AMES – Fresh off a season that included winning the Big 12 Championship, a Sweet 16 appearance and an undefeated home record, men’s basketball starts now in Ames, Iowa.
The Cyclones finished the 2023-24 season 29-8 and ranked in the top 10. Now, a new season begins, and Iowa State is ranked fifth in the country.
“How you handle success, how you handle failure are so important,” head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “As they do, it’s how do you treat each other, how do you learn from one another.”
Returning starters include junior guard Tamin Lipsey, who was named to the All-Big 12 First Team, Big 12 All-Defensive Team, Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team and was a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
Lipsey was the top three-point shooter for the Cyclones in 2023 among players who shot more than 100 at 39.1%. He was also second on the team in scoring and rebounding.
Though Lipsey can facilitate and score, he is best known for his defense, which is what Iowa State has been known for under Otzelberger. Lipsey had a team-leading 96 steals one season ago, while the team as a whole ranked second in the country in steals per game (10.3).
The backcourt returns its other two pieces from last season as well: senior guard Keshon Gilbert and sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic. Gilbert was the leading scorer last season at 13.7 points per game, while Momcilovic was second on the team in 3-pointers made (61), only behind senior guard Curtis Jones.
Jones, who returns for his fifth year of eligibility, was the sixth man for the Cyclones last season, and will likely be in that role again. He made and attempted the most threes going 73-for-208 (35.1%) and was the top scorer in the NCAA Tournament for Iowa State.
“Super high level of anticipation,” Jones said. “It’s just going to be fun to get out in front of the fans again.”
These four will be integral in moving the ball around and scoring from the perimeter this season.
Inside, Charlotte transfer Dishon Jackson will be the center for the Cyclones. He expressed his excitement to get started and see the Hilton Coliseum crowd for the first time.
“Being out there for the first time is going to be surreal,” Jackson said.
Standing at 6 feet 11 inches, Jackson led the 49ers in field goal percentage last season at just over 50% and averaged around six rebounds per game. His height will help out the defense, especially when it comes to blocking shots.
To open the season, Iowa State welcomes Mississippi Valley State (MVS) to town. The Delta Devils did not have the best 2023-24 campaign by any means, as they finished 1-30 overall.
MVS is in its second season under head coach George Ivory, so the rebuild is still in the early phases. But opening the season against a top-10 team will be no easy feat for the Delta Devils.
MVS is an experienced group, with 13 of their 16 players being upperclassmen, but the Cyclones are as well.
Iowa State opens the 2024-25 men’s basketball season at 7 p.m. Monday from Hilton Coliseum. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
