Iowa

Iowa State basketball touches its ceiling in win over Texas Tech | Hines

Published

4 weeks ago

March 12, 2026

Iowa State basketball touches its ceiling in win over Texas Tech | Hines

KANSAS CITY – What would it look like, if you closed your eyes and let your imagination soar, for Iowa State to play its best basketball?

The defense would be electric, connected and furious. Joshua Jefferson would be dictating and dominating offensively. Tamin Lipsey would make every critical play. The bigs would be tough, active and productive. Loose balls and tough plays would both go in the Cyclones’ direction. There would be contributions up and down the rotation.

It would look a lot like what happened at T-Mobile Center on Thursday, March 12.

The seventh-ranked Cyclones unleashed perhaps their best and most complete performance of the season in their 75-53 smackdown of No. 14 Texas Tech to advance to the Big 12 Tournament semifinals.

“Against that caliber of opponent,” said Iowa State senior Nate Heise, “that’s probably our best game. That’s always what you want to be able to do at the end of the year and be able to stack it – yesterday to today and hopefully tomorrow.

“It was fun to watch how everyone stepped up today.”

It was fun to watch an excellent team play excellently, truth be told. These Cyclones have touched their ceiling before, but those wins against Kansas and Houston are now nearly a month old. When these Cyclones get going, there are only a handful of teams that can stop them.

The Red Raiders weren’t one of them.

“You can tell,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said, “they had an edge and had the right edge in order to win this basketball game.”

There was lots to love for Iowa State. Between Lipsey’s 20 points (and four made 3s), Heise’s tip dunk, Jamarion Batemon’s timely shooting and the physical, Killyan Toure’s never-say-die hustle and the efficient play of centers Blake Buchanan and Dom Pleta, Iowa State’s play was a symphony.

Most impressive of it all was how Jefferson directed the music.

Iowa State’s All-American was at the absolute height of his powers. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound power forward wasn’t so much playing basketball as he was controlling everything around him. And I mean everything. I’m not ruling out that space and time were under his direction.

His 18 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal only hint at the extent to which he influenced the game, but Jefferson’s command was exquisite. It seemed, at times, that whatever unfolded on the court was doing so only with his permission and at his instruction.

“I think that was huge,” Jefferson said of his play and feel for the game. “Playing on the fly and playing with freedom and playing with confidence is the biggest thing for us.

“That’s when we’re at our best – when I’m more vocal and leading that way. Sometimes I can fall away from that if I’m not confident in myself. If I’m being confident in myself, that’s going to feed the team.”

And Iowa State ate well.

Iowa State basketball beats Texas Tech, advances to Big 12 semifinals

The Cyclones shot 53.6% from the field and 38.9% from 3-point range. They committed just 10 turnovers and led by as many as 24, which is impressive, sure, but when you consider the Cyclones trailed by 12 after the first six minutes, it’s incredible.

Texas Tech shot 33.9% from the floor, 31% from deep and saw the Cyclones just steamroll right into the semis where a rematch with No. 2 Arizona awaits.

The Wildcats dispatched the Cyclones with ease, 73-57, in Tucson last week, but this looked like a different Iowa State squad playing at an entirely different level than what happened at the McKale Center.

“We all believe it’s sustainable,” Lipsey said. “We’re playing our best basketball of the year. That’s exactly what you want to do this point in the year.

“We can play like this moving forward.”

If they can and if they do, the Cyclones are going to be push right against their ceiling and, maybe, push themselves into the Final Four.

“We played well today,” said Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger. “Was it our best? I think our best is still in front of us.”

After a day like this one, it’s not hard to imagine what that might look like and where it could take them.

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

Iowa State basketball names veteran Tim Buckley as new assistant coach

Published

12 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

Iowa State basketball names veteran Tim Buckley as new assistant coach

Iowa State men’s basketball has filled the first assistant coaching vacancy on its staff.

The Cyclones announced on Monday, April 6, that head coach T.J. Otzelberger has named Tim Buckley as a new assistant coach. He will begin his duties with Iowa State immediately.

Buckley most recently served as an assistant for two seasons at Cincinnati, but he comes to Ames with more than three decades of coaching experience. He was also previously part of Otzelberger’s staff for both years of his tenure at UNLV from 2019-21.

“A renowned coach in player development, I’m excited to have Tim join our staff at Iowa State,” Otzelberger said in a statement. “Tim brings a wealth of knowledge, both as a head coach and assistant coach. He has recruited and developed some of the top talents in the NBA. I’m thrilled that our student-athletes will get the opportunity to work with Tim.”

The 62-year-old Buckley has garnered a reputation for his player development and recruiting. Before arriving in Ames, he got Division I head coaching experience at Ball State (2000-06), and he’s also been an esteemed assistant coach at Wisconsin (1993-94), Ball State (1994-99), Marquette (1999-00, 2007-08), Iowa (2006-07), Indiana (2008-17), UNLV (2019-22), South Carolina (2022-24) and Cincinnati (2024-26).

Before joining Otzelberger’s staff at UNLV, he was also a scout for the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2017-19.

Buckley has worked with 12 NBA Draft picks, nine of whom were drafted in the first round. Of those nine first-round picks, six of them were lottery picks. Some of the top talent Buckley has recruited and developed include Dwyane Wade, Victor Oladipo, Cody Zeller and Noah Vonleh. He also helped coach All-American Yogi Ferrell at Indiana.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to be reunited with T.J. Otzelberger,” Buckley said in a statement. “What he has done over the last five years is amazing. Iowa State is a nationally recognized program and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Buckley played at Waubonsee Community College from 1982-84, before finishing his playing career at Division II Bemidji State from 1984-86. After that, he went right into coaching at his alma mater for two seasons, before moving over to Division III Rockford, where he spent one year as an assistant. He was promoted to Rockford’s head coach, a job he held from 1989-93, before breaking through to the Division I ranks.

Iowa State finished this past season at 29-8. The Cyclones reached the Sweet 16 for the third time in five years under Otzelberger. The Cyclones still have one assistant coaching vacancy to fill, after J.R. Blount (San Diego) and Kyle Green (Northern Iowa) departed for head coaching opportunities.

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.

Source link

Iowa

UPDATE: Amber Alert canceled for missing 12-year-old

Published

24 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

UPDATE: Amber Alert canceled for missing 12-year-old

WATERLOO (KCRG) – The Amber Alert for 12-year-old Deyton Annabelle Cranston has been canceled.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety said Cranston was located and the Waterloo Police Department is investigating.

PREVIOUS STORY:

Iowa (KCRG) – An amber alert has been issued for a missing 12-year-old out of Waterloo.

12-year-old Deyton Annabelle Cranston was last seen wearing a white tank top and a blue skirt and wearing clear glasses.

An Amber Alert has been issued for Deyton Annabelle Cranston who has been reported missing from Waterloo(State of Iowa Amber Alert)

She’s described as 5′4′, 135 and has blonde hair and brown eyes.

Officials say to look out for a red Toyota Camry with all tinted windows, a black spoiler, and no license plate on the front.

Anyone with information should contact authorites.

Source link

Iowa

Vote: Who Should be Iowa’s High School Athlete of the Week? (4/5/2026)

Published

1 day ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

Vote: Who Should be Iowa’s High School Athlete of the Week? (4/5/2026)

Here are the candidates for High School on SI’s Iowa high school athlete of the week for March 30-April 4. Read through the nominees and cast your vote.

Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 12. The winner will be announced in the following week’s poll. Here are this week’s nominees:

Greyson Hartman, Washington boys track and field

The junior recorded the second-best United States throw in the shot put with a toss of 67-3.5. It is the second-best throw in Iowa history, breaking the Class 3A mark set by NFL standout Tristan Wirfs.

Shea Rapp, Ridge View girls track and field

Rapp won the high jump and the 200 at the Audubon Early Bird while also running on the winning distance medley relay and runner-up 4×400 relay.

Rylee Hemmingsen, Treynor girls track and field

Hemmingsen showed off her skills by winning the 100 hurdles, running on the winning shuttle hurdle and 4×400 relays, and placing second in the high jump at the Audubon Early Bird.

Cash Varner, Alburnett boys track and field

Varner was cash at the Benton Early Bird, placing first in both the 100 dash and long jump.

Aiden Gosselink, Grinnell girls track and field

Gosselink hit the Blue Standard to qualify for the Drake Relays in the long jump while also winning the 100 at the Benton Early Bird.

Rylan Peters, Waverly-Shell Rock boys track and field

Peters set a new school-record in the long jump at 23-8 while also hitting the Blue Standard and qualifying for Drake Relays.

Jase Price, Des Moines Christian boys soccer

Price had quite the varsity debut, as the freshman recorded a haul by scoring four goals in a win over Boone.

Aiden Kellar, Treynor boys soccer

Kellar tallied a hat trick with three goals in a 5-1 win for the Cardinals over Harlan.

Kaden Theisen, Western Dubuque boys soccer

Theisen was peppered with 20 shots in a match vs. Beckman Catholic, saving 19 of them to help the Bobcats to a 2-1 win.

Lucas Sidles, Independence boys track and field

Sidles swept the throwing events at the West Delaware Early Bird, winning the shot put and discus.

Adam Kacmarynski, Pella Christian boys track and field

Kacmarynski won the 100 and ran on the winning sprint medley and 4×100 relays at the Chariton Invitational.

Mark Fraise, Davis County boys track and field

Fraise finished first in the 400 hurdles, was on the first place shuttle hurdle and 4×400 relays, and also ran on the second place distance medley relay.

Gage Hoppenworth, Johnston boys track and field

Hoppenworth had a three-gold night at the Dowling Catholic meet, winning the 110 and 400 hurdles while running the third leg on the winning shuttle hurdle relay.

Alayna Goldsberry, Southeast Polk girls track and field

The junior won the 100 and 200 at her home invitational while running the anchor on the second place 4×400 relay.

Natalie Sitzmann, Waukee girls track and field

Sitzmann, a senior, won the 200 and ran on the first place shuttle hurdle and 4×400 relays at her home invitational.

Isabel Spradling, Des Moines Roosevelt girls track and field

Spradling picked up a first in the 1,500 and was on the gold-medal 4×400 and 4×800 relays at the Waukee Invitational.

Alayna Williams, Carlisle girls soccer

Williams, a senior, recorded five goals in a season-opening win over Knoxville, 10-1.

Carly Torneten, Harlan Community girls soccer

Torneten not only scored four goals, but she recorded four assists vs. Carroll.

About Our Athlete of the Week Voting

High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.

Source link