Iowa State Basketball 2025-26: T.J. Otzelberger Has Built a Monster
Three years ago, Iowa State was a bottom-feeder in the Big 12. They were 2-22, the program was in shambles, and nobody thought they could compete. Now they're ranked in the top 5, they're the best defensive team in the country, and they're a legitimate national championship contender. T.J. Otzelberger has performed one of the greatest coaching turnarounds in college basketball history.
The defense is suffocating
Iowa State's defense is elite. Not good — elite. They're first nationally in defensive efficiency, first in steals, and second in turnovers forced. They make every opponent miserable.
The scheme is simple in concept but brutal in execution. Iowa State plays aggressive on-ball defense, denies passing lanes, and traps on ball screens. They gamble a lot — they go for steals and deflections more than most teams — but they have the athletes to get away with it.
The key is effort. Iowa State plays harder than everyone else. Every possession, every game, every minute. That relentless intensity is what separates them from teams that just play good defense. Iowa State plays great defense and they never take a play off.
The roster: built through the portal
Otzelberger has built this team through the transfer portal, and he's been brilliant at it. He doesn't go after the biggest names — he goes after guys who fit his system. Guys who will play hard, defend, and accept roles.
Curtis Jones is the leading scorer at 16 points per game. He transferred in from Purdue Fort Wayne, which tells you everything about Otzelberger's recruiting approach. He doesn't need five-stars. He needs guys who buy in.
Keshon Gilbert is the point guard and defensive catalyst. He averages 3 steals per game, which is absurd. He's not a great scorer, but he doesn't need to be — his job is to set the defensive tone and distribute the ball.
Tamin Lipsey is the other guard, and he's one of the best perimeter defenders in the country. He locks down the opponent's best player every night, and he does it with physicality and intelligence.
The frontcourt is led by Milan Momcilovic, a 6'8" wing who can shoot threes and guard multiple positions. He's the versatile piece that makes the defense work.
The Big 12 is loaded
Iowa State is fighting for the Big 12 title with Houston, Kansas, and Arizona. The conference is ridiculously deep — there are probably 8 or 9 tournament teams — and every game is a battle.
Iowa State's best wins are against Houston (twice), Kansas (at home), and Arizona (on the road). Those are the kind of wins that get you a 1-seed. Their losses have all been competitive — they haven't been blown out once this season.
Can they win the national championship?
Yes. Iowa State has the defense to beat anyone, and in the tournament, defense is what matters. They hold opponents to 58 points per game. In a tournament where nerves are high and shooting is often cold, being able to get stops is the most valuable trait.
The concern is offense. Iowa State is efficient offensively, but they're not explosive. They score 72 points per game, which is fine against most teams, but against elite offenses like Houston or Duke, they need to score in the mid-70s to win. Can they do that? Sometimes. But not always.
The other concern is three-point shooting. Iowa State shoots 34% from three, which is average. If they go cold in a big game, they don't have a backup plan. Their offense relies on getting stops and running in transition, and if the other team slows the pace, Iowa State can struggle.
The Otzelberger coaching tree
What Otzelberger has done at Iowa State is remarkable. He took the worst team in the Big 12 and turned them into a top-5 program in three years. That doesn't happen in college basketball. Programs take decades to build.
His approach is simple: recruit hard workers, play elite defense, and create a culture where everyone buys in. It's not complicated, but it's incredibly difficult to execute. Most coaches talk about culture. Otzelberger actually lives it.
Whether Iowa State wins the national championship or not, the program is in a fundamentally different place than it was three years ago. That's a testament to coaching, and Otzelberger deserves every bit of credit for it.