Iowa State Basketball: 2024-25 season preview for the Cyclones

Season Outlook

Considering what this program was just three years ago, a pair of Sweet Sixteen appearances is an incredible achievement. However, Otzelberger and his staff are far from satisfied, as the Cyclones were technically upset by a lower seed in the Sweet Sixteen last year. With what talent returned and was brought new to campus, this Iowa State team could be in line for a few more games during March Madness.

We haven’t talked specifically about the unit, but Iowa State’s defense is at another level. They proved that as their strength last year, leaning on that defense instead of one or two offensive stars. Fortunately, Lipsey and Gilbert are back to lead a strong, defensive-minded backcourt that can steadily score and completely shut down opposing offenses.

Things are a little less clear in a frontcourt replacing Robert Jones, Tre King, and others, but the development of Momcilovic has been a major win for this staff. If he has the kind of sophomore season that many are expecting, then there shouldn’t be too many question marks at the back end. One big question is how they manage the rotation with Jackson, Chatfield, and the other new pieces, with Jackson potentially the savviest of the bunch.

Tempering expectations is important, especially for a program like Iowa State that doesn’t have historic long-term success. However, it’s fair to say that this is the type of campaign where a Final Four run might be realistic. The defense alone will win games for the Cyclones, both in Ames and on the road; it’s all going to boil down to how the offense fares. While no major shooters or new faces joined the squad, returning your top four scorers from last season is never a bad thing.

Should the Cyclones avoid injury, they can do major damage this season, emerging as one of the favorites in an extremely deep Big 12. This roster is far from flawless, as we’ve already mentioned, but there’s a lot to like, especially among those major pieces that are back in action. If everything goes right, this could be a historic season in Ames. Has this staff added enough depth and talent to make that dream a reality?