Iowa State’s lineup picture changed fast, and the reason is Tamin Lipsey.
An Indiana court recently ruled that Lipsey is eligible to return to school for a fifth season, giving the Cyclones back one of the best players in program history. Since he did not declare for the NBA draft or sign a professional contract after graduating, he is not affected by some of the new Big 12 rules that block players from coming back for a fifth season under the 5-in-5 eligibility rules.
That decision gives Iowa State a major lift and forces a fresh look at what the opening night five could be.
At point guard, Lipsey is the obvious anchor. He’s the program’s all-time steals leader, and he’s not done climbing there.
He is also in position to challenge Monte Morris for the program lead in assists. More than the numbers, though, he changes the entire shape of the team as a high-level two-way guard and the best point-of-attack defender in the country.
The ripple effect starts immediately behind him. Iowa State brought in Jaquan Johnson from the transfer portal to serve as a Lipsey replacement, and the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year gives the Cyclones a similar kind of edge. Now, instead of taking over for Lipsey, Johnson gets to learn from him.
The other backcourt opening comes with a setback. Killyan Toure would have filled that spot, but he is out until mid-to-late January while recovering from shoulder surgery. That pushes Jamarion Batemon into a bigger role right away.
Batemon’s freshman season built toward this moment. His role kept growing as the year went on, and now he looks ready for a major jump in responsibility.
He’s likely to take on the kind of scoring burden Milan Momcilovic handled as the team’s top shooter, and the numbers back up the optimism: Batemon actually shot better from 3-point range than Momcilovic did in their freshman seasons. He may be the best 3-point shooter on the roster, and even when Toure returns, Batemon should still be in the starting mix despite some concerns about the group’s perimeter size.
On the wing, Leon Bond III looks like the next transfer to fit the Cyclones’ mold. Coming over from Northern Iowa, he follows the same path Nate Heise took as a two-way connector who arrived from the Panthers and settled into a valuable role.
Bond should open the season as a starter, and when Toure is back, he could slide into a bench role. The expectation is that he can function much like Heise did as a sixth starter, ready to step in whenever needed.
In the frontcourt, Tre Singleton is the piece Iowa State seems poised to build around at power forward. The Northwestern transfer was viewed early in the transfer window as a Joshua Jefferson replacement, and he’ll step directly into that role.
As a freshman, Singleton averaged 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, and there’s plenty to like if his 3-point shot comes along. His 73.8% free-throw shooting suggests there’s room for that part of his game to grow.
Given what Otzelberger and his staff did with Jefferson, there’s real buzz around Singleton’s ceiling.
Blake Buchanan rounds out the group as one of four returning rotation players from last season’s Sweet 16 team. Year 2 in Ames should bring a bigger spotlight, especially on offense after he made 63.6% of his shot attempts last season, the most efficient year of his college career.
Even if the scoring role stays modest, his defense already fits the way T.J. Otzelberger wants to play.
Buchanan’s athleticism has made him a strong match for the aggressive trapping system, and the added frontcourt depth could make things even more interesting if he shares the floor with Dominykas Pleta or Taj Manning, both of whom bring a physical presence inside.
In Other News...
Iowa State Already Has Three Reasons To Feel Better About This Team
Iowa State has spent the first month of the season leaving the impression of a team that is better than its record shows. At 2-2, the Cyclones have already banked wins over Southeast Missouri State and Bowling Green, and they have also hung tough in close losses to ranked Iowa and Utah. What stands out most is not just the competitiveness, but the way this team is winning its moments in the areas that usually travel well from week to week.
The run game, run defense and special teams have all given Iowa State reasons to feel good about where it is headed. Aiden Flora, Cameron Pettaway, Arnold Barnes III and Kyle Konrardy have each shown up in ways that reinforce that broader picture, giving the Cyclones useful pieces on both sides of the ball and on the kicking game. For a team still trying to sort out its early-season ceiling, those are the kinds of building blocks that can keep the season pointed in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Has A Homecoming Problem It Can't Afford Again
Homecoming weekend is supposed to bring a little extra energy, and Iowa State will need it when West Virginia brings a fast-moving offense into the building. Head coach Jimmy Rogers has spent the build-up talking about the problems his defense has to solve against quarterback Michael Hawkins and tailback Cam Cook, a pairing that can force a defense to think and react at top speed. For the Cyclones, the challenge is as much about communication as it is about talent, because the Mountaineers are the kind of team that punishes hesitation.
Rogers said the key is getting calls made quickly and keeping the tackling fundamentals clean, two areas that can decide whether a game stays manageable or starts slipping away in a hurry. Iowa State also heads into the matchup with the betting odds moving in its favor, which only sharpens the stakes for a home date it would prefer to control from the opening series. The Cyclones have the setting and the momentum on paper, but the test is whether they can match West Virginias pace when the game starts speeding up for real. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Faces An Early Test That Could Define Bowl Hopes
Iowa State is settling into a busy week at the MidAmerican Energy Complex with a little football, a little pageantry and a little pressure. The Cyclones are set to host West Virginia while also rolling through homecoming week, giving students and alumni plenty to circle on the calendar as the program tries to keep its focus on the field. Between the game plan and the surrounding events, there is no shortage of attention on the team as it works through an early part of the schedule that already feels significant.
The matchup comes with an added layer of context thanks to ESPNs FPI, which has refreshed the outlook on Iowa States path through a challenging slate and the implications for its bowl chances. Before the weekend arrives, the Cyclones will also hold a media day with head coach Jimmy Rogers and offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl speaking to reporters, another chance to gauge where the team stands and how it is approaching the test ahead. [Read more 🡒]