over social media on Thursday:
Thank you Iowa State pic.twitter.com/kfXuD0ZeTv
— Caleb Grill (@caleb_grill0) March 1, 2023
pic.twitter.com/c4ytldKzg2
— Caleb Grill (@caleb_grill0) March 1, 2023
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Caleb Grill (2) takes a three-point shot over Milwaukee Panthers guard Angelo Stuart (5) during the second half at Hilton Coliseum Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune
A seismic wave sounded across the world of Iowa State basketball on Wednesday when it was announced senior guard Caleb Grill has been removed from the program for conduct detrimental to the team.
We will not speculate on Grill’s dismissal here without more details, but there is no doubt this has a significant impact on the Cyclones’ next several weeks from an on-court basketball perspective.
Iowa State has now lost its best sharpshooter as Grill knocked down a team-high 36.8 percent of his shots from deep this season. Although, he connected on only six of his last 27 attempts (22 percent) from deep while battling his lingering back injury suffered against Texas.
Losing Grill will put even more pressure on Gabe Kalscheur and Jaren Holmes to lead the Iowa State offense on a nightly basis as they look to complete their regular season on Saturday against Baylor and heading into next week’s Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City.
The biggest issue Grill’s dismissal could cause is in Iowa State’s general depth. The Cyclones go from having four proven commodity guards in Grill, Kalscheur, Holmes and Tamin Lipsey to only three plus Aljaz Kunc, who stands as more of a hybrid guard/forward.
Iowa State’s downturn does coincide with Grill’s injury as Iowa State’s won only three of its 12 games since beating Texas in Ames on Jan. 17 when Grill scored 17 points and hit three 3-pointers.
It is safe to assume there is a lot more to this story, especially when you consider Grill’s well-documented relationship with head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who recruited Grill to South Dakota State and then to UNLV before returning to Ames.
We already have seen how Grill’s absence has impacted this team over the past month and a half, but we’re about to find out how his total removal from the situation impacts things even further. It is hard to know how that will truly impact the team until we see them back in action on Saturday.
Grill gave Iowa State fans some incredible highs this season with his thrilling performance against No. 1 at the time North Carolina and his hot-shooting display to open Big 12 play. These last few weeks have been full of lows as he battled injury and received crucial technical fouls against both Oklahoma State and West Virginia in home losses.
As of now, we only know two things: Otzelberger will speak more about this with the media on Thursday and Grill will never play for Iowa State again.
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Caleb Grill (2) passes the ball around Texas Longhorns guard Marcus Carr (5) during the first half at Hilton Coliseum Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Senior guard Caleb Grill is no longer with the Iowa State men’s basketball team, due to a failure to meet the program’s expectations.
“We hold our players to high standards and there are expectations that our student-athletes are held accountable for,” Iowa State men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger said.
Grill appeared in 25 games with 22 starts, this season. He averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
Iowa State Cyclones guard/forward Ashley Joens (24) takes a three-point shot over Baylor Bears guard/forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (5) during the second quarter at Hilton Coliseum Thursday, Nov.10, 2022, in Ames, Iowa.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications.
AMES, Iowa – The run for Ashley Joens to three-peat as Cheryl Miller Award winner has reached its final stage, as the Iowa State star was named one of five finalists for the prize given to women’s college basketball’s best small forward, the Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday.
The other finalists are Rickea Jackson of Tennessee, Haley Jones of Stanford, Gianna Kneepkens of Utah and Madi Williams of Oklahoma.
Joens has once again been outstanding for Iowa State this season, leading the Big 12 and ranking 17th in the country with her 20.5 points per game. She has saved some of her best basketball for the end of the season, as she has scored at least 20 in each of Iowa State’s last four games. Joens continues to be one of the best rebounders around as well, ranking fourth in the Big 12 with her 9.2 rebounds per game, which she has helped convert into 11 double-doubles.
Joens’ many individual milestones continue to pile up, as she is just two games played away from setting a new Big 12 record in that category and is only 98 points away from becoming the 14th player in NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball history to reach 3,000 career points.
Fan voting for the Cheryl Miller Award will begin on Friday on hoophallawards.com. The fan vote will count as one committee vote during the final selection process.
Joens and No. 23 Iowa State are in action tonight at Kansas. Tip will be at 7 p.m. on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Tuesday marks the start of the 2023 NFL Combine – where 319 collegiate prospects are set to showcase their skills and measurements for NFL scouts in Indianapolis.
Four former Cyclones will be at Lucas Oil Stadium throughout the week: defensive lineman Will McDonald IV, defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr., wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson, and defensive lineman M.J. Anderson.
McDonald IV projects to be the highest pick of the group and will look to showcase the same abilities he did in the Reese’s Senior Bowl earlier this year.
He’s projected to be taken in the first two rounds, but has another chance to raise his stock this weekend.
Hutchinson, who finished 2023 as a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, will have eyes on him from teams needing a strong wideout to add to their roster.
Anderson will look to do the same as McDonald IV, but is slated to go a little later after coming off a successful first season on the field in Ames. His 37.5 tackles and 3.5 sacks (tied for second on the team) were enough to generate interests from NFL teams.
He opted to go pro and forego another season at Iowa State.
Johnson Jr. is projected as an undrafted free agent by NFL Mock Draft Database, but is no stranger to rising to the occasion and is taking the opportunity to compete.
Tuesday and Wednesday are used as measurement days for the league, with broadcast action kicking off on Thursday, March 2.
NFL Network will have the broadcast as well as NFL+ on the streaming side.
Thursday @ 2 p.m. CT – Defensive line (McDonald IV & Anderson) and linebackers
Friday @ 2 p.m. CT – Defensive backs (Johnson Jr.)
Saturday @ Noon CT – Quarterbacks, wide receivers (Hutchinson) and tight ends
Sunday @ Noon CT – Running backs and offensive lineman
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Gabe Kalscheur and Jaren Holmes addressed media members following their senior night loss against West Virginia at Hilton Coliseum on Monday.
AMES – Iowa State came out strong in the second half in its 72-69 loss to West Virginia Monday night. It had adequate contributions from both Jaren Holmes and Gabe Kalscheur.
The crowd was as involved in the game as it could have been, but the Cyclones couldn’t finish out and avoid slipping to 8-9 in the Big 12 while giving up the lead in the final moments.
“Extremely disappointing, for sure,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said during his postgame press conference. “We take a lot of pride in being a program that’s really disciplined and highly competitive.”
The coach, who saw his team fall for the eighth time in the last 10 games referenced more things than one in what went into the latest loss.
“It’s the unnecessary fouls,” Otzelberger said. “It’s getting back. It’s things that, at that point in the game, where you lock in and you just say, ‘you know what, you’re not scoring a basket. Not on our court. Not tonight. It’s not happening, not on senior night,’ and you dig deep and you find a way. We didn’t do that job and it’s highly disappointing.”
One of the fouls Otzelberger refers to came after a play where Jaz Kunc was elbowed in the face by West Virginia’s Tre Mitchell.
Mitchell was called for a flagrant two and was kicked out of the game, but both Kunc and Caleb Grill were called for dead ball technical fouls during the chaos in the seconds after the elbow landed.
“I think it was really costly when their player throws an elbow at us and it turns into essentially a five-point play for them,” Otzelberger said. “We’ve got to be more disciplined in that situation. Our reaction to that play put us at a deficit. We missed the foul shots, they make a three on the next possession and it’s a monster play.”
After the technical fouls were assessed, Iowa State was outscored 26-17.
“There’s so many things that we should be disappointed in,” Otzelberger said at one point.
But that’s not in the D.N.A. of Otzelberger’s teaching.
Iowa State fought in different aspects of the game, like in the 14-4 run it opened the second half with.
Things like that, the 26-point performance from Kalscheur, the 16-point mark for Holmes, and the 38 percent team stat from the 3-point line were all things trending in the opposite direction for the Cyclones during this stretch.
It felt like the game where Iowa State did its 180. Yet, it has now lost four in a row.
“This one hurts, a lot,” Holmes said. “I just love everybody in the locker room. Bounce back. We have a game Saturday. We have two tournaments to play. We can’t hang our heads.”
Iowa State will begin postseason play next week in Kansas City with the annual Big 12 Tournament.
It will play in the NCAA Tournament – no matter what the guy at the grocery store said about his personal bracketology update.
“They should be disappointed, and that disappointment should lead us to working really hard so we don’t feel like that in that locker room again,” Otzelberger said.
And there’s no doubt that Otzelberger can turn his team in the right direction.
The concern comes with the lack of time.
“Nobody feels sorry for us,” Otzelberger said. We know the league that we play in is really good and that’s just what it is. We’ve got to get better.”
Iowa State squares off with No. 7 Baylor Saturday, in Waco.
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova / Cyclone Fanatic
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
AMES, Iowa – Six Iowa State wrestlers are seeded third or better in the pre-seeds at the 2023 Big 12 Championship, the league office announced Monday.
David Carr is the No. 1 seed at 165 pounds and has his sights set on becoming the fourth Cyclone in school history to win four conference titles. The Ohio native is 10-0 in his career at the Big 12 Championship.
Marcus Coleman (184) and Sam Schuyler (285) are both No. 2 seeds. Coleman enters his fifth Big 12 Championship with a career record of 12-7 in the tournament and logged his best finish, third, last season. Schuyler placed fourth at last year’s championship but is undefeated against league opponents this season.
Zach Redding (133), Paniro Johnson (149) and Yonger Bastida (197) all earned the No. 3 seed in their respective brackets. It marks Johnson’s first postseason and Redding’s second, and first since he placed third in the 2021 Big 12 Championship. This is Bastida’s second Big 12 Championship after placing fifth last season.
Jason Kraisser grabbed the No. 7 seed at 157 pounds and will make his postseason debut for the Cyclones. The transfer from Campbell did not place at the 2020 SoCon Championship.
Corey Cabanban (125), Casey Swiderski (141), and Julien Broderson (174) were all unseeded.
The Big 12 Championship will run March 4-5 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. Sessions 1-3 will be streamed via Big 12 Now on ESPN+ while the Finals will be televised on ESPNU.
The full Big 12 release can be found, here.
Iowa State Big 12 Championship Seeds
125: Corey Cabanban – Unseeded
133: Zach Redding – No. 3
141: Casey Swiderski – Unseeded
149: Paniro Johnson – No. 3
157: Jason Kraisser – No. 7
165: David Carr – No. 1
174: Julien Broderson – Unseeded
184: Marcus Coleman – No. 2
197: Yonger Bastida – No. 3
285: Sam Schuyler – No. 2
Iowa State comes in at No. 23 in the latest AP WBB poll released on Monday.
The team is still alive on to contend for the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Big 12 tournament with two games remaining in the season.
Bill Fennelly’s squad travels to Lawrence on Wednesday to face Kansas (7:00 p.m. ESPN+) before returning home for senior night on Saturday against Texas Tech (3:00 p.m. ESPN+).
AP WBB Poll
Monday, February 27, 2023
1. South Carolina
2. Indiana
3. Utah
4. LSU
5. Maryland
6. Stanford
7. Iowa
8. Virginia Tech
9. UConn
10. Notre Dame
11. Villanova
12. Texas
13. Duke
14. Ohio State
15. Gonzaga
16. Oklahoma
17. Michigan
18. North Carolina
19. UCLA
20. Colorado
21. Arizona
22. UNLV
23. Iowa State
24. Middle Tennessee State
25. South Florida
Others receiving votes: Creighton 34, Tennessee 31, Florida State 24, Oklahoma State 18, Florida Gulf Coast 13, Ole Miss 13, USC 10, South Dakota State 10, Louisville 8, Toledo 8, Illinois 5, North Carolina State 3
Iowa State received 20 votes in this week’s AP MBB Poll following an 0-2 week late in conference play.
The Cyclones have two games remaining in the regular season including senior night on Monday where they will take on West Virginia (8:00 p.m. ESPN2).
The full poll can be seen below:
AP MBB Poll
1. Houston
2. Alabama
3. Kansas
4. UCLA
5. Purdue
6. Marquette
7. Baylor
8. Arizona
9. Texas
10. Gonzaga
11. Kansas State
12. Tennessee
13. Virginia
14. UConn
15. Indiana
16. Miami
17. Saint Mary’s
18. San Diego State
19. Xavier
20. Providence
21. Maryland
22. TCU
23. Kentucky
24. Texas A&M
25. Pittsburgh
Others receiving votes: Creighton 87, Duke 78, Oral Roberts 40, Northwestern 39, Florida Atlantic 25, Iowa State 20, Nevada 17, Missouri 16, Arkansas 7, North Carolina State 6, Charleston 6, Clemson 5, Memphis 4, Boise State 3, VCU 1, West Virginia 1
Iowa State University Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger reacts during the during the first half against Kansas at Hilton Coliseum Saturday Feb. 4, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune
Iowa State needs to get back to dictating.
That is the only point in this preview for Monday night’s home finale against West Virginia. Iowa State is currently slated as a 3.5-point favorite.
The Cyclones must get back to dictating the game to their opponent in their last opportunity in front of the home fans, especially coming off Saturday’s disappointing home loss to Oklahoma.
Since Jan. 14, the day Iowa State lost to Kansas in Lawrence, the Cyclones have lost nine of 13 games. Those losses have largely been a product of having games dictated to them rather than the other way around.
In that span, BartTorvik.com has Iowa State’s offense ranked No. 117 nationally in adjusted efficiency, No. 302 in effective field goal, No. 289 in turnover rate, No. 208 in free throw rate and No. 314 in 3-point percentage.
Those are the numbers that make up what KenPom calls “The Four Factors.” They’re a solid indicator of what has allowed an offense to have success.
Or in Iowa State’s case, lack of success.
The Cyclones rank in the bottom-100 in college basketball over the last month and a half in nearly every one of those key statistical factors.
Why is that?
Games are being dictated to Iowa State.
The Cyclones continue to be forced into difficult shots due to their inability to break defensive pressure down off the dribble. They’ve also been very poor from 2-point range in this span, shooting 48 percent, which ranks No. 262 nationally.
Only Jaren Holmes has consistently proven he’s capable of breaking defenders down off the dribble and getting to the rim during Big 12 play. He’s shot more two-pointers than anybody on Iowa State’s team in league play by nearly 30 attempts.
He’s also shooting 40.6 percent on those shots inside the arc, and is finishing on 53.4 percent of his shots in the painted area.
Teams in the Big 12 have been able to pick up on the fact Iowa State has only a few players capable of actually breaking someone down off the dribble and getting to the basket or creating a shot for themselves.
They know Gabe Kalscheur and Caleb Grill are going to best thrive in catch-and-shoot scenarios and are running them off the 3-point line, daring them to drive by and to the rim as a result.
Iowa State’s biggest problem offensively right now is that it does not have a guy it can throw the ball to in a pinch and tell him to go make something happen. Think Izaiah Brockington. Think Marial Shayok.
You add either of those two guys to this Iowa State team and you’d have the pieces for something potentially pretty special. Unfortunately, neither of them will be walking through the door at the Sukup Basketball Facility between now and the end of the season.
The turnover concerns can be attributed to opponents’ ability to pressure Iowa State’s ball handlers without little fear of what the Cyclones can do in response.
Iowa State’s inability to handle the ball through pressure was exposed in its loss to Missouri, and has become a lingering problem throughout the rest of Big 12 play. Whether teams use a full-court press, like Missouri did, or not has not mattered.
There simply is not someone on this Iowa State roster who scares opposing teams purely with their ability to make something happen on the offensive end.
The Cyclones’ success this season has been a product of each player bringing their own individual gifts to the table to elevate those around them. Their intensity and stubbornness as a collective is what strikes fear in opponents rather than their pure talent.
Teams have been able to force Iowa State to play like a team relying on pure talent, though, by dictating the style of play to them.
This might draw some snickers, but I was listening to NBA champion and now ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins’ new book, The Education of Kendrick Perkins, on Sunday afternoon. The way he wrote about the 2007-08 Boston Celtics’ defense stuck out to me as it instantly reminded me of Iowa State, and, really, the entire Big 12.
“Defense in basketball at any level, including the NBA, looks to the average fan and even to many serious students of the game, as reactive,” Perkins wrote. “The offense does something and the defense responds in relation to it. This is partly true, of course, and this type of purely reactive defense is how many teams in the league play, especially during the regular season. Truly special defenses, and I’m talking about the Bad Boy Pistons, Pat Riley’s Knicks, Jordan’s mid-1990s Bulls or our Celtics team, anticipate offensive strategies and attempt to dictate the style of play to the offense. In these cases, the offenses, far from controlling play, is actually reacting to the power of the defense. This is the type of active, aggressive offensive defense that is often the key element of a championship team.”
Iowa State has been playing reactive basketball, and that’s disappointing when they’ve proven to have the ability to play at the kind of level Perkins describes there. Obviously, not in an NBA context, but the Cyclones have proven over the last two years to have the type of culture that can produce that style of play at a very high-level.
The Cyclones have not been that kind of team recently, though, even on the defensive end, where they rank No. 271 in effective field goal defense, No. 356 in free throw rate defense and No. 274 in 3-point defense.
Even Iowa State’s turnover rate, which has been its saving grace at times and calling card for two years, ranks only No. 48 nationally since Jan. 14. This is a team that still ranks No. 2 nationally in that statistic and spent the majority of the season at No. 1.
Iowa State is no longer dictating games to teams on either end, and the Cyclones do not have enough talent on their roster to make up it when they’re not able to dictate the style of game.
The good news is there’s still time.
There is Monday night in Ames. There is Saturday in Waco. There is next week in Kansas City. There will be a 22nd NCAA Tournament bid in program history in a couple of weeks.
Doing something like building the type of team Iowa State wants to have is not something that happens overnight. It is something that is really hard to sustain even once you’ve found it. It takes a lot of time, and takes a lot of commitment from a lot of people to get done.
Take it from Perkins as he describes what he called the best defense in the history of the NBA.
“We were in the words of (Kevin Garnett), ‘a pack of wild hyenas, ready to attack anyone, absolutely fearless.’ How long did it take to build that defense? All damn year, including the playoffs,” Perkins wrote. “Defense isn’t a thing a team builds and that then sustains itself or gathers its own momentum. It needs to be constructed possession after possession through focus, determination, self discipline, communication and trust.”
I love the first part of that quote because I feel like it is a perfect description for the way Iowa State has played this season when they’ve been playing their best.
The Cyclones still have time to find that team, again, but it is running short.
Monday is about dictating.
AMES — With two games to go in the regular season, Iowa State is just playing ball.
That was as true as ever during Saturday night’s 84-56 win over TCU in Hilton Coliseum, which improved the team to an 18-8 mark on the year with a 10-6 record in Big 12 play.
“That was a really solid effort from start to finish,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said of his team’s most lopsided win of the Big 12 season. “To get to 10 wins in this league and to finally get a sweep is good.”
The sky-high expectations the team started the year with have changed. It still needs a successful week in the next six days to make sure it’s in a spot to contend for a different spot – one that would put the team in position to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
Hardly anything has been decided for good, and there isn’t a single Big 12 team that feels untouchable – for Iowa State or any of its opponents.
“If we (execute) our scouting report defense and we make some shots, then we can compete with a lot of people,” Fennelly said.
Iowa State is just playing ball.
This particular contest, which Iowa State actually trailed in early, turned into as much of a get-right game as it could be.
Ashley Joens scored 22 points in vintage fashion, fighting her way to 11 rebounds along the way and ended up resting for the entirety of the fourth quarter. That’s always some needed rest for a player that’s on the floor as much as her.
Four Cyclones finished the game in double figures, including Morgan Kane’s 17-point performance that matched her career-high.
One of the loudest moments from the crowd came when Iowa State had the it locked up and Kane made a three, skipping down the floor celebrating the big make.
It was a sign of the moxie that this team had in its wins against Texas and Baylor.
“Any time you’re able to win a Big 12 game, it’s huge,” Emily Ryan said. “We really fed off our crowd and their energy tonight.”
Iowa State had no issues putting TCU away and its goals remain to perform to that level in every game it plays. Saturday was a reminder of how this team can perform and how it will need to play in the postseason.
“Every team now probably can say they know their identity,” Fennelly said. “We have seven kids that are going to play – for the most part… we’re completely undersized, but we’re smart and we’re skilled. If we do the things that we know we can do, then we can compete and I think we’ve done that in the last four games.”
With two more to go in the season, all anyone expects for this group is to play ball.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Emily Ryan and Ashley Joens addressed media members following their team’s 84-56 win over TCU.
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Jaren Holmes (13) looks for a shot around Oklahoma Sooners’ guard Milos Uzan (12), Oklahoma Sooners’ forward/center Tanner Groves (35), and Oklahoma Sooners’ guard Otega Oweh (3) during the first half at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. d
AMES — Robert Jones soared in for the putback dunk.
The slam gave Iowa State a 14-3 lead on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum. It had immediately followed a pair of possessions that ended with made jumpers from Gabe Kalscheur and Caleb Grill.
The vibes were good with 12:53 left in the first half. Morale was high for the folks in cardinal and gold. Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser needed a timeout.
Those vibes did not last, and morale has since cratered.
Iowa State surrendered another double-digit lead on their way to a 61-50 loss to Big 12 basement-dweller Oklahoma in its second-to-last home game of the season.
“For our guys, our team, having more personal pride is really important,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “We talked about that a lot in the locker room. We respect every team we play, especially in this league. Everybody is good. It’s more about us having the pride to play hard every possession. Having the pride to finish plays. Having the pride to bring tremendous effort every single possession. They did a great job. Certainly weathered the storm at the beginning of the first half. We just have to have more pride in what we do.”
There were a lot of things that went wrong for Iowa State as they were outscored 58-36 the rest of the way after their hot start.
The Sooners turned the ball over four times in the first five minutes of the game and 10 times in the first half. They missed their first five shots as Iowa State’s defensive aggression and physicality allowed the Cyclones to bully their way to an early lead.
The aggression and physicality did not last, though, and it has to leave one wondering what has gone wrong with this Iowa State team in recent weeks. The issues that popped up in their loss to Oklahoma State two weeks ago popped up again on Saturday against the Sooners.
The defensive aggression and physicality, what this program hangs its hat on, was essentially non-existent for the second half as Oklahoma knocked down 7-of-13 shots from 3-point range and diced up the Cyclone defense possession after possession.
Nothing came easy for Oklahoma until it did.
Once it did, it can be attributed to some of the best halfcourt offensive execution Iowa State has faced this season.
The Sooners were electric with their ability to find and complete the skip pass to the backside of Iowa State’s defense where the goalie defender vacates hard toward the middle of the paint on a drive or post touch.
That execution played a significant role in Oklahoma’s Jacob Groves scoring a game-high 16 points and going 4-of-5 from 3-point range.
If it wasn’t Groves knocking down shots from deep, it was one of Oklahoma’s slashers attacking the rim for wide-open dunks behind Iowa State’s crashing help defender.
If it wasn’t one of those two things, it was OU point guard Milos Uzan penetrating and collapsing the defense just to dump it off to Tanner Groves or Sam Godwin for, again, a dunk.
Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the fact a team knocked down nearly every one of the shots you’re willing to give up to them. Sometimes you have to tip your cap to great execution. Sometimes you have to tip your cap when someone knocks down a desperation 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock.
All of those things happened against Iowa State on Saturday, and thus, I tip my cap to the Sooners.
“They did a good job of throwing those skip passes and taking advantage of our goalie spot,” Iowa State freshman point guard Tamin Lipsey said. “They knew we were going to bring help and guard the baseline. They were taking advantage of that cutting inside and getting open layups and threes. We just have to be more aggressive, be more physical so they can’t make those easy passes that led to a lot of open rhythm threes for them.”
Offensively, this might have been one of the most disappointing performances of Iowa State’s season. The Cyclones shot just 31 percent from the field, 26.7 percent from deep and 58.8 percent from the foul line. Iowa State made only 11-of-28 shots inside the painted area. They were an abysmal 14-of-43 on all 2-pointers.
The Cyclones’ effective field goal percentage (which differs from traditional field goal percentage in the fact it weights for shot types) was a mere 34 percent, which is 16 points below their season average and would stand firmly as the worst mark by any team in the country if stretched across an entire season.
Iowa State couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn, and that impacted nearly every area of their game.
“We had a lot of (open looks) early,” Otzelberger said. “We were up 14-3 and still probably left five or six layups on the table that we need to convert. It’s an entirely different feel to the game. Our guys are different. We had a lot of looks at the rim, a lot of looks in the paint, things we work at on a daily basis. We need to demand that we finish those plays and come away with those points.”
The most concerning things about Iowa State’s offense right now to me are twofold. One, there has been a significant decrease in the amount of off-ball movement. Two, there has been a significant change in shot selection as the season has progressed.
The first piece of that — the off-ball movement — can be attributed on some level to the way teams are defending Iowa State. They’re using more pressure, both on and off the ball, to force the Cyclones to beat them off the bounce.
Iowa State’s team is not built to beat people off the bounce, but there comes a point in college basketball where someone just has to be able to do it otherwise you’re in serious trouble.
Iowa State, I’m afraid after Saturday, might be in some serious trouble.
“People are pressuring us more and trying to make us beat them off the dribble and play for one another off the dribble,” Otzelberger said. “We haven’t done a great job of doing that. We have to be better when people pressure us with more attacking.”
Movement without the ball and constant movement of the ball with the pass is what made Iowa State such a difficult team to guard during the first half of Big 12 play.
The Cyclones run their stuff well and are able to move the ball around the perimeter within the structure of their motion offense with the best of them. They can struggle at times to make shots off what they’re creating, but they’re as good as anyone at using the shot clock and shortening the game by holding onto the ball when they’re clicking.
Remember, that is literally the way Iowa State wants to play. It might not be the most dynamic style of basketball to watch, but it can win you a lot of basketball games if done effectively.
“They’re so active. Their ball movement is elite,” Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser said of Iowa State. “You can’t rest. I think sometimes we’ve fallen into resting on defense and you can’t against them.”
The issues arise when someone either starts standing around or starts going rogue. Both of those things seem to be happening at times right now.
Shot selection has become a concern with way too many contested jumpers going up early in the shot clock. Waaaaaaay too many contested jumpers early in the shot clock.
Gabe Kalscheur, Jaren Holmes and Caleb Grill are often the biggest culprits in this scenario. One or two contested tough shots from one of those guys early in the shot clock aren’t a bad thing. It means they’re being aggressive.
The majority of your shots being of that variety is a problem, and all three of those guys have been taking a lot of really tough shots when they’ve been on the floor.
“We’ve gotta do a better job as a unit of playing together,” Otzelberger said. “When we’ve been at our best, it’s been everybody moving and sharing the basketball and it’s a time of the year, especially for some of our older guys, we just need to step up and make plays. We need to finish plays at the rim. We need to take great shots.”
The good thing is creating movement off the ball and taking smarter shots are things that can be corrected in practice and ahead of the postseason starting in a little more than a week.
They both require a commitment to playing Iowa State’s style of ball, though. It’s no different than the way Iowa State wants to defend on a nightly basis.
You’re either in or you’re out. There is no in-between.
“Our guys are certainly disappointed in what happened,” Otzelberger said. “You don’t ever want to play like that, especially at home in front of our fans. You want to have a lot more pride.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Tamin Lipsey and Gabe Kalscheur addressed media members following their team’s 61-50 loss to Oklahoma:
Iowa State’ Bill Fennelly and Morgan Kane spoke to media members Friday ahead of their team’s final three regular season games.
Jan 4, 2023; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Iowa State Cyclones center Osun Osunniyi (21) shoots against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Location: Hilton Coliseum
Time: 11 a.m.
TV: ESPNU
KenPom Prediction: 67-60, Iowa State
1 – Fast StartIowa State’s win over Oklahoma back on Jan. 4 was fueled by getting off to one of its fastest starts of the season. The Cyclones led 25-7 within the first 10 minutes of the game, and already had nearly an 80 percent chance of winning the game at that point, according to KenPom.
Of course, that fast start was negated by a rough stretch that allowed Oklahoma to work its way back into the game and take a two-point lead late in the first half.
Iowa State won the game, though, and setting the tone from the opening tip is a big reason why.
“When our guys jump out to that lead and when we’re aggressive, especially at Hilton, it certainly gives us a great chance,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “I thought that’s something that happened down there in Norman.”
One thing that stands out on the box score from the Cyclones’ win in Norman is the fact Iowa State did a tremendous job of guarding without fouling. Oklahoma attempted only nine free throws, which is the fewest Iowa State has allowed a Big 12 team to shoot this season.
Even though Oklahoma made all nine of its foul shots, Iowa State still won that area of the game by going 12-of-16 from its free-throw line.
The statistics prove Iowa State’s status as the aggressor in that game. They’ll have to be the aggressors again in order to secure their second Big 12 sweep of the season.
“When they’re at their best, they can really space you offensively with (Tanner) Groves at the five,” Otzelberger said. “They turn into the aggressor because they’re able to space that floor offensively and they don’t turn the ball over. I think when they’re having challenges it’s not spaced as well and they are turning it over more.”
2 – Names to knowOtzelberger’s mention of Groves is key as he’s the player who makes what Oklahoma does unique. He’s a true five-man with the ability to step out on the perimeter and knock down shots from deep.
He’s also a high-level playmaker for his teammates and is highly efficient at scoring around the rim as he’s shooting 66 percent on 2-point shots this season to rank No. 56 nationally. Add in the fact that he’s a 32 percent 3-point shooter and you’ve got a center who can give anybody problems.
He gave Iowa State some problems in their first match-up, tallying 15 points on 5-of-5 from 2-point range and 1-of-4 from 3-point range with eight rebounds.
“He’s big, he plays physical,” Iowa State senior center Robert Jones said. “He’s got a strong lower body. He plays through fouls well. He’s good in the post because he finds ways to push you out on your catches and when you’re making your moves.”
If Tanner Groves is the conductor of the train, Grant Sherfield is the engine.
The 6-foot-2 Wichita native is averaging 16.5 points and shooting 41 percent from 3-point range this season after transferring from Nevada. In the first game between these teams, Iowa State’s Gabe Kalscheur held Sherfield to four points on 1-of-7 shooting from the field.
The match-up of Kalscheur vs. Sherfield might be the biggest one to watch on Saturday. Kalscheur struggled to score in the first game against Oklahoma, too, but he made up for it by playing lockdown defense on one of the league’s best bucket-getters.
“We did a great job of guarding Sherfield, specifically, who is their leading scorer and most aggressive offensive player,” Otzelberger said. “I think we did a great job as a team containing him. We got the right guys that we wanted taking shots from the perimeter.”
3 – Turning them overIowa State’s ability to turn Oklahoma over and create easy opportunities out of those takeaways could be the biggest key to the game. The Sooners aren’t the best team in America at taking care of the basketball and the Cyclones turned them over 13 times in their first meeting.
Oklahoma enters Saturday’s game ranking No. 289 nationally in offensive turnover percentage and they’re ninth in the league in that same stat since league play started.
Additionally, Porter Moser’s team ranks 10th in the league in offensive efficiency, offensive rebounding percentage and free throw rate. They’re also ninth in effective field goal percentage and 3-point percentage, but they are third in 2-point percentage.
Defensively, Oklahoma ranks No. 9 in the league in defensive efficiency but is middle of the road in most defensive statistics besides opposing turnover percentage, where they rank last in the conference.
Look, this is a game Iowa State should win. Oklahoma has played good ball at times this season, but they’ve never been able to sustain that level of good play for extended periods.
The Cyclones will need to come out of the gates as the aggressors in front of their home crowd, but if they do that, they’ll give themselves a great chance to clinch the program’s first .500 record in Big 12 play since 2018-19.
Hakeem Butler is doing Hakeem Butler things in the XFL.
The former Cyclone made one of the night’s most significant plays on Thursday when he caught a pass from St. Louis Battlehawks quarterback AJ McCarron and rumbled 44 yards to the end zone late in the fourth quarter on a play reminiscent of his collegiate domination.
HE’S LIKE THAT. pic.twitter.com/mQ6Zs8x5cB
— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) February 24, 2023
Butler’s touchdown gave St. Louis a late lead and the Battlehawks ultimately went on to kick a field goal as time expired to beat the Seattle Sea Dragons, 20-18.
On the night, Butler caught four passes for 61 yards and the score. It was his second touchdown of the season after he also had three receptions for 32 yards and a score in St. Louis’ season-opening win over San Antonio.
Former Cyclones Willie Harvey and Mike Rose were two of the Battlehawks’ busiest defenders, tallying seven tackles and five tackles, respectively, to finish amongst the team leaders.
The Battlehawks will be back in action on Sunday, March 5, as they’ll travel to Washington, D.C. to take on the D.C. Defenders in a game that will be televised on FX.
FanDuel Sportsbook has released a list of early odds available for the 2023 college football season, including the upcoming September 9 Cy-Hawk Series game at Jack Trice Stadium.
Iowa State opens as a +3 underdog to Iowa. The full list can be seen below:
Early college football lines via @FDSportsbook pic.twitter.com/KZdXaZDA0r
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) February 23, 2023
Iowa State opens the season against Northern Iowa on September 2, before the Cy-Hawk game on September 9. Kickoff times have not yet been announced.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus senior center Robert Jones and freshman point guard Tamin Lipsey, preview the Cyclones’ game against Oklahoma on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum in the videos below courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
Iowa State suffered its sixth loss of the Big 12 season on Wednesday night to Oklahoma State in Stillwater, surrendering third place in the standings.
It’s not ideal to lose any game in late-February, but in a matchup with a program that the team has beaten in 10 of its last 12 meetings, it turns on the pressure the rest of the way.
“We missed a lot of layups tonight and that was probably the biggest difference maker,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “Credit to (OSU) for making plays, but missed shots on key plays hurt us.”
Iowa State never found its rhythm while it was in an optimal position to strike on Wednesday.
There were multiple moments where the Cyclones made things click and put together some runs. However, once the game got close, Oklahoma State always seemed to have an answer.
“Yeah, they did,” Fennelly said. “Oklahoma State hit some really tough shots. We came out of (the halftime break) and then it’s a back-and-fourth game the rest of the way. That’s just the way it goes (in the Big 12).”
Ashley Joens put up 20 points for the Cyclones to lead the team, but it came on 6-of-17 shooting.
Meanwhile, Morgan Kane earned a 16-point, 7-rebound performance in what was a positive game towards the upcoming postseason.
It just didn’t come when the Cyclones needed it to most.
“We got enough shots, we just didn’t make it enough in key times with our key (players),” Fennelly said. “We gave up five 3’s that were scouting report mistakes by halftime. We missed eight layups in the first half. I told the girls if you take away a couple of three’s, we’re okay.”
Tonight wasn’t the night for the team to overcome it, but a path to a No. 3 seed is still out there.
The loss drops Iowa State to a 9-6 mark in conference play with three games remaining.
For the Cyclones to earn a No. 3 seed, they will need to go 3-0 the rest of the way and hope that Oklahoma State can lose a game.
So long as Oklahoma beats Oklahoma State in the final game of the season, Iowa State will hold the tiebreaker with the Cowgirls.
“We battled,” Kane said. “We came back from a pretty big deficit and we were still in this game. I just think processing it tonight – everyone is going to do that in their own way – but when we get on that plane tomorrow, we release it. We’re still in this.”
Iowa State returns to the floor at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday to face TCU. ESPN+ will have the broadcast and the game – which is the backend of a doubleheader in the arena – will serve as the annual pink-out.
Big 12 WBB Standings
1. Texas 12-3
1. Oklahoma 12-3
3. Oklahoma State 10-5
4. Iowa State 9-6
5. Baylor 8-7
6. West Virginia 7-8
7. Kansas 6-9
8. Texas Tech 5-10
8. Kansas State 5-10
10. TCU 1-14
Wednesday, February 22
Oklahoma State 73, No. 20 Iowa State 68
Kansas State 63, Kansas 45
Baylor 67, TCU 57
Texas Tech 69, West Virginia 68 (2OT)
Saturday, February 25
1:00 p.m. | No. 19 Texas @ No. 13 Oklahoma (ESPN+)
5:00 p.m. | TCU @ No. 20 Iowa State (ESPN+)
5:00 p.m. | Texas Tech @ Baylor (ESPN+)
5:00 p.m. | Kansas State @ West Virginia (ESPN+)
Sunday, February 26
2:00 p.m. | Oklahoma State @ Kansas (ESPN+)
Monday, February 27
6:00 p.m. | Baylor @ No. 19 Texas (ESPN+)
Wednesday, March 1
6:00 p.m. | Kansas State @ No. 19 Oklahoma (ESPN+)
6:00 p.m. | Oklahoma State @ West Virginia (ESPN+)
7:00 p.m. | No. 20 Iowa State @ Kansas (ESPN+)
7:00 p.m. | TCU @ Texas Tech
Saturday, March 4
1:00 p.m. | Kansas @ TCU (ESPN+)
2:00 p.m. | No. 13 Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State (ESPN+)
3:00 p.m. | Texas Tech @ No. 20 Iowa State (ESPN+)
4:00 p.m. | No. 19 Texas @ Kansas State (ESPN+)
5:00 p.m. | West Virginia @ Baylor (ESPN+)
There isn’t a game on the schedule in the back half of February that will have little effect on a given team’s postseason seeding situation.
However, there isn’t one bigger for Iowa State women’s basketball until the start of the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, than Wednesday’s game against Oklahoma State in Stillwater (6:30 p.m. ESPN+).
“Our metrics are good,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “We have good wins. All of that stuff is good, but obviously it could be better. We have four more opportunities to do that.”
The Cyclones, which are deadlocked with OSU in the standings at 9-5, would earn a tiebreaking win with a victory Wednesday.
It would nearly lock them in to the No. 3 seed as long as the team held serve on its home court, where its 11-1 this season.
On top of it, Iowa State is gunning to earn a spot as a top 16 overall seed, which would mean it would host the opening pair of rounds in its NCAA Tournament run.
The Cyclones have a No. 13 ranking in the NCAA’s NET ratings and have played one of the hardest schedules in the country.
“I don’t know that our kids pay attention to it, but our numbers are good,” Fennelly said. “I think our NET ranking is around 13. Our strength of schedule is third in the country.”
Although, there still on the bubble of being right around that area and maybe needing more than just one win at the Big 12 tournament.
With a two-game win-streak and all the momentum coming in, there’s opportunity to overlook for Iowa State. After all, the Cyclones have clinched avoiding a sweep against every Big 12 program in the league from here on out.
“Before the three-game losing streak (it was), ‘wow, Iowa State women’s basketball is pretty good,” Fennelly said. “During the three game losing streak, ‘they suck,’ and now we’re good again. That’s the world we live in – it’s OK… it was just kind of a week where, before that it wasn’t going our way and last week everything fell into our place.”
Iowa State is looking to continue that momentum on Wednesday.
The way to finding that may come in shooting.
“I think there are some similarities,” Fennelly said. “We shot the ball better in the two games last week than we have done (this season). Last year’s team really shot it well and then the other thing is them finding a way to win. Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw played 20 minutes Saturday. She probably hasn’t played 20 minutes combined in a month.”
Wednesday will provide another 40 minutes, or more, of data to what the answers should be or could be as to what this team’s full potential might end up looking like.
However, the only way to truly see it is when things come to fruition in March, and until then, Iowa State is just going to do what it does best.
“It’s kind of like, OK this is what we’ve got,” Fennelly said. “Let’s go find a way.”
Big 12 WBB Standings
1. Texas 12-3
1. Oklahoma 12-3
3. Iowa State 9-5
3. Oklahoma State 9-5
5. West Virginia 7-7
5. Baylor 7-7
7. Kansas 6-8
8. Texas Tech 4-10
8. Kansas State 4-10
10. TCU 1-13
Wednesday, February 22
6:30 p.m. | No. 20 Iowa State @ Oklahoma State (ESPN+)
6:30 p.m. | Kansas @ Kansas State (ESPN+)
6:30 p.m. | Baylor @ TCU (ESPN+)
7:00 p.m. | West Virginia @ Texas Tech (ESPN+)
Saturday, February 25
1:00 p.m. | No. 19 Texas @ No. 13 Oklahoma (ESPN+)
5:00 p.m. | TCU @ No. 20 Iowa State (ESPN+)
5:00 p.m. | Texas Tech @ Baylor (ESPN+)
5:00 p.m. | Kansas State @ West Virginia (ESPN+)
Sunday, February 26
2:00 p.m. | Oklahoma State @ Kansas (ESPN+)
Monday, February 27
6:00 p.m. | Baylor @ No. 19 Texas (ESPN+)
Wednesday, March 1
6:00 p.m. | Kansas State @ No. 19 Oklahoma (ESPN+)
6:00 p.m. | Oklahoma State @ West Virginia (ESPN+)
7:00 p.m. | No. 20 Iowa State @ Kansas (ESPN+)
7:00 p.m. | TCU @ Texas Tech
Saturday, March 4
1:00 p.m. | Kansas @ TCU (ESPN+)
2:00 p.m. | No. 13 Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State (ESPN+)
3:00 p.m. | Texas Tech @ No. 20 Iowa State (ESPN+)
4:00 p.m. | No. 19 Texas @ Kansas State (ESPN+)
5:00 p.m. | West Virginia @ Baylor (ESPN+)
Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard isn’t holding back his feelings about the University of Texas as the Longhorns prepare for their jump to the SEC.
Pollard appeared on SicEm 365 Radio in Waco on Tuesday ahead of the Cyclones’ men’s basketball game against Texas in Austin. Iowa State lost the game, which was televised on the Longhorn Network, 72-54.
The Iowa State AD response for his basketball team being forced to play on the Longhorn Network last night, “Can’t leave soon enough” pic.twitter.com/xwsg9iPtBV
— Imagine Losing 49-0 (@Doc_Texas) February 22, 2023
The fact the game was on LHN ruffled feathers all across the Iowa State footprint, apparently including with the athletic director.
“Can’t leave soon enough,” Pollard said when asked about the game’s network slot. “Does that answer your question?”
Yes, Jamie. Yes, it does.
Texas is slated to leave the league after the next school year with an official entry into the SEC in July 2024.
Feb 21, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Tyrese Hunter (4) shoots over Iowa State Cyclones guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) during the first half at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State’s 72-54 loss to Texas on Tuesday in Austin was in doubt for approximately four minutes of game time.
That’s how long it took Iowa State to build a 10-4 lead before the first media break in the first half at the Moody Center. Texas promptly answered with a 16-0 run and led by double digits nearly the entire rest of the game.
The Longhorns connected on 12 3-pointers, including nine in the first half.
You knew Texas was hot when Tyrese Hunter went 3-of-5 after coming into the game shooting 29 percent from deep in Big 12 play. You knew it was officially Texas’ night when Arterio Morris knocked down two from deep before halftime after making only six in Texas’ first 14 Big 12 games.
This night belonged almost entirely to the Texas Longhorns, and that shouldn’t have been unexpected after the way the first game between these two teams transpired.
One team played considerably more inspired basketball than the other and the scoreboard reflected that fact.
There was still plenty Iowa State did to help Texas’ cause, though, and some of those areas have become lingering cause for concern.
This first of those concerns is turnovers, of which Iowa State had 16 against the Longhorns, leading to 28 points off of turnovers for the home team. Texas turned the ball over 12 times for 17 Iowa State points.
Iowa State’s inability to handle the ball through pressure has become this team’s Achilles heel. They don’t dribble the ball confidently against it. They don’t pass the ball confidently against it.
If you were asking me to chart a game plan opposing Iowa State this season, this would be one of the first things to make the list. Pressure the heck out of them because they’ll shoot themselves in the foot and give you the basketball.
That simply can’t be the case when you play the style of ball Iowa State does.
It is starting to become a matter of simply valuing the basketball. It felt earlier in conference play like every Iowa State possession was sacred. It was the Cyclones’ time to have the ball and they weren’t going to let you have it back until they either got an open shot or they were forced to take one by the shot clock winding down.
Now, it feels more and more like this team will turn the ball over against pressure, and if they don’t do that, they’ll start hunting ill-advised shots that have essentially the same effect.
Iowa State went 4-of-19 from 3-point range against Texas and it wasn’t the number of shots that were frustrating, but the types of looks Iowa State was getting consistently. The Cyclones are simply taking way too many difficult shots right now.
Gabe Kalscheur made a living on those difficult shots early in Big 12 play, but he struggled again against Texas, tallying 10 points on 3-of-14 from the field and 3-of-11 from 3-point range.
When Kalscheur has been at his best, even in the times when he has made difficult shots from deep, he’s made himself more difficult to guard by hunting every shot in his arsenal from attacking the rim to the mid-range to taking solid looks from deep.
Nearly all of his shots are coming from one place right now and it is the most difficult place on the court to make shots on a consistent basis. That has to change for this offense to get back to its peak form.
The constant hunting 3-pointers and taking difficult shots could be helped if this team were more consistent in its ability to feed the post. Osun Osunniyi scored a team-high 12 points and was 5-of-7 from the field with one of those misses being a 3-pointer in the first half.
The problem is Iowa State can’t consistently get him — or any of Iowa State’s posts — the basketball.
There can be dual faults there with posts still required to get good position and seals for entry passes, but there have been too many times where Iowa State gets a big switched onto a guard or just gets a good standard post seal only for the ball to either be stolen or thrown out of bounds before it can get to the big fella.
Right now, if a Big 12 team chooses to switch their guards onto Osunniyi, that should be almost an automatic trigger entry. They can’t be allowed to do that with how well Osunniyi has played around the rim and in the paint in recent weeks.
At the very least, it will get teams into scramble situations where Osun will have to make effective passes out of the post. Best case scenario, he’s able to make a quick move over the top of a much smaller defender.
I would take the easy buckets over smaller defenders over hoisting up contested 3-pointers every day of the week and twice on Sunday, but I don’t know about you.
The bottom line to me is it feels like Iowa State’s offense has lost a lot of the connectivity that we’ve seen throughout most of the regular season. They’re not running their stuff with near the same pace in the half court and the entire operation has felt considerably more disjointed.
Surely, not having Caleb Grill in the mix these last two games has played a role in those woes, but there is no indication when he’ll return to the lineup so the issues have to be solved as is.
None of this would have really mattered on Tuesday in Austin, though.
Texas played great ball. It took only four minutes to sort that out.
Photo: Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
AMES, Iowa – Weekly honors continue to roll in for David Carr as he was named the NCAA and Big 12 Wrestler of the Week on Tuesday.
Carr picked up a statement victory over then-No. 1 Keegan O’Toole of Missouri last Wednesday in Columbia. The Cyclone knocked of the defending 165-pound national champion, 7-2, and snapped O’Toole’s 41-match win streak.
This marks Carr’s second-career Big 12 weekly honor and first since Nov. 26, 2020. He is the fourth different Cyclone to be recognized this season, the most of any school in the league.
The win has moved Carr up to No. 1 nationally at 165 pounds and No. 5 on the pound-for-pound list in FloWrestling’s latest rankings.
Carr, who has won 26 consecutive matches, showed his sharp technical skills and his strong scrambling ability to secure two takedowns in the victory. He then rode O’Toole for the entire third period to secure the riding time point.
The bout, featuring two highly credentialed wrestlers, was coined as the “Match of the Year” entering the matchup. The pair could meet again this season, potentially twice more, at the Big 12 Championship and NCAA Championships.
Carr finished the regular season with 72 takedowns while only allowing three, a 24:1 ratio. He posted a 20-0 record with victories against eight wrestlers ranked inside the top 15.
The Ohio native was also named the USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week on Friday.
This was the final Big 12 weekly award of the 2022-23 season.
Iowa State wrestling is back in action at the Big 12 Championship March 4-5 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Stay tuned to Cyclones.com for seeding and bracket information in the coming weeks.
Big 12 Wrestler of the Week
Week 1 – Paniro Johnson, Iowa State, Fr., (149 pounds)
Week 2 – Elijah Griffin, California Baptist, R-Fr., (125 pounds)
Week 3 – Cael Happel, Northern Iowa, So., (141 pounds)
Week 4 – Andrew Alirez, Northern Colorado, Jr., (141 pounds)
Week 5 – Yonger Bastida, Iowa State, Jr., (197 pounds)
Week 6 – Jared Franek, North Dakota State, Sr., (157 pounds)
Week 7 – Tanner Cook, South Dakota State, Jr., (165 pounds)
Week 8 – Marcus Coleman, Iowa State, Sr., (184 Pounds)
Week 9 – Andrew Alirez, Northern Colorado, Jr., (141 pounds)
Week 10 – Jordan Titus, West Virginia, R-Fr., (141 pounds)
Week 11 – Michael Caliendo, North Dakota State, R-Fr., (165 pounds)
Week 12 – Ty Smith, Utah Valley, R-So., (141 pounds)
Week 13 – Carter Young, Oklahoma State, So., (141 pounds)
Week 14 – Luke Surber, OKlahoma State, Jr., (197 pounds)
Week 15 – Parker Keckeisen, Northern Iowa, R-So., (184 pounds)
Week 16 – David Carr, Iowa State, Sr., (165 pounds)
Former Iowa State linebacker Colby Reeder is headed to Houston as part of the next step in his football career.
The Delaware transfer that played his final collegiate season in Ames was selected by the Houston Gamblers in the 2023 USFL Draft on Tuesday.
With the 74th overall pick of the 2023 USFL College Draft, we select LB Colby Reeder from Iowa State#ALLIN | @ColbyReederLB4 pic.twitter.com/iteUxZPjgP
— Houston Gamblers (@USFLGamblers) February 21, 2023
Reeder finished his season in Ames with 38 tackles in eight games played. He corralled two interceptions and a fumble recovery, including the interception he made in the Cy-Hawk Series matchup in Iowa City.
Houston opens its season on April 16 facing the Michigan Panthers in Memphis, Tennessee.
Jan 17, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) defends the shot from Texas Longhorns guard Sir’Jabari Rice (10) during the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Location: Austin, Texas
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: Longhorn Network
KenPom Prediction: 71-66, Texas
1 – Finishing GamesIowa State’s biggest downfall in conference play has been an inconsistent ability to play 40 quality minutes. The Cyclones have lost six of their last 10 games with one of those losses coming to Missouri in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
In the five conference losses during that stretch, Iowa State has led by double digits in three of them and held second-half leads in the other two. That inability to finish games has been the difference between contending for a Big 12 regular season championship and fighting to finish above .500 for the first time since 2016-17.
“Our guys have a great intent to start the game,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “I feel like we get off to a great start. We’re really trying to emphasize that focus after halftime because we feel like, for us, we come out after half and we get stops right away, we put ourselves in a great situation. That’s not what happened in Manhattan on Saturday. That’s where we’re really trying to have our focus. Defensive intent, the same one that we have to start the game. Let’s have that to start the second half. I think that’s a good part of it.”
One of the biggest lingering issues in those losses has been the constant state of foul trouble, especially in the front court. If you’re wondering why your favorite front court player hasn’t been on the floor more, the following numbers might help you understand why.
Osun Osunniyi is averaging 5.3 fouls per 40 minutes. Robert Jones is averaging 6.4 fouls per 40 minutes. Tre King is averaging 6.7 fouls per 40 minutes. Hason Ward is averaging 7.7 fouls per minute.
Now, remember, none of these guys will be playing 40 minutes, but even playing someone who is averaging around six fouls per 40 minutes for 20 minutes is worth an average of three fouls. Iowa State has three of those guys, which is already has nearly put the opposing team into the bonus.
Add in the fact two of Iowa State’s top guards average three or more fouls per 40 minutes and two others average 2.9 and 2.6 and you’ve got the equation for approximately 25 opposing foul shot attempts per night.
You’ve also got the recipe for how your best players end up sitting on the bench when the most important stretches of the game arrive.
“Well, we believe that when guys are the aggressor, when you’re the one that’s attacking your opponent on both sides, that you put yourself in a position where you’re not the one fouling,” Otzelberger said. “We don’t want to be on our heels, we want to be the first to block out, the first on the ball screen coverage to call and be up at the point of the screen. We want to do everything aggressively and proactively and the aggressive team usually seems the one that doesn’t get fouls called against it as much.”
2 – Names to knowWhat makes Texas’ team good enough to be on the verge of winning the Big 12? Well, it helps to have a bunch of really good players.
The list of good players starts with senior guard Marcus Carr, a former teammate of Iowa State’s Gabe Kalscheur at Minnesota. We all know Carr. We all know he’s a ball-dominant guard who looks to get to his spots along the perimeter and in the mid-range and has a tendency to seemingly forget there’s four other players on the court with him until the shot clock is about to run out.
Iowa State did a great job on Carr in the first match-up, holding him to 11 points on 4-of-9 from the field with four assists and four turnovers.
“They’ve got two older experienced guards that have really made plays for them down the stretch,” Otzelberger said. “When you’re going to win close games, especially in this league, I think they’ve probably had like six close games that they’ve won, usually it’s going to come down to that guard, play late, making fall shots, taking care of the basketball, those guys have done a great job of that, which I think is really helped put them in a good situation.”
Timmy Allen is one of the league’s most unique and versatile players with the ability to score all over the court, but an especially adept ability to score in the mid-post area. He does a great job of getting to the free throw line and will challenge Iowa State’s front court specifically in that regard.
Sir’Jabari Rice will be the league’s Sixth Man of the Year and has been the Longhorns’ best player on a lot of nights during league play, including in Saturday’s overtime win over Oklahoma when he scored 24 points and went 8-of-13 from the field.
“With Rice, he’s playing at such a high level right now,” Otzelberger said. “You’ve got to be aware of his shot fake but you also have to be aware he’s playing at a high level of confidence. You can’t let him get going or to get in rhythm.”
“With Rice, he’s playing at such a high level right now,” Otzelberger said. “You’ve got to be aware of his shot fake but you also have to be aware he’s playing at a high level of confidence. You can’t let him get going or to get in rhythm.”
3 – IntensityI would be very surprised if this game didn’t feature some sort of extracurricular fireworks even if Caleb Grill doesn’t play for Iowa State.
The senior guard was at the center of a lot of the antics in the first meeting between these two teams, but suffered the lingering back injury that continues to plague him in that win.
Obviously, the presence of Iowa State transfer guard Tyrese Hunter on the Longhorn roster increases the heat on this one, too.
“I think it’s gonna be very intense, especially with how we won here,” Iowa State guard Jaren Holmes said. “They’re gonna try to come out, probably with a little more energy and more excitement. We’re gonna do the same thing. We’re gonna come out and be ready to play.”
Iowa State really relished in the opportunity to take it to Texas the first time these two teams met back on Jan. 17 at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones will need to bring a similar level of swagger if they hope to go on the road and come home with a similar result.
Best believe, Texas will relish the opportunity to take it to Iowa State if the opportunity presents itself.
Iowa State commit Omaha Biliew has been invited to a second high school all-American game set to happen later this season.
Biliew was announced as one of the participants in the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic, which describes itself as ‘the most competitive All American game in the country.’
The 2023 #IVERSONCLASSIC selections are here. See who made the cut for the most competitive game of the year.
Who will take game MVP? Dunk contest? Player of the Year?@iversonclassic x @shobasketball pic.twitter.com/dbp7zKDfZ5
— Allen Iverson Roundball Classic (@iversonclassic) February 20, 2023
The Iverson Classic does not yet have a set date yet, but Biliew is also slated to compete in the McDonald’s All-American Game which will be played Tuesday, March 28.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball’s big week on the court led to a collection of accolades off the court, as Ashley Joens earned her third Big 12 Player of the Week of the season, while Denae Fritz became a two-time winner of the Big 12 Freshman of the Week Award, the conference announced on Monday. The 2-for-2 effort was also the first Iowa State sweep of the Big 12 weekly awards since Jan. 19, 2021, when Joens was Player of the Week and Emily Ryan was Freshman of the Week.
Joens now sits alone for second in Big 12 history for career Big 12 Player of the Week awards, now boasting 13 for her career. Iowa State’s star guard/forward was the Cyclones’ leader in both contests. Against then-No. 17 Texas last Monday, she notched a game-high 24 points, while also grabbing eight rebounds and a pair of steals in the Cyclones’ 66-61 win over the Longhorns. In Saturday’s double overtime win at Baylor, Joens rose to the occasion in the bonus periods, scoring 13 of her 27 points in the extra 10 minutes. She also got her 10th double-double of the season with 11 rebounds and dished out four assists in the 81-77 victory.
Fritz was in double figures in both games this past week. In her 10-point outing against Texas, Fritz stepped up with many big shots, but none bigger than her game-icing 3-pointer with 37 seconds left to preserve the win. She also had seven rebounds and three blocks. At Baylor, she played a career-high 45 minutes in the double-OT contest and finished with 12 points (including three 3-pointers) and grabbing seven rebounds.
Fritz, Joens and the Cyclones will be back in action on Wednesday at Oklahoma State. Tip from Stillwater will be at 6:30 p.m. on Big 12 Now.
Feb 14, 2023; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self gestures to his team on a play against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Kansas won 87-76. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
1 – Kansas – 10-4Surprise, surprise. The reigning national champs are back in the top spot with two weeks left to play in the regular season. Imagine being one of the idiots who counted Bill Self and his squad out after they lost three-straight last month. Couldn’t have been me (even though it was definitely me).
They’ll get a big test tonight when they go on the road to play a finally healthy TCU team in Fort Worth. Back-to-back games in Lawrence will pave the way for what should be a colossal clash on March 4 in Austin.
This week: @ TCU (Monday), vs. West Virginia (Saturday)
2 – Texas – 10-4The Longhorns slipped up on the road in Lubbock last week then came back to gut out an overtime win at home against Oklahoma. The Longhorns just figure out ways to win. They’ll need to keep doing it this week, first at home against Iowa State, then on the road in Fort Worth. They still have to visit Waco before Kansas comes to town next month, too.
This week: vs. Iowa State (Tuesday), @ Baylor (Saturday)
3 – Baylor – 9-5Scott Drew’s team has won 10 of its last 12 games with the only losses during that stretch being on the road to Texas and Kansas. They’ll need to handle business in Manhattan on Tuesday if they have any hopes of working their way into a split for the league title. Saturday’s date with Texas will help in that pursuit.
This week: @ Kansas State (Tuesday), vs. Texas (Saturday)
4 – Kansas State – 8-6Just when you thought you could start to count the Wildcats out, they come up with a huge home win over Iowa State after erasing a double-digit deficit. Tuesday night’s game against Baylor is their biggest remaining on the schedule with games at Oklahoma, home against Oklahoma State and at West Virginia also left on the slate.
This week: vs. Baylor (Tuesday), @ Oklahoma (Saturday)
5 – Iowa State – 8-6Iowa State needs one more win to seal its first .500 season in Big 12 play since 2018-19. The Cyclones need two wins to seal their first above .500 season in Big 12 play since 2016-17. Tomorrow night’s game in Austin will be a tall ask, but back-to-back home dates with Oklahoma and West Virginia should get the Cyclones over that hump, and help secure a first round bye in Kansas City.
This week: @ Texas (Tuesday), vs. Oklahoma (Saturday)
6 – TCU – 7-7Is that Mike Miles’ music?! The Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year was back on Saturday, and he’s back with a vengeance. A 25-point win over surging Oklahoma State is more than enough to jump your way back up the power rankings. The Frogs still host Kansas (tonight) and Texas (March 1) with trips to Lubbock and Norman still on the schedule.
This week: vs. Kansas (Monday), @ Texas Tech (Saturday)
7 – Oklahoma State – 7-7Mike Boynton’s team lost two in a row last week after winning seven of eight in the weeks leading up to last Tuesday’s game against Kansas. The Cowboys will be in the dance, which says a lot about Boynton’s program after they started out 1-4 in Big 12 play. He’s still got something cooking in Stillwater.
This week: @ West Virginia (Monday), vs. Kansas State (Saturday)
8 – Texas Tech – 4-10Here come the Red Raiders! After losing eight-straight to open Big 12 play, Mark Adams’ team has suddenly won five of seven, including three-straight over the last week and a half against Kansas State, Texas and West Virginia. They still have a road trip to Norman (tomorrow), a home date with TCU (Saturday), a trip to Lawrence (next Tuesday) and a home date with Oklahoma State (a week from Saturday). Can this team get to seven wins and somehow find its way into the tournament?
This week: @ Oklahoma (Tuesday), vs. TCU (Saturday)
9 – West Virginia – 4-10The Mountaineers’ path to seven league wins has gotten a lot more difficult after three-straight losses over the last week-plus. They’ve still got home dates with Oklahoma State and Kansas State sandwiched around road trips to Ames and Lawrence. Could WVU make the tournament with only six regular season league wins? They might need at least one in Kansas City to really feel safe.
This week: vs. Oklahoma State (Monday), @ Kansas (Saturday)
10 – Oklahoma – 3-11What do we make of this program as year-two under Porter Moser approaches? They’re going to have to battle just to finish the season with an above .500 record overall. They’ve lost eight of their last 11 games. Somehow, one of their three wins came against an Alabama team that is steamrolling basically everyone else they’ve played. It still doesn’t make any sense.
This week: vs. Texas Tech (Tuesday), @ Iowa State (Saturday)
Iowa State women’s basketball moved up to No. 20 in the latest AP Poll after a 2-0 week which saw wins over Texas and Baylor.
The Cyclones avoided a sweep against every Big 12 team in the conference by sweeping the week and appears in the poll as one of two Big 12 teams ranked.
Iowa State is in action twice this week, taking on Oklahoma State on the road Wednesday and facing TCU on Saturday as part of a Hilton doubleheader.
AP WBB Poll
- South Carolina
- Indiana
- Stanford
- UConn
- LSU
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Utah
- Virginia Tech
- Notre Dame
- Duke
- Michigan
- Oklahoma
- Arizona
- Villanova
- Ohio State
- UCLA
- Gonzaga
- Texas
- Iowa State
- Colorado
- North Carolina
- Florida State
- UNLV
- Illinois
Others receiving votes: Middle Tennessee 29, South Florida 25, Oklahoma State 18, Creighton 14, North Carolina State 13, Florida Gulf Coast 7, Louisville 7, Tennessee 7, Marquette 3, Cleveland State 3, South Dakota State 2, Toledo 1, USC 1, Columbia 1, Illinois State 1, UMass 1, Ole Miss 1
Iowa State earned its first commitment for the 2024 class in Indiana high schooler Reagan Wilson.
The Noblesville high school guard is averaging 16.9 points per game and also boasts a 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Wilson has been described by scouts as an ‘energizer bunny on the court that’s never quiet.’ It’s easy to see in her highlights, as she shows some moxie following any big 3-point make.
Wilson took visits to Butler, Marquette, Buffalo and Ball State before announcing her commitment to Iowa State.
Iowa State men’s basketball dropped to No. 23 in the latest AP Poll, despite a 1-1 week that saw a top 25 win over TCU and a road loss to a top 15 Kansas State team.
Six Big 12 programs again appeared in the poll Monday, along with Oklahoma State receiving one vote.
Kansas was ranked No. 3, Texas is at No. 8, Baylor at No. 9, Kansas State moved down to No. 14, and TCU is No. 24.
The Cyclones will return to the court against No. 8 Texas on Tuesday, February 21 for an 8:00 p.m. tipoff on Longhorn Network.
AP MBB POLL
Monday, February 21, 2023
- Houston
- Alabama
- Kansas
- UCLA
- Purdue
- Virginia
- Arizona
- Texas
- Baylor
- Marquette
- Tennessee
- Gonzaga
- Miami
- Kansas State
- Saint Mary’s
- Xavier
- Indiana
- UConn
- Creighton
- Providence
- Northwestern
- San Diego State
- Iowa State
- TCU
- Texas A&M
Others receiving votes: North Carolina State 54, Pittsburgh 34, Maryland 14, Oral Roberts 14, Kentucky 12, Boise State 12, Arkansas 6, Florida Atlantic 6, Charleston 4, Missouri 3, Duke 3, Illinois 2, Kent State 2, Nevada 1, Oklahoma State 1
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger, and players Jaren Holmes and Osun Osunniyi spoke to media members ahead of his teams upcoming road matchup with Texas.
Feb 18, 2023; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Tyrese Haliburton reacts during NBA All-Star Game practice at Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Tyrese Haliburton is officially the highest-scoring former Iowa State player in NBA All-Star history.
The former Cyclone star scored 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, in Sunday night’s NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. He also added three assists and a rebound for Team LeBron in its 184-175 loss to Team Giannis.
Haliburton’s 18 points are the most ever by a former Iowa State player in the All-Star game, surpassing Jeff Hornacek, who scored 11 points in the 1992 edition of the game.
Boston’s Jayson Tatum was named the game’s MVP after scoring an All-Star record 55 points for Team Giannis.
Haliburton, who played at Iowa State from 2018-20, was selected by LeBron James with his fourth pick in the reserves draft before Sunday night’s game. James played only 14 and a half minutes in the game before suffering a hand injury while trying to block a shot.
The All-Star appearance will be another springboard for Haliburton, who has become one of the league’s fastest rising stars while averaging 19.9 points, 10.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game this season for the Indiana Pacers.
His 10.1 assists per game currently rank No. 4 in the NBA.
Former Iowa State Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton tied the NBA record for most points in a 3-point contest on Saturday, collecting 31 during the semifinal round of the event.
Tyrese Haliburton tied the NBA record for points in a 3-point contest.
3️⃣1️⃣ for the former Cyclone! pic.twitter.com/St2aLAapRD
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) February 19, 2023
The current Indiana Pacer didn’t win the overall event, but still made a mark in the record books.
Haliburton will compete in the NBA All-Star game on Sunday.
Iowa State pulled it out.
With their backs against the wall, the Iowa State women’s basketball team completed a 2-0 week with wins over Texas and on Saturday, Baylor, finishing the week with an 81-77 double-overtime victory in Waco.
“I’ll tell you, it’s really hard to put into words how proud I am of this team,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “To think where we were (on the plane Saturday) to what we did tonight… I hope it’s something they’ll always remember.”
The Cyclones took every inch that the Bears were going to give them. Lexi Donarski made a game-tying three in the waning seconds of overtime. She had the first points of the second OT frame.
Her 16-point, 5-rebound performance will get overlooked on the box score, but her last minute heroics, on multiple occasions, got Iowa State this win.
“There’s just so much going on and the team has so much energy,” Donarski said on the radio broadcast. “You don’t really notice how tired you are… it was a full, all-5 person effort. Denae (Fritz) had to play their 4 man and she did a really good job with that.”
Ashley Joens finished the first half with only two points to her name, but something came alive in the final 30 minutes.
Joens finished the night with 27 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
“As the game continues and you go into your first overtime, people start to get tired,” Joens said. “That’s what we build our conditioning around… I think we hung in there and kept fighting and that’s what got us the win.”
Both Nyamer Diew and Morgan Kane, who were each playing around the number five spot, fouled out before the end of regulation.
Iowa State wasn’t prepared for it, but executed to the brink.
“The lineups we threw out there, we never even practiced them,” Fennelly said. “We made a lot of great plays at the right time.”
The win marks the first time in program history where Iowa State avoided a sweep against every in-conference program.
“Not getting swept is a pretty big deal,” Donarski said. “That’s a really good goal to have… but we’ve got to get focused on winning the next game we have.”
The win gives Iowa State a 17-7 record on the season with a 9-5 mark in Big 12 play.
The No. 22 Cyclones return to the court on Wednesday to face an Oklahoma State team that its tied with in the standings at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
Big 12 WBB Standings
1. Texas 11-3
1. Oklahoma 11-3
3. Iowa State 9-5
3. Oklahoma State 9-5
5. West Virginia 7-6
6. Baylor 7-7
7. Kansas 6-7
8. Texas Tech 4-10
8. Kansas State 4-10
10. TCU 1-13
Saturday, Feb. 18
F/2OT: No. 22 Iowa State 81, Baylor 77
F/3OT: Oklahoma State 92, Texas Tech 80
TCU 75, Texas Tech 62
Sunday, Feb. 19
No. 15 Oklahoma @ Kansas (2 p.m. ESPN+)
West Virginia @ No. 17 Texas (3 p.m. ESPN+)
Next round
Wednesday, Feb. 22
No. 22 Iowa State @ Oklahoma State (6:30 p.m. ESPN+)
Kansas @ Kansas State (6:30 p.m. ESPN+)
Baylor @ TCU (6:30 p.m. ESPN+)
West Virginia @ Texas Tech (7 p.m. ESPN+)
Oklahoma and Texas are off, face each other on Saturday.
Feb 18, 2023; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats guard Keyontae Johnson (11) dribbles past Iowa State Cyclones forward Aljaž Kunč (5) during the first half at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State’s 61-55 loss to Kansas State on Saturday in Manhattan came down to a battle of the stars.
Kansas State’s stars thrived in the national television spotlight. Iowa State’s did not.
Markquis Nowell scored a game-high 20 points, knocking down four 3-pointers along with going 8-of-8 from the free throw line, with six rebounds, five assists and four turnovers in 37 minutes.
Keyontae Johnson added 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting and six rebounds.
Meanwhile, Gabe Kalscheur and Jaren Holmes combined to go 6-of-30 from the field for Iowa State, including a 5-of-19 effort from 3-point range. The duo also combined for seven fouls and six turnovers.
Iowa State honestly had a great chance to win this game, which is as much as you can really ask for going on the road in the Big 12. That was especially astounding when you consider the Cyclones shot 31 percent from the field, 19 percent from 3-point range and were 12-of-17 from the free throw line.
Kansas State shot 38 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point range and 18-of-22 from the free throw line.
The Cyclones, who played with senior guard Caleb Grill, were led by senior forward Aljaz Kunc for the second straight game. He scored a team-high 15 points on 4-of-10 from the field, 2-of-7 from 3-point range and 5-of-6 from the free throw line with five rebounds.
Iowa State led 31-23 at the half then was outscored 38-24 after halftime as turnovers and misfires from deep mounted.
The Cyclones will be back in action on Tuesday when they visit Austin for an 8 p.m. tip against Texas.
Iowa State was announced as a No. 3 seed for the upcoming NCAA Tournament as the committee released its top 16 Saturday.
Although the release is as if the season ended today, it confirms Iowa State currently holds a top 12 spot in the nation and sets up a big game in Manhattan later on.
The Cyclones and Wildcats are each on the No. 3 seed line, and with both programs being located in the Midwest, it will have a significant impact on either’s chances to land in Des Moines for the first two rounds.
Iowa State will be without Caleb Grill in the matchup.
All of the Top 16 projected seeds have been announced. @IndianaMBB, @MarquetteMBB, @XavierMBB and @ZagMBB round out the No. 4 seeds. pic.twitter.com/c69WC7fiU4
— CBS Sports College Basketball (@CBSSportsCBB) February 18, 2023
Iowa State and Kansas State will face off at 1:00 p.m. Saturday on ESPN.
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Caleb Grill (2) passes the ball around Texas Longhorns guard Marcus Carr (5) during the first half at Hilton Coliseum Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune
Iowa State senior guard Caleb Grill will not play in the Cyclones’ game in Manhattan this afternoon, according to CycloneAlert’s Nick Osen.
Grill has been battling a lingering back injury for the last several weeks, and has left him categorized as day-to-day by Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger.
The injury has held him out of only one game to this point, the Cyclones’ loss to Missouri in the Big 12/SEC Challenge two weeks ago, but has hampered his play significantly since it happened in Iowa State’s win over Texas on Jan. 17.
Grill played 13 minutes in Iowa State’s 11-point win over TCU on Wednesday, going 0-of-4 from the field, 0-of-1 from the free throw line and posting a -16 plus/minus. That followed a performance in which he went 1-of-5 from deep and 1-of-5 from the free throw line in a loss to Oklahoma State last Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.
On the season, Grill is averaging 10.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range.
Iowa State and Kansas State will tip-off from Manhattan at 1 p.m. on ESPN.
Iowa State University Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger reacts during the during the first half against Kansas at Hilton Coliseum Saturday Feb. 4, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications.
ATLANTA, Ga. – Iowa State men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been named to the 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List. Otzelberger is one of 15 coaches across the country named to the list, including three from the Big 12.
In his second season at the helm, Otzelberger has led the Cyclones to a Top 20 ranking for the second-straight year, as the Cyclones sit 17-8 overall on the year and are currently ranked No. 19 in the nation. Of those 17 victories, seven have come against teams ranked in the AP Top 25, the most by any team in America.
A list of 10 semifinalists will be announced on Thursday, March 9. The Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year award will be narrowed to four finalists on Monday, March 20. The final round includes an opportunity for consumers to participate through the Naismith Awards Fan Vote presented by Jersey Mike’s, which accounts for 5% of the total vote and runs from March 21-28. The winner will be announced on Sunday, April 2, at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Frost Bank at the Final Four in Houston.
“Each year we are amazed by the remarkable coaching performances that elevate these contenders as candidates for the Werner Ladder Naismith College Men’s Coach of the Year,” saidEric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “The end of the regular season, with tremendous pressure on each game, usually separates those seeking to advance in the next step in our voting.”
AMES — It does not take long to flip a script.
Just days after one of its worst losses of the season on Saturday against Oklahoma State, Iowa State flipped the script on Wednesday with a wire-to-wire 70-59 win over TCU at Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones took the lead just 25 seconds into the game. Roughly five minutes later, Iowa State had a 15-2 lead. The Horned Frogs answered with a 12-0 run to pull back within one.
Iowa State answered by scoring eight straight to push the lead back to nine.
Less than three minutes into the second half, Iowa State held a 21-point lead. Every Iowa State fan was surely feeling anxiety when the Frogs clawed their way back within seven points with 51 seconds left.
But, remember, this was a different kind of script than what we’ve been used to over the last few weeks. Iowa State made the plays it needed to when it needed to make them.
Now, Iowa State has eight league wins for the first time since going 9-9 in 2018-19. They’re two wins away from their first 10-plus league-win season since 2016-17.
“Where I gauge it is how we start games defensively, and then how we start the half,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger. “That’s what we work on a lot and talk about a lot. We set the tone and I felt like starting the game we had some turnovers, and then really coming out of halftime that’s something we hadn’t done as well. We’ve more traded baskets with people and for them to score two points, for us to start with three stops or whatever it was., and have that two points speaks to being focused, being intentional in dictating things defensively.”
The reasons Iowa State won this game aren’t very hard to point out.
After shooting worse than 40 percent from the free throw line against Oklahoma State, the Cyclones knocked down 15-of-17 attempts from the charity stripe against TCU. There were five Cyclones who shot two or more freebies without a miss.
Meanwhile, TCU went 6-of-18 from the free throw line on its end, an output closer to what you’d expect to see from this Iowa State team in recent weeks.
“Proves its importance when you look at the free throw line and you see they made theirs and we didn’t make ours,” TCU head coach Jamie Dixon said. “Simply put, there’s the difference.”
Aljaz Kunc played one of the best games of his Iowa State career, posting a career-high 22 points on 7-of-10 from the field, 5-of-8 from 3-point range and 3-of-3 from the free throw line while grabbing five rebounds, two steals and dishing one assist.
Kunc, who was in the starting lineup for the first time since before a hand injury held him out of action for more than a month, knocked down Iowa State’s first shot of the game off an assist from Osun Osunniyi.
The senior forward had the assist on Iowa State’s last basket, too, a layup by Jaren Holmes, who scored 16 points on 6-of-15 from the field, after a steal to seal the win.
“Man, (Kunc) stepped up in a major way,” Otzelberger said. “Offensively, he was so effective. He’s just a winning player, man. You just have them out there, and you can just tell the ball moves better. He just understands how to play, and what we need from him. Defensively and on the glass, he just does such a great job, too. It’s great to see him back playing the way that we know he can play and it gives us another weapon offensively to take some pressure or responsibility from other guys where we can get a little bit more balance.”
Iowa State forced TCU into 14 turnovers and held the Frogs, who were playing without Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year guard Mike Miles, to just 5-of-19 from 3-point range on the night.
This was the kind of night Iowa State needed.
Morale had been low over the last week with last Wednesday’s somewhat controversial loss to West Virginia then Saturday’s frustrating loss to Oklahoma State. It felt as though this team had lost sight of who they are.
They flipped the script and found themselves again on Wednesday.
“How we responded to (adversity) was important and should give our guys confidence moving forward, because we’re going to have adversity,” Otzelberger said. “We’re going to have challenges. It’s why we preach a lot about that mental toughness and how we respond to things when they don’t go your way.”
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 3 Iowa State (16-3, 7-1 Big 12) dropped its first Big 12 dual in over two calendar years to No. 10 Missouri (8-3, 7-1 Big 12), 23-12, Wednesday evening inside the Hearns Center.
In what many dubbed the “Match of the Year” between No. 1 Keegan O’Toole and No. 2 David Carr, Carr emerged victorious, 7-2. Carr, known for his sharp technique, showed flashes of his scrambling ability as he got two takedowns in the win over the defending 165-pound national champion. Carr also showed his prowess on top, riding O’Toole for the entire third period to secure the riding time point.
The dual featured four top 10 matchups and Iowa State took four of 10 bouts, including two of the top 10 matchups. Missouri got pins at 125 and 149 pounds to separate themselves in with the later coming in sudden victory.
Marcus Coleman got Iowa State on the board at 184 pounds with a gritty 4-2 decision over Colton Hawks. The wrestlers traded escapes before Coleman secured the go-ahead takedown with less than a minute left and rode him out to secure the riding time point.
Sam Schuyler picked up another victory for the Cyclones at 285 pounds to tie the dual, 6-6, after four matches. The Cyclone senior used a pair of first-period takedowns to defeat No. 7 Zach Elam, 5-3. Schuyler was previously 0-3 in his career against Elam.
Missouri took control of the dual with a pin at 125 pounds, but Zach Redding got the Cyclones back into it with a 7-5 decision over Connor Brown at 133 pounds.
Paniro Johnson dropped a tight one to No. 7 Brock Mauller. Johnson was the aggressor in the overtime period and appeared to get the match-winning takedown in SV-1 but was not awarded the call after a lengthy review. Mauller eventually countered a Johnson shot and took the Cyclone to his back for the pin in 8:45.
Up Next
Iowa State will send a contingent of wrestlers to the Last Chance Open Sunday at the Lied Rec Center. Wrestling will begin at 10 a.m.
Match-by-Match Results
No. 3 Iowa State 12, No. 10 Missouri 23
174: #7 Peyton Mocco (MIZ) dec. #27 Julien Broderson (ISU), 7-5
184: #4 Marcus Coleman (ISU) dec. #25 Colton Hawks (MIZ), 4-2
197: #4 Rocky Elam (MIZ) dec. #7 Yonger Bastida (ISU), 4-0
285: #9 Sam Schuyler (ISU) dec. #7 Zach Elam (MIZ), 5-3
125: #13 Noah Surtin (MIZ) WBF Ethan Perryman (ISU), 2:54
133: #19 Zach Redding (ISU) dec. #27 Connor Brown (MIZ), 9-7
141: #16 Allan Hart (MIZ) dec. #32 Casey Swiderski (ISU), 7-1
149: #7 Brock Mauller (MIZ) WBF #10 Paniro Johnson (ISU), 8:45
157: #10 Jarrett Jacques (MIZ) dec. #26 Jason Kraisser (ISU), 2-0
165: #2 David Carr (ISU) dec. #1 Keegan O’Toole (MIZ), 7-2
*Missouri was deducted a team point following the 149-pound match for unsportsmanlike conduct
Cyclone Fanatic’s Chris Williams and Jared Stansbury preview Iowa State’s game against TCU later tonight at Hilton Coliseum.
The most anticipated individual match of the season will take place on Wednesday night in Columbus, Mo. as No. 1 Keegan O’Toole and No. 2 David Carr will meet for the first time ever.
The credentials between the two are among some of the best. Both wrestlers walk into this matchup undefeated. Both are Big 12 and NCAA Champions plus Junior World Champions.
For Carr, this is exactly the type of match he looks forward to. It gives him the opportunity to be challenged.
“This is what it’s all about. You train hard all year to wrestle matches like this. I’m excited for it,” Carr said. “I went up to 165 (pounds) for a challenge and Keegan O’Toole presents a unique challenge. I’m excited to go in there and wrestle and figure it out.”
Carr has worked closely one-on-one with assistant coach Brent Metcalf since arriving at Iowa State. Metcalf believes the match can go one of two ways.
“It’s going to go one of two ways, there’s going to be a ton of action and a ton of flurries, and if you ask me as David’s coach that favors him because I think he can get into more scrambles, and create more action because he’s really good. The action doesn’t favor you against him,” Metcalf said. “Or, it could be a closer match. But I think that favors David as well because he’s the guy who can go get one if he needs to go get one. I’m biased because I believe in our guy.”
When you compare the two wrestlers their wrestling style is pretty similar. Carr has been taking notes throughout the season on how to elevate himself over O’Toole.
“He’s funky. He wrestles hard in a lot of positions and he’s tough on top. I’ve watched him wrestle a little bit over the year and honestly, I’ve prepared throughout the year of just little things I can get better at to wrestle him,” Carr said. “I’m fast and explosive and I can scramble as well. It’s an interesting matchup.”
Ultimately, for the 165-pounder, it’s important to keep the fans entertained and continue to grow the sport.
“At the end of the day, we’re entertainers. I love to entertain and I like to wrestle. Even with this match (against O’Toole), I want lots of people to tune in and I want people to enjoy it,” Carr said. “A wrestling match doesn’t define me so why not have fun and just enjoy it? That’s what the fans want and that’s what I want.”
This @Carrchamp celly >>> pic.twitter.com/kKuBGWUakS
— Iowa State Wrestling (@CycloneWR) February 14, 2023
In one of the most anticipated individual matches of the season, David Carr talks about his excitement for such a big matchup against No. 1 Keegan O’Toole. Plus, the coaches give their assessment of that matchup for Carr plus the weight of the overall dual on the program.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus senior forwards Aljaz Kunc and Tre King, give an update on how the team has bounced back from Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma State and preview Wednesday night’s game against TCU at Hilton Coliseum in the videos below.
Former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton has been invited to the league’s 3-point contest, held annually during the skills competition on Saturday.
Haliburton is among the league leaders in 3-point percentage as well as assists per game, which earned him a spot in Sunday’s All-Star game.
Sources: NBA 3-Point Contest participants at All-Star Weekend: Boston's Jayson Tatum, Sacramento's Kevin Huerter, Miami's Tyler Herro, Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, Portland's Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons and Utah's Lauri Markkanen.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 14, 2023
Haliburton has helped the Pacers throughout the season, despite a recent stretch of losses, and had a big three late in the game on Monday night against the Jazz.
Tyrese Haliburton had him on skates. pic.twitter.com/XZfbRVww8P
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) February 14, 2023
The Pacers ended up losing the game late, and the weekend break can’t come soon enough for their fans.
Saturday’s skills competition kicks off at 7:00 p.m. on TNT.
AMES, Iowa – The rollercoaster that Iowa State women’s basketball fans were riding this season was on a bigger nosedive than a ride at AdventureLand in Altoona.
Iowa State had lost three-straight games coming into Monday’s matchup with Texas and the Cyclones weren’t even on 48 hours of rest. They were coming off of one of their worst 3-pointer performances in recent memory. Bill Fennelly’s squad won 66-61.
“We talked before the game,” Fennelly said. “I told them, ‘lets’ just fight.'”
Iowa State played with as much moxie as it had all season. From the opening 8-0 run off with 3-pointers from Ashley Joens and Denae Fritz to her big shot that iced the game with 30 seconds to go.
The only things pointing downward on Monday night at Hilton Coliseum were horns in the crowd.
“I understand people have to talk about, write about and whatever on the 750 thing,” Fennelly said before beginning his press conference. “This has zero to do with me. This is all about our team and the amazing effort they put in against a phenomenal team.”
The win is Iowa State’s first over Texas since February of 2020.
It’s something Fennelly referenced after the game – a hump his team just couldn’t get over, at least until Monday.
“Just the idea that we all have these things in our life that – I’m not going to say you’re afraid of – but whether it’s a tougher class, something you do at work… that you’re like man, I don’t know if I can do this,” Fennelly said. “At I think tonight – win or lose – at least they left here thinking ‘we can compete with them now.'”
Ashley Joens led the way for Iowa State, which improves to 16-7 and 8-5 in the Big 12. Joens finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and drew 12 of the 25 fouls Texas committed.
“Just having a rough couple of games there and being able to come out at Hilton and have our fans with us kind of motivated us,” Joens said.
The Iowa State defense held Texas to a 2-14 mark from the line as well as a 27-of-69 (39 percent) mark from the field. That’s not something Texas is used to.
Nor is that specific team used to its opponent responding so well to its punches. The shots to the face – like an incidental bump to the head that caused Lexi Donarski to exit the game for an extended time – were all answered.
“I think our kids can breathe a bit for a couple days and relax,” Fennelly said. “Then we’ve got five to go.”
Iowa State will get some extra rest over the week before facing Baylor on the road on Saturday (5:00 p.m. ESPN+).
Until then, they’ll enjoy this one.
Big 12 WBB Standings
1. Texas 11-3
2. Oklahoma 10-3
3. Iowa State 8-5
3. Oklahoma State 8-5
5. Baylor 7-5
6. Kansas 6-6
6. West Virginia 6-6
8. Texas Tech 4-8
9. Kansas State 3-9
10. TCU 0-13
Wed. Feb. 15
6:00 p.m. | Texas Tech (4-8) @ Oklahoma (10-3)
6:00 p.m. | Kansas (6-6) @ West Virginia (6-6)
6:30 p.m. | Baylor (7-5) @ Kansas State (3-9)
Each game on ESPN+
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Ashley Joens, Lexi Donarski, and Denae Fritz spoke to media members following their 66-61 win over Texas at Hilton Coliseum:
As of today, we’re officially less than one month away from Selection Sunday.
These next several weeks are going to fly, and the action around the Big 12 continues to intensify as the home stretch of the conference title race comes into shape.
Right now, there are probably three teams with a legitimate shot at winning or earning a share of the league title, but that’s subject to change as one bad week or one good week can deflate or elevate your chances significantly.
Let’s get to this week’s rankings…
1 – Texas – 9-3The Longhorns have solidified themselves as the team to beat in the league by being the best team at avoiding a slump. Texas has not lost consecutive games yet this season and bounced back from last Monday’s loss in Lawrence by destroying West Virginia in Austin by 34 points. The road to a Big `12 title runs through Austin.
This week: @ Texas Tech (Monday), vs. Oklahoma (Saturday)
2 – Baylor – 8-4Few teams in college basketball are playing better than Scott Drew’s team right now as they’ve won nine of their last 10 with the only loss coming on the road at Texas. That’s one helluva bounce back after losing three-straight to open Big 12 play. They’ve done it with what now ranks as the No. 1 adjusted offensive efficiency in the country on KenPom.
This week: vs. West Virginia (Monday), @ Kansas (Saturday)
3 – Kansas – 8-4It would have been easy to write the Jayhawks out of the Big 12 title race after they lost three straight last month, but they’ve responded by winning four of five with critical wins over Kansas State and Texas. They’ll look to keep moving up in the standings this week with two big games against top-half of the league teams.
This week: @ Oklahoma State (Tuesday), vs. Baylor (Saturday)
4 – Oklahoma State – 6-6I can’t say I saw this one coming, but Mike Boynton’s team has won seven of its last eight, including key road wins at Oklahoma and on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum. The Cowboys’ personnel is perfect for their style of play, and it has helped them produce the No. 6 adjusted defensive efficiency in the country. They’re big. They’re strong. They’re tough. They’re going to be a tough out for anyone left on their schedule.
This week: vs. Kansas (Tuesday), @ TCU (Saturday)
5 – Iowa State – 7-5After starting Big 12 play with four-straight wins, the dog days of the season have put significant chinks in the Cyclones’ armor. Iowa State’s lost six of its last nine games and has lost five-straight games away from Hilton Coliseum. Some key injuries have hurt Iowa State during that stretch, but they’ve lost some games they shouldn’t have, too.
This week: vs. TCU (Wednesday), @ Kansas State (Saturday)
6 – Kansas State – 7-5The Wildcats are in almost the exact same boat as Iowa State right now. Jerome Tang’s lost five of its last nine and hasn’t won a game on the road since Jan. 7 at Baylor. You have to wonder how much of these struggles (for KSU and ISU) can be attributed to coaches around the league getting a better feel for the scout on these two largely brand-new teams.
This week: @ Oklahoma (Tuesday), vs. Iowa State (Saturday)
7 – West Virginia – 4-8The Mountaineers picked up arguably their best win of the season on Wednesday against Iowa State then promptly went on the road and got destroyed by the league’s best team. Bob Huggins’ team needs at least three more wins to solidify its spot in the NCAA Tournament. Luckily, three of their last six games are in Morgantown.
This week: @ Baylor (Monday), vs. Texas Tech (Saturday)
8 – TCU – 6-6Is there a bigger bummer in sports than the injury bug? The Horned Frogs entered the year with the potential for a dream season, and it has been completely derailed by an inability to stay healthy. Preseason Big 12 player of the year Mike Miles has missed the last four games, and center Eddie Lampkin has played in only two of the last six. Jamie Dixon’s team has lost four of five as a result with the only win being by four points at home against West Virginia.
This week: @ Iowa State (Wednesday), vs. Oklahoma State (Saturday)
9 – Texas Tech – 2-10After opening Big 12 play with eight-straight losses, Mark Adams’ squad has found something in its last four games. They’ve won three of those, including home wins over Iowa State (in overtime) and Kansas State this past Saturday. The win over Kansas State was very impressive as they held the Wildcats’ stars Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson to just 8-of-24 from the field, including a combined 2-of-14 from 3-point range.
This week: vs. Texas (Monday), @ West Virginia (Saturday)
10 – Oklahoma – 2-10The Sooners haven’t just been losing during their current four-game streak. They’ve been getting their butts kicked with final margins of 10 points, 32 points, 10 points and 23 points. That makes their current stretch seven losses in their last eight games. Their only win is over the new No. 1 team in the nation, Alabama. Does it make any sense? Absolutely not, but that’s college basketball.
This week: vs. Kansas State (Tuesday), @ Texas (Saturday)
Iowa State women’s basketball dropped to No. 22 in the Associated Press top 25 poll this week, following Saturday’s loss to West Virginia.
The Cyclones face No. 17 Texas at Hilton Coliseum on Monday in a short turnaround before traveling to Waco to play Baylor Saturday.
AP WBB Poll
Monday, February 13, 2023
1. South Carolina
2. Indiana
3. Stanford
4. Utah
5. LSU
6. UConn
7. Iowa
8. Maryland
9. Duke
10. Notre Dame
11. Virginia Tech
12. Michigan
13. Ohio State
14. Villanova
15. Oklahoma
16. UCLA
17. Texas
18. Arizona
19. North Carolina
20. Gonzaga
21. Colorado
22. Iowa State
23. UNLV
24. Florida State
25. USC
Others receiving votes: Illinois 30, North Carolina State 30, Middle Tennessee 23, South Florida 19, Oklahoma State 17, Creighton 17, Louisville 11, Rhode Island 6, Florida Gulf Coast 6, Marquette 5, Cleveland State 2, South Dakota State 1, Tennessee 1
Iowa State men’s basketball dropped to No. 19 in the latest Associated Press top 25 poll released on Monday.
The Cyclones are coming off of an 0-2 week which saw losses to West Virginia and Oklahoma State.
T.J. Otzelberger and his team will face off with No. 22 TCU on Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum and then travels to Manhattan on Saturday for a matchup with No. 12 Kansas State.
The full poll can be seen below:
AP MBB Poll
Monday, February 13, 2023
1. Alabama
2. Houston
3. Purdue
4. UCLA
5. Kansas
6. Texas
7. Virginia
8. Arizona
9. Baylor
10. Tennessee
11. Marquette
12. Kansas State
13. Gonzaga
14. Indiana
15. Miami
16. Xavier
17. Saint Mary’s
18. Creighton
19. Iowa State
20. UConn
21. San Diego State
22. TCU
23. NC State
24. Providence
25. Florida Atlantic
Others receiving votes: Missouri 114, Northwestern 96, Illinois 84, Pittsburgh 82, Nevada 36, Oklahoma State 23, Texas A&M 16, Oral Roberts 9, Iowa 5, Arkansas 4, Rutgers 2, Charleston 1, Maryland 1, Boise State 1
Photo: Jacqueline Cordova / Cyclone Fanatic
A 21-12 win over No. 20 Illinois at Hilton Coliseum gave the No. 3 Cyclones a perfect home record this season of 6-0 on Sunday.
The wrestling program partnered up with Iowa State Gymnastics to bring back the Beauty and the Beast series which garnered almost 9000 fans.
“The crowd was great today. A lot of energy and we appreciate the fans,” Dresser said.
Although Dresser joked the music was a bit too loud he said it was a good opportunity to mimic the atmosphere at an NCAA Championship.
“Can we get them to turn it down from a nine to a seven?” Dresser said. “In a way, it’s not a bad deal. It’s like the NCAA Tournament. At the NCAA tournament, it’s so loud that you’re basically lip-singing to them. If they can’t read your lips then they don’t know what the hell you’re saying and that’s basically what it was today.”
Iowa State has now won 29 of their last 31 matches overall with their only losses to No. 1 Penn State and No. 2 Iowa.
Hilton’s explosive crowd witnessed Caleb Fuessley win his match in sudden victory to start things off, Casey Swiderski finally saw himself with his hand raised after 5-straight losses and a black flip from David Carr.
When reflecting on what led him to be able to elevate himself to a win against Illinois, Swiderski credited finding his confidence again.
“I went through it. I took a lot of losses there in the past and I’m losing by a couple of points so it’s really tough. My coaches told me “You have to just go and fire. you have your guns so fire the guns” so I just had to believe in myself and continue to believe in myself,” Swiderski said. “It felt good.”
In their final matches in Hilton Coliseum, Marcus Coleman and Sam Schuyler took care of business.
Coleman handled Dylan Connell by securing an 18-4 technical fall in 5:42 to bring the crowd to its feet.
“A lot of emotions today. Just warming up I felt blessed and blessed just to be able to wrestle in front of great crowds throughout the years,” Coleman said. “It felt great to go out on a tech fall.”
For Dresser, it’s been special to have Coleman around because Coleman has been with him since he took over the program.
“We started together. We saw a guy who was super talented but just all over the place. Young and all over the place. But now, he’s Mr. Consistency. He’s fun to watch and he puts up points. It’s fun to see the growth,” Dresser said.
Schuyler also had his hand raised for a final time at Hilton. He won his match 5-3 over Matt Wroblewski to close out the dual.
“It’s amazing how much his (Schuyler) growth has been. Last year every match was by one point and we saw some really good things but when things got tough he wasn’t so tough. Now again, we see a guy that is really solid and consistent,” Dresser said.
The Cyclones will prepare to hit the road for their final match of the year against Missouri Wednesday night.
That match is all that stands in the way of the Cyclones having a shot at another undefeated Big 12 season.
“We’ve got a short turnaround. We’re trying to continue our undefeated streak and we all know that we want to wrestle for a Big 12 Championship,” Dresser said.
No. 3 Iowa State 21, No. 20 Illinois 13
125: Caleb Fuessley (ISU) dec. Maximo Renteria (ILL), 6-4 SV1
133: Lucas Byrd (ILL) maj. dec. Zach Redding (ISU), 13-3
141: Casey Swiderski (ISU) dec. Danny Pucino (ILL), 10-7
149: Paniro Johnson (ISU) dec. Jake Harrier (ILL), 12-6
157: Mike Carr (ILL) dec. Jason Kraisser (ISU), 10-8
165: David Carr (ISU) maj. dec. Anthony Federico (ILL), 16-2
174: Edmond Ruth (ILL) dec. Julien Broderson (ISU), 3-2
184: Marcus Coleman (ISU) tech. fall Dylan Connell (ILL), 21-4 (5:42)
197: Zac Braunagel (ILL) dec. Yonger Bastida (ISU), 5-3
285: Sam Schuyler (ISU) dec. Matt Wroblewski (ILL), 5-3
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Osun Osunniyi and Tamin Lipsey addressed media members following their team’s loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday night at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Jaren Holmes (13) lays up the ball around Oklahoma State Cowboys’ guard Woody Newton (4) during the first half at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.
AMES — Iowa State men’s basketball lost track of its identity this week.
Too many people have started to think of the Cyclones as this team that’s going to roll into your house and kick the crap out of you for 40 minutes. If they can’t do it on the scoreboard, they’ll do it with their defense and muddy the game.
Yes, toughness and defense are two of the core tenants of what T.J. Otzelberger’s built in a year and a half plus in Ames. On the surface, those appear to be the two things that have driven Iowa State men’s basketball’s return to national prominence, and they certainly both played major roles.
People are forgetting about another of the major building blocks, though, and that’s the never-ending mindset of only controlling what you can control. That means rolling with the punches whether things are going really well or really horribly.
That means moving on to the next play when you feel you’ve been on the wrong end of an official’s whistle. That means moving on to the next shot when the last one didn’t clear the net. It means playing hard every second and making up for your deficiencies by controlling everything you can control with an iron fist.
The outside noise is chaos. The inside noise must be zen.
The Cyclones lost track of that this week, first with Wednesday’s loss to West Virginia, then again on Saturday in a 64-56 loss to Oklahoma State at Hilton Coliseum. It was Iowa State’s first home loss of the season and is unquestionably the worst loss on this squad’s ledger.
“Our mental toughness wasn’t very good,” Otzelberger said. “We’ve been a team that when we’ve had success, and the successes we’ve had have been attributable to everybody pouring into the team and doing what they can for the team. There were stretches our mental toughness wasn’t very good. To start the second half, after a reasonably good first half defensively, we gave up basket after basket. I felt like we were always worried about what wasn’t going our way offensively, whether it was free throws, shot attempts, fouls, all things that we allowed to get to us and prevent us from being the mentally tough team that we’ve come to be.”
There are three things I think need to be taken away from this game, and I’m going to hit on them each one by one then we’re all going to move on from the disappointment of this week.
The first one is Iowa State simply has to become a better free throw shooting team. This is not an “oh, it would be nice to be better at that thing,” situation. This is an “Iowa State absolutely has to shoot better from the free throw line,” thing.
The Cyclones were 9-of-19 from the foul line against the Cowboys, and that line is honestly misleading. It might as well have been 9-of-23 when you remember Iowa State also missed the front ends of four bonus one-and-one opportunities.
While most teams would see the single bonus as an advantage, it has become a pretty decided disadvantage for Iowa State. You’d darn near rather see Iowa State not get into the single bonus than see them have to attempt the front end of one-and-ones.
It might as well count as a turnover.
In Big 12 play, Iowa State is shooting 65.4 percent from the charity stripe. That ranks dead last in the league. There isn’t even another team below 66 percent. All but three teams in the league are making over 70 percent of their foul shots.
The impact of those missed free throws is amplified when you consider how few of them Iowa State regularly shoots. They’re last in the league in free throw rate, which means they’re getting to the line less frequently than everyone else.
Meanwhile, they’re putting teams on the line more than everyone else, but we’ll come back to that shortly.
One of every basketball grandpas’ favorite sayings is,”They’re not free unless you make them.” We’d all laugh and say, “Whatever you say, old man,” then launch a 35-footer like we’re Stephen Curry.
Well, guess what, they were right!
Getting fouled might as well be a turnover for Iowa State right now, and that simply can’t be the case when you play in the league with more tight games than any other in the country. People hate hearing about winning in the margins around here after football season.
This is the basketball equivalent of winning in the margins.
“It’s not good,” Otzelberger said. “It’s not going to put you in position to win. (The score) got away from us, but in close games, that’s an important factor. We’ve got to be better. As correctable as it is, it’s hard work, and it’s mental toughness, all things that we do on a daily basis. We need to demand it from ourselves. We want to do a better job shooting foul shots. We need to continue to be in the gym working on it and make sure our focus is in the right place, because I felt like at times, we went to the line, and we weren’t mentally in the right place to make them. I think that was evident.”
I’m going to put my hand up and admit I made a mistake this week. I did way too much talking about the officials after Wednesday night’s whistle-fest in Morgantown.
In my mind, officiating is a college basketball-wide problem. It is much more than an Iowa State problem. We all did too much worrying about that problem this week.
On Saturday, it felt like every person in Hilton Coliseum spent too much time worrying about the officials. It didn’t matter if it was a player, coach, fan or media member.
Everyone was worried about what the officials were doing.
Iowa State players were looking for calls when they didn’t get them. They’d get a call then go brick a free throw then worry about missing the free throw then get beat on defense then get called for a foul then Oklahoma State would make a free throw and it was a vicious cycle for 40 minutes.
Chants of “These refs suck” rained from the rafters late in the loss to the Cowboys.
What I’m about to lay out is something some people out there will surely think is stupid, but I think it is something worth being said. We all know how much Iowa State’s team feeds off of its crowd in Hilton Coliseum.
We all know how that ability to feed off the crowd’s energy fuels what Iowa State teams have done for a long time in this building. Right or wrong, that is the reality.
Nobody out there would ever confirm this to me in an official capacity, but it was easy to pick up on Saturday. Iowa State’s team fed off its crowd the same way it always does. The crowd was out for black-and-white striped blood from the moment the doors opened.
This team can’t control the whistle, but it can’t control the crowd, either. I can understand where someone will tell me that the players shouldn’t worry about those things, but if we want Iowa State men’s basketball players to feed off the crowd when things go well, we should be willing to read the room when things don’t go well.
Iowa State was called for one more foul than Oklahoma State was in this game, and that was only due to extending the game late. Oklahoma State had more turnovers, one more made field goal and one more 3-pointer.
This game could not have been more even in every statistical way.
Literally, the only difference was one team shot less than 40 percent from the free-throw line and lost their composure once things started to go sideways.
The worst part is that it was the home team.
“I think we were consumed by other things,” Otzelberger said. “We were consumed by officiating, we were consumed by ‘my shot not going in,’ we are consumed by ‘the game’s not going the way I want,’ we’re consumed by ‘we’re not getting stops,’ all those things.”
Oklahoma State deserves a lot more credit for what happened on Saturday in Ames than what they’ll likely get from Iowa State fans who feel as though the result was a screw job.
The reality is Mike Boynton has one of the best defensive teams in all of college basketball. They’re long, athletic and versatile all the way across the board. Darn near their entire team can guard one through five.
The Cowboys came into this game with the goal of preventing Gabe Kalscheur and Caleb Grill from getting clean in rhythm looks. That mission was most certainly accomplished as they combined to go 3-of-17 from the field and 3-of-11 from 3-point range.
Kalscheur started the game by making his first two shots, then missed 10 straight to close the game. Grill’s night ended when he was given a technical, his fifth personal, for having a heated conversation with OSU’s Caleb Asberry in the last two minutes of the game.
Add in the fact Jaren Holmes went 2-of-8 from the field for the Cyclones and you’ve got yourself a right offensive disaster. The Cowboys deserve credit for driving those struggles.
Iowa State deserves scolding for its reaction to them.
“It’s the best league in the country,” Otzelberger said. “You’ve got to have mental toughness. You’ve got to have physical toughness. You’ve got to understand that every single game you’ve got to get up and you’ve got to do those things. Disappointing. We didn’t do it today, but a lot of credit to them. They’re a really good defensive team and we let it get to us.”
The good news is there are still three weeks left in this season to get the vibes going in a more positive direction before postseason play. Despite what you might read on Twitter after this game, the season is not over.
Iowa State doesn’t have any problems that are not fixable. Everything that ails this team can be remedied to some point. Will they be perfect? No, but hardly anyone ever is in this sport.
The Cyclones need to get back to being themselves first, though. That means being mean, tough and nasty, but also being smart. It means being efficient offensively and playing together rather than getting frustrated by the ball not going in the hole and doing everything you can to right your own personal ship.
This team has to get back to controlling what it can control, because, right now, its being controlled by the things it can’t.
“Man, it’s disappointing,” Otzelberger said. “It’s a gut punch to me because we really tried to spend a lot of time focusing on that mental toughness and that togetherness, and I take that really personally. We’re gonna get that right.”
The struggles at the 3-point line continued for Iowa State on Saturday in a 73-60 loss to West Virginia in Morgantown.
Iowa State made just five of its 30 attempts from beyond the arc (16.7 percent) in a loss to a team it swept a season ago in three meetings.
“I don’t think there’s any question that this was the worst game of the season for us,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “You can’t play a game at this level and go 5-30 from the 3-point line and get outrebounded.”
“We only turned the ball over five times in the second half,” Fennelly said. “We took 30 three’s because they were collapsing. I would say 27 of them were wide-open shots and you go back to shoot-around today and we were making all of them.”
Ashley Joens finished the game with 17 points and nine boards, while Emily Ryan and Denae Fritz found their ways to double digits alongside her.
It, however, was not enough to overcome the 73 points West Virginia scored.
“We’ve got to figure out a way to compete at a level that gives us a chance,” Fennelly said. “It’s another game where – I don’t know what we’re doing different – but we fouled a lot again for the third straight game.”
The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Cyclones, either.
“There’s six tough games left and they don’t get any tougher than Monday night at home,” Fennelly said.
Iowa State will face a quick turnaround before squaring up with Texas on Monday at Hilton Coliseum (6:00 p.m. ESPN2).
The No. 11 Iowa State Cyclones (16-7, 7-4) are back at home Saturday at Hilton Coliseum to face Oklahoma State (15-9, 6-5) for their 12th Big 12 game of the season.
Below are the lines for the game, courtesy of Circa Sports, and where to watch it on TV.
No. 11 Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023
Tipoff:5:00 p.m. CT
Arena: Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa
TV:ESPN2 (Chuckie Kempf, pxp & Jess Settles, analyst)
Radio:Varsity/Cyclone Radio Network (John Walters & Eric Heft)
Odds:Iowa State -6
Over/Under:127.5
Moneyline:Iowa State -240
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — In front of a record-setting crowd at McLeod Center Friday night, the third-ranked Iowa State wrestling team notched a 19-12 win over No. 17 Northern Iowa.
The dual victory marked four in a row for Kevin Dresser’s program over the Panthers. This continues Iowa State’s undefeated streak in Big 12 competition notching their seventh straight win.
“Great atmosphere. Great crowd. Great energy,” Dresser said.
Iowa State set itself apart with six total match wins over the Panthers. Highlight performances came from the younger grapplers Zach Redding and MJ Gaitan.
Dresser has documented how hard Redding has been working behind the scenes to be “the guy” at 133 pounds. Redding finally saw the payout defeating No. 11 Kyle Biscoglia with a takedown in sudden victory to put the Cyclones on the board.
“It feels really good to know the work I’ve been putting in paid off tonight,” Redding said. “I knew coming into the dual that it was going to be a close dual and that my match was one of the main swing matches. It felt good to just go out there against a guy who is pretty stingy and hard to score on and just wrestle smart and get that takedown in overtime to get the win.”
In a lineup move that was previous used against Iowa, Dresser felt true freshman MJ Gaitan had a better shot at winning at 174 pounds than usual starter Julien Broderson.
True freshmen are granted the opportunity to wrestle five total times and it won’t burn their redshirt. This marked Gaitan’s fifth bout of the season.
The California native topped Lance Runyon 9-5. After trailing by three, Gaitan threw it all out there notching two takedowns in the final minute of the match. Plus, he surprised Runyon and got him to his back on the edge for four nearfall points.
“He gave us a better chance to win that match,” Dresser said. “That’s two really good wrestlers and that’s a really good match. If you keep throwing him out there, he’ll figure it out. He’s got a lot of composure for a young kid and you can’t teach that. That’s just who he is and how he was brought up.”
Dresser’s focus is now on ending the regular season undefeated in the Big 12.
“I just know we’re in a good spot right now,” Dresser said. “I like this team right now. Obviously, there are really young guys in some spots and then we’ve got some veterans. Truly, to be honest, I’m sure a forward-thinking person and we try to be a real forward-thinking staff that I can’t even tell you what the heck I was thinking last year except I was really excited because we beat UNI 16-15. I don’t remember a lot about where we were team-wise but we went on to beat Missouri the week after to go on and win the conference and go undefeated. We’re going to try to do that again next Wednesday.”
Post-Dual Video
Match-by-Match Results
No. 3 Iowa State 19, No. 14 Northern Iowa 12
125: Kyle Gollhofer (UNI) dec. Ethan Perryman (ISU), 8-6
133: Zach Redding (ISU) dec. Kyle Biscoglia (UNI), 4-2
141: Cael Happel (UNI) dec. Casey Swiderski (ISU), 4-3
149: Paniro Johnson (ISU) vs. Adam Allard (UNI) or Cael Rahnavardi (UNI)
157: Derek Holschlag (UNI) dec. Jason Kraisser (ISU), 4-1
165: David Carr (ISU) maj. dec. Austin Yant (UNI), 20-6
174: MJ Gaitan (ISU) dec. Lance Runyon (UNI), 9-5
184: Parker Keckeisen (UNI) dec. Marcus Coleman (ISU), 7-5
197: Yonger Bastida (ISU) vs. Kalob Runyon (UNI) or Wyatt Voelker (UNI)
285: Sam Schuyler (ISU) vs. Tyrell Gordon (UNI)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Boynton reacts in the first half during the men’s college basketball game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and TCU Horned Frogs at Gallagher-IBA Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Feb.4, 2023.
Location: Hilton Coliseum
Time: 5 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
KenPom Prediction: 65-60, Iowa State
1 – What’s changed in three weeks?It isn’t hard to imagine a world in which Iowa State’s Jan. 21 loss to Oklahoma State went a different way.
The Cyclones were played with a severely hampered version of Caleb Grill, who played only 17 minutes and scored only three points, while he dealt with the early stages of a back injury that would ultimately hold him out of Iowa State’s game the following Saturday.
Grill’s hobbled status significantly impacted Iowa State’s offense in that game, especially in the second half as the Cyclones surrendered a 10-point halftime lead before losing by two points.
Simply having Grill healthy will be a significant boost for Iowa State as they look to knock off the Cowboys in their second meeting.
“He spaces the floor a lot more. Keeps the floor open,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “(Osun Osunniyi) was able to get a lot of catches in the pocket at the elbows and nail and attack and then get some at the rim, because they were more spaced.”
Only one team in the Big 12 gets to the free throw line at a rate lesser than Oklahoma State. Yet, Iowa State put the Cowboys on the free throw line 28 times in their first meeting while getting to the charity stripe only 12 times themselves.
Iowa State has very clearly solidified itself as the most frequently fouling team in the league, sitting dead last in opposing free throw rate. The Cyclones fouled enough in that first meeting to put Oklahoma State on the line at a rate twice their season average.
With the Cyclones coming off being called for 30 fouls in Wednesday’s loss to West Virginia, keeping the Cowboys off the free throw line, and keeping Iowa State’s best players on the court, by guarding without fouling will be key in order to protect home court.
“We had five, six, seven of those where we just got to be smarter,” Otzelberger said of the fouls against West Virginia. “As much as we want to do things like offensive rebound, once we’re blocked out, we don’t need to have an unnecessary push in the back or things to put us at a greater disadvantage.”
2 – Dynamite defensivelyMike Boynton’s squad will roll into Ames on Saturday as one of the Big 12’s hottest teams. The Cowboys have won six of their last seven games, including four straight, and are playing some of their best basketball of the season despite the absence of point guard Avery Anderson, who is expected to miss his third straight game on Saturday.
This success is largely due to one of the nation’s best defenses, ranking No. 8 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. They’re one of the best 3-point defenses in the country, ranking No. 17 nationally, holding opponents to 29.5 percent from deep, and are No. 11 in 2-point defense, allowing opponents to make only 43.6 percent of shots inside the arc.
“They’re a really elite defensive team,” Otzelberger said. “They’ve consistently been that so when they’re making threes, and then when their bigs are making jump shots away from the goal, that makes a lot of challenging decisions on the defensive side of thing. They are playing really well right now.”
The ability to space out that defense and put pressure on what the Cowboys can do on that end is where Iowa State most severely missed Grill. The impact of his presence on the floor for this team cannot be overstated.
“When he wasn’t out there, they made different choices defensively,” Otzelberger said. “They had a lot more gap defense and more help and more guys at the rim. It’s huge for us. I think every game Caleb’s a winning player, and he plays hard. He does a lot of things to help us win. So having him, certainly, in this game, play those type of minutes, is important.”
Oklahoma State’s length and versatility basically guarantee any opponent will be forced to take and make difficult shots in order to play effectively offensively. You need all of your best bucket-getters on the floor in order to penetrate this group.
Even if you are able to penetrate the lane, the Cowboys have two of the league’s best shot blockers protecting the rim in Kalib Boone and Moussa Cisse.
Iowa State’s offense will need to be operating at a high level in this game if they have any hope of winning it comfortably, as they have in most of their games at Hilton Coliseum this season.
The more likely scenario is this turns into a grind-it-out game between two of the nation’s best defenses, and it will come down to who can make a play when the chips are down.
“Oklahoma State’s playing really well right now and I think kind of flying under the radar because it didn’t start right away at the top of the league standings,” Otzelberger said. “They’ve been picking up steam and they’ve been playing really well. We know that we’re gonna have to be on it every single possession. We can’t let our foot off the gas. We can’t have empty possessions offensively or ones where we have mental lapses defensively.”
3 – Names to knowOn the offensive end for Oklahoma State, everything starts with and revolves around 6-foot-6 do-it-all wing Bryce Thompson. The Cowboys are 7-1 this season when Thompson scores 15 or more points.
The Tulsa native scored 21 points and was 9-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-5 from deep, in Oklahoma State’s win over Texas Tech earlier this week.
He’s a capable scorer all over the floor with the ability to get to the rim and finish while also being one of the league’s best snipers, shooting 44.7 percent from deep against Big 12 opponents to rank No. 2 in the league.
Thompson is one of the league’s better offensive players in transition, and being able to get back with a set defense will be one of the day’s biggest keys for the Cyclones.
“We just learned that we’re going to start with transition,” Iowa State senior guard Gabe Kalscheur said when asked what the team learned from the first game with the Cowoboys. “We know that there are a lot of threes, especially fast breaks, so trying to stop that. As we get more physical, especially, when we come out aggressive, we just know that we’ve got to enforce our defense on them right away. We can let them dictate it, pushing us back on our heels.”
Boone has been one of the league’s biggest breakout players this season, averaging 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game since league play started. Wednesday night’s game against the Red Raiders broke Boone’s string of six-straight games scoring in double figures.
The 6-foot-9 senior from Tulsa is shooting 66.7 percent from 2-point range in Big 12 play, and that efficiency played a key role in Boone scoring 13 points in 18 minutes against Iowa State last month.
Boone will split time in the paint with Cisse, the reigning Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year, who has played 18 or more minutes in each of Oklahoma State’s last three games after missing four games in January while battling an injury.
Cisse looked like his old self in Oklahoma State’s win over Oklahoma last week, scoring 18 points and snagging five rebounds in 18 minutes of play.
“They’re shooting the ball with from three with a lot of confidence,” Otzelberger said. “Certainly, Cisse getting back healthy helps. He and Boone have both been scoring the ball at a higher rate as well, knocking down face-up jump shots and finishing around the goal.”
Not having Anderson will be significant for Oklahoma State in this game when you consider the success he’s had against the Cyclones over the last two years. He posted 18 points, five assists and eight turnovers in the first meeting between these teams, including hitting two 3-pointers that stand as his only makes from deep in Big 12 play (2-22).
There is no doubt this will be a significant challenge for Iowa State coming off another intense game on the road this week. It is a game the Cyclones need to win and protect their home court.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus senior guards Gabe Kalscheur and Caleb Grill, preview the Cyclones’ game against Oklahoma State on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum in the videos below.
Three former Cyclones have signed to play with the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks during the 2023 season.
Hakeem Butler, Willie Harvey and Mike Rose were announced to be on the team’s 51-team roster on Friday.
The league, which folded after attempting a return, is back in action this year with each team being set to play 10 games over the 2023 season.
St. Louis opens the year against the San Antonio Brahmas on February 19 at 2:00 p.m. on ABC.
The following is a press release from the Big 12 Conference:
The Big 12 announces that the Conference has agreed in principle to terms with the University of Oklahoma and The University of Texas at Austin to leave the Conference following the 2023-24 athletic year, one year earlier than originally announced, subject to final approval from the OU and UT governing Boards. Compensation to the Conference for the early withdrawals of the two schools totals $100 million in foregone distributable revenues, which OU and UT will be able to partially offset with future revenues.
“As I have consistently stated, the Conference would only agree to an early withdrawal if it was in our best interest for Oklahoma and Texas to depart prior to June 30, 2025,” said Commissioner Brett Yormark. “By reaching this agreement, we are now able to accelerate our new beginning as a 12-team league and move forward in earnest with our initiatives and future planning. I appreciate the approaches of OU President Joe Harroz and UT President Jay Hartzell to ensure an amicable conclusion to this process, and look forward to the bright days ahead for the Big 12 Conference.”
“Finding a satisfactory resolution to this matter that is fair to all parties, and best positions the Big 12 moving forward has been a top priority,” commented Texas Tech University President and Big 12 Conference Board of Directors Chairman Lawrence Schovanec. “This agreement would not have occurred without the collaboration of the presidents and chancellors of all 10 Big 12 universities, and our tremendous partners at ESPN and FOX. I am very grateful for everyone’s efforts to make today’s announcement possible.”
“We have always been committed to fulfilling our contractual obligations to the Big 12. The collegiate athletics landscape has continued to evolve rapidly, and working together to accelerate our exit produced benefits for all parties,” said Jay Hartzell, UT President. “The Big 12 has been a respected partner for nearly three decades, and we look forward to a final season of spirited competition with our friends and rivals. I appreciate Commissioner Yormark’s and Chairman Schovanec’s thoughtful approach and the collaborative work toward a solution that prioritizes the best interests of all institutions.”
“We are grateful to Commissioner Yormark and Chairman Schovanec for their concerted efforts to carve a path forward that allows us all to move ahead with clarity and certainty. With the new era of collegiate athletics fully upon us, an opportunity emerged for all parties involved to explore the value of an early departure. These terms further guarantee the sustainability, stability, competitiveness and excellence of us all,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “The exciting matchups and passionate rivalries of the past quarter century will always be a celebrated part of our shared history. We look forward to showcasing that intensity this season, next season and beyond.”
The terms reached today are the byproduct of the Conference members working toward a resolution that provides stability for all involved.
Details will continue to be finalized among all parties.
On July 1, 2023, the Big 12 welcomes new members BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati, and Houston to the Conference, and will compete as a 14-team league for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
New Iowa State Offensive Line Coach Ryan Clanton addressed media members for the first time on Thursday.
New Iowa State Special Teams Coordinator and Running Backs Coach Jordan Langs addressed media members for the first time on Friday.
At least three former Cyclones will be banging the dasher boards in the Indoor Football League this season.
Marcel Spears Jr., Lawrence White IV, and Amechie Walker have all signed with the IFL’s San Diego Strike Force.
Each player will compete for a roster spot through training camp where around 40 players will try to claim one of 21 roster spots.
The Strike Force entered the league in 2018 where it has remained ever since. Although the franchise has not qualified for the playoffs, changes were made during the off-season.
Former Iowa Barnstormers quarterback and veteran coach Taylor Genuser has taken the reigns in San Diego which includes bringing in the group of former Cyclones.
The team will open the season on Sunday, March 26 against the Quad City Steamwheelers. Fans can watch each and every IFL game on the league’s YouTube channel for no cost.
Feb 8, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers forward Jimmy Bell Jr. (15) and Iowa State Cyclones guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) dive for a loose ball during the first half at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State’s loss to West Virginia in Morgantown on Wednesday came down to one simple fact.
The Cyclones could not consistently guard without fouling for 40 minutes.
Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers made their last field goal of the game with 5:53 left on the clock. They also finished the game on a 6-0 run despite missing each of their last five shots.
A layup by Iowa State’s Jaren Holmes had given Iowa State a 60-57 lead with 9:45 left in the second half. Iowa State freshman point guard Tamin Lipsey picked up his fourth foul 30 seconds later.
Kedrion Johnson knocked down a pair of free throws, cutting Iowa State’s lead to one.
Osun Osunniyi picked up his fourth foul 25 seconds after that.
Erick Stevenson gave West Virginia the lead with two more makes at the charity stripe. The Mountaineers’ leading scorer extended the lead to three less than 30 seconds later after Robert Jones was whistled for a Class A technical foul while setting a screen.
Jones became the first Iowa State player to foul out of the game on an offensive foul with 7:16 left.
Johnson’s 3-pointer a minute and a half later, his third of the night, was the Mountaineers’ final field goal of the game, and gave the home team a six-point lead with less than six minutes to play.
A pair of free throws by Holmes and a fast break layup by Gabe Kalscheur pulled Iowa State back within two points. Lipsey missed on the front end of a one-and-one with 4:36 left and Osunniyi was whistled for his fifth foul on the rebound.
A bucket by Holmes gave Iowa State the lead back with 1:26 left, but it lasted only 19 seconds before Kalscheur was whistled for a foul, sending Iowa transfer guard Joe Toussaint to the free throw line, where he gave West Virginia the lead for good.
Iowa State was whistled for 30 fouls in Morgantown, which is a new program record for a game ending in regulation against a Big 12 opponent. There were 49 total fouls whistled and 55 free throws attempted.
Fifty-five free throws!
There were 37 West Virginia possessions in the second half of the basketball game. Iowa State was whistled for 17 fouls on those possessions.
The Cyclones shot 50 percent from the field in the second half. They also hit three 3-pointers on nine attempts and went 12-of-16 from the free throw line. They turned the ball over only six times, but three of them were the products of being whistled for offensive fouls.
West Virginia went 9-of-25 from the field after halftime. They hit three 3-pointers and knocked down 19-of-23 shots from the free throw line. They turned the ball over only five times and one of those was an offensive foul.
The officiating crew led the way with 31 second half foul calls, including four of the offensive variety.
This was a quality basketball game between two very similar teams. West Virginia has a really good team. They’ll be a tough out for every team in the league the rest of the way and have a very solid shot at getting to seven league wins (and into the NCAA Tournament) with three games still left to play in Morgantown.
It honestly felt like a blessing from heaven when Iowa State was down only six points going into the halftime locker room after trailing by as much as 15 in the first half.
West Virginia had been the aggressors from the opening moments, getting to the free throw line six times in the game’s first 10 minutes. The Cyclones had been able to flip the script back in their favor by closing the half on a 17-8 run.
Lipsey’s played a significant role in keying that run for Iowa State, scoring six-straight Cyclone points after the Mountaineers had built their largest lead of the night.
The freshman point guard showed some newfound confidence in his jump shot while scoring 10 points in the first eight minutes of the second half, including connecting on a pair of mid-range jumpers and one 3-pointer.
Lipsey finished with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting before fouling out after 25 minutes.
He was joined in double figures by Jaren Holmes, who had a team-high 18 points, and Caleb Grill, who tallied a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds as he regains his full form after dealing with a lingering back injury.
There certainly were things Iowa State could have done better in many different areas of this game. It all comes down to the fact they couldn’t consistently guard without fouling, though.
Iowa State was doing enough to be able to win this game as long as they could keep West Virginia’s offensive attack from turning into a never-ending parade to the charity stripe.
They weren’t able to do it, and that isn’t always the fault of the officials.
The Cyclones will need to be able to adjust what they’re doing in order to survive in games like this. I understand the value of being who you are and sticking with your daily habits and all of those things.
BUT, I would hate to see this very good Iowa State men’s basketball team’s season end at the hands of an inability to adjust to the whistle, I say while furiously knocking on wood.
There is a difference, though, between officiating a game to keep it under control and poor or inconsistent officiating. If the calls stay consistent, most knowledgable basketball viewers will live with most things.
Iowa State will do just fine in a game that is officiated consistently.
Wednesday night’s game, where hardly anybody on the court, on the sidelines, in the stands or watching on TV, knew what was or was not a foul. It was organized chaos in the absolute loosest sense of the phrase.
It was organized in the sense that there was an agreed upon location to the play the game, an agreed upon scoring structure, an agreed upon set of rules and an agreed upon group to adjudicate those rules.
It was chaos in basically every other way.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Four Iowa State players received invitations to the 2023 NFL Combine, held February 28-March 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Players that will represent the Cyclones at the Combine will be MJ Anderson (DE), Xavier Hutchinson (WR), Anthony Johnson Jr. (DB) and Will McDonald IV (DE).
A total of 319 players received invites to this year’s NFL Combine, held annually by the National Football League for prospective draft picks to showcase their skills in front of NFL scouts.ADVERTISING
Hutchinson was a record-setting receiver for the Cyclones, breaking the single-season (107) and career record (254) for receptions. He was a Biletnikoff Award finalist and an Associated Press First Team All-American in 2022.
McDonald IV broke the Cyclone record and tied the Big 12 career record with 34.0 sacks. He was a three-time First Team All-Big 12 selection by the league’s coaches and in 2021 earned First Team All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of America.
Johnson Jr. made the move from cornerback to safety for his senior season and earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors after finishing with 60 tackles and two interceptions. He broke the Iowa State and Big 12 record with 54 career starts.
In his only season playing at Iowa State, Anderson finished with 37 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He had nine tackles for a loss and recovered a fumble for the Cyclones in 2022. In the season finale, Anderson tallied a season-high eight tackles.
The NFL Network will broadcast each day of the Combine.
Iowa State Football will host a Spring Game for the first time since 2017 this year as the program moves through its 15 allotted March and April practices.
The news was announced over social media on Wednesday along with the full spring practice dates that the team is utilizing:
Come see us pic.twitter.com/nbXzQDdgLG
— Deon Broomfield (@Coach_Broom) February 8, 2023
Campbell first teased the news of the spring game returning in his National Signing Day press conference last week.
It will be Iowa State fans’ first look at Nate Scheelhaase’s offense since he took over the offensive coordinator role.
Feb 4, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Bob Huggins argues a call during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Location: Morgantown, W. Va.
Time: 6 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
KenPom Prediction: 69-66, WVU
1 – Deceiving metricsThere is only one team in the KenPom top-20 with a losing record in conference play, and that distinction belongs to the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Bob Huggins’s team started Big 12 play with five straight losses, but they’ve bounced back to win four of their last six games overall and three of their last five games against Big 12 competition.
They’ve made that flip exactly how you’d expect a West Virginia team to find success. That’s through physical, tough defense, tenacity crashing the glass and an endless parade of trips to the free throw line.
“They’re playing great. They’ve played a very challenging schedule. When you look at the losses, that’s certainly part of it,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “I’m not a big metrics guy or look at a whole lot of numbers, but, from what I’ve been told, they’re in the top-20 in NET and KenPom and all those things. Regardless of what their record is, the numbers say they’re like a top-20 team. More specifically, they’re playing really well right now.”
To understand how well this team is playing, you have to look no further than their last game against Oklahoma, a dominant 32-point win, in Morgantown on Saturday.
In the win over the Sooners, the Mountaineers collected 15 offensive rebounds, shot better than 50 percent from 2-point range and 40 percent from deep while also attempting 31 shots at the charity stripe.
No team in the league has done a better job at getting to the foul line in league play than West Virginia. They have the league’s highest free throw rate by a wide margin and they’re attempting 24.3 free throws per game, which ranks No. 7 nationally.
Mountaineer guards Kedrion Johnson and Joe Toussaint are each in the top five in the league in fouls drawn per 40 minutes. Johnson leads the league in free throw rate and has attempted eight or more free throws in five of West Virginia’s 10 league games.
Not only does Johnson get to the line a lot, but he converts from the line, too, knocking down better than 86 percent of his foul shots against Big 12 teams. He scored 16 points in the win over Oklahoma and was 8-of-8 from the free-throw line.
Keeping West Virginia off the free throw line will be one of this game’s biggest keys for Iowa State. It is going to be a tall task when you consider the Cyclones are dead last in the league in opponent free throw rate.
Only two Power Six teams put opponents on the free throw line more often than Iowa State. One of them is UConn and the other is West Virginia.
Nearly every team West Virginia has played in recent weeks has been to the free-throw line at least 20 times. The Cyclones need to stay aggressive offensively in order to do the same and keep that portion of the stat line as balanced as possible.
Of course, it might not matter that much since Iowa State is the Big 12’s worst free-throw shooting team, but this can’t be the kind of game where West Virginia attempts 30 free throws and Iowa State attempts five.
2 – Battle of the glassAnother of this game’s most important battles will come on the glass. Iowa State leads the league in opponent offensive rebounding rate while the Mountaineers are No. 2 in the league in creating second-chance opportunities.
West Virginia ranks No. 2 in the league in opponent offensive rebounding rate while Iowa State is No. 3 in creating those opportunities.
In other words, these teams are very similar in the way they want to attack the glass in order to create second chances and get easy baskets. This is an area Iowa State will have to win in order to leave Morgantown with a win.
“They’re a team that prides themselves on being the aggressor, especially on their court, where they overwhelm you,” Otzelberger said. “They do that with ball pressure. They do it with rebounding. The areas where we want to be really good, that’s where they try to be good in those things as well.”
West Virginia has several guys with prolific offensive potential, but as a team they’re not doing anything at a prolific level consistently. They rank No. 6 in the league in offensive efficiency during Big 12 play, they’re No. 9 in the conference in effective field goal percentage and bottom-half team in 3-point shooting.
The Mountaineers are able to level the playing field against more talented teams by dominating the glass and getting to the free throw line over and over again.
I cannot stress enough how important winning these two games within the game will be for Iowa State.
“We’ve got to focus on doing what we can do and being who we can be, but we know that we’re going to have to play really well to be successful there,” Otzelberger said. “We’re going to have to do what we can to make them not play as well by those same things.”
3 – Names to knowWhen diving into how West Virginia wants to play, it isn’t hard to pinpoint who they want to play through.
Wichita State/Washington/South Carolina transfer Erick Stevenson has been the Mountaineers’ best player throughout the entire season and has been especially hot over the last few weeks, scoring 15-plus points in each of the team’s last four games.
Stevenson is connecting on 38 percent of his 3-point attempts this season but is knocking down just 25 percent of his shots from deep in Big 12 play. Still, he’s proven to be a dangerous sniper by making 13 of his last 21 3-point attempts at home.
The 6-foot-4 senior scored 31 points and was 7-of-10 from deep in West Virginia’s win over Auburn in the Big 12/SEC Challenge then went for 34 points on 6-of-11 from deep against Oklahoma.
Stevenson can be a streaky player, but if you allow him to get comfortable, he’s capable of making it a long night for opposing teams.
“He’s playing great. Lately, he’s shooting it with a lot of confidence. He’s highly aggressive,” Otzelberger said. “When his mentality is focused on being the best he can for his team, they play at a really high level. They’ve certainly been doing that lately. They’ve had some big wins. Most teams, when it’s the leading scorer or the best offensive player, whatever that may be, when things are going well for him, it usually means things will go well for others. What we need to do is do a great job of being intentional, not letting him be comfortable and not letting him get clean looks, open looks or be confident. We’ve got to always try to be disruptive and try to frustrate him.”
Stevenson is aided by a trio of double-figure scorers led by 6-foot-9 Texas/UMass transfer Tre Mitchell, who is averaging 12.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season. He’s connecting on 40 percent of his shots from deep against Big 12 teams.
Iowa State fans are already familiar with Toussaint, the 6-foot, transfer guard from Iowa, who is averaging 10 points and 2.7 assists per game for the Mountaineers. He scored a season-high 22 points in West Virginia’s win over Texas Tech two weeks ago while going 12-of-14 from the free throw line.
The last of that trio is the aforementioned Johnson, who is better than anybody else in the Big 12 at getting to the free throw line, and that’s where he does the majority of his damage on a given night.
The keys to this game could not be any clearer for Iowa State. Dominate the glass, keep them off the free throw line and keep Stevenson uncomfortable.
Do those things, and you’ve got a great chance to maintain your spot tied atop the league. Fail to accomplish those keys and it could be a very, very long night in Morgantown.
Iowa State women’s basketball has moved down to No. 21 in the latest AP Poll release after an 0-2 week that saw losses to K-State and Baylor.
The Cyclones have a bye this round for this round of Big 12 play and will return to the court on Saturday to face off with West Virginia on the road.
The full poll can be seen below:
AP WBB Poll
Monday, February 6, 2023
1. South Carolina
2. Indiana
3. LSU
4. UConn
5. Iowa
6. Stanford
7. Utah
8. Maryland
9. Duke
10. Notre Dame
11. Virginia Tech
12. Michigan
13. Ohio State
14. North Carolina
15. Villanova
16. Oklahoma
17. Arizona
18. UCLA
19. Florida State
20. Texas
21. Iowa State
22. NC State
23. Gonzaga
24. South Florida
25. Colorado
Others receiving votes: Baylor 29, Illinois 18, UNLV 14, Tennessee 13, USC 8, Middle Tennessee 8, Florida Gulf Coast 2, Louisville 2, Cleveland State 1
Iowa State men’s basketball climbed to No. 11 in the latest AP Poll when the rankings came out on Monday, moving up two spots since the previous release.
The Cyclones are one of five Big 12 programs ranked inside the top 14 in the poll and one of six programs from the conference to appear in the top 17.
Texas is the highest ranked program in the conference at No. 5, while Kansas slots in at No. 9 following the loss. Kansas State is one spot back from the Cyclones at No. 12 and Baylor continues to ascend at No. 14.
TCU was ranked No. 17 and Iowa State’s opponent for Wednesday in West Virginia received five votes.
The full poll can be seen below:
AP MBB Poll
Monday, February 6, 2023
1. Purdue
2. Houston
3. Alabama
4. Arizona
5. Texas
6. Tennessee
7. UCLA
8. Virginia
9. Kansas
10. Marquette
11. Iowa State
12. Kansas State
13. Xavier
14. Baylor
15. Saint Mary’s
16. Gonzaga
17. TCU
18. Indiana
19. Miami
20. Providence
21. UConn
22. NC State
23. Creighton
24. Rutgers
25. San Diego State
Others receiving votes: Florida Atlantic 93, Duke 87, Auburn 65, Clemson 31, Pittsburgh 26, Illinois 25, Nevada 16, New Mexico 16, Maryland 12, Arkansas 11, Iowa 8, Missouri 6, West Virginia 5, Oral Roberts 5, Northwestern 3, Charleston 3, VCU 2, Utah State 2, Kentucky 1
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger addressed media members over Zoom on Monday to preview his team’s upcoming game against West Virginia Wednesday.
Feb 4, 2023; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Timmy Allen (0) drives to the basket against Kansas State Wildcats forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin (35) during the second half at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
We’ve made it to the home stretch.
There’s still one month on the calendar and eight games left on the Big 12 schedule, but these next few weeks are going to fly as the conference title race continues to heat up.
We’ll be in Kansas City for the Big 12 Tournament exactly one month from this Wednesday. We will have no idea how these teams will be seeded or anything of that nature, but every night of Big 12 actions reminds us how great this year’s tournament could be.
Let’s get to the updated power rankings.
1 – Texas – 8-2The Longhorns are now 12-3 since Rodney Terry took over as the program’s head coach in mid-December. Texas has won its last four Big 12 games since losing in Ames to take sole control of first place in the league. They’ve done so with a balanced attack that lends to someone different having a big night every time they step on the floor. They’ll get a big test tonight at Allen Fieldhouse.
This week: @ Kansas (Monday), vs. West Virginia (Saturday)
2 – Iowa State – 7-3With the league’s best defense and the second-best offense, Iowa State has put itself in a position to contend for the league title until the final weeks. The Cyclones’ ability to win the league will likely come down to their ability to steal at least one win on the road in their last eight games. They’ve proven to be nearly unbeatable at Hilton Coliseum this season, and they’ll have four games in Ames this month, but they’ve got to go on the road to West Virginia, Kansas State, Texas and Baylor, too. Can they close the year at 5-3 or better?
This week: @ West Virginia (Wednesday), vs. Oklahoma State (Saturday)
3 – Kansas State – 6-4The Wildcats have one of the league’s most favorable schedules to end the season. They’ve already played Kansas and Texas twice, which means Iowa State and Baylor are the only genuine contenders left on the slate, and both of those teams still have to visit Bramlage Coliseum. Their last four road games are at Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and West Virginia.
This week: vs. TCU (Tuesday), @ Texas Tech (Saturday)
4 – Baylor – 6-4Since losing three straight to open Big 12 play, Scott Drew’s team has won seven of its last eight games to push its way back into league title contention. They’ll play seven of their last eight games against teams in the top-30 on KenPom. They still have to visit Lawrence and Manhattan before the season ends.
This week: vs. Oklahoma (Wednesday), @ TCU (Saturday)
5 – Kansas – 6-4It has been a long time since Bill Self’s team sat this deep in the power rankings this late in the season, but this last six games stretch has proven this probably isn’t one of Self’s best teams. Jalen Wilson is undeniably great and has been the entire season, but the Jayhawks’ lack of depth, especially in the frontcourt, is concerning for their long-term prospects. A win tonight over Texas will keep the Jayhawks in the race, but a loss, especially at home, will have them on the outside looking in.
This week: vs. Texas (Monday), @ Oklahoma (Saturday)
6 – Oklahoma State – 5-5The good news is Mike Boynton’s team has won five of its last six games and has put them back into NCAA Tournament contention. The Cowboys were the last team in the field in Joe Lundari’s most recent Bracketology released late last week. The bad news is the Cowboys still have to play every Big 12 contender besides Texas at least once more, and they still have to go to Ames, Fort Worth and Morgantown. This team needs to sweep Texas Tech and find a way to steal two more in their last eight to finish 9-9 and that should get them into the dance.
This week: vs. Texas Tech (Wednesday), @ Iowa State (Saturday)
7 – TCU – 6-4This team’s injury luck (or lack thereof) makes me want to throw up. Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Mike Miles has missed the last two games. Center Eddie Lampkin didn’t play in three of the team’s last four contests. How quickly does this group get back to full strength? Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma State proves how much they need those two guys in order to play their best ball. If they’re both out for an extended period of time, this team could get dangerously close to the bubble.
This week: @ Kansas State (Tuesday), vs. Baylor (Saturday)
8 – West Virginia – 3-7The metrics still don’t make any sense to me, but despite being 3-7 in Big 12 play, the Mountaineers still sit at No. 14 nationally on KenPom. Bob Huggins’ team has won four of their last six and has a chance to pick up two significant wins this week. Road trips to Austin, Waco, Lawrence and Ames in the last eight don’t give much confidence. This team badly needs to win all its home games in order to stay in the NCAA Tournament field. They were one of the last four in Lundari’s most recent bracket projection.
This week: vs. Iowa State (Wednesday), @ Texas (Saturday)
9 – Oklahoma – 2-8Since destroying Alabama in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, the Sooners have lost two in a row, bringing their current stretch to three wins in their last 11 games. They’ve lost their last three Big 12 games by 27 points, 10 points and 22 points, respectively. The Sooners’ continued struggles has to leave one wondering if Porter Moser would entertain calls from elsewhere in the offseason. Could he be a fit at Notre Dame with Mike Brey’s impending retirement?
This week: @ Baylor (Wednesday), vs. Kansas (Saturday)
10 – Texas Tech – 1-9The Red Raiders picked up their first Big 12 win of the year in thrilling fashion last Monday then followed it up by losing by 27 points to Baylor on Saturday. It seemed like this team found a formula for success in that win over Iowa State, but I’m just not sure this team has enough quality talent to do much more than win another game or two the rest of the way. They’ll be a tough out for whoever gets them on the opening night in Kansas City, though, especially if they’re fully healthy by then.
This week: @ Oklahoma State (Wednesday), vs. Kansas State (Saturday)
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – No. 3 Iowa State (14-2, 5-0 Big 12) defeated No. 18 Pittsburgh (9-3, 3-0), 16-15, Friday night thanks to a dual-winning takedown by Sam Schuyler at 285 pounds. Schuyler, ranked No. 10 in the nation, secured the takedown with less than 15 seconds remaining in the final bout to defeat No. 5 Dayton Pitzer, 4-3.
The Cyclones and Panthers each won five bouts in the dual, but Iowa State won on criteria by way of match points, 51-44. It is just the fourth dual in program history to be decided by criteria.
It was a back-and-forth affair with Pittsburgh winning the first three matches before Iowa State won the next three, leaving the teams tied, 9-9, after six matches. The squads then exchanged match wins the remainder of the dual.
Paniro Johnson righted the ship for ISU at 149 pounds after a slow Cyclone start. The Erie, Pennsylvania native earned a 5-3 decision against Tyler Badgett to get the Cyclones on the board.
At 157 pounds, Jason Kraisser secured two takedowns, a reversal and amassed 2:18 of riding time in an 8-5 decision over Jared Keslar.
David Carr evened the dual with a 7-3 decision over Holden Heller at 165 pounds, his 23rd consecutive win.
After ISU dropped the 174-pound bout on a late takedown, No. 4 Marcus Coleman pulled Iowa State back level with a 10-5 victory over Reece Heller. A fast start – two first-period takedowns and two near fall – propelled the Cyclone senior to the win.
Yonger Bastida led late in his match but dropped a tough 6-4 decision to Nino Bonaccorsi in the dual’s featured bout.
With the dual on the line, Schuyler delivered. The senior heavyweight got in on a leg with roughly 30 seconds remaining and managed to limp-arm out of a Pitzer whizzer to secure the match-winning, and dual-clinching, takedown.
Up Next
The Cyclones are back on the road for a dual at Northern Iowa Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. ISU then returns home for against Illinois on Feb. 12 for a matchup against Illinois (Beauty and the Beast). Tickets are available, here.
Match-by-Match Results
No. 3 Iowa State 16, No. 18 Pittsburgh 15
125: Colton Camacho (PITT) dec. Caleb Fuessley (ISU), 3-1
133: Micky Phillippi (PITT) dec. Zach Redding (ISU), 5-4
141: Cole Matthews (PITT) dec. Casey Swiderski (ISU), 5-4
149: Paniro Johnson (ISU) dec. Tyler Badgett (PITT), 5-3
157: Jason Kraisser (ISU) dec. Jared Keslar (PITT), 8-5
165: David Carr (ISU) dec. Holden Heller (PITT), 7-3
174: Luca Augustine (PITT) dec. MJ Gaitan (ISU), 6-4
184: Marcus Coleman (ISU) dec. Reece Heller (PITT), 10-5
197: Nino Bonaccorsi (PITT) dec. Yonger Bastida (ISU), 6-4
285: Sam Schuyler (ISU) dec. Dayton Pitzer (PITT), 4-3
Iowa State wins on criteria (match points), 51-44
MARSHALL, Mo. – Eight Cyclones competed unattached at the Missouri Valley College Open Saturday afternoon.
At 157 pounds, Andrew Huddleston finished at the top of the podium with 5-0 day, including three major decisions.
Iowa State Results
141: Drew Woodley – 4th
157: Andrew Huddleston – 1st
157: Christian Stanek – 4th
165: Cade Schmidt – 4th
197: Rowan Udell – 5th
285: Jacob Cates – DNP
285: Xavier Bruening – 5th
AMES, Iowa – For the first time this season, an Iowa State basketball team was defeated at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State was downed by Baylor, Saturday night, suffering a 76-70 defeat in their sixth loss of the season.
“Disappointed in the outcome,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said after the game. “We got beat by a better team. It’s a make shot-miss shot game… credit to them. It was a tough week for our team, but we’ll see how we respond and move forward.”
If there was anything positive to take away from the game, Nyamer Diew might have had all of it.
The junior erupted for a career high with 25 points in the game, including some electrifying and-1’s that brought the crowd to its feet.
She looked all of the part of the player the Iowa State staff was looking to get out of her when she transferred from Butler.
“You take Ny out of there and we couldn’t make anything,” Fennelly said.
Diew finished with a 3-4 mark from the 3-point line and 10-13 overall. Without her, the Cyclones shot 18-53 from the field and just 2-20 from the 3-point line.
“We were trying a little bit of everything,” Fennelly said. “We were trying to get to the free throw line. We were making some two’s and trying to be more aggressive getting to the rim. We just couldn’t get to the line and we’d kick it (out)… that’s the game.”
The loss makes Iowa State 15-6 on the season, with a 7-4 mark through 11 games in Big 12 play.
With Texas winning on the road at Kansas, the Cyclones will be two games out of the lead in the standings with seven remaining in the season.
Iowa State will have some extra time to take in this loss, with its next game not coming until Saturday night in Morgantown.
Some will look at that aspect as an opportunity, especially an experienced coach like Fennelly, with an experienced group on the floor.
“I love our team,” Fennelly said. “I wouldn’t trade any of them for anyone – the way they represent Iowa State, the way they compete, the way they show up every day, the respect they have for one another. I have no idea how many games we’re going to win the rest of the way – maybe none, I don’t know – but we’re going to show up. We’re going to play hard. We’re going to do what we need to do. I’m not worried about that at all.”
Although, as Fennelly said, this is the month where the stakes get higher, monumentally.
“When you get to February, the execution has to go with effort,” Fennelly said. “Our effort’s good. Our execution has to get better, and that starts with me and the stuff that I do.”
One of the keys Fennelly mentioned is finding more minutes for its players coming off of the bench, whether they’re producing or not.
The Cyclones played only seven players in Saturday’s game with all five of its starters finishing with over 30 minutes of court time, including the main trio all playing over 39.
There are six days in between Saturday and Iowa State’s next game.
With time to analyze and high stakes seven-game stretch, there’s plenty left to play for. Only time will tell how Iowa State attacks it.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Ashley Joens and Nyamer Diew talk about their first home loss of the 2022-23 season:
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Jaren Holmes (13) and Iowa State University Cyclones forward Aljaž Kunc (5) celebrate after a three-point score against Kansas during the second half at Hilton Coliseum Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.
AMES — Iowa State went into the halftime locker room with a 33-21 lead over Kansas on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.
The No. 13 Cyclones had led for the majority of the first half. They had connected on nearly twice as many field goals as the No. 8 Jayhawks. Kansas had attempted only three shots at the rim while firing up 14 3-pointers. The reigning national champs had even turned the ball over 11 times in the first 20 minutes.
Still, nobody in the building felt comfortable, especially since Iowa State had blown a 23-point second-half lead just four days earlier in an overtime loss to Texas Tech.
Yes, the Cyclones were ahead, but this game was not over.
Perhaps nobody in the arena felt more uncomfortable than Iowa State senior guard Jaren Holmes, who was 0-of-4 from the field and 0-of-2 from deep before the break. He’d looked a step slow and a little bit sluggish in the first half.
Everyone’s comfort level dipped even further once Kansas opened the second half with a 1`0-3 run to pull back within five points with 16:03 left on the clock. Flashbacks to Monday in Lubbock were starting to flow through the minds of the Iowa State faithful as the Cyclones left the under-16 media timeout.
Holmes scored his first point of the night after that break, connecting on the first of two free throws to extend Iowa State’s lead back to six at 37-31.
The Romulus, Mich. native missed the second shot from the charity stripe, but Robert Jones was there to corral the offensive rebound for Iowa State. The putback opportunity was missed, but a scramble for the ball deflected it out of bounds off of Kansas.
Holmes lined up in the middle of the paint as Iowa State set up a sideline out-of-bounds play from deep in the corner in front of their own bench. He set a back screen for Caleb Grill, then cut around off a screen near the top of the key from Jones toward the left wing.
Iowa State point guard Tamin Lipsey found Holmes wide open as Kansas defender Kevin McCullar trailed around the screen a step behind. Holmes’ 3-point attempt breezed past McCullar’s out-stretched arm — and found nothing but the bottom of the net.
The Cyclones’ lead was back to double digits less than a minute later after Holmes secured a rebound and took it the length of the floor for a transition layup, forcing a Kansas timeout.
Holmes scored 12 of Iowa State’s first 14 points after halftime. His third 3-pointer of the afternoon, with 12:21 left, gave Iowa State a 13-point lead, its biggest of the day to that point. Holmes’ fourth 3-pointer of the second half pushed the Cyclones’ lead to 19 with 8:29 to play.
Once it was all said and done, Holmes’ second-half dominance had propelled Iowa State to a 68-53 win over the Jayhawks. It is the program’s fourth win over an AP Top-10 team this year, a new school record.
What changed for Holmes after halftime?
“I went in the locker room and I threw up,” Holmes said in a deadpan voice after the game that sounded more like a joke than reality. “I’m 100 percent serious. I’ve been dealing with some sickness over the past week and a half. Today was more so stomach. I felt better after I threw up.”
That last fact was made abundantly clear by the senior combo guard who continues to step up in the moments when Iowa State needs him most. He tallied all 15 of his points after halftime, shooting 5-of-6 from the field and 4-of-4 from deep.
Holmes was tremendous in the second halves of the Cyclones’ wins over Texas and Kansas State. He’s actually been fantastic at Hilton Coliseum the entire year, averaging 15.3 points per game at home compared to 10.0 points per game on the road.
Iowa State was starting to teeter early in the second half against Kansas, but it was Holmes who put the team on his back and carried them to the finish. He knew someone needed to do it after the way the final 10 minutes of the game in Lubbock on Monday had played out.
“Ultimately, I’ve been in situations like that not scoring in the first half and not having a strong start,” Holmes said. “I just trust the work that I put in and knowing those shots are going to fall because I put in the work and I’m going to reap those benefits. Tamin’s going to keep passing me the ball so I’m going to keep trying to get him those assists.”
Speaking of Lipsey, without Holmes’ second-half burst and colorful postgame commentary, the freshman point guard from Ames would’ve been the story coming out of this game. He’d been one of the stories coming out of Monday’s game, too, but for completely different reasons.
He was the first player on the floor pregame, putting in work and getting up shots with Iowa State assistant coach J.R. Blount. Iowa’s reigning high school Mr. Basketball was chomping at the bit to bounce back after playing one of his worst stretches of the season in the final 10 minutes against Tech.
He responded by tallying nine points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and three steals with only two turnovers. He secured four offensive rebounds, prompting Kansas head coach Bill Self to call Lipsey “the best offensive rebounding point guard he’s seen.”
That’s high praise from one of the most revered basketball minds on the planet right now. It is praise that is well deserved, and the only bad news is how rapidly we’re running out of good things to say about Lipsey that hasn’t already been said.
“There’s nobody that loves being a Cyclone and wants our team to win and cares more than Tamin Lipsey,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “His 21st college game, down in Lubbock, he took that really personally. He felt bad. He really wants to play his best for his teammates and this program. He cares so much. How he bounced back, it wasn’t words, it was actions. It was everything that everybody saw these last few days. Look, the guy’s going against a national championship starting point guard in (Kansas’ Dajuan) Harris. Tamin won that match-up and he won it in a lot of ways.”
The numbers prove how spectacular Lipsey was offensively for the most part in this game, but he was equally as awesome defensively. The entire Cyclone roster was locked in defensively as they held one of the nation’s best offensive teams to just 53 points on 38.6 percent shooting from the field and 26.1 percent from deep.
The Jayhawks were forced into 20 turnovers on the afternoon, including five from star freshman guard Gradey Dick, who was never comfortable in his first Hilton Coliseum experience, scoring seven points on 2-of-6 from the field and 1-of-4 from 3-point range.
Iowa State almost completely eliminated Kansas’ ability to get into the middle, winning the points in the paint battle 36-16. The Cyclones attempted 32 shots in the painted area. Kansas attempted just 12 shots in the paint while also taking 23 shots from 3-point range.
The Jayhawks found considerable success in the first meeting between these two teams by utilizing center KJ Adams as a short-roller off of ball screens. Kansas made that an emphasis early in the game, getting a couple of open looks in the game’s opening possessions, but Iowa State adjusted and was able to eliminate the middle of the floor from Kansas’ attack.
“We did nothing to make them play bad,” Self said. “They did some things to make us play bad. Believe it or not, I actually thought we had some good possessions early and missed a lot of shots. After that, we didn’t have many good possessions. They were better from start to finish.”
The thing that will stick with me the most from this game is just how purely dominant Iowa State was in the middle of the floor. When was the last time we saw an Iowa State team physically kick Kansas’ butts in the frontcourt?
It has been a long time.
Osun Osunniyi scored 13 points on 6-of-8 from the field and snagged five rebounds. Every game Osunniyi seems to get more comfortable in his role with this team, and his ability to take another step over the next few weeks could take even further pressure off of Iowa State’s shooters.
Tre King was fantastic off the bench tallying 10 points and grabbing five rebounds on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. The Cyclones’ offense will go to another level once they figure out the way to best utilize King’s gifts in the mid-post, where he made a couple of the day’s best moves to convert some tough buckets.
Along with Jones and the newly healthy Aljaz Kunc, Iowa State is going to have the frontcourt bodies to keep up with nearly any team in the country. They have so many different strengths and such contrasting skill sets that you can find a mismatch with someone on any given night.
Kunc’s return is especially felt (or noticed) in the way Iowa State runs its motion offense in the half-court. The senior forward is one of the Cyclones’ best cutters, does a great job being in his spots on time and rarely allows the ball to stick when he’s in the ball-reversal role at the top of the key.
“He’s been busting his tail throughout practice while he’s been on the sidelines hurt,” Holmes said. “He ultimately adds a different look. He’s a bigger guard, in my opinion, that can handle the ball, make great decisions and he can knock down the three. It’s easy for him to space the floor. He can pick and pop. He’s not a selfish player. He cares about winning regardless of him starting or coming off the bench, playing five to 10 minutes. It doesn’t matter to him. He wants to be part of something great.”
It was easy to forget about all the great things about this Iowa State team after its two-game slump leading into this game. The Cyclones’ limitations had started to show a little bit and opponents were able to take advantage of those things.
Iowa State had allowed a pair of teams that play a desperate style of basketball to rattle them. Saturday was a reminder that the Cyclones are one of those teams, too.
When this team plays with desperation, it can play with and beat any team in college basketball. When it plays with desperation inside Hilton Coliseum, it is going to require an absolutely Herculean effort by an opposing team to beat them.
“Today we came out and played desperate,” Holmes said. “We were the more desperate team. We needed to win this game. We’re just going to try to continue doing that and playing our best each and every night.”
Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Jaren Holmes and Tamin Lipsey addressed media members following their team’s 68-53 win over No. 8 Kansas on Saturday.
Former Iowa State running back Breece Hall spoke to media members during his return to Ames on Saturday ahead of the Iowa State – Kansas basketball game.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – No. 3 Iowa State (13-2, 6-0 Big 12) survived a scare at West Virginia (7-4, 1-4 Big 12) Friday night, 20-13. The Cyclones dug out of a 10-0 hole after dropping the first three matches of the dual and picked up bonus-point victories from Paniro Johnson and Yonger Bastida in the process.
ISU has now won 26 of its last 28 duals overall and 17 consecutive Big 12 matchups.
After the slow start, Paniro Johnson stopped the bleeding with a convincing 14-4 major decision over Sam Hillegas. Johnson, an Erie, Pennsylvania native, got to his offense often in front of a large contingent of family and friends in attendance, racking up six takedowns in the win.ADVERTISING
Jason Kraisser picked up a key victory at 157 pounds with a 5-3 decision over a lanky Alex Hornfeck. Eleven of Kraisser’s 21 matches this season have been decided by a takedown or less.
In the marquee matchup of the dual, No. 2 David Carr took out No. 10 Peyton Hall, 8-2. Carr was aggressive early with a pair of first-period takedowns and added a third in the final period to lock up the win.
The Cyclones closed the dual with three-straight wins by Marcus Coleman (184), Bastida (197) and Sam Schuyler (285).
Coleman was eying bonus points against Anthony Carman after he locked up a cradle for four near fall points in the second period. A late takedown and ride out by Carman in the third period prevented bonus points, but Coleman picked up a 9-5 decision.
Bastida registered seven takedowns in a 17-8 major decision against Austin Cooley, including six in the last two periods.
At 285 pounds, Schuyler put the dual away with a 4-2 decision over Michael Wolfgram. Schuyler secured a first-period takedown and put on a couple of tough rides against the Mountaineer to earn the win.
Up Next
No. 3 Iowa State travels to No. 18 Pittsburgh for a top 20 matchup. First match is set for 6 p.m. (CT) on ACCNX.
Match-by-Match Results
No. 3 Iowa State 20, West Virginia 13
125: Killian Cardinale (WVU) dec. Caleb Fuessley (ISU), 3-2
133: Davin Rhoads (WVU) dec. Zach Redding (ISU), 6-2
141: Jordan Titus (WVU) maj. dec. Casey Swiderski (ISU), 11-3
149: Paniro Johnson (ISU) maj. dec. Sam Hillegas (WVU), 14-4
157: Jason Kraisser (ISU) dec. Alex Hornfeck (WVU), 5-3
165: David Carr (ISU) dec. Peyton Hall (WVU), 8-2
174: Scott Joll (WVU) dec. Julien Broderson (ISU), 8-2
184: Marcus Coleman (ISU) dec. Anthony Carman (WVU), 9-5
197: Yonger Bastida (ISU) maj. dec. Austin Cooley (WVU), 17-8
285: Sam Schuyler (ISU) dec. Michael Wolfgram (WVU), 4-2
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and Ashley Joens addressed media members on Friday at Hilton Coliseum ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Baylor.
Location: Hilton Coliseum
Time: 11 a.m.
TV: ESPN
KenPom Prediction: 68-67, Iowa State
1 – Bounce backWhat better way to get a sour taste out of your mouth?
Surely folks inside Iowa State’s program were disgusted by how they finished Monday night’s game against Texas Tech. There are a lot of teams that could have their season derailed by losing a 23-point lead in 10 minutes.
This team does not have a chance to feel sorry for themselves, though. They’ll have a raucous environment behind them with one of the best programs in college basketball history rolling into town.
Finding a way to win this game is the best mouthwash on the market.
“It was awesome to get back to the practice court,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “Guys had good energy. Spirits were upbeat. I liked the energy that we had. Feel good about where our guys are at now.”
It does not surprise me at all to know this team has handled the days since losing in Lubbock well. It is a veteran group with so much experience at the collegiate level.
This team understands the roller coaster, especially the up-and-down nature of playing in the nation’s best basketball conference. Everyone is bound to have a rough stretch.
Just ask Kansas, which lost three straight last month before bouncing back to win each of its last two games.
“We’re all going to experience adversity through the course of the year,” Otzelberger said. “All of us coaches know that. There’s going to be a stretch, as good as everybody is, Baylor lost three to start league. Kansas lost three right there. Everybody’s going to have that adversity. How you respond to it and not getting down and not letting things fester or harboring on things you didn’t do and just getting back to focusing on what you do do. For us, coming off the last two games, that’s really where we need to be. If we go down pressuring the basketball, rebounding the ball and commanding it, doing the things we talk about every time I’m in front of the microphone and in front of our guys, we’re going to be fine with what the outcome is night-in and night-out. We just have to make sure we have a stubborn, tough, grit to saying we are the aggressor, we do pressure the ball, we’re great on the glass and we’re going to do a great job valuing it.”
Iowa State was beaten by a team in desperation mode on Monday. Texas Tech was able to flip the script on the Cyclones and beat them at their own game.
That game felt like a wake-up call. This team still isn’t good enough to play only 30 quality minutes. They have to be the aggressors from the first minute to the 40th minute.
The Cyclones have an opportunity to be a desperate team now.
“I know our guys are really excited to be back in front of our fans,” Otzelberger said. “Certainly, they’ve performed well at Hilton. We’ve been the aggressor in this building. We need to. That’s going to be so important on Saturday. We continue with it, and I’m confident we will. It’s one game at a time, there’s one game in front of us, a lot of respect for their program. At the same time, one play this way or that way and the outcome could’ve been different down there. We feel good about where we’re at. We feel good about the position that we’re in. If you’d said the slate of games we had the first half of the league, would you be good with 6-3? Probably all would’ve said that’s a great spot to be in. I think we have to not be overreactive as disappointing as the game was on Monday and as frustrating as it was, it’s still one game. It counts for one loss. We’ve got to do a great job of what’s in front of us and this opportunity on Saturday couldn’t be bigger.”
2 – Beating pressureI would be pretty surprised if we didn’t see Kansas try to utilize any full-court pressure against Iowa State. Missouri had success with it last week, and Texas Tech used it on Monday to fuel its comeback.
Teams have been able to speed Iowa State up with that pressure and it has prevented the Cyclones from finding their rhythm offensively. The Cyclones’ guards have aided opponents in that by playing too fast and trying to do too much rather than just staying calm and continuing to play their game.
“I would say more than anything, everyone has to be involved in our offense,” Otzelberger said when asked about breaking the pressure. “Everything we do is based on the team dynamic. When you really look at it, there’s a lot of guys who were playing that were nowhere near the ball that last 10 minutes of the game. That’s not what we preach, not what we do. Even though you can say, ‘How are we going to attack it?’ Our players still have the strengths and the skillset that they do. We’ve got to play to their strengths. When teams are trying to take us out of that, we’ve still got to be mindful of for our offense to be effective, we need to be able to drive the ball some, go into the post some, hit the roller some, cutting some and offensive rebound.”
Tamin Lipsey’s response to his rough stretch to end Monday night’s game will be an intriguing storyline to track. The freshman from Ames was dynamite for nearly 30 minutes in Lubbock, but those final 10 minutes were the first time he’s looked like a Big 12 rookie in quite some time.
Early in the game, keep an eye on the way Lipsey’s on-ball defender, who I’d expect to be Kansas’ fantastic point guard Dajuan Harris, is approaching the match-up. Missouri and Texas Tech had success limiting Lipsey at times by sagging his defender deep into the middle of the paint and daring him to shoot over the top.
I don’t expect to see Kansas deploy that strategy for the entire game, because Harris is too good of an on-ball defender to utilize in that way. Still, if Lipsey is able to find a rhythm of getting downhill and attacking the middle of the Jayhawk defense, it is a tactic that Bill Self and his staff would be smart to explore on some level.
“The one thing in our league is the majority of people play a defensive system that involves a lot of ball pressure,” Otzelberger said. “Certainly, what we saw on Saturday (against Missouri) was a little bit different from what we’ve seen at points in time. When people make that choice, there’s things that we can do, whether we’re more intentional about driving the ball, now there’s no ball pressure, we’re getting rollers and post-ups more, whether we’re keeping our dribble alive in the paint and we’re finding guys who are more of our scorers. I think it comes down to more just keeping that team dynamic. How does the ball keep moving? How does everybody keep touching it?”
3 – Jayhawk starsIf it weren’t for Markquis Nowell’s breakout success at Kansas State, the Jayhawks’ Jalen Wilson would have a strong chance of being the unanimous Big 12 Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-8 junior from Denton, Texas continues to play the best basketball of his college career and currently sits at No. 2 in KenPom’s National Player of the Year standings. He’s scored 20-plus in each of Kansas’ last five games and is playing more than 92 percent of the minutes possible in Big 12 play.
Iowa State was the last team to hold Wilson below 20 when he scored 16 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field during Kansas’ win at Allen Fieldhouse last month. Can the Cyclones make life difficult for Wilson again and force someone else to beat them?
“At 6-foot-8, his ability to score it any way is really challenging,” Otzelberger said. “When you watch a lot of their games, they get separation in transition. They’re able to fly it ahead, him and Dick are tremendous in transition, knocking down threes and then they really will attack and drive the closeouts. They do a great job of setting him up to get drives to his right hand. He’s really effective getting downhill and getting to the foul line. At this size, sometimes on those drives, it can be pick your poison. He can get to the mid-range. He can get to his floater. He can force action at the rim and try to get fouled. At his size, as a wing or big guard, it’s just such a unique cover.”
Texas Tech transfer forward Kevin McCullar has been playing his best ball of the year to this point over the last several weeks with 20-plus points in each of Kansas’ last three games. He’s done a fantastic job of getting to the free throw line with 23 combined attempts in the last three games and has snagged double-digit rebounds in three-straight games.
Freshman guard Gradey Dick has been in a slump of late, shooting a combined 7-of-29 from 3-point range in Kansas’ last five games. Iowa State knows all too well how good Dick can be once he heats up, though, as exhibited by his five 3-pointer performance against the Cyclones in Lawrence.
Locating Dick in transition and preventing him from finding clean, open looks from deep will be one of Iowa State’s biggest keys.
“Our team defense is what we’ve hung our hat on,” Otzelberger said. “It takes everybody being locked in to do that job collectively.”
Games like this are the ones you spend your childhood dreaming about in the driveway. It will be a rivalry game on national television in one of college basketball’s best venues.
This is the kind of game you’re desperate to play, and desperation needs to be the theme for Iowa State. The Cyclones need to start this game playing in a desperate fashion with extreme urgency to dictate every aspect to the Jayhawks for 40 minutes.
Leave no doubt who is the more aggressive team.
It was only a matter of time before a Twitter fight broke out between a current Big 12 fan base and one of the newcomers.
In response to an amount of tirades on the social media app, The Knights’ official Twitter account posted a picture of a trophy – entertaining thoughts at starting a trophy game with the Cyclones.
Twitter the last 24hrs pic.twitter.com/JDgGVaBcwB
— UCF Knights (@UCFKnights) February 2, 2023
The trophy from the photoshopped graphic is the old Civil conFLiCT trophy – which was created in 2013 when both schools were a part of the American Athletic Conference.
It teases an ‘R’ being slotted in and a rivalry game titled ‘The Cornflict.”
This isn’t surprising with the severity of the online word battle.
There were mafia mentions,
It's amusing watching all these Iowa State fans quote tweet what I assume are UCF fans trash talking. Problem is I can't see it because half the UCF "Twitter mafia" has me blocked.
— Matt (@BearcatMta) February 2, 2023
accusations of fake tweets,
UCF fans were sharing a fake tweet by me saying I’m afraid of them. One then went through the hassle of creating an entire fake thread to “prove” I actually said that and then deleted it when I called him out. Who is insane enough to actually do this? The #UCFTwitterMafia is real pic.twitter.com/5gjjMh7kW8
— Cyclone Larry (@CycloneLarry69) February 2, 2023
Cult claims,
A resident of the home city of Disney World calling somewhere else a cult https://t.co/9CSNtcRcij
— Cyclone Larry (@CycloneLarry69) February 1, 2023
the corn joke that your 20-year old cousin makes because she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a Tik Tok career,
Meanwhile people in Iowa pic.twitter.com/248500ji90
— UCF Recruiting News (@UCF101) February 1, 2023
a corn burn,
Josh the corn in Iowa pumps an average of 56 billion gallons of water into the air per day in July and August making it the most humid place in North America. Florida and Iowa actually have the same 365 day average humidity. Science is cool! https://t.co/oEDSQmOVCi
— Cyclone Larry (@CycloneLarry69) February 2, 2023
a couple of videos to sum up the events,
Generational UCF Hate today @CycloneLarry69 pic.twitter.com/3n3aGpK0zQ
— Avg Ball Knower (@CycloneRetroSN) February 2, 2023
Quick recap of Central Florida’s first interaction with Big 12 Twitter pic.twitter.com/TabufvSWJr
— Cyclone Larry (@CycloneLarry69) February 2, 2023
And, some self reflection…
I just wanna say to UCF twitter…
Y’all do realize this isn’t the AAC anymore right? We aren’t just gonna push other fanbases around easily. The whole “just wait til the UCF mafia gets here” thing wasn’t a good idea. Just keeping it real.
— RBJ (@RBJ2K1) February 2, 2023
It’s quiet for now, but give it 10 minutes and there will be another jab, who knows what’s next?
Hold on, it’s Houston.
I like how we all just decided we’re gonna be chill with BYU and Cincy and bully the shit out of Houston and Central Florida
— Cyclone Larry (@CycloneLarry69) February 1, 2023
Former Iowa State Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton was named to his first career NBA All-Star game on Thursday night, as reserves were announced on TNT.
The former Cyclone, who coincidentally returns to the court from an injury the same night, is the NBA’s current assist leader, dishing the ball out 10.2 times per game.
Haliburton has played 40 games for the Pacers this season and is putting down 20.2 points per game thus far.
Haliburton drew some criticism earlier this year, but came through on becoming the All-Star he wanted to be: WATCH: Tyrese Haliburton responds to Szczerbiak’s wanna-be all-star comment.
The NBA All-Star Game will be played on February 19 at 7:00 p.m. CT and can be seen live on TNT.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger spoke to media members on the status of Caleb Grill and Jaz Kunc going into Saturday’s game. Hear from Osun Osunniyi and Jaren Holmes as well:
Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock addressed media members Wednesday during the annual signing day press conference:
Iowa State offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase addressed media members Wednesday during the progam’s annual national signing day press conference.
Iowa State’s Jaz Kunc participated in practice Thursday for the first time since his injury this season ahead of the team’s matchup against Kansas set for Saturday.
Kunc was cleared to participate only in non-contact drills.
“Today he was able to participate in some of the shooting drills and those things but not in live practice,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said.
There is still no certainty as to whether Kunc will play in the KU game or if his return will come later down the road.
Otzelberger did confirm that it is possible that he could be cleared to go back to full-contact participation between now and Saturday.
“So, we’re 48 hours out from our game and the question is going to be, ‘Is he going to play,’ and like I said when we delt with Caleb’s situation, we’re going to do what’s best for Jaz,” Otzelberger said.
Saturday’s game against Kansas will be the opener to a Hilton Coliseum doubleheader as the men’s team squares off at 11:00 a.m. on ESPN and the women host Baylor at 5:00 p.m. on ESPNU.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
MANHATTAN, Kansas – No. 12 Iowa State (15-5, 7-3 Big 12) fell to Kansas State (14-9, 3-7 Big 12) Wednesday night 78-77. Four Cyclones scored in double-figures but the Wildcats came out victorious with the narrow one-point edge.
Iowa State was led by Lexi Donarski with 18 points. Ashley Joens totaled 17 with nine coming from the fourth quarter. Nyamer Diew had her 10th-career game in double figures with a 14-point performance and a career-high 14 rebounds while Denae Fritz had 12 points including perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the charity stripe.
Both sides went back-and-forth hitting scoring runs on the night to build up leads. The Cyclones led by as much as 11, but were unable to pull away from the Wildcats before time ran out. ADVERTISING
How it Happened
Iowa State jumped out to an early 6-2 lead before K-State scored five-straight off of ISU turnovers. The Cyclones responded, connecting on the next three shots to build a lead out to four at 11-7 with 3:53 to go. The lead again flipped back to the Wildcats as the home team claimed the advantage of 15-13 after the first quarter.
After falling behind by four points, the Cyclones opened the second hitting a 7-0 run to lead 20-17. Diew then hit her second 3-pointer on as many attempts to keep ISU ahead. Iowa State hit a hot streak from there, stretching a lead out to 11 at 34-23 while shooting above 50 percent from the field and totaling four treys. K-State followed to trim its deficit while holding ISU scoreless for the final three minutes of the quarter, but Iowa State pulled ahead 36-32 at the break.
The third period began with K-State tying it up at 36 with a triple while Donarski came right back with one of her own. KSU again hit a 3-pointer, beginning a 7-0 run to go ahead 44-39. The Wildcats went up by as many as five, but the Cyclones fought back on another scoring spree to take the lead back at 51-48. K-State closed the quarter with a shot beyond the arc to hold the narrow edge of 54-53 heading into the final frame.
Kansas State ran out to a lead of seven in the fourth, its largest of the game. Joens knocked down two free throws to begin to cut down K-State’s advantage while Donarski drove up the court for the layup on ISU’s next possession to come within three. Joens then became the fifth to drain a shot from deep to near the lead at 64-62. Joens remained with the hot hand, finding the net to tie it 64-64. With a minute to go, K-State held a five-point edge before Iowa State brought it back to a one-possession game. Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw connected on a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but the Cyclone came up one-point shy.
Player of the Game
Nyamer Diew totaled her third double-figure game of the season and the first game of her career with 10-plus rebounds, ending the night with 14 boards to lead both teams. Diew shot at 60 percent from the field while draining two 3-pointers in her first-career double-double.
Up Next
No. 12 Iowa State returns to Hilton, meeting Baylor Saturday, Feb. 4 at 5 p.m. The contest will be televised on ESPNU and tickets are available at this link.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell addressed media members Wednesday during his annual signing day press conference. He talks staff changes, previews spring ball, Jirehl Brock’s status, the quarterback position and more:
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell addressed media members on Wednesday, for the first time since early on in Brock Purdy’s run to the NFC Championship Game for the San Francisco 49ers.
The current coach is prideful of the play of his former signal-caller.
“I think for me it’s just pride,” Campbell said during the press conference. You’re so proud of who he is and the funny thing to me is just that, it’s the same guy. It’s the same guy that you guys saw in ’18. It’s the same story in ’18 as what it is right now.”
Purdy took over the starting job in 2018 midway through the year and helped the Cyclones reach the Alamo Bowl during a successful season.
“I mean, could you have been any prouder even in the second half when the kid’s got a torn arm and he’s going into the game and there was no emotion. He did what was best for the team,” Campbell said. “To me, we see the eight wins and you’re excited and so proud because there’s justification of doing it the right way.”
Campbell also recalled what Purdy’s teammates have said about him, and what that means to him and the brand at Iowa State.
“To hear his teammates talk about him and even to hear Fred Warner talk about him Sunday after the game, it’s really powerful,” Campbell said. “I think you’re so grateful to have led with a young man like that in our program. You’re so grateful that that’s who is representing Iowa State football right now on the national stage.”
Injury Update: As reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday afternoon that if surgery is done with no hiccups, the staff believes Purdy will build up his arm strength in 3-6 months and will be ‘the same dude and ready to go.’
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Ashley Joens’ pursuit of a third Cheryl Miller Award, given to the nation’s top small forward, progressed again on Wednesday with Joens being named to the 2023 Mid-Season Top 10, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced on Wednesday.
It has been another busy week on the awards front for Joens, as Monday saw her named the Big 12 Player of the Week for the second time this season and to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20.
From Iowa City, Joens has been outstanding for the Cyclones once again, leading the Big 12 and ranking nationally at 20.2 points per game. She has been in double figures of 18-of-19 games, over 20 points nine times and has a pair of 30-point games, the latest being her 32-point outing in the win over then-No. 14 Oklahoma on Saturday. Joens also has nine double-doubles on the season.
A fifth-year senior who has started in all 145 games she has played for the Cyclones in her career, Joens has cleaned out the Iowa State record books, sitting as ISU’s career leader in games played, games started, points, scoring average, rebounds, double-doubles, field goals made and attempted, 3-pointers made and attempted and free throws made and attempted. Her 2,752 career points is the active leader among all NCAA women’s basketball players across all divisions and is 31st all-time for NCAA Division I.
Joens has racked up the honors this season, having earned Big 12 Player of the Week twice to bring her career total to 12, ranked tied for second in Big 12 history. Prior to the season, Joens was also named to the Preseason Associated Press All-America Team, the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, was a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 Preseason Team, the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Watch List and the Wade Trophy “Wade Watch”.
Joens entered the season as the two-time defending winner of the Cheryl Miller Award, a WBCA All-American and an AP and USBWA Second Team All-American in 2021-22, an honorable mention All-American through the AP, USBWA and WBCA the past two seasons and a three-time unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection.
Joens and the No. 12 Cyclones resume action at Kansas State tonight at 6:30 p.m. on Big 12 Now.
It’s the annual February Signing Day for Iowa State Athletics. We’re keeping tabs on everything throughout the day below:
Jefferson Adam, a defensive end out of the junior college Hocking College, became the first to make things official this morning. He collected 8.5 sacks in nine games during the 2022 season and will have three years of eligibility remaining when he arrives in Ames.
7AM SHARP.
Made it officially official in the same dorm that made me!I now become the first Power 5 athlete of any sport to come out of WIHI (My High School) and Hocking College (My JUCO). Crazy I came out of High School as a safety. First season as a DE. #GOCYCLONES pic.twitter.com/yjn6zRtqf0
— Jefferson Adam (@JeffersonAdam5) February 1, 2023
One of the top JUCO pass rushers in the nation is a Cyclone!! #NCD23
pic.twitter.com/5zGQyrQ96U
— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) February 1, 2023
Kyle Konrardy, rated as the No. 21 kicker in the nation, is also set to sign as a Preferred Walk-On.
100% Committed@KohlsKicking @KD_Kicking @DBQSrFootball @DerekHoodjer @ISUMattCampbell @Coach_Langs @CoachRobGrande @IowaStateFB pic.twitter.com/eHGpESRFo8
— Kyle Konrardy (@konrardy_kyle) January 24, 2023
Iowa State post commit J.T. Rock broke a rim during his school’s high school basketball game on Tuesday night in South Dakota.
It’s tough to see in the clip available, but on the opposite side of the court, Rock throws down a dunk and the rim never recovered.
Iowa State commit J.T. Rock broke a rim tonight:
@DigitalZSD pic.twitter.com/JsKJFmZA6X
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) February 1, 2023
Rock also tweeted an apology after the game:
Sorry guys https://t.co/BKrWZHItoE
— JT Rock (@JTRock12) February 1, 2023
Slight delay at Lincoln as JT Rock busted up the rim with a dunk. Pats lead Watertown 30-16. #sdpreps pic.twitter.com/Hy87qmG1kR
— Stu Whitney (@stuwhitney) February 1, 2023
Former Iowa State defensive end Will McDonald IV put his talents on display on Tuesday during day 1 of Reese’s Senior Bowl practice in Mobile, Alabama.
The Big 12 standout had multiple quarterback hurries and 1-on-1 wins throughout the day and it wowed media as well as scouts in attendance:
Will McDonald got the best of Darnell Wright to make it 1-1 to close out practice at the Senior Bowl pic.twitter.com/a4esHMnim6
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) January 31, 2023
Will McDonald IV bending the edge and bursting to the QB on the first rep of team practice pic.twitter.com/M3z5ka0EvX
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) January 31, 2023
Iowa State EDGE Will McDonald IV breaks up the pass intended for Alabama TE Cameron Latu. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/MJ11OX9oM7
— Kevin Knight (@FalcoholicKevin) February 1, 2023
These drills really put the offensive lineman in a tough spot. Still, a fun rep from Will McDonald IV on Darnell Wright coming off the edge. pic.twitter.com/wkYo3IX6k7
— Blaine Grisak (@bgrisakDTR) February 1, 2023
Other tweets on McDonald IV look like the social media tab on a Madden career mode.
Another Senior Bowl standout from today? Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald IV. Really impressive burst to go with his length.
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) January 31, 2023
A couple plays ago, #ISU EDGE Will McDonald IV had a crazy rep in 7 on 7. Closed on a short route, ripped the ball out of the hands of the the RB and nearly intercepted it.
One of the plays of the day so far.
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) January 31, 2023
McDonald will play on the American team in the game on Saturday, set to kick off at 1:30 p.m. CT on NFL Network.
The Big 12 football schedule was finally released on Tuesday and it has plenty to takeaway here in the dog days of the college football offseason.
Here are a few notes and thoughts on Iowa State’s slate and a few things on some other Big 12 schedules.
*** All in all, it would have been hard to imagine a more difficult schedule for Iowa State. They’ll play both Oklahoma and Texas. They’ll play two of the league’s new teams in Cincinnati and BYU with both games on the road. Their bye date isn’t until mid-October and comes sandwiched between road trips to Cincinnati and Baylor.
Oh, and the schedule release reminded everyone Iowa State has to travel to Ohio this year for the return trip of a home-and-home series that started last season.
*** Iowa State will host Oklahoma State on Sept. 23 to open Big 12 play at Jack Trice Stadium. It will be the 58th meeting between the two programs, and their earliest match-up on the schedule since they played each other on Aug. 30, 1997.
The Cowboys and Cyclones have played each other on Sept. 23 before, all the way back in 1961 at Clyde Williams Field in a game Iowa State won 14-7.
*** The Cyclones will make one last trip to Norman for their 89th date with Oklahoma on Sept. 30. The Sooners are set to join the SEC as soon as 2024, and that will bring to an end one of Iowa State’s longest conference affiliations.
Iowa State and Oklahoma played each other every year from 1928 through 1995 when the first iteration of the Big 12 came into form. They’ve played 20 times since with Iowa State pulling off two of the program’s most memorable wins in recent history against the Sooners.
This will be only the third time Iowa State and Oklahoma have played each other in September. The Sooners won the last such meeting, 37-27 in Ames, behind Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray in 2018.
*** Iowa State will host the reigning national runner-up TCU Horned Frogs on Oct. 7 for the Jack Trice Legacy Game. That will be one day after the 100-year anniversary of Jack Trice’s death due to injuries sustained in a football game against Minnesota.
Iowa State has already announced numerous plans to commemorate Trice’s legacy throughout the 2023 season. Those plans include throwback uniforms for the football team for one game during the season.
I’d say we know which game that will be now.
*** Iowa State’s road trip on Oct. 14 presents a meeting with a new foe and a reunion with an old friend (or, I guess, foe, depending on your perspective). The Cyclones will travel to play Cincinnati in their first season as members of the Big 12.
Cincinnati recently hired former Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Manning to the same role after he parted ways with the program shortly after the 2022 season.
*** The month of November brings one of the most difficult stretches of the season, kicking off with Kansas on Nov. 4 for homecoming in Ames. This will be the two programs’ 103rd meeting, and they’ve played each other every year since 1928.
To end the month, and regular season, Iowa State will visit reigning Big 12 champion Kansas State in Manhattan for the 107th edition of their annual rivalry. The programs have played each other every year since 1917.
I was glad to see the Big 12 keep some of these long-running series in the mix, and I hope they’ll do everything they can to guarantee them in the future.
Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Oklahoma State have been tied together as conference partners for a very long time. They’re the only four members of the old Big Eight left standing.
Making sure these four teams continue to play each other in football every year or close to it, and preferably twice each year in basketball, feels important for the historic value of the league. No matter how much the league changes, we need to make sure the four schools that have stuck together through everything across nearly 70 years of history can continue to meet as much as possible.
The Big 12 is about to be a very different-looking league without too much national brand recognition of its traditions as a whole. The new additions bring a lot to the table, and certainly, all four make the league better.
Still, keeping teams that already don’t like each other with 100-plus years of history together will be good for the league’s ability to carve out its niche in its next iteration.
*** Speaking of the new additions, Iowa State gets a date with another fresh face when they’ll travel to Provo on Nov. 11 to play BYU. If past basketball match-ups between these two schools are any indication, this series has to be circled as one with high odds of becoming a ridiculously intense rivalry in a very short amount of time.
Iowa State is 4-0 all-time against BYU with road wins in 1968 and 1973 then home wins in 1969 and 1974.
*** My last thoughts on the schedule are centered around Texas, who pushed over the dominoes that led the Big 12 into this entire situation from the beginning. The reward for the Longhorns’ decision to leave for the SEC will be one last trip to a bunch of Big 12 schools that will surely relish the opportunity to host them one last time.
Iowa State will host the Longhorns on Nov. 18 for the 21st game between the two programs, but that’s not the worst of it for Texas. Other Big 12 road trips include games at Houston, TCU and Baylor. You can rest assured there will be no love lost for the Longhorns in any of those games.
Texas’ home schedule is undoubtedly one of the worst in the league with home dates against Kansas, Kansas State, BYU and a Black Friday game with Texas Tech. Obviously, the Longhorns will still have their neutral site game with Oklahoma, but the league did them no favors elsewhere in not sending big-name brands or rival schools in Texas to Austin.
Iowa State’s 2023 football schedule has been released in full by the Big 12 Conference on Tuesday afternoon.
The Cyclones will open the season against Northern Iowa on September 2 before taking on Iowa in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series on September 9.
After a road game at Ohio, Iowa State will open Big 12 play against Oklahoma State at Jack Trice Stadium on September 23.
Iowa State’s first Big 12 road game will be against Oklahoma on September 30.
On October 7, the program will honor Jack Trice during its game against TCU. It has been reported that a Jack Trice-related alternate uniform would be worn.
The 2023 Homecoming game will be played against Kansas on November 4 and Senior Night will see Texas come to Jack Trice Stadium for the final time before the program departs for the SEC.
Iowa State will not play West Virginia for the first time since 2011 and also will not face Texas Tech for the first time since 2009.
As part of the four programs coming in, Iowa State will take first-time visits to both Cincinnati and BYU. The Cyclones will not face Houston nor UCF in the regular season.
The full schedule can be seen below.
2023 Iowa State Football Schedule
Sep. 2 | vs. Northern Iowa
Sep. 9 | vs. Iowa
Sep. 16 | @ Ohio
Sep. 23 | vs. Oklahoma State
Sep. 30 | @ Oklahoma
Oct. 7 | vs. TCU
Oct. 14 | @ Cincinnati
Oct. 21 | Bye week
Oct. 28 | @ Baylor
Nov. 4 | vs. Kansas
Nov. 11 | @ BYU
Nov. 18 | vs. Texas
Nov. 25 | @ Kansas State
Jan 30, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) gets tangled up with Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Lamar Washington (1) in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State asserted its dominance over Texas Tech for nearly 28 minutes on Monday night in Lubbock.
The Cyclones had built a 23-point lead over the Red Raiders when Caleb Grill canned his seventh 3-pointer of the night with 12:38 left in the second half.
Iowa State had owned Texas Tech in nearly every area to this point. They had shot the ball better. They had taken better care of the ball. They had done a better job of sharing the ball. They had been better and more cohesive defensively.
Then, it all unraveled.
The Cyclones turned the ball over four times over the next four minutes. All four turnovers led to Texas Tech points. Iowa State was called for six fouls during that stretch, including the red-hot Grill picking up his fourth of the night.
Texas Tech had unleashed a 15-3 run by the time the under-eight media timeout hit. They’d cut Iowa State’s lead to 11 points as the Cyclones struggled against Texas Tech’s pressure, and the Red Raiders started getting to the rim at will resulting in the fouls stacking up.
Slowly, over the final seven minutes of regulation, Iowa State’s lead evaporated. It was reduced to nothing when De’Vion Harmon knocked down a free throw with 21 seconds left to knot the score at 71.
The Cyclones did enough to build a three-point lead midway through the overtime period, but the damage had already been done and the momentum had fully swung.
Iowa State had three final attempts to tie the score with less than 19 seconds left in the extra period, but all three shots misfired, and Texas Tech walked away with an 80-77 win, its first Big 12 victory of the season.
There is a lot to unpack from this game. Iowa State played some of its best basketball of the season for nearly 30 minutes before its epic collapse at the hands of a desperate team.
The final 10 minutes of this game really came down to that element of desperation.
Mark Adam’s team was clearly desperate to erase their Big 12 goose egg. They flipped a switch around that 10 minute mark, especially on the defensive end where their ramped up ball-pressure forced some of Iowa State’s best ball-handlers into dumb mistakes in crucial moments.
Tamin Lipsey had been his usual steady self throughout the first 28 minutes of the game, tallying eight points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and zero turnovers as Iowa State’s lead ballooned.
The final 1`2 minutes were unquestionably some of Lipsey’s worst of the season. He turned the ball over twice as Texas Tech was starting to mount its comeback, and turned it over two more times by the time the game ended.
These next few weeks will be important ones for Iowa State as opponents continue to adjust the scouting report on this team.
We are likely to see more and more teams start sagging Lipsey’s defender toward the middle of the paint every time he has the basketball, daring the 20 percent 3-point shooter to fire one up from deep. They’ll couple that with intense pressure off the ball to take away any potential outlets Lipsey might find.
The only true way to combat this is for Lipsey to develop a jumpshot he’s confident enough in to take (and preferably make) a few jumpers a game just to keep teams honest. Shoot, even a one-step-in mid-range shot would be acceptable at this point if it will keep teams from turning the on-ball defender into an extra helper.
Lipsey is so good at finishing around the rim and is such a dynamic playmaker for his teammates that he does not need to turn into Steph Curry. He just needs to be competent enough to at least give teams the illusion that he could be a weapon from 3-point range.
Realistically, that is not going to happen at the rate necessary for it to make a significant impact on how teams defend Lipsey this season. The book, as they say, is out.
The bright side remains Lipsey is in his first season of wearing an Iowa State uniform. There aren’t many freshmen who avoid hitting any sort of wall once opponents have been able to dissect their games inside and out.
The fact teams have started guarding Lipsey this way is an acknowledgement of how good he is at doing all of the other things he does for this Iowa State team.
The ability to learn, grow and adjust is what separates the good from the great in this sense. Every player is good when nobody knows what they’re going to do, but the great ones are able to adjust and grow their games once teams do know what they’re going to do.
We all saw first-hand that Lipsey still has that special something in him when he drew a charge and raced back in transition after an Iowa State turnover to secure a steal off a back-tap in the closing minutes of regulation.
Despite going through one of his worst stretches of the season, Lipsey was still doing every little thing he could to win his team the game. Things like this are why I’m not worried about Lipsey right now.
It’s time for him to learn and adjust in order to take the next step in his development.
Lipsey’s struggles underscored another thing we can expect to see more frequently in the coming weeks, and that’s this team’s inability to handle full court pressure.
Missouri used it with great success to beat Iowa State on Saturday. Texas Tech used it to force 13 turnovers in the second half, and turned those turnovers into 19 crucial points that sprung the comeback.
Lipsey, Gabe Kalscheur and Jaren Holmes each turned the ball over four times in this game. Many of them were off of poor errant passes or were loose mistakes when handling the ball.
Texas Tech playing like a desperate team with extreme urgency rattled this Iowa State team down the stretch. The fullcourt pressure was one of the driving forces behind that.
The Cyclones play with three and four guards on the court at the same time way too often for them to be this poor at breaking pressure, and that has been the case nearly the entire season. It has caught up to them in a big way in these last two games.
Only looking at points, you’d probably think this was the kind of night you’ve come to expect from Kalscheur in Big 12 play, but he did his damage in a much different way on Monday. The senior finished with 19 points and seven rebounds, but was 0-of-6 from 3-point range and 8-of-13 from inside the arc.
Kalscheur did a nice job of attacking closeouts and getting downhill to the rim early in the game, but Tech did a nice job forcing him into difficult contested jumpers during the most crucial stretches.
Kalscheur, a 72 percent free throw shooter, will surely be kicking himself for going only 3-of-7 from the free throw line, too, including knocking down just one of three when he went to the line with just more than a minute left in overtime when making all three would have given the Cyclones a two-point lead.
Perhaps no area best reflects the change of intensity from one half to the next than the rebounding. Iowa State dominated the glass in the first half, 20-13, and corralled seven offensive rebounds that turned into eight points.
Texas Tech flipped the script after halftime, securing eight offensive rebounds of their own and converting for 12 points.
Iowa State did not have an offensive rebound in the second half.
The only real positive to takeaway from this game came from Grill, who finished with 24 points on 8-of-12 from 3-point range after missing Saturday’s game in Columbia with a lingering back injury.
Nobody will benefit more from the upcoming four-day stretch without a game than Grill. He proved he’s healthy enough to be effective on Monday, but he still did not look like himself, especially on the defensive end.
The optimist in me likes to think this four-day stretch is coming at a good time for the Cyclones as a whole. There is nothing to be done now about what happened in Lubbock. The only option is to turn the page and get back to work over the next several days to keep improving.
That improvement process could receive a significant boost if senior forward Aljaz Kunc, who has missed the last month with an injury to his non-shooting hand, returns to action this week as the Cyclones prepare for Kansas on Saturday.
Kunc reportedly went through warm ups for Iowa State on Monday in Lubbock with no intention of playing in the game. That’s a significant positive sign that one of Iowa State’s most consistent players and leaders over the last two seasons is quickly nearing a return to the Cyclone rotation.
Losing to Texas Tech in the fashion they did on Monday was simply inexplicable and inexcusable for a team of Iowa State’s caliber. It was the kind of loss that has the potential to linger and derail a season.
The Cyclones will have four days this week to make sure that does not happen. I’d imagine those will not be a very fun four days in practice for this team after the way they were out-willed and over-powered as Texas Tech willed its way to victory.
Iowa State got beat by a desperate team on Monday.
Don’t be surprised if you see a desperate team square-off with Kansas on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State has earned a commitment from Jefferson Adam, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound defensive end out of the JUCO ranks.
The Michigan native is coming to Ames from Hocking College, where he totaled 8.5 sacks in nine games played last season.
“(Iowa State) just checks a lot of boxes,” Adam said. “The academics, the resources, the development, the coaches and the people… the Game Day atmosphere, it’s the best fit for me.”
Adam was especially impacted by defensive line coach Eli Rasheed.
“Coach Rasheed is a great guy,” Adam said. “There’s been multiple times where he’s flown out just to see me – where some coaches will fly out to see multiple people. He’s a great guy.”
Adam’s former high school teammate Treyveon McGee currently suits up at defensive back for the Cyclones and was Adam’s host during his visit to Ames.
Adam chooses Iowa State over offers from Indiana, West Virginia, California, Ball State and Akron among others.
Originally Adam played Safety in high school and was moved to linebacker at Morgan State, the first school he attended.
After transferring to Hocking, Adam started as a linebacker and played a year at that spot, but played his first full season as a defensive back in 2022.
“During the first game (of the season), on the first defensive play of the game, I had a big sack,” Adam said. “At that moment, I knew what I was going to be. I knew I was going to have a really good season. I got back to the line and was telling myself, ‘this is who I am.'”
Adam will have three years of eligibility at Iowa State.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Once again, Iowa State’s Ashley Joens is being recognized among the nation’s best as the Cyclone senior has landed a spot on the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s Late Season Top 20, announced Monday evening. Joens has gone 3-for-3 so far this season on the Wooden Award watch lists, making the initial Watch List in November and the Midseason Top 25 Watch List announced at the start of January.
From Iowa City, Joens has been outstanding for the Cyclones once again, leading the Big 12 and ranking nationally at 20.2 points per game. She has been in double figures of 18-of-19 games, over 20 points nine times and has a pair of 30-point games, the latest being her 32-point outing in the win over then-No. 14 Oklahoma on Saturday. Joens also has nine double-doubles on the season.
A fifth-year senior who has started in all 145 games she has played for the Cyclones in her career, Joens has cleaned out the Iowa State record books, sitting as ISU’s career leader in games played, games started, points, scoring average, rebounds, double-doubles, field goals made and attempted, 3-pointers made and attempted and free throws made and attempted. Her 2,752 career points is the active leader among all NCAA women’s basketball players across all divisions and is 31st all-time for NCAA Division I.
Joens has racked up the honors this season, having earned Big 12 Player of the Week twice to bring her career total to 12, ranked tied for second in Big 12 history. Prior to the season, Joens was named to the Preseason Associated Press All-America Team, the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, was a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 Preseason Team, the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Watch List, the Wade Trophy “Wade Watch” and the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List.
Joens entered the season as the two-time defending winner of the Cheryl Miller Award, a WBCA All-American and an AP and USBWA Second Team All-American in 2021-22, an honorable mention All-American through the AP, USBWA and WBCA the past two seasons and a three-time unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection.
Joens and the No. 12 Cyclones resume action at Kansas State on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. on Big 12 Now.
Former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy suffered a torn UCL during the first quarter of Sunday’s NFC Championship game, according to a report from Adam Schefter.
The budding rookie storyline came to an end on a play where Purdy’s arm collided with an Eagles’ defender’s helmet.
Brock Purdy suffered a torn UCL that will sideline him six months, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 30, 2023
Purdy eventually had to re-enter the game, because 49ers’ backup Josh Johnson exited the game with an injury.
Even on the torn UCL, Purdy completed two more passes during the game.
He finishes his first NFL season with 1,374 yards through the air, 13 touchdowns, and just four interceptions in the nine games he played in for more than two quarters.
Purdy is expected to remain the 49ers starter according to reports that surfaced prior to the injury. He’s expected to be out for six months.
Iowa State edge target Jefferson Adam is set to announce his college decision Monday night at 7:00 p.m. CT.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder went the JUCO route and is being rated as the No. 4 edge rusher in the 2023 class by 247Sports.
“It’s defenitely a blessing – and just a cool experience, you know. Playing at the power 5 level is going to be exciting. It’s something that I envisioned for myself.”
In his last season at Hocking College, Adam collected 8.5 sacks in nine games, along with 17.0 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
He’ll be the first player out of Hocking to play at the power 5 level of college football.
“It’s definitely an honor,” Adam said. “It’s a testament to all of the hours that people didn’t see.”
Adam will announce his final choice between Iowa State, Indiana and West Virginia Monday night.
“Coach (Eli) Rasheed is a great guy,” Adam said of what stood out about Iowa State. “He’ll come out to see me… fly out and have lunch and watch film, and he’ll fly right back to Iowa.”
Iowa State’s Treyveon McGee was also high school teammates with Adam, and was Adam’s host during his visit to Ames earlier this month.
Adam has three years of eligibility remaining.
A look behind my lens from mat side of Iowa State’s back-to-back wins in weekend double header against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
Iowa State has moved up to No. 14 in the latest AP Women’s Basketball Poll release, after another 2-0 week that saw the team take down No. 14 Oklahoma at Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones return to the court on Wednesday for a road game in Manhattan against Kansas State before returning home to face Baylor in a Hilton doubleheader on Saturday.
The full poll can be seen below:
AP WBB Poll
Monday, January 30, 2023
1. South Carolina
2. Stanford
3. LSU
4. Indiana
5. UConn
6. Iowa
7. Utah
8. Maryland
9. Notre Dame
10. Ohio State
11. North Carolina
12. Iowa State
13. Virginia Tech
14. UCLA
15. NC State
16. Duke
17. Gonzaga
18. Michigan
19. Villanova
20. Oklahoma
21. Middle Tennessee
22. Arizona
23. Florida State
24. Texas
25. South Florida
Others receiving votes: Illinois 45, Colorado 40, USC 17, Tennessee 13, Purdue 12, UNLV 9, Baylor 1, Columbia 1, Oregon 1
The No. 12 Iowa State Cyclones (15-5, 6-2) are on the road Monday in Lubbock to face Texas Tech (11-10, 0-8) for their ninth Big 12 game of the season.
Below are the lines for the game, courtesy of Circa Sports, and where to watch it on TV.
No. 13 Iowa State @ Texas Tech
Mon. January 30, 2023
Tipoff:8:00 p.m. CT
TV:ESPN2 (Rich Hollenberg & Chris Spatola)
Radio:Varsity/Cyclone Radio Network (John Walters & Eric Heft)
Odds:Iowa State -1
Over/Under: 128.5
Moneyline: Iowa State -115
Iowa State men’s basketball dropped a spot to No. 13 in the latest AP Poll release, following a 1-1 week that included Saturday’s loss to Missouri.
The Tigers moved to the first spot in the ‘others receiving votes’ category and Kansas State dropped to No. 7 after losing to the Cyclones Tuesday.
Iowa State takes on Texas Tech Monday night (8:00 p.m. ESPN2) before squaring up with No. 8 Kansas on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.
The full poll can be seen below:
AP MBB Poll
Monday, January 30, 2023
1. Purdue
2. Tennessee
3. Houston
4. Alabama
5. Arizona
6. Virginia
7. Kansas State
8. Kansas
9. UCLA
10. Texas
11. Baylor
12. Gonzaga
13. Iowa State
14. Marquette
15. TCU
16. Xavier
17. Providence
18. Saint Mary’s
19. Florida Atlantic
20. Clemson
21. Indiana
22. San Diego State
23. Miami
24. UConn
25. Auburn
Others receiving votes: Missouri 74, Charleston 68, Illinois 56, Creighton 51, New Mexico 47, North Carolina 47, North Carolina State 39, Boise State 31, Duke 24, Rutgers 17, Texas A&M 16, Northwestern 13, Memphis 10, Arkansas 9, Pittsburgh 9, West Virginia 2, Nevada 2, Oral Roberts 2, Saint Louis 1
Jan 28, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Kevin Obanor (0) dunks the ball against the LSU Tigers during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
KenPom Prediction: 66-64, Iowa State
1 – Tale of two seasonsThese two teams going head-to-head in Lubbock on Monday couldn’t be on more opposite trajectories heading into the regular season’s final month.
Iowa State has won eight of its last 11 games, currently finds itself in a tie atop the Big 12 standings and the metrics project them to be in the regular season title race until the season’s final weeks.
Meanwhile, Texas Tech has lost eight of its last nine games, including a 0-8 start to Big 12 play, and is currently listed as an underdog in every game remaining on its schedule by KenPom.
The Red Raiders did pick up their first win in January on Saturday by beating LSU, 76-68, on the road, and they did so in impressive fashion without several of their top players while shooting a season-high 61.1 percent from 3-point range at an 11-of-18 clip.
This is the type of game Iowa State absolutely has to win if they have any hope of remaining in the Big 12 title race over the next several weeks.
You can’t afford to drop games against teams looking for the first conference win in late January if you want to win a conference title, especially when you’ve still got road trips to visit several of the league’s other top teams left on the schedule.
Texas Tech will be a desperate team, though, as they’re now facing a 10-game sprint to try and salvage whatever NCAA Tournament chances might still exist, however slim those chances may be. They’ve surely got some confidence, too, after Saturday’s win in Baton Rouge.
This game could go a long way toward setting a tone for each of these teams as they head into the second half of the league schedule.
2 – Who will be available?You could put a pretty darn good little squad together just with the players from these teams who have been battling injuries in recent weeks.
Iowa State was without senior guard Caleb Grill in Saturday’s loss to Missouri, and the Cyclones were hurt significantly by the sharpshooter’s absence. There has been no word as to Grill’s availability in Lubbock, but you’d have to assume the decision to hold him out on Saturday was made in the hopes he’ll feel healthy enough to play this week.
We will have to wait and see.
The Cyclones will still be without senior forward Aljaz Kunc, who has missed the last month with an injury to his non-shooting hand. This could be Iowa State’s last game without one of their most consistent weapons and team leaders, though.
The original timeline for Kunc’s injury included the goal of a return for Iowa State’s game against Kansas at Hilton Coliseum. That’s the next game on the Cyclone schedule after Monday night.
There will surely be some clarity as this week progresses, but reinserting Kunc into the rotation will be a significant addition as the stretch run toward March approaches.
On the Texas Tech side, freshman guard Pop Isaacs, the team’s leading scorer this season, missed the game against LSU after suffering an ankle injury in the Red Raiders’ loss to West Virginia last Wednesday in Morgantown.
Isaacs was joined on the injury report by senior center Fardaws Aimaq, who made his Texas Tech debut earlier this month after sitting out the season’s first 16 games due to an injury, played in three Big 12 contests, averaging 10.0 points and 6.7 rebounds, then missed each of the last two games with a bruised foot.
Texas Tech listed both of those players as day-to-day leading into Monday’s game and left the possibility open that both players could be available to play against the Cyclones.
Having those two players available will be important if the Red Raiders hope to pull an upset. Tech’s odds of doing that improve significantly if Grill is not available again for Iowa State.
3 – Stepped upWith two of the team’s top players on the bench with injuries, the Red Raiders needed someone to step up against LSU, and a trio of players answered that call in a big way.
Senior forward Kevin Obanor tallied 22 points and connected on 3-of-6 shots from deep to lead the team. The 6-foot-8 former transfer from Oral Roberts is second on the squad in scoring in league play, averaging 12.4 points, and is third on the team snagging 6.4 rebounds per game.
De’Vion Harmon added 14 points, knocked down both of his attempted 3-pointers and dished eight assists while handling the bulk of the ball-handling duties in Isaacs’ absence. Despite hitting both his shots from deep against LSU, Harmon has struggled significantly from downtown in Big 12 play, connecting on just 22.7 percent of his shots from deep against league competition.
The biggest surprise of the afternoon for Texas Tech was junior guard Kerwin Walton, who earned the start in Isaacs’ place, and took advantage by knocking down 5-of-6 shots from deep on his way to a 17-point performance. Walton is 9-of-13 from deep against Big 12 teams so far and has connected on 50 percent of his 3-pointers this season.
The Red Raiders will likely need all three of those players to step up in similar fashions and shoot the ball well again if they’re going to upset Iowa State. They’ll also need strong contributions from freshman center Daniel Batcho, especially if Aimaq is not available for the third straight game.
It is hard to really know what we’re going to get from these two teams as they work their way through the dog days of the college basketball season. Those dog days are even tougher when you’ve got a two-day turnaround after both teams played hard-fought games on Saturday.
Both of these teams have a lot on the line as the calendar prepares to flip to February. Both of these teams need a win for completely different reasons.
Iowa State hopes to stay in league title contention. Texas Tech hopes to avoid going winless in the conference season’s first half and start the long climb out of the league’s basement.
Monday night is simply the start. College basketball’s stretch run is here.
Former Iowa State star Deonte Burton has signed a 10-day contract with the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.
The contract begins Monday, January 30 and will allow Burton to be eligible for the Kings’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The contract runs through Wednesday, February 8 and includes six games.
Burton has played 14 games for the team’s G-League organization, averaging a career high 54.5% field goal percentage. Averaging over 38 minutes per game, Burton has also recorded a +9.4 plus/minus.
Burton joins Tyrese Haliburton, Georges Niang, Monte Morris and Taylen Horton-Tucker as former Cyclones to play NBA regular season games in the 2022-23 season.
The winning streak continues for No. 4 Iowa State but this time it’s extra special as they defeated No. 10 Oklahoma State 18-11 at home for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
Six wins separated the Cyclones from the Cowboys. The dual started with a standing ovation as walk-on Caleb Fuessley got the call at 125 pounds and secured a 10-1 win over Zach Blankenship.
“I remember him (Fuessley) coming in and thinking ‘this kid is going to get eaten up’ and he just got tougher every year,” Dresser said about the junior from Center Point, IA. “He’s probably the quietest but one of the hardest-working kids on our team.”
The Cyclones and the Cowboys went back and forth swapping wins with three separate instances where the dual was tied.
With such high stakes in the Big 12 matchup, the dual did not go without some heated moments. Heading into 141 pounds, the dual was tied 3-3. Casey Swiderski and Carter Young faced off and the Cowboy secured the win with a 3-0 decision.
The whistle was blown and suddenly arguments were being had with officials and the coaches going back and forth. Ultimately both teams lost team points, Oklahoma State for “control of mat area” and Iowa State for unsportsmanlike conduct.
After the dual, Dresser recounted his memory of the situation:
“I think the referee got himself in a tough position. I’m not trying to throw him under the bus but it was a tough position. Coach Smith came out on the mat. They are a lot harder about that than usual this year. They made a point of emphasis that when coaches come out on the mat they’re going to ding you. I got dinged in Wisconsin and I went out there to ask what the score was. I think some of us older timers are used to just going out on the mat and John definitely likes to go out on the mat,” Dresser said. “He went on the mat to defend his athlete because Swiderski was trying to get out awfully hard and he horse-kicked a little bit there. Rightfully so, he went out but he went out too far. While all that was going on Casey and his opponent shook hands but it wasn’t under the direction of the referee where they raise a hand so the ref said he left the mat area and that was unsportsmanlike. Quite the rodeo.”
The dual reached a head at 197 pounds. Both teams were tied 11-11. There had been some speculation as to whether or not Yonger Bastida was going to wrestle for Iowa State. Dresser had shared Friday night after the dual against Oklahoma that he had gotten a bit dinged up earlier in the week at practice.
For Bastida, it was a no-brainer he’d be walking out of that tunnel Sunday morning.
“He told me this morning that he wanted to go. In those situations, I always leave it up to the athletes. If it was Big 12’s or Nationals I might push him out there but in this situation, it was completely up to him,” Dresser said after Bastida didn’t feel the best on Friday night.
Bastida credits his training and the crowd for keeping him so fired up until the final second. In the third period, Hilton was on their feet chanting his name. For the Cuban native, that’s everything.
“I felt really good. I keep getting better every match and each week.” Bastida said. “It’s awesome. That’s the thing that keeps me going, the crowd, it’s something that I love. I don’t get tired of listening to them scream at me. I love that.”
Bastida set the tone and won 7-2 to hand the lead over to the Cyclones 14-11 heading into the final match of the day.
Carrying the weight of the dual on his back is not new territory for Sam Schuyler.
“He keeps getting better and better and more confident. He gets the chance to win the dual meet. The dual is on the line when you’re the heavyweight and he went out and blew it open,” Dresser said. “Two years ago or at beginning of the year last year I am sure that he would’ve pooped his pants a little bit. But, he’s over those days. He wants the spotlight. He wants that opportunity.”
Schuyler notched the only bonus point win of the day for either team with a 10-1 win over Kyle Haas. He tallied three takedowns, and two near fall points plus racked up over two minutes of riding time.
Dresser’s biggest takeaway was that his team gave the effort he wanted to see.
“It’s been a while since we won against that team in this building. It’s the first time we beat them back-to-back since 2009. Hats off to our guys and especially the 10 guys who represented Iowa State,” Dresser said. “We fought really hard. There were some places where we lost and where we fought really hard. That’s the thing we preach at Iowa State, we’re about effort and there was a great effort with our 10 guys.”
AMES, Iowa – For as much of a roller coaster ride this season has felt like for Iowa State, there was a different feel to this team through its first 18 games of the season.
It didn’t feel like the moxie that fans saw during the team’s run to the Sweet 16 was the same. On Saturday, in game 19, it felt like that returned and it played an overarching role in the 82-74 win over No. 14 Oklahoma.
“I don’t think we’ve lost a lot of confidence in our ability to compete,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “I think it was more about Steph – and what she’s done and how she’s done it – but the competitiveness today was really great to see. And, (it was) against one of the better teams not just in our league, but in the country.”
Iowa State came into the game with a 1-3 record against top 25 teams this season, but it leaves Hilton Coliseum with a Big 12 best 7-2 record in conference play off the heels of its biggest win of the season.
The Cyclones may have their swagger back.
“For sure,” Iowa State forward Ashley Joens said. “Hilton brought a lot of energy and it was a lot of fun. With the weather, we didn’t know if we’d have as big of a crowd as we normally do. (This win) kind of gives us some more confidence as we move on through this season.”
Joens was at the heart of that, scoring 18 of her 32 points in the second quarter and going 8-9 at the free throw line after missing her first two.
It was vintage Ashley Joens.
“It’s certainly on the list (of Ashley Joens performances),” Fennelly said. “Because of the amount of minutes she played, the way she had to defend and the way she scored… Our goal was to fully attack and play off the doubles of (Joens).”
Part of the attack came from Oklahoma’s reputation as a foul-heavy team.
The Sooners rank at the top of the Big 12 in fouls given per game. Iowa State drew 29 to Oklahoma’s 15.
Morgan Kane played one of her best games in a Cyclone uniform in a physical, 11-point performance where she also found nine rebounds and two assists.
“She played 22 minutes today,” Fennelly said of Kane. “She’ll sleep well tonight.”
Fennelly said the same of Denae Fritz, who was called on to play over 38 minutes.
Fritz matched her career high with 14 points and added six boards.
Iowa State looked all the part of a first-place team, and that’s all that mattered Saturday.
There’s still nine Big 12 games left to play, along with the tournament in Kansas City.
Saturday wasn’t the biggest game Iowa State will play this season, but by the end of the year, it might mean the most.
Iowa State will return to the court on Wednesday, February 1 in a trip to Manhattan to face Kansas State (6:30 p.m. ESPN+).
Big 12 WBB Standings
1. Iowa State 7-2
2. Texas 6-2
3. Oklahoma 6-3
4. West Virginia 5-3
4. Baylor 5-3
6. Oklahoma State 4-4
7. Kansas 3-4
8. Texas Tech 3-5
9. Kansas State 2-6
10. TCU 0-9
Saturday, Jan. 28
Iowa State 86, Oklahoma 78
West Virginia 62, TCU 55
Baylor 79, Texas Tech 59
7 p.m. | Oklahoma State @ Texas
Sunday, Jan. 29
5 p.m. | Kansas State @ Kansas
Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly, Ashley Joens and Morgan Kane talked about their team’s win over Oklahoma postgame on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum:
Jan 28, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) dribbles the ball against Missouri Tigers guard Kobe Brown (24) during the second half at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Not much went right for Iowa State on Saturday in Columbia.
Playing without one of their best players, Iowa State shot just 45 percent from the field and turned the ball over 17 times as Missouri raced to a 78-61 win in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
The Tigers executed their offense to near perfection to have the Iowa State defense on skates the entire afternoon. Dennis Gates’ team knocked down 11 of their first 16 3-point attempts on the afternoon and finished with a 14-of-30 mark from downtown.
The majority of that damage from deep was done by senior guard D’Moi Hodge, who finished with 17 points and went 5-of-10 from deep. Tiger forward Kobe Brown owned the painted area the entire afternoon by posting 20 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.
Meanwhile, Iowa State shot just 3-of-8 from the charity stripe in the entire game.
The Cyclones struggled to find any semblance of flow against a Missouri defense that entered the game No. 194 in adjusted defensive efficiency but was top-10 nationally in turnover percentage. The Tigers used their length and athleticism to completely blow up Iowa State’s offensive actions and forced the Cyclones to run their stuff further and further from the basket as the game went along.
Jaren Holmes led Iowa State with 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting, grabbed four rebounds and dished three assists while helping handle the ball against the Missouri press. Gabe Kalscheur showed flashes of the shotmaking ability we’ve seen over the last month while struggling to find openings on his way to finishing with 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting and 4-of-9 from 3-point range. Kalscheur also turned the ball over six times against Missouri’s high-pressure defense.
Tre King made his first start as a Cyclone in place of senior guard Caleb Grill. King finished the afternoon with nine points and five rebounds.
While Iowa State surely wanted to win this game, the decision to sit Grill outright after he’d played, albeit in a hobbled fashion, in the Cyclones’ previous two games against Oklahoma State and Kansas State indicates where the focus remains as the month of February looms.
The Cyclones will travel to Texas Tech on Monday in a quick turnaround back into Big 12 action. The Red Raiders picked up their first win in a month on Saturday when they went on the road to beat LSU.
Iowa State needs Grill in order to be its best, and that’s especially true when your opponent knocks down 14 3-pointers. The Cyclones will need to be their best if they hope to hold their spot atop the Big 12 standings and contend for a league title over the next 10 games.
That makes the decision to sit Grill the right one, even if it left Iowa State shorthanded against a quality team in a hostile environment.
The Cyclones never seemed comfortable in this game much like when this team visited Iowa City back in December. Their lack of comfort was aided by their opponents shooting the lights out of the ball in both instances.
Not having Grill surely played into that lack of comfortability, as well.
If Grill is able to return closer to his normal self on Monday, the decision to sit him against Missouri will have paid dividends. He’ll surely be helped by the fact Iowa State will not play again for five days after facing the Red Raiders.
These are things that will help Iowa State get back to being its best, and people forget this team hasn’t really been at its best for more than a month even as it played some of its best ball of the year.
There is still the question of senior forward Aljaz Kunc’s return to the lineup, which was originally targeted to be next Saturday against Kansas at Hilton Coliseum when it was announced he’d miss roughly a month with a hand injury.
Monday’s game is one Iowa State probably can’t afford to lose if it has hopes of winning a Big 12 regular season title when you consider the Red Raiders are still winless in league play. They’re probably going to need Grill in order to do that.
Next Saturday has the opportunity to mark Iowa State’s arrival as one of the teams to beat as the league’s home stretch arrives. They’re probably going to need Kunc in order to maximize their ability to do those things.
I’m sure Iowa State would have liked to beat the program’s old rival on Saturday in Columbia. There are bigger goals left out there on the table for this team, though.
They’ll need to get closer to being their best this week in order to achieve them.
Jan 14, 2023; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Caleb Grill (2) shoots a three point shot against Kansas Jayhawks guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) during the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State senior guard Caleb Grill will not play in today’s game against Missouri in Columbia.
Grill has been battling through a back injury he suffered during Iowa State’s win over Texas on Jan. 17. He played 17 minutes in the Cyclones’ loss to Oklahoma State last Saturday and attempted only one shot in that time.
The sharpshooter fought through the injury again in Iowa State’s win over Kansas State on Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum after Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said he considered Grill doubtful going into the game. Grill’s only 3-pointer of the night was one of the game’s biggest shots, but he was clearly laboring through the pain in his lower back.
On the year, Grill is averaging 10.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game for Iowa State while shooting 41 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from deep and 81.6 percent from the free throw line. In Big 12 play, Grill has been one of the league’s best downtown snipers, connecting on 40.8 percent of his 3-pointers to rank No. 8 in the league.
Iowa State is scheduled to play again on Monday when they travel to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications
AMES, Iowa – No. 4 Iowa State (11-2, 4-0 Big 12) increased its Big 12 dual meet winning streak to 15 matches in a 25-12 triumph against Oklahoma (7-4, 1-2 Big 12) Friday night in Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones won six of ten matches with three bonus-point victories, including two by fall. Cyclone seniors went 3-0 on senior night with wins by Marcus Coleman (184), Joel Devine (197) and Sam Schuyler (285).
Iowa State won the takedown battle, 21-5
Jason Kraisser got the Cyclones on the board with an impressive come-from-behind victory at 157 pounds over Jared Hill. Down 4-0 after the first period, Kraisser rode out Hill the entire second stanza to avoid a crucial escape point. Choosing down to begin period three, Kraisser scored a reversal and got a takedown in the period to force sudden victory behind a riding time point at 5-5.
Kraisser ended the match, 7-5, with a takedown with 14 seconds left in the extra period.
Second-ranked David Carr cruised to a 19-6 major decision against Gerrit Nijenhuis at 165 pounds. Carr, who had eight takedowns in the match, remains unbeaten at 14-0.
No. 4 Marcus Coleman registered a third period fall (5:50) at 184 pounds to improve to 12-1 on the year. Coleman was in control the entire match vs. Keegan Moore. On his fifth takedown, he turned over Moore for the fall.
At 197 pounds, a first period takedown and subsequent four-point nearfall aided Joel Devine in his 9-3 decision vs. Carson Berryhill. Devine now has wins at 174, 184 and 197 pounds this season.
Sam Schuyler’s ability to ride out Josh Heindselman in the second period was the difference in his 2-0 victory at 285.
Zach Redding notched the second fall of the match for the Cyclones, as Redding turned Wyatt Henson after his second takedown at the 4:11 mark.
Iowa State is back in action on Sunday (Jan. 29) playing host to No. 10 Oklahoma State. First match is at 2 p.m. CT. Tickets remain on sale, here.
Match-by-Match
No. 4 Iowa State 25, Oklahoma 12
157: Jason Kraisser (ISU) dec. Jared Hill (OU), 7-5 SV1
165: David Carr (ISU) maj. dec. Gerrit Nijenhuis (OU), 19-6
174: Tate Picklo (OU) dec. Julien Broderson (ISU), 3-2
184: Marcus Coleman (ISU) pinned Keegan Moore (OU), 5:50
197: Joel Devine (ISU) dec. Carson Berryhill (OU), 9-3
285: Sam Schuyler (ISU) dec. Josh Heindselman (OU), 2-0
125: Joey Prata (OU) dec. Conor Knopick (ISU), 2-0
133: Zach Redding (ISU) pinned Wyatt Henson (OU), 4:11
141: Mosha Schwartz (OU) dec. Casey Swiderski (ISU), 3-2
149: John Wiley (OU) dec. Paniro Johnson (ISU), 6-4
Attendance: 4,007
Officials: Jimmy Chen, John Hatfield
Iowa State earned its first commitment to the 2024 recruiting class Friday night as Wisconsin defensive end Jace Gilbert announced the news over social media.
100% committed to Iowa State University Thank you to @CoachHarris28, @NickHaydenWI, @BigCityHirsch95 for getting me to where I am today. Thank you to @CoachRasheed, @ISUMattCampbell, @DerekHoodjer for giving me the opportunity to play at the next level and further my education. pic.twitter.com/NqD2GXpLP3
— Jace Gilbert (@JaceGilbert23) January 28, 2023
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound prospect is rated as a three-star by 247Sports.
Gilbert chose Iowa State over offers from Illinois, Wyoming and Central Michigan and is being rated as a top 40 defensive line talent in the 2024 class.
Gilbert was also picked to the AP all-State Wisconsin first team during his junior year on the field.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Lexi Donarski and Ashley Joens previewed their team’s top 20 matchup with No. 9 Oklahoma (Saturday, 3:00 p.m. ESPN+) on Friday at the Sukup Practice Facility.
Jan 14, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates screams a play during the first half against the Florida Gators at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
KenPom Prediction: 74-72, Iowa State
1 – Big 12 breakI’ll be the one to say it… I’m over the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
The event has run its course. It long ago became clear it was simply an opportunity to set up Kansas and Kentucky with fun match-ups and everybody else could just get jumbled together.
Sometimes we’ll get a few good games, sometimes we’ll only get one.
It doesn’t have to be that way, especially if we’re going to play this event in January. If they want to keep it on this date, why not do a TV special the Saturday before and announce the match-ups based on current league standings or just in the interest of creating the best games?
Iowa State and Missouri is a fun old-school rivalry, but nobody thought either of these teams would be good going into the season, so they stuck them together for the second year in a row.
The Cyclones are going on the road in this event for the sixth time in eight years. Now, Iowa State hasn’t been great during all of those years, but how does a venue like Hilton Coliseum host two games in this type of event in eight years?
Meanwhile, Iowa State has made trips to Ole Miss, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and now Missouri. It just doesn’t make any sense if you’re trying to put together a truly made-for-TV product.
You won’t hear any of the league’s coaches say anything like this because they’re worried about more important things like trying to win the game.
“There are people in our league who make decisions in the best interest of our league,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “It’s not something that I have any say in so I focus on the things I can control. What I can control is to prepare our team to have the best opportunity to win the game on Saturday.”
Want to know how cool this event could be? Let’s look at some of the match-ups we could have put together if we’d waited to pair teams until shortly before the event:
No. 12 Iowa State vs. No. 2 Alabama: A battle of contrasting styles with two of the best teams in college basketball. A marquee college basketball game in 2022-23. Instead, Iowa State is going to play an unranked Missouri team while Alabama visits an Oklahoma team that’s lost six of its last eight.
No. 15 Auburn vs. No. 5 Kansas State: How did we really miss out on the opportunity to pit Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell and Auburn’s Wendell Green, two of the nation’s best small guards, against each other? The Wildcats will host Florida while Auburn visits West Virginia, neither of which are currently in conference title contention like Kansas State and the Tigers.
Texas A&M vs. No. 9 Kansas: The Jayhawks have their annual date with Kentucky, a three-loss SEC team, and that’s considered one of the freaking headliners. Meanwhile, Texas A&M is 6-1 in the SEC and isn’t even playing in the event!
I wish it made sense because I think the idea is genuinely a good one, but we have to be willing to go the extra mile to create the best games if we want to make it a thing in January like it is with every game on the same day.
The days of just highlight Kansas and Kentucky because they’re Kansas and Kentucky regardless of the on-court results need to stop.
Give us the best games we can get. Period. Full stop.
Are there logistics to work out? Sure. Does it make coaches have to work harder to get another win? In theory.
People get paid a lot of money to figure those things out. Coaches get paid a lot of money to do their jobs.
We don’t have to do it this way, and if we’re going to keep doing it this way, I’d much rather see the teams in the Big 12 get one Saturday off during the conference slate over going on the road to play Mississippi State in Starkville like TCU, the No. 11 team in the country, will have to do this weekend.
2 – Get out and goNow that I’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s look toward Dennis Gates’ Tigers, who are vastly improved from the team Cuonzo Martin brought to Hilton Coliseum for this event a year ago.
Missouri raced out to a 12-1 start in Gates’ first year after coming over from Cleveland State. The one loss was a 95-67 loss to Kansas in Columbia on Dec. 1`0. They capped that stretch by beating Kentucky on Dec. 28 before we realized Kentucky might not be very good.
Since beating the Wildcats, Missouri is 3-4 with wins over Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Mississippi. They’ve won two of their last three, against Arkansas and Ole Miss, sandwiched around an 85-64 loss to Alabama.
The Tigers have had their success on the back of one of the sport’s best offenses, ranking No. 6 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency. Gates’ team plays at the SEC’s second-fastest pace behind only Alabama, and while this group did that with efficiency during the non-conference schedule, they’re ranked No. 6 in the SEC in offensive efficiency in league play.
This group, when it is on, is capable of scoring in bunches. They’re No. 6 nationally in team 2-point percentage, No. 15 in team effective field goal percentage and No. 29 in turnover percentage.
Missouri will look to get out in transition quickly to find the best look possible early in the shot clock. They’re willing to fire it up from deep despite the fact they rank No. 140 nationally in team 3-point percentage.
But, the Tigers’ performance earlier this week against Ole Miss shows what this team is capable of when it is on as they knocked down 16-of-30 shots from deep. Yes, of the team’s 56 field goal attempts, 30 of them were 3-pointers.
“Certainly fast tempo. They shot the heck out of the ball the other night against Ole Miss,” Otzelberger said. “They can play a lot of guys, a lot of different combinations. They’ll play fast. They’ll play with a lot of freedom, confidence. They can score points in a hurry. They’ve got a really good ability, especially at home, to score in bunches.”
The flip side of that is this team has the ability to go ice cold. That’s what happened when they played Alabama last week as they shot just 3-of-28 from 3-point range and lost by 20-plus points.
The offense is led by 6-foot-8 senior center Kobe Brown, who is averaging 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He’s shooting 57 percent from the field, 44 percent from deep and 77 percent from the free throw line.
Brown is efficient scoring around the rim and in the paint, connecting on 62 percent of his 2-point attempts, and is a capable shooter from deep as he hit on 48 percent of his 3-point attempts in Missouri’s 10 tier-A and tier-B games.
D’Moi Hodge, a 6-foot-4 guard who came to Missouri with Gates from Cleveland State, is averaging 14.5 points and is the team’s most efficient weapon, ranking No. 70 nationally in offensive rating.
DeAndre Gholston is a 6-foot-5 transfer from Milwaukee averaging 10.2 points and has scored in double figures in four of the team’s last six games. Noah Carter, a 6-foot-6 forward transfer from Northern Iowa, is averaging 10.1 points and is shooting nearly 70 percent from 2-point range in SEC play.
The biggest wild card of the group is Missouri State transfer guard Isaih Mosley, who was one of the most explosive mid-major guards in college basketball over the last several years, but has appeared in only 11 games for Missouri this season.
When Mosely is available, he’s the team’s highest usage player and he’s never met a shot attempt he didn’t like. He scored 19 points on 9-of-18 from the field, including 1-of-8 from deep, in the loss to Alabama then followed that up with 20 points on 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-7 from deep against Mississippi.
3 – A different defensive challengeIt has been more than a month since the last time Iowa State played a team as poor as Missouri is defensively on paper. The Tigers rank No. 194 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, which is the lowest ranking for an Iowa State opponent since Western Michigan on Dec. 18.
For reference, Iowa State’s opponents during its last eight games have had an average adjusted defensive ranking of 38.9. On paper, this is the basketball equivalent of constantly trying to break into Fort Knox for a month then being asked to sneak Doordash onto the court at a Duquense basketball game.
Missouri ranks No. 268 nationally in opposing effective field goal percentage, they’re No. 361 in opponent offensive rebound percentage, No. 279 in opposing 3-point percentage and No. 226 in opposing 2-point percentage.
The Tigers are allowing teams to rebound 37.3 percent of their misses this season. That is the worst mark by any Power 5 team in the country by a wide margin and it has been even worse in SEC play with opponents corraling nearly 40 percent of their misses.
The one thing Missouri does well defensively is force turnovers, and they rank No. 7 nationally in defensive turnover percentage. That is really the only number that doesn’t bode in Iowa State’s favor here.
Taking care of the basketball and putting together long possessions with good pace, good cuts, good screens, etc. will go a long way towards knocking this team out of their rhythm. Iowa State has to force them to guard in the half-court for the entire 30 seconds if necessary.
“Like all games, us controlling the tempo the way we want, us valuing the ball and possessions, us getting great shots and getting back in transition defense,” Otzelberger said. “It’s been a common thing for us. It’s going to be really important for us in this game because they’re at their best when they’re in transition.”
Oct 15, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell during the first against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell has announced the hiring of North Dakota State wide receivers coach Noah Pauley to the same position for the Cyclones. Offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase will now coach the quarterbacks.
“Noah has been a part of national championship-winning programs as both a player and coach,” Campbell said. “He understands what it takes to be successful and has been instrumental in his team’s success. I look forward to Noah being an integral part of our staff.”
Pauley has been on staff at NDSU since 2019, helping lead the Bison to two Missouri Valley Football Conference championships and two NCAA Division I FCS national championships.
He coached Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson, who was an FCA All-American and three-time all-conference selection at NDSU. Watson led the Bison in receiving three-straight seasons, including a career-best 43 receptions, 801 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021.
The 2019 NDSU receiving unit helped record the third-most passing yards (2,911) and touchdowns (29) in school history as the Bison went 16-0 and won the national title with a victory over James Madison.
North Dakota State also won the national championship in 2021, finishing 14-1 and beating Montana State in the title game.
While at North Dakota State in the summer of 2022, Pauley worked with the Packers to focus on wide receivers as part of the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.
Pauley joined the NDSU coaching staff following a five-year stint at his alma mater, Minnesota-Duluth. With the Bulldogs, he was a graduate assistant from 2013-14 and served as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2016-18. Between stints, he was the assistant dean of students and athletics director at North Star Academy in Duluth.
He coached six all-conference wide receivers at UMD, including All-America receiver and return specialist Aaron Roth.
The Duluth, Minnesota, native, was a four-year starter for UMD from 2007-10. He played on teams that went 45-8 and won two Division II national championships before joining the Bulldogs staff as a student assistant for the 2011 season.
Pauley earned his bachelor’s degree in criminology from Minnesota-Duluth in 2012 and a master’s degree in education from the school in 2014.
He is married to Hannah and the couple has two daughters, Ada and Lena.
Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Robert Jones and Tamin Lipsey previewed their team’s matchup with Missouri this Saturday:
After Iowa State started Wednesday’s road matchup with TCU with a 15-2 lead, there was little doubt that the Cyclones would leave Fort Worth with a 6-2 Big 12 record.
The team had no issues rolling past a young, and winless in the Big 12, TCU squad that hasn’t been able to find its footing, winning 75-35.
It was one of the best defensive performances by Iowa State this season.
“Obviously you don’t get many games like this in the Big 12,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “I think defensively, similar to what we did with KU, we were really good… I thought everyone contributed. We didn’t play a lot of kids a lot of minutes and that’s good.”
Iowa State only allowed TCU a single field goal on the defensive side of the ball in the third quarter, while they were putting the game away.
The Horned Frogs tallied the 3-pointer and two free throws and scored just five points in the entire frame.
It put the game out of reach.
“We just have to buy into what the coaches say,” Joens said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “They do an amazing job giving us a detailed, personal scouting report.”
The win gives Iowa State a 14-4 record on the year overall and sets up a big game against Oklahoma on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.
The winner of the game will go home with at least a share of first place in the Big 12 standings at the midway mark of the season.
“(That was) a game that everyone thought we should win with what’s coming up,” Fennelly said. “But you can’t take those for granted. Not in the Big 12.”
Saturday’s game against Oklahoma at Hilton Coliseum will tip off at 3:00 p.m. and can be seen live on ESPN+.
Big 12 WBB Standings
1. Oklahoma 6-2
2. Iowa State 6-2
3. Texas 6-2
4. West Virginia 4-3
4. Baylor 4-3
6. Oklahoma State 4-4
7. Kansas 3-4
7. Texas Tech 3-4
9. Kansas State 2-6
10. TCU 0-8
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball signee Addy Brown has been recognized among the top high school players in the Class of 2023 and will play in the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Girls Game, announced on Tuesday. Brown, from Derby, Kansas, is the second Cyclone signee in program history to earn a spot in the prestigious competition, joining Lexi Donarski, who earned a spot in the 2020 game.
Brown is ranked No. 31 in the ESPNw/Hoop Gurlz Class of 2023 rankings and headlines a five-person Iowa State signing class that is currently ranked No. 13 in the country by ESPNw/Hoop Gurlz. A two-time First Team All-State honoree, Brown is averaging 20.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists for Derby High School this season, helping lead her squad to an 8-1 record.
Brown is not the first member of her family to earn a trip to the McDonald’s All-American came as her older sister Kennedy, currently a member of the Duke women’s basketball team, earned a roster spot in 2019.
The 2023 McDonald’s All-American Girls Game will happen on March 28 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas and will be televised on ESPN2.
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Jaren Holmes (13), guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) and center Osun Osunniyi (21) celebrates after winning 80-76 over Kansas State at Hilton Coliseum Tuesday, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. Syndication: The Ames Tribune
AMES — Iowa State had not scored in nearly three minutes when Tamin Lipsey went crashing in for an offensive rebound with 5:21 left to play on Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones had led by as many as 10 in the second half, including a 59-49 lead fewer than three minutes earlier, but Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell had cut the deficit to one point on the previous possession.
Gabe Kalscheur attempted a jumper to push the Iowa State lead back to three, but it was off the mark. Enter Lipsey, the Cyclones’ true freshman point guard who has a knack for making things happen when his team needs it the most.
Iowa State needed this one.
Lipsey tapped the offensive rebound back out the perimeter where Iowa State’s Caleb Grill, who had been in and out of the game dealing with a lingering back injury, sat open and waiting.
Grill rose, fired and connected. It was his first — and only — field goal of the evening. He knocked down a pair of free throws a few minutes later when it was time to ice this one away.
The kid from Kansas battles through injury when his team needs him most to knock down one of the biggest shots in a game full of huge moments. It was that kind of night at Hilton Coliseum.
No. 12 Cyclones 80, No. 5 Kansas State 76.
“He’s such a competitor,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said of Grill. “When he’s on the court, our guys know how much he wants to win and know his confidence even in the big moments. Defensively, is he at his best? Offensively, is he exactly at his best? Probably not, but, man, he hits a huge three. He knocks down key free throws late. When he’s on the court, the trust and the confidence they have with him out there, he’s been part of a lot of huge impactful wins and played key roles in those. I think him being out there brings a lot to our team and for the guy to play 25 minutes in that game with his back how it is… pretty impressive.”
While Grill’s shot boosted Iowa State across the finish line, it was the play of his teammates that put the Cyclones in a position to control the majority of the contest.
Jaren Holmes put together one of his best performances in an Iowa State uniform, tallying 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting, 2-of-3 shooting from deep and 5-of-6 from the free throw line with seven assists, three rebounds, one steal, one block and one turnover.
The St. Bonaventure transfer knocked down difficult shot after difficult shot, using his touch to finish with his floater around the rim, using his height to elevate for his jumper over smaller defenders and using his strength and smarts to navigate his way to the rim for easy finishes.
When he wasn’t able to do those things, he found openings for his teammates.
Oh, and he did it while playing a lockdown game defensively as Iowa State held one of the nation’s best backcourts to a combined 12-of-29 from the field and forced them into nine turnovers.
“Jaren was dynamite on both ends,” Otzelberger said. “That’s hard to beat. That’s a great night for anybody. I think it’s one of his better performances. I think the pride kicked in. Our guys know Caleb’s not at full strength. Man, him and Kalscheur both. Gabe’s playing 40 minutes a night laying it all on the line taking charges, guarding the other team’s best player. Big shots, big plays. Those two guys lead us every day with how they work and it’s awesome to see how well they both played.”
Kalscheur continued to prove why he belongs in the conversation for first-team All-Big 12 by scoring 19 points on 7-of-11 from the field, 2-of-5 from 3-point range and 3-of-4 from the free throw line.
Arguably the league’s best perimeter defender, this game was going to be a significant challenge for Kalscheur going head-to-head with the K-State tandem of Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson.
Iowa State never allowed Johnson to get comfortable, prevented him from getting to the spots he wanted to get to and sent extra attention his way anytime Kansas State tried to get him into position for isolation.
The Florida transfer finished with 15 points on 6-of-12 from the field, 0-of-2 from deep, 10 rebounds and five turnovers.
“I thought our gameplan was really sound,” Otzelberger said. “We wanted to deny him catches in those isolation areas. When he caught it, we wanted to bring a secondary defender. Turned him over five times. Felt like his points came on broken plays, he had an offensive rebound, he had a drive. I felt like our plan was good. He’s a great player. He’s big. He’s physical. I liked our plan. There were times when he was frustrated and that’s what we need to do. We need to be highly disruptive and guard him as a team. For the most part, we did that.”
Nowell was one of the biggest challenges of the season for Lipsey, the Cyclones’ fast-rising freshman floor general, who finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. Of Lipsey’s six rebounds, four of them were offensive, and nearly all of those led to significant buckets for Iowa State at key moments.
Meanwhile, he prevented Nowell from being able to control the game for 40 minutes. Yeah, Nowell got his, posting 23 points on 6-of-17 from the field, 4-of-5 from deep, 7-of-8 from the free throw line, nine assists, four turnovers and three steals.
But, it was never easy, and the credit for that by in large should go to Lipsey.
“The poise, the character, the moxy, for a freshman,” Otzelberger said of Lipsey. “The guy he’s guarding is pretty dang good, too, so he’s in a tough spot there. Winning play after winning play. Command of the game late. The loose balls, the offensive rebounds, the passes to his teammates. He’s unbelievable. He’s an awesome young man. He’s an awesome competitor and a winner. Amazing what he’s doing as a freshman.”
Another of Iowa State’s biggest plays of the afternoon came just a few minutes after Grill’s 3-pointer that broke the three-minute field goal drought in the second half.
The Cyclones had added a few points off of free throws since Grill’s shot cleared the net, but the lead had not grown, now sitting at 68-64 with 3:49 to play.
With 3:49 left, Lipsey was surveying the defenders at the top of the key and saw his man start to sink toward the middle as Osun Osunniyi faded toward the basket.
Lipsey lofted up a high arcing lob to the front of the rim, Osunniyi snagged the pass and turned in the air to slam it through despite a crashing help defender.
It was a difficult play. It was the type of play that will live on highlight reels for years. It was the type of play that will help people remember Osunniyi’s impact on this game as he tallied 16 points, three rebounds, two blocks and knocked down 8-of-11 free throws.
This team makes it all look easy.
“That’s light,” Holmes said. “We practice that. I’ve seen Shoon do some crazy things. We were a lob away from tying the game last weekend (against Oklahoma State). He’s not going to miss many of them.”
This team has the ability to make a lot of things look easy. They have the ability to make things look hard sometimes, too, but we’re focusing on the easy part for now.
They make the process of chasing 50/50 balls look easy. When was the last time you saw the Cyclones lose one of those? I’m not sure they lost a single one against the Wildcats. Their 25-13 lead in points off turnovers and 17-7 advantage in second-chance points exhibit that.
They make playing together look really easy. The Cyclones had assists on 15 of 28 made shots against the Wildcats, but their ability to play together was once again on display.
Every time I watch this team play, I’m reminded of an old adage that I first heard Coach K bring up back when I was in high school. It’s an idea that was brought into the Cyclone mainstream by Jameel McKay, of all people.
Think of a basketball team as a fist. When the fingers on the fist stay together, they’re able to do some real damage and inflict pain on their opponents. When the fingers start to deviate from the fist, you can break a finger, and, thus, hurt the team.
Have we ever seen this team deviate from the fist? They have some rough stretches, but never anything that feels like it is someone going rogue with their own agenda.
I’m not sure we’ve ever seen it at this point. If you want to understand why this Iowa State basketball program has done what they’ve done to this point, think of the fist. This team understands how much stronger it is together than when its pieces start to separate.
The only thing this team does is land punches, and that’s a dangerous quality to possess in this sport. It is easy to understand why the team holds that mentality when you listen to its leaders.
“It’s truly magical. There’s nothing like it,” Holmes said. “Overall, I’m just trying to put our team in the best position to win. Whatever that may be that specific night, whatever that position might be for me to play, I’m willing to do that for this team, for my brothers. I just want to win.”
Iowa State men’s basketball has started to make the hard things look easy, because they embrace the most difficult things on a day-to-day basis. There is no shying away from anything.
There is no pouting or woe-is-me mentality. It’s just give your best today then be your best tomorrow and the next day and the day after that and so on down the line.
That isn’t an easy thing to do or an easy mentality to have, especially when you’re an 18-to-22-year-old young man. It is much easier to deviate from the group and go off like a lone wolf. It is much easier to stand as the finger by yourself.
This team has made being the fist look awfully easy.
Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang and his players give their immediate reaction to their loss at Hilton Coliseum on Tuesday.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus senior guards Gabe Kalscheur and Jaren Holmes, give immediate reaction to the Cyclones’ win over No. 5 Kansas State on Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State five-star commit Omaha Biliew has been announced as a McDonald’s All-American and will play in this year’s All-American game.
The prospect is a staple of Iowa State’s 2023 recruiting class, which ranks as the No. 7 class in the nation, set to join the Cyclones for the 2023-24 season.
Biliew has also taken over the prep basketball world in recent memory, as one of his dunks has soared to nearly 1 million views on Twitter:
Omaha Biliew just did this in a high school basketball game. Wow. @BiliewOmaha leads @waukeehoops with 21 and Waukee gets revenge on Northwest, winning 77-55. #iahsbkb pic.twitter.com/P0fRdCrNch
— Mark Freund (@MarkFreundTV) January 21, 2023
The All-American game will be played in Texas’ Toyota Center in March and will be televised by ESPN.
Kansas State senior guard Markquis Nowell (1) drives the lane around Kansas junior forward Jalen Wilson (10) during the first half of Tuesday’s Sunflower Showdown inside Bramlage Coliseum. Syndication: The Topeka Capital-Journal
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Hilton Coliseum
TV: ESPNU
KenPom Prediction: 69-63, Iowa State
1 – Two-Headed MonsterThere hasn’t been a better duo in college basketball on a night-to-night basis this season than Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson.
If the season ended today, both of those players would be first-team All-Big 12 selections, and for good reason.
Nowell has been one of the league’s most electric playmakers and scorers from all three levels of the court, posting averages of 16.7 points and 8.2 assists per game with shooting splits of 41 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range and 88 percent from the free throw line.
Nowell, one of the few returners from last season’s Kansas State team, has the second-highest assist rate in college basketball and leads the Big 12 in that same metric. His 4.0 win shares (which measures who has the biggest hand in a team winning) this season leads the Big 12.
“Nowell is tremendous in transition,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “Shooting the ball with a lot of confidence, making plays for other people. His assist numbers are off the charts. Really good in transition. Really good off the ball screen. Really tough cover one-on-one. He’s so fast.”
Johnson very well might have the best case for Big 12 Player of the Year through seven league games. The Florida transfer is averaging 18.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game with shooting splits of 55 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 76 percent from the free throw line.
Kansas State runs most of its offense with the idea of creating easy isolation opportunities for Johnson or getting Nowell working off of the high pick-and-roll. Jerome Tang’s team has found success with lobs when teams over-play on Johnson in order to blow up the Wildcats’ actions.
In other words, the Wildcats will have a counter to whatever Iowa State throws at them from a scouting perspective defensively.
“Johnson is strong, physical, aggressive,” Otzelberger said. “Gets downhill, gets to the rim, gets to the foul line, rebounding like crazy.”
While this duo has been playing some of the league’s best ball, there is no doubt that Nowell and Johnson carry perhaps the league’s biggest load for their team. They’re the only two players on Kansas State’s roster with usage rates above 25 percent and nearly everything the Wildcats do comes with the goal of creating opportunities for the pair.
Holding this duo in check will be one of the toughest defensive tasks Iowa State has faced to this point in the season. That’s true from a personnel standpoint and from a pure x’s and o’s ability to create opportunities for their best players standpoint.
“Those guys are playing as well as anybody in the league,” Otzelberger said. “Both of them are.”
2 – Get Out And GoNobody in the league has played faster in Big 12 play than Kansas State, and really only TCU and Texas have come particularly close. The Wildcats want to get out and run to create easy opportunities in transition.
Nowell is one of the best in the country at turning turnovers or transition opportunities into easy run-outs. He’s one of the quickest guards in the country and lethal once he’s allowed to get into the open floor.
Iowa State will need to do a great job of taking care of the basketball and running good offense with great pace, making great cuts, setting great screens, etc. just to keep the game at the Cyclones’ desired pace. This is one of the places having senior guard Caleb Grill, and the impact he has on opposing defenses is important for Iowa State.
Grill did not practice for Iowa State on Monday, and it is unclear if he’ll be available for the Cyclones tonight after playing just 17 minutes and attempting only one shot in Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma State.
“Other guys need to be ready to step up and play more minutes,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “It gives our team some different strengths, but we prepare in such a way and practice in such a way that our depth, our versatility and how we prepare mentally, guys are ready to step in and do that… Next guy step up and we’ll do what we need to do to be successful to win the game.”
Iowa State is already one of the nation’s best at forcing teams into difficult jumpers, and if there’s one major knock on K-State, it is that this team will settle for difficult jumpers. The Wildcats rank No. 263 nationally in 3PA/FGA, which is a ratio of a team’s shots and the percentage of them that come from behind the 3-point line.
The Wildcats shoot a lot of 3-pointers for good reason, though, especially when it is Nowell or Johnson. Tang’s team runs good offense and shares the basketball with ease. They’re assisting more than 66 percent of their baskets as a result, which ranks No. 6 nationally.
“Phenomenal in transition,” Otzelberger said. “They’ve got length and versatility defensively all over the place. They’re a really good team. They’re playing with a lot of confidence. They do a lot of things well. They’re playing at a really high level.”
3 – Who Else?Beating Kansas State comes down to being able to make Nowell and Johnson uncomfortable above all else, but there are a couple of other guys on the roster who are capable of going for big nights if given the opportunity.
Nae’Qwan Tomlin is the only other Wildcat averaging in double figures scoring at 10.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game on 45 percent shooting from the field and 70 percent shooting from the free throw line. The 6-foot-10 freshman from Harlem recorded 15 points in K-State’s win over Kansas last week.
Ismael Massoud, Desi Sills, Tykei Greene and Abayomi Iyiola have all scored double digits during Big 12 play, but their contributions aren’t as consistently reliable as Nowell or Johnson.
The Wildcats need all those guys in order to win games at a high level, but Nowell and Johnson are the drivers and engines of this car.
Slow that duo down, and you’ll have a chance to stop the car.
Chris Williams gives a preview and prediction for No. 12 Iowa State’s hosting of No. 5 Kansas State on Tuesday night in Hilton Coliseum.
WWE’s Paul Heyman was cutting a promo on Monday Night Raw and mentioned former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy as part of it:
OH NO HE DIDN'T!@HeymanHustle just gave a shoutout to @brockpurdy13 and the @49ers in Philadelphia at #RawXXX! pic.twitter.com/DrKRjjcc36
— WWE (@WWE) January 24, 2023
For further context:
"We're gonna feel like the fans of the Philadelphia Eagles after they get conquered by BROCK PURDY of the @49ers." – Paul Heyman on Raw tonight.pic.twitter.com/KJu2eI0nUQ
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) January 24, 2023
Iowa State women’s basketball held steady at No. 18 in the latest AP Poll released on Monday afternoon.
The top 25 teams had largely successful weeks which resulted in the lack of movement for the rankings.
Iowa State faces TCU – which is winless in Big 12 play thus far – on Wednesday before a top 20 matchup against No. 14 Oklahoma on Saturday this week.
The full poll can be seen below:
AP WBB Poll
Monday, January 23
1. South Carolina
2. Ohio State
3. Stanford
4. LSU
5. UConn
6. Indiana
7. Notre Dame
8. UCLA
9. Utah
10. Iowa
10. Maryland
12. Virginia Tech
13. Michigan
14. Oklahoma
15. North Carolina
16. Duke
17. Gonzaga
18. Iowa State
19. Arizona
20. NC State
21. Villanova
22. Illinois
23. Middle Tennessee
24. Florida State
25. Colorado
Others receiving votes: Tennessee 47, Texas 35, South Florida 31, USC 22, Oregon 10, Arkansas 2, UNLV 1, Alabama 1
Iowa State men’s basketball remains at No. 12 in the latest Associated Press Poll released on Monday.
The Cyclones will face off with No. 5 Kansas State on Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum.
Both programs are one of five Big 12 teams to be ranked in the top 12 spots of the top 25 poll.
AP MBB Poll
Monday, January 23
1. Purdue
2. Alabama
3. Houston
4. Tennessee
5. Kansas State
6. Arizona
7. Virginia
8. UCLA
9. Kansas
10. Texas
11. TCU
12. Iowa State
13. Xavier
14. Gonzaga
15. Auburn
16. Marquette
17. Baylor
18. Charleston
19. UConn
20. Miami
21. Florida Atlantic
22. St. Mary’s
23. Providence
24. Clemson
25. New Mexico
Others receiving votes: Duke 102, Indiana 61, San Diego State 57, Rutgers 31, Kent State 24, North Carolina 12, Michigan State 10, Creighton 9, Illinois 9, Arkansas 9, Missouri 8, Wisconsin 6, North Carolina State 4, Kentucky 3, VCU 2, Boise State 2, Memphis 1, Wake Forest 1, Oral Roberts 1
Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger gives an update on Caleb Grill, who did not practice Monday, as well as an update on Jaz Kunc’s injury. Jaren Holmes and Osun Osunniyi addressed media members as well, ahead of the team’s Tuesday matchup with Kansas State:
Iowa State guard Caleb Grill did not practice on Monday ahead of his team’s top 15 matchup with Kansas State set for Tuesday night.
Grill tweaked his back during his team’s 78-67 win over Texas a week ago at Hilton Coliseum and played limited minutes during Saturday’s 61-59 loss to Oklahoma State.
Coach T.J. Otzelberger said that Iowa State, ‘will act in the best interest of (Grill’s) health and safety,’ during his media availability ahead of the game.
The Kansas native averages a team-high 32.5 minutes per game and is scoring 10.3 points per game. He averages a 37.5% mark from the 3-point line, as well.
No. 12 Iowa State and No. 13 Kansas State are set to tip off at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday on ESPNU.
Former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy will play for a spot in the Super Bowl next week.
Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers earned a trip to next Sunday’s NFC Championship Game with a 19-12 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
In the game, Purdy completed 19 of his 29 passing attempts and collected 214 yards in his seventh-straight win as a NFL starter.
The highlight of the game was found on the 49ers’ go-ahead drive, where Purdy found his favorite target George Kittle and the tight end pulled in this spectacular catch:
This catch from George Kittle is even crazier from this angle pic.twitter.com/LdUo1GnnL4
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) January 23, 2023
Iowa State earned its third commitment from a top 100 player in the 2024 class on Sunday night in Dwayne Pierce.
Here are some of his highlights to this point of his career:
2024 Dwayne Pierce of Christ The King got busy at Made Hoops. Roll the tapes! pic.twitter.com/ARvRmQlYax
— RareFootage (@RareFootageNews) October 19, 2022
NY Rens 16u lost a tough one to Team Final 16u 56-53 @ jam
Solid performance by Dwayne Pierce 2024 @NYRhoops pic.twitter.com/RFmtnFydSp
— RealScoutBasketball (@RealScoutBBall) July 17, 2022
T.J. Otzelberger and his staff continued their hot streak on the recruiting trail on Sunday, earning a commitment from a third top-100 prospect to Iowa State’s 2024 class.
The Cyclones added Dwayne Pierce, a four-star, 6-foot-5 small forward out of New York, to the class on Sunday, he announced on ESPNU.
He picked Iowa State over Florida State, Memphis, Penn State and Seton Hall.
Tonight @iamdwaynepierce will be making his college decision live at halftime of our game on ESPN U. @PaulBiancardi @ESPN_Schick #studentathlete #freecollege pic.twitter.com/g4O9VZygH4
— Joe Arbitello (@ctkcoachjarbs) January 22, 2023
Pierce is rated as the No. 5 prospect out of the state and the No. 25 player at his position in the class.
The 2024 class already holds two four-star commits, according to 247Sports’ rankings, in J.T. Rock and Nojus Indrusaitas.
This is on top of the No. 7 rated 2023 class set to come in with Omaha Biliew, Milan Momcilovic, Jelani Hamilton and Kayden Fish.
According to Reddit user u/OogieBoogie1, Iowa State University put an ad in Sunday’s San Francisco Chronicle displaying Brock Purdy ahead of the NFC Divisional round playoff matchup he would be playing in Sunday night.
Purdy took the starting job for the 49ers nearly two months ago and of course won the 2020 Fiesta Bowl during his time at Iowa State.
The quarterback is now in the midst of the greatest start to a career in the history of the NFL, being 6-0 as a starter going into Sunday’s game.
The original post can be seen here.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State spent a large portion of its season learning to play an offense that differed from the norm in a Bill Fennelly offense.
Since Stephanie Soares’ season-ending injury during the team’s game against Oklahoma, the team has been moving back towards that form, doing so Saturday in a 64-50 win over Kansas.
“I couldn’t be more proud of my team,” Fennelly said after the game. “What they did this week was incredible – and my staff. No one plans for it. No one should have to deal with it, and the way they’ve competed is incredible.”
Fennelly’s mother passed away earlier in the week and he watched half of his team’s 2-0 week from afar while Iowa State got back on track with a win over Oklahoma State on Wednesday.
On Saturday, Iowa State attempted 14 3-pointers in the first quarter and didn’t score on either of its two attempts from inside the arc in the opening 10 minutes.
While it’s something of circumstances that it happened, it’s also evidence of the mold the team is trying to get back to.
“It was my fault,” Fennelly said of the first quarter. “I think I scared them a little too much about (Kansas big Taiyan Jackson). Like ‘don’t throw it in there, she’s going to block your shot,’ so we said, ‘heck we’re going to start chucking them.’ But you still have to – like in football – if you’re a passing team run the ball every once in a while.”
There was no desire to open fire from the arc as much as Iowa State was in the quarter, and the pace slowed down. However, the offense picked up.
Ashley Joens finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds, shooting 10-19 in what might have been the best game of her season thus far.
“From a basketball standpoint, I want to say Ashley Joens was Ashley Joens,” Fennelly said after the game, to keep it simple.
Iowa State’s trio of stars has been there and done that, but the team is seeing the growth of its other players that will play a pivotal role in the results of this year.
Redshirt sophomore Izzi Zingaro came away with a career-high 11 points as well as six rebounds in the game.
“Her teammates trust her,” Fennelly said. “They want her to succeed… Emily (Ryan) calls a lot of her own plays and she called Izzi’s number like three plays in a row. You don’t do that unless you trust where the ball’s going.”
Meanwhile, Nyamer Diew hit three triples in the game, helping Iowa State to a 13-4 mark on the year as well as a 9-0 record at Hilton Coliseum this season.
The game looked a lot like the marquee performances Iowa State fans saw a season ago and that’s a good sign for what’s to come the rest of the way.
Iowa State will return to floor to face off with TCU (6-12, 0-7 Big 12) on the road Wednesday night (6:30 p.m. ESPN+).
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Ashley Joens & __ spoke to media members following their team’s 64-50 win over Kansas at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday:
For nearly 36 minutes on Saturday in Stillwater, Iowa State was poised to maintain its spot in the tie for the lead in the Big 12 standings, setting up a colossal match-up with Kansas State at Hilton Coliseum on Tuesday.
The Cyclones had raced out to a 16-point first-half lead over Oklahoma State, but the Cowboys slowly chipped away as Iowa State’s offense struggled and shots started to fall for the home squad.
Mike Boynton’s squad out-scored Iowa State by 12 points in the second half and took its first lead of the game with 3:09 left before handing the Cyclones a 61-59 loss at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Oklahoma State was helped by one of its best shooting performances of the season, connecting on 9-of-21 shots from deep, including a 6-of-10 clip in the second half.
Avery Anderson had been 0-of-16 from 3-point range in Big 12 play, then knocked down 2-of-3 against Iowa State and finished with a game-high 18 points while adding five assists and eight turnovers.
Meanwhile, Iowa State cooled off significantly after an opening 12 minutes that saw the Cyclones build a 27-11 lead. Iowa State finished the game 2-of-9 from 3-point range and knocked down just 9-of-24 field goal attempts in the second half while also going 5-of-10 from the free-throw line after halftime.
Osun Osunniyi opened the game with one of his best stretches of the season, scoring 12 of his team-high 15 points in the first half. He finished the game shooting 7-of-15 from the field with seven rebounds and three blocks.
He was joined in double-figure scoring by Gabe Kalscheur (14 points on 5-of-13 shooting) and Tre King (10 points on 5-of-10 from the field). Oklahoma State’s defense, which like Iowa State ranks among the best in the country, also held Cyclone senior guard Jaren Holmes to just eight points on 3-of-13 from the field.
Iowa State’s offense was also hurt by the absence of guard Caleb Grill, who finished the game scoreless and attempted only one shot while battling through a back injury in 16 minutes of action.
T.J. Otzelberger’s group will be back in action on Tuesday when the Big 12 leading Kansas State Wildcats pull into town for an 8 p.m. tip at Hilton Coliseum. The Wildcats beat Texas Tech in Manhattan on Saturday to move into sole possession of first place in the Big 12.
Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly and Morgan Kane preview their matchup against Kansas set for Saturday at Hilton Coliseum (5:00 p.m. ESPN+).
Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Boynton celebrates during a men’s Bedlam college basketball game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. Oklahoma State won 72-56.
Location: Stillwater, Okla.
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN+
KenPom Prediction: 61-60, Oklahoma State
1 – Defensive juggernautsIn a league full of defensive powerhouses, these two programs have emerged as the best of the bunch. Iowa State leads the league in defensive efficiency in Big 12 play while Oklahoma State is No. 2.
Both teams have posted defensive efficiency ratings below 95 through six league games. Nobody else in the league has gone below 100.
Iowa State currently sits at No. 6 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. Oklahoma State enters this game at No. 8.
Simply, something will have to give between these two impenetrable defenses.
“They do a great job pressuring the basketball,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “They have great length at the guard positions and on the wing. A lot of defensive versatility in their ability to switch things.”
While Iowa State has done most of its damage by forcing teams into difficult long contested jump shots, Oklahoma State has shut down teams by completely eliminating their ability to score in the painted area.
The Cowboys currently sit at No. 3 nationally in defensive block percentage and are No. 8 nationally in opposing 2-point percentage, holding teams to 42.6 percent shooting from inside the arc.
That dominance in the paint is led by center Moussa Cisse and forward Kalib Boone. Cisse, who missed three straight games before playing two minutes in OSU’s win over Oklahoma on Wednesday, is one of the league’s best shot blockers and sits at No. 5 nationally in block percentage.
Boone, a 6-foot-9 senior from Tulsa, is No. 3 in the Big 12 in block percentage while also being a top-20 offensive and defensive rebounder in the league based on his rebounding percentages.
Iowa State’s ability to penetrate the Cowboy defense and finish in the rim around and over the top of some of the league’s best rim protectors will play a significant role in the outcome of the game.
“Across the board, they do a great job rotating and contesting at the rim,” Otzelberger said. “From an analytics standpoint, because of their length, they guard the three well, and because of their rotations, they guard the rim well.”
2 – Thompson timePoints have been hard to come by for the Cowboys, but their offensive attack is balanced with three players averaging in double figures scoring.
Mike Boynton’s team is led by senior guard Bryce Thompson, who is averaging 11.9 points per game and shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point range this season. Thompson scored a game-high 19 points in the Cowboys’ win over Oklahoma.
Thompson’s play has been elevated even further in Big 12 play by knocking down 48 percent of his shots from deep through six league games.
“He’s really shooting the ball from three,” Otzelberger said. “At his size as a bigger guard, you’ve really got to have great focus and intent, aggressive closeouts. You can tell his confidence is continuing to grow. They’re asking more and more of him. He does a great job if he’s not pressured of getting to his mid-range game, especially going right to his pull-up and knocking that down. He really elevates. He’s done a great job of finishing at the rim. It’s that ability to score at three levels and the better someone’s shooting from three, the more aggressive you have to close and the more that opens up the mid-range and the drive. He’s playing with a lot of confidence doing all those things.”
The biggest knocks on Thompson would be his inefficiency shooting from two and at the free-throw line. He’s connecting on less than 39 percent of his 2-pointers and 59.5 percent from the charity stripe this season.
Thompson is joined in the backcourt by senior Avery Anderson, who is second on the team averaging 10.6 points per game. The 6-foot-3 Justin, Texas native scored 34 points in Iowa State’s win on the road in Stillwater last season.
Anderson connected on 5-of-11 3-pointers in that game against the Cyclones last year. His 3-point shooting has dropped off completely this season as he’s shooting just 16.7 percent from deep on the year on 54 attempts and is 0-16 from 3-point range in Big 12 play.
The fact I just acknowledged those struggles probably means he’ll go for 35 points and make six 3-pointers on Saturday against Iowa State.
3 – Creating havocWhile looking at Oklahoma State’s offensive metrics, there are a couple numbers that jump out immediately. First, their 3-point shooting as a team has been abysmal, connecting on just 32.1 percent of their shots from deep to rank No. 261 nationally.
Secondly, they’re very turnover-prone, ranking No. 308 nationally in turnover percentage by giving the ball away on 21 percent of their possessions this season.
In Big 12 play, Oklahoma State ranks last in the league in offensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage, free throw ratio and two-point percentage. They’re in the bottom three of the league in turnover percentage and offensive rebound percentage.
Oklahoma State’s propensity for turnovers will likely play right into Iowa State’s hands as the Cyclones lead the country in opposing turnover percentage. Keep an eye on the Cowboys’ turnovers as the game progresses as it will be a strong indicator of how well the Cyclones are defending from the moment the game starts.
The Cyclones will need to create those easy opportunities off of turnovers in order to avoid playing every possession against Oklahoma State’s set defense.
Oklahoma State is going to try and play a very similar game to the way Iowa State will want to play from a pace standpoint.
The Cyclones will just have to do it better.
Dwayne Pierce was in attendance on a recruiting visit on Tuesday night at Hilton Coliseum, where the No. 12 Iowa State Cyclones came up with a 78-67 win over No. 7 Texas.
For the 6-foot-5, 190-pound target in the 2024 class, it was different than he had seen before.
“It was a very interesting atmosphere,” Pierce said. “It’s different from what I’m used to, it was very fun. I got to meet a lot of different people and I got to see a lot of different scenery, so I was very happy about that.”
Pierce holds offers from Memphis, Florida State, Illinois, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, LSU, St. Johns, New Mexico and George Washington.
The small forward out of New York is rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 100 overall in the 247Sports class rankings.
He was impressed with the chemistry between Iowa State’s coaching staff during his visit to Ames.
“I like how everybody’s involved, as in the head coach and assistant coaches,” Pierce said. “Like, all the coaches have a say. I feel like all the coaches are always positive and it definitely rubs off on the players. It seems like they’re all proud to be there.”
Iowa State’s 2024 class already has a pair of top 100 prospects and is rated as the No. 4 class in the country at the time of this article.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus forwards Tre King and Hason Ward, look towards the Cyclones’ game against Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Saturday.
Iowa State associate head coach Jodi Steyer and players Emily Ryan & Nyamer Diew addressed media members following their 69-64 win over Oklahoma State on Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum:
Iowa State played one of its most complete games of the season at Hilton Coliseum Wednesday, in a 66-58 win over Oklahoma State, but it wasn’t in the way fans might expect.
Head coach Bill Fennelly wasn’t on the bench coaching the team, after his mother, Carol, passed away earlier this week.
The Cyclones stepped up in his absence.
“There was (some emotion),” associate coach Jodi Steyer said. “We wanted to make sure we got done what we needed to do for him. I think it was more of a relief that we were able to do that.”
This team didn’t want to let its coach down, and may have came together a bit extra on a snowy evening in Ames.
The coaching staff was able to connect over the phone with Fennelly, following a conference win that puts them in a tie for second in the season standings.
“We were just talking to him as a staff and that was pretty emotional,” Steyer said. “They couldn’t be more happy to at least express to him what he means to them.”
“It was kind of hard. He told us how proud he was and he was getting pretty emotional. To be honest, we didn’t get to go very much further than that. I know it’s been a tough few weeks and few months for them. I just couldn’t be more happy to not screw this thing up while he’s gone and let him see this team play for him.”
Playing a team that brought some physicality throughout the night is something Iowa State is familiar with, as it saw in its previous game in a loss to Texas.
On Wednesday, they responded to it almost as well as this group ever has.
“We’re still trying to find that ‘pretty’ game and that great shooting game and everything,” Steyer said. “But, I thought the passion – I thought every single person was engaged on the bench, in the locker room… and the special thing when I say that is if you look at the stat sheet, every player that stepped on the floor had a huge game for us.”
Iowa State didn’t flinch during the game when OSU hit eight-straight shots to take a six-point lead in the first quarter, nor when trailing later in the third.
Instead, behind six players that tallied more than nine points in the game and gritty plays from the other pair out of the eight that stepped on the floor, the Cyclones found another Big 12 victory.
The win makes Iowa State 12-4 on the season and 4-2 through a third of the Big 12’s 18-game slate.
The Cyclones will return to the court Saturday to take on Kansas with an undefeated home record on the line. The game is slated to tip off at 5:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
Big 12 WBB Standings
Following games Wed. January 18
1. Oklahoma, 5-1
2. Iowa State, 4-2
2. Texas, 4-2
2. Baylor, 4-2
5. Kansas, 3-3
5. Oklahoma State, 3-3
5. West Virginia, 3-3
5. Texas Tech, 3-3
9. Kansas State, 1-5
10. TCU, 0-6
Photos by Jacqueline Cordova.
David Goggins is perhaps the most celebrated Navy Seal in history. The 47-year-old icon is best known for being one of the world’s top “ultra-endurance athletes.”
In Layman’s terms, the hero voluntarily does crazy things (to pedestrian folks like you and me) for the sake of building his mental toughness. Goggins puts his body through hell to grow as an individual.
An example: One of Goggins’ most well-known accomplishments is competing in the Badwater 135. It’s known as the world’s “most demanding and extreme running race.” One-hundred and thirty-five miles of hell, starting at the Badwater Basin in Death Valley, which is the lowest elevation in North America. It ends at the summit of Mount Whitney, which is the highest point in the contiguous United States.
Once a Guinness Book of World Records holder for pull-ups done in 24 hours, Goggins is also the idol of Iowa State basketball walk-on Conrad Hawley.
“He started out not doing well in life,” Hawley said of Goggins. “He couldn’t read and write. He was overweight. He was lazy. He was unmotivated. And then he went on to do miraculous things. I like to learn about guys like that. Because for myself, I want to learn how to grow every day, how to challenge myself, how to challenge the group and do it in a good way, and always, you know, fight the negativity and remain positive.”
Hawley, who Cyclone fans are starting to take notice of for his outrageous sideline demeanor, hasn’t scored a point this season for the No. 12 Cyclones. But ask anyone around the program and they will tell you he is, without question, one of the most important men within T.J. Otzelberger’s surging squad.
Hawley, a certifiable badass in his own right, is the most unique and motivational man in Iowa State athletics. In the half dozen or so sources I talked to for this story, every one of them referred to the former Kansas (scholarship) quarterback as the “perfect teammate,” which is critical behind the scenes when preparing to play Otzelball.
Hawley’s path to Ames
Hawley grew up in suburban Kansas City (Raymore-Peculiar High School) and earned a scholarship to play quarterback at Kansas under former head coach Les Miles.
His high school football career was nothing short of legendary. Hawley’s accolades include a Class 6 football state championship after he threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior. That earned him the Simone Award, which goes to the best football player in the Kansas City metro. Hawley was also tabbed as the offensive player of the year in the entire state of Missouri.
So why would a promising football prospect with a scholarship to play quarterback at a Power Five school like Kansas up and leave to be a basketball walk-on at Iowa State?
Hawley’s path to Iowa State is uncommon and inspiring.
“A coach that I trusted called me,” said Otzelberger. “He said, ‘Hey, this is gonna sound off the wall. But I know how you see things. And I know how this kid sees things, and I think this could be a really good fit.”’
This was at the heart of an extra stressful transfer portal season at Iowa State. Figuring out the upcoming walk-on situation wasn’t exactly at the top of Otzelberger’s mind. But the second-year Iowa State head coach kept listening to hear more about the former football player.
“He’s read about your program,’’ the source told Otz. “He doesn’t want to play football anymore and wants to be part of a team, specifically a basketball team. He’s read about, you know, some of the things you guys do and how you do things.”
Hawley, who has aspirations of becoming a Navy Seal, sought out Iowa State and Otzelberger.
The source told Otzelberger, “He’s not going to expect playing time. He’s highly disciplined. All he wants to do is bring an unbelievable spirit every single day to practice and celebrate his teammates.”
It sounded too good to be true.
“I was skeptical,” said Otzelberger. “So I wanted to get on the phone and talk with him and ask him a few questions. Stuff like, ‘What do you want to get out of this experience?’”
“My favorite thing in life is being a part of a team,” Hawley said. “That’s really where everything comes from. I believe that when you give everything you have to a group, good things will happen for you. And obviously, good things will happen for the group.”
When Miles was fired after Kansas’ 2020 season, Hawley started to have second thoughts about his athletic career and personal future going forward.
“For some reason as a football player, it’s pretty even-keeled, pretty stern,” Hawley said. “And with basketball, I always had more fun. I had been loose when I played basketball. So yeah, here we are.”
Otzelball isn’t always fun …
The legend of Iowa State’s offseason “practices” under Otzelberger and strength coach Pete Link is growing. We started to hear about these last year during Iowa State’s run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament when the country really started to take note of the team’s suffocating defensive style.
As legend has it, on muggy summer mornings, well before the sun has risen, Ames residents can listen closely and often hear the sound of a whistle on a nearby soccer field and then see 15 Cyclones breathlessly sprinting to the command of a leader.
To play Otzelball, being in elite shape with a special sort of maniacal mentality is a necessity.
This is where a guy like Hawley – and his David Goggins style of spirit – is so valuable.
“I love it when things are hard because it’s gonna suck, and then you get better,” Hawley explained. “You don’t learn when stuff is easy. Things get hard and times get tough. So I love the way we do it. Like in the summer, we’re here very, very early in the morning. And we just bust our butts. So when it comes to the season, practice is still extremely competitive. But we are prepared and we put in the work so there are no surprises. We know what our job is.”
To have that type of a leader in your locker room – a guy who expects no playing time and doesn’t even take up a scholarship – is a fantasyland for basketball coaches around America. Otzelberger hit the walk-on jackpot.
That type of contagious energy spreads.
“He holds everybody accountable,” said Hawley’s roommate and good friend, Caleb Grill. “One time I remember I didn’t have a great practice and me and him were lifting right after it. I kind of like had my head down. He just looked at me and said, ‘You’re not doing that now. Move on. We are lifting now. You’re gonna be energetic and you’re gonna bring it.’’’
Hawley is essentially an extension of Otzelberger’s coaching staff.
“He’s not entitled to anything,” Otzelberger said. “He’s certainly not a taker. He’s the opposite of that. He’s always giving, pouring into the group. I think other guys can see that. You can have that spirit and that energy and enthusiasm. When you pour into the group, it gives the group more energy and it’s uplifting everybody. As he’s done that, I’ve seen more and more guys celebrating teammates, and more guys being happy for one another, more and more guys trying to match that enthusiasm. So I do think it’s helped. A lot of the guys that are playing valuable minutes have learned from that message.”
The C.E.O.
After Hawley arrived on campus, it didn’t take long for Otzelberger and his staff to realize that this dude was not only for real but a spectacular human being. Hawley deserved to be rewarded for his efforts to prepare his teammates for battle, both during the offseason and every day in practice. But how?
Allow me to introduce the C.E.O., Iowa State’s “Chief Energy Officer.”
On the bench at Hilton Coliseum, Otzelberger has Hawley’s seat marked with those letters. It is a recognition for being one of the best teammates in the history of Iowa State basketball. But it also comes with more responsibility.
Hawley’s game-day job as the C.E.O. is not finished when the Cyclones tip it off in the toughest conference in college basketball. He’s in charge of Iowa State’s bench, positivity and energy.
“He is always getting in our opponents’ heads,” said Grill added.
Hawley naturally looks like an animated professional wrestler flexing while cheering on his team during games. He gets especially amped up when the Cyclones draw charges and win those hustle types of 50-50 balls.
For reference, Iowa State has drawn 50 charges so far this season, averaging basically three per game.
“I call him passionate,” Holmes lovingly said of his cherished teammate. “He is the spark plug of our team.”
His eyes look maniacal at times. Borderline crazy. But do not refer to Hawley as “crazy” around Iowa State’s leading scorer and senior Jaren Holmes.
The rest of the bench has followed suit in emulating their Chief Energy Officer. Most notably, freshman Eli King has adopted the role of Robin to Hawley’s Batman. Watch them during a game and the pair gives off a bash brothers type of vibe.
Or take Temple transfer and senior Jeremiah Williams, who was lost for the year weeks before the season to a torn Achilles Tendon. During practice, when energy hits its highest, you’ll see Williams smiling ear-to-ear, riding around on his walker with wheels, firing off a blow horn when the team needs an extra boost.
When you see this type of energy, you can’t help but smile and want to be a part of it. Day-to-day, an Iowa State basketball practice is more jovial than a 10-year-old’s birthday party. Positive vibes are a requirement in Otzelberger’s program.
Hawley’s growing role is being chiefly accountable for that. It is a major responsibility, which is exactly what he signed up for.
“His energy spreads throughout the whole bench and everybody goes along with him,” Otzelberger said. “I think everybody enjoys the game from that perspective more because some people maybe when they don’t play, they might not be in the best mood, but he keeps everybody engaged on the bench like they’re actually playing in the game.”
Leaving a legacy
Otzelberger glowingly refers to Conrad Hawley as the “perfect walk-on.” His teammates admire Hawley’s selflessness and leadership. It’s special.
“He sees this opportunity being on this team as a blessing,” Holmes said. “Just like I see being with him every single day is a blessing. The ability for me to learn from him, his mindset and the way he thinks and the way he instills and pushes passion in other beings is second to none. The guy is truly selfless. Conrad doesn’t play at all and he comes every single day to get us better and make us better leaders.”
Conrad Hawley is unapologetically nuts, and certifiably passionate. He has changed the game for this group of Cyclones and every member of Otzelberger’s program from here on out.
The best news is that the C.E.O. is just getting started. He is only a sophomore and the best is yet to come.
Iowa State seniors Gabe Kalscheur and Jaren Holmes give their thoughts on the Cyclones’ win over No. 7 Texas on Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum.
AMES — Iowa State could not afford to have Gabe Kalscheur on the bench.
T.J. Otzelberger‘s team had dug itself an early hole on Tuesday against No. 7 Texas at Hilton Coliseum. The hole was stretched further once Kalscheur, one of the league’s best defenders and hottest scorers over the last few weeks, took a seat with two fouls on his ledger.
Otzelberger knew he couldn’t afford to leave Kalscheur sitting on the pine as Texas built its lead to 29-18 with 7:51 left in the first half. The Cyclones were teetering on allowing an electric atmosphere fueled by the return of former Cyclone, and current Texas point guard, Tyrese Hunter to go to waste.
Kalscheur returned to the court, and a turning point arrived.
Less than a minute later, Kalscheur connected on his first 3-pointer of the night. Caleb Grill knocked down his first 3-pointer of the night on Iowa State’s next offensive possession.
Osun Osunniyi came up with a steal that turned into a short jumper by Jaren Holmes. Holmes came up with a steal of his own just seconds later, and converted that into an easy bucket, too.
The 10-0 run had taken Iowa State less than four minutes. The deficit the Cyclones faced when Kalscheur checked back into the game had nearly been erased.
It was totally erased when Kalscheur canned his second 3-pointer of the night with 3:46 left in the first half. Iowa State took its first lead since it was 2-0 roughly two minutes later on a second-chance bucket by Tamin Lipsey.
Defensive aces turned snipers, a true freshman point guard who snags offensive boards to create second chance opportunities and a cast of characters that some folks felt weren’t ready for primetime.
That’s Iowa State men’s basketball in 2023, and the Cyclones are here to steal your lunch money.
They stole Texas’ on this night to the tune of a 78-67 win that, along with a Kansas loss to Kansas State in Manhattan, propelled the Cyclones into a three-way tie atop the Big 12 standings.
“The first 10 minutes, they were the aggressor,” Otzelberger said. “We usually set the tone or we need to set the tone with our defensive ball pressure and intensity. For whatever reason, we didn’t do a great job of that through those first 10 minutes. We continued to talk about it in our huddles and who we are and how we do things and as we started to turn them over, and pressure them more, offense and the game came around our way. That last 30 minutes, how we competed defensively, is the club that we are and who we need to be for 40 minutes.”
Kalscheur’s impact on this game cannot be overstated. His offensive contributions were important, but it was his lockdown performance on Texas leading scorer Marcus Carr that should garner the most attention.
Carr, Kalscheur’s former teammate at Minnesota, scored 11 points, shot just 4-of-9 from the field, was 1-of-3 from behind the arc and paired four assists with four turnovers.
One of the most prolific scorers in the college game over the last five years, Carr was unable to get to the spots he’s most comfortable on the floor. Rather than finding open teammates, he’d dribble the ball as he tried to find his next spot or would dejectedly toss it off to a teammate to reset the play.
Kalscheur was in his hip pocket the entire time.
“We knew that he wanted to get to his stuff and we knew he was going to get to a shot when he wanted to late in the shot clock,” Kalscheur said. “Getting in the gaps and making him try to give it up. He didn’t want to do that. He wanted to make shot and get that shot. I think we all did a great job as a team. I’ve played with him before, I know his tendencies, I know where he wants to go and where he wants to get to. Being in his junk was all I could ask for to make it a hard night for him.”
While Kalscheur had Carr fighting through hell in a cell, Hunter was booed every time he touched the ball. The crowd seemed to fuel the sophomore point guard from Racine, Wis. early in the contest when he knocked down his first two shots and helped the Longhorns build an early lead.
Hunter seemed to smell blood when he connected on a deep 3-pointer from the right wing with 12:17 left in the first half.
That was his last field goal of the night.
Hunter’s return to Hilton Coliseum couldn’t have gone much better in the minds of the home faithful. He posted 10 points, but did so on just 3-of-11 shooting from the field and 2-of-6 shooting from 3-point range along with three assists, two turnovers and two rebounds.
“We just stuck to what we do every day,” Holmes said. “We didn’t change anything. We just had to do things better. We just had to lock in a little bit more and fight a little bit harder. We knew they were going to come out with a punch. They’re a good team. This is an intense game. It’s a lot of competitive people over on that side and it’s a lot of competitive people over on this side. You knew it was going to be a fight and it was going to be a war. You’ve got to be able to take some of those punches and stay in the fight.”
This night will forever be unique for the pregame atmosphere Hunter’s return to Ames provided. Students arrived early and were there to give their former point guard the business until the clock hit zero.
The night will be remembered for how the Cyclones were forced to out-physical one of the most talented teams in all of college basketball inside a snake pit environment that will strike fear in the hearts of Big 12 opponents from Stillwater to Manhattan.
Hilton Coliseum’s status as one of the sport’s marquee venues should have been reinstated after last year’s remarkable turnaround and run to the Sweet 16. It hadn’t quite gotten back to the same level of hostility that fed the building during the Hoiberg years and earlier.
Iowa State won this game by 11 points and largely wasn’t threatened once it built its lead up to double digits during the second half. You don’t need magic to out-will a team to the finish line.
You could feel it, though, lurking beneath the surface of this place.
Hilton Coliseum is all the way back.
“That was unreal,” Holmes said. “The fans here are unreal… It almost felt like an NBA playoff game with that intensity, the fans were on the edge of their seats, standing up. It shows the love and passion that this great university and these great fans have for us. It showed today and we’re thankful to have them supporting us.”
Holmes scored a game-high 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, 2-of-6 from 3-point range and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Grill finished the night with 17 points and three 3-pointers.
Osunniyi continued his run of strong play by posting 11 points, seven rebounds and a block while battling foul trouble the majority of the evening.
Iowa State is still working to tap into Osunniyi’s best offensive talents, but they’re starting to find something in utilizing him off the pick and short roll into the middle of the defense near the free throw line. From that spot, he’s got good enough touch to finish with a floater, can use his height to create angles at the rim over the top of smaller defenders or can get a better angle to find open shooters on the perimeter.
“Offensively, he’s a weapon,” Otzelberger said. “He can catch the ball in that high post area and we’ve really started to utilize him there. Drive it to score, get to the free throw line, knock down the shot, the mid-range, the floater. He’s a weapon offensively. When he’s facing the goal, he’s really good, and he gave us a spark there.”
The Cyclones needed all of those contributions in order to come away with one of their biggest wins of the season to this point. This team continues to prove its strength is in the sum of its parts over the talent of individuals.
This team is all about individual players being able to do what they do best in order for their teammates to be their best, as well. There is absolutely nothing flashy about them. They don’t have a “star.”
They win, though, and they’re going to continue to do so as they become even more unified in pursuit of their common goals.
“The job’s not finished,” Holmes said. “We’ve worked hard to be in this position, but we can’t worry about that now. Gotta keep pushing and head towards Oklahoma State (on Saturday).”
Kalscheur isn’t Iowa State’s star, but he’s the closest thing this team has to one at this point. It would be hard to leave the senior from Minneapolis off first-team All-Big 12 ballots if the season ended today.
He deserves a long look for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, too. He proved that again on Tuesday by locking down one of the nation’s best bucket getters.
“Day in, day out, he guards the best player on each team,” Holmes said of Kalscheur. “That’s a fact. I see him put the work in and it’s amazing. I didn’t realize it in the summer when he was guarding me. It was a little tough. He made me a better basketball player. The way he understands defense and what he does, for us as a unit, is remarkable. Sacrificing his body, guarding the best player every single game. He’s truly special.”
This was the game Kalscheur had singled out back in the summer when asked which game he was most looking forward to this season. It is easy to understand why when you consider the two former teammates who lined up on the other side.
Carr and Hunter have lived the life of stars since the moment they stepped foot on a college campus. Kalscheur has lived in the shadows of both of them at different points in his college career.
Iowa State needed Kalscheur more than ever on this night, and just like the atmosphere, the students, the action on the floor for 40 minutes and so much more…
He delivered.
“The fans were amazing out there,” Kalscheur said. “They brought the magic into the building before tip-off, during the whole game, the whole 40 minutes. I know I felt it. I know the whole team felt it. The fans did an amazing job, and we gave them a show. We came out with the victory. That’s big for us.”
See what Iowa State head coach TJ Otzelberger had to say following Iowa State’s emotional 78-67 win over Texas on Tuesday night in Ames.
Iowa State will be hosting another of its priority targets for the 2024 class for one of its biggest games of the season on Tuesday.
Four-star forward Dwayne Pierce is expected to be in Ames for the Cyclones’ game against Texas for an official visit starting Tuesday evening, a source confirmed to Cyclone Fanatic this afternoon. The visit was first reported by Andrew Slater.
Iowa State became the latest school to offer the No. 100 player in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports, just last week. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Christ The King Regional product is considered the No. 24 small forward in the class and No. 4 player in New York.
Pierce also holds offers from Memphis, Florida State, George Washington, Georgia Tech, Illinois, LSU, Nebraska, New Mexico State, Rutgers and St. John’s. The trip to Ames will be Pierce’s second official visit of the cycle after he went to Memphis back in October of last year.
The Cyclones’ recruitment of Pierce is being spearheaded by assistant coach Nate Schmidt.
Iowa State already has the foundation for one of the best recruiting classes in the country in 2024 with four-star guard Nojus Indrusaitis and four-star center JT Rock already in the fold. The duo ranks as the No. 4 group of commits in the country early in the 2024 recruiting cycle.
Iowa State and Texas will tip off from Hilton Coliseum at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Jan 14, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Tyrese Hunter (4) dribbles during the first half in a 72-70 win against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports
Location: Hilton Coliseum
Time: 7 p.m.
TV: ESPN+
KenPom Prediction: 68-66, Iowa State
1 – Handling emotionWe all know about the outside storylines of this basketball game. We all know the Hilton Coliseum crowd will be juiced up. We all know there are players on the Iowa State side who will be extra juiced up, too, even if they’re not going to say that publicly.
The key with all of that will be Iowa State being able to come out of the gates with a strong start and preventing all the other stuff from getting in the way of executing the game plan.
This team is at its best when it is able to use its physicality and defensive prowess to punch teams in the mouth before the first media break. While they were able to take a quick 5-0 lead against Kansas on Saturday, it was the Jayhawks who set the tone of the game early.
Make sure everyone in the building knows who the aggressors are on this night.
“I feel like we were a little on our heels at times in that game (on Saturday),” Iowa State freshman point guard Tamin Lipsey said. “I think we fought really well. It was a hard-fought game. We were right there close to winning it. That’s a hard place to win in. Obviously, we wanted to get the win. We’re not happy with the loss. We’re going to move onto this next game.”
Texas is going to try and play faster than it did last year, and that means it will be imperative for Iowa State to set the pace of the game by running good offense at a solid pace, looking for the best available shot and being able to stack stops on the defensive end.
The Longhorns are a very talented team in addition to the point guard who will draw the majority of the attention on Tuesday. Iowa State is going to have to come out and play good ball for 40 minutes.
Use that juiced-up crowd to your advantage by getting off a good start early and not allowing Texas any opportunity to seed doubt in the minds of the Hilton Coliseum faithful.
“Obviously, they’re really talented at a lot of positions,” Iowa State senior guard Caleb Grill said. “I think when they get out and go and play their style, they’re really good. We’ve just got to do a good job of slowing them down and making it longer possessions just kind of how we’ve played all year. If we play our game, I think we can have a lot of success with that. If we let them play their style, it’s not going to fit us. One thing we learned from the Kansas game is we’ve got to come out and punch them in the mouth and not let them be comfortable. I didn’t think we did a really good job of that. We let them be comfortable. We’ve got to come out and dictate from the start so we’re not playing from behind like we did in that game.”
2 – The elephant in the roomNow, we all know the motivating factor in this game from a fan perspective.
From a player perspective, Iowa State’s players can’t allow themselves to get wrapped up in beating Tyrese Hunter. I don’t have any concerns about that happening, but it would be easy to let those emotions seep into the game.
The reality is while Hunter is still a very good player, he won’t even be the first player on Iowa State’s scouting report going into this game. The 6-foot sophomore from Racine, Wis. is averaging 9.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game during Big 12 play.
Hunter’s ability to knock down shots from deep has improved this season as he’s connecting on 32 percent of his 3-pointers so far this year, up from 27 percent last year in Ames. He’s also struggled to score from 2-point range in Big 12 play as he’s only 5-of-21 (24 percent) from inside the arc through five games.
“For me, I have gratitude and thankfulness to all the guys that were on our team last year and what they did to help jumpstart our program,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “I understand the kind of player and competitor that he is. At the same time, our focus is on moving forward, our team, our group, us getting better every day, us doing what we can to keep climbing.”
Hunter’s usage is down considerably from where it was a year ago and even down from where it was during Texas’ non-conference portion of the schedule. That was likely to be expected when you consider Hunter is playing alongside Marcus Carr, who is one of the most ball-dominant scorers in college basketball and has been for several years.
We can all talk about the outside storylines of this game until we’re blue in the face, but once the game starts, the attention turns towards preventing Carr from heating up, keeping Timmy Allen and Sir’Jabari Rice under wraps and working as a team to beat another really good opponent with talent up and down the roster.
Cyclone Alley’s reaction to Hunter’s return will be a sight to see, though.
“I don’t have any thoughts on how our crowd reacts to any opponent,” Otzelberger said. “It’s nothing I’ve ever factored into coaching strategy. We’re fortunate to have passionate fans who are enthusiastic and love to support the players on our teams. We’re grateful for that. Sounds like it will be a great crowd. We’ll do what we can between the lines and from a coaching standpoint to put our team in the best position to win.”
3 – As Carr goes…Texas is going to go as far as Carr is able to take them. I don’t say that to mean it will be on the senior former transfer from Minnesota to carry the team, but how well Carr is playing seems to be one of the biggest factors in Texas’ success on a night-to-night basis.
When Marcus Carr is playing well, Texas is as good as anybody in the country. When Marcus Carr isn’t playing well, Texas can probably lose to just about every quality team in the country.
For these reasons, I’d expect to see Gabe Kalscheur draw the early match-up on Carr. No matter how you slice it, this game will be personal for Kalscheur when you remember he and Carr were teammates at Minnesota.
“He’s a dynamic scorer,” Otzelberger said of Carr, who is averaging 16.6 points per game in Big 12 play. “He can score in bunches so always having great awareness to him is going to be important.”
Carr’s talents are amplified by the amount of sheer talent around him. Allen is one of the best all-around isolation players in the country, and that ability has played a significant factor in him averaging 13.6 points against Big 12 teams.
Rice very well might be the Sixth Man of the Year in the league and brings even more proven scoring punch to the table. The New Mexico State transfer has scored in double figures in each of Texas’ last two games and is averaging 12.8 points in conference play.
This team is as talented and as complete from a personnel standpoint as anybody else in the league. When this group comes together, they’re able to play with and beat anybody. They’re able to overcome any deficit as proven by their ability to erase multiple double-digit holes in their two home games last week.
While this game is hotly anticipated and will have Hilton Coliseum packed to the gills, it won’t be a great game because of Hunter’s presence on the other side. It will be a great game because a really good team is hosting another really good team with Big 12 title implications on the line.
Once the ball goes up, nothing that happened before will matter. It will just be two good teams putting it all on the line in the best league in America.
“Not allowing them to get something early,” Otzelberger said. “Not letting them get into the paint. Limiting them to one shot. All those things are going to be important.”
Hear what Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus senior guard Caleb Grill and freshman point guard Tamin Lipsey, had to say about the Cyclones’ match-up with Texas on Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum, Tyrese Hunter’s return to Ames and more these videos from Cyclone Athletics.
Jan 14, 2023; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Caleb Grill (2) shoots a three point shot against Kansas Jayhawks guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) during the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
We’re set to start another week and the new week brings some colossal Big 12 contests along with it.
This week’s slate features games between our No. 1 and No. 3 teams, No. 2 and No. 4 and No. 1 and No. 5. This is the type of week when contenders are separated from pretenders in the Big 12 race.
Let’s rank…
1 – Kansas – 5-0The defending national champions just keep finding a way. They trailed late at home against Oklahoma and Iowa State last week and figured out a way to win both of them. They’ll get their biggest road challenge to this point in the season on Tuesday when they visit Kansas State.
This week: @ Kansas State (Tuesday), vs. TCU (Saturday)
2 – Iowa State – 4-1The league’s best defensive team will give themselves a chance on any given night with their prowess on that end alone. Coupling that with a competent offense gives this program a chance to reach its highest Big 12 finish in recent history. The Cyclones will likely need to go 2-0 this week if they’re going to keep themselves in the race for the Big 12 title until the season’s final weeks.
This week: vs. Texas (Tuesday), @ Oklahoma State (Saturday)
3 – Kansas State – 4-1I can’t say I was shocked to see the Wildcats crash back to Earth a little bit with their loss on the road in Fort Worth on Saturday. Jerome Tang’s team reminds me a lot of Iowa State’s team last season with its heavy reliance on two guys every single night. Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson are one of the league’s best duos, but if one of those guys has an off night, who steps up?
This week: vs. Kansas (Tuesday), vs. Texas Tech (Saturday)
4 – Texas – 4-1The Longhorns have responded well after their embarrassing loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 slate’s first week. They escaped with a pair of close home wins last week against TCU and Texas Tech. The Longhorns overcame significant deficits in both games. What happens if Texas digs itself into a hole on the road? We might find out Tuesday night.
This week: @ Iowa State (Tuesday), @ West Virginia (Saturday)
5 – TCU – 3-2Iowa State’s win in Fort Worth is going to keep looking better and better as this season progresses. Jamie Dixon has one of the league’s most complete teams on paper and we’re starting to see that come through with the rotation getting back to full strength and full health. The Frogs have an opportunity to leap back into league title contention if they can sweep a pair of games on the road this week, but that’s easier said than done with a trip to Allen Fieldhouse looming.
This week: @ West Virginia (Wednesday), @ Kansas (Saturday)
6 – Baylor – 2-3Scott Drew’s team bounced back from one of its worst starts to Big 12 play in more than a decade by going 2-0 last week with one of those wins coming on the road. The Bears have three of the league’s most lethal backcourt scoring options. The trio of Keyonte George, Adam Flagler and LJ Cryer will continue to make this team dangerous every night.
This week: @ Texas Tech (Tuesday), @ Oklahoma (Saturday)
7 – Oklahoma – 2-3Porter Moser’s team had a chance to pick up the best win of the Big 12 season to this point when it had a 10-point lead with roughly five minutes to play last week in Lawrence. We know they weren’t able to close against the Jayhawks, but they did close a one-point win over West Virginia on Saturday in Norman.
This week: @ Oklahoma State (Wednesday), vs. Baylor (Saturday)
8 – Oklahoma State – 1-4The Cowboys have had the league’s worst offense in Big 12 play and the results reflect that at this point. Oklahoma State defends as well as anyone in the league not named Iowa State, but even getting to 60 points every night has been a chore. Mike Boynton’s team will win some games but they seem likely to be spending March on their couches considering their current trajectory. They need to protect home court twice this week if they’re going to turn this thing around.
This week: vs. Oklahoma (Wednesday), vs. Iowa State (Saturday)
9 – West Virginia – 0-5The metrics still seem to love Bob Huggins’ team, but having good metrics doesn’t necessarily win games. The Mountaineers really could have used a win in Norman on Saturday, but came up a point short. Both games on West Virginia’s schedule this week appear to be winnable, especially in Morgantown. This team is in trouble if it continues to have the league’s No. 8 offense and No. 9 defense (in league play only), though.
This week: vs. TCU (Wednesday), vs. Texas (Saturday)
10 – Texas Tech – 0-5The Red Raiders should be commended for bouncing back from their humiliating loss to Iowa State by going on the road and pushing Texas to the brink on Saturday in Austin. They couldn’t finish the job, though, and badly need some reinforcements to return from injury. I’m starting to think there are serious questions to be asked about the direction of this program.
This week: vs. Baylor (Tuesday), @ Kansas State (Saturday)
Jan 10, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) scores over Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Pop Isaacs (2) at James H. Hilton Coliseum.The Cyclones beat the Red Raiders 84 to 50. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Despite suffering its first Big 12 loss over the weekend, the Iowa State men’s basketball team continues to rise in the polls.
The Cyclones jumped up two spots to No. 12 in the latest Associated Press Top-25 released Monday. Iowa State was No. 14 in the poll last week before a dominant win over Texas Tech last Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum then a two-point loss on the road to No. 2 Kansas on Saturday in Lawrence.
The No. 12 ranking is Iowa State’s highest this late in the season since 2015.
The Cyclones are one of the nation’s leading six Big 12 teams in the top 25, joined by No. 2 Kansas, No. 7 Texas, No. 13 Kansas State, No. 14 TCU and No. 21 Baylor.
Iowa State will host No. 7 Texas on Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum.
For the seventh-straight game in the series, Iowa State dropped its matchup with Texas on Sunday, taking a close game into the fourth quarter before Texas ultimately pulled away in the 68-53 loss for the Cyclones.
Iowa State finished the game with 20 turnovers as a team.
“That was the one thing we talked about in the locker room – you’re going to get punched in the mouth with physicality,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “But we came out in the second half and missed layups and missed free throws. We didn’t do anything to help ourselves.”
When looking at the numbers side-to-side, Texas’ 16 turnovers make Iowa State’s 20 look somewhat reasonable. However, it was what Texas did off of the Cyclones’ turnovers that changed the direction of the game.
On four different occasions, the Longhorns went on runs of 6-0 or better. The 12-0 run in the fourth quarter was enough to put the Cyclones away.
“We knew that Texas was going to be tough,” Ashley Joens said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “They bring a lot of good talent and we have to keep grinding for 40 minutes. We came up a little short today, but there were some good things in there.”
Joens finished the game 21 points, six rebounds and two assists. At times, she was the only thing that could spark the Cyclones to close a two-possession deficit.
But then stepped up Izzi Zingaro, who tied the game at 42 points late in the third quarter with a tough finish near the hoop.
She finished with six points, four rebounds, two steals and an assist.
“Going in, it was kind of nervewracking because I don’t get in as much,” Zingaro said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “To be able to know that I’m contributing is good… Sometimes I can kind of get in my head, but I have amazing teammates that are always there to remind me, ‘You’re here for a reason.'”
Iowa State drops to 11-4 on the season and 3-2 in Big 12 Conference play and is left with another reminder of hard right turn that the season took.
“We’re going to have to just keep grinding with Izzi (zingaro) and (Morgan Kane) and find a way for them to do what they do better,” Fennelly said.
If anyone has experience with something like that, Fennelly is a good bet.
The Cyclones will have another game on Wednesday against Oklahoma State (6:30 p.m. ESPN+) – a team that is coming off of a win against Texas – with another chance to rectify an everchanging gameplan.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2023
No. 3 Cyclones Defeat Utah Valley, 31-9
OREM, Utah – No. 3 Iowa State (10-2, 3-0 Big 12) won its 14th consecutive Big 12 dual with a 31-9 victory over Utah Valley (1-5, 1-2 Big 12) Saturday night inside Lockhart Arena.
Four of ISU’s seven wins came with bonus points, including three falls. Zach Redding, David Carr and Marcus Coleman all registered first-period pins.
Redding got Iowa State on the board at 133 pounds with a fall against Kobe Nelms in 2:34. Redding used a chicken wing to turn Nelms and settled in for the pin to put the Cyclones in front, 6-3, after two matches.
At 149 pounds, No. 7 Paniro Johnson picked up a 5-2 victory over Isaiah Delgado thanks to a pair of first-period takedowns.
Jason Kraisser kept Cyclone fans on the edge of their seats as usual in the 157-pound bout. The senior used a strong third-period ride to erase riding time and secured a takedown in sudden victory to down Tyson Humpherys, 4-2.
Carr didn’t mess around against Danny Snediker, picking up the fall in 1:03, the Cyclone’s fastest of the season. Two matches later, Coleman locked up a cradle on the edge of the mat for a quick pin against Hunter Morse in 1:12.
In the only bout of the night between two ranked wrestlers, No. 5 Yonger Bastida squared off against No. 23 Evan Bockman at 197 pounds. Bastida used a takedown in the first and second periods, as well as an escape in the third, to grab a 5-3 victory over Bockman.
Sam Schuyler closed out the dual with a 12-3 major decision against Chase Trussell. Schuyler had five takedowns in the win, including two in the final minute of the match, to secure the major.
Up Next
Iowa State has a weekend off before it returns to Hilton Coliseum Jan. 27 and 29 to host Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Tickets are available, here.
Match-By-Match
No. 3 Iowa State 31, Utah Valley 9
125: Kase Mauger (UVU) dec. Caleb Fuessley (ISU), 10-9
133: Zach Redding (ISU) WBF Kobe Nelms (UVU), 2:34
141: Ty Smith (UVU) dec. Drew Woodley (ISU), 5-0
149: #7 Paniro Johnson (ISU) dec. Isaiah Delgado (UVU), 5-2
157: #30 Jason Kraisser (ISU) dec. Tyson Humpherys (UVU), 4-2 SV-1
165: #3 David Carr (ISU) WBF Danny Snediker (UVU), 1:03
174: #7 Demetrius Romero (UVU) dec. Carter Schmidt (ISU), 6-2
184: #4 Marcus Coleman (ISU) WBF Hunter Morse (UVU), 1:12
197: #5 Yonger Bastida (ISU) dec. #23 Evan Bockman (UVU), 5-3
285: #10 Sam Schuyler (ISU) maj. dec. Chase Trussell (UVU), 12-3
Kansas redshirt junior forward Jalen Wilson (10) reacts after scoring over Iowa State and getting a foul during the first half of Saturday’s game inside Allen Fieldhouse. © Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
LAWRENCE — Iowa State came up one play short.
The Cyclones nearly did enough to win on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse. T.J. Otzelberger‘s team didn’t play particularly well and didn’t shoot the ball well for the majority of the game.
They still nearly did enough to win.
Anyone who had questions about the validity of this Iowa State team’s success can likely put them to rest. How good is this team?
Good enough to go to Allen Fieldhouse, play poorly for significant stretches of the game and still have a chance to beat the No. 2 team in the country at the very end.
Iowa State was sunk on the second to last possession of the game when Kansas’ KJ Adams banked in a tough finish near the paint to seal the 62-60 final. The Cyclones had one last look but Caleb Grill‘s deep 3-pointer at the buzzer wasn’t close to the mark.
It was a loss, but nobody should be discouraged by this game. These Cyclones are very good. They simply came up one play short on Saturday in Lawrence.
“At the end of the day, it was a really good college basketball game,” Otzelberger said. “They made one more play than we did.”
Gabe Kalscheur did everything he could to get Iowa State over the finish line. He scored 23 points while shooting 7-of-16 from the field, 4-of-8 from 3-point range and grabbing six rebounds.
It was Kalscheur’s last 3-pointer of the game that tied the score at 60 with 35 seconds left. He knocked down tough shot after tough shot and made play after play on each end in trying to will his team to a win.
The Jayhawks just did enough. They usually do in this building.
“That was a high-level game,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said. “They’re good. They really guard. They had a great player have a good game. We had a terrific player have a terrific game. That was a great basketball game.”
The terrific player Self mentioned was freshman phenom Gradey Dick, who knocked down five 3-pointers on his way to a KU-leading 21 points on the afternoon.
Iowa State did a fine enough job to keep Dick under wraps for long stretches but had too many defensive lapses in key moments that led to some crucial shots down the stretch for the Jayhawks.
Dick knocked down three 3-pointers during the second half, and two of them tied the score at different points. The third gave the Jayhawks a 52-50 lead with 6:42 to play.
“Obviously, try to limit his attempts and when you can’t limit him, you want them to be highly contested,” Otzelberger said of the gameplan against Dick. “He’s got a great stroke. He shoots it well behind the line based on their ability to space the floor and move the basketball. That’s easier said than done. It’s a job that we had awareness of as a team, and we didn’t do as good of a job in that respect as we had hoped to do. He did a great job knocking down five.”
Iowa State may have won the game if Osun Osunniyi had not fouled out with just 1:02 left on the clock. The Cyclones’ 6-foot-10 center had been a game-changer defensively throughout the majority of the afternoon. He just couldn’t stay out of foul trouble.
In only 19 minutes on the court, Osunniyi scored 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting with six rebounds and three blocks. It was one of his best outings of the season coming off of an ankle injury suffered late in Iowa State’s win over Texas Tech on Tuesday.
Osunniyi spent the majority of the afternoon guarding Adams, and Cyclone fans will be left wondering if Iowa State could have gotten one more stop with their eraser at the rim out there for their last defensive possession.
He was one of the driving forces behind Iowa State being in the game at all at that point, especially when you consider the Cyclones shot only 38.3 percent from the field as a team.
“We stayed together through adversity,” Osunniyi said. “Kansas is a good team. They’re gonna go on runs, but no matter how loud the crowd gets, or what happens on offense, or defense, we had to stay together. I thought we did a good job of that.”
The hope now for Iowa State must be that the struggles felt by Grill, Robert Jones and Jaren Holmes were just a blip. That trio combined to shoot just 5-of-25 from the field against Kansas and score a combined 13 points.
Iowa State’s roster is much improved from a balance standpoint, but it can’t afford to have that kind of game from three of its most important offensive cogs.
This game is a perfect example of how still being elite defensively can carry Iowa State through some sticky situations. Kansas shot 46 percent from the field, 29 percent from 3-point range and turned the ball over 12 times.
Iowa State out-rebounded the Jayhawks and held KU to only six offensive rebounds on the afternoon. Kansas didn’t even have an offensive rebound in the first half of the game.
No, Iowa State didn’t win the game, but they showed something to us all.
The Cyclones played one of their worst offensive games of the season, and still nearly had a chance to beat the No. 2 team in America on their own floor.
This team is good enough to play with and beat any team on any court in America when they’re playing well. They didn’t play very well on Saturday in Lawrence.
And still came up only one play short.
“I have a lot of respect for Coach Self. I have a lot of respect for their program. I have a lot of respect for how they do things,” Otzelberger said. “At the same time, I love my guys, I love their fight. I love their competitive spirit. We came up one play short, we’re going to learn from it, we’re going to be better for it, and we’re going to come together even more as a group as we move forward.”
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus senior guard Gabe Kalscheur and senior center Osun Osunniyi, react after Iowa State’s 62-60 loss to Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday in Lawrence.
CF’s Chris Williams with quick hits and a prediction for Iowa State’s Saturday road trip to Kansas, courtesy of Iowa Event’s Center.
Iowa State has prioritized another top prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle.
Four-star forward Dwayne Pierce picked up an offer from the Cyclones this week, sources confirmed to Cyclone Fanatic on Friday. The offer was first reported by Adam Zagoria.
Rated as the No. 100 player in the 2024 class by 247Sports, Pierce also holds offers from Memphis, Florida State, George Washington, Georgia Tech, Illinois, LSU, Nebraska, New Mexico State, Rutgers and St. John’s.
Iowa State assistant coach Nate Schmidt is the lead recruiter on the 6-foot-5 Christ The King Regional prep considered the No. 24 small forward in the class and No. 4 player in New York by 247Sports.
T.J. Otzelberger and his staff have already started to assemble one of the best recruiting classes in the 2024 cycle with four-star guard Nojus Indrusaitis and four-star center JT Rock committed to join the program for the 2024-25 season.
Kansas head coach Bill Self reacts to his players performance during the second half of Tuesday’s game against Oklahoma inside Allen Fieldhouse. © Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Time: 3 p.m.
TV: ESPN+
KenPom Prediction: 70-62, Kansas
1 – Jalen’s JumpFew players in college basketball have made a bigger leap from one year to the next than Kansas junior forward Jalen Wilson. The 6-foot-8 Denton, Texas native has been one of the best players in the country this season, averaging 20.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
The increased production has not come without some level of cost, though. Wilson’s efficiency has taken a dip as his usage rate has increased, and he’s shooting a career-low 40 percent from the field.
No game better exhibits Wilson’s growth, and simultaneous inefficiency, quite like the Jayhawks’ come-from-behind win over Oklahoma earlier this week. Wilson finished the game with 17 points, but was only 2-of-10 from 2-point range and 1-of-2 from behind the 3-point line.
Wilson’s night was salvaged by going 10-of-12 from the free-throw line. He’s attempted more than twice as many shots from the charity stripe than any of his teammates at this point in the season.
For Iowa State, keeping Wilson from getting easy straight-line drives to the basket and keeping him off the free-throw line will be the keys. The Cyclones will likely force Wilson to try and beat them over the top with contested jumpers and 3-pointers, where he’s shooting a career-high 34 percent.
2 – Top FiveWhile Bill Self’s team certainly isn’t deep, and will play only six guys double-digit minutes on some nights, the Jayhawks’ top five are as good as any in all of college basketball.
In addition to Wilson, Kansas has seen significant a significant leap for point guard DaJuan Harris, who hit the game-winning layup against Iowa State last season at Hilton Coliseum. He’ll be one of the favorites to win the Bob Cousy Award given to the nation’s best point guard. He’s elevated his game even more with the addition of a more consistent jumper, including a 50 percent mark from 3-point range on 28 attempts.
Kevin McCullar is no stranger to Iowa State fans or the rest of the Big 12 after starring for three years at Texas Tech. The 6-foot-6 senior wing is one of the league’s best defenders and is a capable scorer from every level of the floor.
Gradey Dick is one of the best freshmen in the country and is one of the favorites to win the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award. He’s been one of the best shooters in college basketball, connecting on 47 percent of his 3-pointers on the season. I expect to see Iowa State play physically off the ball on Dick and make it difficult for him to get easy catches for in-rhythm catch-and-shoot attempts.
It also seems likely Gabe Kalscheur will draw the match-up with Dick, and we’ll see how the youngster does while being guarded by one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.
Kansas’ starting five is rounded out by sophomore center KJ Adams, who has gone from playing 10 percent of Kansas’ minutes a season ago to playing nearly 65 percent of the team’s minutes this season. The 6-foot-7 Austin, Texas native had a breakout game against the Sooners, going for 22 points on 8-of-13 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
3 – Nothing to LoseWhat does Iowa State have to lose in this game? The Cyclones are already 4-0 in Big 12 play with a pair of wins on the road. T.J. Otzelberger’s team is playing with house money anytime it goes on the road at this point in league play.
This is why I expect to see this Iowa State team come out early in the game on Saturday and look to really dictate the pace and physicality of the contest from the outset. The officiating early in the game will be key, and we all know how the whistles tend to lean inside Allen Fieldhouse.
This is not an unbeatable Kansas team. They’re not overly deep, and any semblance of foul trouble could force Self into doing some things from a rotation standpoint that he normally wouldn’t.
The Jayhawks have had to come back from double-digit deficits in each of their home wins so far in Big 12 play. Those two games serve as a reminder that nobody really has Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse until that clock hits all zeroes.
The Iowa State team we’ve seen in the first four league games has the ability to go to any arena in the country and have a chance to knockoff any team that lines up across from them. We’ve seen better teams than this one go to Allen Fieldhouse and walk away with a loss, though.
The Cyclones can walk into Lawrence on Saturday, feel loose and have a goal of waking up everyone who isn’t already aware of what’s happening right now in Ames.
A win would be nice, but there is no pressure to get one on Iowa State’s side. That makes this team especially dangerous going into a hostile environment.
They have absolutely nothing to lose.
Former Cyclone quarterback and current San Francisco 49er Brock Purdy has set the football world on fire since taking the starting role six weeks ago.
Finishing the year undefeated in games he’s played in, Purdy has helped secured the No. 2 seed in the playoffs for his team, throwing a heap of touchdowns along the way.
The stretch has helped Purdy’s jersey sales sky rocket, including Fanatics running out of his jerseys at points.
Purdy finished out the year as the No. 9 player in jersey sales amongst the league.
The @NFL Playoffs are kicking off – one of the best times of the year! Always fun to see how unpredictable jersey sales are throughout the season. The best was ending the season with incredible support for @HamlinIsland #3strong pic.twitter.com/u60LqZIqut
— Fanatics (@Fanatics) January 12, 2023
Purdy and the 49ers will take the field Saturday to open the playoffs, facing off with the Seahawks at 3:30 p.m. CT on FOX.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus senior guard Caleb Grill and freshman wing Demarion Watson, preview the Cyclones’ upcoming road trip to Allen Fieldhouse, give their thoughts on why Iowa State’s offense has improved in recent weeks and more in the videos below.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell has announced the addition of Jordan Langs as running backs coach/special teams coordinator and Hank Poteat as cornerbacks coach.
Langs’ hire is pending the completion of background checks.
Jordan Langs
Langs, who was twice named Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast Coach of the Year while serving as head coach at Indiana Wesleyan the last six years, joins the Cyclone coaching staff as running back coach and special teams coordinator.
“Jordan is an experienced leader of men that has been successful as a head coach,” Campbell said. “His teams have followed his leadership and had success both on the field and in the classroom. He’s developed players and built a program from the ground up. We are excited to add someone with his experience to our coaching staff.”
At Indiana Wesleyan, Langs was charged with starting the program in 2016 and under his oversight it rose into an NAIA powerhouse that went 11-2 in 2022, was ranked No. 5 in the final regular season coaches poll and advanced to the NAIA FCS Semifinals. The Wildcats had 21 players earn all-conference recognition in 2022, while wide receiver Jacquez Carter earned AFCA First Team All-America honors and was MSFA Offensive Player of the Year.
On special teams, Indiana Wesleyan was seventh nationally with a 15.5 punt return average last season.
While leading the Wildcats, Langs posted an overall record of 33-15 (.688), while going 16-9 in MSFA Mideast play. He was selected to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 35 under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute in 2019 and was AFCA NAIA Region 2 Coach of the Year this season.
Langs coached eight Indiana Wesleyan players to NAIA All-America honors and 64 times his team had players that received MSFA All-Conference accolades. Additionally, Langs’ teams had two MSFA Midwest Offensive Player of the Year winners. His team also had great success in the classroom with 89 MSFA All-Academic honorees and one student-athlete being named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American.
Prior to Indiana Wesleyan, Langs spent five seasons (2012-16) coaching at his alma mater, NCAA Division III Wheaton (Ill.). He was the defensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015 after serving as the defensive backs coach his first two seasons on the staff.
In his four years at Wheaton, the Thunder posted a 38-6 record. They won back-to-back College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) titles and were 22-2 with Langs serving as defensive coordinator. In those two seasons, Wheaton was 10-0 in both regular seasons and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Langs, a Climax, Michigan, native, was a four-year letterwinner at defensive back and linebacker for Wheaton. He was twice named to the D3Football.com Team of the Week.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in history/social science in 2012.
Hank Poteat
Poteat is a former Super Bowl winner and 10-year NFL veteran who spent the previous two seasons at Wisconsin coaching the cornerbacks after a successful run coaching in the Mid-American Conference.
“Hank has been successful as a player, both at the collegiate and professional level, and that has carried over to him being successful as a coach,” Campbell said. “The players that have trained under him have had great success as well. I look forward to watching him lead the young men in our cornerback room.”
In 2022, Poteat’s defensive unit contributed in Wisconsin finishing 10th nationally in total defense (303.5 yards per game) and seventh with 17 interceptions.
In his first year at Wisconsin, both of the Badger’s full-time starters at cornerback, Faion Hicks and Caesar Dancy-Williams, earned All-Big Ten honors. Hicks was selected in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos while Dancy-Williams signed a free agent deal with the Los Angeles Rams.
Poteat arrived at Wisconsin after serving as Toledo’s cornerbacks coach from 2017-20, where he helped the Rockets win the MAC title and rank No. 22 nationally in passing efficiency defense in his first season.
The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, native, coached many successful players during his time at Toledo, including Samuel Womack – who ranked in a tie for fourth nationally with 15 pass breakups as a junior in 2019 and was named first-team All-MAC by Pro Football Focus in 2020 – and Ka’dar Hollman, who began his career as a walk-on and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2019.
He also helped produce three All-MAC cornerbacks during his two seasons at Kent State in Najee Murray, Jerrell Foster and Demetrius Monday while coaching the Golden Flashes from 2015-16.
Poteat was a graduate assistant at his alma mater Pittsburgh in 2013-14 and cornerbacks coach at Kentucky Christian in 2011-12.
Prior to coaching, Poteat was a standout cornerback and kick returner at Pittsburgh from 1996-99, earning first-team All-Big East honors as a junior and senior. He finished his career holding the school records for kick return yards in a season (764 in 1998) and a career (2,010).
Poteat was a third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played for five teams over 10 seasons, earning a Super Bowl ring as a member of the 2004 New England Patriots.
He also played for Tampa Bay, the New York Jets and Cleveland during his professional career.
Poteat graduated from Pittsburgh in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in social sciences.
The Iowa State women’s basketball team beat Kansas State 67-56 on Tuesday night in its first game without Stephanie Soares in the lineup. See what head coach Bill Fennelly had to say about the team’s performance here.
AMES — The entire Iowa State women’s basketball season to this point has been a learning process.
That might be hard to understand when you consider the talent this program returned, the talent this program added and the sky-high preseason expectations this program faced.
It has indeed been a learning process, though.
Figuring out how to best insert transfer center Stephanie Soares was a learning process. The Cyclones spent basically the entire non-conference portion of their schedule finding the formula. This was a significant new piece joining the fold of this veteran roster.
Then, Soares got hurt, suffering a season-ending ACL tear in the team’s loss to Oklahoma last Sunday in Norman. Suddenly, the Cyclones are back at square one, albeit a much more advanced square one than most programs, but they’re back there all the same.
Iowa State did what it needed in order to survive the first step of its new-look learning process on Wednesday, holding on to beat Kansas State, 67-56, at Hilton Coliseum.
Bill Fennelly‘s team certainly was not at its best. The Cyclones didn’t play overly well or execute at a very high level. They still won a Big 12 game. What more can you ask for from a team that’s re-learning how to play without their star 6-foot-6 center in the middle?
“I think we talked before the game about finding a way to have some success given the situation we’re in,” Fennelly said. “One of those ways is to have some balance. I thought our balance at both ends of the floor was phenomenal.”
With Soares or without her, talent is not an issue for this Iowa State team. The lineup Fennelly rolled out there to start against Kansas State was nearly the same group that started the program’s Sweet 16 game against Creighton last March.
There is still enough for talent on this roster for Iowa State to compete at or very near the top of the Big 12 this winter. That talent will just have to be utilized in a different way than anybody expected it to be even at this time a week ago.
Iowa State built a significant amount of its offensive attack this year around Soares’ ability to own the painted area. Her ability to score all over the floor opened up opportunities for all the other great players on Iowa State’s roster.
It made life much easier for everyone.
Life wasn’t easy for anybody on Wednesday in Ames. Just ask Ashley Joens, who started the game by going 1-of-7 from the field in the first quarter, and was just 2-of-10 from the field at halftime, including a 1-of-7 mark 3-point range.
For probably the first time since last March, Iowa State’s opponent had built its entire defensive game plan around containing Joens. Kansas State sent aggressive double teams her way throughout the majority of the night and spent the rest of the time sitting back in a zone threatening the Cyclones to beat them from deep.
Iowa State did enough to get itself to the finish line with a win, shooting 10-of-32 for 31.3 percent from 3-point range, but that’s an area that will need significant improvement if this team hopes to still reach the lofty goals it set for itself prior to Soares injury.
The Cyclones desperately needed someone to step up alongside Joens, and Lexi Donarski answered the call on this night, knocking down four 3-pointers on her way to tallying 14 points.
“(Donarski)’s really becoming one of those kids that you count on every single game,” Fennelly said. “She’s gonna guard someone really good and she’s gonna a score… I joke with you guys all time about people talk about a two way player. I thought that’s what you’re supposed to be in basketball, but she certainly is one of those and changes the game on both ends of the floor for us.”
Iowa State needs Emily Ryan to play like one of the best point guards in college basketball, and she did that against the Wildcats, tallying 14 points, eight assists, and 11 rebounds.
Denae Fritz scored a career-high 14 points, snagged seven rebounds and blocked three shots. They’ll need more performances like this from Fritz in order to recoup some of the lost production.
Joens, hot start or not, is going to get hers. She rallied from her poor first quarter to score 14 points and grab nine rebounds. She shot just 5-of-15 from the field and 3-of-11 from 3-point range, but that’s not shocking considering the increased level of attention.
This team is going to go as far as its star trio can carry them, and that’s why going back to square one with this team might not be such a bad thing on some level.
Square one for this team means getting back to playing like a team that was in the running for the Big 12 title until the final days last season, nearly won the Big 12 tournament then won two games in the NCAA Tournament. It means utilizing the roster most people expected to return just without the 6-foot-6 future pro that fell into the program’s lap courtesy of a transfer from an NAIA school.
The Cyclones are going to have to get back to the basics of the ‘Iowa State Way.’
They’re going to have to get back to the running and gunning, high-powered 3-point shooting style of play that has made this program a fan favorite since Fennelly’s arrival in Ames.
“Our whole system from the summer on was built in a certain way,” Fennelly said. “Now, the system is reverted back, which is fine, but that’s going to take some time. If you play hard and and do the things that we did tonight, see the ball go in the basket a little bit, I think their confidence will come back.”
All of this is going to be a process for Fennelly, his staff and this team. Everyone got awfully used to having that safety blanket in the paint who can score and dominate any team on the schedule.
There are going to be bumps in the road, and one of them very well could come on Sunday when Iowa State travels to Austin to take on perennial Big 12 power Texas. Do not let that phase you into thinking this team isn’t capable of competing for the Big 12 regular season title.
This team, by and large, has already proven they’re capable of hanging in the race. They’re just having to re-learn the way they played that carried them there.
“The success that group had last year, a lot of that is still in the room,” Fennelly said. “We’ve got to play that way and adjust and hopefully every day, we’ll get a little bit better. We’ll have to show a lot more film from last year than this year.”
- Head coach Kevin Dresser gave status updates on injuries and dove into what he hopes to see from his freshmen as they go through growing pains and expectations for Utah Valley. Plus, Bastida and Swiderski discuss their personal growth and confidence.
Jan 10, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) scores over Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Pop Isaacs (2) at James H. Hilton Coliseum.The Cyclones beat the Red Raiders 84 to 50. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Gabe Kalscheur hasn’t forgotten Kansas City.
Iowa State’s senior leader remembers what happened the last time his team went toe-to-toe with Texas Tech. He remembers the helplessness Iowa State experienced in that 72-41 loss in the Big 12 Tournament at the T-Mobile Center last March.
Through a run to the Sweet 16 last year, another strong non-conference record and a 3-0 start to Big 12 play this season, Kalscheur didn’t forget about Kansas City.
It is safe to say Texas Tech won’t be forgetting about Ames anytime soon.
The Iowa State men’s basketball team put together one of its most dominant performances in recent memory on Tuesday when Texas Tech rolled into Hilton Coliseum, searching for their first Big 12 win of the season.
Kalscheur and his teammates not only sent them home empty, but sent them home in a fashion Texas Tech head coach Mark Adams hoped would be a wake-up call for his team.
Iowa State demoralized, destroyed and humiliated Texas Tech, moving to 4-0 in Big 12 play with an 84-50 win that felt like it had a little extra behind it.
“I feel like we owed Texas Tech,” Kalscheur said. “Going in this game, after last year, we wanted this one bad because of what they kinda did to us last year in the Big 12 Tournament. We came out with a vengeance, but knowing that we just needed to play together and just play how we usually play.”
This one was personal for Kalscheur, and that was made blatantly clear from the game’s opening moments. He was in attack-mode early and often, scoring the game’s first bucket on a floater just 22 seconds after the opening tip. Kalscheur tallied Iowa State’s first six points in the game to build a lead going into the first media break.
The two teams traded blows for most of the game’s first 10 minutes. The Red Raiders were able to shrug off early turnover troubles in order to cut Iowa State’s lead to 19-17 going into the under-eight timeout of the first half.
Kalscheur knocked down his second 3-pointer of the night with 6:50 on the clock in the first half to push Iowa State’s lead to five. The teams traded misses until Demarion Watson flew in for an offensive rebound and put back through a foul. Robert Jones got an easy layup on a good seal in the post to make it a 7-0 Iowa State run since the under-eight timeout.
Jaren Holmes added his first bucket of the night to make it 28-17 shortly after the under-four break. Tech’s Jaylon Tyson answered with a 3-pointer roughly a minute later to give the Red Raiders their first basket in nearly six minutes.
Texas Tech didn’t score again in the first half.
Tamin Lipsey knocked down a rare 3-pointer to push the Cyclones’ lead back to double digits, Caleb Grill made two of three free throws then Kalscheur delivered the half’s final knockout punch with a corner 3-pointer as the first half horn sounded.
Iowa State had closed the first half on a 20-3 run, and entered the locker room with a 19-point lead. Kalscheur scored 15 of his game-high 25 points during the first half. Texas Tech turned the ball over 13 times in the first 20 minutes.
This had officially becoming an ass whooping.
“You have to to give a lot of credit to the way that Iowa State played,” Adams said. “They were really, really good on both ends of the floor. Very, very aggressive. We knew it was gonna be a physical game. We didn’t match their intensity.”
Texas Tech did cut the Iowa State lead down to 15 points at a few different points in the second half, but it never really mattered. The Cyclones held complete and total control of this contest for nearly 30 full minutes.
Kalscheur deserves a considerable amount of credit for Iowa State’s dominance, knocking down 10-of-14 shots from the field, 5-of-6 from 3-point range and adding a team-high seven rebounds with his 25 points.
In four Big 12 games, Kalscheur is 12-of-25 from 3-point range at a 48 percent clip. He’s posted one of the league’s highest offensive ratings in conference and has done it while continuing to be one of the league’s best defenders.
Sustaining this type of production might be unrealistic for Kalscheur when you consider the roller coaster basically his entire college career has been. There have been epic highs, but embarrassing lows, as well.
Most of those moments on both ends of the spectrum haven’t been much more than blips. No performance is an indication of what the next one might hold. That is until this last four games stretch when Kalscheur has helped push Iowa State’s adjusted offensive efficiency into the top-75 nationally and he’s played his way into All-Big 12 consideration.
Much like his former teammate Izaiah Brockington did a year ago, Kalscheur has found his best basketball just when he, and his team, needed it most.
“When you work how (Kalscheur) works, it comes around for you,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “He’s earning that confidence. He’s put the hours in, he puts the time in, he puts it in every day. His teammates see him put it in. He leads us that way.”
Couple another big night from Kalscheur with 15 points from Jaren Holmes and 14 from Caleb Grill, and you’ve got another formula that can make Iowa State’s team capable of playing with anyone in the country.
This team is not going to lose if it shoots better than 50 percent from 3-point range like it did against Texas Tech, connecting on 12-of-22 shots from deep. This team is not going to lose very often when it is able to average 1.217 points per possession.
By comparison, the Red Raiders averaged 0.746.
How good is Iowa State playing right now? They’re playing so well they nearly just averaged more than half a point more per possession than a team that was ranked in the AP Poll earlier this season.
They’re playing so well they’ve basically climbed 50 spots in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency in two weeks. Over the last four games, the Cyclones have posted an averaged adjusted offensive efficiency of 119.1.
That would rank top-five nationally if stretched across the entire season, and that’s on top of already possessing what is arguably one of the sport’s top-five defenses.
We’re going to find out just how sustainable this entire operation is when they put their undefeated conference record on the line on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence. Better Iowa State teams than this one have entered the Phog and left humbled.
“Every one of these games is hard,” Otzelberger said. “We’ve got to keep working and earning everything on a daily basis, because we know that everybody that we play, home or road, they’re going to be at their best, and we’ve got to be at our best.”
I don’t know how long this will last or how far Kalscheur, Grill, Holmes and the rest of this crew can carry this team, but there is no doubt how much growth this program has made in just one year’s time since its breakout campaign.
This program isn’t a one-trick pony anymore. Texas Tech found that out the hard way on Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum. The program in Ames looks more like the old teams from Lubbock than the team in Lubbock does right now.
Kalscheur did his best to make sure they won’t forget it.
“It’s encouraging to see a team like Iowa State,” Adams said. “They play like we did last year so I certainly commend them for their effort. I have a lot of respect for these guys.”
Texas Tech’s head coach Mark Adams gestures during the Big 12 basketball game against Oklahoma, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, at United Supermarkets Arena.
Location: Hilton Coliseum
Time: 7 p.m.
TV: ESPN+
KenPom Prediction: 66-61, Iowa State
1 – How good is this team?Nobody in the Big 12 has a worse on-paper resume at this point in the season than Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are 0-5 on the year against quality opponents and 10-0 against teams that rank outside the top 100 on KenPom.
The Red Raiders feasted on bad teams during the non-conference portion of the slate, but their lack of being battle tested could probably be a contributing factor in this team losing its first three Big 12 games by six points, three points and five points in overtime. The worst part is those last two games came at home in Lubbock.
There are good players on this team, including senior forward Kevin Obanor, senior guard De’Vion Harmon, sophomore center Daniel Batcho and freshman guard Pop Isaacs, but there isn’t really anybody on this roster who terrifies you.
“They’re a program with a lot of pride,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “They’ve had some tough losses, some close losses, they’re gonna win a lot of games in the league. We need to make sure that we’re at our best tomorrow night because we know they’re going to come in here really trying to win the game.”
2 – Different kinda match-upLast year, there was no worse match-up in the league for Iowa State than Texas Tech. They were long, athletic and versatile at every position. They were a veteran team and nearly every guy on the roster exuded strength and versatility.
I’m not sure that will be the case this year even with some of the returning players on the Red Raiders’ roster.
Obanor is the headliner, averaging a team-high 16.4 points per game while shooting 50.6 percent from the field, 36 percent from deep and 87 percent from the free throw line. He scored in double figures in both of Tech’s games last week, including a 26-point performance in the loss to Kansas.
“Obanor has played a lot of games (in this league),” Otzelberger said. “(He) has won a lot of games and has had a lot of success in this league.”
Harmon, a 6-foot-2 transfer guard from Oregon (by way of Oklahoma), is averaging 12.4 points and a team-high 3.7 assists per game. He scored a game-high 23 points, including going 9-of-12 on 2-point shots, in Tech’s overtime loss to Oklahoma on Saturday.
“(Harmon is) another guy who has been in this league at OU,” Otzelberger said. “Now back with Tech. They’ve got some veteran guys.”
Botcho and Isaacs are each averaging double figures in scoring on the season, at 11.8 and 11.3 points per game, respectively, but they’re doing it in vastly different ways. Botcho, a 6-foot-11 center, is shooting over 67 percent from the field while Isaacs, a 6-foot-2 guard, is shooting better than 42 percent from 3-point range.
The Red Raiders also have Jaylon Tyson, a 6-foot-7 transfer from Texas, who is shooting 44 percent from deep this season.
While this group combines to form a formidable and competent team, they’re not quite the same defensive juggernaut this program has been in recent seasons, ranking No. 24 in adjusted defensive efficiency nationally, which is a significant drop for a program that finished No. 1 in that metric a year ago and has finished inside the top-10 nationally in four of the past six seasons.
They’re going to look to play faster than any other recent Texas Tech team with an adjusted tempo that ranks inside the top 150 nationally. For context, Tech hasn’t had a team finish in the top 200 in adjusted tempo since 2013.
“They try to disrupt your rhythm,” Otzelberger said. “They’ve got bigger guards, and they’ve got versatile frontline players, which allows them to switch a lot of things. They are pushing the ball more in transition than they did last year. They’re being more opportunistic trying to get out in transition and attacking early.”
3 – There for the takingPlaying faster hasn’t necessarily equated to success for Mark Adams’ team as they currently sit with the third-lowest ranked adjusted offensive efficiency in the league at No. 78 nationally.
They’ve been even worse in Big 12 play, currently sitting with the No. 9 offensive efficiency rating, No. 9 effective field goal percentage, No. 8 offensive rebound percentage, No. 8 team 3-point percentage, No. 6 2-point percentage and No. 7 free throw percentage in league play only.
Nobody in the league has turned the ball over at a higher rate than the Red Raiders, who have given the ball to the other team on a league-worst 23.9 percent of possessions. Iowa State is forcing teams into turnovers on a league-high 25.7 percent of possessions.
This game is not a bad match-up for Iowa State in the same ways that last year’s Texas Tech team gave the Cyclones fits. The keys will be continuing to run good efficient offense like Otzelberger’s team has done in each of its first three Big 12 games, preventing any of Tech’s big guns from finding an early rhythm and getting hot and forcing the league’s most turnover-prone teams into mistakes to create easy opportunities for Iowa State on the other end.
Accomplish those three things and Iowa State will have a great chance to be 4-0 in league play for the first time in 23 years and only the third time in program history.
- A first look and prediction for No. 14 Iowa State’s Tuesday night matchup vs. Texas Tech with Chris Williams, courtesy of Iowa Events Center.
Another of Iowa State’s priority targets in the 2024 recruiting cycle is set to officially visit Ames in the coming weeks.
Three-star Iron, Minn. point guard Isaac Asuma is set to take his official visit the weekend of Feb. 4 when Iowa State is slated to host No. 3 Kansas at Hilton Coliseum, sources confirmed to Cyclone Fanatic publisher Chris Williams on Monday.
Asuma is regarded as one of the best point guards in the Midwest in the 2024 recruiting class, ranking as the No. 126 player in the class, No. 23 point guard and No. 2 player in Minnesota, according to 247Sports.
Iowa State officially offered Asuma on July 29, 2022. He also holds offers from Butler, Hampton, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, TCU and Xavier.
The Cyclones have one of the best 2024 recruiting classes in the country at this point in the cycle, already holding commitments from four-star guard Nojus Indrusaitis and four-star center JT Rock. The duo currently ranks as the No. 3 group of commits in the country early in the cycle.
Iowa State women’s basketball announced Monday that post star Stephanie Soares will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn ACL in Sunday’s game against Oklahoma.
“As a coach, there is nothing worse than to have a player sustain an injury that ends their season,” head coach Bill Fennelly said in a release. “We are heartbroken for Steph, I am proud of her an the major impact that she has made on our program and Iowa State University.”
Soares was averaging 14.4 points, 9..9 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game.
“This was not how I expected my season to end, but I am thankful for the opportunities I have gotten at Iowa State” Soares said in the release. “I could not have done this without the support of my teammates, coaches, doctors and athletic training staff and the fans at Hilton Coliseum. I know God gives me strength to get through this challenge in my life. I look forward to being there for my teammates and helping them achieve our goals and make the most of this special season.”
Iowa State played Morgan Kane, as well as Nyamer Diew in Soares’ absence Sunday, but did recently lose another post player in Beatriz Jordao to a medical retirement. Maggie Vick has seen playing time in a post role as well.
No. 15 Iowa State returns to the court Wednesday against Kansas State at Hilton Coliseum (6:30 p.m. ESPN+).
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus senior forwards Tre King and Osun Osunniyi, look ahead to Tuesday’s game against Texas Tech and break down the program’s 3-0 start to Big 12 play right here courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
Jan 7, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats head coach Jerome Tang reacts to a play against the Baylor Bears during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
If you’re looking for a number to prove just how closely contested the Big 12 is this season, look no further than KenPom’s close game percentage, where the Big 12 ranks No. 1 nationally with 9-of-15 games (60 percent) ending either in overtime or with final margins of four points or less.
If you’re looking for a number to prove just how unpredictable the Big 12 is this season, look no further than the league’s home win percentage, which ranks No. 32, or dead last nationally among all Division I conferences.
Last Tuesday on an episode of Corner 3 with Brent Blum, I said I thought it would never be harder to go on the road and win in the Big 12 than it will be this season.
The league’s road teams promptly went 9-1. The one was before we’d even recorded the podcast when Oklahoma State beat West Virginia in Stillwater on Monday.
That’s right… Big 12 road teams have won nine straight games.
I’m going out on a limb to guess that’s never happened in the Big 12. I’m going out on a limb to guess that hasn’t happened many times, if ever, in any other Power 5 conference.
That is an absolutely insane statistic. That’s the nature of Big 12 men’s basketball in 2023.
Here are this week’s power rankings…
(Note: I’m including videos from Matthew Loves Ball on YouTube in this week’s rankings. I find this to be one of the most useful resources on the internet this time of year with fully edited condensed games for nearly every major conference game.)
1 – Kansas (3-0)One of a few teams with a case to be the No. 1 team in America, the defending national champions keep finding ways to win. They had to gut out a close one last Tuesday on the road in Lubbock then turned around and thoroughly beat up a solid West Virginia team in Morgantown.
The Jayhawks aren’t an overly deep team, but their top five are as good as any other in college basketball.
This week: Home vs. Oklahoma (Tuesday), home vs. Iowa State (Saturday)
2 – Kansas State (3-0)Jerome Tang’s national coach of the year candidacy grows by the week. The Wildcats picked up one of the best performances of the week by putting up 116 points in a road win over Texas then escaped Waco with an overtime win over Baylor on Saturday.
Forward Keyontae Johnson has been great for this team this season, but it is senior point guard Markquis Nowell, the only holdover from last year’s roster, who might be the team’s best player.
Nowell poured in 36 points in the win over Texas then added 32 points against the Bears. He did it while averaging 11.5 assists per game and going 24-of-25 from the free-throw line.
Suddenly, Nowell, the league’s leader in scoring in conference games, has one of the strongest cases for league player of the year.
This week: Home vs. Oklahoma State (Tuesday), at TCU (Saturday)
3 – Iowa State (3-0)In the team’s three Big 12 games, the Cyclones are posting an average adjusted offensive rating of 115.2, according to BartTorvik. Stretched across the entire season, that number would rank inside the top 15 nationally.
The Cyclones have been playing great offensive basketball over the last two weeks, and have done it in different ways by relying on big-time individual performances like against Oklahoma or with the by-committee approach that served the team well in its win over TCU.
Couple that with a defense that ranks among the nation’s 10 best, and you’ve got the formula for a team capable of going on the road twice in one week and beating two good teams in their own arenas.
Keep this pace, and Iowa State’s team will be capable of playing with and beating any other team in college basketball. They’ll be capable of contending for the league title until the season’s final weeks, too.
This week: Home vs. Texas Tech (Tuesday), at Kansas (Saturday)
4 – Texas (2-1)The Longhorns rebounded from their embarrassing loss to Kansas State in a big way by going on the road to beat Oklahoma State, 56-46, in Stillwater on Saturday. I’m going to go out on a limb to guess there won’t be many teams that have a 70-point differential in how many points they allow in two games in the same week this season.
Marcus Carr continues to have a first-team All-Big 12 type of season and is sixth in the league averaging 17.3 points against Big 12 competition so far.
It will be interesting to track this team over the next several weeks now that the cloud of Chris Beard is no longer hanging over the program.
This week: Home vs. TCU (Wednesday), Home vs. Texas Tech (Saturday)
5 – TCU (2-1)The Horned Frogs picked up one of the best wins of the week by going on the road to stun Baylor in an 88-87 thriller that saw Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year Mike Miles score 33 points. They lost one of the best games of the weekend when Gabe Kalscheur’s stepback 3-pointer with less than three seconds left stopped TCU’s furious final moments rally on Saturday.
Jamie Dixon’s team has the talent needed to compete with anybody in the league. They’re going to remain in contention toward the top of the league as long as Miles, Damion Baugh and co. are playing at a high level.
This week: At Texas (Wednesday), home vs. Kansas State (Saturday)
6 – Oklahoma (1-2)Porter Moser’s team rebounded nicely from a pair of close home losses by going on the road to beat Texas Tech in overtime in Lubbock on Saturday. The craziest part of the win is that Oklahoma’s best players, Grant Sherfield, Tanner and Jacob Groves, didn’t even play very well.
If those guys get back to playing at their non-conference levels, this team will be dangerous every time it steps on the floor. They could be in for some rough nights if Jalen Hill and Milos Uzan are forced to carry them like they had to on Saturday against the Red Raiders.
This week: At Kansas (Tuesday), home vs. West Virginia (Saturday)
7 – Oklahoma State (1-2)The Cowboys are in this position based solely on the fact they have a win in the league play and the three teams below them do not.
It would have been awfully easy to keep Oklahoma State in the bottom three after they scored only 46 points in a loss to Texas on Saturday, but they should be rewarded for their 67-60 win over West Virginia on Monday that stands as the only home win by any team in the league during the week.
This team is one of the league’s best defensive units, especially when they have shot-blocking extraordinaire Moussa Cisse, who missed Saturday’s game, on their front line. They’ve now got the league’s worst offense, though, ranking No. 98 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
This team’s conference-only offensive numbers are absolutely abysmal, led by their horrid 44.2 percent shooting inside the 3-point line.
This week: At Kansas State (Tuesday), at Baylor (Saturday)
8 – Baylor (0-3)Don’t look now, but Scott Drew’s team appears to be in some significant trouble. The Bears lost a pair of close ones last week, by one point to TCU on Wednesday then by two points in overtime to Kansas State on Saturday, but the pair of high-scoring affairs have put Baylor’s metrics in freefall.
The Bears now have the league’s worst defense, ranking No. 84 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, making them the only team in the league outside the top 50 nationally in that statistic.
In three Big 12 games, they have the league’s worst defensive efficiency rating, the league’s worst defensive effective field goal percentage, the league’s worst defensive turnover percentage, the league’s worst 2-point defense with opposing teams hitting 56.6 percent of shots from inside the arc and they have the second worst 3-point defense with opposing teams shooting 38.7 percent from deep.
There are a lot of ways to win in the Big 12 in 2023, but failing to defend at a top-100 level isn’t one of them.
This week: At West Virginia (Wednesday), home vs. Oklahoma State (Saturday)
9 – West Virginia (0-3)The league’s metric darlings have come crashing back to Earth a little bit. The computers loved Bob Huggins’ team as much as anybody after the non-conference portion of the schedule, and yet the Mountaineers find themselves 0-3 in the league with an overtime loss to Kansas State in Manhattan, a competitive loss to Oklahoma State in Stillwater and a big loss to Kansas in Morgantown on Saturday.
The Mountaineers have the league’s worst offense in conference action by a wide margin, ranking last in the league in offensive efficiency rating, effective field goal percentage and 3-point percentage.
On the bright side, West Virginia gets to the free throw line at a rate higher than anybody else in the league. The only problem is they’re shooting a league-worst 58.5 percent once they get to the charity stripe.
This week: Home vs. Baylor (Wednesday), at Oklahoma (Saturday)
10 – Texas Tech (0-3)The team most in need of a quality conference win remains winless in conference play. The Red Raiders are now 0-5 against quality competition this season and are still 10-0 against everyone else.
Mark Adams’ team came close twice last week at home, losing by three to Kansas and then by five to Oklahoma in overtime, but they still enter week two in search of a win and they’re staring a pair of road contests square in the face.
Kevin Obanor is still one of the league’s most versatile talents. Pop Isaacs and Jaylon Tyson can shoot it with the league’s best. Those three just haven’t been enough to push this team into the win column.
The Red Raiders are probably already on the outside looking in when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. They need some wins, and soon, in order to stem the bleeding.
This week: At Iowa State (Tuesday), at Texas (Saturday)
Iowa State women’s basketball comes in at No. 15 in this week’s edition of the AP Poll.
The Cyclones suffered their first loss in Big 12 play on Sunday to now No. 19 Oklahoma in Norman.
The team is still awaiting news on the severity of post star Stephanie Soares’ injury that she suffered in Sunday’s game.
AP WBB Poll
Monday, January 9
1. South Carolina
2. Stanford
3. Ohio State
4. UConn
5. LSU
6. Indiana
7. Notre Dame
8. UCLA
9. Maryland
10. Utah
11. NC State
12. Iowa
13. Virginia Tech
14. Arizona
15. Iowa State
16. Duke
17. Michigan
18. Baylor
19. Oklahoma
20. Gonzaga
21. Oregon
22. North Carolina
23. Kansas
24. Illinois
25. Villanova
Others receiving votes: Arkansas 33, Middle Tennessee 27, St. John’s 22, Miami 10, South Florida 6, Florida State 5, Seton Hall 5, Creighton 5, Colorado 2, Louisville 1
Following a 3-0 start to Big 12 play and a 12-2 start to the season, Iowa State men’s basketball has ascended to No. 14 in the latest AP Poll.
The Cyclones earned back-to-back road wins this week over Oklahoma and TCU and are one of six Big 12 programs that are either ranked or receiving votes.
Iowa State will be back on the floor Tuesday to take on Texas Tech at Hilton Coliseum (7:00 p.m. ESPN+).
The full poll can be seen below:
AP MBB Poll
Monday, January 9
1. Houston
2. Kansas
3. Purdue
4. Alabama
5. Tennessee
6. UConn
7. UCLA
8. Gonzaga
9. Arizona
10. Texas
11. Kansas State
12. Xavier
13. Virginia
14. Iowa State
15. Arkansas
16. Miami
17. TCU
18. Wisconsin
19. Providence
20. Missouri
21. Auburn
22. Charleston
23. San Diego State
24. Duke
25. Marquette
Others receiving votes: Baylor 93, Clemson 43, Florida Atlantic 33, Indiana 30, Michigan State 24, Saint Mary’s 24, Northwestern 21, Rutgers 13, Illinois 13, Mississippi State 13, Ohio State 9, NC State 4, Creighton 4, North Carolina 4, LSU 3, Pittsburgh 2, New Mexico 2, Nevada 1
Jan 8: David Carr defeats Tony Negron 17-2. Photo by Jacqueline Cordova / Cyclone Fanatic
Iowa State and Arizona State split five match wins each but bonus points determined who the better team was at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones defeated the Sun Devils 19-15.
Kevin Dresser has preached the importance of wanting to see his team consistently earn bonus point wins. This weekend, he had several wrestlers step up and get the job done to secure back-to-back team victories.
David Carr specifically continues to be a force for his team in this area.
The 165 pounder got Hilton Coliseum on their feet with a 17-2 technical fall win in 5:35. If it wasn’t for that 5-point win, Arizona State could have easily been in the hunt to swing the dual their way.
As soon as he stepped off the mat, Carr did a victory lap high fiving all of the hands of the fans surrounding the mat as they cheered him on.
“Durbo (Ben Durbin) said it would be cool if I went and gave people high fives after the match just to get fans pumped up,” Carr said. “They pay good money to sit that close. Plus, to get fired up for the next guy coming out and (Julien) Broderson delivered. He looked great.”
Broderson has stepped up big this weekend in this area as well. He had a 22 second pin against Wyomig and notched a 17-5 win against Arizona State. A major decision that set the Cyclones apart that included a dominant five minutes of riding time.
Another wrestler familiar with bonus points is Yonger Bastida. In his 197 match, the Cuban native won 23-11. A match where Bastida had his guy have to take injury time because he was on the verge of puking.
“It’s nice to get a win. Ending that way isn’t exactly how we wanted but I hope in the long run the lessons learned there will be very valuable. Maybe we can look back a the first week of January with these guys when we get to the end of the season. Our upper weight guys did a good job,” Dresser said.
Unfortunately, the highly touted freshmen, Casey Swiderski and Paniro Johnson, found themselves dealing with “growing pains” as Dresser calls them as they found themselves losing their matches in overtime.
“I don’t want to say I told you so but I said we were going to see some freshmen stuff and well, we saw freshmen stuff today,” Dresser said. “They’re growing pains but they’re just right there. I think everyone can see that they’re just right there.”
Currently, the Cyclones are ranked No. 4 but come the start of the new week they will most likely find themselves ranked No. 3 which will be their highest ranking since 2009-10 season.
“This was an ugly “W”,” Dresser said. “Our gas tank is getting better which is what I wanted to do. I see a lot of progress but it’s just one of those where we have a lot of things we can go fix. Which is also kind of nice as a coach.”
For Carr, he is enjoying the tougher schedule and hopes the team can walk out of the win over Arizona State knowing that the best is yet to come.
“Greater later,” Carr said. “It’s good to beat a good team like this. We’ve wrestled a tough schedule — It’s early on. I want to see the best version of Iowa State in March.”
Regardless of how they won it, this marks Iowa State’s third win over a top-three opponent in the last 14 seasons. A pivotal win for the program.
Iowa State got 27 points out of senior Ashley Joens and 20 more from junior Lexi Donarski.
It nearly found a triple-double from Emily Ryan and Nyamer Diew played her best game of her Iowa State career.
But the Cyclones lost 82-79, dropping their first Big 12 game of the year to No. 17 Oklahoma.
“Im really pleased,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “We had some kids that played as hard as they possibly could play.”
In the first quarter of the game Stephanie Soares, looked at the coaching staff and pointed to her leg. She went to the ground and exited the game before the first media timeout arrived, never returning to the court.
Soares, the Cyclones’ starting post, leads the team in rebounding and was a welcomed addition to an already stout roster.
Bill Fennelly says on the Cyclone Radio Network that Stephanie Soares will see the doctor tomorrow.
"It doesn't look good."
"We'll have some more information tomorrow. Everyone is shook up. She's shook up."
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) January 8, 2023
Her absence proved costly for the Cyclones, who did almost everything they could to salvage the result on the road.
Iowa State entered the third quarter trailing by 11 and even gave up a last-second three in the frame after turning the ball over on the opposite end.
The mistake may have made the difference in the game, but the team showed as much effort, passion and determination in its response.
“It showed we have grit,” Donarski said simply on the Cyclone Radio Network.
Iowa State will return to the court to face Kansas State at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, January 11 (6:30 p.m. ESPN+).
In today’s age of college basketball, it would be difficult to find a game with as much familiarity in different teams as Sunday’s matchup between No. 11 Iowa State and No. 17 Oklahoma.
When the two teams square off in Norman (2:00 p.m. ESPN2), Ashley Joens will line up on the same court as her sister, Aubrey, as opponents after she transferred from Iowa State in the off-season.
“None,” Joens said when asked how much trash talk she expected from her sister. “We’re both going to go out and we’re both going to play. After the game, maybe… It should be fun. It’s just another game – we’re going to go out there and compete.”
Meanwhile, Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly will face off against Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk, a former coach at Drake, for the 12th time in their head coaching careers
In 11 meetings, Fennelly’s squads are 8-3, and they’ve faced off at least once every season since Baranczyk’s first year at Drake in 2012.
“They’re going to play the way they play,” Fennelly said. “Transition defense is going to be emphasized. What we try to tell them is, ‘let’s try to guard the front of their jerseys and not the back.'”
Oklahoma ranks fifth in the country, averaging 89.0 points per game offensively.
The style of play is designed to create more shot attempts with more possessions, thus the transition defense focus from Fennelly and his staff.
“Obviously, their style is a little unique,” Fennelly said. “Every coach wants to play with pace. Their pace is on steroids compared to most. The other thing is they are very, very skilled and very, very old. It’s the commitment to their pace and they just keep doing it. If they miss, they just keep shooting it.”
Defensively, though, Oklahoma is ranked No. 331 in the country, dead last in the Big 12 and well below the national average giving up 74.2 points per game.
That number is a bit deceiving of just how good the Sooners are, though.
“It’s not something that they’re going to say is the best defensive team in the country, but the defense improves because their offense puts so much pressure on you,” Fennelly said. You have to keep scoring. They’re smart, they gamble. They’re going to play some man and they’re going to play some zone, but again the pressure they have on offense is going to help them on defense.”
Beyond transition defense, Iowa State will try to limit its turnovers.
The Cyclones are averaging 18.0 turnovers per game thus far in Big 12 action and Fennelly knows his team will have to take better care of the ball on the big stage.
“We’ve just got to be really smart,” Fennelly said. “We’ve got to take better care of the ball then we have the last two games.”
That goes along with a two-game stretch where the Cyclones’ 3-point shooting has been subpar.
Only time will tell, but if the execution is there, Iowa State will have a 3-0 start to the Big 12 season.
“We’re gonna have to make some shots,” Fennelly said. “We’re gonna see some zone and 10-52 ain’t gonna cut it. We’re gonna get some looks and hopefully have a night where we make a couple.
“Hopefully the guys left some good karma for us.”
Jan 7, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) hits the game-winning shot with TCU Horned Frogs guard Micah Peavy (0) defending during the second half at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State was on the verge of completing an epic collapse when it was inbounding next to its own bench with five seconds left on the clock on Saturday in Fort Worth.
The Cyclones had led by nine points just minutes earlier, but a pair of controversial fouls on 3-point attempts by TCU’s Mike Miles and an 11-1 run by the home team had given the Horned Frogs a 67-66 advantage going into the game’s final moments.
Earlier on this possession, Iowa State had attempted two shots in the paint, one by Jaren Holmes, another off the ensuing offensive rebound and scramble before TCU knocked the ball out of bounds with five ticks left.
Caleb Grill‘s inbounds pass found the hands of Tamin Lipsey, who took one dribble to his left while coming off a phantom screen by Holmes, then fired a pass cross-court to Cyclone senior guard Gabe Kalscheur.
Kalscheur took one dribble with his left hand before stepping back towards the left sidelines and unleashing a long, contested 3-pointer from the wing with less than three seconds left.
It found the bottom of the net.
Moments later, Iowa State celebrated a 69-67 win, its second road win of the week and its first 3-0 start to Big 12 play since the 1999-2000 team that won the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles.
This game, which Iowa State led for 36:08, was unlike almost any other the team has played to this point. The largest lead by either team was nine points, the score was tied three times and the lead changed hands only four.
The fact the game was close is not uncommon for this team, but the nature in which Iowa State efficiently played offense was. Five Cyclones scored in double figures, led by Kalscheur’s 15 points, and the team shot just 4-of-16 from 3-point range.
Iowa State won each of its first two Big 12 games on the back of standout individual performances and timely hot shooting from deep. They won this game by owning the area inside the 3-point arc as a team.
The Cyclones shot nearly 63 percent from 2-point range and outscored TCU 44-20 inside the painted area. Iowa State also benefitted from 14 second-chance points scored off of 12 offensive rebounds against one of the nation’s best rebounding teams.
Senior center Robert Jones was one of the primary beneficiaries of that success in the paint as he tallied 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting, four rebounds and two assists. After recording two points against Baylor and one point against Oklahoma, transfer forward Tre King came off the bench to provide 10 points on 5-of-10 from the field, four rebounds and a thunderous first-half slam off a no-look assist from Jones.
Lipsey continued his steady play on the perimeter with 10 points on 5-of-8 from the field with four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Holmes was the final Cyclone in double figures with 10 points, including a pair of deep 3-pointers, and four assists.
TCU’s Miles finished as the game’s high scorer, but he was forced to work hard for his buckets, finishing with 18 points on 5-of-9 from the floor and 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Damion Baugh was the only other Horned Frog in double digits with 17 points on 5-of-12 from the field with seven rebounds and five assists.
Despite the Horned Frogs’ desire to play at one of the league’s fastest paces, Iowa State held TCU to only 19 fastbreak points. The Frogs also turned it over 18 times which turned into 25 points for Iowa State.
Iowa State also won the battle on the glass, 32-27, while out-producing one of the nation’s best offensive-rebounding teams in that area of the game by a 12-8 advantage.
This was really the model type of game for this Iowa State team. A handful of players combining for a good night as a collective is considerably more sustainable than the live-or-die-by-one guy getting hot offense Iowa State has had to survive on most of the last two years.
The Cyclones have now strung four games together where they’ve performed at a top-50 or above level offensively. Each of their last two games featured adjusted offensive ratings above 114, according to BartTorvik, which would rank inside the top 20 nationally. I’d expect this game will get a similar number once the site is updated.
Now, that’s not to say Iowa State is suddenly a top-25 offensive team, but this team is proving to be more than capable of considerably surpassing the offensive efficiency last year’s team went to the Sweet 16 with despite its defects.
This team doesn’t defend at quite the same level as last year’s team, but it is so much better offensively that the defensive dip is negated. In fact, Iowa State’s adjusted offensive efficiency on KenPom is now back in the top 100 for the first time since sometime early in the 2020-21 season after Saturday’s win.
This game was unlike any other big game Iowa State has won over the last two seasons, but it produced a formula that could allow this team to sustain success on the offensive end.
The crazy part is I’m not sure we’ve seen the best version of this Iowa State team yet. Still, they’ve already beaten one of the league’s annual favorites and stolen a pair of games on the road against very capable teams.
All of a sudden, this team looks like one capable of anything.
And to think… they were just on the verge of an epic collapse.
Jan. 7: Julien Broderson pins his opponent No. Hayden Hastings of WYO in 22 seconds in dual in Hilton Coliseum / Photo by Jacqueline Cordova
Iowa State continues its win streak at home after notching a 37-7 win over the Wyoming Cowboys.
That marks 13 straight in Big 12 action for Kevin Dresser.
The Cyclones set themselves apart with a dominant win made up of three pins, two major decisions, and one technical fall.
“We talk about separating yourself when you get a chance, all the time. It’s important to do that because you can’t go into the NCAA Championship or the Big 12 Championships and expect to win by one or two all the time. We have to learn how to separate ourselves,” Dresser said. “I was glad to see that happen.”
Two wrestlers who have been battling their way to starting spots in the lineup, Julien Broderson (174) and Ramazan Attasaouv (133), made a statement with each earning a win by fall in the first period.
“Experiencing that in front of a Hilton crowd is something you always dream of. Being able to get the crowd really loud was exciting,” Broderson said who pinned his opponent in 22 seconds.
Coach Dresser announced this week that Broderson had officially earned the starting spot at 174 over Joel Devine.
“It was a battle. I’ve been trying to crawl my way to the starting lineup and that’s the type of program you want to be in, where it’s hard to get in the starting lineup,” Broderson said.
Attasouv still has a bit to go against his teammate Zach Redding but he isn’t concerned as his confidence stays intact.
“I have no doubt and I never had a doubt that I am the best in the country. Not just against Redding. I have no doubt in my mind,” Attasaouv said. “It’s fun to perform the way I did today and we have a good turnaround and there’s a top guy in the country tomorrow. I’m excited.”
In his return to action, heavyweight Sam Schuyler helped contribute to those bonus point wins with a 19-8 win with over two minutes of riding time.
Casey Swiderski also had a solid 7-2 win in his return even while wearing a brace around his injured shoulder.
“We had a quick team meeting and the number one thing I wanted to know was how they felt and the answers were both good. There are no lingering effects of anything. I think they were both a little rusty but they did what they had to do and went out and dominated.”
Iowa State will return to Hilton in 24 hours against No. 3 Arizona State.
“It’s time to really focus. This simulates what these guys are going to go through at the end of the year. They get one extra pound in between, you go through the same routine. It’s really a wonderful opportunity.”
A win over Arizona State would be huge for the Cyclones in team rankings. It would earn them the No. 3 spot over the Sun Devils. That would be the highest ranking for the Cyclones since the 2009-10 season when they were ranked No. 2 all season.
Will Iowa State make it 3-0 in the Big 12? Here is a quick-hitting preview and prediction for tomorrow’s 1 p.m. tip at TCU from Chris Williams courtesy of Iowa Events Center.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Ashley Joens and Nyamer Diew previewed Sunday’s top 25 matchup with Oklahoma on Friday at the Sukup Practice Facility.
Dec 21, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Jamie Dixon reacts in the second half against the Utah Utesat Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: ESPNU
KenPom Prediction: 67-63, TCU
1 – Miles AheadJust a few days after Iowa State shut down Oklahoma’s explosive guard Grant Sherfield, the Cyclones will be facing a similar task on Saturday in Fort Worth.
TCU guard Mike Miles is one of the league’s best scorers, averaging 19.9 points per game this season, which ranks No. 2 in the league behind only Kansas’ Jalen Wilson.
The Big 12 preseason player of the year has been playing at that type of level in the team’s first two Big 12 games by scoring 23 in their win over Texas Tech and then pouring in 33 in the Horned Frogs’ win on the road in Waco on Wednesday.
“He’s certainly pushing the ball fast in transition and making plays,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “They’re really getting the ball up and down the court. A lot more pace probably than they played with last year. He’s leading that charge. He’s really aggressive in the halfcourt attacking the pick-and-roll. He’s living in the lane at the paint. He’s shooting the ball at a high clip.”
Otzelberger noted the most unique part of how Miles has been able to play at a high level this season right at the tail end of that quote. The junior from Highland Hills, Texas has been incredible in the paint this season.
He’s shooting 63.7 percent on 2-point shots in his 11 games played this year, which is the sort of production you’d expect from a frontcourt player rather than a 6-foot-2 guard.
“He’s been attacking a lot this year,” Iowa State senior guard Gabe Kalscheur said. “Hasn’t been shooting that much from the outside, but we know he can do that as well. Our focus is just on making everything hard on him. Our focus is on making it the hardest game he’s ever had to play.”
Miles is only shooting 32 percent from deep this season, an improvement on last year, but down significantly from his breakout freshman campaign two years ago. He showed on Wednesday against Baylor he’s still more than capable of getting hot from behind the arc, though, as he knocked down three of his seven shots from deep.
Keeping Miles out of the paint and forcing him into tough contested jumpers will be one of Iowa State’s biggest keys in this game.
“He’s putting together, up to this point, a performance that would be worthy of consideration for player of the year in the league,” Otzelberger said. “That type of performance. We’re going to have to have great intent with him. We’re going to have to get back in transition and make sure we’re not leaving guys on islands trying to defend him one-on-one. We’re trying to defend him with our team defense.”
2 – Finishing playsIowa State has been a bottom-100 defensive rebounding team to this point in the season, and that will have to be a significant focus going into Saturday.
The Horned Frogs rank No. 17 nationally in offensive rebounding percentages, corraling 35.9 percent of their misses to this point in the season.
There is no bigger reason for that success than the presence of 6-foot-11, 263-pound sophomore center Eddie Lampkin, who still ranks No. 10 nationally in individual offensive rebounding percentage despite battling injuries throughout all of the non-conference slate and playing well below his expected standard.
“TCU’s one of the top offensive rebounding teams in the country,” Otzelberger said. “They’ve got multiple frontline players and bodies they can throw at you. Everybody’s relentless on the glass. Certainly, Lampkin’s one of the best offensive rebounders in America. It’s a lot like the line of scrimmage (in football). We’ve got to control that line of scrimmage we call the rebounding arc.”
Lampkin posted one of his best games of the season in TCU’s win over Baylor, tallying 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting along with nine rebounds, four of which were offensive.
Iowa State will have to have a concerted effort to rebound as a team with the frontcourt players boxing out their men and everyone crashing with the tenacity to go and secure the basketball.
“When a shot goes up, we have to take up the space, make sure we have a body on a body and not let them get clean runs at the basket,” Otzelberger said. “We’ve all got to have a relentless pursuit to finish plays on the glass with two hands. We know what a challenge it is and committing to doing that over 40 minutes is going to be really important.”
3 – Closing out close onesIowa State proved it has the ability to go on the road and win a close game when it did so on Wednesday in Norman. That will be an imperative quality for any team looking to contend toward the top of the Big 12 this season.
Shoot, the ability to defend your home court in close games will be nearly as important if not even more so. The reason being nearly every game will be close in this league.
Even if one team starts a game hot, we’ve already seen multiple instances of teams building big leads only to watch their opponent slowly chip their way back into the basketball game.
Iowa State is going to play a veteran team that returned more of its production from last season than only two other teams in the country. The Horned Frogs are playing some of their best basketball to this point, and that makes this game a difficult one to project as a win for the Cyclones.
“Everybody’s got older personnel,” Otzelberger said. “There’s so many more older, more mature guys. I think when you have older players, those guys, they really understand how important everything is. They really set the tone of their teams. I think defensively everybody in our league’s really good, certainly, top-to-bottom. We know there’s great coaches, great players and great programs in this league. Its shows that there’s been so much parity up to this point.”
Through 10 Big 12 games, there have been zero blowout wins by 19 points or more. There have been six games that finished either in overtime or with a deciding margin of four points or less. That second number leads all Division I conferences at this point in the season.
There is certainly a lot of ball left to be played this season, but we should expect each Big 12 game to come down to the final moments. I expect this game in Fort Worth to be no different.
The good news for Iowa State is they already stole one game on the road this week. Adding a second one in the first two weeks of conference play would be a cherry on top.
“Every game is a new game and new challenge for us,” Kalscheur said. “There’s going to be highs and lows of this conference because it is a really great conference, but just knowing to take it one game at a time. If you lose one, don’t dwell on it. Just come out the next day and continue to embark on the habits that we preach on a daily basis. Just know that we have to stay together.”
Not just one, but two prospects in Iowa State’s 2023 recruiting class earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
Minnesota’s Carson Hansen was named as the Gatorade Minnesota Football Player of the Year on Friday as the announcements rolled out, adding to Abu Sama, who earned the Iowa portion of the award.
It is the second straight season that Hansen as earned the award with Lakeville South High School.
Hansen played running back with the program and is listed as a RB/ATH.
Iowa State running back commit Abu Sama was named as the Gatorade Iowa Football Player of the Year for his 2022 season at Southeast Polk.
The former defensive back commit rushed his way into a scholarship to play running back for the Cyclones next fall.
His season concluded with a six-touchdown performance in the state championship game, helping his school earn its second straight title.
Sama committed to Iowa State over Kansas State, Kent State and Arkansas State among others.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Gabe Kalscheur and Robert Jones spoke to media members Friday ahead of the team’s road game against TCU coming on Saturday.
Former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton is in the top 10 at his position in the first returns from the NBA All-Star fan vote, coming in at No. 8.
NBA first fan returns on All-Star voting: LeBron James is the top vote-getter, Anthony Davis is 3rd in West frontcourt voting, Westbrook 6th in West guard voting, and check out Austin Reaves… pic.twitter.com/dozewk91Fk
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) January 5, 2023
The current Indiana Pacers guard is having a career season and leads in the NBA in assists per game, averaging 10.2. He is also tied for third in steals per game with 1.8.
Fans can vote for NBA All-Star teams once per day at https://vote.nba.com/en.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell has named Ryan Clanton, who served as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at UNI the past five seasons, the offensive line coach for the Cyclones.
Clanton saw a pair of his offensive linemen picked in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft during his tenure at UNI. Offensive tackle Trevor Penning was a 2022 first round pick by the New Orleans Saints, while right offensive tackle Spencer Brown was a third-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in the 2021 draft.
“We are excited to add Ryan to our coaching staff,” Campbell said. “He had great success as a player, competing at a high level, and is someone that has had a significant impact on the players he has coached. He’s helped send multiple players to the NFL and I believe he’ll have a tremendous impact on our program as well.”
At UNI, Clanton was elevated to offensive coordinator prior to the 2022 season. In his first season running the offense, UNI averaged 33 points per game and 444.9 yards per game, increasing both totals from the previous season.
The 2022 Panthers ranked among the nation’s leaders in total offense (16th), third-down conversion percentage (fourth – 52 percent), passing yards per completion (eighth – 14.8) and tackles for a loss allowed (sixth – 4.1).
In total, Clanton saw his offensive linemen earn eight All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors in his five seasons with the program. Penning was a First-Team All-American in 2021 and Jackson Scott-Brown earned first-team honors from the Walter Camp Foundation in 2019. Jared Penning earned Freshman All-America accolades and was Freshman Player of the Year from Phil Steele in 2021.
The Panthers reached the FCS Playoffs three times in five seasons, including advancing to the quarterfinals in 2019.
Prior to his time at UNI, Clanton spent four seasons at Ventura College (Calif.) where 19 of his 20 starting offensive linemen earned all-conference accolades. Six of his players earned all-state and four earned All-America accolades. He also served offensive coordinator and running game coordinator during his time, with VC finishing among the leaders in red-zone scoring offense, passing touchdowns, third-down conversion percentage, yards per game and first downs per game.
Clanton, a Bakersfield, California, native, attended City College of San Francisco and played for the Rams in 2008 and 2009, earning Junior College All-America honors on the offensive line. He later played at the University of Oregon where he was a left tackle, left guard and right guard under head coach Chip Kelly.
He spent three seasons in Eugene, redshirting in 2010 as the Ducks reached the 2011 BCS National Championship game. Oregon won the 2012 Rose Bowl and the 2013 Fiesta Bowl. Clanton was a captain on the 2012 team that finished 12-1 overall. Overall, the Ducks posted a 36-4 record during his playing career.
Clanton was invited to NFL training camps with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers.
A product of Bakersfield Christian High School, Clanton earned a bachelor’s degree from Oregon in applied economics, business and society in 2013.
A pair of former Cyclones were selected in this year’s XFL Supplemental Draft as Kamilo Tongamoa and Hakeem Butler were each selected in the first five rounds this week.
Tongamoa was selected as the 15th overall pick and will play for the San Antonio Brahmas. Butler was picked 33rd and will play for the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Each player was on Iowa State’s 2017 Liberty Bowl roster as well as the 2018 Alamo Bowl squad.
Butler spent time with the Arizona Cardinals as well as the Philadelphia Eagles before the draft.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) runs into Oklahoma Sooners forward Tanner Groves (35) after missing a shot in the first second during a college basketball game between the Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Iowa State Cyclones at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2023.
Iowa State men’s basketball proved something on Wednesday.
We all knew this year’s Cyclones were tough. They had already proved that in multiple wins over top 25 teams and gutsy performances at neutral sites.
They hadn’t won on the road, though.
They missed their first chance at that when they left Iowa City with a 75-56 loss to the rival Hawkeyes.
They came out of the gates on the road at Oklahoma on Wednesday like a team deadset on not missing their second opportunity. They looked like a team that was also prepared to blow that opportunity by surrendering a 20-point first-half lead and allowing the Sooners to retake the lead.
Somehow, through pure grit and toughness, they ground it out, securing a 63-60 win to move to 2-0 in Big 12 play for the first time since 2018-19.
The Cyclones scored 13 of the game’s first 16 points and raced out to a 22-5 lead before the under-12 media break. They were playing some of their best ball of the season, fueled by seven early points from Osun Osunniyi, including his third 3-pointer of the year.
Caleb Grill carried the momentum from his lights-out performance against Baylor by knocking down three 3-pointers in the game’s first nine minutes.
His third shot from deep gave Iowa State a 25-7 lead with 11:37 left in the first half.
The Cyclones didn’t score again for more than nine minutes.
Oklahoma guard Bijan Cortes helped to engineer a 20-0 run by the Sooners that ran 9:18 off the clock. Cortes’ second 3-pointer during the stretch was enough to tie the game with 5:08 left in the first half.
Oklahoma’s Jalen Hill knocked down a jumper to give the Sooners a lead two minutes later.
Iowa State turned the ball over six times during OU’s run while going 0-of-6 from the field. The Cyclones’ electric start on the road had been erased.
T.J. Otzelberger‘s group did just enough to scratch its way to a 29-29 tie at the halftime break.
There are a lot of college basketball teams that would have a hard time bouncing back from allowing that 20-0 run on the road after getting off to such a hot start.
Iowa State had been the clear aggressor to open the game. That had clearly flipped in the half’s final 12 minutes.
It was one boxer knocking the other down in the first round. The other came back to get him in the second. There’s still a lot of fight left though.
And this was like a heavyweight bout. I don’t know if it was the heavyweight championship of the world, but it was a heavyweight bout.
Iowa State quickly retook the lead on the second half’s first possession a fantastic designed lob to Osunniyi, who slammed it home on his way to finishing the game with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, eight rebounds and two blocks.
It was perhaps the St. Bonaventure transfer center’s best game in an Iowa State uniform as he dominated his match-up against Oklahoma’s Tanner Groves early and was impactful on both ends throughout.
The two teams traded buckets and defensive stops quite literally throughout the remainder of the game. Iowa State’s largest lead was five on multiple occasions in the 20 minutes.
There was Gabe Kalscheur‘s first 3-pointer of the night followed a steal by Grill and a Jaren Holmes layup to put Iowa State up 41-36.
Oklahoma came back to tie the game again at 45-45 on a 3-pointer by CJ Noland with 9:16 left.
A Kalscheur layup promptly put the Cyclones back ahead just 25 seconds later.
The lead grew back to five after Grill was fouled shooting a 3-pointer and connected on all three foul shots to make it 50-45 with 8:03 left. Grill connected on all five of his free throws on the night to go along with his 5-of-9 shooting from deep for a game-high 20 points.
In the team’s two Big 12 games, Grill is averaging 19 points and is 10-of-18 from deep for a 55.6 percent clip. His offensive rating is one of the 10 best in the Big 12 in conference games only, which is a fancy way of telling you Grill is playing the best basketball of his career to this point by a significant margin.
Oklahoma tied the game once more when Milos Uzan’s layup off a Kalscheur turnover knotted the score at 56-56 with 1:03 left on the clock, setting the stage for an action packed final minute of regulation.
Tamin Lipsey found his way to the rim for a layup to bring his output to nine points, four rebounds, four assists, three turnovers, two steals and a 4-of-7 mark from the field. He grabbed a pair of grown man offensive rebounds by going down amongst the trees to create another Iowa State possession and once went diving head first into the Cyclone bench in pursuit of a loose ball.
Cortes got to the bucket on the other end to even it at 58-58 less than 10 seconds later then Grill connected on his final 3-pointer of the night to make it 61-58 with 30 seconds left.
Iowa State never gave up the lead again, but the final seconds did not come without dramatics.
With the Cyclones leading 61-60 and eight seconds on the clock, Iowa State was trying to inbound from the baseline after a bucket by Oklahoma’s Jalen Hill.
As Lipsey tried to get open to receive the pass, he got tangled up with an Oklahoma defender and fell to the floor, but not before deflecting the ball out of bounds and to the Sooners.
In a moment of let’s call basketball karma, Oklahoma’s insuing inbound pass sailed out of bounds and back to the Cyclones.
In a one-point game with eight seconds on the clock, there were two possessions and two turnovers in a one second span. How do you not love the every second wackiness of college basketball?
Iowa State still had to inbound the ball, though, and this is an area this team is going to need to clean up as this season progresses. They were able to get the ball into Osunniyi, who was promptly fouled and went to the line with five seconds on the clock.
The 89 percent free throw shooter on the year was 1-of-3 on the night to that point.
The senior calmly knocked down both freebies, gave Iowa State a three point lead and secured the program’s first win in Norman since 2019.
This was the kind of game that will live as a deep cut Big 12 classic. Only the diehards and weirdos were really watching, but we’re the ones who embrace this intense brand of college basketball that is dictated by stops and physicality over offensive prowess.
Despite Iowa State shooting just 43.1 percent from the field compared to Oklahoma’s 44.9 percent mark, it was an entertaining game from start to finish. It was an even game on the glass and Oklahoma turned the ball over only two more times than the Cyclones.
Both teams made their free throws, shot efficiently from behind the 3-point line and had to grind their way through some jailhouse style defensive possessions.
This is what you get when you two veteran teams who are well coached together on a Wednesday night in January. Shoot, on any night in the Big 12.
Iowa State proved something on this night in Norman.
They’re going to land their punches, but they’re fully prepared to absorb blows back the other way. They’ll just keep fighting and scrapping until the bell rings.
There are very few knockouts in this league when you’re going into someone else’s house.
This team proved its not afraid of the fight.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State didn’t expect to play in a dogfight-style game against West Virginia on Wednesday night at Hilton.
It didn’t look like it would be one after West Virginia coach Dawn Plitzuweit called a timeout 101 seconds into the game, down 6-0. Although, the game had the makings for a fight, despite the 70-50 win for the No. 11 Cyclones.
“We got up 6-0, we’re moving the ball,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “All of the sudden, we just looked completely lost. A lot of it was probably that we started in a zone. We were worried about their dribble penetration. I think it got us on our heals a little bit.”
The Cyclones nearly trailed going into the second quarter and managed just a tie game by the halftime break.
West Virginia earned a five-point lead three minutes into the second quarter and was playing a physical game that bled into some after-the-whistle moments.
“Our kids play the game the right way, I’m not saying other teams don’t, but I’m very proud of how we play, how we act and how we respect the game,” Fennelly said. “That’s the way we’re going to play.”
Part of the reason the Cyclones even had the game tied at the break was because of Lexi Donarski, who became the 33rd player to join the program’s 1,000-point club.
Donarski had a stretch where she had 11 of the Cyclones’ 14 points and vaulted the team back into the game.
Stephanie Soares came away from the game – her second in Big 12 play – with 20 rebounds.
She finished with just a 5-15 line from the field, but the performance is enough to be encouraging.
“Twenty rebounds is 20 rebounds in 25 minutes,” Fennelly said. “I wish you guys could see her at practice. Part of her problem at times is that we’re overcoaching her a bit. What I told her was, ‘you’re like a freshman that came and is taking a graduate level class.’ The kid cares so much about what she’s doing.”
Ashley Joens added 19 points and 11 rebounds, collecting her 55th-career double-double.
The win gives Iowa State a 10-2 mark on the season and pushes them to 2-0 in Big 12 play going into a top 25 matchup on Sunday.
The Cyclones will travel to Oklahoma to take on the No. 17 Sooners (Sunday, 2 p.m. ESPN2) the next time they’re on the floor.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Stephanie Soares and Ashley Joens addressed media members following a 70-50 win over West Virginia Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum:
Head coach Kevin Dresser, David Carr (165) and Paniro Johnson (149) discuss the excitement to return to action at Hilton Coliseum, the growth of the program and much more.
Iowa State’s newest men’s basketball commitment in J.T. Rock is rated as the top player in the state of South Dakota and the No. 1 player out of the state by 247Sports.
At 7-foot-1, 245 pounds, Rock’s frame allows him to play above his competition in most cases. Below are some highlights:
Lincoln junior center JT Rock reaches around the rim for a layup against Harrisburg on Dec. 13, 2022. Syndication: Argus Leader
T.J. Otzelberger and his staff have made another big statement in recruiting the upper Midwest.
Iowa State has landed a commitment from the four-star class of 2024 center JT Rock, according to the Sioux Falls native’s Twitter page on Wednesday. The 7-foot-0, 225-pound joins Illinois guard Nojus Indrusaitis as the pledges in the Cyclones’ 2024 class.
Thank you to everyone who has helped me on this journey! I appreciate every opportunity that I have been blessed to receive. Go Cyclones! pic.twitter.com/JhmPi5zmnG
— JT Rock (@JTRock12) January 4, 2023
While Otzelberger has already had some significant recruiting wins since taking over in Ames, this one will rank near the very top of the list. Rock is considered the No. 60 player in the country, No. 10 center and No. 1 player in South Dakota’s junior class, according to 247.
Iowa State became the first school to offer Rock when they did so on Oct. 6, 2021, just days after his initial unofficial visit to Ames. His list of offers grew quickly with Kansas, Purdue, Iowa, Creighton, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota State, Wisconsin and West Virginia all joining the pursuit.
Rock officially visited Iowa and Creighton in September then traveled to Purdue and Iowa State in mid-November.
The addition of Rock continues Iowa State’s run of success recruiting bordering states since Otzelberger took over in Ames. The Cyclones have now added the top player in South Dakota’s 2024 class after landing the No. 1 player in Iowa (Omaha Biliew) and the No. 1 player in Wisconsin (Milan Momcilovic) during the 2024 cycle.
Under Otzelberger, Iowa State has also added top-five players from Iowa (Tamin Lipsey, 2022), Illinois (Indrusaitis, 2024) and Minnesota (Demarion Watson, 2022). Additionally, the Cyclones have signed top-10 players from Minnesota (Eli King, 2022) and Missouri (Kayden Fish, 2023).
Rock is the fourth top-100 player to commit to Iowa State in the last four recruiting cycles. He would be the first player from South Dakota to sign with Iowa State in the recruiting services era, which goes back to 2002.
Stay tuned to Cyclone Fanatic for more on this story.
Chris Williams’ quick preview and prediction for Iowa State’s road trip to Oklahoma on Wednesday night.
Oklahoma coach Porter Moser shouts during an NCAA men’s college basketball game between the University of Oklahoma and Texas at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. Texas won 70-69.
Time: Jan. 4, 6:00 p.m.
Location: Norman, Okla.
TV: ESPN2
KenPom Prediction: 64-60, Oklahoma
1 — Sure shooting SherfieldYou’d be hard-pressed to find a guy in the Big 12 playing better than Grant Sherfield is right now for Oklahoma. The Nevada transfer is averaging 18.3 points and 3.8 assists while shooting 47.3 percent from the field and better than 52 percent from 3-point range.
The Wichita native was an absolute bucket at Nevada. He’s proving to be the same at the Power 5 level for Oklahoma.
“They’re a gifted offensive group. Sherfield is playing really well,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “Shooting it with a lot of confidence.”
Despite being one of the best shooting teams in all of college basketball, ranking ninth nationally in team 3-point percentage as of this writing at 39.4 percent, Oklahoma is not a team that will jack up shots at will.
The Sooners rank No. 240 nationally with only 35.6 percent of their shot attempts coming from behind the arc. Sherfield is the team’s leader in attempts per game with a little more than five, but that figure represents less than half his average field goal attempts per game.
Conversely, only seven teams in college basketball do a better job of forcing their opponents into shots from 3-point range than Iowa State. The Cyclones have made their living on forcing opposing players into difficult, contested shots, and they do it better than anybody in the country, according to ShotQuality.
This game is likely to come down to Oklahoma’s ability to take and make difficult shots. They’ve got the personnel capable of doing that, but it is a task that’s easier said than done.
“For us, our defensive system, we believe in it,” Otzelberger said. “We trust our process. We don’t spend a whole lot of time worrying about our opponent. Just do what we do and adjust things here and there that we need to be better at or be intentional with going against our opponent, but we’re going to come out and try to pressure the ball, take charges, block out and finish plays.”
2 — The GrovesWhile Sherfield is the engine that makes the Oklahoma car roll, twin brothers Tanner and Jacob Groves are the driver and co-pilot. The former Eastern Washington transfers are each playing some of their best ball at Oklahoma with each averaging in double figures scoring while playing efficiently.
Tanner, the 6-foot-10 more traditional big man, is shooting 72.9 percent on his two-point shots so far this season, which ranks in the top 20 nationally. He’s also an adept playmaker for others and fans can expect Oklahoma to run a significant portion of its offense through him.
“With (Tanner) Groves at the five, they have a unique dynamic of a big man that can not only facilitate the offense and shoot the three on the perimeter, but he’s a really gifted passer,” Otzleberger said. “They’ve got a veteran group.”
After struggling to find a niche in year one in Norman, Jacob Groves has solidified himself as a legitimate swingman threat on the perimeter, knocking down 44.9 percent of his shots from deep.
Like Sherfield, both of the Groves brothers have the potential to go off for big-scoring nights if given the right match-up. Preventing them from getting comfortable early in the game and dictating the flow will be key for Iowa State to knock them out of rhythm.
3 — A road test redo While this team has passed almost every test it faced to this point in the season, there’s no choice but to give them an “F” for the performance they put forth in the first true road game last month in Iowa City.
Iowa State’s coaches and players have said they didn’t come into that game in the right state of mind, and it showed immediately as Iowa build a massive lead within the game’s first 10 minutes.
Iowa dictated the pace and physicality of the game while knocking down some uncharacteristic shots after gaining early confidence. This is the kind of thing that Iowa State has to avoid repeating at all costs if they hope to steal any of their nine league games over the next two months.
“We’ve gotta have a tremendous sense of urgency,” Otzelberger said. “We’ve gotta have a chip on our shoulder anytime you go on the road. You have to understand that you can’t be impacted by the environment. You can’t be impacted by any variables. You have to be together, and there were times in that game a month ago when those things affected us.”
How well Iowa State is able to dictate the game defensively during the first few media stretches will be interesting to watch. The Sooners don’t enter this game as a defensive juggernaut, but, like every team in the Big 12, they’re more than capable on that end.
You can also expect to see a hungry Oklahoma team after they blew a second-half lead at home in a 70-69 loss to Texas to open Big 12 play on Saturday.
It will be imperative that the Cyclones don’t give up anything easy to the Sooners while also being able to take advantage of the opportunities in front of them.
Iowa State didn’t do any of those things the last time it went on the road, and the end result reflected those failures. They’ll have to avoid repeating those mistakes if they hope to leave Norman with a win for the first time since 2019.
“Hopefully, we’ve moved past that where we can keep our focus on what’s in front of us,” Otzelberger said. “(We need to) understand it’s the same game that we play here at Hilton and have the same habits every single day that we work on.”
Iowa State (9-2, 1-0) women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly and players Stephanie Soares and Lexi Donarski spoke to media members to preview their team’s game on Wednesday against West Virginia:
Iowa State quarterback signee J.J. Kohl will be participating in Tuesday’s Under Armour all-American game with some of the best players from around the country in the 2023 recruiting class.
The game is being played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando and kicks off at 4:00 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Kohl, who has done nothing but raise his stock since the start of last summer’s Elite 11 camp, has been showing out in practice.
Iowa State QB signed JJ Kohl warming up with a throw to five-star WR Zachariah Branch at first night of Under Armour.@williamseals / @RyanYoungRivals pic.twitter.com/UzPMmkYd92
— Rivals (@Rivals) December 30, 2022
J.J. Kohl to Makai Lemon
One of the top arms in the class connects with one of the best route runners at the @UANextFootball game @JJKohl3 @getabagkai pic.twitter.com/QOd7BOwew5
— The Underclassman Report (@TheUCReport) December 30, 2022
The four-star recruit won a post-practice accuracy competition during the week as well.
It’s all shaping up to be a fun one for No. 12 as he suits up for Team Phantom in the showcase game.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee – Seven Cyclones competed on day two of the Southern Scuffle Tuesday, with five earning a spot on the podium. Iowa State finished in 11th place as a team with 48 points.
Zach Redding was Iowa State’s highest place-winner in the tournament with a fifth-place finish while Joel Devine placed sixth. Grant Stotts, Ramazan Attasauov, and Julien Broderson all finished in eighth place.
Placing Matches
133 Fifth-Place Match – Redding received a medial forfeit from Chance Rich (CSUB).
133 Seventh-Place Match – Attasauov took on No. 23 Sean Carter (App State) in the seventh-place match and, after surrendering the first takedown of the match, bounced back to win, 5-3. The Russian secured a pivotal takedown and a ride out with 18 seconds left in the first period to lead 3-2 after one. Attasauov put on a tough ride to begin the third period and secured the riding time point before fending off Carter for the final minute of the match.
165 Seventh-Place Match – Stotts took on Stanford’s Hunter Garvin in the 165 seventh-place match but fell, 6-4. Stotts took a 3-1 lead into the final period but surrendered a pair of takedowns to Garvin and placed eighth in the tournament.
174 Seventh-Place Match – A pair of first-period takedowns from Tyler Eischens (Stanford) put Broderson into an early hole in the 174 seventh-place match. Broderson trailed 6-3 entering the final period and rallied to knot it up at 6-6 after an escape and a takedown. Eischens managed an escape with 1:14 remaining but Broderson was unable to find the winning takedown as he fell, 7-6.
184 Fifth-Place Match – Devine squared off against No. 25 Jacob Ferreira (Hofstra) in the 184 fifth-place match but fell, 8-3. After a scoreless first period, Devine surrendered an escape and a takedown to begin the second. Another Ferreira takedown, followed by a two-point near fall, in the third period put the match out of reach for Devine.
Up Next
No. 4 Iowa State is back in action as it hosts Wyoming (Jan. 7) and No. 3 Arizona State (Jan. 8) inside Hilton Coliseum. Both duals will begin at 1 p.m. and tickets remain available, here.
Southern Scuffle Results – Day Two
Zach Redding (ISU) WBF Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma St.), 4:37
Zach Redding (ISU) dec. #23 Sean Carter (App State), 3-1
21 Aaron Nagao (MINN) dec. Zach Redding (ISU), 6-1
Zach Redding (ISU) over Chance Rich (CSUB), MFF
16 Ramazan Attasauov (ISU) dec. Jake Gliva (MINN), 9-4
32 Kurt Phipps (Bucknell) dec. #16 Ramazan Attasauov (ISU), 7-4
16 Ramazan Attasauov (ISU) dec. #23 Sean Carter (App State), 5-3
Tommy Askey (App State) maj. dec. Andrew Huddleston (ISU), 16-4
17 Daniel Cardenas (Stanford) dec. Jason Kraisser (ISU), 8-3
Grant Stotts (ISU) dec. Dimitri Gamkrelidze (Binghamton), 2-1
21 Wyatt Sheets (Oklahoma St.) dec. Grant Stotts (ISU), 3-2
Hunter Garvin (Stanford) dec. Grant Stotts (ISU), 6-4
21 Julien Broderson (ISU) dec. Gaven Sax (NDSU), 3-0
Triston Wills (LR) dec. Julien Broderson (ISU), 8-4
25 Tyler Eischens (Stanford) dec. Julien Broderson (ISU), 7-6
Joel Devine (ISU) WBF Colton Hawks (Missouri), 2:36
Joel Devine (ISU) dec. Kyle Haas (Oklahoma St.), 3-1 SV-1
Gavin Stika (Oklahoma St.) dec. Joel Devine (ISU), 4-0
24 Jacob Ferreira (Hofstra) dec. Joel Devine (ISU), 8-3
Southern Scuffle Results – Day One
Cooper Flynn (VT) dec. Caleb Fuessley (ISU), 5-3
Caleb Fuessley (ISU) dec. Drew West (Gardner Webb), 3-1 SV-1
Jeremiah Reno (LR) dec. Caleb Fuessley (ISU), 7-6
Zach Redding (ISU) over Jackson Cockrell (Maryland), Inj. Def.
Zach Redding (ISU) dec. #32 Kurt Phipps (Bucknell), 6-2
2 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) dec. Zach Redding (ISU), 5-2
16 Ramazan Attasauov (ISU) WBF Dustin Norris (Purdue) (4:10)
16 Ramazan Attasauov (ISU) dec. Ethan Oakley (App State), 6-2
27 Brayden Palmer (Chattanooga) dec. #16 Ramazan Attasauov (ISU), 7-4
Mckenzie Bell (Rider) dec. Drew Woodley (ISU), 6-2
Luciano Arroyo (Stanford) dec. Drew Woodley (ISU), 6-1
3 Kendall Coleman (Purdue) dec. Jason Kraisser (ISU), 5-2
Jason Kraisser (ISU) WBF Dominic Isola (Virginia) (2:05)
Jason Kraisser (ISU) dec. Jackson Hurst (Chattanooga), 7-5
Jason Kraisser (ISU) WBF Isaac Judge (ISU) (4:23)
Jason Kraisser (ISU) dec. Matthew Bianchi (LR), 3-1
Ben Monroe (ISU) dec. Brendon Abdon (Little Rock), 8-5
4 Jared Franek (NDSU) maj. dec. Ben Monroe (ISU), 10-1
Andrew Huddleston (ISU) dec. Ben Monroe (ISU), 5-4
Cody Bond (App State) maj. dec. Andrew Huddleston (ISU), 16-4
Andrew Huddleston (ISU) dec. Fin Nadeau (Binghamton), 6-5
Andrew Huddleston (ISU) dec. Ben Monroe (ISU), 5-4
Andrew Huddleston (ISU) dec. Lincoln Heck (Chattanooga), 10-6
Isaac Judge (ISU) dec. #18 Michael North (Maryland), 12-5
Charles Darracott (Stanford) dec. Isaac Judge (ISU), 10-6
Jason Kraisser (ISU) WBF Isaac Judge (ISU) (4:23)
Grant Stotts (ISU) dec. Ty Finn (VT), 6-3
2 Shane Griffith (Stanford) maj. dec. Grant Stotts (ISU), 13-4
20 Andrew Sparks (MINN) dec. Carter Schmidt (ISU), 4-0
Dimitri Gamkrelidze (Binghamton) dec. Carter Schmidt (ISU), 3-1 SV-1
15 Bailee O’Reilly (MINN) dec. Manny Rojas (ISU), 11-6
Kolton Clark (VT) WBF Manny Rojas (ISU) (3:26)
MJ Gaitan (ISU) WBF Braden Welch (App State) (3:33)
Tyler Eischens (Stanford) dec. MJ Gaitan (ISU), 9-7
MJ Gaitan (ISU) maj. dec. Kolton Clark (VT), 13-5
21 Julien Broderson (ISU) dec. MJ Gaitan (ISU), 7-2
21 Julien Broderson (ISU) TF Bryce Keckley (Chattanooga), 18-3 (6:11)
Jared Krattiger (MINN) dec. #21 Julien Broderson (ISU), 7-2
21 Julien Broderson (ISU) WBF Derek Matthews (N. Colorado) (0:48)
21 Julien Broderson (ISU) dec. MJ Gaitan (ISU), 7-2
Joel Devine (ISU) dec. Brook Byers (STAN), 10-5
Gavin Stika (Oklahoma St.) dec. Joel Devine (ISU), 3-1
Joel Devine (ISU) dec. Branson Britten (N. Colorado), 6-3
Joel Devine (ISU) dec. Lucas Uliano (App State), 7-5
Iowa State (10-2, 1-0) coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Tamin Lipsey & Tre King addressed media members on Tuesday to preview their upcoming game against Oklahoma (9-4, 0-1) Wednesday (6:00 p.m. ESPN2):
Iowa State women’s basketball moved up to No. 11 in this week’s AP Top 25 poll.
The Cyclones played just once in the last cycle, taking an 81-58 victory over Texas Tech in Lubbock, and come in as the highest ranked Big 12 program once again.
The team returns to the court on Wednesday to take on West Virginia (6:30 p.m. ESPN+) in its Big 12 home opener.
AP WBB Poll
Monday, January 2
1. South Carolina
2. Stanford
3. Ohio State
4. Notre Dame
5. UConn
6. Indiana
7. LSU
8. Utah
9. Virginia Tech
10. NC State
11. Iowa State
12. UCLA
13. Maryland
14. Michigan
15. Arizona
16. Iowa
17. Oklahoma
18. Oregon
19. Duke
20. Gonzaga
21. Kansas
22. North Carolina
23. Baylor
24. St. John’s
25. Creighton
Others receiving votes: Illinois 32, Florida State 29, Arkansas 24, Villanova 20, Middle Tennessee 12, Texas 9, Columbia 7, South Florida 7, Tennessee 2, Nebraska 1
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Caleb Grill (2) takes a three-point shot around Baylor Bears guard Adam Flagler (10) during the first half at Hilton Coliseum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune
One of the best things about this job is having the opportunity to be around young people, watching them grow and learn and succeed and fail and succeed more and fail more.
That process of maturation is what makes college athletics what they are. Nobody is ever a finished product. Everyone is always striving to become a better version of themselves.
This period of their lives is only a stop along the train tracks of life. It’s an important and formative period as 18-year-old kids come in and leave as young adults ready to tackle the world.
Caleb Grill’s life in college basketball has been a roller coaster.
He went from a lightly recruited South Dakota State signee to one of the most hotly pursued players on the high school recruiting market after his senior year of high school.
That flip brought him to Iowa State, but I think we all quickly learned Grill wasn’t ready for the stage. He was raw and just didn’t seem prepared for the Big 12.
The Maize, Kan. native went looking for a new home, and linked up with old friend T.J. Otzelberger at UNLV, making a move to play for the college coach he’d wanted to play for from the beginning.
There was growth during Grill’s one year in Vegas. He didn’t become an all-conference caliber player by any means, but you were starting to see the tools come together as the game slowed down and maturation took place.
When it was time for Otzelberger to leave UNLV for Iowa State, it would’ve been easy for Otz to leave Grill behind in the Nevada desert. After all, Grill had his opportunity at the Power 5 level, and the consensus belief would’ve landed against him being a Power 5 caliber player.
Otzelberger wasn’t deterred. He brought Grill with him to Ames, and he was rewarded as Grill started to prove he had what it takes to play at this level. He became a key rotational member of Iowa State’s 2021-22 Sweet 16 team.
Now a senior, Grill is approaching the culmination of the raw tools and talent that college coaches desired so strongly after he was released from his national letter of intent with South Dakota State.
Do you guys remember those old rock polishers they used to sell before every toy had to be electronic and every kid just wanted to play Fortnite?
You’d pick up any old rock from your front yard, put it in the tumbler and it would come out looking like a completely different rock, a shinier, better version of the rock you had before.
College basketball is a lot like that rock tumbler. Recruiting is the process of finding rocks in your yard, ones that will look good in your collection and complement its other pieces once you’ve done the work to polish it up a bit.
Skipping that polishing process or failing to follow through on the work that goes into it will leave your rocks looking like regular old garden rocks. It could lead you to believe those rocks don’t belong in something as prestigious as your rock collection.
It just doesn’t belong.
Grill has been through the rock tumbler. It wasn’t always pretty, but the process has left Grill looking like a totally different piece than when he started. There are no more questions about whether Grill belongs at the Power 5 level.
It was easy for fans to write Grill off after his struggles as a freshman. It was easy for fans to wonder if Otzelberger was making the right decision by bringing him back. It was easy for people to give up on Caleb Grill.
The hard thing was Caleb Grill refusing to give up on himself. The hard thing was going to the gym day after day to put up shot after shot while wondering why the daily work isn’t always translating to the court in games. The hard thing was Grill ignoring the outside questions, believing he belonged at this level and setting out to prove just that.
Going into Iowa State’s win over at-the-time No. 1 North Carolina back in November, Grill was 4-of-24 from 3-point range on the year. It was easy to wonder if things were ever actually going to click for Grill when he was shooting 16 percent from 3-point range.
The shots looked different, though. He appeared to be playing more freely, and with much higher confidence. Grill wasn’t scared to make a mistake anymore. He was just out there playing basketball.
That afternoon in Portland was unlike anything I’d seen in my nearly 10 years of covering Iowa State basketball. Grill’s 31 points on 7-of-11 shooting from 3-point range was so unexpected. It was the type of magical performance that left you wondering how it could be replicated.
Grill has knocked down 13-of-30 3-point attempts since that win over the Tar Heels for a 43 percent clip, well above his career 34 percent accuracy from deep in 100 college games. He’s a combined 8-of-14 from behind the arc in Iowa State’s last two games and put on a high-level shooting display during the Cyclones’ win over No. 12 Baylor on Saturday.
There no longer seems to be much thought in Grill’s decisions to shoot the ball. He doesn’t have to think about what he’s going to do next once the rock is in his hands. He feels that orange leather and knows it is time to rise and fire, close out defenders or depth behind the 3-point line be damned.
That’s the result of countless hours spent in the gym perfecting a craft that nobody really believes you can master. That’s the result of having a locker room and coaching staff that believe in you.
That’s the product of the rock polisher.
Shooting isn’t the only area where Grill’s growth has been felt. He continues to improve as an on-ball defender and is as comfortable as anybody playing in Otzelberger’s no-middle defensive scheme.
He’s become one of Iowa State’s best rebounders, filling a void left by the graduation of Izaiah Brockington and the transfer of Tyrese Hunter. The Cyclones needed guards to step up and crash the glass while their bigs cleared opposing bigs out of the middle.
Grill was Iowa State’s leading rebounder against the Bears, tallying seven corralled misses on the afternoon. He had six in the team’s win over Western Michigan, and a career-high 10 rebounds against St. John’s.
For a moment, forget the never-ending doom cycle of worrying about the transfer portal, players leaving early for the pros, name, image and likeness deals and the constant desire for instant gratification, and remember what college basketball really is about.
College basketball is about the 18-year-olds who arrive on the scene raw and in need of polish. College basketball is about those kids committing to their craft and their teams for the betterment of themselves and those around them.
College basketball is about learning, growing, succeeding and failing, then coming out as a better version of yourself on the other side.
Caleb Grill has been through the rock tumbler, and now we’re starting to see the polish that only time, experience and hard work can bring.
Big 12 Musings* Phog Allen Fieldhouse was at it again on Saturday. The defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks needed a 15-point second-half rally in order to secure their first league win over Oklahoma State, but it didn’t come without controversy.
Bryce Thompson probably should have been shooting free throws with a chance to tie the game and potentially force overtime after appearing to be fouled on the game’s second-to-last possession. I’ll let you watch the clip to decide for yourself, and I’m sure there will be people who defend the officials’ decision to swallow their whistles and let the players decide the game.
Allen Fieldhouse home cooking strikes again! pic.twitter.com/bzJvuIWtD5
— Kyle Boone (@Kyle__Boone) December 31, 2022
There aren’t many basketball games on the planet where that isn’t a foul, though, even in a close game against the home team. It just so happens that a large portion of those games seems to take place in Allen Fieldhouse.
* It is worth noting the odds might not have been in Oklahoma State’s favor anyway when you consider Thompson is shooting only 56 percent from the free throw line this season while simultaneously shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point range.
Practice your stinking free throws, kids.
* My concern level for Mike Boynton’s Big 12 Good Guy of the Year status continues to rise. Earning that distinction has become a one-way ticket to unemployment. Once the other coaches have started to circle the wagons to protect one of their own and profess how good of a guy and coach that guy is while their team struggles, then your goose is cooked.
Nothing has gone right for Boynton since Cade Cunningham led the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament in 2019-20. Oklahoma State was good enough to be a tournament team last year, but they were given what very well could end up being one of the last postseason bans in college athletics.
Oklahoma State has the pieces to be good again this year, but they play in the best league in America and your margin for error is razor-thin. You have to wonder how long people in Stillwater will put up with a program that could give off an outside perception of spinning its tires.
Boynton should not be in any danger of losing his job yet, but he’s got the inside track to good guy status in the league this year. I hope it doesn’t come to that though because he does seem to be a genuinely good coach and is a great guy in the few experiences I’ve had with him.
* For further Good Guy of the Year context, Bruce Weber would’ve been last year’s winner. Steve Prohm was the back-to-back winner the two years before that. Nobody should want to be the coach who has their competitors offering unprompted statements of support.
Unprompted statements of support from competitors can often be translated to, “I really enjoy kicking this guy’s ass and it would be nice to have a team we can chalk up as a win so please don’t fire him.”
* I wrote last week that I have concerns about the direction of Texas Tech in year two under Mark Adams. The Red Raiders promptly went out and put on an absolute stinker of an offensive performance against TCU, and yet still had a chance to win the game late because TCU isn’t playing the best ball right now either.
The Red Raiders’ best win to this point in the season is against Louisiana Tech, which KenPom has as the No. 151 team in the country. Adams’ team is 10-0 in quad four games this year, and 0-3 against everyone else.
We’re going to find out awfully quick if this team can handle the gauntlet with home games against Kansas and Oklahoma on the schedule this week before trips to Ames and Austin next week. Tech could conceivably go 0-4 in those games, which would push them to 0-7 against quad-one teams.
They cannot afford to let that happen and dig itself into a deep hole in Big 12 play. Otherwise, they simply won’t have the resume to fall back on when Selection Sunday arrives.
* One more and I’m out of here… I think Iowa State figures out a way to steal at least one of these road games this week. Oklahoma wasn’t able to hold off Texas in losing a one-point game at home on Saturday while TCU made its furious rally late behind Mike Miles to sink Tech. Both of these teams are vulnerable opportunities for the Cyclones.
Iowa State returns to the AP Top 25 poll this week after defeating Baylor 77-62 on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.
The team is ranked No. 25 in the latest edition of the poll, coming in as one of five Big 12 teams included.
The Cyclones return to the court this week on Wednesday, as they take on Oklahoma on the road (6:00 p.m. ESPN2).
Monday’s edition of the poll can be seen below:
AP MBB Poll
Monday, January 2
1. Purdue
2. Houston
3. Kansas
4. UConn
5. Arizona
6. Texas
7. Alabama
8. Tennessee
9. Gonzaga
10. UCLA
11. Virginia
12. Miami
13. Arkansas
14. Wisconsin
15. Indiana
16. Duke
17. TCU
18. Xavier
19. Baylor
20. Missouri
21. New Mexico
22. Auburn
23. Charleston
24. Ohio State
25. Iowa State
Others receiving votes: LSU 83, San Diego State 72, Mississippi State 62, Kentucky 53, Kansas State 41, Illinois 21, Marquette 20, Providence 14, Virginia Tech 7, Memphis 6, West Virginia 5, Michigan State 5, Florida Atlantic 3, Creighton 1
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) lays up the ball around Baylor Bears guard Adam Flagler, guard Dale Bonner (3), and forward Flo Thamba (0) during the second half at Hilton Coliseum Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune
AMES — A true freshman making a significant impact in Big 12 men’s basketball in 2022 is something notable. It isn’t easy being the youngsters when you’re playing against grown men every night you lace them up.
To play and make an impact as a true freshman in the Big 1`2, you have to be an excellent player. You have to be the kind of player nobody realizes is a freshman until someone says they’re a freshman.
Iowa State point guard Tamin Lipsey is one of those players. T.J. Otzelberger knows it. Lipsey’s teammates know it.
Baylor’s Scott Drew found out on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.
Lipsey tallied eight points, eight assists and five rebounds in helping to engineer Iowa State’s 77-62 win over Drew’s No. 12 Bears in the Big 12 opener.
Lipsey isn’t going to be Iowa State’s leading scorer too often this year. He might not put up nightly statlines that make headlines. He’s going to win, though.
He’s going to make an impact. He’ll be the straw that stirs the Cyclone drink and steps into the shoes as the next great Iowa State floor general. He’s already doing or has done those things, actually.
Tamin Lipsey is a special player, and everyone in this league is about to find out.
“I think any freshmen that play in this league’s gotta be special,” Drew said after the game. “Because you’re not gonna play freshmen if they’re not special.”
Lipsey’s numbers this season don’t look too overly impressive on paper. He’s averaging 6.3 points, 4.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest through 12 games.
The numbers don’t do what Lipsey does for this team justice, though.
There is no statistic for steadying presence or it-factor. There’s his nearly three-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio, but I’m not sure even that truly demonstrates what Lipsey does for this team.
He’s the driver of the car. He’s the conductor of the train. He’s the one who keeps the wheels from falling off the Iowa State offense and keeps the Cyclone defense on the tracks.
“Pretty amazing,” Otzelberger said of his freshman point guard. “You see that poise. You watch him out there and you’re like, ‘Man, this guy can’t be a freshman. There’s no way.’ That’s his character. That’s how he prepares. That’s how he works. We’re fortunate to have a guy like that, that cares as much as he does and wants to make the right play.”
The perfect example of Lipsey’s ability to make the right play, and not only make the right play, but make the play most freshmen aren’t seeing, came while Iowa State held a 12-point lead with five minutes left on Saturday.
Lipsey came up with one of his three steals and started to push the ball ahead in transition. Most freshmen point guards would start their beeline towards the basket, towards the opportunity at an open layup.
That layup is the glory. Points are the thing that makes this game go and turn basketball players into icons.
Tamin Lipsey doesn’t give a damn about points, though.
At least not points for himself.
He promptly dropped the ball back to the trailing man, and Gabe Kalscheur rose up to can his fifth 3-pointer of the night and seal his game-high 23 points.
Nail meet coffin.
“Watching that game, not knowing (Lipsey’s) a freshman, you would think he’s played in the league for a couple years,” Iowa State guard Caleb Grill, who added 18 points on five 3-pointers of his own, said. “Tamin does a really good job of doing what’s best for the team and playing to his strengths. He doesn’t try to do anything that he shouldn’t do. He always does the things that he knows he can do and make the plays he can (make).”
I’d be willing to go as far as to say there is a strong case to be made for Lipsey as being Iowa State’s best player.
Yes, he’s young, and, I know, he doesn’t put up the numbers folks would usually expect from the team’s “star.” But, what makes Lipsey so great is his ability to make you believe someone else is the star when the entire operation revolves around him.
He lives to prop up his teammates, set up his shooters and dish dimes for wide-open dunks. Players want to play with a point guard like that. People want to be around people like that.
“I think he’s just done a great job with us kind of giving him the keys,” Kalscheur said. “Kind of like that faith of like, ‘You’re the guy. You’re our facilitator, our floor general.’ He’s doing a great job with it.”
What comes next for Lipsey and his development as a college player will be a fun thing to track. He can go to another level with the development of a consistent jump shot, and he’ll continue to gain strength when attacking the rim as the years go along.
The game will continue to slow down for him, which is crazy to think considering how slow the game already seems for the freshman from Ames.
He’s just going to keep getting better, and he’s the kind of player whose legacy will be judged by the number of good players he played alongside (and make look really good) and the number of games the team puts in the win column.
Lipsey might not set records for points or steals or even assists. Those things don’t matter.
Don’t you start to think Lipsey isn’t a star, though. He’s proving to be one right before our very eyes. It’s just hard to notice when he’s helping everyone else look good.
T.J. Otzelberger knows though. So do Tamin Lipsey’s teammates, and now Baylor head coach Scott Drew.
“I think the best thing he does is take care of the basketball,” Drew said. “He’s tremendous. Doesn’t turn it over and gets his shooters shots. The other thing is defensively, he’s really, really good for a freshman. TJ has done a great job identifying really good point guards, and that’s why they’ve been able to play as freshmen.”
Despite a slow start on the offensive side of things, No. 15 Iowa State rolled to a 81-58 win in its Big 12 opener Saturday.
The Cyclones stifled Texas Tech in the second quarter, allowing only 12 points for the Lady Raiders in the frame, and eventually pulled away despite an off-night from the 3-point line.
Iowa State made just four of its 26 3-point attempts during the game, but managed to win by 23 in spite of that.
Ashley Joens and Lexi Donarski combined for 43 points in the game and each made one of the team’s elusive 3-pointers on Saturday.
Stephanie Soares handled her Big 12 Conference debut as well as anyone could expect her to, collecting 14 points and 16 rebounds to help the Cyclones to a 1-0 start in Big 12 play.
The Cyclones will return to the court on Wednesday, January 4 to face off with West Virginia in Ames (6:30 p.m. ESPN+)
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Caleb Grill and Gabe Kalscheur answered questions from media members following their team’s 77-62 win over No. 12 Baylor:
Iowa State forward Aljaz Kunc will miss the next month with a broken finger. Iowa State is set to play Baylor on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum in its Big 12 opener.
The senior from Lithuania is averaging 8.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this season. He averaged 6.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season while helping Iowa State reach the Sweet 16.
The Cyclones will host the Bears this week before visiting Oklahoma and TCU next week.
Former Iowa State quarterback and current San Francisco 49er Brock Purdy earned NFL Pepsi Rookie of the Week honors Thursday for his performance during his team’s Week 16 win over Washington.
Purdy went 15/22 with 234 yards and two touchdowns in the 37-20 victory.
“He’s been pretty consistent since he’s gotten here, but you never know until guys get in these games, which they’re a lot harder this time of year too than early on,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said in a release. “He’s been the same way he is in practice, and I think that’s why right when he got in versus Miami you could hear the players having confidence in him. It’s only gotten stronger because this is the only way they’ve seen him.”
It’s the third week of the 2022 season a former Cyclone has won the award, with Breece Hall earning the honors during Week 4 and Week 6.
Iowa State veteran post player Beatriz Jordao is medically retiring from basketball.
Jordao was battling a leg injury over the past two seasons and has made the decision after not fully recovering:
pic.twitter.com/4Lu0Vm0SC7
— Beatriz Jordão (@bigjordan13) December 29, 2022
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly issued a statement along with the announcement:
“Bea has made the difficult decision to end her basketball career. She and our medical staff did all they could to get her back on the court, but it was obvious in the interest of Bea’s long-term health that she does not attempt to play anymore. Bea has been a huge part of the Cyclone Women’s Basketball family, and that will not change, as she has always been a team-first person.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Denae Fritz and Stephanie Soares spoke to media members ahead of their team’s Big 12 opener against Texas Tech:
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Caleb Grill and Jaren Holmes addressed media members before Saturday’s Big 12 opener against Baylor:
Iowa State Wrestling held it’s weekly media availability where Kevin Dresser, Marcus Coleman and Jason Kraisser discussed the growth of the team over the first portion of the season and how they can continue to grow and improve.
Iowa State Athletics has announced that it has sold out four of its home, men’s basketball games ahead of the start of conference play this Saturday.
The Cyclones open Big 12 Conference play for the 2022-23 season on Saturday, and will face Baylor in front of a sold out crowd at Hilton Coliseum (1:00 p.m. ESPNU).
The other Cyclones’ home games sold out are against Kansas (Feb. 4, 11:00 a.m. ESPN/2), Oklahoma State (Feb. 11, 5:00 p.m. ESPN2/U) and Oklahoma (Feb. 25, 11:00 a.m. ESPN2/U).
Tickets are still available to Texas Tech (Jan. 10), Texas (Jan. 17), Kansas State (Jan. 24), TCU (Feb. 15), and senior night against West Virginia (Feb. 27).
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
AMES, Iowa – Marcus Coleman has been named the NCAA Wrestler of the Week after a 2-1 performance at the Collegiate Duals in New Orleans last week, it was announced Tuesday morning.
Coleman responded to his first loss of the year by bumping up a weight class to 197 pounds to defeat a 2022 U23 World Silver Medalist and No. 23 Jacob Cardenas, and backed that up with a win over two-time defending national champion and top-ranked Aaron Brooks from Penn State.
Coleman used a big six-point move to counter a shot from Brooks and put the Nittany Lion on his back in the second period. Coleman nearly got the fall, but no call was made as the Ames native took a 6-3 lead into the final period. Brooks got back into the match with a takedown in the third period, but Coleman managed a reversal and held on to win, 9-7.
It marked the highest-ranked win of Coleman’s career.
Coleman’s victory over Cardenas was crucial in an 18-13 Iowa State victory over No. 12 Cornell in which three Cyclones bumped up a weight class, and all won, to advance to the blue pool championship dual.
No. 4 Iowa State is back in action Jan. 1-2 at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn. The event will be streamed live on FloWrestling.
The Cyclones return home Jan. 7 against Wyoming and Jan. 8 against No. 3 Arizona State. Tickets are available, here.
Dec 17, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self reacts during the first half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Christmas is behind us and its time to turn our attention towards the next holiday on the calendar.
I’m sure you’re thinking of New Year’s, but I’m talking about the day before New Year’s. Some call it New Year’s Eve, but around here we call it the Big 12 basketball season opener.
That means it is time to revisit our preseason conference predictions and make some revisions to power rank the teams after the non-conference portion of the schedule. I put a considerable amount of time and thought into these rankings, and that was mostly due to the fact I think there’s three really good teams at the top then basically seven more teams that are almost the exact same.
You could make a case for any of the teams between four and 10 in these rankings belonging in any other spot, and I’d probably side with you by the end of your argument. They’re all interchangeable to me at this point, which I guess makes the next few months even more fun.
We’ve got 18 games ahead to know why these teams belong where they do.
1 – Kansas – 11-1 – (Preseason Rank: 2)Why they’re here: The defending national champions have played like one of the best teams in the sport once again. DaJuan Harris has grown into one of the best point guards in the country. Gradey Dick has lived up to all the expectations and should be a lottery pick. Kevin McCullar is still one of the league’s best guards.
Who stands out: Jalen Wilson has a damn good case for national player of the year at this point. The junior from Denton, Texas is averaging 21.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists through 12 games. He’ll be the unanimous Big 12 Player of the Year if he keeps that pace.
Who is next: Big 12 opener vs. Oklahoma State
2 – Texas – 10-1 – (Preseason Rank: 4)Why they’re here: The Longhorns have the league’s best defense and arguably the league’s best backcourt duo with Marcus Carr and Tyrese Hunter. This team is national championship good when they’re playing their best ball. We all know there’s a lot going on down in Austin right now, though.
Who stands out: Carr is back to his old self after an up-and-down season in year one in Austin. He’s averaging 15.7 points and shooting nearly 40 percent from deep while Hunter handles the majority of the point guard duties. He’s on pace to be a first-team All-Big 12 selection.
Who is next: Non-conference finale vs. Texas A&M Commerce then Big 12 opener at Oklahoma
3 – Baylor – 9-2 – (Preseason Rank: 1)Why they’re here: Scott Drew’s team has the league’s best offense and a pair of marquee non-conference wins over UCLA and Gonzaga. The Bears haven’t lost since their no-show performance against Marquette in the Big 12/Big East challenge.
Who stands out: True freshman Keyonte George has been as advertised. The Lewisville, Texas native is averaging 15.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game to this point. It will be fun to track the race for Big 12 Freshman of the Year between him and Kansas’ Gradey Dick.
Who is next: Non-conference finale vs. Nicholls State then Big 12 opener at Iowa State
4 – West Virginia – 10-2 – (Preseason Rank: 9)Why they’re here: Bob Huggins’ team is the surprise of the league to this point and has the Big 12’s fourth most efficient offense according to KenPom. The Mountaineers are No. 22 nationally in offensive efficiency and No. 42 in defensive efficiency, making them one of five teams in the league to rank in the top-50 nationally on both ends of the floor. Basically every game they’ve won has been in dominant fashion while their only losses are to No. 1 Purdue and on the road at Xavier.
Who stands out: South Carolina transfer Erik Stevenson has been fantastic and fits the mold of Huggins’ best guards. He’s averaging 14.5 points, shooting better than 50 percent from the field and nearly 47 percent from 3-point range. He’ll be one of the league’s best snipers.
Who is next: Big 12 opener at Kansas State
5 – Iowa State – 9-2 – (Preseason Rank: 8)Why they’re here: The Cyclones have significant wins over Villanova, North Carolina and St. John’s, but also have significant losses to UConn and Iowa. T.J. Otzelberger’s team is slated here on the back of its defense, which ranks No. 16 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Cyclones’ defense is good enough for them to beat any team on the schedule, but their offense is bad enough for them to lose to any good team on the schedule, too.
Who stands out: Jaren Holmes has been Iowa State’s most consistent scoring option at 13.8 points per game through the non-conference. He’s shooting 38.9 percent from deep, too, which is his best since his sophomore season at St. Bonaventure in 2019-20.
Who is next: Big 12 opener vs. Baylor
6 – Oklahoma – 9-3 – (Preseason Rank: 7)Why they’re here: I mentioned West Virginia being one of five teams in the league with a top-50 offense and defense. Oklahoma is the fifth one. The Sooners have bounced back nicely since their season opening loss to Sam Houston, and have quality wins over Nebraska, Seton Hall, Ole Miss and Florida. I put them behind Iowa State almost purely on the Cyclones owning a head-to-head with Villanova. As I said before, I think all these teams from 4-10 are damn interchangeable.
Who stands out: Nevada transfer Grant Sherfield has been one of the 10 best shooters in college basketball to this point. He’s averaging 18.0 points and shooting 56 percent from 3-point range on more than five attempts a game. That’s the definition of a walking bucket.
Who is next: Big 12 opener vs. Texas
7 – TCU – 10-1 – (Preseason Rank: 3)Why they’re here: By far the weirdest team to follow this season in the Big 12, TCU nearly lost to Arkansas Pine Bluff on opening night then did lose to Northwestern State the next week. They’ve promptly responded by rattling off seven straight wins, including quality wins over Iowa, Providence and Utah. Jamie Dixon’s team is the college basketball equivalent of the shoulder shrug emoji.
Who stands out: Preseason Big 12 player of the year Mike Miles has unsurprisingly been carrying the load for the Horned Frogs. He’s averaging 17.8 points, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game in eight contests. He missed three games due to injury, but has been largely fantastic when healthy.
Who is next: Non-conference finale vs. Central Arkansas then Big 12 opener vs. Texas Tech
8 – Kansas State – 11-1 – (Preseason Rank: 10)Why they’re here: Jerome Tang very well could be the Big 12 Coach of the Year. The Wildcats have been one of the league’s biggest surprises with top-100 wins over Nevada, LSU, Wichita State and Nebraska. I’m not sure where this team will end up this year, but they’ve already made significant strides in year one under Tang.
Who stands out: Keyontae Johnson has been one of the most surprising breakout stars of this year. The Florida transfer, who collapsed on the court two years ago and hadn’t played real minutes since, is averaging 17.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Who is next: Big 12 opener vs. West Virginia
9 – Texas Tech – 9-2 – (Preseason Rank: 5)Why they’re here: I’m starting to have some concerns about the happenings in Lubbock, but there’s an 18-game league schedule for those concerns to be addressed. The Red Raiders only have two losses, but they’re to the only two quality teams they’ve played this season (Creighton and Ohio State). Add insult to injury with the news Fardaws Aimaq won’t play for the team this year after transferring in during the offseason because of a disagreement over an injury recovery timeline.
Who stands out: Kevin Obanor is still one of my favorite players in the league to watch. The one-time Oral Roberts NCAA Tournament breakout star is 15.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting better than 35 percent from deep.
Who is next: Non-conference finale vs. South Carolina St. then Big 12 opener at TCU
10 – Oklahoma State – 8-4 – (Preseason Rank: 6)Why they’re here: Mike Boynton’s team is 1-3 this season against quality teams and has a loss to Southern Illinois. The Cowboys do have bragging rights over their in-state rival due to a win over Sam Houston State. They fall to the basement with a league-leading four losses in non-conference play.
Who stands out: Avery Anderson is the team’s leading scorer at 12.2 points per game but is also shooting 23 percent from 3-point range. Bryce Thompson is in double-figures scoring, too, at 11.5 points per game. The Cowboys have some things to figure out as Big 12 play gets started.
Who is next: Big 12 opener at Kansas
Iowa State women’s basketball came in at No. 15 in the latest Associated Press WBB Top 25 poll on Monday, making it the 27th straight week the program has been ranked inside the top 15.
The Cyclones are the highest ranked Big 12 team in the poll coming in above No. 20 Oklahoma, No. 22 Kansas and No. 23 Baylor.
Iowa State opens Big 12 play on Saturday as it takes on Texas Tech (2:00 p.m. ESPN+) on the road to begin conference play.
AP WBB Poll
Monday, December 26
1. South Carolina
2. Stanford
3. Ohio State
4. Indiana
5. Notre Dame
6. NC State
7. Virginia Tech
8. UConn
9. LSU
10. UCLA
11. Utah
12. Iowa
13. North Carolina
14. Michigan
15. Iowa State
16. Maryland
17. Oregon
18. Arizona
19. Gonzaga
20. Oklahoma
21. Creighton
22. Kansas
23. Baylor
24. Arkansas
25. St. John’s
Others receiving votes: Louisville 19, Duke 18, Villanova 13, Nebraska 10, South Florida 7, Columbia 6, Middle Tennessee 6, Texas 5, Marquette 4, Alabama 4
Iowa State earned its third commitment from the transfer portal Thursday landing former Eastern Kentucky star Jayden Higgins.
There, Higgins racked up 757 receiving yards on 58 receptions with 10 touchdowns in his sophomore year alone.
“Let’s get to work” pic.twitter.com/wzY0IKilH4
— Jayden Higgins (@JaydenHiggins3) December 24, 2022
The transfer wideout had heavy interest from high major schools with offers from Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Minnesota, Missississipi State and Tulane among others.
Higgins took visits to Virginia and Iowa State and ultimately picked to continue his career in Ames.
BREAKING: Iowa State has landed a wide reciever transfer from Eastern Kentucky in Jayden Higgins (@JaydenHiggins3).
He tallied 757 yards and 10 touchdowns from 58 receptions in his sophomore season this year.
(Video courtesy of Jayden Higgins) pic.twitter.com/fd5CRgbEAM
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) December 24, 2022
The news was first broken on CycloneFanatic’s premium board. If you’re interested in subscribing, click here.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Friday that Northern Iowa offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Ryan Clanton will be Iowa State’s newest leader in the trenches.
Sources: Iowa State is expected to hire Ryan Clanton as the school’s next offensive line coach. Clanton was the OL coach and OC at Northern Iowa. He played offensive line at Oregon during Chip Kelly’s coaching tenure there.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 23, 2022
Clanton has coached at UNI for five season and developed the likes of Spencer Brown and Trevor Penning, who were drafted in back-to-back years in 2021 and 2022.
Prior to UNI, Clanton coached at Ventura College in California. There, 19 of the 20 starters the team put on the field earned all-conference selections.
Clanton also played collegiately at Oregon before venturing into coaching, playing for Chip Kelly in the 2011 National Championship, 2012 Rose Bowl and 2013 Fiesta Bowl.
Iowa State earned its first commitment to the 2024 recruiting class on Thursday when 6-foot-5 shooting guard Nojus Indrusaitas announced his decision over social media.
The four-star prospect is rated as the No. 77 overall player in the class by 247Sports and is also a top 5 prospect out of Illinois.
“It’s a big weight off my chest,” Indrusaitas said. “Now I get to focus on myself and my high school.”
He picked Iowa State over Iowa, Xavier, Marquette, Illinois, DePaul, Nebraska, Missouri and Maryland.
The coaching staff sold Indrusaitas over his recruiting process and made a big impact on his choice to commit when he did.
“Really it was just the coaching,” Indrusaitas said. “Coach (Otzelberger) and Coach (Blount) just made me feel wanted more. The way they recruited me – they were on me the most I feel like. They checked all the boxes and that’s why I committed.”
Indrusaitas is the fourth top 100 commitment for the T.J. Otzelberger staff and was also recruited by assistant coach J.R. Blount.
“What they had planned for me – being an impact,” Indrusaitas said. “It’s great to have a good connection with a coach – a guy that you think you can trust – and the ability that he lets you play freely. That’s what I liked to hear from Coach (Otzelberger).”
Indrusaitas was born and grew up in Chicago with his parents being from Lithuania.
He represented the country in the 2022 FIBA U16 European championship, leading his country to a gold medal.
“That was great – playing against different competition around the world, you know,” Indrusaitas said. “It was great seeing different types of cultures and stuff. I had a great time. I learned a lot. “It felt good representing Lithuania. I’m proud of what we accomplished there, it was fun.”
Before coming to Iowa State, Indrusaitas has his sights on bringing St. Rita’s High School a big trophy and putting on more muscle.
“I want to win a state championship in Illinois,” Indrusaitas said. “I want to gain weight, get better on defense, talk more and just be an encouraging teammate. I just want to bump it up 10 or 15 pounds.”
Former Iowa State Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton drew some rare criticism this week from 1-time NBA All-Star Wally Szczerbiak during a postgame show.
Szczerbiak called Haliburton a ‘supposed wanna-be all-star’ and claimed that Haliburton would not make the all-star team this season:
Wally Szczerbiak going in on Tyrese Haliburton on the Knicks postgame show pic.twitter.com/QRJxJ3QuPN
— Kevin D. Water Law (@docKev_) December 19, 2022
In an interview with Bleacher Report, Haliburton responded.
“What did you do to Wally Szczerbiak?”
Hali: “I know the name but I couldn’t tell you where he played. I couldn’t tell you what he did as a basketball player.. He had a lot to say about me and first I was like who is this?” pic.twitter.com/4MpOpzk5UR
— PacersMuse (@PacersStatsMuse) December 21, 2022
Haliburton was puzzled by Szczerbiak’s and amounted it to him being a Knicks homer and wanting attention.
The Pacers will take on the Knicks in New York on Wednesday, January 11 at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Iowa State earned a commitment from top 100 2024 prospect Nojus Indrusaitis on Thursday morning, marking the first commit to the class.
Ranked as the No. 77 overall player in the class by 247 Sports, Indrusaitis brings a 6-foot-5, versatile frame to the Cyclones.
Indrusaitis, a Lithuanian native, helped lead his country to a gold medal in the 2022 FIBA U16 European championships.
He led the team in scoring and landed an all-tournament selection in route to the title.
Indrusaitis took an official visit to Ames last weekend and chose Iowa State over offers from Iowa, Xavier, Nebraska, Illinois, Marquette, DePaul, Maryland and Missouri.
Since taking over at Iowa State, coach T.J. Otzelberger has recruited nine players that committed. Indrusaitis becomes the fourth top 100 prospect, and seventh top 150 commit in the Otzelberger era.
Iowa State cornerbacks coach Matt Caponi is headed South for new opportunity.
The coach, who spent four seasons at Iowa State will take over as the defensive coordinator at North Texas according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Sources: North Texas is set to hire Iowa State corners coach Matt Caponi as the school’s new defensive coordinator.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 22, 2022
There Caponi will coach alongside newly hired head coach Eric Morris, who turned around Incarnate Word’s program before taking a season as Washington State’s offensive coordinator.
The first domino in Iowa State’s 2024 men’s basketball recruiting class has fallen.
Four-star guard Nojus Indrusaitis announced his commitment to T.J. Otzelberger’s program on Thursday. He’s the Cyclones’ first 2024 commit and the pledge comes just days after he officially visited Ames last weekend.
Committed!! pic.twitter.com/ZXUO32ey7N
— Nojus I (@i_nojus) December 22, 2022
Rated as the No. 77 player in the 2024 recruiting class by the 247Composite, the 6-foot-5, 185-pound shooting guard from Lemont, Ill. also held offers from Nebraska, Xavier, DePaul, Illinois, Iowa, Marquette, Maryland and Missouri. He’s considered the No. 17 shooting guard in the class and No. 3 player in Illinois.
Iowa State’s 2023 recruiting class finished as the highest-ranked class in program history, and Indrusaitis gives the program another solid start to the next cycle.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members Wednesday during his annual National Signing Day press conference. Below are quotes from him on some of the new Cyclones.
On the 2023 recruiting class overall:
“You know, we’re we’re really, really proud of what we put together in this recruiting class. And I think this is, again, a group that one of the best classes that we’ve been able to put together during our time here at Iowa State and, you know, I think so much of the credit of that really goes to our coaching staff, honestly, Derek Hoodjer who continues to do a great job leading and running our recruiting department and his team. And quite honestly, our players. You know, I think when you look at this group that’s coming in, you’re talking about all the things that we have built our program on elite competitors, guys that have won championship, guys that come from winning programs, cultural fits to what we’re about and who we are. And I think the proof of that was over even the course of the season, obviously, they’re they’re wanting to stick with and believing in the core values of what this program is about and coming in and transcending that program forward. And so, you know, we’re really proud of this group, I think we’ve hit, you know, a great deal in the Midwest again, and the foundation right here at home in our state. And you’ve really kind of touched on every position group, which we were really looking at that and trying to go and attack that. So like all the areas that we wanted to improve or hit we did and just really grateful and appreciative for this group of young men coming in here.
On looking to the transfer portal:
“Yeah, you know, I think we love our roster right now. You know, I think when you look at really what’s happened over the last three weeks, probably the most powerful story of where this program is, I mean, you know, the the young men that decided to come back within our own roster, and then this roster, you know, of young men that are we’re adding today. You know, I think it’s as healthy and as good of a roster as we’ve had. So we’re really confident where we’re at right now quite honestly.”
On Abu Sama and his willingness to play either running back or defensive back:
“(We look at) what type of player are you getting in him in person, I think the person is greater than the player. And you know, I mean, we all saw what he did this year for his high school football team. And you know, and what, not only just the state championship game, but the consistency that he played week in and week out. And, you know, I think it was one of those great stories, because, you know, he came in earned his scholarship at camp last year. And you know, the competitive spirit, the toughness, and then you, man, you get this opportunity to sit down with his family and hear their story. And, you know, coming to the United States, their perseverance as a family. You know, he had a brother that was a great track athlete here. You know, it’s a powerful, it’s a powerful human story of who he is and what he’s about. And so I think the reality of Yes, He’s a phenomenal athlete, he can play running back, he can play corner, those things are all great. But again, when you when you build a program like ours, it’s the person it’s the who, and I don’t know if you could ask for our greater family or greater human integrator leader to come on board with us than a booth. So we’re really, we’re excited about him. And just to broaden it to Central Iowa as a whole when he got JJ (Kohl) in there, Jameis and others. What can you say about just the hyperlocal part of the class? That’s as talented as it is? Yeah. You know, I think, Rob, you know, for us from day one, and we’ve had I feel like earn the trust of the state and certainly the great high school coaches of this state. But, man, we wanted to do a great job, continuing to start our recruiting journey right here at home. And you know, how, obviously, for us when you not only just talk about players, then you talk about man, who is JJ Kohl, what has he done? And what’s he about? Who is Jamison Patton, Who is this young man? What does he stand for? What is he about? Kai black, Carson Rhodes, you know, in again, it’s not just the players, it’s the man look what they’ve done in their own program, look at the leadership and adversity they’ve already overcome, to get where they’re at. I think those are those are monumental wins for how we want to build this program, how we’re going to sustain this program and how we’re going to continue to move it forward. So, you know, I thought to be able to lay that foundation from really the early part of this recruiting journey with this current class. I think it was really, really important and always continue to be the focus for us as we continue to move ourselves forward.“
On recruiting from Nebraska and Ben Brahmer, specifically:
“Sure. I mean, you know, to elite players, right, I mean two elite players and two elite humans too. You know, you talk about Ben Brahmer just won a high school state championship. I don’t know, if we have recruited a better football player than Ben Brahmer during my time here, you know, his father, his ability, you would say a lot of like Allen Lazard lotta like elite talent in there, right? A guy that’s got a chance to be one of the best that have come through here in my opinion, you know, and you watch that kid play basketball, and he’s a double double guy and average in 20 and 20 and 12. In the basketball court, you watch how that guy has led his high school program. You talk about his father and what he stands for, and, man, you’re maybe the winningest high school football coach in the state of Nebraska and to be able to have the belief from his family, and the belief of that young man to want to come to school and play here. Man, I think that’s really powerful. For us. I think it was a, it was a huge win. And I think it’s a huge win for the future of our football program.“
On Beni Ngoyi:
“And then you talk about Beni, you know, and Benny’s a guy that we had a great relationship with, really over the course of last year and a half. And again, man, elite athleticism, kind of the Hakeem Butler style of athlete raw, but man, this explosive dynamic ability to go make plays. And, you know, for him to want to come to school here at the end of the day is is huge, you know, again, we’ve had great relationships with that high school football program, we’ve recruited that program. But I think for us, again, that’s six, eight hours from our doorstep. You know, obviously, the state of Iowa is really important. But I think that six, eight hour radius for us, it’s critical. And, you know, I think hopefully continuing to build the trust in high school football coaches and families that say, you know, what, coach came on his staff, they’re going to do it the right way, they’re going to treat our kids the right way. They’re going to do it, and be who they say they are, I think that’s helped us and to be able to get those two young men. What a huge win for Iowa State football in our program. So we’re really grateful again, for the trust of those families in belief in us.“
On Jamison Patton:
And man, obviously, Jamison Patton has, you know, a lot of experience not only playing different positions, but also three or four different sports. How do you see potentially some of that versatility, kind of translating to football here? Yeah, I love the JMO story, because, you know, during COVID, that 2020 year, you know, I remember texting Derek, and after, you know, the first high school, the first football game that really got played was Valley played JMO. And that was the one game that he was able to play that year, if you remember, because I think the city canceled football after that game. And so, you know, I’ve watching that game on television. And if you guys remember that game, JMO is playing quarterback, and he’s doing everything and man, they almost win, right? They take him right down to the wire. And I remember calling Derek and I said, I don’t know who that is. But that kid’s really special. And that’s our kind of guy. And you know, fast forward a year later, he comes to camp, and you know, really, really was impressive in camp. We asked him to come back the next day and do a little bit of defensive back drill as well. And, you know, we offered them right on the spot. And I think is again, you talk about JMO not only is he a great football player, but you’re talking about a guy that man excels on the basketball court, never ran track before and gets himself into the truth state track tournament last year after jumping only to two times and gets himself to Drake, you know, you talk about an elite baseball player. competitive excellence. Right? And you didn’t you’ve heard me say this all the time. In our program, we’re better when we have elite competitive excellence. And again, Jay Moesgaard is good at competitive excellence as anybody I’ve seen. I mean, great leader, great human, unbelievable family. But I think the biggest thing about that guy is that guy’s got to have a chance to come in here and compete right away, because he knows how to compete at a really high level.
On Nate Scheelhaase and what he means to the staff:
Yeah, you know, I think, man, I don’t know, for me, if I can say enough great things, obviously about Nate. And I think again, it starts with core values, right? I think of, you know, who he is his ability to create great relationships and care about kids. And you know, I think to me, you know, college football, even though we can get off the rails on it sometimes and I get it. You know, it’s still about serving Leadership, it’s still about, man, our job is to take an 18 year old young man. And our job is to get that 18 year old young man to become a 22 year old man. And I think, to me, that is one of nature’s greatest qualities is, you know, he has a the servant heart to care and inspire and lead young people. And I think it showed up from day one. And I think it’s only continued on and so, you know, when, you know, we sat down and reflected and, you know, I think some of the things from an offensive standpoint, whether they were mutual or, you know, parting parting of the ways, you know, I think we looked at, okay, our realignment process, how do we align our program the right way, moving ourselves forward? We’ve had phenomenal coaches, we’ve had phenomenal people. And, man, I think one of the things that was evident is the right guy, after talking with some of our players, and after, you know, being able to sit there and evaluate it, man, what was the best thing for Iowa State football moving forward? You know, I think Nate was clearly the right answer. And so we’re really excited about that. And he’s done a great job on the recruiting trail.
On not seeing any commits flip to other schools this week:
Yeah, I again, I would hope that our whole deal in building this program is Be who you say your be in stand for what you’re really about. And, you know, again, I think we’ve also always been about man, building a program that loves care serves, empowers the young people in our program, we’ve been about a program that man that’s going to demand to stand for the right things. And, you know, I think, for us to get the loyalty and the trust of these families from, you know, the start of this journey, to the end of this journey. And to be able to get to the finish line here. And to be able to start this journey with this team coming back in January, and some of these guys in June, I think it’s really powerful. I think it’s it is the story. And again, a lot of that, that is the credit of the players in our program. I think when you bring recruits into your program, the thing that I always say is man, don’t listen to what we have to say as coaches, man get around our kids see what they say, what’s their experience look like and feel like and, you know, we we’ve got great kids here, and they believe in what’s going on and appreciative of that. And we certainly got phenomenal coaches, we got a lot of people that touch our program that make the experience here at Iowa State, from academics, to athletic training, to mental health to all these areas, man, they do an incredible job serving our players. And I think that is the story. And that’s why, you know, we’re sitting here today with a really, really happy and really powerful signing day for Iowa State football.“
On David Caulker and if player relationships led to him flipping mid-year from Iowa to Iowa State:
“Yeah, you know, David is a David is another one of those incredible stories, you know, and I mean, I I leave David’s name out after the first question about the the Des Moines area, you know, but I don’t know if there’s a greater story or win than David. You know, I just was at his basketball game last week. And man, he scores 24 points. He has 14 rebounds, and he’s leaning his high school basketball program and you talk about, man, the job is high school football coaches done. You talk about that guy, revitalizing a high school football program and David being the pillar of that and it’s like, well, shoot, we’ve had guys here that were the pillar of that and he’s just got that spirit in that embodiment. And, you know, I do, I think David would say, the kids, the feeling that people within our program, I think, really made a huge impact on him. And, you know, for us, you know, just the belief and what David’s about what he stands for, what kind of high school program he’s coming from, we thought it was just a great match. But I would, I would say, David would certainly say that for sure.”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members Wednesday, talking about the 2023 recruiting class as well as his staff for the 2023 football season and beyond:
Welcome to Cyclone Fanatic’s Signing Day Central.
Below, we will track every official announcement as the papers are signed and turned in for the 2023 football recruiting class. Coming into the day, the class is slated to be Iowa State’s highest rated class in program history.
Class of 2023Brendan Black, 3-star IOL (Jacksonville, FL)As the lone offensive lineman committed to the 2023 class, Brendan Black made his choice official on Wednesday. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound prospect is set to anchor the class having chose Iowa State over a lengthy offer list. It included Kansas, Duke, Louisville, and Coastal Carolina among others.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics
NEW ORLEANS – No. 6 Iowa State (7-2, 1-0 Big 12) gave No. 1 Penn State (7-0, 0-0 Big Ten) a tough battle Tuesday evening in the Collegiate Wrestling Duals’ blue pool finals, but came up short, 22-12, against the Nittany Lions.
Iowa State won four of ten bouts against Penn State, highlighted by No. 4 Marcus Coleman’s victory over two-time defending national champion and top-ranked Aaron Brooks at 184 pounds.
“[Penn State] is number one for a reason,” head coach Kevin Dresser said. “I liked our effort and I thought we fought hard, but really, we just got outwrestled in some positions. As a coaching staff, we needed to see this. We’ve got a little break here and we know exactly what we have to do to get better.”
How it Happened
Corey Cabanban opened the scoring for Iowa State at 125 pounds with a 4-0 decision over Gary Steen. Cabanban secured a first-period takedown and a ride out before he rode Steen for the entire second period en route to amassing over two minutes of riding time.
After a scoreless first period at 133 pounds, No. 1 Roman Bravo-Young was able to turn No. 21 Ramazan Attasauov for two near fall points with less than ten seconds remaining in the second period. Bravo-Young turned it on for three takedowns in the final period and defeated Attasauov, 10-2.
Zach Redding couldn’t overcome No. 5 Beau Bartlett at 141 pounds as the Cyclone fell, 8-3, in the match and Iowa State fell behind in the dual, 7-3, after three bouts.
At 149 pounds, No. 5 Paniro Johnson capitalized on a quick third-period flurry to secure the only takedown needed to defeat No. 17 Shayne Van Ness, 3-2.
Jason Kraisser surrendered a pair of first-period takedowns and couldn’t overcome the deficit against Levi Haines at 157 pounds. Kraisser fell, 8-3, to the Nittany Lion as Penn State extended its lead to 10-6 after five matches.
No. 3 David Carr pulled Iowa State back within one team point with a 4-2 victory over No. 14 Alex Facundo. Carr secured a first-period takedown and held off a late push from Facundo for the win.
At 174 pounds, No. 21 Julien Broderson wrestled tough against No. 1 Carter Starocci but came up short against the two-time defending national champion, 5-1.
Coleman’s match at 184 pounds highlighted the dual after he used a big six-point move in the second period to put Brooks on his back. Coleman appeared to get the fall, but no call was made as the Ames native took a 6-3 lead into the final period. Brooks got back into the match with a takedown in the third period, but Coleman managed a reversal and went on to win, 9-7.
No. 2 Yonger Bastida suffered his first setback of the season against No. 5 Max Dean at 197 pounds. Bastida was unable to get a takedown in the match as he fell to Dean, 4-1.
Iowa State forfeited at heavyweight, bringing the final dual score to 22-12 in favor of Penn State.
Up Next
The Cyclones are back in action after the new year at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tennessee January 1-2. The event will be streamed on FloWrestling.
Iowa State 12, Penn State 22
125: Corey Cabanban dec. Gary Steen, 4-0
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young maj. dec. #21 Ramazan Attasauov, 10-2
141: #5 Beau Bartlett dec. Zach Redding, 8-3
149: #5 Paniro Johnson dec. #17 Shayne Van Ness, 3-2
157: Levi Haines dec. Jason Kraisser, 8-3
165: #3 David Carr dec. #14 Alex Facundo, 4-2
174: #1 Carter Starocci dec. #21 Julien Broderson, 5-1
184: #4 Marcus Coleman dec. #1 Aaron Brooks, 9-7
197: #5 Max Dean dec. #2 Yonger Bastida, 4-1
285: #1 Greg Kerkvliet winner by forfeit
Extra Matches
Konner Kraeszig WBF Joel Devine (6:33)
Iowa State earned its second transfer portal commitment of the 2022 offseason on Tuesday when Zach Lovett announced he’d be playing in Ames for his second year of college football.
IM LOCKED IN #nextchapter @ISUMattCampbell @TysonVeidt @CycloneFB pic.twitter.com/zxoheeySqm
— zach lovett (@zacharylovett10) December 20, 2022
The Missouri transfer redshirted during his freshman season in Columbia and had little on-field time there.
Lovett was a three-star linebacker out of high school and originally committed to Missouri over Florida State and Georgia Tech, among others.
The 6-foot-2 prospect be immediately eligible to play at Iowa State.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
Ames, Iowa – With a winter storm watch for Central Iowa in effect from Wednesday evening through late Friday, Iowa State’s Dec. 21 men’s basketball game vs. Omaha and its Dec. 22 women’s basketball game vs. Drake have been cancelled due to potential severe weather conditions, and will not be made up, the Cyclone Athletics Department announced Tuesday morning.
“After consulting with both Omaha and Drake, we believe that cancelling both games today will afford the student-athletes from all four teams the opportunity to depart ahead of the storm and return safely to their homes to spend the holidays with their families,” Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said.
Fans who had purchased single-game tickets for either game will be issued a refund by the ISU Athletics Ticket Office.
With the cancellations, the Cyclone basketball teams will break for the holidays before opening their 18-game Big 12 slates on Dec. 31. The Iowa State men will host No. 12 Baylor at 1 p.m. on ESPNU, while the 14th-ranked Cyclone women’s team will travel to Texas Tech for a 2 p.m. contest on ESPN+.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications
NEW ORLEANS – No. 6 Iowa State (7-1, 1-0 Big 12), despite wrestling without three starters, defeated No. 12 Cornell (1-2, 0-0 Ivy), 18-13, in a thriller which came down to the final match Monday afternoon at the Collegiate Duals.
The Cyclones close out pool competition with a 2-0 record and advance to the blue pool championship against either No. 1 Penn State, No. 21 North Carolina or Central Michigan Tuesday at 7 p.m.
“I thought we did a really good job today,” head coach Kevin Dresser said. “I’ve been coaching for awhile and I’m not sure I have ever seen more of a team effort considering the adversity we were facing. [Sam Schuyler] had a slight strain in his first match of the day so we had to improvise with the lineup because the guys wanted to win the dual. Top to bottom, everyone in the lineup contributed.”
How It Happened
Iowa State, trailing 13-9 with three matches remaining, got creative with its lineup in the upper weights with Joel Devine, Marcus Coleman and Yonger Bastida all bumping up a weight class.
Devine was solid on top in a 5-1 decision against Evan Canoyer at 184 pounds while Coleman put ISU back in the lead with a 4-1 victory over No. 23 Jacob Cardenas, a 2022 U23 World Silver Medalist.
At heavyweight, Bastida, surrendering 59 pounds to No. 15 Lewis Fernandes, was clutch with the dual on the line. The Trinidad, Cuba native earned a takedown with three seconds remaining to come out on top, 4-2.
Corey Cabanban opened the dual with an important 3-1 victory over No. 21 Brett Ungar at 125 pounds. Cabanban managed the only takedown of the match and sealed the win with a riding time point.
No. 21 Ramazan Attasauov came up short against No. 3 Vitali Arujau at 133 pounds, 3-1. Attasauov was in on a couple of first period shots but couldn’t finish as neither wrestler could muster a takedown in the affair.
An early takedown by No. 21 Vince Cornella, followed by a ride out, put Zach Redding into an early hole at 141 pounds. Redding ultimately fell, 6-1, in the match.
The marquee match of the dual came at 149 pounds where No. 5 Paniro Johnson took on three-time NCAA champion No. 1 Yianni Diakomihalis. Johnson was in deep on a couple of shots but couldn’t finish, ultimately falling in SV-1, 3-1.
Jason Kraisser prevailed over Colton Yapoujian in a key match at 157 pounds. Kraisser came from behind to force sudden victory where he earned the takedown to win, 6-4.
No. 3 David Carr tied the dual at 9-9 after a 10-5 decision against No. 7 Julian Ramirez at 165 pounds. Carr gave up his first takedown of the season, but secured four of his own, as he won his 15th consecutive match dating back to last season.
At 174 pounds, Julien Broderson gave up a major decision, 17-4, against No. 6 Chris Foca. Broderson surrendered two sets of back points in the first period but secured a late takedown in the third to avoid a tech fall.
The Cyclones closed out the dual with three-straight victories at 184, 197 and 285 to seal the dual victory.
Up Next
Iowa State will wrestle Tuesday at 7 p.m. against No. 1 Penn State.
Iowa State 18, Cornell 13
125: Corey Cabanban dec. #21 Brett Ungar, 3-1
133: #3 Vitali Arujau dec. #21 Ramazan Attasauov, 3-1
141: #21 Vince Cornella dec. Zach Redding, 6-1
149: #1 Yianni Diakomihalis dec. #5 Paniro Johnson, 3-1 SV-1
157: Jason Kraisser dec. Colton Yapoujian, 6-4 SV-1
165: #3 David Carr dec. #7 Julian Ramirez, 10-5
174: #6 Chris Foca maj. dec. #21 Julien Broderson, 17-4
184: Joel Devine dec. Evan Canoyer, 5-1
197: Marcus Coleman dec. #23 Jacob Cardenas, 4-1
285: Yonger Bastida dec. #15 Lewis Fernandes, 4-2
Iowa State University Cyclones forward Tre King (0) looks for a drive around Western Michigan Broncos forward Markeese Hastings (0) during the second half at Hilton Coliseum Sunday, Dec.18, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune
Happy holidays, Fanatics!
It hardly feels like the holiday season without preparing to attend another Iowa State bowl game this month. I’d gotten awfully used to visiting warmer climates as Christmas approached, but it will be a nice change of pace to spend the holiday with my family.
Make sure to enjoy that family time a little extra this year then let’s hope the Cyclones’ absence from the postseason lasts only one year.
We all need an excuse for a vacation before we’re all forced to suffer through the excruciatingly cold winter months around here.
Let’s muse.
* I’m feeling optimistic after Tre King’s Iowa State debut on Sunday in which the Eastern Kentucky transfer tallied 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, two rebounds and two steals. King isn’t likely to be someone who challenges for the Big 12’s scoring title, but he gives Iowa State another scoring option around the basket.
He looks the part of a Big 12 athlete and brings even more versatility to Iowa State on the defensive end with his ability to guard multiple positions. It will be good for him to get another game under his belt on Wednesday when Omaha comes to town.
We’re a little more than a week out from learning a lot more about where this Cyclone team stands when Baylor visits Hilton Coliseum on Dec. 31.
* National signing day is on Wednesday, and Iowa State is set to welcome its highest rated class in program history into the fold. Headlined by Ankeny quarterback JJ Kohl, this class currently ranks as the No. 39 class in the country by the 247Composite.
Kudos to Matt Campbell and his staff for keeping this class largely intact despite having a down year on the football field. That is far from an easy task in today’s world of NIL recruiting.
* I say they’ve largely kept this class intact because I do think there’s the possibility for one defection before prospects put pen to paper on Wednesday. Lincoln High School wide receiver Beni Ngoyi officially visited Nebraska over the weekend and said he plans to decide between Iowa State and the Cornhuskers on national signing day.
Landing Ngoyi from the Huskers’ backyard was significant for Campbell and his staff when he announced his commitment to the program back on July 20. A lot has happened since then, though, including Nebraska moving on from Scott Frost and bringing in new head coach Matt Rhule.
Frost and his staff didn’t make Ngoyi a priority, but Rhule and his staff have. Will the Cyclones be able to hold off a final push from the hometown school?
To be decided.
* Speaking of Rhule and Nebraska kids, it will be interesting to see how well Nebraska’s staff does with keeping in-state kids at home. The Omaha and Lincoln areas have become significant recruiting grounds for not only Iowa State, but Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State and several other major programs in the upper-Midwest.
There’s a whole bunch of programs that have benefitted from the disfunction in Lincoln over the past 20 years.
I’m sure you’ll be shocked to learn every high school coach from Nebraska City to Scottsbluff has been impressed by Rhule and his staff. There’s been a lot of discussion about how this staff is paying more attention to in-state recruiting than any other in recent Husker history.
This is just like how every program that brings in a new strength staff suddenly has more guys who are bigger, faster and stronger than they’ve ever been in their lives. They went from four guys benching 350 pounds to 25 guys meeting that benchmark. They’ve got more guys running 4.3 second 40 yard dashes than at any other time in the program’s recent history.
I say that to say… we’ll see.
Nebraska’s been talking about locking down its borders for 20 years through five different head coaches. Each staff has done the best job of working with high school coaches in the state, then you’ll hear about how they weren’t actually giving the schools the right amount of attention once that staff starts losing football games.
* Speaking of strength staff praises… be ready for similar discussions in Ames this offseason. I’m sure there will be a lot of people telling us about how much better the Cyclones look under new strength coach Reid Kagy once winter workouts start in January.
Let’s all just agree to wait to buy into those claims until we’ve seen Iowa State’s football team back on the field next fall.
* Late last week, it was announced Manhattan transfer Jose Perez’s waiver for immediate eligibility at West Virginia was denied by the NCAA. Hoops fans will remember this story is notable because of the fact Manhattan fired their coach just days before the start of the 2022-23 season.
As a result, Perez, and a number of his teammates, elected to enter the transfer portal. The preseason MAAC Player of the Year had a lot of options to continue his basketball career. That career should be able to continue immediately considering he didn’t play a game for Manhattan this season.
Instead, the NCAA reportedly denied his waiver and Stadium’s Jeff Goodman says it is because Manhattan didn’t support his immediate eligibility. Manhattan says that isn’t true and it was a decision made by the NCAA.
The bottom line is someone is making a poor decision here.
If this does truly fall fully on the NCAA’s shoulders, then it is further proof of how archaic and out-dated the organization’s rules and decision making process are.
If Manhattan really denied the waiver, then it is fully grown adults showing a sickening level of pettiness to prevent a player who isn’t going to play for their team anyway from competing elsewhere this year.
And I’m saying this as someone who supports a team that West Virginia has to compete against this season!
Let the guy play for crying out loud.
* If there’s one major lesson to take away from the Perez and Manhattan drama, it is this…
DON’T FIRE YOUR COACH DAYS BEFORE THE SEASON IF YOU HOPE TO KEEP YOUR ENTIRE ROSTER TOGETHER.
It feels like that shouldn’t need to be said in today’s world of college athletics, but, apparently, it does.
* Speaking of today’s world of college hoops, a tweet by ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla caught my attention last week.
I am hearing that some talented college teams are starting to crack because of NIL payments not being made on time, NIL promises not kept or jealousy among teammates. Not a value judgement on NIL. It’s just human nature. The “new normal.”
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) December 14, 2022
Could this be true? It is certainly possible.
It comes off more like an old-school coach carrying water for all the other old-school coaches, though. Sure, there will be jealousy involved in the world of NIL, but presenting it this way makes it seem as though some of these issues never could have popped up in a world prior to NIL.
That simply is not true. Jealousy and things of that nature have always been part of the team dynamic, and the best teams are the ones that are able to overcome all of those things in order to come together for the common goal.
NIL didn’t need to come into the equation for that to be true.
The more disappointing part of this is seeing that there are players out there frustrated by not being paid what they were told they’d be paid by the adults in the room. If you’re going to be part of the NIL game, you better be ready to follow through on your promises no matter how big they might be.
The schools (or collectives or sponsors or whatever) that don’t follow through on their promises are going to be exposed.
People who closely follow the undercurrents of college athletics know this is nothing new, though, as well.
From the dawn of time, schools and coaches have been making promises to student athletes only to turn back on those promises once those student athletes arrive on campus.
Whether that promise is playing time or something else, coaches have been making promises to recruits for a very long time without any intention of following through on those claims.
The difference now is athletes can hold schools and coaches accountable for their promises. If you don’t follow through on your end today, you’re going to see your best players going into the portal and playing elsewhere in the future.
Accountability and culture are going to be the things that define the next era of college athletics. The coaches and programs that hold up their ends of bargains are going to benefit while the coaches and programs who have thrived off making empty promises will start to deteriorate.
We shouldn’t have needed the introduction of NIL to bring that change to the forefront. We definitely don’t need former coaches blaming this on the athletes who put their trust in adults making promises.
Iowa State remained at No. 14 in the latest Associated Press Poll, following a 1-0 week which saw a win against a Villanova (receiving votes) in Connecticut.
The Cyclones remain the highest ranked team from the Big 12 Conference, coming in ahead of No. 20 Kansas, No. 23 Oklahoma, No. 24 Baylor and the pair of programs receiving votes.
Iowa State will face Drake in its next game on Thursday, December 22 at Hilton Coliseum (5:00 p.m. ESPN+).
AP WBB Poll
Monday, December 19
1. South Carolina
2. Stanford
3. Ohio State
4. Indiana
5. Notre Dame
6. North Carolina
7. NC State
8. Virginia Tech
9. UConn
10. LSU
11. UCLA
12. Utah
13. Iowa
14. Iowa State
15. Maryland
16. Oregon
17. Arkansas
18. Arizona
19. Michigan
20. Kansas
21. Creighton
22. Gonzaga
23. Oklahoma
24. Baylor
25. St. Johns
Others receiving votes: Marquette 24, Virginia 21, Louisville 20, Villanova 11, Texas 5, Rice 4, Duke 3, Kansas State 3, Columbia 3, Nebraska 2
Iowa State’s three-star wide receiver commit Beni Ngoyi visited Nebraska over the weekend, touring the school and football program with new head coach Matt Rhule leading the way now.
The Lincoln native has been committed to Iowa State since July, but wanted to see what the new blood in town had to offer in Lincoln.
“This new Nebraska staff – I didn’t really get recruited too hard by the old staff,” Ngoyi said. “They offered me late, so I just wanted to give these new dudes a chance and be able to get to know them. That’s pretty much the process.”
It’s brought a level of concern to Iowa State’s staff, seeing a commit take a visit elsewhere with just a number of days separating them from a decision.
“They’re a little concerned because I’m over here visiting my hometown school,” Ngoyi said. “That definitely brought some concerns to them.”
Ngoyi values the culture behind a program and in the people that are at the lead of it.
Although, he said similar things about both programs.
“Probably just their culture and the way they go about things,” Ngoyi said. “This new Nebraska staff – they recruited with a lot of energy. Same with Iowa State – they brought a lot of energy to show me how bad they want me.”
Being in a spot like Ngoyi is in is never ideal for a college recruit. He’s got less than half a week to make a decision where he’ll be for three years or more.
“Yeah, it is (tough),” Ngoyi said. “I feel like there’s two different angles where I could end up at.”
Ngoyi will make the choice between Iowa State and Nebraska on Wednesday, during the official early signing period announcements.
“That’s the plan. Just waiting for the signing day period to just really get it down to the bone.”
Iowa State led No. 25 Villanova by 19 points at the halftime break on Sunday.
The Cyclones didn’t score in the third quarter for six and 1/2 minutes, but still went on to earn the 74-62 win in the Invesco QQQ Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase game in Uncasville, Conn.
“We set the sport back about 10 years the first five minutes (of the third quarter),” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said on the Cyclone Radio Network broadcast. “We’ve got to coach that better. We only got outscored (in the third quarter) by four, I thought that was great. I thought our effort was really good from start-to-finish.”
The Cyclones defensive prowess ended up being key to rounding things out in the showcase game to eventually clinch the win on the neutral court.
Emily Ryan nearly came home with Iowa State’s first triple-double since 2014, finishing with 16 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds in 39 minutes.
Ryan was as dynamic as she gets around the floor, earning a block and a steal to go along with a perfect 7-7 mark at the free throw line.
“It’s a huge win for us,” Ryan said on the radio broadcast. “They’re a really, really good team and Maddy Siegrist is as good as advertised… When adversity hit, I was glad that we were ready for battle.”
Ashley Joens earned a team-high 17 points in a game where all five starters scored in double figures. Joens found her way to 10 rebounds and earned yet another double-double to her career total.
Joens finished 4-6 from the 3-point line as part of a 50 percent performance (10-20) for the Cyclones.
“When the shots start falling, you’re confidence really goes up,” Joens said on the Varsity Network broadcast. “When you see one go, the ball just starts flying.”
Stephanie Soares went for 14 points and 11 boards in similar fashion and Denae Fritz played one of her best games in an Iowa State uniform with 13 points on 5-6 shooting.
Iowa State’s final non-conference game of the regular season comes Thursday at Hilton Coliseum, where the Cyclones will square off with in-state rival Drake (5:00 p.m. ESPN+).
Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger, Tre King and Caleb Grill addressed media members Sunday following their team’s 73-57 win over Western Michigan:
Iowa State’s starters had no issues getting out to an early lead on Western Michigan, going on a 17-3 run in the first nine minutes of Sunday’s73-57 win over Western Michigan.
It helped open up space for Tre King to check into a game for Iowa State for the first time, 382 days after committing to play at the school.
“He did a really good job,” coach T.J. Otzelberger said of King. “We talked to him about being a guy we can throw it in to, being a great cutter like he did on the baseline on that dunk… He’s worked really hard to get this opportunity. It’s been a while.”
Caleb Grill finished with team highs collecting 14 points and six rebounds in the game.
“We pride ourselves a lot on the defensive end,” Grill said. “Just being to help our defense from the start helped me.”
Gabe Kalscheur rounded out his day with 11 points and three assists, while Robert Jones finished with 10 points and five assists.
The win gives Iowa State a 9-2 record on the season.
Iowa State will return to the court for its final game before Big 12 play starts on Wednesday, taking on Omaha at Hilton Coliseum (6:00 p.m. ESPN+).
With the 2023 recruiting cycle moving into the rearview, Iowa State is hard at work on the 2024 recruiting class.
That work will continue this weekend when four-star guard Nojus Indrusaitis visits Ames for an official visit starting on Saturday, a source close to the program confirmed to Cyclone Fanatic on Friday. The visit was first reported by Cyclone Alert‘s Nick Osen.
The 6-foot-4, 170-pound Indrusaitis is considered one of the top off-ball guards in the 2024 class, currently ranked as the No. 77 player in the class, No. 17 shooting guard and No. 3 player in Illinois by the 247Composite.
Iowa State extended a scholarship offer to the Lemont, Ill. native this past summer, and he also holds offers from DePaul, Illinois, Iowa, Marquette, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
Stay tuned to Cyclone Fanatic for more on this story.
Head coach Kevin Dresser, Paniro Johnson and Ramazan Attasaouv discuss the upcoming competition at the Collegiate Duals in New Orleans and much more at this week’s weekly media availability.
Abubakarr Kamara hasn’t been offered by Iowa State yet, but things are certainly trending that way.
Kamara, who goes by Abu, is planning on taking a visit to Ames in January, tentatively set for the January 20-22 weekend before he makes his college choice in February.
“During the season it was about how my games went and (telling me) they’ll be in touch,” Kamara said. “When our season ended it was more so what is the next step to building that relationship with Iowa State.”
Kamara, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound ATH prospect has an offer sheet made up of mostly FCS programs, however Nebraska and Penn State have each shown interest along with the Cyclones since the season ended.
“I’m just glad that I was still able to get that opportunity,” Kamara said. “Most of the mentors I talked to said that junior year is when you’re getting recruited and in senior year, they don’t care. For me to be able to prove that wrong, and show that for those late bloomers, there’s still a chance out there for you.”
Iowa State quarterbacks coach Matt Caponi visited Kamara last week.
Thank you to Coach Caponi @coach_horsepwr for stopping by today loving the things I’m hearing about Iowa State !!! @CycloneFB @DerekHoodjer @CoachNateISU pic.twitter.com/vsnDuFgCIr
— Abubakarr Kamara (@Abu_kamara4) December 7, 2022
“We just caught up on stuff,” Kamara said. “He asked about the season and when I would be able to go up and visit the facilities and take a tour.”
Kamara will utilize the spring national signing day to finalize his decision.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus forwards Osun Osunniyi and Hason Ward, look ahead to Sunday afternoon’s game in Ames against Western Michigan in the videos below.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State senior wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson has been named a Second Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
Hutchinson has now been named an All-American by the Associated Press (First Team), AFCA (Second Team), CBS Sports (Second Team) and Pro Football Focus (First Team), as well as being a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
The Jacksonville, Florida, native, led the nation with 8.9 receptions per game and was one of just three players nationally to record more than 100 receptions. Hutchinson broke his own single-season record with 107 catches, while ranking among the nation’s top-10 in receiving yards (1,171) and receiving yards per game (97.6).
He posted seven 100-yard receiving games and had at least eight catches in 11 of ISU’s 12 games.
Hutchinson, who finished his career with a school-record 254 receptions, will play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, held Saturday, Feb. 4 in Mobile, Alabama.
Iowa State defensive line commit Samuel Same will sign his national letter of intent in less than a week’s time, as will a majority of the 2023 class.
It marks the end of a long recruiting process and one that’s been as satisfactory as can be for Same.
“I try to remind myself that I was extremely blessed to be a part of this recruitment process in the first place,” Same said. “In terms of signing with Iowa State, specifically, I’m extremely excited.”
Same said that the coaching staff’s consistency in their messages was something that led him to making his choice.
“Throughout this entire process, I feel like they’ve been the most consistent in what they say and what they do,” Same said. “I feel like being able to be a part of that program and finally put pen to paper and start this journey soon, it brings me a lot of joy and excitement.”
Same is projecting to play the leo position in Iowa State’s defense.
As a 6-foot-5, 215-pounder, the staff sees a lot of room for development of the Kansas prospect.
“We’ve talked about me playing the leo position and just being a versatile player for the defense,” Same said. “Just with my size, my length and then being able to be in a college weight room and learn under Coach Rasheed, they feel like that would be the best spot for me to help the Cyclones.”
Until he arrives in Ames, Same will just be soaking in what he can and preparing to take the next step to play on the field at Iowa State.
“I’m just trying to soak in as much of the culture of Iowa State (as I can),” Same said. “I’m trying to buy into what they have going on right now in their program to be able to be the most useful asset to help us win more games and put us onto a trajectory to have a good season entering August and September.”
Iowa State quarterbacks coach Joel Gordon will depart the program to take the same position at USF, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Source: USF is set to hire Iowa State QB coach Joel Gordon as the school’s new QB coach/pass game coordinator.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 14, 2022
Gordon will join former Iowa State assistant coach Alex Golesh, who was recently hired to be the Bulls’ next head coach.
Gordon’s profile has been scrubbed from cyclones.com, as well.
Before the 2022 football season started, Southeast Polk two-way star Abu Sama was being recruited to play defensive back at Iowa State.
However, after an impactful season that saw him earn Iowa All-Iowa Football Player of the Year and finished with a six-touchdown performance in the state championship game, the tune has changed on Sama.
Iowa State wants him to come in and play running back.
“I had a talk with Coach (offensive coordinator Nate) Scheelhaase, Coach (Derek) Hoodjer, and Coach (Matt) Campbell and they really liked how I performed at the running back position,” Sama said.
Sama is fine wherever he ends up, though.
He just wants to help the team.
“I just want to come in and make an impact at Iowa State,” Sama said. “They’ve been talking to me about playing running back. But, if it comes to me playing DB, I’ll be ready.”
Sama’s stock soared as a defensive back as he stepped into his high school career, even though he primarily has played running back from a young age.
“Running back has always been my primary position,” Sama said. “As I grew older and got to high school, I started to lean towards DB a little bit. It gave me a lot of confidence (to hear the coaches talk about playing running back). I’m just trying to do what I can to help this team.”
The Southeast Polk star leaves on Wednesday to travel to Texas and play in Saturday’s US Army Bowl, which showcases some of the nation’s best high school players in an East-West matchup.
He’ll suit up in the backfield.
“I was really excited (when I found out),” Sama said. “I’m excited to play against other top players in the country and get to see where I’m at. I’ve watched it as a kid. I’ve seen it on YouTube with my friends and stuff. I’m just excited to have the opportunity to play on that platform.
Saturday’s game will kick off at 3:00 p.m. in Frisco on Bally Sports Network.
And, if it goes anything like the last game Sama played on the football field, it will raise some eyebrows.
David Caulker made waves in November when he announced that he would be flipping his commitment from Iowa to in-state rival Iowa State.
He posted his announcement with a simple caption; “Change of plans.”
Change of plans. #NST #CyclONEnation pic.twitter.com/eqi3k9m5jp
— David Caulker (@DavidCaulker23) November 18, 2022
On Wednesday, December 21, he’ll officially sign his National Letter of Intent to play football at Iowa State.
“I just felt like when I committed to Iowa, I should have considered Iowa State more,” Caulker said. “I just felt like, what really led me to make the decision at the time I did was I didn’t want to go the rest of my life thinking, ‘Oh, what could have been. I should have done that.’ I just decided if this is what I want, then I’m going to do it, and I committed to Iowa State.”
The 6-foot-4 edge prospect from Des Moines North High School is rated as a top 10 prospect in the state of Iowa by 247Sports.
He took an official visit to Iowa State for the first time over the weekend.
“It’s encouraged because, going on my visit, it was more than I expected – and I expected really good things,” Caulker said.
During the visit, Caulker met with Iowa State defensive line coach Eli Rasheed to go over just what his time in Ames will look like.
“We had a meeting talking about scheme and stuff like that,” Caulker said. “At first they were projecting me as playing the leo position, but now they can see me playing the boundary end. It really depends on how my body grows.”
Caulker also visited alongside Iowa State’s newest commit of the 2023 class in Zaimir Smith, who announced his commitment publicly Sunday afternoon.
With each being defensive line prospects, the pair quickly bonded.
“He’s a really cool person,” Caulker said. “We kind of bonded within like probably a few hours. Knowing him for two days felt like I’ve known him for a few years.”
“(The visit) felt good, especially knowing I was supposed to take (a visit) on the 12th of June,” Caulker said. “Even without taking that official, I just couldn’t wait to sign that paper.”
Fortunately for him, that’s just a few short days away.
Tre King gets excited during Iowa State’s 67-50 win over Missouri last season at Hilton Coliseum. Photo by Connor Ferguson for Cyclone Fanatic.
For the first time all season, Iowa State is expected to be at full strength next Sunday.
That expectation is due to the impending eligibility of Eastern Kentucky transfer Tre King, who joined the program last season and sat out due to transfer rules. The 6-foot-7 Lexington, Ken. native has been waiting a long time to step foot on the court in an Iowa State uniform.
That time is finally coming when Western Michigan rolls into town this weekend.
“He’s been here now for a year, I mean, when you really think about it,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said after the Cyclones’ win over McNeese State on Sunday. “How he’s worked every single day in practice, we know he’s another guy defensively, he’s got a presence.”
An Iowa State frontcourt that has already been markedly better than it was a year ago is about to get even better.
King is a versatile player with the ability to fill it up offensively while still bringing the defensive tenacity and energy Otzelberger covets. In his last season at Eastern Kentucky in 2020-21, King averaged 14.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while earning first-team All-Ohio Valley honors.
He finished the season ranked in the league’s top-10 in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks.
In other words, he brings the ability to do a little bit of everything.
“He can defend at the four position, he can switch screens, he’s got a physical ability to him,” Otzelberger said. “Offensively, another guy we can throw the ball to whether it’s at the elbows or in the post, and give us another scoring option.”
The area I’m most interested to see King’s contribution is on the glass. His 6.2 boards per game average in 2020-21 would tie Aljaz Kunc for the team lead at Iowa State this season.
Iowa State’s defensive scheme calls for centers to spend the majority of their energy by boxing out the opposing team’s biggest guys. Those block outs open up the lanes for guards to come in and crash with tenacity.
We saw Izaiah Brockington thrive in this role a year ago, but we’re yet to see one of Iowa State’s wings or guards truly cement themselves as a high-level rebounder. Outside of Kunc, only one other Cyclone is grabbing four or more rebounds per game, and that is Caleb Grill, who is securing 4.1 misses per contest.
The Cyclones need someone to emerge as their glass cleaner, somebody who is attacking missed shots with the idea that nobody else is going to get the basketball besides them. That mentality seems to be missing right now when you consider the Cyclones rank No. 246 nationally in opposing offensive rebounding percentage, allowing teams to recover more than 30 percent of their misses this season.
This is an area where King’s presence can be immediately felt.
We don’t know yet how many minutes King will play or how his availability will impact Iowa State’s rotations, but you already know he’ll be chomping at the bit to get an opportunity against the Broncos.
He’s been waiting a long time for this opportunity.
“Tre is an unbelievable young man. He’s handled this year with class and he’s been an unbelievable teammate, showed so much character, so I’m excited for him,” Otzelberger said. “He’ll get the opportunity, whatever that is come next Sunday. I’m not exactly sure from a minute standpoint, but we intend to give him minutes and get him out there and he’s worked hard to earn that.”
Iowa State women’s basketball is ranked No. 14 in the latest Associated Press poll.
The Cyclones split the last week, going 1-1 with a road loss to No. 12 Iowa and a win over Jacksonville at home on Sunday.
Iowa State is the highest rated Big 12 team in the poll, coming in front of No. 18 Baylor, No. 22 Kansas, and No. 24 Oklahoma.
The team’s next game will be on Sunday (2:30 p.m. ESPN2) against No. 25 Villanova in Connecticut.
AP WBB Top 25
Monday, December 12, 2022
1. South Carolina
2. Stanford
3. Ohio State
4. Indiana
5. Notre Dame
6. Virginia Tech
7. North Carolina
8. NC State
9. UConn
10. UCLA
11. LSU
12. Iowa
13. Utah
14. Iowa State
15. Maryland
T16. Oregon
T16. Creighton
18. Baylor
19. Michigan
20. Arizona
21. Arkansas
22. Kansas
23. Gonzaga
24. Oklahoma
25. Villanova
Others receiving votes: St. John’s 19, Marquett 18, Louisville 14, Virginia 7, Texas 6, Duke 5, Kansas State 5, Rice 4, Florida State 3, Columbia 2, Missouri 2, DePaul 2, Nebraska 1, Middle Tennessee State 1
Iowa State wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) catches the ball in the end zone over Southeast Missouri State safety Lawrence Johnson (7) during the Iowa State, Southeast Missouri State game on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones are up 21-10 against the Redhawks.
Another week, another postseason honor for Xavier Hutchinson.
The senior wide receiver from Jacksonville was named a first-team All-American on Monday by the Associated Press. This is the third straight year Iowa State has had an offensive player named a first-team All-American by the AP.
On his way to being named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, Hutchinson broke Iowa State’s single-season record with 107 receptions while tallying 1,071 yards and seven touchdowns. His 254 career receptions are another Iowa State record and are the most in Big 12 history by a three-year player.
Hutchinson is the sixth Iowa State player to earn AP All-American honors since 2019, joining former teammates Breece Hall (first-team, 2020-21), Charlie Kolar (third-team, 2019-20), Mike Rose (second-team, 2020), JaQuan Bailey (third-team, 2020) and Will McDonald (third-team, 2021).
He’s also the sixth Cyclone to be a first-team AP All-American, joining Fred Poole (1934), Ed Bock (1938), John Van Sicken (1964) Troy Davis (1995-95) and Hall.
Boise State’s Reid Kagy is reportedly set to take over as Iowa State’s newest Strength & Conditioning coach, according to a report from Bronco Nation News’ B.J. Rains.
BREAKING from 36,000 feet somewhere over Kansas:
Sources tell @BNNBroncoNation Boise State strength coach Reid Kagy is expected to leave the Broncos following the bowl game, likely for a position at Iowa State.
Also hearing he’s taking members of the strength staff with him.
— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) December 12, 2022
Kagy has been Boise State’s Director of Sports Performance for the past two seasons and coached on the Oregon team that Iowa State defeated in the 2021 Fiesta Bowl.
Iowa State has been searching for a replacement for Dave Andrews since December 2. The program and Andrews parted ways after three seasons in Ames.
It’s expected that Kagy will still be with the Boise State program through the completion of the Frisco Bowl, which kicks off on Saturday, December 17 at 8:15 p.m. CT on ESPN.
For more on this story, visit the Cyclone Fanatic premium lounge.
It took McNeese State more than eight minutes to score a single point against Iowa State on Sunday.
The No. 20 Cyclones used an 18-0 run out of the halftime break to cruise past the Cowboys 67-35 and improve to 8-2 on the young, college basketball season.
“Absolutely,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said when asked if that was the kind of play he was looking for from his team in the second half. “The guys came out with great intent. We really demand that to start games and start halves. We bring terrific energy and that’s exactly what happens: we set the tone.”
Iowa State outscored McNeese 44-16 in the second half on its way to the win.
Jaz Kunc led the team in scoring putting up a career-high 21 points, as well as eight rebounds.
Jaren Holmes and Gabe Kalscheur found their ways to double figures, scoring 17 and 15 points respectively.
Tamin Lipsey had a team-high eight assists and added four points to the final tally. Eli King came in late in the game and finished with a career-high five points in relief.
Caleb Grill did not play in the game due to an illness. Otzelberger said he was experiencing a fever and flu-like symptoms, but did not know any more specifics minutes after Sunday’s game ended.
Iowa State will return to the court Sunday, December 18 to take on Western Michigan (Noon, ESPN+). Transfer forward Tre King is expected to make his debut in a Cyclone uniform.
Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger, Jaz Kunc and Gabe Kalscheur addressed media members following their team’s 77-40 win over McNeese State on Sunday at Hilton Coliseum:
Former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy accounted for three touchdowns in the San Francisco 49ers’ 35-7 blowout win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Purdy threw 16-21 completions for 185 yards, 2 passing touchdowns and 1 rushing score. Below are some of the highlights of his memorable performance.
Brock Purdy earns a rushing touchdown and San Francisco leads Tampa Bay 14-0 early in the second. #CyclonesInTheNFL
@49ers pic.twitter.com/NlPnWYd7w8
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) December 11, 2022
If it stands, Brock Purdy will have his second touchdown of the day for the 49ers. #CyclonesInTheNFL
@byysports pic.twitter.com/85VtajH94V
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) December 11, 2022
Brock's family in the stands today for his NFL start. A sweet, sweet moment:
@49ers pic.twitter.com/BaUBUS13cM
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) December 11, 2022
Brock Purdy has his third touchdown of the first half against Tom Brady and the Bucs. #CyclonesInTheNFL
San Francisco leads 28-0.
@49ers pic.twitter.com/e1jMTPa24d
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) December 11, 2022
The game got so out of hand, that FOX elected to switch its broadcast to the Seattle – Carolina game, because the score was much closer.
Locally, FOX has shit-canned the 49ers / Bucs game because Brock Purdy is beating Tom Brady's ass too badly.
— Chris Williams (@ChrisMWilliams) December 11, 2022
Brock Purdy chants are filling Levi’s Stadium! #49ers || #FTTB
pic.twitter.com/2YYlhZtiEL
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) December 11, 2022
Before the end of the game, the scoreboard at Hilton was even graced with this meme:
Just now at Hilton Coliseum pic.twitter.com/AuwuCpQ3Be
— Jared Stansbury (@JaredStansbury) December 12, 2022
Brock Purdy ran into the stands postgame to embrace his friends &family #49ers pic.twitter.com/tLDbfqjQMv
— Bridget Condon (@BridgetCondon_) December 12, 2022
Purdy and the 49ers will return to the field Thursday to take on the Seattle Seahawks on the road in primetime. The game will be broadcasted on Prime Video and will kickoff at 7:15 p.m. CT.
The NFL’s online sportswear manufacturer, Fanatics Inc., sold out of Brock Purdy jerseys during the former Cyclone’s first NFL start.
In the first half, Purdy accounted for three touchdowns – two through the air and one on the ground – in a beatdown of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
When fans attempt to order the jersey, their purchase is being immediately refunded back to them.
Fanatics is sold out of Brock Purdy jerseys
— Matt Van Winkle (@mattvanwinkle) December 11, 2022
At the time of publishing, the 49ers led Tampa Bay 35-0 with three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
We will have more updates on this story as they become available.
Iowa State has picked up its 20th commitment to the 2023 recruiting class in defensive tackle Zaimir Hawk.
The 6-foot-2, 295-pound prospect announced his decision over social media on Sunday.
1000% committed can’t wait to get to work!!! @CycloneFB @ISUMattCampbell @CoachRasheed @Coach_Kratch @CoachBGGrant #CyclONEnation pic.twitter.com/UN4KVgSm8i
— Zaimir Hawk (@hawk_973) December 11, 2022
Hawk comes to Iowa State while having offers to Marshall, Old Dominion, Kent State, Western Michigan, Rhode Island, Stony Brook, Towson, Delaware State and Maine.
Below is a pick-6 Hawk had during one of his high school games:
Hillside’s Zaimir Hawk with the Big Man Pick Six
Hawk and his Comets came alive in the second half to defeat River Dell 33-13 in the North 1 Group 3 semifinals.
FULL coverage + interviews later!@CoachBGGrant @hawk_973 pic.twitter.com/ZexGj6P08l
— Jersey Sports Zone (@JSZ_Sports) November 5, 2022
Watch this guy #53 Zaimir Hawk @hawk_973 intercept the pass and take it to the house for 6. A lineman's dream for the 6-2 300lb Nose Guard. This play is being considered for the Top Weekly Pinned Tweet @MyCentralJersey @CoachBGGrant RT and Like pic.twitter.com/1DtgeZuzmG
— Marcus A. Borden (@bordenfb4ever) November 5, 2022
Iowa State has added Arlen Harris Jr. – a transfer from Stanford – to its running back room for the 2023 season.
The 5-foot-11 prospect was in town visiting over the weekend and announced his commitment over social media on Sunday.
Thank you coach @ISUMattCampbell for giving me the opportunity to get aligned with my purpose. Time to apply pressure Cyclone Nation #L33gacy #AGTG Matt 6:33 @CoachNateISU @CoachJWaters pic.twitter.com/OqR09bNRCy
— Arlen Harris Jr. (@arlenharrisjr33) December 11, 2022
Harris Jr. was a four-star prospect out of high school and rated as the No. 30 running back in the 2022 recruiting class.
He transfers to Iowa State, presumably, with four years of eligibility remaining.
We caught up with him prior to his visit here.
Iowa State has found itself in a bit of a lull as far as 3-point shooting goes.
In the team’s 84-50 win over Jacksonville Sunday, the Cyclones shot 9-31 from distance, making it the fourth-straight game the team has shot worse than 33 percent in the category.
Those numbers aren’t worrying coach Bill Fennelly, though.
“We have kids that can make it,” Fennelly said. “We’re not making it now, but hopefully that will come. The biggest thing about it is shot selection and I thought ours was good today. I thought we were open, we flooded to the ball. We moved the ball. We didn’t make as many as we’d like, but our (shot) selection was good.”
In usual Iowa State fashion, the Cyclones took a plethora of open shots.
This four-game stretch has been an anomoly not many saw coming – and it’s led to a 2-2 mark in those games.
But that’s just the nature of the game.
“We don’t talk about it – maybe we should,” Fennelly joked. “It’s not for lack of effort. They’re all in the gym a lot. It’s not about skill and it’s not about want-to. You’ve just got to see it go in a few times.”
Ashley Joens led the team in scoring, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds to earn her 53rd career double-double as a Cyclone.
Fennelly said that this was in response to challenging his star player a little in practice over the weekend.
“I really challenged Ashley Joens yesterday in practice,” Fennelly said. “The way she responded was exactly what I anticipated. I thought she was fantastic from start-to-finish and that set the tone for everyone.”
Stephanie Soares earned 20 points, eight rebounds and four blocks as she continues to become accustomed to the sport at a high level.
“She took the other night really hard,” Soares said. “It just wasn’t a great night against a really good team. She’s skilled. She plays hard. She works at it every day at practice.”
After missing six free throws in that Cy-Hawk game, Soares responded by sinking all five from the free throw line on Sunday.
Iowa State will return to the court for its penultimate non-conference game of the season next Sunday, when it takes on No. 25 Villanova in the Invesco QQQ Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase in Uncasville, Conn. (2:30 p.m. ESPN/2)
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players, Ashley Joens & Emily Ryan, spoke to media members following their team’s 84-50 win over Jacksonville Sunday at Hilton Coliseum.
T.J. Tampa is staying in Ames for a fourth season of college football.
The standout defensive back announced over social media that he would not be putting his name into the 2023 NFL Draft.
They offered me the world, I said I had my own … here 2 stay #CyclONEnation pic.twitter.com/raKvPKvTA1
— Tj Tampa (@Tamp1A) December 9, 2022
Tampa finished the 2022 season corralling 29 tackles and an interception during Iowa State’s game against Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
During his career as a Cyclone, Tampa has totaled 65 tackles and was a part of Iowa State’s 2020 Fiesta Bowl winning team.
Iowa State is hosting three transfer targets on campus over the December 9-10 weekend, looking to add to its 2023 roster.
Stanford running back transfer Arlen Harris Jr. caught up with us earlier this week and says Iowa State is already ‘really high’ on his list of potential choices.
The other pair of visitors is Western Michigan grad transfer Ryan Selig and Sioux Falls defensive end Zach Durfee.
Durfee has three years of eligibility remaining and showed out during his time at Sioux Falls. Iowa State is one of his four post-transfer announcement offers, along with Minnesota, North Dakota and North Dakota State.
At 6'5 250 @zach_durfee was one of the best athletes I saw play college football this season regardless of level
The former Sioux Falls DE has entered the transfer portal and will have 3 years left of eligibility
Remember the name pic.twitter.com/vURVqr2ETJ
— Tanner Castora (@Tanner_Castora) December 7, 2022
Selig is going into his final season of eligibility after transferring from Western Michigan. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound linebacker finished the season with 73 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He’s has interest from Indiana, Minnesota and Purdue, as well.
Dec 8, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Tony Perkins (11) goes to the basket as Iowa State Cyclones guard Caleb Grill (2) defends during the second half Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
IOWA CITY — One minute and 11 seconds.
That’s how long Thursday night’s Cy-Hawk men’s basketball tilt in Iowa City was in doubt. That’s how long it took before Iowa’s Tony Perkins connected on a 3-pointer for the game’s first points.
Four minutes and 13 seconds later, the Hawkeyes held a 15-0 lead over the rivals from Ames. The Hawkeyes led by 20 at the half and by as much as 29 points in the second half on their way to a 75-56 win.
Iowa State was out-executed, out-hustled and out-everything’d. If it could go wrong for the Cyclones on this night, it did, and it wouldn’t be hard to make a case for this night being the worst of the T.J. Otzelberger era in Ames.
“For whatever reason, we came out defensively and were tentative,” Otzelberger said after the game. “We talked a lot going in about being the aggressor and our ball pressure that we do every single day. First time on the road for our group, and it seemed like it got to us. We didn’t set the tone with our defensive physicality and intensity that we usually do. As result, they had great confidence early and, and they carried that over.”
“We’ve got to be who we can be. That’s going to be a physical, tough defensive team. That’s not who we were out there tonight.”
Iowa deserves a lot of credit for what happened in this basketball game. The Hawkeyes were the aggressors from the opening tip and executed their offensive game plan to near perfection.
Fran McCaffrey’s team diced up Iowa State for most of the night with crisp skip passes over the top of the defense with adept shotmaking at a 50 percent clip from the field and 52.2 percent from 3-point range.
Filip Rebraca played one of his best games in an Iowa uniform while tallying a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds to completely dominate the painted area.
The fact that Iowa did not have do-it-all superstar Kris Murray was totally irrelevant. The Hawkeyes didn’t need him in order to own the middle of the floor.
Robert Jones scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Iowa State, but the majority of those came as empty calories once this game was well out of reach.
Iowa State’s frontcourt was completely neutralized and that inability to make plays near the basket was one of the key parts of the Cyclones tallying only two points during the game’s first 10 minutes.
“I felt like (Rebraca) was the more physical guy a lot of the night,” Otzelberger said. “I think when you do when you stack up effort based things, your confidence grows in the course of the game and, and then he was all over the offensive glass. He was effective in the paint. He had great intent to how he played.”
Perhaps, the battle of the backcourt was even worse.
Patrick McCaffrey led the charge for the Hawkeyes on the perimeter, scoring 13 points and knocking down three 3-pointers while his brother, Connor, added 14 points and Tony Perkins posted 10 points of his own.
Meanwhile, the Cyclones’ top guard options, Caleb Grill, Gabe Kalscheur and Jaren Holmes, combined to score 21 points on 9-of-31 shooting from the field and 1-of-15 from deep.
Iowa State’s lone saving grace outside was Tamin Lipsey, who tied for a team-high with 11 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished five assists.
Frankly, nothing about it was close. It was an ass-kicking up and down the floor at every position and will live as a game that Cyclones fans would prefer to forget for the rest of eternity.
“I don’t know. I don’t want to make any excuses,” Lipsey said when asked why things went wrong for Iowa State. “It’s our first true road game, and a rival team. The energy is just different. Obviously, we didn’t plan to go play like that. We practiced just how we practice every day. Today just wasn’t our night.”
How much should we take away from this?
That will be the big question over the next few days before Iowa State takes the court again on Sunday against McNeese State on Sunday at Hilton Coliseum.
Was this a case of Iowa playing its best basketball and just overwhelming an Iowa State team that was buried under an avalanche? Or was this indication of something bigger with this Iowa State team, something that could derail the program’s quest for back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament?
We probably won’t really get any further answers to those questions until Baylor visits Hilton Coliseum on Dec. 31 for the Big 12 opener. The Cyclones have three games before that, and they’ll be heavily favored in each one.
The bad taste of this game is going to linger.
Iowa State was so thoroughly out-played. They were physically dominated and looked to be a step slow all night. Iowa punched the Cyclones in the mouth in the game’s opening minutes and never relented.
Iowa State hit the canvas in the bout’s opening rounds and never regained balance until the clock hit zeroes.
“I’d say they just had their night, I guess,” Jones said. “Everybody’s gonna have a good night. There’s people on the scouting report hitting shots that wouldn’t normally hit shots in a game. They’re shooting 55% from three. That’s tough to guard (no matter who) you’re playing. It was just their night and it’s hard to stop that.”
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Tamin Lipsey and Robert Jones addressed media members following their 75-56 loss in Thursday night’s Cy-Hawk game.
Dec 9, 2021; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Aljaz Kunc (5) grabs a rebound against the Iowa Hawkeyes at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Vegas Line: Iowa -4.5 (at publication)
KenPom Prediction: 73-67, Iowa
1 – Strength vs. StrengthNobody in college basketball has done a better job of forcing turnovers so far this season than Iowa State. The Cyclones are forcing teams into giveaways on 30.3 percent of their possessions this season.
Nobody in college basketball has done a better job of taking care of the basketball this season than Iowa. The Hawkeyes turn the ball over on only 12.6 percent of their possessions.
Both of those numbers lead the nation. Something has to give.
Iowa State will need to force Iowa into those turnovers in order to operate at its peak level. Otzelberger’s team is at its best when they’re using their ball pressure and in-tune rotations to speed teams up.
This will certainly be Iowa State’s biggest defensive test to date, though. The Hawkeyes enter Thursday night’s game No. 6 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
“They do a good job of continuing to vary up their offense,” Otzelberger said. “They’re not predictable, and a lot of guys are in different spots. I think the ball pressure will really be a big component for us so they can’t just stand and pass to guys and they’re constantly under duress.”
It will also be key for Iowa State to be disciplined on their own offensive end in order to avoid live ball turnovers that turn into easy transition opportunities for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa is going to look to run before Iowa State can set its defense, but it will be interesting to see how the Hawkeyes choose to attack the Cyclones in the half-court.
Iowa State’s defense thrives on the ability to speed teams up and force them into either turning the ball over or taking difficult contested shots from the perimeter.
On Iowa’s side, they’ll be looking to stay disciplined offensively in their own right to make sure they’re taking the right shots rather than the first open shot they can find.
“They do a good job in transition advancing the ball ahead,” Otzelberger said. “If you’re not disciplined sprinting back and, and getting everybody loaded to the basketball, they create some advantage situations. They do a great job of not letting the ball rest, continuing to move it and give their offense space.”
2 – Just like his brotherIowa State was the only team to hold the Hawkeyes’ star forward Keegan Murray to less than 10 points last season when these two teams met in Ames. It was a virtuoso defensive performance against one of the most dangerous players in all of college basketball.
A similar challenge presents itself on Thursday in the form of Keegan’s twin brother, Kris, who has been one of the breakout stars of the season to this point. Through eight games, he’s averaging 19.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, indicating he’s picked up right where his brother left off.
“I’d say that the thing that’s in common is their confidence as they both kind of stepped up to be go-to guys,” Otzelberger said when asked to compare the brothers. “I think both have been extremely impactful. As far as differences go, man, I don’t know. There are a lot of commonalities in how confident they’re playing, how they’re shooting the basketball, how they rebound the basketball and how they score the ball. From my vantage point, there’s a lot more of the parallels and the similarities than there are the differences.”
Another weird parallel is the health situation for Kris going into this game. One year after Keegan was limited with an ankle injury in this rivalry, Kris was seen wearing a walking boot on Wednesday after an injury suffered in the Hawkeyes’ loss to Duke earlier this week.
Cyclone fans shouldn’t get their hopes up that Murray won’t play at all, but the question will be how limited he is by being banged up. He was severely slowed in the game against the Blue Devils, tallying a season-low eight points in 36 minutes.
Iowa State will have to do its best to keep Murray uncomfortable, pushing him away from the spots he wants to get on the floor and making it difficult for him to catch once he gets to his spots. I’d expect to see the Cyclones throw several different defenders and a lot of different looks at Murray to try and wear him out with physicality and intensity.
3 – The battle in the middleAs good as the guards in this game will be, this feels like the kind of game that will be won or lost in the paint. This will be a bring your hard hat and lunch pail kind of basketball game.
Expect to see Iowa State work the ball into the middle early and often, especially when Robert Jones is in the game. Jones’ emergence as a true back-to-the-basket threat along with the addition of Osun Osunniyi has allowed the Cyclones to be considerably more balanced offensively than they were a year ago.
“It’s caused our offense to be more physical,” Otzelberger said. “It’s prevented our guards from feeling like to have to make heroic jump shots at the end of the clock. It’s given us something where teams are switching, that we’re able to go inside and take advantage of a mismatch. So it’s been really impactful and something we need to continue to be stubborn and mentally tough to do.”
Establishing a tone of physicality early on in the game will be huge for the Cyclones, especially on the road. One of the game’s true swing dynamics will be officiating.
If Iowa State is allowed to defend how they want to, I like how the Cyclones match-up in this game a lot. If they’re being called for touch fouls early and the whistle is clearly swinging the home team’s way, it could be a long night.
No matter how some of these intricacies shake out, you can feel confident this will be a great game with an electric atmosphere and stakes that feel much bigger than they should in the month of December.
So, buckle up, grab your hard hat, lunch pail and don’t forget the popcorn.
“If you’re a competitor, you want these environments, you want these challenges,” Otzelberger said. “Those games are great for you.”
Iowa City, Iowa – Iowa ran away with Wednesday’s Cy-Hawk women’s basketball game, beating Iowa State 70-57. It’s the eighth-straight Cy-Hawk game the Hawkeyes have taken away from Bill Fennelly’s squad in Iowa City.
This was a reality check for Iowa State.
“I really don’t know,” Fennelly said of his team’s shooting woes. “We were a little hesitant. I thought we had some looks and people passed them up. We have a lot of kids really, really care about their team. When they miss, they might not want to take the next one.”
The Cyclones finished the game with a 9-of-27 mark from the 3-point line and started things out 1-of-14 from the field overall.
Despite that, the team ended the first quarter tied with Iowa at 11-11. Iowa State led 28-23 at halftime and had held Caitlin Clark to six points in the first half.
Iowa State was in the drivers’ seat at halftime, and during the third quarter, the car was pulled directly into Iowa’s garage.
“When we passed up shots, we kind of played into their defense a little bit more,” Fennelly said. “That’s kind of the way I saw it. We’re capable of making those shots, we’re just not doing it. We haven’t done it for a while.”
Iowa turned the pressure on.
The Hawkeyes found Clark for three different triples during the quarter and finished 5-7 as the team in the frame. They ended the game at 7-10 in the second half.
With each shot, the anticipation and eventual jubilance in Carver Hawkeye Arena grew. Each time, that would start with an Iowa State turnover after an open shot was passed up.
The Cyclones ended the game with nine assists and 15 turnovers.
“Obviously, not very well,” Fennelly said when asked about how his team handled the little things on Wednesday. “That’s my fault. But again, you can’t miss eight free throws (in a row). And I think the other thing that our team needs to learn from and obviously need to be coached a lot better on is that (Iowa) made a lot of baskets at the end of the shot clock.”
Iowa’s 17-2 run to end the third quarter dwarfed a majority of the hope Iowa State had.
“You’ve got to finish possessions,” Fennelly said. “They did, we didn’t.”
But it’s hard to drive the car away when it’s got three flat tires.
“When you miss eight free throws in a row, that gets into everyone’s head,” Fennelly said.
Iowa State deviated from the things that made its team successful in this Cy-Hawk loss.
It worked about as well as a car with three flats trying to move around, but that call wasn’t by design.
This was a loss that came down, in different ways, to execution and it’s one the Cyclones will have to learn from.
This was a loss that can become a benchmark for a team with dreams of hoisting bigger trophies in March. Or it can become a trend of how it responds when the game is going the other way.
“We’ll learn from it,” Fennelly said. “Losing to a team like that – there’s no shame in that. We’ve got to play better. They outplayed us. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but that’s O.K. That’s part of it.”
If Iowa State makes a deeper run in March than it did a season ago, this game will be the catalyst.
There may not be a better reminder to play basketball like a vintage Cyclone team.
“We’re going to keep shooting it, sorry,” Fennelly said of his team’s 3-point shooting. “That’s who we are. That’s what we embrace. We’ve got to find a way to get them in a little bit better.”
When players are sent home for Christmas and fans are opening gifts, we may already know how far this team is into the process.
Nothing’s a certainty with a top-25 matchup on a neutral court and rivalry game still to come in the next two weeks. If the Cyclones end that stretch 3-0, three-point shooting might be the difference.
Wednesday, they may not have shot enough to find out.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and senior Ashley Joens spoke to media members following the 70-57 loss in Iowa City.
In a couple weeks during National early signing day, Iowa State will sign its 2023 football recruiting class, which contains the second highest-rated recruit in program history in quarterback J.J. Kohl.
As an Ankeny product and son of former Iowa State kicker Jamie Kohl, J.J. is well accustomed to Iowa State.
“I’m really excited,” Kohl said. “I’ve been looking forward to it for a really long time now and I’m just excited to make it official.”
Newly named offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase helped recruit the prospect to Ames, along with quarterbacks coach Joel Gordon.
Kohl’s excited about the move.
“Coach Scheelhaase is someone I’m really excited for,” Kohl said. “He’s there for a reason and I think he’s going to do some really cool things at Iowa State. I’m excited to work with him.”
Kohl spent some of his time after committing by making relationships with other players considering committing to Iowa State, like high school teammate Jamison Patton.
“It’s pretty cool – some of the relationships I’ve been able to build with this,” Kohl said. “These are going to be my teammates and I can’t wait to make a lot of memories with them and do some special things at Iowa State.”
Kohl will sign his letter of intent during early signing day on December 21, 2022.
In the meantime the conversations have surrounded what his first year in Ames will look like.
“A lot of the conversations have been about what it’s going to look like in terms of practices, training and everything else when I get up there,” Kohl said.
The No. 10 Iowa State Cyclones travel to Iowa City Wednesday to face off with No. 16 Iowa in the annual Cy-Hawk Series matchup.
Below are the lines for the game, courtesy of Circa Sports, and where to watch it on TV.
No. 10 Iowa State @ No. 16 Iowa
Wed. December 7, 2022
Tipoff: 6:00 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN2 (Beth Mowins and Deb Antonelli)
Radio: Varsity/Cyclone Radio Network (Noah Wolf and Jamie Steyer Johnson)
Odds: Iowa State +3 (No Over/Under)
Iowa State’s Xavier Hutchinson was given second team all-American honors by CBS Sports and 247 Sports on Tuesday as the company announced its teams, officially.
Hutchinson finished the season with a program record 107 receptions for 1,171 yards and six touchdowns on the season for the Cyclones.
The wideout caught the game winning pass in the 2022 Cy-Hawk game that eventually helped Iowa State to beat its in-state rival for the first time at Kinnick Stadium since 2012.
Hutchinson exits Iowa State after three seasons on the field. The entire all-American teams can be found here.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Aljaz Kunc & Robert Jones previewed their team’s upcoming Cy-Hawk matchup with Iowa on Tuesday at the Sukup Practice Facility.
When No. 10 Iowa State and No. 16 Iowa square up in Iowa City on Wednesday, the national spotlight will shine with a focus on two of the premier players in college basketball.
Ashley Joens, who enters her fifth and final Cy-Hawk game with goals of getting her first win in Iowa City will take her team to face offensive phenom Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes.
It’s easy to angle this game exclusively with the pair serving as the headliners. National pundits will be quick to do so, but Joens is the first to say that this game is almost everything but that.
“Not really,” Joens said when asked if there was a relationship between herself and Clark. “It’s Iowa State vs. Iowa. It’s not Ashley Joens vs. Caitlin Clark. Both of our teams are going to step on the court and will be ready to play.”
The Cy-Hawk game is always one of the biggest on the schedule because of the historic ties into the rivalry, but it’s only grown for national eyes in recent years.
Iowa State and Iowa will be televised on ESPN2 at 6:00 p.m. CT as one of just two top-25 matchups happening in the entire sport this week.
“It’s a great tribute to everyone, especially the players,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “I think the schools have done so much to support the women’s programs. You’ve heard me say it forever, we have four really good women’s basketball programs in our state. I think to get this game on a national stage on a night when there aren’t a ton of big games. It’s going to be the most watched women’s game of the evening if you look at the way the schedule has fallen.”
It goes beyond Joens and Clark.
It goes beyond the other 18 players – all capable of making a game-winning shot – that will be playing in the game.
It’s not even considered another chapter in the coaching matchup between Fennelly and Lisa Bluder.
The players, coaches and fans largely don’t care about what has happened in the rivalry. They just want to win one basketball game on Wednesday.
“I used to do a lot of that – overthinking,” Fennelly said of bringing up reminders like the 2020 game. “These guys don’t care. We’re playing Wednesday. What happened two years ago doesn’t matter because we’ve been on the good and the bad of it.”
Iowa State won last year’s Cy-Hawk game at Hilton Coliseum, breaking Iowa’s five-game win streak in the series.
The Cyclones haven’t won at Carver-Hawkeye Arena since 2006, and the last time they played there, Iowa State led by 17 going into the fourth quarter before losing in the waning moments.
The game before that at Carver-Hawkeye Arena saw Joens miss a game-winning shot at the buzzer.
“I don’t really remember a whole lot,” Joens said. “I just remember freshman year when I missed that shot in the corner. That’s in the past and we’re here now in the present, and we’ve got just remember what we’re doing right now.”
And that Joens will with it being a much different game than it was even a year ago.
However, that motivates Joens still to this day. Every mistake does.
That’s what has turned her into the player that she will be remembered by when she leaves Iowa State and ventures toward the WNBA.
“I’d say it kind of drives (me) every game,” Joens said. “When you think back to previous years or you look back at film; every game you kind of re-watch and see what you’ve done wrong and what you could have done better. It all kind of motivates you and kind of helps you to get better for the next game.”
The Cy-Hawk game leads to moments – the ones seen in every rivalry game.
A win would mean another step towards sweeping the in-state rivalry games. It’s something Iowa State has done nine times under Bill Fennelly’s tenure in the 24 seasons that all four programs have faced each other.
In those nine seasons, Iowa State has reached the Round of 32 at the NCAA Tournament or gone further seven times.
Good things happen with the teams that can win in high-pressure situations.
“It’s always big,” Fennelly said. “For us, and I’m not saying it’s big for anyone else, some people maybe don’t care, but this is a big deal for us. It always has been. You want to be the best team in your own state and we play everyone in our own state. Two of three, we play on the road. (In) the years that we’ve swept in-state stuff, we’ve accomplished a lot in those years. That’s right at the top of the list for me.”
For now, this team is just focused on Wednesday, and winning one game on that day.
There’s no mention of 2020. The team won’t watch a lick of game film from 2018.
It’s about Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
“Maybe a couple of kids who have played remember a couple of things, but they don’t pay attention to that stuff,” Fennelly said. “I’m not saying that’s good or bad, but they just don’t. Players forget quickly and move on to the next thing. Their focus is Wednesday and not what happened a couple of years ago.
That’s especially true for Iowa State’s Stephanie Soares, the NAIA post-transfer who will be playing in her first Cy-Hawk game and facing possibly her toughest test yet.
Soares will go toe-to-toe with Iowa’s Monika Czinano – an established post talent for the Hawkeyes and one that will play more physically than any post that Soares has seen yet – on Wednesday.
It will also be the most intimidating atmosphere Soares has played in to date – no offense to the McLeod Center, but this crowd will be larger.
“The only thing I said to her yesterday was, ‘You’re going to have a lot of fun Wednesday,'” Fennelly said. “She kind of laughed and said, ‘Well, that’s part of the reason I came here.’ This is one of those games where the kids that are from Iowa – it’s kind of in their DNA. The other kids find out pretty quick. And, they get it.”
They get that this is one of those games.
“If you’re a competitive kid, you want to play in it,” Fennelly said.
Iowa State has flipped a three-star Nebraska tight end commit for its 2023 recruiting class in Benjamin Brahmer.
The 6-foot-6 tight end had been committed to Nebraska since the spring of 2021 and now becomes the second tight end of the ’23 class in Ames, joining Carson Rhodes. The story was first reported by 247Sports’ Nick Osen.
Brahmer brought in three touchdown passes and an interception during the Nebraska Class C1 state championship game earlier this year:
Huskers commit @BenjaminBrahmer had a record-breaking performance in the #nebpreps Class C1 state final
11 targets, 11 catches
249 yards, 3 TD
IntPierce (@TheJaysZone) beat Aurora 42-14 @abram_scholting x @HuskersGameday x @HuskGuys x @TalkHuskers x @HuskerHep pic.twitter.com/HN5sKK5Due
— Mason Kern Local4 (@MasonKernMedia) November 23, 2022
The addition brings Iowa State’s recruiting class to No. 31 nationally and is the Cyclones’ 20th commitment to the class.
Iowa State is searching for a running back in the transfer portal, right now, and will welcome a transfer from Stanford to its campus over the weekend.
Arlen Harris Jr. will go on his second visit since announcing his entry into the transfer portal last week over the December 9-10 weekend in Ames at Iowa State. The Cyclones are also in an optimal spot for the second-year player.
“Iowa State is really high,” Harris Jr. said. “I’m not going to say that I have a number 1 right now, but if I were to have a top four that I was looking at right now, Iowa State is at a very strong spot (in the group). I’m just excited to explore that option.”
Harris Jr. went on a visit to Iowa City last week and said that his top four would, at the moment, consist of the pair of in-state rivals along with Nebraska and Kansas State.
The running back will enter his second year of eligibility in 2023, but will carry a redshirt from his freshman season on the field in 2022.
Iowa State is looking for a replacement for Deon Silas, who entered the portal a week ago and has described its want for a player like Harris Jr.
“It’s kind of surrounded them wanting a special back that is going to come in and impact the game,” Harris Jr. said. “They just told me they have a desire to have a special back that can make plays and not just do what he’s told, but make something come out of nothing.”
Harris Jr. originally committed to Stanford because of his want to be challenged in the classroom while he was off the field.
“I would just say the desire to be challenged both on and off the field,” Harris Jr. said. “Obviously, Stanford is a very prestigious school in the academic field. I just want to be challenged in the classroom like I’m challenged on the field. As you can see now, it was a little different than I could have expected or desired.”
Iowa State offered the prospect out of high school, but the Missouri native ended up heading west.
Things look to be different this time.
“I just think that time around, we just didn’t have the strongest relationship and I didn’t get out there enough,” Harris Jr. said. “This go around, Coach Campbell and Coach (Nate) Scheelhaase reached out, so it was a lot more meaningful and different this time.”
Between his entry into the portal and at the time Harris Jr. talked to us, Nate Scheelhaase had been named as the newest offensive coordinator for the Cyclones.
“I was ecstatic,” Harris Jr. said of the moment he found out. “I love Coach Scheelhaase. I feel like he’s a great person. From what I’m hearing from players already on the team, everyone loves coach Scheelhaase. He was the first person to recruit me and reach out from Iowa State when I went into the portal, so I’m very excited about that.”
Harris Jr. will take his visit with a goal to learn in mind, as many prospects would.
“I would just say (I’m looking) to just learn,” Harris Jr. said. “I would like to just learn more. Me and my family have done a lot of research on our own just trying to learn about Iowa State, the history, the tradition, the people and the area and just do our due diligence. I’m excited to go down there and experience Iowa State, the different coaches and the people in that area.”
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Ashley Joens and Lexi Donarski previewed Wednesday’s Cy-Hawk matchup with media members on Monday at the Sukup Practice Facility:
Iowa State wide receiver Sean Shaw Jr. has entered the transfer portal. The news was first reported by 247Sports’ Nick Osen.
During his final season at Iowa State, Shaw Jr. racked up 153 receiving yards on 16 catches, converting for two touchdowns, as well.
He finishes his career with the Cyclones at 61 receptions, 680 yards and nine touchdowns to his name.
The wideout saw action in all 12 games during the season and becomes the eighth departure from the program since the end of the season.
Iowa State women’s basketball comes in at No. 10 in the latest AP Top 25 poll, despite a 1-0 week at Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones remain in the top 10, however, keeping a 12-week streak alive of being ranked as a top 10 program in the country.
Iowa State is also the highest ranked team in the Big 12 Conference and one of four included in the top 25.
Wednesday will mark a showdown between No. 10 Iowa State and No. 16 Iowa in Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City (6:00 p.m. ESPN2). The full poll can be seen below:
AP WBB Poll
Monday, December 5
1. South Carolina
2. Stanford
3. Ohio State
4. Indiana
5. Notre Dame
6. UConn
7. Virginia Tech
T8. North Carolina
T8. NC State
10. Iowa State
11. LSU
12. Arizona
13. UCLA
14. Michigan
15. Utah
16. Iowa
17. Oregon
18. Creighton
19. Baylor
20. Maryland
21. Arkansas
22. Gonzaga
23. Oklahoma
24. Kansas State
25. Villanova
Others Receiving Votes: Kansas 37, Marquette 30, Louisville 28, Texas 17, St. John’s 14, South Florida 12, Miami (FL) 12, Virginia 8, Duke 5, Florida State 4, Rice 4, Purdue 3, Nebraska 2, Missouri 2, Seton Hall 1, Middle Tennessee 1
Iowa State has moved up to No. 20 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll after a 2-0 week that saw home wins over North Dakota and St. Johns.
The program is one of eight Big 12 schools that are either in the top 25 or receiving votes in the poll.
It’s the second-straight week the team has been ranked in the top 25.
The Cyclones will take on Iowa on Thursday, which received the most votes of anyone not ranked this week. The full poll can be seen below:
AP MBB Poll
Monday, December 5
1. Houston
2. Texas
3. Virginia
4. Purdue
5. UConn
6. Kansas
7. Tennessee
8. Alabama
9. Arkansas
10. Arizona
11. Auburn
12. Baylor
13. Maryland
14. Indiana
15. Duke
16. Kentucky
17. Illinois
18. Gonzaga
19. UCLA
20. Iowa State
21. Creighton
22. San Diego State
23. Mississippi State
24. TCU
25. Ohio State
Others receiving votes: Iowa 70, Charleston 54, Miami (FL) 29, Virginia Tech 27, Arizona State 20, Utah 16, Wisconsin 16, UNLV 14, Texas Tech 10, West Virginia 8, Marquette 7, Xavier 6, New Mexico 3, Memphis 3, Michigan State 3, Missouri 2, North Carolina 1, Kansas State 1
Former Cyclone Brock Purdy came into relief for the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday’s 33-17 win over Miami, proving himself after Jimmy Garoppolo exited the game with an injury.
After Purdy threw for 210 yards, two touchdowns and a 25/37 completion mark, the 49ers announced that Garoppolo suffered a broken foot and will be out for the season.
Purdy is now QB1.
Below are some of his highlights from Sunday:
Brock Purdy has thrown his first career touchdown pass: pic.twitter.com/DmExv7sXcK
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) December 4, 2022
Ok Brock Purdy! They are pressuring him almost every snap and he is getting it done.
pic.twitter.com/Ab7A8A7Sz8
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) December 4, 2022
We Love You Brock Purdy & are So Proud of You! Congratulations on Your 1st Win against The Dolphins! God Bless You #13…See You Next Week! Love Mom & Dad! pic.twitter.com/NAGqilZNcD
— Carrie Purdy (@bigbirdpurdy) December 5, 2022
Teammates showing Brock Purdy some love after his second career TD 🥹 pic.twitter.com/ZvhMaDGtuL
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) December 4, 2022
Brock Purdy on the mentorship of Jimmy G pic.twitter.com/gmHKIEE5no
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 5, 2022
Shanahan was impressed with Brock Purdy today pic.twitter.com/UfOHNV5xvn
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) December 5, 2022
49ers Brock Purdy was HYPED after his first career touchdown pass pic.twitter.com/gEitaGTeYR
— 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙎𝙁𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 (@TheSFNiners) December 4, 2022
IOWA CITY — In a sold-out crowd in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the better team walked out victorious: The Iowa Hawkeyes.
Iowa State and Iowa split the 10 matches right down the middle — the Cyclones won five and the Hawkeyes won five. It was bonus points that made the difference and lifted Iowa to an 18-15 win.
How did it happen?
Iowa won three matches by major decision (125, 157, and 174) which set them apart to be victorious. Iowa State collected zero bonus points.
“Bonus points were the difference tonight,” Dresser said. “A lot of scrapping. A lot of good things. I told my team in the locker room that I loved their effort. Both teams gave really great effort but I guess you get that in a rivalry. I thought we wrestled hard. We rolled the dice a little bit. We learned a lot of lessons. We have a lot to take from this to make us better. Hats off to Iowa. They came ready to scrap. They were the better team today.”
In the entire dual, Iowa State scored 13 total takedowns to Iowa’s 12 but, Iowa had three near falls (back points) and Iowa State had zero. Iowa’s wrestlers managed to earn 18 escape points and four garnered riding time.
“The good thing about losing is that we always learn more from losing than we do winning,” Dresser said. “We’ve got some good notes. Even guys like Marcus Coleman who won, have to open up. That’s the message. They have to open up. This group is very receptive though. They’re very coachable so they can take it.”
One Cyclone stood out the most, 149-pounder Paniro Johnson. He silenced an explosive Carver Arena with a 3-1 win over All-American Max Murin in sudden victory.
.@PaniroJohnson1 silencing Carver Hawkeye Arena with the SV win. Coach Dresser was feeling so good he flexed on them. #Cyclones | @cyclonefanatic pic.twitter.com/Ibfz6VIjjB
— Jacqueline (@JacquelineCord) December 4, 2022
“He’s got swagger,” Dresser said. “He’s proven himself. He’s beaten Austin Gomez (Wisconsin) and Max Murin in the first month of his college career. He’s not too bad. He’s really doing all the right things right now.”
The rivalry back
Although the Hawks won their 18th straight win over the Cyclones, there wasn’t a point where Iowa had the win secured. Iowa State was one single match away from coming out the winner.
There were 14,905 fans in attendance for the top-10 match-up. If you wanted the best seat in the house, which was located in the first row near the Iowa bench, it would have cost you $735.
Everything you could want from a Cy-Hawk match-up you probably got. There were challenge bricks thrown, bloody noses and blown kisses from Yonger Bastida after taking down No. 2 Jacob Warner.
The dual kept everyone on the edge of their seat as it was tied 15-15 going into the final matchup of the night to determine who would be the winner.
“It’s back,” Dresser said. “I think that people love to make stuff about history and stuff like that. But, when we get into the arena we’re not going to be friendly to each other and it’s going to be like that forever. We’re not trying to change anything about it.”
Head coach Tom Brands shares the sentiment.
“All the chatter, we haven’t addressed that yet, but it’s about our guys,” Brands said. “The chatter is for the fans. They love it and we love it.”
Iowa State University Cyclones center Osun Osunniyi (21) goes for a dunk against St. Johns during the first half at Hilton Coliseum Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune
AMES — Iowa State never trailed.
Iowa State and St. John’s were never even tied on the scoreboard after the game’s opening bucket erased the 0-0 start. The Cyclones took a 2-0 lead when Osun Osunniyi slammed one home 71 seconds into the game on Sunday at Hilton Coliseum.
Consider that bucket the game-winning score, because St. John’s hardly even threatened from there as Iowa State ran away with a 71-60 win in the Big 12/Big East Battle that was not as close as the score indicates.
Iowa State was tougher. Iowa State was stronger. Iowa State was more composed. Iowa State was better.
A lot better.
“We take tremendous pride, obviously, in how we pressure the basketball, turn people over, make them play at a faster pace,” head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “We came out with great intent, great energy, great togetherness really connected. We put them in a really tough spot with how we guarded and a lot of possessions they didn’t get shots on goal. Love that focus. Love that intentionality.”
St. John’s entered this game playing at one of the fastest paces in college basketball, ranking No. 2 nationally in adjusted tempo on KenPom. The Red Storm surely wanted to take advantage of that pace in this game, especially against an Iowa State defense that ranks among the sport’s best.
That advantage never materialized though against an Iowa State defense that was highly active and perfectly in tune together. St. John’s turned the ball over eight times in the game’s first eight minutes.
They attempted two shots in that stretch.
Mike Anderson’s team didn’t make a field goal until Rafael Pinzon knocked down a 3-pointer… with 9:54 left in the first half. The shot cut Iowa State’s lead to 17-5.
The Cyclones scored the game’s next five points, ballooning the lead to 22-5, forcing a St. John’s timeout with 8:28 left. That was Iowa State’s largest lead of the night.
Otzelberger’s team never led by fewer than nine points the rest of the game.
“We knew the tempo was going to be really important, and we have a lot of pride when we’re playing at Hilton Coliseum and in front of that awesome crowd and our fans,” Otzelberger said. “When you focus on doing fundamental things with great intent, and commitment, then you’re able to control the game like we were able to do pretty much from start to finish today.”
This game was simply another example of what this team’s defensive ceiling could be. Iowa State has guards who are capable of making life difficult for every perimeter player but also has the frontcourt pieces needed to completely lock up the paint.
St. John’s turned the ball over 20 times, and guard Posh Alexander was guilty of eight of those while playing a team-high 35 minutes. Needless to say, Alexander could probably use an ice bath when the St. John’s plane lands in New York City.
Iowa State also held their visitors from the Big Apple to 35.8 percent from the field and 18.8 percent from deep (3-of-16). In the first half, St. John’s hit 6-of-23 shots at a 26.1 percent clip.
St. John’s couldn’t play fast effectively in this game, because the Red Storm could hardly hold onto the ball long enough to get a shot. Even when they did get a shot, it was rarely a good one.
The Red Storm were called for three technical fouls and had three players finish the game with four or more fouls. They were flustered. Their will was broken.
That is what Iowa State does to people under Otzelberger.
They are going to set the tone early and if you don’t match that tone, they’re going to pummel you into submission. St. John’s wasn’t capable of matching that tone even with the New York City basketball reputation of toughness.
New York City tough learned about Ames, Iowa tough on this Sunday.
“We want them frustrated. We want teams to think twice about driving the lane and we’re going to be there every single time,” Iowa State senior guard Jaren Holmes, who scored a team-high 14 points, said. “At the end of the day, we’re just trying to focus on what we do best, and not really what other teams do. We’re trying to be the best defensive team that we can be. Not really focus on what other teams want to do. We just focus on what we do best, and the team that we are.”
Perhaps nobody on Iowa State’s team better embodies Ames, Iowa tough than the Cyclones’ backup center Robert Jones. The Minnesota native scored 11 points, grabbed four rebounds, dished three assists and snagged two steals against St. John’s.
It was Jones’ fifth time scoring in double-figures during the Cyclones’ last six games.
The guy people considered to be a culture piece when he committed to Iowa State in the spring of 2021 has suddenly become an important cog in the Cyclone machine.
“There were some times last season and into the postseason, that we challenged Robert, we knew he was capable of more, we knew the type of player that he could become if he put the work in every single day,” Otzelberger said. “There’s probably nobody that committed more in the offseason than him to being in great shape, changing his body, his body looks different, his confidence is different, all attributable to the hard work he did every single day.”
“Now we’re seeing him come out here night after night and post double figures. Last year, we weren’t able to go to him as much and now he’s a focal point of what we do. He’s a focal point and what we do at key moments in the game. We know we can go to him. We know we can count on him.”
Jones’ growth is remarkable, especially offensively, where he’s become a go-to option for Iowa State on the block. His moves in the post aren’t always what I’d call the most aesthetically pleasing, but they’re effective.
He’s not going to blow you away with his touch around the bucket, but he’s going to kickstand and pivot you into oblivion until he gets enough space to get off the hook shot he can score with over either shoulder.
It doesn’t always look like it should work, but it somehow does.
“He’s a force. He’s a presence down there,” Holmes said. “Our goal when he gets in the game is to go inside to him, and let him show how much energy he has, and how much energy he has bottled up. You guys see him maybe once or twice a week. We see him every single day. He brings that same intensity, that same energy. That’s nothing new to us.”
As important as Iowa State’s defensive toughness and activity were, it was the Cyclones’ disciplined offense that prevent St. John’s from being able to get out and run the way they really wanted to.
The Cyclones were deliberate offensively, making sure to find the right shot and moving the ball side-to-side with the pass rather than the dribble to force St. John’s to move its defense.
Iowa State turned down opportunities at the fastbreak in favor of grinding the game down to a snail’s pace. The Cyclones shot only 42.9 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from 3-point range.
And still won by double digits.
“I think overall, it was just good offense,” Holmes said. “Not bad shots, not quick shots. If we take care of the ball, we work it inside, use the shot clock, and make them play in the half court, that’s not what they want to do. If we sit here and chuck threes and not play the way that we want to play, we’re playing right to their advantage.”
I think that last point is an important one from Holmes.
Not only is this team connected and talented, but it seems self-aware. This is not a team that is ignorant of its faults. They know they have a blueprint for success, and deviation from that blueprint could lead to disasterous results.
That’s the product of having a veteran team, one of the most experienced teams in college basketball. They know themselves better than other people know them.
They know what they can do and what they can’t do.
They can’t be the kind of team that sprints up and down the court at a breakneck pace with the goal of scoring 100 points every night. They can be the kind of team that brings its hardhat and lunchpail to work every day with the intention of making their opponents’ lives miserable.
On Sunday, Iowa State made life miserable for St. John’s.
The Cyclones never even trailed as a result.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said that his team needed to improve its rebounding after suffering its first loss of the season to a now No. 8 ranked UConn squad.
The Cyclones had given up 21 offensive rebounds and lost the battle 48-19 in the Portland finale. A week later, St. John’s – a top 40 rebounding team on KenPom – visited Hilton Coliseum.
Otzelberger’s team responded by owning the glass on its way to a 71-60 win on Sunday in Ames.
“I felt like we did a tremendous job,” Otzelberger said of his team’s play on the glass. “That was at the top of everything that we did in this game. Before we controlled the tempo, we had to control the glass. No second chance points. No easy putbacks. Our guys answered that call for 40 minutes.”
The No. 23 Cyclones led the rebounding battle throughout the game, deadlocked the totals with their opponents and rode a 22-5 run to start the contest.
That’s an effort that came against a team ranked 23rd in offensive rebound percentage. For reference, Iowa State ranked 277th defensively in the same stat coming into the game.
“We knew that they were aggressive on the glass,” Otzelberger said. “It’s their size, their athleticism, and the speed (they play with). They get you spread out, so it (creates) tougher rebounding situations.”
That effort started with the familiar names that have developed into leaders on this squad.
Jaz Kunc took home eight rebounds and added 12 points to go with it. Caleb Grill finished with 10 boards on the day, scoring eight points and collecting five steals to lead the team.
When asked to step up before the season, the pair didn’t hesitate. It showed on Sunday.
“I mean, Caleb Grill has 10 rebounds – that’s huge,” Otzelberger said. “And it seemed like he was all over the glass. There was probably a few more that he was close to having. Then, Kunc has eight rebounds. There’s such a thing as our big’s need to rebound, but (with) how our rebounding plan sets up, those guys need to block out and our guards need to come down and get those rebounds.”
Meanwhile, the offensive rebounding was no one-man effort.
Of the nine players who set foot on the court during the game, seven of them recorded an offensive board.
St. John’s ranked 49th in opponent offensive rebound percentage coming into the game. It was nothing short of an impressive effort.
Now, the question turns into how important it was for Iowa State to see a performance like that from itself, going into a rivalry game in Iowa City on Thursday.
“When you play a game like this, you make sure to get guys rest and make sure they’re eating right,” Otzelberger said. “As you get back to the practice court, it’s just a continued reconnection to the habits we have every day. It’s the ball pressure. It’s the rebounding. It’s commanding the game. Those are the three areas we’re going to talk bout all year. Today, we did all three well.”
“I’m confident, moving forward, that if we can keep doing those three things, well – then outcomes will come our way,” Otzelberger said.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Jaren Holmes and Osun Osunniyi spoke at the team’s postgame press conference following a 71-60 win over St. John’s at Hilton Coliseum:
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus guards Gabe Kalscheur and Tamin Lipsey, preview the Cyclones’ game against St. John’s at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday in the videos below courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: CAMPBELL ANNOUNCES CYCLONE FOOTBALL STAFF CHANGES AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell announced today that offensive coordinator Tom Manning will pursue other coaching opportunities and not return to the program for the 2023 season. Director of football strength and conditioning Dave … Read more…
Iowa State coach Kevin Dresser, and wrestlers David Carr and Marcus Coleman previewed Sunday’s Cy-Hawk matchup in their latest media session.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Robert Jones & Caleb Grill spoke to media members following its 63-44 win over North Dakota which improved them to 6-1 on the season:
Ames, Iowa – North Dakota hung around Iowa State as long as it could Wednesday night at Hilton Coliseum, but the Cyclones’ stifling defense helped them pull away. No. 23 Iowa State improved to 6-1 on the season with its 63-44 win over North Dakota to finish out the November slate. The biggest number of … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – The Big 12 football coaches announced their All-Big 12 teams Wednesday afternoon, and 13 Cyclones received postseason honors for their performances on the field in 2022. Senior wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson and senior defensive end Will McDonald IV captured first-team honors … Read more…
Iowa State defensive end MJ Anderson is moving on to his next adventure. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound St. Louis native announced on Wednesday he’ll forgo his remaining eligibility in order to enter the 2023 NFL Draft. The transfer from Minnesota would’ve had at least one year of eligibility remaining. Anderson was one of the breakout stars … Read more…
Waukee High School kicked off its 2022-23 basketball season on Tuesday, marking the return to the court for Iowa State five-star commit Omaha Biliew. The class of 2023 player led his team with 22 points and 13 rebounds in the game which turned into a 24-point win for the Warriors. The highlight of the night … Read more…
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, plus guards Caleb Grill and Jaren Holmes, recap Iowa State’s big weekend in Portland, look ahead to this week for the Cyclones and more in the videos below.
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly, along with players Lexi Donarski and Stephanie Soares, addressed media members following the team’s 93-43 win over SIUE on Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum.
Ames, Iowa – There was nothing left for Iowa State to prove in Tuesday’s tune-up game against SIUE, and the second quarter still had minutes remaining. The No. 8 Cyclones dropped the hammer on SIUE, running away to a 93-43 win in its final game until next week’s Cy-Hawk matchup with Iowa. “The men play … Read more…
Below is an updated look at every Iowa State football player who has entered his name into the transfer portal entering this off-season: Defensive end MJ Anderson announced he’ll forgo his remaining eligibility in order to enter the NFL Draft. Mason Chambers entered the portal on Tuesday, after amassing 22 tackles this season and appearing … Read more…
Iowa State defensive back Mason Chambers announced over social media that he would be entering his name in the transfer portal, becoming the third player from the program to do so since the end of the regular season. Chambers finished the season with 22 tackles defensively and 2.5 tackles for loss. He finishes 2022 playing … Read more…
On Monday, the Indiana Pacers trailed the Los Angeles Lakers by 17 points in the second half, before a comeback led by former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton helped Indiana secure the win. Haliburton led his team with 24 points and added 14 assists and seven rebounds. His performance caught the attention of Lebron James who described … Read more…
Iowa State’s Xavier Hutchinson was named as a Biletnikoff Award finalist on Tuesday, according to a release from the Tallahassee Quarterback Club – who holds the award. He joins Ohio State’s Marin Harrison Jr. and Tennessee’s Jaylin Hyatt as the three finalist eligible to win the award. Hutchinson’s season at Iowa State was as statistically … Read more…
Nov 27, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Jaren Holmes (13) drives to the basket during the second half against Connecticut Huskies guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) at Moda Center. The Huskies won the Phil Knight Invitational Basketball Tournament 71-53. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports DENVER — It is 4:05 a.m. mountain … Read more…
Iowa State running back Deon Silas has entered the transfer portal, he announced on social media on Monday. Silas appeared in 11 of Iowa State’s 12 games in the 2022 season, rushing 60 times for a total of 271 yards. During his career as a Cyclone, Silas amassed five total touchdowns including a 38-yard score … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: IRVING, Texas – Iowa State senior guard Jaren Holmes has been named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for his performance last week at the Phil Knight Invitational. Holmes helped Iowa State to a runner-up finish in the PKI Championship and was selected to the … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – If you were in the women’s college basketball world and did not know about Iowa State’s Stephanie Soares, you do now. After an outstanding pair of games at the Phil Knight Invitational, the Cyclone post has been named the Big 12 Player … Read more…
Iowa State football saw its first postseason transfer Monday as edge rusher Jayden Gray announced over social media that he would be entering the portal. Gray played in one game during the 2021 season before redshirting for the Cyclones and returning in 2022. He recorded one tackle for loss in Iowa State’s 43-10 win over … Read more…
Iowa State women’s basketball moved to the No. 8 spot in the latest AP Top 25 Poll, remaining in the top 10 after its loss to now No. 6 North Carolina in Sunday’s Phil Knight championship game. The program is one of six in the Big 12 to be ranked or receive votes in the … Read more…
For the first time in the 2022-23 season, Iowa State men’s basketball is in the AP Poll after starting the season 5-1. The Cyclones are ranked No. 23 after going down in the Phil Knight championship game to a now No. 8 UConn team to end the weekend at 2-1. Other non-conference opponents for the … Read more…
No. 5 Iowa State suffered its first loss of the season Sunday night, falling to No. 8 North Carolina 72-64, after the Tar Heels caught fire on offense. UNC shot 65.4 percent from the field during the second half, to storm back from a 13-point lead the Cyclones had at the half time break. “They … Read more…
Iowa State women’s basketball commit Audi Crooks recorded a 48-point night in just her second game of the 2022-23 season Saturday. The 2023 signee helped Bishop Garrigan High School to its first win of the season as part of the Twin Cities Invitational going on over the weekend in Minnesota. Crooks shot 22-30 from the … Read more…
The No. Iowa State men’s basketball team will face off with No. 20 UConn, looking to improve to 6-0 on the season in the Phil Knight Invitational championship game. Below are the lines and TV information for the game Iowa State vs. No. 20 UConnArena: The Moda Center | Portland, Ore.Favorite: UConn -6Iowa State money … Read more…
The No. 5 Iowa State women’s basketball team will face off in its first top 10 showdown of the 2022-23 season on Sunday against No. 8 North Carolina in the Phil Knight Invitational championship game. Below are the lines and TV information for the game No. 5 Iowa State vs. No. 8 North CarolinaBetting lines … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: FB MORE Offcanvas Scoreboard All SportsCross CountryFootballGymnasticsMen’s BasketballMen’s GolfSoccerSoftballSwimming and DivingTennisTrack and FieldVolleyballWomen’s BasketballWomen’s GolfWrestling RecapStory recap for Football vs Texas Tech on November 19, 2022 at 6:00 PM StatsBoxscore for Football vs Texas Tech on November 19, 2022 at 6:00 PM RecapStory recap for Football at Oklahoma State on November 12, 2022 at 2:30 PM StatsBoxscore for Football at Oklahoma State on November 12, 2022 at 2:30 PM RecapStory recap for Football vs West … Read more…
Iowa State men’s basketball came up with a big upset in Portland on Friday, and as you might expect, the postgame celebration was as wild as it gets:
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Caleb Grill (2) takes a three-point shot over Milwaukee Panthers guard Angelo Stuart (5) during the second half at Hilton Coliseum Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune PORTLAND — Maybe, it was the breakfast. Caleb Grill‘s Black Friday 2022 didn’t start much differently from … Read more…
Iowa State improved to 5-0 on the season Friday night after knocking off No. 1 North Carolina to advance to the Phil Knight Invitational championship game. We recap the night with some fun tweets to view below: Caleb Grill finished with 31 points on the night, with his final pair of three’s proving large in … Read more…
Iowa State had no sort of problems during its Phil Knight Invitational semifinal matchup with Michigan State, cruising to a 80-49 win in Portland on Thanksgiving night. The No. 5 Cyclones ran away from their opponents in the first of two showcase games in Oregon, setting up a top 10 matchup on Sunday with No. … Read more…
Iowa State University Cyclones center Osun Osunniyi (21) reacts after a dunk against Milwaukee during the first half at Hilton Coliseum Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune PORTLAND — Osun Osunniyi knew the ball was coming his way as Iowa State broke the huddle with 43 seconds on the … Read more…
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) takes a three point shot against North Carolina A&T during the first half at Hilton Coliseum Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune PORTLAND — Iowa State’s stay in the Pacific Northwest is off to a good start. The Cyclones advanced to … Read more…
Last week: 2-3ATS record on the year: 36-31 Kansas at Kansas State (-12) — Hell of a turnaround for Lance Liepold and Kansas, but the Jayhawks are cooked. Perhaps they will get a boost from this week’s contract extension news? Meanwhile, Kansas State is on its way to making it an all-purple Big 12 Championship … Read more…
Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo yells to players from the sidelines Tuesday, Nov 15, 2022 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Michigan State Spartans defeated the Kentucky Wildcats in double overtime, 86-77. Greetings from the Pacific Northwest where the basketball world will converge over the next several days for the Phil Knight Invitational … Read more…
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell previewed his team’s upcoming game against TCU on Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center:
Iowa State’s Hunter Dekkers, Jaylin Noel, Myles Purchase and Joey Petersen spoke to media members during weekly media availability ahead of their upcoming game against TCU.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger previewed this week’s Phil Knight Invitational with media members on Tuesday morning:
For the first time since the 2001-02 season, Iowa State women’s basketball is ranked as a top five team in the Associated Press top 25. The Cyclones are coming off of a week that saw them defeat in-state rival UNI in a thriller on the road as well as Columbia at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday. … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State senior wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson has been named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, awarded annually to the nation’s outstanding FBS receiver regardless of position. Hutchinson has had one of the best seasons in school history, breaking his own … Read more…
HUMBOLDT — In the high school gym of the Humboldt Wildcats, alma mater of Kevin Dresser, it was difficult to find an empty seat in the house as Iowa State and Grand View faced off for the first time since 2013. The Cyclones stunned the Vikings in a 40-0 shutout win. Iowa State notched its … Read more…
With four minutes remaining in Sunday’s game at Hilton Coliseum, Milwaukee appeared to have Iowa State on the ropes during its 11-0 run to close its deficit to 11 points. It didn’t matter to Iowa State, though. In large part due to the five turnovers the team forced before Milwaukee scored, finishing with 27 forced … Read more…
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Jaren Holmes and Robert Jones spoke to media members following the team’s 68-53 win over the Panthers:
No. 7 Iowa State cruised in its fourth game of the season, taking Columbia 99-76 in a dominant win at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones were led by Ashley Joens, who finished with 33 points and cashed in on seven of the team’s 12 3-pointers. “Her shot attempts are going down and her makes are going … Read more…
Nov. 19, 2022; Ames, Iowa, USA; [CAPTION] Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Hunter Dekkers (12) gets tackle by Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive line Tony Bradford Jr. (97)during the third quarter in the senior day Big-12 showdown at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune-USA TODAY Network AMES — Iowa State had the football at … Read more…
Iowa State’s Will McDonald, Easton Dean and Beau Freyler spoke to media members following their 14-10 loss to Texas Tech on Saturday.
Iowa State commit Abu Sama found his way to the end zone six different times in the Iowa High School state championship game on Friday night, setting an all-time record for touchdown scores in a title game. Sama helped SE Polk to a 49-14 win with 372 yards – another all-time record – in the … Read more…
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Wrestling Head coach Kevin Dresser is headed home. For the second year in a row, Dresser will take his team to compete in his former high school gym. Dresser won two state championships and notched a record of 112-11-1 for the Wildcats. The Cyclones will be facing off aainst defending NAIA … Read more…
Chris Williams, Publisher – Iowa State 20, Texas Tech 14 It’s a game that even given the circumstances surrounding a frustrating season, Iowa State should still win. It’s going to be freezing cold on Saturday night in Ames and personally, I prefer the team with the elite defense, which is Iowa State. Feels a lot … Read more…
Iowa State has flipped an in-state recruit for the 2023 class from in-state rival Iowa in David Caulker. Originally committed to the Hawkeyes, the No. 5 prospect in the state has flipped to the Cyclones, announcing his news over social media with the caption, “Change of plans.” Caulker is rated as the No. 53 Edge … Read more…
Last week: 2-3Against the spread on the year: 34-28 TCU (-2.5) at Baylor — This no doubt feels like a merciless trap for public bettors. With TCU coming off of a convincing marquee win in Austin and Baylor getting trounced by Kansas State, it feels like this spread should be a touchdown plus. Laying less … Read more…
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Robert Jones and Demarion Watson spoke to media members on Thursday at the Sukup Basketball Complex in Ames ahead of the team’s upcoming game against Milwaukee.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – The state of Iowa’s annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series football game has been extended two years. Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard and Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta announced today that a contract extension was signed to continue the series through … Read more…
CEDAR FALLS, IA – In recent seasons, Iowa State’s matchups with in-state rival UNI have come down to the waning moments and Tuesday was no different. A 15-0 Panther run gave UNI a fourth-quarter lead after it had trailed by 14 points. However, the No. 7 Cyclones had to prove their worth, staving off the … Read more…
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Ashley Joens & Emily Ryan addressed media members following No. 7 Iowa State’s 88-85 win over UNI on Wednesday:
Nov 15, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Jalen Wilson (10) reacts to making a shot during the second half against the Duke Blue Devils at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Jayhawks defeat the Blue Devils 69 to 64. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports Snow is on the ground and basketball season is back in full … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Omaha Biliew and Milan Momcilovic, both of which signed national letters of intent with Iowa State last week, have been named to the 2023 Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Trophy Boys Preseason Watch List. Biliew, out of Waukee, and Momcilovic, out … Read more…
Iowa State wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson and defensive end Will McDonald IV were each invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl this week. The showcase game is announcing invites over social media as usual and the Cyclones have already claimed to roster spots over the past two days. The 2023 Senior Bowl will be held on … Read more…
No. 7 Iowa State will face its first big test of the 2022-23 season on Wednesday when it travels to Cedar Falls to take on UNI (6:00 p.m. ESPN+). National pundits will scoff at the thought of this game being close, but the last time a game between these teams was separated by more than … Read more…
What’s up, guys. I’m back with a breakdown of where Iowa State – or your second favorite team – sits in the hunt for a postseason birth. To start off, I’ve split off my document to include the teams that have a realistic shot at going to the postseason. No offense to any Georgia Tech … Read more…
Iowa State’s Mary Kate King was the lone player on the Iowa State roster competing as a walk-on for the program before practice on Tuesday night. That’s when coach Bill Fennelly announced to the team that she would be given a scholarship during the evening session. King appeared in 12 games as a walk-on during … Read more…
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and point guard Emily Ryan previewed the No. 7 Cyclones’ upcoming trip to Cedar Falls for its first road game against UNI on Tuesday at the Sukup Basketball Complex in Ames.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock is a nominee for the 2022 Broyles Award. Heacock, who is in his seventh season with the Cyclones, has built the Cyclone defense into one of the best in the nation year in and year out. The Cyclone defensive unit leads the Big 12 and ranks … Read more…
Iowa State offensive lineman commit Brandon Henderson announced Tuesday that he will flip his commitment to Illinois. Henderson announced his commitment over social media:
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members ahead of his team’s game against Texas Tech on Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center:
Iowa State’s Anthony Johnson, Xavier Hutchinson, and O’Rien Vance spoke on Tuesday ahead of their final game at Jack Trice Stadium this Saturday:
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Members of the Iowa State women’s basketball team continue to pop up on preseason awards list, with Lexi Donarski and Ashley Joens both being named to the John R. Wooden Award Women’s Preseason Top 50 Watch List, announced on Tuesday. The Cyclones were one of … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications AMES, Iowa – Iowa State 125-pounder Kysen Terukina will wrestle at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Star Classic presented by Cliff Keen on Tuesday, Nov. 22 in Austin, Texas. Terukina, ranked No. 19 nationally by InterMat, will wrestle Minnesota’s No. 4 Pat McKee … Read more…
Iowa State will face No. 4 TCU in its regular season finale on Saturday, November 26 at 3:00 p.m. on either FOX or Fox Sports 1, the Big 12 announced Monday. 2022 Iowa State Football scheduleSep. 03 | SEMO, W 42-10Sep. 10 | @ Iowa, W 10-7Sep. 17 | Ohio, W 43-10Sep. 24 | Baylor, … Read more…
Iowa State coach TJ Otzelberger and players Jaz Kunc & Osun Osunniyi addressed media members at Hilton Coliseum following their team’s 80-43 win over North Carolina A&T.
For the second straight game, the Iowa State defense flexed its muscle on its opponents, taking in a dominant 80-43 win over NC A&T at Hilton Coliseum. Although the defense was a big part of Iowa State’s identity in last season’s run to the Sweet 16, there were some question marks as to whether it … Read more…
AMES — Iowa State wrestling officially started its season on Saturday night with a 39-9 win over California Baptist in Hilton Coliseum. Being heavily favored as the No. 9 team in the nation, Kevin Dresser wasn’t especially focused on winning or losing, but how his team stepped up in the details that directly impact success … Read more…
Nov 12, 2022; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State’s John Paul Richardson (17) catches a ball in front of Iowa State’s Mason Chambers (0) in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the Iowa State Cyclones at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Phipps-USA TODAY Sports Iowa State’s … Read more…
Keys to victory and the top five storylines for Iowa State’s road trip to Oklahoma State with Chris Williams.
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy gestures to the crowd before a college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Texas Longhorns at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. Oklahoma State won 41-34. Chris Williams, Publisher – Iowa State 27, Oklahoma State 13 It is actually quite … Read more…
Despite a night where No. 8 Iowa State shot just 24 percent from the 3-point line, Lexi Donarski kept things separated in a game that ended with a closer margin of victory than it could have been. Donarski finished the game with a 8-of-16 mark from the field, helping her team to a 77-54 win … Read more…
My Big 12 picks are like a fine wine that get better (in this case, more accurate) with age. After going 4-1 last week, the column is 32-25 on the season and like Happy Gilmore, I am currently feeling the flow and working it. Let’s get after it in week 11. Against the spread on … Read more…
Jan 15, 2022; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T. J. Otzelberger talks to the official during their game against the Texas Longhorns at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports Iowa State men’s basketball will host a pair of priority targets in the 2024 recruiting cycle for the last … Read more…
The No. 8 Iowa State Cyclones (1-0) will be in action for the second time this season on Thursday, taking on a Southern (0-1) team that is coming off of a 87-34 loss to Iowa. The Cyclones opened the season with a win over Cleveland State, but will see a different style of basketball against … Read more…
Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly and players Emily Ryan and Denae Fritz talked with media members ahead of their team’s game against Southern on Thursday.
Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly and players Emily Ryan and Denae Fritz talked with media members ahead of their team’s game against Southern on Thursday.
Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger helped his program in bringing in the sixth highest rated recruiting class in the country on Wednesday. The Cyclones are bringing in four new players to add to the roster beginning with the 2023-24 season. “This is a banner recruiting class for our program,” Otzelberger said in a … Read more…
Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger helped his program in bringing in the sixth highest rated recruiting class in the country on Wednesday. The Cyclones are bringing in four new players to add to the roster beginning with the 2023-24 season. “This is a banner recruiting class for our program,” Otzelberger said in a … Read more…
Iowa State women’s basketball officially signed a class of five athletes set to graduate in the spring and join the Iowa State at the start of the 2023-24 season. The class is officially the highest rated recruiting class signed in program history at No. 10 in the nation (ESPN). “This is a great day for … Read more…
Iowa State women’s basketball officially signed a class of five athletes set to graduate in the spring and join the Iowa State at the start of the 2023-24 season. The class is officially the highest rated recruiting class signed in program history at No. 10 in the nation (ESPN). “This is a great day for … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger announced Wednesday the signings of four preps to National Letters of Intent. The second signing day under Otzelberger, the class ranks as the best in school history. The Cyclones signed Omaha Biliew (6-8 | Forward | … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger announced Wednesday the signings of four preps to National Letters of Intent. The second signing day under Otzelberger, the class ranks as the best in school history. The Cyclones signed Omaha Biliew (6-8 | Forward | … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications Cyclone Wrestling Adds Three on Signing Day AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State wrestling program and head coach Kevin Dresser announced the addition of three prep wrestlers Wednesday. Tate Naaktgeboren, McCrae Hagarty and Blake Gioimo – all Iowa high school products – make up the Cyclones’ … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications Cyclone Wrestling Adds Three on Signing Day AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State wrestling program and head coach Kevin Dresser announced the addition of three prep wrestlers Wednesday. Tate Naaktgeboren, McCrae Hagarty and Blake Gioimo – all Iowa high school products – make up the Cyclones’ … Read more…
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy previews Iowa State and gives an update on Oklahoma State’s injury situation during his weekly press conference.
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy previews Iowa State and gives an update on Oklahoma State’s injury situation during his weekly press conference.
Bowl season is right around the corner and if you’ve read my content before, you know it’s one of my favorite times of the year. If there’s snow on the ground and college football on TV and you get on the internet to complain about the Bahamas Bowl, I don’t like you. Anyways lets get … Read more…
Bowl season is right around the corner and if you’ve read my content before, you know it’s one of my favorite times of the year. If there’s snow on the ground and college football on TV and you get on the internet to complain about the Bahamas Bowl, I don’t like you. Anyways lets get … Read more…
For it being week 11 of the college football season, Iowa State is in a spot some programs would do many things to be in, with an example being the team’s upcoming opponent. While Oklahoma State has a multitude of players battling injuries, it’s not known whether or not if any will be coming back … Read more…
For it being week 11 of the college football season, Iowa State is in a spot some programs would do many things to be in, with an example being the team’s upcoming opponent. While Oklahoma State has a multitude of players battling injuries, it’s not known whether or not if any will be coming back … Read more…
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members on Tuesday during his weekly press conference at the Stark Performance Center:
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members on Tuesday during his weekly press conference at the Stark Performance Center:
Iowa State’s Will McDonald, Beau Freyler, Deon Silas and DeShawn Hanika spoke to media members Tuesday ahead of the team’s matchup against Oklahoma State in Stillwater this Saturday.
Iowa State’s Will McDonald, Beau Freyler, Deon Silas and DeShawn Hanika spoke to media members Tuesday ahead of the team’s matchup against Oklahoma State in Stillwater this Saturday.
Iowa State defensive end Blake Peterson entered the transfer portal Tuesday, despite the Cyclones having three regular season games remaining to play. The news was first reported by 247Sports’ Nick Osen. The redshirt junior had appeared in every game Iowa State has played this season, totaling nine tackles on the year. Peterson saw a career … Read more…
Iowa State defensive end Blake Peterson entered the transfer portal Tuesday, despite the Cyclones having three regular season games remaining to play. The news was first reported by 247Sports’ Nick Osen. The redshirt junior had appeared in every game Iowa State has played this season, totaling nine tackles on the year. Peterson saw a career … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Paniro Johnson has been named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday. The freshman went 2-0 on the weekend at 149 pounds and defeated the Wisconson’s No. 2 Austin Gomez, 9-4. Gomez, last year’s Big Ten Champion, tried a … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Paniro Johnson has been named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday. The freshman went 2-0 on the weekend at 149 pounds and defeated the Wisconson’s No. 2 Austin Gomez, 9-4. Gomez, last year’s Big Ten Champion, tried a … Read more…
Iowa State University Cyclones forward Hason (24) dunks the ball against IUPUI during the second half in the season opening home game at Hilton Coliseum Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune AMES — T.J. Otzelberger still has not lost a regular season non-conference game as Iowa State’s head coach. … Read more…
Iowa State University Cyclones forward Hason (24) dunks the ball against IUPUI during the second half in the season opening home game at Hilton Coliseum Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune AMES — T.J. Otzelberger still has not lost a regular season non-conference game as Iowa State’s head coach. … Read more…
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Jaren Holmes and Gabe Kalscheur spoke to media members at the Pete Taylor Media Room following their team’s 88-39 win over IUPUI.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Jaren Holmes and Gabe Kalscheur spoke to media members at the Pete Taylor Media Room following their team’s 88-39 win over IUPUI.
Former Cyclone Georges Niang matched his career high in NBA action on Monday night. With seven 3-pointers, Niang tallied 21 points in the Philadelphia 76ers’ win over the Phoenix Suns. Niang, with actions Iowa State fans have seen him show before, was hyping up the crowd as usual. Highlights of Niang’s performance can be seen … Read more…
Former Cyclone Georges Niang matched his career high in NBA action on Monday night. With seven 3-pointers, Niang tallied 21 points in the Philadelphia 76ers’ win over the Phoenix Suns. Niang, with actions Iowa State fans have seen him show before, was hyping up the crowd as usual. Highlights of Niang’s performance can be seen … Read more…
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) drives with the ball around IUPUI Jaguars guard Armon Jarrard (12) during the first half in the season opening home game at Hilton Coliseum Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune Emptying out my thoughts following Iowa State’s 88-39 season-opening win over … Read more…
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) drives with the ball around IUPUI Jaguars guard Armon Jarrard (12) during the first half in the season opening home game at Hilton Coliseum Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune Emptying out my thoughts following Iowa State’s 88-39 season-opening win over … Read more…
AMES — The Iowa State women’s basketball team rolled on Monday. Folks should get used to that. It is going to happen a lot this winter. Bill Fennelly has himself a squad and Cleveland State found that out firsthand in Monday’s season opener when Iowa State walked away with a dominant 87-54 win that probably … Read more…
AMES — The Iowa State women’s basketball team rolled on Monday. Folks should get used to that. It is going to happen a lot this winter. Bill Fennelly has himself a squad and Cleveland State found that out firsthand in Monday’s season opener when Iowa State walked away with a dominant 87-54 win that probably … Read more…
No. 8 Iowa State’s annual school day game went as according to plan as it could for the Cyclones, who rolled past Cleveland State in an 87-54 win. Ashley Joens led the team in scoring, putting up 28 points and 11 rebounds in front of a crowd made up of students she’s taught in the … Read more…
No. 8 Iowa State’s annual school day game went as according to plan as it could for the Cyclones, who rolled past Cleveland State in an 87-54 win. Ashley Joens led the team in scoring, putting up 28 points and 11 rebounds in front of a crowd made up of students she’s taught in the … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State running back Cartevious Norton has been named the Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the week, along with TCU linebacker Johnny Hodges, the league office announced Monday. The freshman tailback had a career day with 69 yards on 18 attempts, both … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State running back Cartevious Norton has been named the Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the week, along with TCU linebacker Johnny Hodges, the league office announced Monday. The freshman tailback had a career day with 69 yards on 18 attempts, both … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – No. 14 Iowa State took eight of 10 matches, including six against top 15 opponents, to defeat No. 12 Wisconsin Saturday night inside Swisher Gymnasium. The Cyclones went 3-0 on the day to win the Battle in the River City, capped by … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – No. 14 Iowa State took eight of 10 matches, including six against top 15 opponents, to defeat No. 12 Wisconsin Saturday night inside Swisher Gymnasium. The Cyclones went 3-0 on the day to win the Battle in the River City, capped by … Read more…
Iowa State’s rushing attack failed to reach 100 yards in any of its five-straight Big 12 losses coming into Saturday’s game. However, when the unit was able to perform as it did in Saturday’s 31-14 win for the Cyclones, it gave the home team a boost it hadn’t seen since Iowa City. “I don’t know … Read more…
Iowa State’s rushing attack failed to reach 100 yards in any of its five-straight Big 12 losses coming into Saturday’s game. However, when the unit was able to perform as it did in Saturday’s 31-14 win for the Cyclones, it gave the home team a boost it hadn’t seen since Iowa City. “I don’t know … Read more…
Iowa State defensive back Anthony Johnson, Jr., (1) intercepts a pass intended for West VirginiaÕs Reese Smith (15) in the second quarter during a NCAA football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. AMES — Anthony Johnson never hesitated. The senior from St. Petersburg rarely does, especially on the football … Read more…
Iowa State defensive back Anthony Johnson, Jr., (1) intercepts a pass intended for West VirginiaÕs Reese Smith (15) in the second quarter during a NCAA football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. AMES — Anthony Johnson never hesitated. The senior from St. Petersburg rarely does, especially on the football … Read more…
Iowa State Head Coach, Matt Campbell, met with the media to discuss 31-14 win over West Virginia at home. Deep dives into the way the offense made adjustments to come out successful and how to keep that momentum the rest of the season.
Iowa State Head Coach, Matt Campbell, met with the media to discuss 31-14 win over West Virginia at home. Deep dives into the way the offense made adjustments to come out successful and how to keep that momentum the rest of the season.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball senior Ashley Joens and junior Emily Ryan are both being looked at among the nation’s best as both have been named to the 2023 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Women’s Watch List, announced Friday morning. Joens has been a regular on the … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball senior Ashley Joens and junior Emily Ryan are both being looked at among the nation’s best as both have been named to the 2023 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Women’s Watch List, announced Friday morning. Joens has been a regular on the … Read more…
Oct 29, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Reese Smith (15) celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports Chris Williams, Publisher – Iowa State 28, West Virginia 17 … Read more…
Oct 29, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Reese Smith (15) celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports Chris Williams, Publisher – Iowa State 28, West Virginia 17 … Read more…
Oct 29, 2022; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Will Howard (18) takes the snap from center Hayden Gillum (55) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the fourth quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports Against the spread record on the year: 28-24 West Virginia at Iowa State … Read more…
Oct 29, 2022; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Will Howard (18) takes the snap from center Hayden Gillum (55) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the fourth quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports Against the spread record on the year: 28-24 West Virginia at Iowa State … Read more…
After a career as a football player at Iowa State turned into USFL and NFL stops, Jaquan Bailey has found a home. He’s on a NASCAR pit crew. This might come as a shock, especially to those that followed Bailey’s football career to being waived in late August by the Philadelphia Eagles. “When I got … Read more…
After a career as a football player at Iowa State turned into USFL and NFL stops, Jaquan Bailey has found a home. He’s on a NASCAR pit crew. This might come as a shock, especially to those that followed Bailey’s football career to being waived in late August by the Philadelphia Eagles. “When I got … Read more…
We’ve nearly made it to the best time of year. I’m not talking about the holidays. I’m talking about the start of college basketball, which will arrive in full force next week. It should be an interesting season for college hoops as we start to understand the fallout of the ever-changing landscape with the transfer … Read more…
We’ve nearly made it to the best time of year. I’m not talking about the holidays. I’m talking about the start of college basketball, which will arrive in full force next week. It should be an interesting season for college hoops as we start to understand the fallout of the ever-changing landscape with the transfer … Read more…
Iowa State’s 133-pounder Zach Redding and Kevin Dresser met with the media to preview road trip to Jacksonville to wrestle in “Battle in the River City” against Little Rock, Campbell, and No. 12 Wisconsin.
Iowa State’s 133-pounder Zach Redding and Kevin Dresser met with the media to preview road trip to Jacksonville to wrestle in “Battle in the River City” against Little Rock, Campbell, and No. 12 Wisconsin.
AMES, Iowa – No. 8 Iowa State’s 6-foot-6 NAIA transfer in Stephanie Soares looked the part to say the least in the team’s 104-47 win over Winona State Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum. The Brazilian post player tallied 26 points and six rebounds, connecting for four 3-pointers in the game. “(Soares) is really skilled,” coach Bill … Read more…
AMES, Iowa – No. 8 Iowa State’s 6-foot-6 NAIA transfer in Stephanie Soares looked the part to say the least in the team’s 104-47 win over Winona State Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum. The Brazilian post player tallied 26 points and six rebounds, connecting for four 3-pointers in the game. “(Soares) is really skilled,” coach Bill … Read more…
According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Wednesday, college basketball powerhouse Gonzaga has reportedly entered talks about joining the Big 12 Conference. The report follows a meeting between Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and Gonzaga athletic director Chris Standiford, which is an indication of Yormark’s desire to expand the Big 12 nationally through … Read more…
According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Wednesday, college basketball powerhouse Gonzaga has reportedly entered talks about joining the Big 12 Conference. The report follows a meeting between Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and Gonzaga athletic director Chris Standiford, which is an indication of Yormark’s desire to expand the Big 12 nationally through … Read more…
Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly has said time and time again that the only way he’d walk through an alley on the rough side of Des Moines is with Denae Fritz accompanying him. Fennelly has raved about her toughness and Cyclone fans have seen it firsthand, even if it only lasted three games … Read more…
Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly has said time and time again that the only way he’d walk through an alley on the rough side of Des Moines is with Denae Fritz accompanying him. Fennelly has raved about her toughness and Cyclone fans have seen it firsthand, even if it only lasted three games … Read more…
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell breaks down his team’s loss to Oklahoma, explains why he’s still encouraged by this year’s team and more during his weekly press conference.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell breaks down his team’s loss to Oklahoma, explains why he’s still encouraged by this year’s team and more during his weekly press conference.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell gave an update to his team’s injuries in his weekly press conference on Tuesday. Colby Reeder will play in Saturday’s game against West Virginia, according to Campbell. The linebacker was hurt in Iowa State’s game against Kansas State and missed the last pair of games. Malik Verdon will also miss … Read more…
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell gave an update to his team’s injuries in his weekly press conference on Tuesday. Colby Reeder will play in Saturday’s game against West Virginia, according to Campbell. The linebacker was hurt in Iowa State’s game against Kansas State and missed the last pair of games. Malik Verdon will also miss … Read more…
Iowa State’s Dimitri Stanley, M.J. Anderson, Tyler Onyedim, and Jarrod Hufford previewed their team’s upcoming matchup with West Virginia set for Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium:
Iowa State’s Dimitri Stanley, M.J. Anderson, Tyler Onyedim, and Jarrod Hufford previewed their team’s upcoming matchup with West Virginia set for Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium:
Iowa State soccer coach Matt Fannon was named in a report by the Des Moines Register which accused him of mistreating the student athletes he’d coached in Ames and before he arrived when he was coaching Bowling Green. The report mentions that 17 players have either transferred or quit since Fannon took the reigns and … Read more…
Iowa State soccer coach Matt Fannon was named in a report by the Des Moines Register which accused him of mistreating the student athletes he’d coached in Ames and before he arrived when he was coaching Bowling Green. The report mentions that 17 players have either transferred or quit since Fannon took the reigns and … Read more…
A.J. Klein is on the move again. The veteran linebacker who ended his 2021 season in Buffalo and signed with Baltimore earlier in the 2022 year, will see his third team since January. After the Bears’ traded Roquan Smith to Baltimore, the Ravens sent the former Cyclone to Chicago, where he’ll join David Montgomery on … Read more…
A.J. Klein is on the move again. The veteran linebacker who ended his 2021 season in Buffalo and signed with Baltimore earlier in the 2022 year, will see his third team since January. After the Bears’ traded Roquan Smith to Baltimore, the Ravens sent the former Cyclone to Chicago, where he’ll join David Montgomery on … Read more…
The Big 12 Conference announced Monday that Iowa State’s Week 11 matchup with Oklahoma State would kickoff at 2:30 p.m. with the game being broadcasted by either ESPN2 or ESPNU. 2022 Iowa State Football scheduleSep. 03 | SEMO, W 42-10Sep. 10 | @ Iowa, W 10-7Sep. 17 | Ohio, W 43-10Sep. 24 | Baylor, L … Read more…
The Big 12 Conference announced Monday that Iowa State’s Week 11 matchup with Oklahoma State would kickoff at 2:30 p.m. with the game being broadcasted by either ESPN2 or ESPNU. 2022 Iowa State Football scheduleSep. 03 | SEMO, W 42-10Sep. 10 | @ Iowa, W 10-7Sep. 17 | Ohio, W 43-10Sep. 24 | Baylor, L … Read more…
The Big 12 has signed a new media rights deal with existing partners Fox and ESPN worth more than $2 billion running through 2030-31, according to multiple reports on Sunday. The league’s current rights agreement runs through 2024-25, but the conference entered early discussions with its partners in order to solidify its future after a … Read more…
The Big 12 has signed a new media rights deal with existing partners Fox and ESPN worth more than $2 billion running through 2030-31, according to multiple reports on Sunday. The league’s current rights agreement runs through 2024-25, but the conference entered early discussions with its partners in order to solidify its future after a … Read more…
Matt Campbell stood at the podium Saturday following his team’s fifth-straight loss to start Big 12 play and largest defeat of the season. It wasn’t a postgame press conference to envy. Even with a layer of coach speak on top of the words, it’s been a repetitive five games in defeat through Week 9. “It’s … Read more…
Matt Campbell stood at the podium Saturday following his team’s fifth-straight loss to start Big 12 play and largest defeat of the season. It wasn’t a postgame press conference to envy. Even with a layer of coach speak on top of the words, it’s been a repetitive five games in defeat through Week 9. “It’s … Read more…
Oct. 29, 2022; Ames, Iowa, USA; Oklahoma kicker Zach Schmidt runs a fake field goal in for a touchdown in the second quarter against Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryon Houlgrave/Des Moines Register-USA TODAY Sports AMES — No sequence better exemplifies the type of afternoon it was at Jack Trice Stadium on … Read more…
Oct. 29, 2022; Ames, Iowa, USA; Oklahoma kicker Zach Schmidt runs a fake field goal in for a touchdown in the second quarter against Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryon Houlgrave/Des Moines Register-USA TODAY Sports AMES — No sequence better exemplifies the type of afternoon it was at Jack Trice Stadium on … Read more…
OU head coach Brent Venables talks with defensive back Trey Morrison (6) during the Red River Showdown on Oct. 8. © BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK Chris Williams, Publisher – Iowa State 31, Oklahoma 27 I despise picking this game for so many reasons. The fact that both teams are coming off of … Read more…
OU head coach Brent Venables talks with defensive back Trey Morrison (6) during the Red River Showdown on Oct. 8. © BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK Chris Williams, Publisher – Iowa State 31, Oklahoma 27 I despise picking this game for so many reasons. The fact that both teams are coming off of … Read more…
Get hyped for the Cyclones vs. Oklahoma with Chris Williams’ top five heading into the matchup. Presented by the Iowa Clinic.
Get hyped for the Cyclones vs. Oklahoma with Chris Williams’ top five heading into the matchup. Presented by the Iowa Clinic.
Oct 15, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) throws during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports I hate to brag (actually, no I don’t), but the CW Big 12 picks are 9-3 combined in the last three weeks. Are … Read more…
Oct 15, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) throws during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports I hate to brag (actually, no I don’t), but the CW Big 12 picks are 9-3 combined in the last three weeks. Are … Read more…
When Oklahoma comes to Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Iowa State’s offense will be looking to open up its rushing attack. That might sound like it contrasts with how Iowa State has performed on offense recently, as the team hasn’t topped 100 rushing yards in any game of the four-game losing streak it is on. … Read more…
When Oklahoma comes to Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Iowa State’s offense will be looking to open up its rushing attack. That might sound like it contrasts with how Iowa State has performed on offense recently, as the team hasn’t topped 100 rushing yards in any game of the four-game losing streak it is on. … Read more…
Iowa State is in the midst of its best bowl streak in program history. It might seem like a mediocre reward for a ‘decent’ season for some, but for a lot of Cyclone fans, it’s turned into a bookmark of every individual season the program has been through under Coach Matt Campbell. That bookmark is … Read more…
Iowa State is in the midst of its best bowl streak in program history. It might seem like a mediocre reward for a ‘decent’ season for some, but for a lot of Cyclone fans, it’s turned into a bookmark of every individual season the program has been through under Coach Matt Campbell. That bookmark is … Read more…
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables previewed Iowa State during his weekly press conference this week. The Sooners will travel to Ames on Saturday for an 11 a.m. kick at Jack Trice Stadium.
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables previewed Iowa State during his weekly press conference this week. The Sooners will travel to Ames on Saturday for an 11 a.m. kick at Jack Trice Stadium.
Iowa State head coach Matt Fannon reacts to the Omaha game at Cyclone Sports Complex on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2022. Iowa State defeated Omaha, 4-1. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY © Margaret Kispert/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK Iowa State women’s soccer coach Matt Fannon has been accused of verbally abusing and body shaming players within … Read more…
Iowa State head coach Matt Fannon reacts to the Omaha game at Cyclone Sports Complex on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2022. Iowa State defeated Omaha, 4-1. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY © Margaret Kispert/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK Iowa State women’s soccer coach Matt Fannon has been accused of verbally abusing and body shaming players within … Read more…
When asked about his team’s health at Iowa State’s weekly press conference, coach Matt Campbell told reporters that his team was as healthy as it has been in the regular season. That’s big for the Cyclones, if it holds true to Saturday’s 11:00 a.m. matchup with Oklahoma. In the team’s four-game losing streak, the running … Read more…
When asked about his team’s health at Iowa State’s weekly press conference, coach Matt Campbell told reporters that his team was as healthy as it has been in the regular season. That’s big for the Cyclones, if it holds true to Saturday’s 11:00 a.m. matchup with Oklahoma. In the team’s four-game losing streak, the running … Read more…
Below is everything Matt Campbell said during his weekly press conference this week before his team’s game against Oklahoma this Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. Morning or whatever it is afternoon, Matt, what’s the what’s the injury update after after a week off specifically with the running back situation? MC: Yeah, yeah. Well, the one … Read more…
Below is everything Matt Campbell said during his weekly press conference this week before his team’s game against Oklahoma this Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. Morning or whatever it is afternoon, Matt, what’s the what’s the injury update after after a week off specifically with the running back situation? MC: Yeah, yeah. Well, the one … Read more…
Iowa State’s Hunter Dekkers, Zach Ross and Kendell Jackson spoke to media members over Zoom on Tuesday to preview Saturday’s matchup with Oklahoma:
Iowa State’s Hunter Dekkers, Zach Ross and Kendell Jackson spoke to media members over Zoom on Tuesday to preview Saturday’s matchup with Oklahoma:
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – For the first time in Iowa State women’s basketball history, the Cyclones will have an AP Preseason All-American, as star senior Ashley Joens was named to the five-player team announced on Tuesday morning. This adds to Joens’ continuing collection of preseason accolades, as … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – For the first time in Iowa State women’s basketball history, the Cyclones will have an AP Preseason All-American, as star senior Ashley Joens was named to the five-player team announced on Tuesday morning. This adds to Joens’ continuing collection of preseason accolades, as … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State’s Nov. 5 Big 12 Conference game and Homecoming showdown against West Virginia at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium will kick off at 2:30 p.m. (CT) on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. 2022 Schedule Sept. 3 – SEMO … Read more…
Welcome to Week 7 of our Cyclones In The NFL Tracker. A former Cyclone scored a touchdown once again, but it was a somber Sunday night for the diehards. Here’s everything that went down. Breece Hall trotted out into the open field in the Jets-Broncos game in what was one of the few bright spots … Read more…
Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez runs the ball in the third quarter against Iowa State during a NCAA college football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. We have hit two 3-1 weeks in a row and the “take the points in the Big 12” theory will be tested … Read more…
Tyrese Haliburton led the Indiana Pacers in scoring during the team’s season opening 107-114 loss to the Washington Wizards. Haliburton finished the game with 26 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds in the game, including this dunk that was circling Twitter. More of Haliburton’s highlights can be seen below: Monte Morris finished the game with … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones guard/forward Ashley Joens (24) reacts after making a three-point shot against Georgia during the first quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball second-round at Hilton Coliseum Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Brett Yormark is set on making his conference different. The new Big 12 commissioner has been very outspoken about his … Read more…
Photo credit: Ryan Weaver for the Big 12 Conference KANSAS CITY — Tyrese Hunter told reporters on Wednesday that name, image and likeness opportunities did not play a part in his decision to enter the transfer portal and leave Iowa State after last season. That statement runs contrary to the narrative from the days after … Read more…
Jan 11, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward K.J. Adams (24) looks to pass as Iowa State Cyclones forward Robert Jones (12) defends during the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports KANSAS CITY — It might have been easy to write Robert Jones out of Iowa State’s 2022-23 men’s … Read more…
Hear what Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger had to say on the podium in Kansas City at Big 12 men’s basketball media day in the video below.
Iowa State Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger talks with a player during their game against LSU Friday, March 18, 2022, in Milwaukee. Iowa State defeated LSU 59-54. KANSAS CITY — After Iowa State lost one of its key pieces ahead of the 2022-23 men’s basketball season, the coaching staff is starting to reassemble the pieces of … Read more…
Photo credit: Ryan Weaver for The Big 12 Conference. KANSAS CITY — The Big 12 basketball tournaments are not going anywhere — at least for now. That is due in large part to the fact the league is locked into a deal with the city to host the tournaments through 2027. That deal includes the … Read more…
Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly spoke on Tuesday at the annual Big 12 media days in Kansas City, along with players Ashley Joens, Emily Ryan and Lexi Donarski:
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark took to the stage at Big 12 media days in Kansas City on Tuesday:
Photo credit: Ryan Weaver for The Big 12. The official details of the Big 12’s future are coming into focus. Commissioner Brett Yormark officially announced the league will continue to play nine league football games once the conference expands to 14 schools next July. Those two nine-game schedules guarantee each school will every other at … Read more…
The Iowa State women’s basketball team will begin the season as the No. 8 ranked team in the country, the second highest preseason ranking in school history. Down a spot below the No. 7 ranked 1999-00 team, Bill Fennelly’s squad has high expectations for the 2022-23 season. The Cyclones will open the season with an … Read more…
We’re nearly arriving at the end of the regular season for high school football in the state of Iowa. We break down each of Iowa State’s 2023 commits performances on the prep scene this week in our high school football tracker: Cyclone commit performance of the week ATH KOOPER EBEL, HARTLEY-MELVIN-SANBORN Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn (6-2) 41, Akron-Westfield … Read more…
Former Cyclones Allen Lazard (left) and Breece Hall (right) chat prior to their first head-to-head NFL match-up last Sunday in Green Bay. (Photo by Josh Flickinger for Cyclone Fanatic) GREEN BAY — Breece Hall had to pivot from the plan, and he had to do it quickly. The New York Jets rookie running back was … Read more…
In another standout week in NFL action for former Cyclones, a pair of familiar faces matched up in Green Bay. We break it down along with the rest of the guys in everything that happened in Week 6. Breece Hall was again at the forefront of the conversation and is off to a phenomenal start … Read more…
When Oklahoma travels to Ames to face the Iowa State Cyclones next week, it will be an 11:00 a.m. kickoff with the broadcast set for Fox Sports 1. Iowa State will be battling for its first Big 12 win of the year.
Iowa State wide receivers Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson, plus defensive end MJ Anderson, react to Iowa State’s 24-21 loss in Austin in the videos below.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell gives his initial thoughts on Iowa State’s 24-21 loss in Austin, the officiating at the end of the game, Hunter Dekkers’ performance and more.
Oct 15, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Hunter Dekkers (12) throws a pass during the first half against the Texas Longhorns during at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports Iowa State’s afternoon in Austin can be boiled down to five plays. With the Cyclones facing fourth and … Read more…
McCrae Hagarty, a two-time state champ for Waverly-Shell Rock, announced his commitment to Iowa State via his Twitter on Friday morning. He chose Iowa State over the likes of Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Iowa, among others. He is projected to wrestle at 197 pounds. Hagarty is currently ranked 7th nationally at 195 pounds. He’s also … Read more…
Oct 8, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA: Texas Longhorns Longhorns defensive back Derrin Thompson (28) places the Golden Hat on the head of head coach Steve Sarkisian after a 49-0 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the annual Red River Showdown at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman- USA TODAY NETWORK Chris Williams, … Read more…
Oct 8, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan (15) throws a pass during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports After a 3-1 mark last week, we are back to our winning ways here on the picks column where … Read more…
Caleb Grill is about to begin his fourth year of college basketball. He’s transferred twice. He started at Iowa State and later returned with the head coach that recruited him away. It’s one of the most unique paths in college basketball, and it’s brought Grill a plethora of opportunities to gain experience in a number … Read more…
Mar 25, 2022; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger yells during the second half against the Miami Hurricanes in the semifinals of the Midwest regional of the men’s college basketball NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports Iowa State has been picked to finish eighth in the … Read more…
Tamin Lipsey smiled and looked down at his brand-new white jersey with the cardinal and gold trim. A smile spread across the freshman from Ames’ face as he considered the question. What did it feel like to put that jersey on for the first time? “It’s surreal,” Lipsey told Cyclone Fanatic during Iowa State’s annual … Read more…
He had nearly 283 yards rushing, found the end zone four times, kicked an extra point because the score was so lopsided and added two interceptions on defense. Kooper Ebel might have played the game of his life as far as stats go for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn in a 55-20 win over Hinton on Friday, earning SportsZone … Read more…
Iowa State quarterback commit J.J. Kohl has moved into the top 100 nationally in 2023 class recruiting rankings. With the update to ESPN’s slate of prospects, Kohl is now rated as the No. 97 overall prospect and 10th-best quarterback in the country. Through seven games of the high school football season in Iowa, Kohl has … Read more…
Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger addressed media members ahead of his second season at the helm in Ames:
Some interviews we did with some familiar faces surround Iowa State basketball at the annual media day Wednesday:
Iowa State Wrestling held its annual media day on Oct. 11 in the Harold Nichols Wrestling Room.
Iowa State Cyclones linebacker O’Rien Vance (34) and defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr. (1) takes down Ohio Bobcats running back Sieh Bangura (22) during the first quarter at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. It’s no secret, Iowa State will have to rely on its defense this Saturday in its matchup … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Tarique Milton (1) celebrates a touchdown as the Longhorns take on the Cyclones in Ames, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK When Iowa State takes the field for Saturday morning’s battle with Texas in Austin, there will be one very familiar face on the … Read more…
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed this Saturday’s matchup between the Cyclones and Texas during his weekly press conference held at the Stark Performance Center:
Iowa State’s Beau Freyler, Myles Purchase, Jake Remsburg and Jaylin Noel spoke with media members Tuesday at the Stark Performance Center ahead of this weekend’s matchup against Texas.
For the third time in program history, Iowa State is the preseason favorite to win the Big 12. It’s the first time that’s happened since 2000, and it’s no secret that expectations are sky high in Ames for the team coming off of a Sweet 16 appearance. “I think it’s a tribute to our players … Read more…
Hear everything Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly had to say about his team, how their preseason practices have been going and much more in this CFTV.
Welcome to Week 5 of the CycloneFanatic NFL Tracker. Sunday brought an explosive performance eventful day to former Cyclones making their marks in the league: Breece Hall was coming off a matchup where he scored the game-winning touchdown for the Jets, and a Saturday spent at Jack Trice Stadium. Sunday, he was putting the league … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Hunter Dekkers (12) nthrows the ball against Kansas State during the fourth quarter at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. AMES — Iowa State’s offense has to get better — and fast. I know, I know, I’m really stepping out on a limb there, but that’s the … Read more…
Down by one point, the Iowa State offense took the ball at midfield with a chance at a go-ahead drive twice in the final seven minutes. It failed to pick up a first down in both instances, unable to move the ball up the field to beat its biggest conference rival, ultimately losing to No. … Read more…
Head Coach Matt Campbell gathers with his team following home loss against Kansas State. Saturday, Oct 8, 2022. (Jacqueline Cordova / CycloneFanatic) Head coach Matt Campbell talks loss to Kansas State and how the team moves forwards after a rough start in Big 12 play.
Jirehl Brock huddles with his team during a timeout against Kansas State. Saturday, Oct 8, 2022. (Jacqueline Cordova / CycloneFanatic) Anthony Johnson Jr., O’Rien Vance, and Jirehl Brock discuss how Iowa State can bounce back following home loss against Kansas State.
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State junior Jeremiah Williams suffered a left Achilles tendon injury and will miss the 2022-23 season. The injury happened in practice on Thursday. “Jeremiah is an outstanding young man,” Iowa State Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “It’s an unfortunate injury … Read more…
Chris Williams, Publisher – Iowa State 21, Kansas State 20 One of the dumb things about trying to do this is when you consider this … how differently would Iowa State fans feel had two of those kicks gone in and the Cyclones were 4-1 heading into Farmageddon? I liked Kansas State all off-season. Offensive … Read more…
Oct 1, 2022; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan (15) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Picking this year’s Big 12 against the spread is not an enviable task. After a BRUTAL week five where I went … Read more…
The following is a press release from the New York Jets and NewYorkJets.com: Jets RB Breece Hall was named the NFL’s Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week for Week 4 after helping lift the Jets to a 24-20 victory at Pittsburgh last week. Hall (6-1, 220) scored a 2-yard rushing touchdown with 16 seconds … Read more…
The Iowa State – Kansas State rivalry is one of the most notable rivalries in the current Big 12, and in two years when a certain pair of schools depart, it will only be bigger. This weekend and this meeting between the programs – the 106th of its kind – provides a phenomenal encapsulation of … Read more…
Former Iowa State linebacker and NFL veteran A.J. Klein is expected to sign with the Baltimore Ravens this week, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Klein has played in 134 games and spent his last season playing for the Buffalo Bills, where he appeared in 15 games and collected 35 tackles. The Ravens … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State women’s basketball team has been picked by the Big 12’s coaches to win the 2022-23 regular season title, the conference announced on Thursday. The Cyclones finished one point ahead of second-place Texas, amassing 75 points to the Longhorns’ … Read more…
Hear everything Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman had to say about his team’s upcoming trip to Ames to play Iowa State on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in this video of his weekly press conference.
Series outlook Iowa State leads the series 52-49-4 Current streak: Iowa State, two in a row Last matchup: Iowa State, 33-20, W @ Kansas State (2021) When Iowa State and KSU take the field on Saturday night, the Cyclone defense will be tasked with stopping a similar attack to the Wildcats’ in-state rivals. With a … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones guard/forward Ashley Joens (24) takes a shot against Texas-Arlington Mavericks forward Shyia Smith (34) during the first quarter in the NCAA first-round game at Hilton Coliseum Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State’s women’s basketball team … Read more…
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell took the podium at his weekly press conference on Tuesday and gave his weekly injury report. In most reports, Campbell might say something like pointing them out as day-to-day, but Tuesday he didn’t get as specific with his regarding running backs Jirehl Brock and Cartevious Norton. “I think we will … Read more…
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell spoke to media members at the Stark Performance Center on Tuesday to preview Saturday night’s Farmageddon game against Kansas State:
Iowa State’s O’Rien Vance, Dimitri Stanley, J.R. Singleton and Deon Silas spoke to media members Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s matchup with Kansas State under the lights at Jack Trice Stadium.
Welcome to our High School Football Tracker, where we chart every Iowa State football commit for the 2023 recruiting class below: Cyclone commit performance of the week ATH ABU SAMA, SOUTHEAST POLK Southeast Polk (5-1) 49, Linn-Mar (3-3) 27 Abu Sama went over the century mark on the ground and added a receiving catch to … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State’s Oct. 15 Big 12 Conference game at Texas will kick off at 11 a.m. (CT) on either ABC or ESPN2. 2022 ScheduleSept. 3 – SEMO – W, 42-10Sept. 10 – at Iowa – W, 10-7Sept. 17 – OHIO – … Read more…
Oct 1, 2022; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Adrian Martinez (9) breaks away from several Texas Tech Red Raiders defenders on his way to a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports Happy Monday, Fanatics! While I was driving home from Lawrence on … Read more…
Welcome to Week 4 of the CycloneFanatic NFL Tracker. Sunday brought an eventful day to former Cyclones making their marks in the league: Allen Lazard finished with 116 yards in Green Bay’s overtime win over New England to help the Packers improve to a 3-1 record. Lazard had four 20+ yard receptions and paced his team … Read more…
Oct 1, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones place kicker Jace Gilbert (20) attempts a field goal during the fourth quarter against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports LAWRENCE, Kan. — There has never been a drunker game in the long drunken history of Iowa … Read more…
Sep 24, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) leads the team out of the tunnel against the Duke Blue Devils before the start of the game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports Chris Williams, Publisher – Iowa State 30, Kansas 24 How good are the … Read more…
Record on the Year: 17-14 (2-3 last week) Texas Tech at Kansas State (-7.5) — Kind of a flip-a-coin game for me. Both teams are coming off of huge wins a week ago. I absolutely despise the hook here. I guess I will ride with the home team as K-State took its big lump two … Read more…
Iowa State’s matchup with Kansas this weekend may bring the most intrigue of any this season. The Cyclones, visiting an undefeated Jayhawk team, will become the villain in Lawrence, as I wrote this week. However, the intrigue in the matchup comes from more than just the records. Jared wrote about Matt Campbell’s comments on KU … Read more…
Kansas junior quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) throws a pass in the third quarter of Saturday’s game against Duke at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium Saturday. © Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels has taken the college football world by storm — and you best believe coaches across the Big 12 … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State redshirt senior tight end Jared Rus has been named one of 156 semifinalists for the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy, which was won last year by former Cyclone Charlie Kolar. The semi-finalists were nominated by their schools as the … Read more…
Iowa State has visited Kansas Memorial Stadium three times during Matt Campbell’s tenure at the helm of the program. Each meeting ended in an Iowa State win, but none of those games featured a crowd as large or raucous as the Cyclones will see Saturday (2:30 p.m. ESPN2). “You know it’s always nice to have … Read more…
Hear everything Kansas head coach Lance Leipold had to say about Iowa State and his team’s 4-0 start during his weekly press conference ahead of Saturday’s game in Lawrence.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell previews Kansas, breaks down what he’s seen on film from KU quarterback Jalon Daniels and more during his weekly press conference.
Iowa State’s Xavier Hutchinson, MJ Anderson, Malik Verdon and Trevor Downing spoke to media members at the Stark Performance Center Tuesday to discuss Saturday’s matchup with Kansas:
It’s week five of the high school football season and some trends are starting to emerge with the amount of Iowa State commits that are standing out in multiple games this season. Check out how each of them did this week in our commit tracker. Cyclone commit performance of the week ATH CARSON HANSEN, LAKEVILLE … Read more…
Iowa State’s week 6 matchup against Kansas State will be played at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPNU, the Big 12 announced Monday. The pair of programs each shared 3-1 starts to the season in 2022. Iowa State won the last meeting 33-17 in Manhattan and beat KSU 45-0 the last time the two teams played … Read more…
Welcome to Week 3 of the CycloneFanatic NFL Tracker. Below is everything that happened over the weekend with former Cyclones in the big league: Allen Lazard has already came into his own in his NFL career, but may have shown himself even more on Sunday. The wideout caught the final touchdown pass of the game … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – The Big 12 announced the league schedule for the 2022-23 women’s basketball season on Monday morning. The Cyclones’ 18-game slate begins on Saturday, Dec. 31 at Texas Tech. The conference slate also features four games that have been picked up by … Read more…
Iowa State’s defense watched one of its best players get ejected during the first drive of its Big 12 opening loss to No. 17 Baylor. It was the first punch to the gut the team would face, and it may have only preluded more punches to come. “When I’m on the field, I don’t really … Read more…
Sep 24, 2022; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell shouts at a game official in the fourth quarter against Baylor at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryon Houlgrave/Des Moines Register-USA TODAY Sports AMES — It was an uphill battle from the fourth play. That was the feeling Matt Campbell conveyed after … Read more…
Sept. 24, 2022: Matt Campbell stands in the endzone with his team following the loss to Baylor at home. // Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova, CycloneFanatic.
Sept. 24, 2022: Dimitri Stanley celebrates his first touchdown pass as a Cyclone // Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova, CycloneFanatic Iowa State’s Jirehl Brock, Dimitri Stanley, Colby Reeder, and TJ Tampa talk home loss to Baylor.
The Big 12 men’s basketball schedule is officially here and we’ve finally got the dates for some of Iowa State’s biggest games of the season. Let’s dive into the highlights of Friday’s schedule release. *** The Big 12 season will open with the Baylor Bears traveling to Ames on Dec. 31. The Bears are a … Read more…
Iowa State Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger talks with a player during their game against LSU Friday, March 18, 2022, in Milwaukee. Iowa State defeated LSU 59-54. The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. IRVING, Texas – The conference portion of the 2022-23 Iowa State men’s basketball schedule has been released by … Read more…
Sep 3, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Blake Shapen (12) celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Albany Great Danes during the second quarter at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Chris Williams, Publisher – Iowa State 27, Baylor 20 Iowa State hasn’t lost a conference home game since the year 2019. … Read more…
Sep 17, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) runs for a touchdown during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Let’s get to the picks and keep making money. Record on the Year: 15-11 (4-3 last week) Baylor at Iowa State (-2.5) — … Read more…
When Iowa State takes the field at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday to face No. 17 Baylor, it will be trying to achieve something that hasn’t been done in Ames since 2000. The Cyclones are vying for a 4-0 start to the season and a perfect September mark. It might not seem that big, but … Read more…
Sep 17, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda talks to his players during a timeout against the Texas State Bobcats during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports Saturday’s match-up between Iowa State and No. 17 Baylor at Jack Trice Stadium seems to be flying under … Read more…
Baylor head coach Dave Aranda previews Iowa State and gives updates on his roster ahead of Saturday’s match-up in Ames in the video below.
Omaha Biliew has been selected as one of 62 players from around the country that have been invited to participate in a USA Basketball mini-camp. The camp, made for evaluation purposes, brings the top young prospects into Colorado Springs as part of its Junior National team development. The invitees include 21 of the five-star rated … Read more…
Sep 17, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) passes against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports 1. Oklahoma (3-0) Last Week: 1Win 49-14 @ NebraskaOklahoma made sure there would be no interim coach magic in its blowout victory over Nebraska on … Read more…
Iowa State running back Cartevious Norton and offensive tackle Jake Remsburg will both be healthy for their team’s Big 12 opener against No. 17 Baylor on Saturday. Head coach Matt Campbell confirmed the news as his weekly press conference ahead of the game, with a shot at a 4-0 start to the season on the … Read more…
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell took to the podium to preview his program’s Big 12 opener against Baylor.
Iowa State’s Hunter Dekkers, Anthony Johnson, Myles Purchase and DeShawn Hanika spoke to media members Tuesday on the team’s upcoming game against No. 17 Baylor:
We’re nearly halfway through the high school football regular season and we saw a few standout performances as players get into the swing of things. Below is every Iowa State commit for the 2023 recruiting class and how things panned out for them on Friday night: Cyclone commit performance of the week QB J.J. KOHL … Read more…
Iowa State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) will travel to Lawrence for a conference game against an improved Kansas (3-0, 1-0) team, which is now set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised by either ESPN2 or ESPNU, which will be determined either Saturday night or Sunday morning preceding the game.
Iowa State running back Deon Silas (22) attempts to break through the line during the game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. The Cyclones defeated the Bobcats, 43-10. © Margaret Kispert/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK We’ve made it to Big 12 play, Fanatics. With the arrival of full-on … Read more…
Welcome to week 2 of our Cyclones in the NFL tracker. Below you can see how each of the former Iowa State stars performed this week in the big league: Breece Hall headlines the week by scoring his first career NFL touchdown in the New York Jets’ win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. This was … Read more…
Iowa State’s released video of CyTown that was played at the September 19, 2022 press conference:
Breece Hall scored his first career NFL touchdown Sunday on a reception in the red zone from veteran Joe Flacco.
Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Cordova / CycloneFanatic Iowa State coach Matt Campbell spoke to media members following his team’s 42-10 win over Ohio:
Anthony Johnson’s career at Iowa State has been focused around his consistently solid play in the defensive backfield. That didn’t include an interception, at least until Saturday. In the 45th start of his career, it finally happened for Johnson. “I still don’t know if there’s many people playing better than Anthony Johnson,” coach Matt Campbell … Read more…
AMES — And, now, the real party starts. Iowa State football is leaving non-conference play with an undefeated (3-0) record for the first time since 2011 after a 43-10 dismantling of Ohio on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones were sharp, precise and efficient early, jumping out to a quick 17-0 lead less than … Read more…
Iowa State’s Sean Shaw, Will McDonald, and Deon Silas spoke to media members following Iowa State’s win over Ohio on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. The win moves Iowa State to 3-0 for the first time since 2012. Here’s what the players had to say:
Iowa State 2023 commits and high school teammates J.J. Kohl & Jamison Patton caught up with us following big nights on the field in Ankeny’s win over SE Polk. Kohl finished with four passing touchdowns on the night, one being to Patton. Patton added an interception to his night in the fourth quarter as well. … Read more…
Sep 10, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Kansas Jayhawks running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. (20) runs the ball for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports Two weeks into the college football season, the Big 12 has confirmed … Read more…
Sep 10, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Ohio Bobcats quarterback Parker Navarro (13) looks to throw a pass during the third quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Ohio 46-10. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports Chris Williams, Publisher – Iowa State 41, Ohio 17 I’m excited to see … Read more…
Iowa State (2-0) will face its most dynamic offense yet in Saturday’s game against Ohio (1-1). That will be true again next week when it takes on Baylor, but point being, the defense will get tested more in this game than in it has this season. SEMO gave Iowa State a couple of dynamic talents … Read more…
The move from cornerback to safety in Anthony Johnson Jr.’s final season with Iowa State has played a big part in the program’s first 2-0 start since 2012. Head coach Matt Campbell says that it’s changed the look of his team’s defense and allows them to play schematically like they were not able to before. … Read more…
It was an eventful week 3 of action on the high school football fields Friday night – check out how every Iowa State commit faired below: Cyclone commit performance of the week ATH CARSON HANSEN, LAKEVILLE SOUTH (MN) Lakeville South 34, Lakeville North 0 For the second straight week, Carson Hansen sets the standard for our … Read more…
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell spoke to media members at Iowa State’s weekly press conference on Tuesday as the Cyclones look ahead to Ohio:
Iowa State’s Colby Reeder, Jarrod Hufford, Jared Rus and J.R. Singleton spoke to media members about the Cy-Hawk win and this week’s matchup with Ohio:
Welcome to week 1 of our Cyclones in the NFL tracker. Below you can see how each of the former Iowa State stars performed this week in the big league: Breece Hall showed out for the Jets in his debut game with the team, rushing for 23 yards on six rushes in a 9-24 loss … Read more…
Sep 10, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Ohio Bobcats head coach Tim Albin looks on from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Ohio 46-10. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports The following are a selection of quotes from Ohio head coach Tim Albin’s … Read more…
Hear everything Ohio head coach Tim Albin had to say about Iowa State before his Bobcats visit Ames on Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Jack Trice Stadium in the video below.
Former Iowa State guard Izaiah Brockington will be on a two-way contract when the 2022-23 NBA season starts this fall. Brockington’s agent says that the standout Cyclone will be playing with the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the deal. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski: Brockington starred for Iowa State in … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State linebacker Colby Reeder has been named the Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the week, along with Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel, the league office announced Monday. Reeder stuffed the stat sheet in his second start as a Cyclone, registering four tackles, … Read more…
Iowa State linebacker Gerry Vaughn gets to Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras during the Cy-Hawk Series football game on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. © Bryon Houlgrave/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK The sun is a little brighter and the air feels a little fresher. I don’t know about you, Fanatics, … Read more…
Iowa State’s fourth game of the season will kickoff at 11:00 a.m. when the team hosts Baylor for its Big 12 season opener. The Bears are off to a 1-1 start after dropping an overtime game to BYU and look to improve to 2-1 as they face Texas State on Saturday. The game will be … Read more…
As first reported by college basketball reporter Jon Rothstein, Iowa State will be playing in the 2024 Maui Invitational. The trip will be the first appearance the program has made at the November tournament since 2018, when it earned fifth place by winning two of its three games. Other teams listed as confirmed programs competing … Read more…
Sep 10, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) celebrates after defeating the Kansas Jayhawks at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports Welcome to week 2 of my Big 12 power rankings post – it was an eventful week in the Big 12 and I … Read more…
IOWA CITY – Iowa’s defense and special teams forced two interceptions, another pair of punt blocks and a fumble punched out of Jirehl Brock’s arms right at the plane of the end zone in Saturday’s Cy-Hawk game. It painted a grim scene for the Cyclones, who planned on punting the ball away from their own … Read more…
Sep 10, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back T.J. Tampa (2) and linebacker Carston Marshall (46) and teammates carry the Cy-Hawk after the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports The following are a selection of quotes from the aftermath of Iowa State’s 10-7 … Read more…
Members of the Iowa State Cyclones football team celebrate a 10-7 win over Iowa during the Cy-Hawk Series football game on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. © Bryon Houlgrave/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK Iowa City — O’Rien Vance is not sure where he went. Iowa State’s senior captain only … Read more…
Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers, wideout Xavier Hutchinson, and linebackers O’Rien Vance & Gerry Vaughn spoke to media members following their team’s Cy-Hawk victory:
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed the media following his first win in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. Campbell dives into what it means for him and his team, the 99-yard go-ahead touchdown drive and what he told his players at halftime about the sixth grade softball team he coaches:
Iowa State will play its second game of the 2022 college football season on Saturday when it faces off with Iowa at Kinnick Stadium in the annual Cy-Hawk showdown. The Cyclones are 1-0 on the season after beating Southeast Missouri State 42-10 last Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. CTTV: Big 10 NetworkTalent: … Read more…
Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz gets his players ready prior to kickoff against South Dakota State during a NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. © Bryon Houlgrave/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK Chris Williams, Publisher – Iowa State 20, Iowa 14 I wouldn’t bet this game … Read more…
Iowa State star Ashley Joens has announced that she has signed a deal with Kum & Go Thursday. Joens posted on social media platforms along with her favorite choices of food in the new line the company has rolled out late this summer. Joens enters her final season of eligibility at Iowa State, already being … Read more…
The following is a press release from the We Will Collective. The We Will Collective and The IOWA Foundation are partnering to host a free youth basketball clinic for youth in grades first through sixth. The clinic will take place at the Valley Community Center in West Des Moines on September 14th, 2022 from 5:30-7:00pm. Members … Read more…
Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Manning and defensive coordinator Jon Heacock give their thoughts on the Cyclones’ offense and defense going into Iowa City for Saturday’s 3 p.m. Cy-Hawk showdown.
Iowa punter Tory Taylor punts the ball against South Dakota State during a NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. © Bryon Houlgrave/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK It is not often we enter a football game knowing the entire contest could be changed by one man’s right … Read more…
Iowa State line backer Colby Reeder (4) attempts to bring down Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Pervis Frazier (8) during the Iowa State, Southeast Missouri State game on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones defeated the Redhawks, 42-10. Iowa’s offense made waves around the college football world during … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. CHICAGO – Campus Ink has announced Iowa State as an official NIL licensee, providing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) merchandising opportunities for all Cyclone student-athletes. The NIL Store powered by Campus Ink will launch a complete NIL merchandise store for Iowa State student-athletes, featuring jerseys … Read more…
Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers (12) looks down field for an open player during the Iowa State, Southeast Missouri State game on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones defeated the Redhawks, 42-10. Week two features an absolutely loaded slate of games featuring Big 12 teams. If you aren’t … Read more…
In Cartevious Norton’s first game as a Cyclone on Saturday, the true freshman flashed his talent in limited touches all over the field. He was the talk of the game, if you ignore the starting quarterback throwing for four touchdowns in his first start for the program. Unfortunately for Iowa State fans, Norton’s status for … Read more…
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members Tuesday, prior to the weekend’s Cy-Hawk showdown against Iowa at Kinnick Stadium:
Iowa State Cyclones guard/forward Ashley Joens (24) reacts after making a three-point shot against Georgia during the first quarter in the NCAA women’s basketball second-round at Hilton Coliseum Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – The anticipation for the 2022-23 Iowa … Read more…
Iowa State’s Anthony Johnson, O’Rien Vance, Trevor Downing and Jaylin Noel previewed Saturday’s Cy-Hawk football game on Tuesday in Ames:
We’re tracking the entirety of Iowa State’s 2023 football recruiting class on the field in high school action this year. See how each future Cyclone played on Friday night below: Cyclone commit performance of the week ATH Carson Hansen, Lakeville South (MN) Lakeville South 69, Park 14 For the second straight week, Iowa State saw … Read more…
Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers (12) throws the ball against Southeast Missouri during the first quarter in the season-opening home game at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Sep. 3, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK Happy Labor Day, Fanatics! A wild week one of college football is in the books … Read more…
Sep 11, 2021; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Zach VanValkenburg (97) tackles Iowa State Cyclones running back Breece Hall (28) at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports Iowa has opened as a 3.5-point favorite for next Saturday’s Cy-Hawk clash in Iowa City, according to the line released by FanDuel on … Read more…
Iowa State players and coach Matt Campbell had plenty to say following Iowa State’s 42-10 win over Southeast Missouri State Saturday. We kept track of it all here: On Hunter Dekkers’ breakout performance “I thought Hunter (Dekkers) handled the flow of the game really well,” Campbell said. “I thought he managed the football, (that was) … Read more…
When Hunter Dekkers came off of the field at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, he had amassed 293 yards throwing the football. Three of his four touchdowns went to wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson, each of them coming on the first three drivers of the afternoon. “I thought Hunter (Dekkers) handled the flow of the game … Read more…
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell addressed media members after his team’s season opening win vs. Southeast Missouri State:
Iowa State wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) catches the ball in the end zone over Southeast Missouri State safety Lawrence Johnson (7) during the Iowa State, Southeast Missouri State game on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones are up 21-10 against the Redhawks. © Margaret Kispert/The Register / … Read more…
Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers, wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson, running back Jirehl Brock, and linebacker Colby Reeder spoke to media members following their team’s 42-10 win over Southeast Missouri State Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium:
As first reported by ESPN, the College Football Playoff Board of Managers voted to expand the postseason tournament to 12 teams as early as the 2026 season on Friday. With the unanimous vote being approved, many involved are encouraging commissioners to try to implement the new format in an earlier year. The report states 2024 … Read more…
Chris Williams, Publisher – Iowa State 56, SEMO 7 While I fully understand the anxiety Iowa State has traditionally given fans in the month of September under Matt Campbell, this one feels different to me. SEMO is a different level of bad. Jared Stansbury, Managing Editor – Iowa State 42, SEMO 17 It wouldn’t shock … Read more…
When Hunter Dekkers takes the field at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, he will be the first Iowa State quarterback to start a season opener without a collegiate start already under his belt since Steele Jantz in 2011. While that might be nerve-wracking for some, Dekkers says he’s not a guy that gets nervous. “There’s not … Read more…
Nov 27, 2021; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Spencer Sanders (3) drops back to pass against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. Oklahoma State won 37-33. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports If you are actually trying to actually make money gambling on college football, betting on week … Read more…
Iowa State offensive and defensive coordinators Tom Manning and Jon Heacock spoke to media members remotely ahead of Saturday’s season opener against Southeast Missouri State:
Abu Sama kicked off his senior season at the high school level with a 72-yard touchdown run. That was before following it up with three more trips to the end zone. The two-way player is one of 19 commits to Iowa State’s 2023 recruiting class, which has the potential to be the highest-rated class in … Read more…
Former Iowa State tight end Chase Allen didn’t make the Chicago Bears 53-man roster for the 2022 season, but will be making plays on the practice squad for the team. His father, Terry Allen, confirmed the news in a tweet posted Wednesday morning: Allen had two receptions on two targets during preseason action for the … Read more…
Iowa State will open its 2022 football season this Saturday against an opponent unlike any that a Matt Campbell-coached team has seen since he arrived in Ames. Southeastern Missouri is not an FBS foe. They haven’t been to the FCS Playoffs in three years and they certainly aren’t a top 10 team in the championship … Read more…
The Big 12 is reportedly taking its first steps towards its next television deal. The league announced on Wednesday it plans to engage ESPN and Fox in negotiations to extend its current media rights agreement with its two partners, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “It is an exciting time for college athletics … Read more…
Brock Purdy headlined things for Iowa State fans eager to learn the fate of former Cyclones that stood on the bubble of their NFL spots going into the 2022 season. Purdy qualified for the final roster for San Francisco, who elected to keep three quarterbacks on the slate; them being the former Cyclone, Trey Lance, … Read more…
Dec 29, 2021; Orlando, Florida, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Jirehl Brock (21) carries the ball against the Clemson Tigers during the first half of the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports Jirehl Brock‘s wait is almost over. The redshirt junior tailback has experienced a lot during … Read more…
Iowa State’s Hunter Dekkers, Xavier Hutchinson, Tayvonn Kyle, and Isaiah Lee spoke to media members prior to Saturday’s season opener against SE Missouri State at Jack Trice Stadium:
Iowa State right tackle Jake Remsburg suffered an injury during fall camp just weeks before Saturday’s season opener against SE Missouri State (1:00 p.m. ESPN+). After the redshirt junior battled a separate injury throughout the 2021 season and into the spring, the West Des Moines native was slated to be the starter at his position … Read more…
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell took the microphone on Tuesday to preview his team’s matchup with SE Missouri State this Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.
Iowa State sophomore running back Jirehl Brock runs into the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter against TCU on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. Iowa State’s first depth chart of the 2022 football season is officially here and there’s plenty to take away after a month of … Read more…
We’re one week into the high school football season in the state of Iowa and a future Cyclone has already put on a show for the fans. Read here about Abu Sama’s breakout game and what transpired around the country for commits in the 2023 Iowa State recruiting class: ATH ABU SAMA, SOUTHEAST POLK Southeast … Read more…
Iowa State’s roster of former players in the NFL closed the preseason out on a high note. Brock Purdy led the San Francisco 49ers in a stout performance Thursday against Houston. The quarterback ended the game with a team-high 182 yards on a 13-20 completion rate. He made some impressive throws, too. Enyi Uwazurike … Read more…
Iowa State junior defensive tackle Isaiah Lee reacts after stopping Oklahoma State senior running back Jaylen Warren in the backfield for a loss of yards in the second quarter at Jack Trice Stadium. © Bryon Houlgrave / USA TODAY NETWORK We’ve made it, fanatics. Game week has arrived and 61,500 fans will soon pack Jack … Read more…
Iowa State isn’t necessarily eyeing 2023 commit Abu Sama as a running back, but he showed on Friday that he can play at the high school level. The two-way player for the defending state champions helped his Southeast Polk team to a 38-24 win over Dowling Catholic. Sama finished with 145 yards on 16 carries, … Read more…
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell spoke to media members for the first time about the injury to offensive tackle Jake Remsburg and what it means for the team going into the season. Anthony Johnson and Jirehl Brock also spoke about Iowa State’s Victory Day, along with Campbell, and what it means to them.
Isaiah Lee stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK Iowa State senior defensive tackle Isaiah Lee received a significant honor on Wednesday. The Chicago native will wear No. 58 on the field this season … Read more…
Jan 2, 2021; Glendale, AZ, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr. (26) celebrates against the Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Iowa State has officially named its captains for the 2022 football season. Senior defensive back Anthony Johnson, senior center Trevor … Read more…
Former Cyclone Talen Horton-Tucker is on the move. The Los Angeles Lakers sent Horton-Tucker to the Utah Jazz late Wednesday, along with Stanley Johnson in exchange for NBA veteran Patrick Beverly. Horton-Tucker played three seasons for the Lakers, appearing in over 60 games in each of the past two seasons and starting 19 games during … Read more…
Jul 22, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Big 10 commissioner Kevin Warren speaks to the media during Big 10 media days at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports One year ago today, Kevin Warren, Jim Phillips and George Kliavkoff logged onto a Zoom call. They were there to make a historic announcement. The … Read more…
Iowa State goes into the first week of the high school football season with 19 commitments to the 2023 football recruiting class. We charted all 19 here, 16 of which will open their seasons this Friday in Week 1 of the 2022 high school football season. We’ll give you more on the match-ups with commits … Read more…
Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock spoke to media members Tuesday about the team’s status going into the 2022 college football season. The Cyclones take the field for their first game Saturday, September 3 against SE Missouri.
Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Manning spoke to media members Tuesday about the team’s status going into the 2022 college football season. The Cyclones take the field for their first game Saturday, September 3 against SE Missouri.
Information on this week’s Cyclone Fanatic Road Show stops in Jefferson and LeClaire. Wednesday, Aug. 24 … in the Greene Room Events Center at Wild Rose Casino in Jefferson Featuring special guests: Gabe Kalsheur, Caleb Grill, Emily Ryan and Lexi Donarski. As well as the CF staff. KIDS ARE WELCOME. The event is … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State defensive end Will McDonald IV has been recognized as an Associated Press Preseason All-American. McDonald, a redshirt senior from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is one of the nation’s premier pass rushers. He has accumulated 29.0 career sacks, which is an ISU … Read more…
A number of former Iowa State Cyclones took the field over the weekend, appearing in NFL preseason action for their respective teams. Here’s how they all did: *** Jake Hummel was at the top of the tackle charts for the Los Angeles Rams in a loss to the Houston Texans. Hummel managed seven stops on … Read more…
Former Cyclone running back Breece Hall became the highest selected player at his position this April when the New York Jets selected him in the second round. Friday, he broke open a big run during training camp practice with the team. Hall corralled 15 yards in five rushes during the team’s first preseason game a … Read more…
Iowa State position coaches Jeff Myers and Matt Caponi gave updates during fall camp media availability Thursday night along with Darien Porter and Darrell Simmons Jr. Myers stated that offensive tackle Jake Remsburg is day-to-day right now with an injury.
Jake Remsburg stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. Iowa State’s expected starting right tackle Jake Remsburg is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, according to Cyclones’ offensive line coach Jeff Myers. Myers said redshirt junior Grant Treiber has been working with the … Read more…
Oct 30, 2021; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell along the sidelines late in the fourth quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports One of the best parts of the annual college football preview magazines comes buried within … Read more…
Iowa State quarterbacks Hunter Dekkers (left) and Ashton Cook throw the ball during open spring practice at Gilbert High School Friday, April 15, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK Despite losing perhaps the greatest quarterback in Iowa State history after last season, there have never been many questions left … Read more…
Malik Verdon will take the field during the 2022 season for Iowa State in what will essentially be his rookie year. The former three-star recruit in the 2021 class redshirted last season and was listed as a second-string safety ahead of the Cheez-It Bowl game against Clemson in December. Defensive backs coach Deon Broomfield says … Read more…
With just 17 days remaining before Iowa State’s first game of the season, ESPN ranked its top 100 players in college football going into the year. In the post, ESPN explained how they ranked the players, comparing it to an Oklahoma drill with statistical reasoning. Iowa State’s Will McDonald IV came in at No. 50 … Read more…
Iowa State’s 2023 quarterback commit J.J. Kohl received a significant boost in 247Sports’ recruiting rankings Tuesday evening. The Ankeny quarterback is now rated as a 0.9517 out of a possible 1.0000 on the 247 Composite scale, making him the No. 2 prospect in the state and No. 10 quarterback in the nation. Since committing to … Read more…
Iowa State quarterbacks coach Joel Gordon as well as defensive backs coach Deon Broomfield previewed the programs outlook on the pair of position groups on Tuesday after a practice. Accompanied by Hunter Dekkers and Beau Freyler, they previewed how things have gone at the start of the camp season. Each of their interviews can be … Read more…
Every year, the NFL puts out a list of its top 100 players going into the upcoming season. For the first time in his career, former Iowa State running back David Montgomery has made the list, coming in at No. 98. Montgomery enters his fourth season in the league, playing for the Chicago Bears for … Read more…
Former Iowa State basketball player Michael Jacobson scored his first career NFL touchdown in Saturday’s preseason game for the Indianapolis Colts:
Former Iowa State Cyclone Brock Purdy threw his first career touchdown pass for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers in preseason action Friday night. Purdy rolled out to the right side and threw the touchdown strike that put the 49ers in the lead. The Perry, Arizona native finished the game going 3-6 with 36 yards and … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones tight end Easton Dean (87) runs after a catch as Iowa State hosts Kansas at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK The Iowa State tight ends know and understand the challenge they’re facing during the 2022 edition of fall camp in … Read more…
Iowa State tight end Tyler Moore and linebacker Gerry Vaughn give their thoughts on the Cyclones’ 2022 fall camp to this point, how they feel they’ve grown at their respective positions and more in these videos courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
Iowa State tight ends coach Taylor Mouser gives an update on the development of his inexperienced tight end room, how guys are adjusting to life without Charlie Kolar and Chase Allen and more in this video courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
Iowa State linebackers coach Tyson Veidt updates how well Delaware transfer Colby Reeder is picking up the Cyclones’ defensive schemes, how the young linebackers are coming along and more in this video courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
It’s not every year that an Iowa State offense loses as many weapons as it did this off-season. Driven by a considerable loss in production with the departures of tight ends Charlie Kolar and Chase Allen, Iowa State is looking for more from some of its returning veterans in the receiving room. “All of the … Read more…
Iowa State is squarely on the bubble in ESPN’s post-summer bracketology update that dropped Tuesday morning. The Cyclones are listed in the ‘first four out’ category as the squad looks to return to the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has four conferences – the Big 12, Big 10, … Read more…
Iowa State men’s basketball continues to roll on the recruiting trail. The Cyclones landed another of their priority targets on Monday when Kansas City power forward Kayden Fish announced his commitment to T.J. Otzelberger’s program on Instagram Live. The three-star power forward is the fourth member of the 2023 recruiting class which currently ranks No. … Read more…
Iowa State running back Eli Sanders, wide receiver Darren Wilson and defensive end Blake Peterson give updates on the position battles at their respective positions, how they’ve each grown in college and more in these videos courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
Iowa State wide receivers and running backs coach Nate Scheelhaase breaks down the competition at tailback, how the receivers are continuing to grow and more in this video courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
Iowa State defensive line coach Eli Rasheed updates the position battles along the defensive line, how the program will replace longtime starter Enyi Uwazurike and more in this video courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
Iowa State sophomore running back Jirehl Brock runs into the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter against TCU on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. It is almost too easy to compare Iowa State’s search for a starting tailback this fall to the program’s battle at the same … Read more…
Iowa offensive linemen Justin Britt (Np. 63, left,) and Tyler Linderbaum (No. 65, right) guard Iowa State freshman defensive lineman J.R. Singleton in the third quarter at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. © Bryon Houlgrave/The Register via Imagn Content Services, LLC Will McDonald has always drawn a lot of attention. … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser announced the 2022-23 schedule Thursday, which includes home duals against Arizona State, Oklahoma State and Illinois. “We’re bringing in some really high-quality teams to Hilton and we’ll challenge our guys with some tough road duals,” Dresser … Read more…
Jake Remsburg stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK During Tuesday’s Iowa State football media day event, I went around to several different people within the program to get some status updates on how … Read more…
Oct 16, 2021; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Dimitri Stanley (14) celebrates with offensive lineman Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan (69) after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats in the fourth quarter at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports Wide receiver Dimitri Stanley announced he was transferring to Iowa State, from Colorado, in … Read more…
T.J. Otzelberger gives an update on the health of his roster and updates everyone on how summer practices have been going in this video courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
Iowa State men’s basketball players Jaren Holmes and Robert Jones give updates on the Cyclones’ summer practices and more here via Iowa State Athletics.
Matt Campbell’s opening statement: “(It’s) great to see you guys appreciate you guys coming obviously like every school in America, we’re excited to get ready for football season. So questions you got, we’ll certainly start with whoever, and wherever.” Matt Campbell on what’s different this season:“Yeah, I think for us, as always, you know, the … Read more…
Nov 27, 2020; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver Joshua Moore (6) attempts to make a catch as Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Tayvonn Kyle (13) breaks up the pass for pass interference in the second quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports AMES — Matt Campbell loves … Read more…
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell speaks to reporters during the Cyclones’ media day Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022 in Ames. © Meg McLaughlin/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK Hear everything Matt Campbell had to say during his 2022 football media day press conference in Ames on Tuesday in the video below courtesy of Iowa State … Read more…
A plethora of Cyclones previewed the 2022 football season at media day Tuesday. Starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers talked about his weight loss and what it means for this season: Anthony Johnson talked his number change and what his outlook is on the year: Isaiah Lee is embracing the underdog mentality that the 2022 Cyclones have: … Read more…
Iowa State football stars Anthony Johnson Jr. (left) and Will McDonald (right) chat during last Thursday’s CF Road Show stop in Clarinda. (Photo credit: Matt Van Winkle for Cyclone Fanatic) Matt Campbell understands the importance of continuity in college football. Iowa State’s head coach understands its importance with his staff, which still features four coaches … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State defensive end Will McDonald IV has been named to the 2022 Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list. The award, presented by The Maxwell Football Club, is given annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football. McDonald, a redshirt … Read more…
Former Cyclone Andrew Mevis was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend, following an undesirable performance during camp practice. During the practice, Mevis was innacurate on his kicks, according to the report from the AP’s Mark Long. Campo, who’s in his 70’s, was alright after being hit in the shoulder. Mevis, however, was handed a … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State’s Xavier Hutchinson and Will McDonald IV have earned spots on the Walter Camp 2022 Player of the Year Preseason Watch List. Iowa State joins Alabama and Georgia as the only schools with both an offensive and defensive player on the list. The Cyclones … Read more…
A number of former Cyclones are taking the field this week at training camps around the NFL. We compiled a list of important info for Cyclone fans that want to keep up with the fellas, starting with teams that have more than one player from the program at camp. The Chicago Bears are housing two … Read more…
Jan 2, 2021; Glendale, AZ, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr. (26) celebrates against the Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State senior defensive back Anthony … Read more…
Iowa State’s 2023 recruiting class added Omaha Biliew Tuesday night. Wednesday, Biliew’s EYBL teammate Kayden Fish announced he had been offered by the program. Fish, a 6-foot-6 power forward out of Kansas City, isn’t rated by 247Sports yet. However, the offers are rolling in. Fish was offered by Boston College this week, as well as … Read more…
Watch highlights of new Iowa State commit Omaha Biliew through the years in the videos below.
Link Academy’s Omaha Biliew (0) dunks during the second half of the GEICO Nationals semifinal between Prolific Prep (Calif.) and Link Academy (Mo.), Friday, April 1, 2022, at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla.Link Academy defeated Prolific Prep 59-53. Iowa State men’s basketball has landed its highest-rated recruit of the online recruiting services … Read more…
Link Academy’s Omaha Biliew (0) dunks during the second half of the GEICO Nationals semifinal between Prolific Prep (Calif.) and Link Academy (Mo.), Friday, April 1, 2022, at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla.Link Academy defeated Prolific Prep 59-53. Another of Iowa State’s priority targets is set to announce his college decision. Five-star … Read more…
Iowa State center Trevor Downing (52) gets set during a NCAA college football game in the Cheez-It Bowl against Clemson, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State offensive lineman Trevor Downing has been named to … Read more…
Oct 23, 2021; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Beau Freyler (17) and defensive tackle Isaiah Lee (93) celebrate a stop against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the second half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports In another piece of a 10-part series previewing the Iowa State football season, … Read more…
The Phil Knight Invitational tournament released its bracket for the Thanksgiving weekend Monday, pitting the Cyclones against Michigan State in the opener Thanksgiving Night. Iowa State will take on Michigan State for the first time since beating the Spartans in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in San Antonio in 2021. The game will … Read more…
Mar 26, 2022; San Antonio, TX, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Justin Moore (5) shoots the ball against Houston Cougars guard Kyler Edwards (11) during the second half in the finals of the South regional of the men’s college basketball NCAA Tournament at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports Iowa State will play at … Read more…
Iowa State center Trevor Downing (52) gets set during a NCAA college football game in the Cheez-It Bowl against Clemson, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State offensive lineman Trevor Downing has been named to … Read more…
We’ve covered what Lindy’s and Athlon Sports‘ college football preview magazines have said about the Cyclones, but it’s time to get to the big one. Chris Williams and I sometimes joke about which magazine is the best between these three brands, with my childhood bias to Phil Steele coming out in full force. It’s been … Read more…
“Defense is everything.” Those are the words of Iowa State freshman forward Demarion Watson, who met with the media for the first time since joining the program on Thursday. They’re the words of a player who knows exactly what it will take for him to work his way into the Cyclones’ rotation this winter and … Read more…
Iowa State freshmen Eli King and Demarion Watson talk about their first few weeks of college hoops, the adjustment to the game, how they’re working to improve their games and more in these videos courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
Iowa State senior wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson pulls in a touchdown reception in the third quarter against Oklahoma State on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson has been named to the … Read more…
Outside of my family, nothing has had a bigger impact on my life than Iowa State and in particular Cyclone Athletics. The amount of time invested, the friends met, the ups and the downs and the life experiences gained from being a Cyclone are incalculable. It is with that in mind, that I’m ecstatic to … Read more…
Iowa State earned its 19th commitment to the 2023 football recruiting class Wednesday in Lincoln, Neb. wide receiver Beni Ngoyi. The three-star, 6-foot-4 prospect announced over Instagram Live that he would be continuing his college football career at Iowa State, picking the program over final choices Washington and Nebraska. While on stage, Ngoyi thanked his … Read more…
In another piece of a 10-part series previewing the Iowa State football season, Chris Williams, Jared Stansbury, Jeff Woody Brent Blum and Connor Ferguson dive into Iowa State’s schedule and pick the Cyclone they’re most excited to watch in 2022. Chris Williams: It’s Hunter Dekkers. The behind-the-scenes confidence the program has had about this kid … Read more…
Talks of the Big 12 and PAC 12 conferences potentially merging have ended, according to multiple reports on Monday. As first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel , the pair of power conferences had conversations about a potential merger in the days and weeks after USC and UCLA announced their departure from the Pac-12 for the … Read more…
Former Cyclone Lindell Wigginton received all-Summer League second team honors this week. In his time with the Milwaukee Bucks summer squad, Wigginton averaged 18.2 points per game, and dished it out 4.6 times per matchup. Wigginton enters his second season in the league under a two-way contract with Milwaukee and will look to burst onto … Read more…
Lincoln, Nebraska’s Beni Ngoyi is announcing his commitment Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. CT. The 6-foot-4, three-star prospect announced on Twitter that his decision would come between Iowa State, Washington, and his home-state school of Nebraska. Ngoyi is rated as the No. 9 prospect in the state, and held offers from Kansas State, Kansas, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, … Read more…
Oct 3, 2020; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) runs up field for a touchdown and putting the Cyclones in the lead 22-20 during their football game at Jack Trice Stadium. Iowa State would go on to defeat Oklahoma 37-30. Mandatory Credit: Brian Powers-USA TODAY Sports The following is a press … Read more…
Pewaukee’s Milan Momcilovic (22) gets inside for two during the WIAA Division 2 state boys basketball championship against La Crosse Central at the Kohl Center in Madison on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Syndication: Journal Sentinel Cyclone Fanatic managing editor Jared Stansbury caught up with new Iowa State commit Milan Momcilovic on Saturday after the four-star … Read more…
Pewaukee forward Milan Momcilovic puts up a hook shot over the defense of Wisconsin Lutheran’s Kon Knueppel during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final on March 12, 2022. Syndication: Journal Sentinel Iowa State has landed another of its priority targets in the 2023 recruiting cycle. Pewaukee, Wis. forward Milan Momcilovic has committed to T.J. Otzelberger’s … Read more…
Pewaukee’s Milan Momcilovic (22) goes up for three during the WIAA Division 2 state boys basketball championship against La Crosse Central at the Kohl Center in Madison on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Syndication: Journal Sentinel Watch highlights of new Iowa State commit Milan Momcilovic in the videos below. Learn more about the four-star forward from … Read more…
Jul 14, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell is interviewed during the Big 12 Media Day at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports ARLINGTON, Texas — Below is a compilation of quotes from side conversations with Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell at the Big 12’s media … Read more…
Iowa State priority target Milan Momcilovic is just days away from making his college decision. The 6-foot-8 four-star prospect will announce his commitment on Saturday at 4 p.m., according to On3. He will choose between Iowa State, Minnesota, Virginia, Michigan State, UCLA and Louisville. Iowa State seems to be the industry-wide favorite to land the … Read more…
Jul 14, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones offensive lineman Trevor Downing is interviewed during the Big 12 Media Day at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports ARLINGTON, Texas — It feels like the offensive line is always a big talker at the conference media days in July. This year was no … Read more…
Hear everything Matt Campbell had to say during his Big 12 Media Days press conference down in Dallas in the video below from the Big 12 Conference.
The following is a transcript from the Big 12 Conference. MATT CAMPBELL: First and foremost, just really extremely grateful to be here and the opportunity to represent Iowa State University, obviously our athletic department and certainly our football program. For me, it is, it’s an honor to be going into our seventh season here at … Read more…
Photo courtesy of the Big 12. ARLINGTON, Texas — We are a month and a half away from kicking off the 2022 football season and I wholeheartedly believe the following: This might be the most wide-open Big 12 season I have ever covered. The league will not have a dominant team and will cannibalize itself … Read more…
Iowa State has released its 2022-23 men’s basketball non-conference schedule officially, opening the season Monday, November 7 against IUPUI. The program released the slate over a video posted to its social media platforms: The full, 13-game portion of the schedule can be seen below: 2022-23 MBB Non-Conference ScheduleNov. 07 | vs. IUPUINov. 13 | vs. … Read more…
Photo courtesy of the Big 12. ARLINGTON, Texas — There is only so much anybody can say on the record in regards to conference realignment. Hardly anything. However, as expected, in new commissioner Brett Yormark’s first public appearance in his new role, that was unequivocally the hot topic during the Big 12’s annual media day … Read more…
Photo courtesy of the Big 12. ARLINGTON, Texas — I appreciate people who cut out the crap and get right to the point. That’s what the Big 12’s new commissioner did during his introductory press conference on Wednesday morning in “Jerry World.” “One thing is crystal clear,” Brett Yormark firmly stated. “There is no higher … Read more…
Iowa State defensive line target Elinneus Davis announced over social media that he would be making his college choice Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m. CT. The 6-foot-3, 295-pounder out of Moorhead, Minnesota will tell his choice between the Gophers, Washington and Iowa State – each of which he visited in the Month of June. Davis … Read more…
Happy Monday, Fanatics! I hope everyone had a great and productive weekend, much like I did by spending my Saturday driving down to Kansas City to watch a handful of Iowa State men’s basketball’s priority targets across the next two recruiting cycles play in session four of the EYBL Circuit. When I’m going to watch … Read more…
KANSAS CITY — From the EYBL in Kansas City, Cyclone Fanatic’s Jared Stansbury caught up with 2024 four-start guard Daniel Freitag to talk about his recruiting process and interest in Iowa State.
Iowa State junior running back Breece Hall breaks the tackle of TCU safety Nook Bradford en route to the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State … Read more…
The following is a press release from the Big 12 Conference: After winning last season’s Big 12 Football Championship, Baylor was picked to repeat in the Conference’s 2022 preseason poll, voted on by media representatives. The Bears are the top choice in the rankings for the first time in Big 12 history and broke Oklahoma’s … Read more…
Iowa State priority target Milan Momcilovic is reportedly coming close to making his college decision. The 6-foot-8 four-star prospect from Wisconsin told College Basketball News‘ Chris Monter on Thursday he’ll be announcing his commitment next week prior to the marquee AAU event Peach Jam. The Pewaukee, Wis. native is considering Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan State, … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball’s Ashley Joens has been named Iowa State Athletics’ 2021-22 Celia Barquin Arozamena Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year. Joens concluded her fourth season as a Cyclone averaging 20.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. She also … Read more…
Iowa State guard Gabe Kalscheur gives his thoughts on why he’s coming back to Ames for another year, how the team is doing through the first few weeks of summer practice and more in this CFTV.
Iowa State freshman guard Tamin Lipsey talks about his first few weeks of practice with the Cyclones, where he’s still adjusting to the college game, how he can continue to improve and more in this CFTV.
Iowa State has earned its latest commitment for the 2023 recruiting class in Florida defensive back Norris Davis Jr. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound safety announced his decision on social media Wednesday. Davis Jr. picked Iowa State over offers from Ole Miss, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kansas State, Penn State, USF, Boston College, Appalachian State and UConn. It … Read more…
Iowa State senior wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson pulls in a touchdown reception in the third quarter against Oklahoma State on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State had four players named to the 2022 Preseason All-Big … Read more…
The wheels of conference realignment are spinning fast. Just days after USC and UCLA shook the college landscape again by announcing a move to the Big Ten, CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd reports the Big 12 is deep in discussions to add up to six of the remaining Pac-12 teams. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah … Read more…
One of Iowa State’s top targets for the 2023 recruiting cycle stood out in a big way at one of the college basketball recruiting calendar’s biggest events last week. Waukee forward Omaha Biliew was named as one of the 10 all-star selections last week at the NBA Top 100 Camp, signifying the five-star prospect was … Read more…
Iowa State fans got some good news to kick off their Independence Day celebrations Monday with the release of three-star prospect Jordan Allen’s top four. The Cyclones appear among the 6-foot-4 EDGE recruit’s final choices, along with Iowa, Missouri and Kansas State. Allen held offers from Washington, Vanderbilt and USC among other programs, but is … Read more…
Brandon Henderson made things official on Friday afternoon. The 6-foot-5 offensive line prospect will be a Cyclone after his senior season at East St. Louis High School. Henderson chose the Cyclones over Illinois, Nebraska, Miami (Ohio), Toledo, Tulsa, Murray State and Northwestern State. He’s rated by 247Sports as the No. 15 prospect to come out … Read more…
Watch highlights of new Iowa State men’s basketball commit Jelani Hamilton in the video below. Learn more about the four-star guard’s commitment to Iowa State here.
Iowa State has landed the first major piece of its 2023 recruiting class. Four-star guard Jelani Hamilton announced his pledge to the program on Friday, becoming the program’s first commitment of this recruiting cycle. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard from Austell, Ga. officially visited Ames last month. Rated as the No. 111 player in the class … Read more…
Mar 18, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Deonte Burton (30) dunks the ball during the second half of the game against the Purdue Boilermakers in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports There will be a significant Cyclone flavor to … Read more…
For once, significant dominoes in college athletics realignment are falling and the Big 12 is not involved — yet. USC and UCLA are reportedly set to join the Big Ten in the coming days, sending college athletics even further towards the possibility of two superconferences in the Big Ten and SEC. The impending dominoes falling … Read more…
Iowa State earned a a commitment from a prospect with as unique of an offer sheet as anyone in the team’s 2023 recruiting class. Missouri defensive lineman Trevor Buhr announced his commitment to the program on Thursday, picking Iowa State over Washington, Texas A&M, Kentucky, Nebraska and Iowa. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive lineman is the … Read more…
Kansas prospect Samuel Same announced his commitment to Iowa State on Tuesday, bringing the 2023 recruiting class to 15 players. The three-star edge rusher’s decision leaned on the culture of the program and the familiar feel he had when he visited Ames. “What made me pick Iowa State was just the culture of the whole … Read more…
The best quarterbacks across the country in the 2023 recruiting class met up this week at the three-day, Elite 11 showcase event in California. During opening day, Iowa State’s J.J. Kohl showed out. The four-star prospect and current Ankeny High School quarterback was named as the On3 Recruiting Top Performer for Day 1 of the … Read more…
Former Cyclone George Conditt IV is headed to the NBA Summer League. After playing with the Puerto Rican national team this year, Conditt has signed with the Wolves to participate in the rookie and sophomore session. Conditt IV averaged 4.9 points per game while helping Iowa State to its latest Sweet 16 birth in the … Read more…
Jun 1, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris (11) reacts to a score in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers during game five in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports For the first time in his professional career, Monte … Read more…
A three-star linebacker recruit out of Indianapolis, Indiana will announce his college decision over social media on Wednesday. Iowa State target Aycen Stevens announced he would be making his decision between the program in Ames, Virginia Tech, Nebraska and Purdue this Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. CT. Stevens other offers included Wisconsin, Tennessee and West Virginia … Read more…
Entering the latest dead period for the NCAA recruiting calendar, Iowa State has earned its 15th commitment of the 2023 recruiting class from Samuel Same. The three-star prospect chose the Cyclones over Houston, Illinois, Kansas, as well as Oregon State, where he visited over the past weekend. The Derby, Kansas native is rated as the … Read more…
Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy (15) reacts after getting forced out of bounds on a run during a NCAA college football game in the Cheez-It Bowl against Clemson, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State’s … Read more…
The Big 12 has reportedly found its next commissioner. The league has targeted Roc Nation COO Brett Yormark to be the conference’s next commissioner, as first reported by Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger. Yormark will replace longtime commissioner Bob Bowlsby, who announced his retirement from college athletics earlier this year. Yormark is certainly what would be … Read more…
This summer’s Elite 11 finals begin Tuesday and Iowa State quarterback commit JJ Kohl is set to compete in the contest. Invited at the beginning of the month, Kohl is one of 20 quarterbacks competing in the three-day event, being held at Redondo Union HS in Redondo Beach, Calif. Contrary to the Elite 11’s old … Read more…
Still 14 months away from being on the field in college football, quarterback commit J.J. Kohl is already putting his leadership skills on display. Along with other members of the 2023 recruiting class, Kohl is playing an ambassador role in trying to get more high-profile recruits to commit to playing at Iowa State. “Me and … Read more…
In another piece of a 10-part series previewing the Iowa State football season, Chris Williams, Jared Stansbury, Jeff Woody Brent Blum and Connor Ferguson dive into Iowa State’s schedule and name the true freshman they’re most excited about going into the 2022 season. Chris Williams: A very difficult question to answer. I think wide receiver … Read more…
Iowa State earned its sixth in-state commitment of the 2023 recruiting class on Saturday in Southeast Polk ATH Abu Sama. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound prospect earned his Iowa State offer earlier this month and has been gaining notice from area schools over the summer. Sama recorded 20 tackles on the defensive side for the Rams during … Read more…
Iowa State 2023 priority recruit and four-star guard Jelani Hamilton will be announcing his college commitment next week. The Austell, Ga. native told On3 he will announce his decision on July 1. He officially visited Ames last week. Rated as the No. 111 player in the 2023 recruiting class, the 6-foot-6 guard also holds scholarship … Read more…
Iowa State earned its 13th commitment to the 2023 recruiting class on Friday, landing 2023 safety Tashawn James. The 6-foot prospect chose Iowa State over Tulsa and Northern Iowa and marks the halfway point of the program’s 25 scholarship allotment. In the Hudl highlight below, James has a play where he knocks a players helmet … Read more…
Izaiah Brockington is on his way to New Orleans. The breakout player from Iowa State signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the New Orleans Pelicans and will have a chance to make the team’s roster this season. An Exhibit 10 deal is a minimum-salary, one-year contract that doesn’t count against the cap unless Brockington makes … Read more…
Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger met with the media on Thursday to discuss how the roster rounded out, his team’s first few days of summer workouts and more. Watch the full interview in the video below.
New Iowa State Cyclones, and St. Bonaventure transfers, Jaren Holmes and Osun Osunniyi met with the media on Thursday to discuss their first few weeks in Ames and more. Watch the full interview in the video below.
This week I took calls for questions on Twitter and the forums. Let’s empty out the mailbag and answer some of the best ones I got: Ted Flint on Twitter: Whose face ends up on the Choo Choo Motherf*cker train this year? The obvious answer to this is new starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers. It won’t … Read more…
Another one of the major college football preview magazines is out and available for the public in Athlon Sports’ 2022 edition. We break down where Iowa State slots out for Athlon and where it compares to Lindy’s edition ahead of the season. Much like Lindy’s the writers at Athlon project the Cyclones to finish sixth … Read more…
Iowa State has added another commitment to its 2023 recruiting class in Minnesota running back / ATH recruit Carson Hansen. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound athlete is rated as the No. 6 prospect out of Minnesota and chose Iowa State over Kansas State, Northwestern, Air Force and Army, among others. Hansen was part of the big weekend … Read more…
Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz, right, meets with Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell prior to kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. In the third piece of a 10-part series previewing the Iowa State football season, Chris Williams, Jared Stansbury, Brent Blum and Connor Ferguson dive into … Read more…
We’re almost halfway through the current recruiting cycle in college football, where Iowa State has already collected 11 commitments for its 2023 recruiting class. Five of them, thus far, have come from the state of Iowa. We’re breaking down where the rest of the top-15 players in the class are on Iowa State’s radar, who … Read more…
Iowa State hosted a 2023 SG on campus Monday in Jelani Hamilton, a 6-foot-6 prospect out of Georgia. The four-star recruit holds offers from Iowa State, Auburn, Alabama, Illinois, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Xavier, LSU, Georgia State, and Georgia Tech. Iowa State offered Hamilton just over three weeks ago and is still looking … Read more…
Four-star power forward and top rated Wisconsin basketball recruit Milan Momcilovic put Iowa State in his top six on Friday afternoon. Announcing the move over social media, Momcilovic includes Iowa State, UCLA, Michigan State, Minnesota, Virginia and Louisville. Iowa State was one of the first schools to offer Momcilovic and the prospect was present for … Read more…
It will be another busy weekend for Iowa State football on the recruiting trail as the program hosts over half a dozen big names to campus. Last weekend’s visit group produced a pair of in-state commtiments and the coaching staff hopes to see similar success this weekend. Joshua Manning and Andre Davis are the four-star … Read more…
Iowa State has officially added the first offensive lineman to its 2023 recruiting class. Three-star Florida interior offensive lineman Brendan Black announced his pledge to Matt Campbell’s program on Friday via his Twitter account. The 6-foot-3.5, 300-pound Yulee, Fla. native officially visited Ames last weekend. Black is considered the No. 66 interior offensive lineman in … Read more…
What has been bubbling under the surface for years took a significant step towards becoming a reality this week. Apple made a blockbuster deal with Major League Soccer. The agreement will reportedly pay MLS $250 million per year and includes the tech giant streaming every game throughout the season. MLS made history by becoming the … Read more…
Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell celebrates with his players after the Cyclones scored a touchdown in the second quarter against Oklahoma State on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. In the second piece of a 10-part series previewing the Iowa State football season, Chris Williams, Jared Stansbury, Brent Blum … Read more…
Gabe Kalscheur plays defense on Missouri’s Jarron Coleman in Iowa State’s 67-50 win over the Tigers on Saturday. Photo by Connor Ferguson. For the second straight season, the SEC/Big 12 Challenge will bring the renewal of a Big Eight rivalry. Iowa State has been slated to play former conference rival Missouri in the event scheduled … Read more…
Ethan Plumb is no stranger to the camp setting. Despite having just one season of high school football under his belt, the 6-foot-3 quarterback in the class of 2025 is a veteran on the camp circuit and knows a well-run camp when he sees one. That’s exactly what the Saint Charles, Ill. native encountered on … Read more…
Iowa State beat out Alabama, Kentucky, Indiana and others in a recruiting battle Wednesday night, in what has been a stout summer on the trail for the program. Iowa Western cornerback Myles Norwood announced over social media that he would be playing college football in Ames this fall. “Really, Alabama just didn’t come after me … Read more…
Iowa State welcomed East St. Louis offensive line recruit Paris Patterson and his family to campus on Tuesday, with Patterson competing in the summer camp session that took place. Patterson, a 6-foot-6, 345-pound prospect, impressed coaches throughout the day and liked his experience at the school. “This is really a good place to be,” Patterson … Read more…
It’s early in the recruiting process for Bondurant-Farrar’s Titus Cram, a running back & safety recruit in the class of 2024. However, the young talent has already garnered the eyes of almost every Power 5 school in the Midwest. With offers to both Iowa schools, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kansas and Kansas State, it’s no surprise … Read more…
Oluwafunto Akinshilo came to the United States from Nigeria six years ago to get an education and eventually a full-time job. Then, he started playing basketball. It wasn’t until late into his high school career that Akinshilo tried playing football – and that didn’t stop him from playing junior college football as a 17-year-old. Meet … Read more…
Mar 25, 2022; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger yells during the second half against the Miami Hurricanes in the semifinals of the Midwest regional of the men’s college basketball NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports Iowa State will reportedly host one of its priority targets … Read more…
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell watches from the sideline during a NCAA college football game in the Cheez-It Bowl against Clemson, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. In the first piece of a 10-part series previewing the Iowa State football season, Chris Williams, Jared Stansbury, Jeff Woody, Brent … Read more…
Iowa State had an eventful Monday on the recruiting trail, landing two in-state commits before most families eat dinner in Jamison Patton and Kooper Ebel. However, the program also appeared in the top four of three-star safety prospect Jalyn Stanford’s top choices. Stanford comes out of Jenks, Oklahoma and is rated as the No. 9 … Read more…
Iowa State earned its second commitment toward the 2023 recruiting class on Monday, following a weekend of official visits Friday-Sunday. Hartley, IA ATH prospect Kooper Ebel became the second recruit to announce he would play at Iowa State, following Jamison Patton. Ebel comes to Iowa State as a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder playing his high school ball … Read more…
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard (13) against Cleveland Browns cornerback Greedy Williams (26) during their football game on Saturday December 25, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Syndication: The Post-Crescent Allen Lazard will officially be a Green Bay Packer for at least one more season. The former Cyclone and restricted free … Read more…
The 2023 Iowa State football recruiting class got bigger on Monday, with another in-state target committing to continue his career in Ames. Jamison Patton, a three-star ATH out of Des Moines, announced over social media Monday that he would be a Cyclone next year. Patton, who played through his junior season at Des Moines Roosevelt, … Read more…
Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self celebrates after beating the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA men’s basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports Happy Monday, fanatics! Last week, I did a deep dive into the Big 12 … Read more…
Iowa State football found another addition to its 2022 roster on Saturday, earning a commitment from a 310-pound JUCO offensive lineman. Oluwafunto Akinshilo, a 6-foot-5 prospect out of El Camino College in California, will join the offensive line unit in Ames this fall. Akinshilo chose the Cyclones over Mississippi State, Boise State, New Mexico and … Read more…
Iowa State has added an unlikely piece to its 2022-23 men’s basketball roster. Conrad Hawley announced on Saturday he’s committed to joining Iowa State’s program this season. He is joining the program as a walk-on, sources confirmed to Cyclone Fanatic. The thing that makes the Hawley addition interesting is the fact he spent last season … Read more…
The Big 12 is one step closer to temporarily being a 14-team league. Cincinnati, Central Florida and Houston announced they have reached an agreement with the American Athletic Conference to leave the league at the end of the 2022-23 athletic seasons on Friday, opening the door for the trio, plus independent BYU, to join the … Read more…
Iowa State and its athletic programs are often described as a family. That depiction comes as full circle as it can when talking about Malachi Curvey, a 2025 wide receiver prospect that earned his first offer Wednesday, from Iowa State, after participating in a prospect camp at the school. “It was fun,” Curvey said. “This … Read more…
Iowa State’s latest quarterback commit is headed to a camp to compete against the best competition from around the nation. J.J. Kohl, a 2023 four-star prospect from Ankeny High School, will be competing in this year’s Elite 11 camp. The organization began announcing its final roster Wednesday with five of the 11 quarterbacks that will … Read more…
Iowa State found itself another in-state prospect for its 2023 recruiting class Wednesday. Urbandale wide receiver Kai Black announced over social media that he would be committing to play football in Ames for his collegiate career. Black, a 6-foot-4 prospect, picked the Cyclones over Iowa, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Kansas, Minnesota, and Miami (OH). As … Read more…
Mar 13, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Big 12 school banners hang in the courtyard of the Kansas City Power & Light District following the cancellation of the Big 12 mens basketball tournament due to concerns over the Covid 19 coronavirus. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports With the 2022-23 transfer cycle starting to wind … Read more…
The Big 12 announced late last week it will distribute a record amount of revenue to its 10 member schools for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The league is set to split $426 million ($42.6 million per school), which is a nearly 25 percent increase from last year and a 10 percent increase from the pre-pandemic … Read more…
Mar 11, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Big 12 championship logo at center court prior to the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports The following is a press release from the Big 12 Conference. The Big 12 Conference voted to approve … Read more…
Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy (15) reacts after getting forced out of bounds on a run during a NCAA college football game in the Cheez-It Bowl against Clemson, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The most accomplished quarterback in Iowa State football history has reportedly signed his first professional contract. … Read more…
Iowa State Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger talks with a player during their game against LSU Friday, March 18, 2022, in Milwaukee. Iowa State defeated LSU 59-54. Ever since A.J. Green shocked everyone by announcing his intentions to stay in the NBA Draft on Wednesday, there has been one big question filtering throughout the discussion of … Read more…
The summer weather is here and college football magazines are starting to hit the shelves – it’s that time of year in Iowa. Lindy’s preseason magazine – which picks Iowa State to finish sixth in the Big 12 – is the first to arrive in stores. We’re breaking down everything it says about the Cyclones: … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. Ames, Iowa— After leading the Iowa State men’s basketball program to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015-16 and the third-best turnaround in NCAA history in his debut season on the Cyclone bench, head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been rewarded with … Read more…
The Kansas City Chiefs posted a UDFA video Friday highlighting former Cyclone Mike Rose’s road to being invited to the team’s minicamp:
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – The Big 12 Conference announced television broadcast assignments for Iowa State’s football non-conference games, as well as a date change for the Iowa State-Oklahoma game. The Cyclones’ season-opener against Southeast Missouri (Sept. 3) and the Sept. 17 game against Ohio at … Read more…
PHOTO: David Carr wrestles at 74 kg during the first session of the USA Wrestling World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, Saturday, May 21, 2022, at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. / © Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK. The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. CORALVILLE, Iowa – David Carr earned … Read more…
Iowa State has found itself a special teams coach. Former Central Michigan head coach and Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams senior coaching assistant John Bonamego has been added to the staff in Ames to assist the Cyclones with special teams. Bonamego’s official title will come be as the Senior Special Teams Analyst, rightfully so, … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State redshirt senior defensive end Will McDonald IV has been named to the 2022 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List. The Lott Trophy, named after NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, is annually awarded to the Defensive IMPACT Player of the … Read more…
Iowa State announced Wednesday that its women’s basketball program will be playing a neutral site game against Villanova in December. The Cyclones will be a part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase – a two-game doubleheader with Iowa State and Villanova facing off along with Florida State and UConn. “Iowa State is honored … Read more…
Iowa State has its eyes set on six of the top prospects available in the state of Iowa to fill out its 2023 recruiting class. The class, currently made up of seven players, already has two commitments from Iowa products in four-star quarterback J.J. Kohl and 6-foot-7 tight end Carson Rhodes. Iowa State hopes Des … Read more…
Former Cyclone and native of Ontario Melvin Ejim will be playing some extra basketball this summer. The Canadian Men’s National Team built a 14-player roster set to compete in the third window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifier this summer. Ejim will be on the team, headed by former Iowa Energy coach Nick Nurse, … Read more…
Iowa State Cyclones special team Beau Freyler (17) takes down Oklahoma State punt returner Brennan Presley during the fourth quarter at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Ames, Iowa. Matt Campbell is not concerned about his program’s safety room. No position on Iowa State’s roster was hit harder by the transfer portal than … Read more…
Iowa State has been hot on the JUCO recruiting trail as of late, putting a heavy focus on acquiring more defensive backs for its 2022 roster. The program hosted its latest potential junior college transfer at the position over the weekend in Iowa Western’s Myles Norwood. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound athlete lines up at the cornerback … Read more…
Iowa State women’s basketball commit Audi Crooks picked up a pair of high school track & field championships this week at Drake Stadium. The Algona junior captured a 1A shot put championship Thursday and then earned the class title with this discus throw on Friday: It will excite Cyclone fans to learn of the strength … Read more…
We’re deep in the heart of the 2023 recruiting cycle at this point and although it was a quieter week on the recruiting trail, Iowa State is beginning to make pushes for a plethora of potential future Cyclones. The program lands in a pair of top choice lists and hosts a JUCO player on a … Read more…
Link Academy’s Omaha Biliew (0) dunks during the second half of the GEICO Nationals semifinal between Prolific Prep (Calif.) and Link Academy (Mo.), Friday, April 1, 2022, at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla.Link Academy defeated Prolific Prep 59-53. Iowa State has made the cut for one of the top players in the … Read more…
Iowa State’s opponent in the 2022 Big East-Big 12 Battle is reportedly set. The Cyclones will host St. John’s at Hilton Coliseum on Dec. 4, according to a report from CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. Iowa State is 2-0 in the event with wins over Seton Hall in 2019 and Creighton in 2021. St. Jonn’s went … Read more…
The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletic Communications. AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell announced today the addition of three players to his roster. The three players will be eligible to compete in 2022. The additions include transfer wide receiver Dimitri Stanley and junior college defensive backs Blake … Read more…
Oct 30, 2021; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell along the sidelines late in the fourth quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports Few coaches in college football have shown more of a willingness to adapt to the … Read more…
Mar 20, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; St. Bonaventure Bonnies forward Osun Osunniyi (21) moves to the basket against the Louisiana State Tigers during the second half in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports Game changer. That’s been the most used phrase to … Read more…
Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard spoke to media members on the landscape of college sports and more during the Carroll stop on the Tailgate Tour:
In a year with near-daily headlines pertaining to the changing landscape of college athletics, the Big 12’s hunt for a new commissioner has flown under the radar. Bob Bowlsby is set to step down as the commissioner of the league later this year and the person hired to fill those shoes will have a monumental … Read more…