Iowa

Iowa State basketball asserts itself as contender even in loss | Hines

Published

3 weeks ago

March 14, 2026

Iowa State basketball asserts itself as contender even in loss | Hines

KANSAS CITY – There were no tears. Faces were not buried in jerseys, hiding the pain. There was no consoling or commiserating.

Even with angst bubbling under their skin and disappointment flooding their veins, Iowa State remained stoic. Solid. Steadfast.

For the Cyclones knew the truth.

This was a loss, yes, one with weight enough to crush your soul – basketball or eternal – but Iowa State saw its 82-80 loss on a buzzer-beater to second-ranked Arizona in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals for what it was.

An epic featuring two teams worthy of playing in April.

“We really respect Arizona and their program,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said after the March 13 los, “but just like they’re a Final Four contender, so are we.

“And what our guys took away from tonight is that we have big things ahead of us coming next week, the following week and the week after that.”

There’s a key distinction between a moral victory and the validation of a conviction.

A moral victory would be Iowa State feeling good about itself for playing the Wildcats, who along with Michigan and Duke have separated themselves as the class of the country, down to the wire. For giving Arizona all that it could handle. For giving it the ol’ college try.

That, though, is not what Iowa State experienced. This wasn’t the Cyclones giving it their all and nearly toppling the league champs.

This was a game among equals.

The Cyclones walked off the floor, into the locker room and toward an NCAA Tournament knowing that, deep in their bones. For them, it is not an opinion. It is fact. As irrefutable as the sun rising in the east or all of Ames heading south to fill T-Mobile Center the second week of March.

“Probably one of the most competitive college basketball games of the year,” guard Tamin Lipsey said.

“We know we can compete with them.”

This game may have been played on a Friday night in Kansas City, but it just as easily could have been contended on the first Saturday or Monday of April in Indianapolis. The level of play was sublime. The defense was excellent, but the offense was on another level.

The two teams combined to score on their final 11 possessions of the game. Seven of those possessions ended with made 3-pointers, including the game-tying one with 15 seconds left from Lipsey, who was 1-of-10 from the floor before burying that equalizer.

Then, though, Jaden Bradley got his legend moment.

The senior and Big 12 Player of the Year wanted to take Iowa State’s young Frenchman, Killyan Toure, off the dribble. Thought he could get by the freshman, to the bucket and into the championship game.

Instead, Toure played immaculate defense. He stopped Bradley’s progress. He redirected him, not only from his preferred path but actually away from the basket. Toure stayed in lockstep. As the final seconds ticked down, Bradley was left with only one option – turn, shoot and pray.

As that prayer hung in the Missouri air, you could almost feel the basketball gods debating their judgment. Weighing these Cyclones and Wildcats against each other as the ball rose up and out of Bradley’s hand and then rendering a verdict as it fell back toward Earth.

On this night, the deities decreed for the team from the desert.

Iowa State men fall to Arizona in classic Big 12 Tournament semifinal

“So it was a crazy shot,” Bradley said, “but it was a great defense, for sure.”

You might have to stop short of calling Toure’s defense perfect, but only because the dang shot went in. It’s hard to imagine him playing the moment any better.

“He made a tough shot,” Toure said. “I did my best. Unfortunately, it went in.

“Of course it hurts. It hurts a little bit, but it’s part of the game. I just have to move on with the team because we’ve got the March Madness coming up. It’s OK. It will help me for the future, and for the team as well.

“That was a good experience.”

Oftentimes in a locker room after a loss like that, there’s a current of disbelief that runs through. A sort of shock mixed with frustration, anger and, perhaps most potently, sadness.

That was not the scene in Iowa State’s locker room.

The Cyclones stood there bloody and bruised, like a prizefighter losing on a split decision that only makes the inevitable – another shot at the belt – all the more alluring. Because it’s not only within sight, it’s within grasp.

“We’re playing our best right now,” Milan Momcilovic said after scoring 28 points and making eight 3s. “We’re clicking on both sides of the ball.

“I think no team really wants to see us in the tournament because we are ready to play and we’re a fierce competitor.”

The Cyclones will shuffle onto the bus Saturday morning for the ride back to Ames. As those 200 miles pass by their windows, it would be easy to think about what might have been. To wish they could have made one more shot. To lament not getting one more stop. To wonder what might have been in overtime.

I doubt, though, that’s how the Cyclones spend those hours.

“We know,” Otzelberger said, “we have our best still in front of us.”

There’s no time or use for mourning when there are still games to be won, nets to be cut and history to be made.

The Cyclones will not return home with a trophy, but they’ll spend that bus ride back believing, like never before, they can win the next one.

Iowa State columnist Travis Hines has covered the Cyclones for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune since 2012. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000. Follow him on X at @TravisHines21.

Source link

Click to comment

Iowa

Former TJ Otzelberger Assistant From UNLV Would Be Perfect for Iowa State

Published

7 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

Former TJ Otzelberger Assistant From UNLV Would Be Perfect for Iowa State

Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger knew that his program was in for a busy offseason.

Before any moves were made with the roster, whether it be players entering the transfer portal or declaring for the NBA draft, Otzelberger knew that he would have five seniors who would have to be replaced on the roster.

In addition to player needs, the head coach needs to replenish his coaching staff. Two of his assistants, JR Blount and Kyle Green, were hired as head coaches. Blount is heading to the San Diego Toreros, and Green was brought back for a fourth stint with the Northern Iowa Panthers.

Both were integral parts of the team’s success, with Blount being a leader on the recruiting front and Green being an architect behind the team’s defense. Who could Otzelberger turn to as a replacement?

Tim Buckley is great option for Iowa State coaching staff

Mar 12, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones mascot during a timeout against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half at T-Mobile Center. | William Purnell-Imagn Images

One person who would make a lot of sense as a candidate is Tim Buckley. Most recently, he was on staff with the Cincinnati Bearcats, but with their head coaching change of Wes Miller to Jerrod Calhoun, Buckley is back on the market.

He is someone with whom Otzelberger has familiarity, which could play a big role in the evaluation process when candidates are interviewing. The two worked together with the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels from 2019-21, the position which Otzelberger held before Iowa State.

Buckley could help replace some of what Green’s departure is being lost with the defensive game plan.

“Buckley seems to have a defensive background, and he was described as being “old school” to Cyclone Alert by one source close to the Bearcat program,” wrote Alec Busse of Cyclone Report, part of the 247Sports Network (subscription required).

Familiarty, defense are biggest assets Buckley provides

Mar 26, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger speaks ahead of the Midwest regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

He also has some experience working in the Midwest. Buckley spent one campaign in 2007-08 with the Marquette Golden Eagles and worked with the Wisconsin Badgers in the mid-1990s.

Since Otzelberger took over as head coach, the Cyclones have found a ton of success recruiting in Wisconsin. Buckley can help keep the pipeline active.

He would also bring an established relationship with Otzelberger and plenty of experience. Buckley has been on different sidelines as a coach for nearly 40 years and has been a head coach previously with Rockford and the Ball State Cardinals.

A bonus: Buckley knows the Big 12 landscape after working with Cincinnati the last two seasons. That is an underrated part of his resume, as he can help give some insight into how opponents game plan against Otzelberger and his team while bringing some new ideas to the table in how Iowa State can stop them.

Source link

Iowa

When is the NFL draft? See prospect grades for Iowa, Iowa State players.

Published

19 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

When is the NFL draft? See prospect grades for Iowa, Iowa State players.

The 2026 NFL Combine has passed, Pro Days have wrapped up, and scouts and front‑office personnel from across the league are finishing their draft boards in preparation for April’s NFL Draft.

Here’s what to know about the 2026 NFL draft.

When is the 2026 NFL draft?

The 2026 NFL draft will begin with the first round on Thursday, April 23. Rounds 2 and 3 occur the following day, and the draft will conclude on its third day with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 25.

Where is the 2026 NFL draft?

Pittsburgh — home of the Steelers — will host the 2026 NFL draft.

How to watch the 2026 NFL draft

Live coverage of the NFL draft can be found on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and the NFL Network. Coverage is also available on NFL+, ESPN Select, ESPN Unlimited and Fubo TV.

Thursday, April 23: Round 1 starts at 7 p.m. CT
Friday, April 24: Round 2 and Round 3 start at 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, April 25: Rounds 4-7 start at 11 a.m. CT

Watch the NFL Draft on ESPN+

How are NFL draft prospects graded?

Using NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein’s grading scale, players are evaluated based on their physical traits, on-field performance and projected role. Here’s how that scale breaks down.

8: Perfect prospect
7.3-7.5: Perennial All-Pro
7.0-7.1: Pro Bowl talent
6.7-6.9: Year 1 starter
6.5-6.6: Boom-or-bust potential
6.40-6.49: Will become a good starter within two years
6.30-6.39: Will eventually be plus starter
6.20-6.29: Will eventually be an average starter
6.10-6.19: Good backup with the potential to develop into a starter
6.0-6.09: Traits or talent to be above-average backup
5.80-5.99: Average backup or special-teamer
5.60-5.69: Candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad
5.50-5.59: Priority undrafted free agent

For context, the highest-graded player in the year’s entire draft class was former Ohio State linebacker/defensive end Arvell Reese, who earned a rating of 7.04. Reese ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the defensive end position, clocking a 4.46, and is considered a top-five draft pick after earning All-American and Big Ten Linebacker of the Year honors in 2025.

Similar to high school recruiting rankings, these evaluations aren’t an exact science. They’re projections, and players can ultimately exceed or fall short of them.

For example, before becoming a multiple-time Pro Bowler, George Kittle received a 5.90 grade. Similarly, former Iowa State Cyclones football quarterback Brock Purdy was given a 5.57 rating before outperforming that projection at the NFL level.

What Iowa football players are graded ahead of the 2026 NFL draft?

Here is a breakdown of the prospect grades for Iowa football players according to NFL.com. Combine data, including 40‑yard dash and vertical jump results, is listed where available, though not all 2026 draft‑eligible players were invited to or participated in the Combine.

Gennings Dunker, offensive line: 6.24 (Will eventually be an average starter) − Fifth out of 24 guards in highest prospect grade, according to NFL.com
- 40-yard dash: 5.18 seconds (20th out of 39 offensive linemen)
- Vertical jump: 32.5″ (tied 5th out of the 40 offensive linemen)
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.63 seconds (3rd out of 12 offensive linemen)
Logan Jones, center: 6.2 (Will eventually be an average starter)− Tied fourth out of 15 centers in prospect grade.
- 40-yard dash: 4.90 seconds (1st out of 39 offensive linemen)
- 3-cone drill: 7.46 seconds (2nd out of 14 offensive linemen)
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.53 seconds (2nd out of 12 offensive linemen)

TJ Hall, defensive back: 5.98 (Average backup or special-teamer) − 16th out of 33 defensive backs in prospect grade.
- 40-yard dash: 4.59 seconds (14th out of 20 cornerbacks)
- Vertical jump: 36″ (12th out of the 23 cornerbacks)
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.19 seconds (2nd out of 5 cornerbacks)
Kaden Wetjen, wide receiver: 5.98 (Average backup or special-teamer) − 21st out of 55 wide receivers in prospect grade.
- 40-yard dash: 4.47 seconds (tied 15th out of 34 wide receivers)
- Vertical jump: 35.5″ (13th out of 30 wide receivers)
- 3 cone drill: 6.95 seconds (3rd out of 7 wide receivers)
Beau Stephens, offensive line: 5.97 (Average backup or special-teamer) − 10th out of 24 guards in prospect grade.
- 40-yard dash: 5.35 seconds (27th out of 39 offensive linemen)
- Vertical jump: 28″ (tied 14th out of 40 offensive linemen)
- Broad jump: 8.6″ (15th out of 40 offensive linemen)
Max Llewellyn, defensive end: 5.97 (Average backup or special-teamer) − Tied 28th out of 41 defensive ends in prospect grade.
- 40-yard dash: 4.81 seconds (15th out of 20 defensive ends)
- Vertical jump: 32.5″ (tied 12th out of 17 defensive ends)
- Broad jump: 9.7″ (tied 10th out of 16 defensive ends)
Drew Stevens, kicker: 5.81 (Average backup or special-teamer) − Tied second out of three kickers in prospect grade.
- No specialists (kicker, punter) participated in any measurable athletic drills during the NFL Combine.

Xavier Nwankpa, safety: 5.69 (Candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad) − Tied 22nd out of 28 safeties in prospect grade.
- 40-yard dash: 4.48 seconds (8th out of 14 safeties)
- 10-yard split: 1.62 seconds (tied 9th out of 14 safeties)
- Vertical jump: 37.5″ (6th out of 16 safeties)
Karson Sharar, linebacker: 5.68 (Candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad)− Tied 24th out of 32 linebackers in prospect grade.
- Vertical jump: 40″ (tied 2nd out of 14 linebackers)
- 40-yard dash: 4.56 seconds (5th out of 12 linebackers)
- Broad jump: 10.3″ (5th out of 14 linebackers)

Which Iowa State football player is graded ahead of the 2026 NFL draft?

Out of the more than 350 players given a draft prospect grade by NFL.com, only one Cyclone was recognized among the prospects.

Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange was rated the fifth highest out of 34 defensive tackles with a prospect grade of 6.24 (will eventually be an average starter). The 2025 All-Big 12 third-team member is the 78th highest-rated player according to NFL.com.

The Kansas City native was invited to the 2026 NFL Draft Combine and appeared in Indianapolis to interview with teams, but opted not to participate in the on‑field drills. Most mock drafts have Orange projected as a Day 2 NFL draft pick.

Last year’s starting offensive linemen, James Neal III and Jim Bonifas, were among about a dozen former Cyclones who participated in Iowa State’s Pro Day on March 24 to raise their draft profiles or improve their chances of signing as undrafted free agents.

Northern Iowa also held its pro day on March 23, while Iowa hosted its on March 26, which featured all of the aforementioned players along with former Hawkeyes such as quarterback Mark Gronowski and defensive lineman Aaron Graves, all of whom worked out in front of scouts from all 32 NFL teams.

Kadyn Proctor graded as a top NFL Draft prospect

NFL.com gave former Southeast Polk football star Kadyn Proctor a 6.45 prospect grade, claiming he “Will become a good starter within two years.” Proctor tied with former Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson as the 10th-highest rated prospect, according to NFL.com.

ESPN projects the former Alabama offensive lineman to be drafted with the 24th pick by the Cleveland Browns. Proctor, a native of Des Moines, is fourth among all offensive lineman prospects according to USA TODAY.

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.

Source link

Iowa

Iowa High School Boys Track And Field Leaders

Published

1 day ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

Iowa High School Boys Track And Field Leaders

We are still weeks away from the state track and field meet in Iowa, but high school athletes around the state are starting to get outdoors to post times and leave marks.

High School on SI previously posted the leaders in Iowa high school track and field for the girls, so now, we head over to the boys. Just like with that one, the numbers below are from the Bound website and up-to-date as of April 3, 2026.