The first look at Iowa State’s 2026-27 season could come with a lineup built around familiarity, defense and a whole lot of new pieces. The Cyclones open the preseason with an exhibition against Creighton at Hilton Coliseum, and while T.J. Otzelberger’s group is deeper and more versatile than it has been in past years, there are still plenty of moving parts to sort out before the regular season begins.
One of the biggest questions is how the starting five will come together. There is a clear place to begin if Tamin Lipsey is cleared and eligible to play.
Lipsey participated in Senior Night after a successful four-year career in Ames, but he is back for a fifth season after being part of an Indiana lawsuit for athletes looking to take advantage of the new 5-in-5 eligibility rules. If he is available, he should be the starter at point guard.
That matters because Iowa State will not have Killyan Toure, his expected replacement, on the court until mid-January at the earliest. Lipsey gives the Cyclones a veteran two-way presence who lifts both the floor and the ceiling of the team. He was viewed as one of the best point guards in the country last season, and that still applies.
Next to him, Jaquan Johnson looks like the likeliest backcourt partner. Otzelberger brought him in from Bradley to help fill the void at point guard, and he arrives with real credentials as the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Rather than replacing Lipsey, though, Johnson now appears set to start beside him. It’s a small backcourt, but one that can hound opposing ball-handlers and pressure the perimeter from the opening tip.
On the wing, the task of stepping into Milan Momcilovic’s spot is a difficult one. His historic shooting season is not something one player can simply duplicate, but Jamarion Batemon is the most likely candidate to get the first crack at it.
The sophomore is entering Year 2 in Ames, and his role is set to grow in a big way. His shooting from deep is essential if Iowa State wants its offense to keep moving smoothly.
He already showed as a freshman that he can hold up defensively, too. If Otzelberger wants more size in the lineup, Leon Bond III is another option there.
Tre Singleton is in position to take over another major role after Joshua Jefferson’s departure. The Cyclones brought him in to fill that vacancy, and the fit makes sense on paper.
Singleton and Jefferson share similarities in body type and skill set, and while Singleton may not be the most explosive athlete, he knows how to use his size. If his jump shot keeps coming along, he has a path to becoming a versatile three-level scorer while giving Iowa State the same kind of defensive versatility Jefferson provided.
The only returning starter from last season who is certain to be in the lineup for both the exhibition and the regular season is Blake Buchanan. Now in Year 2 under Otzelberger, he enters the year with plenty of intrigue around what he can add.
Buchanan already brings strong defense and fits perfectly in Iowa State’s trapping style, with rim protection to match. The part worth watching now is whether his offensive role grows.
He showed some playmaking ability and was efficient as a scorer, and with more experience in the system, he could handle the ball more often.
In Other News...
Iowa State Just Lost A Weapon It Could Not Afford To Lose
A key piece of Iowa States depth chart went down in a way the Cyclones could not have wanted, with Dominic Overby suffering a season-ending knee injury in the game against BYU. Coach Rogers confirmed the news on the Iowa State Coaches Corner podcast, ending any suspense about Overbys status for the rest of the year.
Overby had been carving out an increasingly important role as both a wide receiver and a special teams contributor, making his absence more than just a loss of one body. For a team that was counting on reliable help in multiple phases, losing a player on that kind of upward trajectory changes the feel of the rotation and leaves Iowa State looking for answers it would rather not need this soon. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa States New Point Guard Faces A Tough Path To Minutes
Yusef Gray Jr. arrives in Ames with plenty to like about his game and not much certainty about his immediate role. The 6-4 point guard and Wisconsin Mr. Basketball finalist joins Iowa State after a shoulder injury cut short his senior season, but his profile still fits what the Cyclones tend to value: defense, competitiveness and enough scoring punch to make a backcourt assignment worth watching.
The challenge is the depth chart in front of him. Iowa State already has a crowded point guard room with injured and experienced players vying for minutes, so Grays path may be more about earning every opportunity than stepping into a defined role right away. Still, the Cyclones have seen young guards make real contributions before, and Gray has the kind of background that gives him a chance to do the same if the opening comes. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Faces A Brutal Stretch That Could Decide Everything
After the bye week, Iowa State returns to a season that suddenly feels like it is on a narrow track. The loss to BYU left the Cyclones with six games left, and the margin for error is thin if they want to reach bowl eligibility. With Arizona, Oklahoma State and Baylor all still ahead, there is not much room for a stumble if they hope to keep their postseason path straightforward.
The bigger issue is timing. Iowa State needs at least three wins from this final stretch, and the games coming right after the bye will go a long way toward shaping the rest of the year. A strong start out of the break would give the Cyclones some breathing room, while a slow one would make the closing weeks feel a lot heavier. [Read more 🡒]