25. Iowa State Cyclones
Another promising season in Ames ended in another trip to the Sweet Sixteen for T. J. Otzelberger and company. He’s had a profound impact on the Cyclones over the last five seasons with a variety of talent on his rosters. Iowa State has made a habit of winning without these big stars making headlines, though losing 3-point sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic and stout defender Tamin Lipsey are among the big changes heading into the new season.
Five names make up the current state of Iowa State’s transfer class and the big eye opener is certainly Jaquan Johnson. The former Bradley guard starred for the Braves as an underclassman, averaging nearly 17 points per game as one of the MVC’s best players this season. Fellow MVC guard Leon Bond meanders over from nearby Northern Iowa while the backcourt also gaines Robert Morris’s Ryan Prather, another reliable scorer.
A backcourt losing Lipsey and others is boosted with those three double-digit scorers, but Otzelberger’s staff also added some real potential in the frontcourt. The notable name is Tre Singleton, a former Northwestern forward who showed significant promise and has a chance to really become a focal point for the Cyclones. There’s also former Kansas State forward Taj Manning, a solid rebounder who has a chance for more consistent minutes in this new home.
Even when they don’t have household names or stats that really jump out at you, Iowa State finds a way to play smart team basketball and win games. They might not have a scorer quite as dynamic as Momcilovic among these newcomers but it’s hard not to trust Otzelberger to build a winning gameplan especially after what he’s shown in recent years.
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