Iowa State’s 2026-27 season will open in a setting that stands out as much as the matchup itself: the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD. The Cyclones will face Memphis on Monday, Nov. 2nd in what should be a notable early test for both teams.
This is a game with real weight on both sides of the floor. Iowa State enters the season viewed as a top Big 12 contender, armed with strong depth and a few players who could rise into star territory. That has fueled belief that the Cyclones could make a run to the Final Four, something the program hasn’t done since 1944.
Memphis has its own urgency. The Tigers are trying to get back to the NCAA tournament after missing out last season.
They’ve had success lately, but the expectations around this group are a little lower than usual. Still, they come into the year ranked second in the American Conference preseason media poll and hoping to win the league.
The setting only adds to the appeal. The Sanford Pentagon is one of the more distinctive college basketball venues around, with a capacity of just 3,250. It offers a close-up atmosphere in rural mid-America that gives the game a different feel from the usual major-arena opener.
Iowa State has a history there, too. The Cyclones have played at the Sanford Pentagon three times, starting in 1965 with a win over Augustana, the Division II school in Sioux Falls. After a 50-year gap, they returned in 2015 for a non-conference game against Colorado and came away with a 68-62 victory.
Ten years after that, they were back again in 2025 and handled Mississippi State, 96-80. That performance was another reminder that the Pentagon does not hand out easy nights, even if the building is small. It also showed Iowa State can put on a show offensively against quality opposition.
Now the Cyclones will meet Memphis there in a neutral-site game on Nov. 2nd, 2026, per release. It’s another chance for Iowa State to start the year in a place that has clearly treated them well, and another chance for fans to take in one of the coolest venues in the sport.
In Other News...
Iowa State Gets Encouraging Killyan Toure News Amid A Frustrating Delay
Killyan Toures Iowa State outlook comes with both a setback and a reminder of how highly regarded he is. The Cyclones expect the guard to miss the start of the 2026-27 season after shoulder surgery, with a return projected by mid-January, but his place on the Jerry West Award Preseason Watch List says plenty about the respect he has already earned. The honor puts him among the top shooting guards in Division I and makes him one of four Big 12 players recognized on the list.
For Iowa State, the timing is frustrating because Toure was expected to be a major piece alongside Tamin Lipsey. The delay will test the Cyclones early, especially with one of their more promising perimeter options unavailable, but the preseason recognition underscores the upside waiting once he gets back on the floor. The bigger question now is how Iowa State manages the opening stretch before Toure can rejoin the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Suddenly Needs More From Jamarion Batemon
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The challenge for Batemon is turning those flashes into something more consistent as his playing time grows. His season also had its rough patches, including a difficult shooting stretch in the NCAA tournament, so this next step is less about rediscovering his game than proving he can deliver it night after night. Iowa State will still want the same two-way impact from him, only now the Cyclones need a steadier version of it for a longer stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Ashleigh Connor Could Shape Iowa State If One Concern Fades
Ashleigh Connor arrives at Iowa State with the kind of rsum that fits a team looking for stability at point guard. The redshirt senior already has experience running a college offense as a starter at La Salle, where she led the Explorers in points and assists, and the Cyclones are counting on her to bring that same blend of organization and production to both ends of the floor.
The only real question hanging over her early impact is the ankle she sprained while getting ready for the season. Connor is expected to be ready for the opener, which matters because Iowa State is looking for a veteran presence who can settle the group immediately and help set the tone from the backcourt. If she is fully healthy, she could become one of the more important pieces on the roster right away. [Read more 🡒]