First Four start tonight. Let the madness begin!

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Jake Brend and Brent Blum dive into the latest news from the transfer portal before discussing the Milan Momcilovic situation ahead of a busy weekend for the Cyclones. Getting a look at spring football practice. All this and more presented by Mechdyne.

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.

Wednesday at spring football was about the wide receivers and safeties rooms.

Watch everything wide receivers coach Derrick Sherman, safeties coach Pete Menage, Duhron Goodman, Dom Overby and Evan Boyd said during the availability below. https://cyclonefanatic.com/2026/04/...layers-speak-on-wednesday-at-spring-football/

Great job outta him and I expect he'll get more 10 day opportunities.

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Hey folks,


I'm looking for your stories, your family stories, and finds....

I am originally from west central iowa where there were copper artifacts found on the surface after settlement (1850+)...

This map doesn't show copper influence but it was further southwest and I have an article from 1914 to prove it (still trying to locate a copper knife in private collection).

This is really a new and growing historical look at North American on a different scale. Copper mined in the Great Lakes region 9000-5000 years ago made it to the Missouri River Valley....

The sport is growing. Find a way to make it work.

Anyone got a good recommendation for an accountant in the Cedar Rapids / Marion area? The one we had lined up to do our taxes bailed on us last minute. Any leads would be appreciated.

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.

What are some movies scenes that you matter how many times you see it that it never gets old?

This topic just came to me as I'm watching Coming to America which has a ton but this one stands out. Laugh my *** off every time.

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Transfer portal season is here. Jake Brend has more on who's leaving and what Big Ten forward is set to visit this weekend. Plus, Iowa State opens the doors to the media for their spring football practice. Presented by Whiskey River in the Northwest Bank Studios. Login to view embedded media

Full write up below with a few details on the incoming freshman 125/133 pounder.


Additionally, the statement from Castillo he shared with me:

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

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/

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/

I set up a Cyclone Fanatic Womens Tournament Bracket Contest for those that would like to participate. Entire bracket must be filled out by Friday, March 20th at 10:30 am Central time.

To make it easier to track who is who please make sure your "Bracket Name" is your username on Cyclone Fanatic. For example, for me it is: BigJCy

If you need to you can can edit your Bracket Name by clicking on the "Gear Wheel" located by your name on the "Home" page or on the top right hand side of the "My Brackets" Page.

Link to join:

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/

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!

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

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