Welcome to my team preview series for 2024-25. Each day between now and the start of the college basketball season, I will preview one team or conference, both on Instagram (@collegehoopsoutlet) and through an article here. The preview will go in-depth on the roster build of the team, my expectations for their upcoming season, and the state of the program under their current head coach.
Iowa State (Projected: 3rd in Big 12)
TJ Otzelberger continues his upwards trend as head coach at Iowa State, with the Cyclones reaching two Sweet 16s in three seasons. In 2024-25, the Cyclones should have their best team yet under Coach Otz with the four top scorers from last season returning. You can always count on Otz’s teams to defend, and this team will be the odds-on favorite to finish as the #1 rated defensive team in the country.
Tamin Lipsey (12 ppg, 5 rpg, 5 apg) returns as the on-ball hound and star point guard for the Cyclones. He’s set to be one of the best guards in the country and already has made his claim for the best defensive guard in the country. This backcourt is full of veteran guys, and I have no questions they will be among the best in the country. Keshon Gilbert (14 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg) made the jump up to the Big 12 from UNLV last season, increasing his numbers across the board while only taking a slight hit in his shooting percentages. Another year at Iowa State should do Gilbert well, and I think he’s primed to lead this team in scoring once again.
Continuing the list of returners for the Cyclones is Curtis Jones (11 ppg). Jones made the jump up from Buffalo last season, providing an offensive spark off the bench for the Cyclones. He’ll likely be in a sixth man role once again, though he could find himself a bit more comfortable and a bit more efficient in his second year in the Big 12. Milan Momcilovic (11 ppg) started all 37 games as a freshman, having a huge impact on the offensive end for the Cyclones. As a sophomore, he should see even more shots, and I think he’ll rival Gilbert as the team’s scoring leader. The list of returners for Iowa State concludes with Demarion Watson (2 ppg), Kayden Fish (Redshirt), and JT Rock (Redshirt), all of whom will likely see limited minutes this season.
Five players left Iowa State this offseason, all of whom were part of the rotation at some point throughout the season. The Cyclones lost all three of their primary forwards in Tre King (9 ppg, 5 rpg), Robert Jones (8 ppg, 4 rpg), and Hason Ward (6 ppg, 4 rpg) Those three all graduated, while the only transfer portal entries out of Ames came from Jackson Paveletzke (3 ppg) and Omaha Biliew (2 ppg).
The Cyclones snagged four transfers of their own out of the portal, all of whom I believe will have important roles this season. Joshua Jefferson (10 ppg, 7 rpg at Saint Mary’s) and Dishon Jackson (11 ppg, 6 rpg) should start the year as the frontcourt starters, both experienced within top ten conferences. Jefferson was an important piece for Saint Mary’s last year, a threat on the offensive end whose injury in mid-February really limited the Gaels’ NCAA Tournament chances. Jackson has impressed throughout the offseason in Ames, a big-bodied and physical center with a soft touch around the basket.
Off the bench, the incoming talent consists of Northern Iowa transfer Nate Heise (14 ppg, 6 rpg at Northern Iowa), Seattle transfer Brandton Chatfield (9 ppg, 5 rpg at Seattle), and freshman guard Nojus Indrusaitas (4*, NAT 66). Heise is my favorite of the bunch, an all-around guard who has proven he can score in four years at UNI. Heise brings another three-level scorer to the Cyclone backcourt, and his playmaking and ball handling ability will suffice as a backup to Tamin Lipsey. Chatfield’s stats at Seattle don’t jump off the page, but adding another experienced big to the frontcourt can’t hurt for the Cyclones. Indrusaitas gives a longer, athletic option to the Cyclones’ backcourt, but I imagine his biggest impact won’t come until at least 2025-26.
TJ Otzelberger has become one of the best defensive minds in the sport, and his hot start to his Iowa State career gives fans a lot to be excited about. He has one of the most experienced teams in the country heading into the year, and with all of his backcourt from last season back, the Cyclones are ready to be national title contenders. The offense may need to take a jump, but with Gilbert, Jones, and Momcilovic back to make jumps in their second seasons at Iowa State and UNI transfer Nate Heise stepping into a bench role, I think the improvement is on its way.
Tamin Lipsey is the perfect tone-setter for this defensive minded team, and he fills the stat sheet in every category outside of blocks. I love what he provides on both ends of the floor, and I think his assist numbers can take an even bigger jump this season with the guys surrounding him taking the next step on offense. My X-factor for this team is Milan Momcilovic, as I believe him taking the next step on the offensive end can unlock the high-end potential for this Cyclones team. If Momcilovic takes a jump, and guys like Heise, Gilbert, Jones, and Jefferson all chip in offensively as well, this team can get back to the second weekend and will have the potential to reach the Final Four.
The Big 12 is set to be the best league in the country, and Iowa State is very well a part of that. The Cyclones finished second in the conference last year behind Houston, and while I think this Cyclones squad will be better than the last, I also think Kansas takes a step back up near the top. While probably a top seven team in the country, I’ve got the Cyclones finishing third in their conference. That feels crazy to say, but this is the life of the conference realignment era.