Iowa State entered this past weekend’s matchup with Houston with realistic dreams of a top two seed in the NCAA tournament. Recent injuries now have the Cyclones desperately trying to avoid falling out of the top four of the Big 12 conference standings.
Iowa State fell to Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Tuesday night, 74-68. The Cowboys jumped out to a 12-4 lead and never trailed en route to their first win over an AP Top 25 team this season. Abou Ousmane scored 25 points for Oklahoma State; the Cowboys forced Cyclone 18 turnovers.
I’m not selling Iowa State stock though. They haven’t had very many fully healthy games in months. They need Keshon Gilbert back and I expect the Cyclones to start cooking
— Sean Paul (@SeanPaulCBB) February 26, 2025
It was the second game Iowa State has been without the services of starting point guard Keshon Gilbert. Gilbert is averaging 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game this season. He’s been out for the past two games - both losses - with a muscle strain. While the injury isn’t serious, his absence was very noticeable in both of the Cyclones' recent defeats; they’ve turned the ball over 30 times in the past two contests.
Despite an average record, Oklahoma State is one of the better teams in the country at recording steals (31st in the country in steal percentage according to KenPom); without their starting point guard, Iowa State wilted under the pressure on the road.
TJ Otzelberger doesn't have a timeline on Keshon Gilbert's (muscle strain): "I just know he wasn't available and we're going to continue to act in his best interest and do what's best for him, make sure that his health is first and foremost. When he's ready to play, he will."
— Eugene Rapay (@erapay5) February 26, 2025
There was some good news, as Iowa State’s leading scorer Curtis Jones returned to the court after sitting out against Houston with an illness. Jones came off the bench and scored 11 points. Still, Iowa State will need both of their starters healthy and back in their mid-season form to fulfill the promise this season once held for the Cyclones.
Iowa State is only a half-a-game in front of a suddenly hot BYU team for fourth place in a tough Big 12 conference; staying inside the top four is a must if they want a double bye in the conference tournament.