Mar 8, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger motions to his bench during the second half of a game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
ANKENY — Sometimes a late addition can make the most lasting impact.
That’s often been the case for Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger and his staff, anyway, when it comes to tapping the transfer portal.
So who proved to be the final player plucked from the portal by the Cyclones this spring? Aggressive and productive guard Dominick Nelson of Utah Valley — the reigning Western Athletic Conference player of the year.
“The first year, the last guy we added was Izaiah Brockington, right?” Otzelberger said late last month as ISU’s athletics programs kicked off their annual Tailgate Tour. “The last guy that we added two years ago was Curt Jones, right? So there’s been some of those — the last guy you add is something you really need and really fits, can really fit in. I think with Dominick, that downhill playmaking ability is certainly unique.”
Multiple transfers have become foundational elements of each of Otzelberger’s four NCAA Tournament-worthy teams. This season’s quartet of seasoned newcomers — Nelson, fellow guard Mason Williams of Eastern Washington, and forwards Blake Buchanan of Virginia and Eric Mulder of Purdue Fort Wayne — promises to mirror that sizable impact as roles emerge around productive returners such as Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, Milan Momcilovic and Nate Heise.
“The leadership that they can provide, I think it allows you to hit the ground running when you get to practice (this month) and then beyond, as opposed to when you’re starting with a group that’s totally new,” said Otzelberger, who has guided the Cyclones to the Sweet 16 twice in his four seasons as the head coach. “So (we’re) fortunate to be in the position that we are.”
ISU will likely find itself among the top four or five contenders for a Big 12 crown in the 2025-26 season — and poised to make another possible run in the NCAA Tournament.
But first things first: How do the four transfers fit into Otzelberger’s gritty and disruptive defense-based scheme?
1. Buchanan and Mulder
Buchanan stands 6-11 and Mulder is 6-8. Both are rim-running bigs and from a strictly athletic perspective, could be upgrades over the hard-nosed Brandton Chatfield, who exhausted his eligibility, and Dishon Jackson, who chose to transfer to Pitt.
“Buchanan and Mulder, they’re guys (who) both (have) great feet,” Otzelberger said. “Intelligent players. Guys that can change speeds and directions and pick.”
Buchanan averaged 5.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks as a role player for the Cavaliers last season. Mulder — a former Pella Christian prep — averaged 8.4 points and 6.7 rebounds will battling injuries for the Mastodon’s last season.
“We want guys that have the ability if we play them on pocket passes, short rolls, can be great decision makers (and) assist-to-turnover (ratio) guys,” Otzelberger said. “Mulder was, by KenPom, the most efficient player in the country (in that area). Buchanan is a really gifted passer and lob threat.”
2. Williams and Nelson
Both Williams and Nelson stand 6-5. Both excel at attacking the paint and scoring at the rim. Williams is a more accomplished outside shooter and drained a respectable 34.5 percent of his 3-pointers last season. Nelson boasts an uncanny ability to get to the free throw line and tied for 13th nationally in free throw attempts last season at 237.
“Both are taller, longer guards with a lot of upside,” Otzelberger said. “Both need to continue to get stronger and continue to build their core strength and things like that, but Dominick, is a downhill, playmaking (guy) and gets to the foul line about as well as anybody does. (He’s) attacking in transition. With Mason, he’s more of a guy that can make plays off the bounce as well as make shots and that sort of thing, so we like the character, we like the decision making. Guys we really think have more upside and can develop — and who want to develop. We’ve seen that work really well for a guy like Curt Jones (and) his background is not that different from those guys.”
So the complementary puzzle pieces are arrayed on the table and Otzelberger’s trademark taxing summer workouts will enable the big picture to form.
“Guys that are really rooted in development and want to do their work every single day,” he said, “those guys will really do well for us.”
