T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State basketball at historic high while staying ‘locked into the moment’

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A new power is emerging in the Big 12.

For the past decade, Iowa State has been lurking as a legitimate threat to reach the elite of men’s college basketball. The Cyclones have had their greatest run of success in this era, capturing five of the last 10 Big 12 tournament titles and reaching 10 of the last 12 NCAA tournaments, with a sixth or higher seed seven times.

Yet, it hasn’t been satisfying. For all the aforementioned success in the regular season and conference tournament, Iowa State has stumbled on the NCAA stage. Yes, the Cyclones have advanced past the first round eight times. However, they’ve been unable to match the program’s only modern Elite Eight appearance, in 2000.

Last season felt like it would be the breakthrough when Iowa State won 29 games and was a No. 2 seed for the first time in more than 20 years − with its head coach becoming a national sensation for his polo shirts. But the Cyclones lost in the Sweet 16 for the fourth time since 2014.

The disappointment didn’t derail Iowa State this season. It’s gotten better and looks like a team that is capable of not just reaching the Elite Eight, but could make a run to San Antonio and the Final Four.

T.J. Otzelberger is leading Iowa State to rare heights

The man behind Iowa State’s emergence is T.J. Otzelberger, who is midway through his fourth season as coach. A former Cyclones assistant and head coach at South Dakota State and UNLV, Otzelberger returned in 2021 to take over a team that was coming off a two-win season. The question upon his arrival was how quickly could the program be revived?

Now, after amassing 65 wins, the consensus is the team is better much faster than people thought.

Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger talks with guard Tamin Lipsey, center, and forward Joshua Jefferson during their game against Baylor at James H. Hilton Coliseum.

Many of the key performers from last season stayed for another go with Otzelberger. Iowa State’s top three scorers this season − Keshon Gilbert, Curtis Jones and…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/t-j-otzelberger-iowa-state-110649396.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2025-01-15 11:06:00

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