Iowa State’s season opener was supposed to be a clean reset after months of waiting. Instead, the Cyclones walked out of Sioux Falls, SD, with a loss to Memphis and a pile of problems that go way beyond one bad night.
The result was ugly enough on its own, especially with Iowa State entering the game as the heavy favorite and Memphis missing its best player, Nemanja Popovic. But the Tigers still came ready to play. Jayden Reid led the way with 26 points and 12 made free throws, Luke Almodovar added 18 points with three 3-pointers, and Rihards Vavers chipped in 15 points while going 3-for-7 from deep.
For Iowa State, the bigger concern is that the loss exposed three glaring issues at once.
Start with the defense, the part of the program T.J. Otzelberger has spent years turning into a national strength.
That identity was nowhere to be found in the opener. The Cyclones were beaten on the perimeter, gave up too many 3-pointers, and weren’t any better inside.
Blake Buchanan, who was expected to be a strong presence in the paint, has struggled so far. Iowa State needs to defend as a group, close space faster, and get to shooters sooner.
Then there’s the scoring problem. Jamarion Batemon and Tamin Lipsey were supposed to help carry the offense, but Batemon finished with zero points in the first game, and Lipsey still hasn’t shown the kind of growth that would make him a reliable big-time scorer.
Right now, Ryan Prather Jr. looks like the only elite option, and even that comes with a warning sign: his hot shooting may not hold up forever. If the Cyclones don’t find more production inside and out, the offense could turn into a tough watch.
The last issue is chemistry, and it may be the hardest one to solve quickly. Iowa State is working with five transfers and three freshmen, so the pieces are still learning how to fit.
A lot of people assumed the defense would carry the day because the roster has talent on that end, but the offense hasn’t flowed at all. The skill sets don’t seem to connect cleanly from one player to the next, and that has to change.
Iowa State has room to grow this season. But after one game, the path forward is obvious: fix the defense, find more scoring, and get the group playing like a team.
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Memphis Just Passed An Early Test Fans Had To See
Memphis opened the season with a result that should travel well beyond Sioux Falls, taking down No. 18 Iowa State 80-76 in a neutral-site game at Sanford Pentagon. Senior Jayden Reid set the tone for the Tigers with 26 points, and Memphis leaned on his late scoring to close out a win that gave Penny Hardaways team an early jolt of credibility.
For a program trying to establish itself again in the national conversation, a season-opening win over a ranked opponent is the kind of test fans wanted to see handled the right way. It also kept alive Memphis streak of season-opening victories under Hardaway, a small but meaningful marker as this group starts to show what it can be. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Norvell's Post-Memphis Run Just Reopened An Old Tigers Debate
Mike Norvells latest chapter at Florida State has brought an old Memphis debate right back into view. The Seminoles moved on from the former Tigers coach after seven seasons, naming Rick Stockstill interim head coach while they begin a national search, and Norvell departs with a 41-39 record in Tallahassee. For Memphis fans, his name still carries the memory of a program that once looked like it had found a long-term answer on the sideline.
Now, with Norvells post-Memphis run ending in dismissal on Nov. 1, 2026, the conversation around what he left behind in Memphis feels a little different. His success there helped launch him to a bigger job, but Florida States decision has a way of reopening the question of how that Tigers tenure should be remembered, and whether the move up the ladder ultimately validated the gamble or simply revived the same familiar arguments. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Already Has An Opening Night Debate Fans Wont Ignore
The Big 12 wasted little time reminding everyone why it is being talked about as one of the deepest leagues in the country. Fifteen of the 16 teams opened their seasons on the same night, and the league answered with a 13-2 mark that included a string of competitive games against ranked opponents. For Memphis fans, Iowa States unexpected loss in the mix was the kind of result that only adds to the sense that every night in this conference is going to carry weight.
Arizonas opener was one of the loudest storylines, even in a crowded night of hoops. Ivan Kharchenkov poured in 38 points and nearly dragged the Wildcats all the way back against UCLA, while Baylor got a huge scoring night from Rob Wright, UCF survived behind Dior Johnsons 41, and Utah rallied past Long Beach with Trey Campbell helping fuel the comeback. It was the kind of opening-night slate that immediately sets up debates about who looks ready, who still has work to do, and which teams can already feel the pressure of a league that does not wait around. [Read more 🡒]