After the buzzer sounded in Iowa State’s (13-16, 5-13 Big 12) 82-57 loss to No. 22 West Virginia (23-8, 12-6 Big 12) on Wednesday night, ISU coach Bill Fennelly watched as his seniors were honored at the last home game of the season.

But looking back on his season during the post-game press conference, Fennelly could only see his disappointment in the results. The Cyclones finished eighth in the Big 12 and the season also marked Fennelly’s second losing season in his 28-year coaching career. 

“I disappointed a lot of people,” Fennelly said. “That’s not in my DNA and that’s hard for me. Whatever happens after this happens. Just disappointed that we couldn’t do the things that we needed to do and I was able to get them to do those things.”

Fennelly was adamant that it wasn’t the work of his coaching staff that led this team to a tough season. A lot of the adversity it faced stemmed around stuff that happened off the court such as Lexi Albrecht’s sister passing away or Seanna Johnson’s father suffering a stroke. 

But fighting through that adversity on the court was something Fennelly said he needed to improve. The team struggled to shoot all season, finishing with a mid-30 shooting percentage, but it didn’t help that the team dealt with a myriad of injuries. 

“For me personally, it’s been disappointment that I haven’t been able to do more,” Fennelly said. “I’m going to try to forget [this season].”

But it won’t be a season to forget for two players. 

Seniors Kidd Blaskowsky and Madison Baier played their final game at Hilton Coliseum on Tuesday in front of a 9,000-plus-person crowd. Both seniors were honored after the game with a celebration full of tears and hugs. 

“It’s really emotional,” Baier said. “It’s kind of hard thinking it’s going to be your last game at Hilton. Just being able to play in front of the fans and your family with everyone supporting you, it means a lot.”

Baier started her first game as a Cyclone because of the team’s tradition to start the seniors on senior night. She had two points, while Blaskowsky finished with six. 

But, as Fennelly said after the game, the two seniors’ impact doesn’t exactly show in a box score or with their play on the court. Fennelly referred back to a sign that reads “The Iowa State Way” in the team’s locker room to describe the pair’s lasting impact on Iowa State. 

With a young team composed of seven underclassmen — four of whom started for some of the year — the seniors’ impact will live through them, Fennelly said. 

“They care about each and every one of us and they have from the moment they stepped on campus,” said junior guard Seanna Johnson. “You can go up there with any thoughts and they’re going to be there. I’ve always looked up to them.” 

At the end of the game, Fennelly said it was hard to watch the senior celebration. 

“Time goes quickly, and for Madi and Kidd, it’s the best time of their life,” Fennelly said. “It’s what I’ve told of our seniors: leave a piece of you behind.”

Blaskowsky and Baier plan to do just that.

Both said they want to be back in Hilton Coliseum next season, but “as part of the magic.”

“I love being a Cyclone and it’s hard to think that this was my last night playing on the court of Hilton,” Blaskowsky said. “I will be back, part of the crowd and the magic next year.”