Tre Singleton arrives in Ames with a chance to carve out a major role right away.
With Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic gone, the forward spots are open, and Singleton is in position to show he can be a real piece for what could become T.J. Otzelburger’s most physical team yet. He started 31 of 34 games at Northwestern, and there’s a strong possibility he opens as a starter for the Cyclones unless Iowa State leans back into the double-big look it used against Creighton.
What makes Singleton appealing starts on the defensive end. His instincts stand out, especially in a scheme where knowing when to help and when to stay attached to your man matters so much. That kind of awareness fits the Otzelburger defense and makes him an important fit in that system.
On offense, Singleton brings a little bit of everything. He can handle the ball like a guard, make the right pass, get to the rim and stay involved throughout a possession.
He flashed that versatility in the exhibition against Creighton, finishing with 12 points, four rebounds and three assists, plus two blocks and two steals. It was the kind of stat line that shows how many different ways he can influence a game.
The one clear area he needs to clean up is his three-point shooting. He was at 16.7% from deep, and that number has to come up. Iowa State won’t ask him to turn into a volume scorer, but if he can become more reliable from outside, he adds another layer to an offense that could use it in tight spots.
His role figures to be flexible. Some nights he’ll be spacing the floor and moving the ball to an open cutter.
Other times he’ll be the one attacking the basket or slipping into the mid-range to keep the defense honest. That versatility matters for a team that wants options, especially around the bigs.
His closing stretch against Creighton was a telling detail, too. Singleton played the final 2:22 as Iowa State tried to mount a comeback after trailing by as many as 19 points. That kind of trust says plenty about where he stands.
He may not be a 30-point scorer, but Singleton has a clear path to becoming one of Iowa State’s most reliable producers - the sort of player you lean on when the game tightens up and you just need a bucket.
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Iowa State Faces A Bigger Jaylen Raynor Question Than His Stats
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Even with that context, Raynor and Rogers both have made it clear there is room for improvement, which is where the real tension starts to show. The passing totals are on pace to land at career lows, but the more important question for Iowa State is whether Raynor can keep the same dependable backbone while nudging the offense toward more production as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]