The Big 12 coaches still see Iowa State as a team firmly in the mix.
That’s the message from the preseason poll, where the Cyclones landed fourth with 181 points. They finished just one point ahead of Texas Tech in fifth and only five points behind Kansas in third, leaving those three programs clustered together in what looks like the conference’s next tier behind the top two.
Arizona took the top spot with 220 points and 12 first-place votes, while Houston was second with 214 points and the other four first-place votes. The gap between those two and everyone else is sizable, at least in the coaches’ eyes.
For Iowa State, though, this is still a strong sign heading into another season under T.J. Otzelberger.
Year 6 brings the same familiar goals: push for a Big 12 title and finally take the next step in the NCAA tournament. Otzelberger has already guided the Cyclones to three Sweet 16 trips, but all three runs ended there, with Iowa State going 0-3 in those games.
The roster gives them a real chance to keep showing up on the league’s shortlist. Tamin Lipsey returning for a fifth year is a huge lift, especially with Killyan Toure sidelined at least until mid-January because of a shoulder injury. That kind of backcourt stability matters, and Lipsey’s presence should help both the floor and the ceiling.
There’s also valuable experience coming back in Ames. Blake Buchanan, Jamarion Batemon and Dominykas Pleta are all entering their second season with the program, which gives Iowa State some continuity at a time when plenty of new faces are being blended in.
The newcomers bring more options, too. Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan and Yusef Gray Jr. could earn real minutes as freshmen, while Jaquan Johnson, Tre Singleton, Leon Bond III, Ryan Prather Jr. and Taj Manning are all part of the mix after transferring to Ames.
That kind of depth is a big reason the Cyclones are viewed so favorably. Otzelberger has enough versatility on this roster to mix and match, and that should help Iowa State handle injuries and different styles much better than in past seasons.
In Other News...
Iowa States Passing Game Just Took Another Brutal Hit
Iowa States passing game is running out of answers just as the season reaches its toughest stretch, with Dominic Overby now sidelined by a knee injury suffered against BYU. Head coach Jimmy Rogers confirmed on Coaches Corner that the wide receivers injury is season-ending, removing one of the Cyclones more dependable targets from a group that has already been hit hard.
Overby had been a leading receiver for Iowa State, and losing him only deepens the strain on a room that has seen multiple season-ending injuries pile up. For a team trying to keep its offense moving, the challenge now is less about replacing one player than finding enough healthy bodies to keep the passing game functional at all. [Read more 🡒]
Blake Buchanan Could Decide How Far Iowa State Can Go
Blake Buchanan is back in a spot where Iowa State needs him to matter immediately, and not just because of what he did last season after arriving from Virginia. The Cyclones are counting on the returning big man to be one of the most important pieces of the upcoming college basketball season, with his steady production from a year ago giving the staff a clear baseline for what he can provide.
T.J. Otzelberger has already made it clear how much Buchanan means to the program, calling him the best defensive big man he has coached and pointing to the way he leads and anchors that end of the floor. For a team with bigger goals ahead, that kind of presence can shape the ceiling of the season, and Buchanan's role may end up being one of the biggest reasons Iowa State can push as far as it hopes. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Faces A Huge Basketball Decision Beyond This Season
Iowa State enters the season with real buzz on both sides of the program, as the men sit No. 6 in the preseason KenPom rankings and project to be elite on defense while still bringing enough offense to stay in the national conversation. That makes the present feel pretty good in Ames, but it also puts a long-term spotlight on what comes next, especially around the womens program, where continuity has been a hallmark for years.
Bill Fennellys announcement that he will retire after the 2026-27 season has quietly turned into one of the bigger future storylines for the Cyclones. The list of possible successors already includes familiar and interesting names such as Heather Ezell, Billy Fennelly and Caroline McCombs, which means Iowa States eventual choice could carry both program history and serious expectations when the time comes. [Read more 🡒]