Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) drives to the basket around Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) during the first half in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Jan. 7, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — T.J. Otzelberger said today that Milan Momcilovic has returned to practice, but his timeline for a return to gameplay remains uncertain.
Momcilovic — a 6-7 forward shooting a team-best 44.3 percent from 3-point range — has been out for nearly a month because of a hand injury that required surgery.
Otzelberger noted the injury would likely require a “four to six week” recovery period, and the team initially targeted the Feb. 15 game against Cincinnati as a likely return to the court for Momcilovic.
“Milan returned to practice today,” said Otzelberger, whose eighth-ranked team (17-5, 7-4) seeks to snap a three-game skid Saturday against TCU at home. “He was out there and doing things, so, again, it’ll be day to day. Whenever he’s able to return, when it’s in his best interest, is when he’ll return.”
The Cyclones are 3-3 since Momcilovic suffered the injury in practice the day before the Kansas win at home. The offense has faced significant struggles recently as opposing teams have taken advantage of Momcilovic’s absence and increased their ball pressure while clogging the interior.
“Obviously, we miss having him out on the court,” ISU point guard Tamin Lipsey said. “It makes a big difference, just spacing-wise and offensively, teams have been switching up how they’ve been guarding us since he’s been out. So we sort of have to learn how to play without him at this time, and that’s something we’ve been going through on offense, and just how to get movement and stay active without one of those key shooters on the floor. Obviously, he spaces the floor, opens up gaps for us to (attack), and when he’s not out there, it’s harder for us to find those gaps to drive, and it’s harder to make plays. So obviously looking forward to him getting back whenever that is.”
Could that be Saturday when ESPN’s College GameDay is in town? Otzelberger intimated that may be too soon, but reiterated that Momcilovic is close to being back — and his health interests stand paramount in that regard.
“I don’t want him to feel rushed in any way, shape or form,” Otzelberger said. “I know we can all watch and say, ‘Hey, having him back will give us enthusiasm and energy, and his ability to shoot and score the basketball (is big), but that’s a personal choice, and that’s on his timeline, and I support him in how he goes about making those choices.”
