Feb 28, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Curtis Jones (5) and Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) battles Oklahoma Sooners guard Le’Tre Darthard (0) for a loose ball during the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
AMES — Forget the term “sixth man.” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger treats his top-six players as an extended starting lineup — and productive guard Curtis Jones stands squarely at the center of that philosophy.
“He’s found a way to understand that he’s a sixth starter for us,” Otzelberger said in advance of his No. 7 team’s matchup with Indianapolis at 7 p.m. Monday at Hilton Coliseum. “Very easily, he’s a starter. He’s going to play starter’s minutes for us, (and) that energy and spark that he’s able to provide is very unique. A lot of guys aren’t able to do that to the extent that he is.”
Jones started in the Cyclones’ season-opening romp past Mississippi Valley State, then came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points in an 82-56 win over Kansas City. He played 26 minutes in the opener and 29 minutes in game two. Forward Milan Momcilovic started in his place against the Roos — and drained his first four 3-point shots en route to a 16-point performance.
So Jones and Momcilovic unofficially share that “sixth starter” status, and neither minds if they take the floor at the opening tip, or come in at the first media timeout to furnish ISU with a jolt of energy.
“It’s big,” Jones said. “A lot of places that might cause (conflict) between maybe me and Milan, but I love Milan. Off the court, on the court, we just play well together. We’ve got a good connection, so I think it really helps us.”
Momcilovic is tied with guard Keshon Gilbert for the team lead in scoring at 13 points per game. Jones isn’t far behind at 12.5 points per game — and he and Momcilovic are both shooting 43 percent or better from 3-point range. So this “six starters” thing is working as well as it did last season when the Cyclones ended up reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
“Obviously, everyone likes to be starting,” Momcilovic said after the Kansas City win. “But we have so many guys on this team (and) if Curt staters on night, or whoever starts, it doesn’t really matter. We all play the same role. We’re all gonna get similar minutes.”
Subduing ego has been an important element of ISU’s return to national prominence under Otzelberger. The Cyclones have reached the NCAA Tournament in all three of his seasons at the helm after going 2-22 the previous season. And two Sweet 16 appearances in that span show that ISU has quickly reestablished itself as a top Big 12 contender.
“If I learned anything from the group that we had last year those guys patched hard throughout the course of the season and we got better,” Otzelberger said. “And as you continue to do that, different things present themselves. Different lineups can present themselves. We’re not locked into anything and it would be shocking to me if we have the same starting lineup for the rest of the year.”
So minutes — whether starting, or serving in a reserve role — will remain up for grabs. They’re earned, not given. And ISU’s “six starters” and beyond will carve out their roles a the season progresses; shoring up strengths, and diminishing weaknesses.
“Having that depth is sure good for our team this season,” first-team all-Big 12 point guard Tamin Lipsey said. “And having options is also super good.”
