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One thing is for sure when it comes to the Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball team: as long as T.J. Otzelberger is the head coach, they will exceed expectations.
They have made the NCAA tournament all five years he has been at the helm, turning into a perennial contender in the Big 12. If they are going to do that again during the 2026-27 season, they have some huge holes to fill in their lineup.
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Otzelberger was prepared to lose some key contributors, such as Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Nate Heise, because they exhausted eligibility. The loss of Milan Momcilovic was certainly possible after he put together a historic shooting season, and it has become official since.
The sharpshooting forward declared for the 2026 NBA Draft and placed his name in the transfer portal. It was a difficult but necessary move so that Otzelberger could continue working on adding talent to the roster.
Iowa State underrated in recent Top 25 rankings
Mar 8, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger motions to his bench during the second half of a game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum. | Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
Five players were brought in via the transfer portal, with the expectation that they will be part of the team’s rotation. However, replacing someone of Momcilovic’s caliber, along with the other losses, has Iowa State being overlooked once again in early rankings.
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Over at The Athletic (subscription required), CJ Moore shared an updated top 25 following the deadline for players to withdraw from the 2026 NBA Draft. The Cyclones have barely held onto a spot, coming in at No. 23.
Based on their track record, it is wrong to underestimate this group. There may not be many household names or star players, but it is a deep, talented roster that looks like it will fit together well on the court.
Defense has always been the identity of Otzelberger-coached teams, and that will continue. This group could be just as good as…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/iowa-state-basketball-surprisingly-barely-201322752.html
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Publish date : 2026-05-31 20:13:00
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