Iowa State got a major lift for its basketball season before the games even start: Tamin Lipsey is back.
The Cyclones made the announcement by posting a picture of Lipsey’s jersey in the locker room, confirming that the guard will return to the program after receiving a legal win for a fifth year of eligibility. For Iowa State, it’s a huge development - and one that changes the look of the backcourt right away.
That backcourt had already been a question because of Killyan Toure’s injury. Toure could be sidelined until conference play in January, which would have put added pressure on the guard rotation early in the season. Lipsey’s return eases that concern in a big way.
Lipsey was widely viewed as having played his final game for the Cyclones, and his resume already put him among the best players in program history. Last season, he averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game, giving Iowa State production on both ends of the floor.
His presence matters even more after a busy offseason of departures. Joshua Jefferson went to the NBA and was selected in the first round of the draft, while Milan Momcilovic tested the NBA waters before entering the transfer portal and leaving for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Head coach T.J. Otzelberger has continued to build a strong program, and even with major turnover, he worked the transfer portal to reshape the roster.
Coming off a Sweet 16 appearance and a strong 2025-26 campaign, the Cyclones were already aiming to take another step forward. Lipsey’s return gives them a proven guard and raises the ceiling again.
There is still plenty of legal movement around the country involving players seeking a fifth year of eligibility, and the NCAA has options to respond to the ruling. For now, though, Iowa State has the answer it wanted: Lipsey is officially back.
In Other News...
Iowa States Loss Exposed A Bigger Problem Than One Bad Half
Iowa States 31-17 loss to Utah did more than hand the Cyclones a setback on the scoreboard. It put a spotlight on a stretch of football that looked out of sync in almost every phase, with the run game stalling, the passing attack lacking consistency and the defense getting pushed around early before settling in a bit after halftime.
The second-half response at least suggested there was some fight left in the group, but the bigger concern is how much had to go wrong before the Cyclones found their footing. Third-down struggles, missed tackles and quarterback Jaylen Raynors accuracy and decision-making all stood out as issues that cant be chalked up to one bad half, and they leave Iowa State with real work to do before the next opportunity to reset. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Is Still Missing The One Thing That Changes Everything
Oklahoma State looked a lot more like the team it hoped to be after shaking off an early setback and handling West Virginia 41-24, with quarterback Drew Mestemaker throwing for 389 yards and three touchdowns. The result mattered beyond Stillwater, too, because it left West Virginia already trying to regroup at the start of Big 12 play while the rest of the league continued to sort itself out, including Iowa States place in the early-season picture.
For the Cyclones, the larger concern is the same one that hovers over a handful of contenders in the conference: the difference between looking capable and looking complete. Iowa State has had enough good stretches, and enough individual bright spots, to stay in the conversation with teams like Utah, Cincinnati and Kansas State, but the Big 12 tends to expose any missing piece fast. Until that one thing shows up consistently, the margin for error stays thin. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Faces A West Virginia Test That Could Frustrate Fans Again
West Virginia arrives in Ames with enough speed and playmaking to make this one feel familiar for Iowa State fans, who have seen their team get dragged into tight, frustrating game scripts before. The Mountaineers still have a lot to sort out after a loss to Oklahoma State, but quarterback Michael Hawkins gives them a dual-threat threat, wideout DJ Epps can stretch a defense, and running back Cam Cook has helped keep the offense moving on the ground.
For the Cyclones, the matchup is less about flash and more about whether they can keep West Virginia from turning the game into a track meet. Hawkins' ability to hurt teams both ways, plus linebacker Isaiah Patterson's production on defense, gives the Mountaineers a few paths to make this uncomfortable, and a difficult stretch ahead means they are not likely to treat this as just another stop on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]