Iowa State Basketball Shockingly Drops Out of Way-Too-Early Top 25

The Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball team experienced a good amount of turnover on the roster this offseason.

Seniors Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, Nate Heise and Eric Mulder all exhausted their eligibility. Milan Momcilovic, Dominick Nelson and Cade Kelderman all hit the transfer portal for new opportunities.

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That is a lot of talent and depth that has to be replaced, which head coach T.J. Otzelberger successfully did. The Cyclone did well on the transfer portal and brought in another strong high school group in the Class of 2026.

However, early projections aren’t overly kind to Iowa State. In the way-too-early Top 25 rankings shared by Jeff Borzello of ESPN, the Cyclones don’t have a number next to their name. Instead, they are listed among the “Next Five” along with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Purdue Boilermakers, Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels.

Iowa State disrespected in way-too-early Top 25

Mar 22, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Killyan Toure (27) reacts after a play during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It is certainly shocking to not see Iowa State in these rankings. They have been one of the most consistent teams in the country over the last few seasons and have certainly earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to replacing talent on the roster.

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However, the loss of point guard Killyan Toure could have been enough for Borzello to drop the Cyclones from the rankings completely. After a strong freshman year, Toure is set to be sidelined until at least January after injuring his shoulder and having to undergo surgery.

That is a massive blow for the team. He is set to play a major role, likely taking over as the lead ball-handler and point-of-attack defender from Lipsey. With him sidelined, Otzelberger will lean more heavily on Jaquan…

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Publish date : 2026-09-02 20:00:00

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