Iowa State Climbs to No. 5 After Gritty Win Over Baylor-But the Real Test Starts Now
AMES - Hilton Coliseum was rocking on Saturday afternoon, and for good reason. Iowa State held off a tough Baylor squad to notch a three-point win, improving to 21-2 on the season.
It wasn’t just a win-it was a statement. And with senior point guard Tamin Lipsey steering the ship, the Cyclones are proving they’re built for more than just a strong regular season.
That hard-fought victory has launched Iowa State into the No. 5 spot in the latest AP Top 25, and they’re now holding steady in the top 10 while the rest of the college basketball elite scramble. Over the weekend, chaos reigned: No.
3 UConn stumbled at St. John’s, No.
4 Duke fell to rival North Carolina, and No. 5 Illinois was taken down by Michigan State.
Earlier in the week, No. 6 Gonzaga was stunned by Portland.
That kind of shakeup hasn’t happened since early December of 2024, when four of the top five teams all lost in a 48-hour span.
But while others are slipping, Iowa State is surging-and they’re doing it with a gritty, defensive-minded identity that reflects the fingerprints of head coach T.J. Otzelberger.
A Road Test, Then a Clash With Kansas
The Cyclones don’t have long to celebrate. They hit the road Tuesday for a matchup with TCU, and then it’s back home for a marquee showdown against Kansas-the same Kansas team that handed Iowa State a humbling 84-63 loss earlier this season. That memory is still fresh, and you can bet the Cyclones will be looking for redemption in front of their home crowd.
And it doesn’t get any easier from there. Iowa State is staring down a brutal stretch: five of their final eight regular season games are against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25, including a date with No. 1 Arizona, the lone undefeated team left standing.
This is where the season gets real.
Otzelberger’s Impact Can’t Be Overstated
Since taking over ahead of the 2021-22 season, Otzelberger has completely reshaped the trajectory of Iowa State basketball. His squads have now appeared in the AP Top 10 a staggering 37 times-accounting for nearly half of the program’s all-time top-10 appearances. Under his leadership, the Cyclones have been ranked in 66 different AP polls, a testament to the consistency and culture he’s built in just a few short years.
That kind of sustained success doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of a clear identity, elite player development, and a coach who knows how to get the most out of his roster. Lipsey’s leadership on the floor is a reflection of that, but it’s the team’s collective buy-in that’s made Iowa State one of the most dangerous teams in the country.
The Road Ahead
With the AP Top 25 now featuring a few new faces and some familiar ones in new places, here’s how the current rankings shake out:
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Houston
- Duke
- Iowa State
- UConn
- Nebraska
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Michigan State
- North Carolina
- Gonzaga
- Purdue
- Florida
- Virginia
- Texas Tech
- St.
John's
18.
St. Louis
- Vanderbilt
- Clemson
- Arkansas
- BYU
- Miami-Ohio
- Louisville
- Kentucky
Iowa State’s climb to No. 5 is well-earned, but the real proving ground is just ahead. With a schedule packed with top-tier opponents and a chance to avenge earlier losses, the Cyclones aren’t just jockeying for seeding-they’re building a case as a legitimate national title contender.
The next few weeks will tell us everything we need to know.