Mar 8, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats forward Coleman Hawkins (33) tries to keep the ball from Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) and forward Joshua Jefferson (2) during the first half at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger gets to go home to coach in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four years.
Cyclone forward Milan Momcilovic will do the same for the first time.
And injured point guard Tamin Lipsey is expected to play in third-seeded ISU’s first-round tournament game against 14-seed Lipscomb on Friday in Milwaukee.
So a lot of good news flowed from the Cyclones’ post-Selection Sunday news conference at Hilton Coliseum — with some significant bad news about senior guard Keshon Gilbert attached.
“We’ve decided that he needs to focus on his rehab and getting his body back right, so he won’t be available as we move forward,” Otzelberger said.
And that’s not just Friday.
Gilbert — ISU’s leading assists man before suffering a muscle strain late in the season — won’t play no matter how deep a run the Cyclones make. When asked if he would travel with the team, Otzelberger referred back to his initial comment.
“(I’ll) kind of stick to that first statement of, you know, Tamin will be ready to go, and with (Gilbert), he’s gotta focus on getting back healthy and getting back to being him,” Otzelberger said.
So ISU (24-9) is simply focused on being itself as currently configured as it makes its fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament under Otzelberger. Two of those appearances — including the first one that wound through Otzelberger’s hometown of Milwaukee — turned into Sweet 16 berths, and the Cyclones feel they’re similarly positioned to make a deep run.
“Defense always travels,” said Momcilovic, who was playing in the Wisconsin state championships when Otzelberger guided his first ISU team to the Sweet 16 in 2022. “We’ve got guys who can score, one through five. It could be anyone’s night, any game. So I think we have a lot of weapons that a lot of teams have to prepare for.”
Lipscomb, the Atlantic Sun Conference champs, shoots 35.7 percent from 3-point range and rank 14th nationally in fewest turnovers per game at 9.5. The Bisons (25-9) have also won 11 of their past 12 games and faced Kentucky and Arkansas on the road early this season.
“Never take anyone lightly,” versatile Cyclone forward Joshua Jefferson said. “So (we’re) going into it like Lipscomb can win the whole thing. I think that’s the best mindset for any team to have going into March Madness.”
ISU’s also convinced the loss of Gilbert doesn’t affect their hopes of advancing deep into the tournament. A win over Lipscomb would lead to a likely matchup with sixth-seeded Ole Miss. And if the Cyclones were able to advance past the second round, a clash with No. 2 seed Michigan State could be on tap in the Sweet 16. So it’s not any easy road — nor should it be — but ISU feels ready to traverse it.
“(Our expectation) is to go as far as we can,” said Momcilovic, one of four current ISU players averaging double figures in scoring. “National championship, to be honest.”
Why not? The Cyclones will face extremely long odds, but dreams form the grist for this tournament — until they’re dashed, or extended one more round, each arduous step at a time.
“I think we’ve been a group that’s been focused on what’s in front of us and what these guys can do,” Otzelberger said. “And overall, our energy and enthusiasm and togetherness has been really good.”
