Iowa State’s season opener didn’t bring much comfort for the Cyclones, but Tre Singleton gave them something real to build on.
Against Memphis at the Sanford Pentagon, the Cyclones looked off from the start. The defense that usually defines a T.J.
Otzelberger team wasn’t nearly sharp enough, and Iowa State struggled to string together stops with any consistency. Even with Tamin Lipsey, Jaquan Johnson and Jamarion Batemon in the backcourt, the Tigers controlled that area more than the Cyclones would have liked.
Still, there was a bright spot in Singleton’s first game in an Iowa State uniform.
The power forward, who transferred in from Northwestern to help fill the void left by Joshua Jefferson after Jefferson became a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, delivered a strong two-way debut. Memphis was missing its best frontcourt player, Nemanja Popovic, and Singleton made the most of the matchup. He was a force around the rim, piling up six offensive rebounds and turning those extra chances into production.
Singleton finished 5-of-7 from the field and scored 11 points, showing the kind of efficiency Iowa State can use from its frontcourt. He also flashed some of the passing ability Otzelberger likes from his bigs, including a clean big-to-big feed to Dominykas Pleta in the second half that led to an easy dunk when Memphis sent a double team his way.
He wasn’t just active on the offensive end. Singleton controlled the glass with 11 rebounds, giving him a double-double in his first outing for the Cyclones. He also filled up the defensive stat sheet with two steals and one block, good for three STOCKS overall.
There were rough edges, too. Singleton committed three turnovers, the most on the team, and picked up four personal fouls that limited him at times. Even so, he still logged 28 minutes and made life difficult for Memphis whenever he was on the floor.
For a sophomore settling into a new system, there’s clearly room to grow. But the debut showed enough to hint at what Iowa State may have in Singleton: a frontcourt piece with the tools to become the next star in Ames.
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Iowa State Faces Early Pressure To Fix One Troubling Opener Issue
Iowa States season opener against Memphis offered an early reminder that even a veteran-looking roster can need some quick recalibration. The Cyclones dropped an 80-76 decision at a neutral site, and with Killyan Toure still unavailable, head coach T.J. Otzelberger is already looking at how the rotation can settle in while the team gets a better feel for itself.
Otzelberger said the upcoming home games should give Iowa State a chance to adjust lineups and sort out player roles, but the bigger concern is on the defensive end. For a program that usually leans on toughness and structure, the opener made it clear that the Cyclones will need a sharper response soon if they want to avoid letting one rough night linger. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State May Already Have Its Next NBA Draft Climber
Joshua Jeffersons first-round selection in the 2026 NBA Draft gave Iowa State a fresh reminder that the program can still produce pro talent, and it also put a spotlight on the next player in line. Tre Singleton, the Northwestern transfer and true sophomore, has already started to look like the kind of early-impact piece that can move quickly up draft boards, and ESPN has him sitting No. 83 on its 2027 NBA Draft Big Board.
For Iowa State, that matters because Singleton is doing more than just filling a role in his debut season. His early production has made him part of the conversation around the Cyclones next potential NBA climb, especially with Jeffersons path serving as a recent example of how quickly a player can rise once he gets traction in Ames. The question now is whether Singleton can keep building on that start and turn promise into something much bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Faces A Defining Test After Its Oklahoma State Breakthrough
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For Iowa State, the challenge is less about remembering what went right against Oklahoma State and more about carrying that edge into a tougher follow-up spot. Coach Jimmy Rogers has been talking about the teams mindset, and the Cyclones will need it against a Baylor defense that has been sturdy under interim coach Joe Klanderman. Iowa State has also gotten a lift from running back Aiden Floras recent play, giving the Cyclones a few reasons to believe this stretch can still tilt in their favor. [Read more 🡒]