Cyclones Hit the Reset Button as Big Goals Loom Ahead
AMES - T.J. Otzelberger runs a tight ship.
That much is clear to anyone who’s watched an Iowa State practice or seen the Cyclones grind through a game. His standards are sky-high, his expectations unwavering.
But even the most disciplined programs need a breather now and then - and the Cyclones just took one.
After a four-day holiday break, Iowa State returned to Ames on Christmas night, recharging both physically and mentally before diving back into the grind of the season. For a team that’s been going full throttle since June - and hopes to keep playing deep into March, maybe even April - the pause wasn’t just welcome, it was necessary.
“We put a lot of work into our day-to-day process,” Otzelberger said Friday morning as the Cyclones resumed practice. “So, I think when there’s times to reset, recharge, you need to take advantage of those. Get your body feeling great, spend time with people you care about, and come back with a renewed energy and excitement for what’s in front of us.”
That “what’s in front of us” part? It’s no small thing.
Iowa State is one of just six unbeaten teams left in college basketball. The Cyclones are building something real - and they know it.
The dream of playing on the first Monday in April, under the bright lights of the national championship game, isn’t just a fantasy. It’s a target.
But sustaining that level of intensity for nearly a year straight? That’s not how championship runs are built.
“You can’t go from June until late March or April and be all the way turned up to 10 out of 10 every single day,” Otzelberger said. “You’ve got to find ways to pick your spots. Where you need to have great practices and energy, you need to pick your spots where you need to mentally get away from it.”
That’s exactly what the last few days were about. Some players went home for the holidays.
Others, like freshman Killyan Toure, had family come to them. For Toure, whose family lives in France, a quick international trip wasn’t in the cards.
Instead, they made the journey to Ames - and got to see him play in Iowa State’s final game before the break, a dominant 91-60 win over Long Beach State.
Then came the holiday, spent together in Ames. Not a bad way to close out the year.
This kind of balance - between relentless work and intentional rest - is something Otzelberger emphasizes often. It’s part of the culture he’s building at Iowa State.
Yes, the Cyclones are tough, disciplined, and competitive. But they’re also grounded.
“We talked to our guys a lot about this,” Otzelberger said. “It’s not who you are, it’s what you do.
And you have to treat it as such. As important as it is, and as competitive as we are, it doesn’t define you as a person.
It’s something that you do, that you have a tremendous passion for.”
That mindset matters, especially as the pressure ramps up. The Cyclones have put themselves in the national spotlight - now the challenge is staying there. That means knowing when to push, when to pause, and how to keep the fire burning without burning out.
If this group can keep that balance, they’re going to be a problem for a lot of teams come March. And maybe, just maybe, into April.