Spring football season continues in Ames.

Watch everything OL coach Jake Thornton and DL coach Jalon Bibbs said, as well as players on both sides of the line.
https://cyclonefanatic.com/2026/04/...ayers-on-ol-dl-speak-at-tuesday-availability/

I love seeing this kind of love for our team next year. Apparently, ESPN's writer thinks we can keep our long Top 25 streak going and start next year ranked. Me too. Love seeing that TJ is already so respected in the profession and our teams so respected they are placing us in the top 25 (and top 15 at that!!) and giving ISU the benefit of the doubt to start the season even with the loss of probably our top 2 players, and maybe top 3.

I am also high on these returners. Toure could be All Big 12 next year. He's so tenacious and athletic defensively. I think he'll be less deferential next year if needed and will score more. I believe he'll get better and better at shooting, just like Lipsey. Batemon is going to continue to be a threat and has shown he'll contribute a ton, and also Pleta has a real chance to be a much bigger offensive threat. We all know and see Buchanan's contributions. If Milan somehow returns, and we add an impact transfer or two, watch out!! Even if Milan goes, TJ's team building has shown to be elite. Excited for the Cyclones for years to come and also excited to see articles like this where the national media think highly of our program and give us the benefit of the doubt.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...ketball-2026-27-way-too-early-top-25-rankings

Dishon Jackson - transferred to Pitt, did not play

Demarion Watson - transferred to North Texas, last year of eligibility
- 32g, 10 starts
- 14 minutes / game
- 2.4 ppg / 1.6 rpg
- 18 assists, 24 steals, 24 blocks
- 32.4% / 26.2% / 70%

Nojus Indrusaitis - Transferred to Pitt, 2 years of eligibility left
- 33g, 6 starts
- 23.5 minutes/g
- 9.1 ppg / 2.4 rpg
- 55 assists, 30 steals, 3 blocks
- 40.3% / 38.7% / 63.5%

Kayden Fish - Transferred to Ball State, 1 year of eligibility left
- 23g, 6 starts
- 18.3 minutes/g
- 7.2ppg / 3.2rpg
- 13 assists, 15 steals, 5 blocks
- 48.5% / 31.8% / 66%

JT Rock - Transferred to New Mexico, 2 years of eligibility left, back in the portal
- 37g, 1 start
- 12.8 minutes / g
- 6.2ppg, 3.5 rpg
- 14 assists, 7 steals, 34 blocks
- 54.5% / 39.7% / 61.9%
- 23-58 from 3pt range!

Jackson Paveletzke - Transferred to Ohio, last year of eligibility
- 31g, 31 starts
- 36.7 minutes / g (led the conference)
- 17.3ppg, 2.5rpb
- 163 assists, 27 steals, 70 turnovers
- 46.9% / 31.6% / 80.5%
- 31-98 from 3pt range

Omaha Biliew - Transferred to Wake Forest, 1 year of eligibility left, back in the portal
- 35g, 24 starts
- 20.3 minutes / g
- 6.3ppg, 2.4rpg
- 18 assists, 21 steals, 13 blocks
- 46% / 36.8% / 79.4%
- 32-87 from 3pt range

Eli King - Transferred to North Dakota (played 3 years there), last year of eligibility
- 35 g, 35 starts
- 31.7 minutes / g
- 11.9ppg, 5.2rpg
- 69 assists, 72 steals (led conf), 29 blocks, 27 turnovers
- 41.7% / 30.5% / 71.2%
- 46-151 from 3pt range

Did I miss anyone?

I missed a couple -

Jelani Hamilton - Transferred to Georgia State after redshirting here, 2 years of eligibility left
- 27 g, 26 starts
- 31.2 minutes / g
- 17.8ppg, 4.6rpg
- 62 assists, 52 steals (led conf), 51 turnovers
- 37.2% / 34.0% / 88.4%
- 53-156 from 3pt range
- His 88% from the FT line (160-181) led the conference

Jeremiah Williams - Injury Redshirt at ISU, 2 years at Rutgers, this year at Georgetown, no eligibility left
- 34g, 7 starts, 20.4mpg
- 5.9ppg, 1.9rpb
- 99 assists, 28 steals, 12 blocks
- 39.7% / 37.1% / 67.9%

Iowa State earns their second commitment of the 2027 class from wide receiver Bryson Thompson.

https://cyclonefanatic.com/2026/04/san-antonio-wide-receiver-bryson-thompson-commits-to-iowa-state/

Rome wasn't built in a day, or even a month. In college basketball, that's all you've got.

With just four players on the roster, Bill Fennelly has to find the pieces quickly.

Andrew Harrington explains in this week's Monday Musings. https://cyclonefanatic.com/2026/04/monday-musings-building-rome-in-a-day/

I saw where the Cleveland Browns owner thinks that Deshaun Watson could be back as the starting QB next season. It made me question if the Browns were the worst organization in football. Then, I wondered what the worst organization in major US sports is.

Note: This is open to interpretation. Historical or recent lack of success, lack of championships/win percentage, organizational disfunction, etc.

Pending school board approval newest Ankeny Hawks Girl’s Basketball Coach
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ISU softball played #14 Arizona on Easter. They lost but it was an entertaining game. There were 7 home runs in the first three innings (3 by AZ, 4 by ISU).


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Hey everyone,

Randy Peterson Columns for your Monday in case you missed them:

How long will fans put up with the mess in which college sports finds itself? Randy writes on the way NIL has impacted fans.
Read Column Here: https://cyclonefanatic.com/2026/04/...he-mess-in-which-college-sports-finds-itself/

ICMYI: Amid today’s college sports restlessness, kudos for Arianna Jackson’s Iowa State loyalty
Read Column Here: https://cyclonefanatic.com/2026/04/...udos-for-arianna-jacksons-iowa-state-loyalty/

Have a happy Monday!

Iowa State fans will remain loyal, amid college sports’ drama.

But today’s landscape is testing that loyalty.

Randy Peterson on the transfer portal, NIL and what it all means for fans moving forward.

Iowa State hires veteran assistant coach Tim Buckley after his two year stint in Cincinnati.Buckley has previously worked under T.J. Otzelberger at UNLV and Tom Crean at Indiana, among others. https://cyclonefanatic.com/2026/04/iowa-state-hires-tim-buckley-as-assistant-coach/

Masters Week is upon us! Weather forecast looks excellent for the week:




Only change to the course this year is on Hole 17 where the front of the tee was reduced by 12 yards:

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Chris Williams and Brent Blum dissect Audi Crooks’ decision to leave Iowa State and everything that comes with it. The transfer portal official opens this week, while the industry within college sports continues to be on fire. Arizona couldn’t bring the Big 12 a championship in men’s basketball. All this and more, presented by Mechdyne.

I'm sure I'm impatient for news here, but it seems weird that we're not seeing a lot of lists of potential candidates

Have fun picking up eggs.

For years I’ve had (2) season tickets on the 40 yard line, east side, north end of field along with a parking pass in the lot next to the Jacobson Building. Some things have changed for me and I’m likely not to renew them. Before I give them up is anyone interested in acquiring them? I’d have to buy them and the you’d have to purchase from me and I’d transfer the tickets once they were sent out.

Let me know…I have limited time to do this. Send me a private message.

Iowa State would have won this game by double digits. For all the complaints, all the portal turmoil, Addy, Audi, AJ, n Jada would be winning this second really terrible national semi final.

I think all 4 teams are very capable, but seems like Michigan - Arizona is the defacto title game. I'll give the slight edge to Arizona

Draft for 2 new WNBA teams drafting current players from teams. On CBS Sports. She is going to Toronto.

So my daughter lives in LA and was selected in the lottery for local residents to buy tickets to various events, so we were looking at going to some events but man the prices are crazy.

T&F - $600 each
Tennis - $1000 each
Opening Ceremonies - $3000 - $5000 each
Beach VB - $28
Gymnastics - sold out
Swimming - $500

Cause we need more Auburns and Oklahomas in.

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Now that we've had about a week to digest (and go through stages of sports fan grief), where would you rank the 2025-26 men's basketball season within, say, the top 10 in Iowa State history?

I could have done a poll, but too many ways to organize it, I'd rather leave it open-ended.

Feel free to include as many explanations/qualifiers as you deem necessary.

I'm in the process of pondering for my assessment.