AMES – It’s no secret that Tamin Lipsey is one of the biggest difference makers for Iowa State. The junior guard has made himself known as one of the top defenders on the team, in the Big 12 and in the country.
Though it doesn’t always show up in the stat sheets, the extra effort plays he makes, combined with his ability to control the team and create plays, makes him a threat to all opposing teams.
Throughout his two-and-a-half seasons as a Cyclone, Lipsey–an Ames native–has dealt with his fair share of injuries. Last season, he did not play against TCU due to a shoulder injury and had surgery after the season ended.
Lipsey has been bruised and battered time and time again, but it’s expected–especially with how he plays.
“[Lipsey] is able to make… plays that nobody else can make like chase down a loose ball, you know, get the offensive rebound,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “I think in the realm of, you know, as he’s dealing with whatever he’s dealing with, making that play galvanizes our team, energizes our team.”
Those things he has dealt with are a number of minor injuries over the past seasons, but he plays through the pain. It’s something Otzelberger commends Lipsey for.
That pain and those ailments have come via his aggressive, physical play-style. On defense, Lipsey makes extra effort plays, dives for loose balls and leads the team in steals with 40 through 18 games. On offense, he has been credited for his ability to drive, attack and finish.
“It’s a testament to how hard he plays,” senior center Dishon Jackson said. “He’s just out there flying around, diving on the floor, taking the ball from dudes, and it’s just like, you can only do that for so long, I would think, but he does it every time.”
The physicality Lipsey plays with is complementary with how fellow guards Keshon Gilbert and Curtis Jones attack the rim. Lipsey fights his way in, Gilbert uses swift, tough shots to score and Jones has one of the best floaters in the country.
“Each one is unique and they’re all effective,” Otzelberger said. “So certainly a benefit to our offense and what’s allowed us to be effective. You know, getting points in the rim, or at the rim and in the paint and getting in the foul line.”
Most recently, Lipsey is now dealing with a thumb injury on his right hand, but it seems to be minor. It’s something that started to bother him during the West Virginia game and is something he fought through during the UCF game.
“Jammed it pretty bad,” Lipsey said. “It’s been pretty swollen. Catching the ball has been sort of sensitive, so just been wrapping it up, playing through it, obviously. It’s not anything too serious where I need to sit out.”
As long as the injuries aren’t too serious, Lipsey tries to work through them. If there is any way he can continue to play and make an impact for the team, he is going to do it.
Now, with sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic out, the next-man-up mentality has swept over the team. Lipsey added that having multiple people out is something that the team cannot afford.
Small injuries like these aren’t uncommon for Lipsey, and it’s something Otzelberger has seen Lipsey fight through before.
“Whether it’s the thumb or, you know, we could talk about anything that’s happened over the last three years, I don’t take it for granted,” Otzelberger said. “But I recognize that in most cases, things that he’s playing with would hinder others from playing well and most probably wouldn’t play.”
Fighting through the pain is what Lipsey tends to do. Finding a balance between toning things down enough to recover but still being aggressive enough to be successful can be challenging.
It all goes back to Lipsey’s mental toughness.
“He’s a once in a forever type of guy,” Otzelberger said. “When you talk about the level of mental toughness he has and physical toughness that he has. I’ve done this almost 20 years at this level. There’s been some guys that have those skills. [Lipsey]’s kind of on his own line in terms of his ability to do that. Mom and dad deserve a lot of credit for that.”
Lipsey still got a good amount of shots up in each game despite his thumb. He was 3-for-8 against the Mountaineers and 4-for-7 against the Knights, but never made it to the free throw line in either of those games. On defense, Lipsey was his usual self, forcing four steals across both games.
That confidence in his shot has grown throughout the season and the past few games. Though he shot 1-for-5 from deep in the past two contests, it proves that his thumb isn’t stopping him from putting shots up.
Lipsey’s shooting has shown he has confidence in himself, much like Otzelberger and his teammates.
“Our guys realize that, you know, he practices, he plays, he does things like it does and sets a standard,” Otzelberger said.
