How did Iowa State move onto the Sweet 16 despite a brutal offensive start? Defense and Tamin Lipsey.

Jake Brend reports as the Cyclones head to their third Sweet 16 in five years.
Login to view embedded media

Posted this in the game thread but I felt it deserved its own post.

I theorize that Dom Nelson takes this Iowa State team from a top 20 team with most likely a Sweet 16 peak to a legitimate national title contender. He is the most important bench player for any national title contender. And somehow, someway, he has single handidly taking this teams offensive efficiency through the roof.

After reading these facts, please try to make a counter argument.

Tonight, Iowa State scores 8 points in 8 minutes. Dom comes in, goes bull in a china shop, turnover, bad free thrown shooting and he goes out. 5 minutes of playing time. Iowa State on pace for a 40 point night. Enter Dom Nelson. After he enters, scores at a 78 point pace.

Mississippi State. 67 point game pace. Enter Dom Nelson. 101 point pace the rest of the way.

Creighton? Start the game at a 20 point pace. Enter DOM Nelson. 84 point pace the rest of the way.

Syracuse? Start the game at a 30 point pace. Enter DOM Nelson! Dom comes in for 3 minutes and the team scores 8 points, a 107 point pace. Next 7 minutes team scores at an 80 point pace. Re-Enter DOM Nelson!! Rest of the game is a 112 point pace. Gambling was very similar to those with a 115 point pace after Dom's seconds insertion into the game.

Iowa? 44 point pace before Dom, only plays 3 minutes. No cyclone points while Dom was in. 80 point pace the rest of the first half and the game. Poor coaching not to try the Dom Nelson effect a 2nd time.

Eastern Illinois? 64 point pace before Dom. 83 point pace after.

Purdue game Iowa State scores 16 points in twelve minutes. Enter DOM NELSON!!! Dom draws 2 fouls, commits one, has 2 turnovers and misses a shot and completely changes the momentum of the game. Dom only plays 9 minutes but before he enters, they are on pace for a 54 point game. From the moment he enters they are on a 93 point pace.

It's not every game, but the only games where this pattern doesn't hold, Iowa State hasn't struggled on offense at all. And there hasn't been a single time where the offense was struggling where the turning point was DOM FREAKING NELSON!!!! Entering the game. And these aren't minor improvements. They are massive improvements. Our offensive efficiency after DOM NELSON enters the game must be through the ******* roof. Can any CF staffer por through the data and give us complete stats on offensive efficiency bere Dom enters and after?

And it's not like he is generating all this offense. A lot of these games he barely plays. He just changes the vibe. If Tamin, Jefferson and Milan were replaced by decent Big 12 players and Dom was the main scoring threat, he would average 17 points a game on 20 shots, 6 boards, 1.5 assist and 4.7 turnovers a game and the team is on the outside looking in.

The Achilles Heel of all these good TJ teams has been offensive funks. It is what has limited TJ to having Top 15 teams to.having a Top 3 team. We all assumed the missing piece was more reliable offensive consistency. Maybe a Tyrus McGee or Donovan Jackson off the bench or a Georges Niang or Marcus Fizer who you could go to any time and know they would deliver. Turns out that missing piece is Dom Nelson, a senior transfer who plays sparingly and has middling stats, who just might be the most important bench piece on a Final 4 team

Vinnie Johnson was called The Microwave because he could come off the bench and heat up an offense quickly by scoring in bunches. That's not Dom. From now on, for me, Dom Nelson shall be known as "The Defibrillator". I need an NIL shirt of Dom using a defibrillator on Cy and I need it yesterday.

Chris Williams reacts to Iowa State's huge win over Kentucky and where his head is at following a big first weekend for the Cyclones. Courtesy of Karl Auto Group.

Already bought hotel and 2nd round tickets (Waiting to see which session we are in for 1st round*)

Anyone else?

Randy dropped a new column after the Kentucky win.

Focus is on Otzelberger and the way this team responded — called it a “masterclass” and said this group is playing its most exciting basketball right now. Also ties it back to some past ISU teams and what this run could become.

Good read heading into the Sweet 16:

vs




#6 IOWA STATE (23-3, 10-3 BIG 12)
#23 BYU (19-7, 7-6 BIG 12)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST 9:30 P.M. CST
Marriott Center / Provo, UT


TV: ESPN
Talent: Dave Flemming, pxp Sean Farnham, analyst

Radio: Cyclone Radio Network (Varsity Network)
CRN Talent: John Walters (pxp); Eric Heft (analyst)

vs


Tennessee State (23-9, 15-5 OVC)
#6 IOWA STATE (27-7, 12-6 BIG 12)
FRIDAY, MARCH 20TH 1:50 P.M. CST
Enterprise Center / St. Louis, MO


TV: CBS
Talent: Spero Dedes, pxp Jim Spanarkel, analyst Jon Rothstein, reporter

Radio: Cyclone Radio Network (Varsity Network)
CRN Talent: John Walters (pxp); Eric Heft (analyst)

Due to the circumstances and beating a KY team primed for a run I might put that one above UCLA 2000.

What a ****ing group of ballers and what a staff to keep them full steam ahead.

I was in St. louis for sessions 1 and 2 (wife a Mizzou grad), and I have to say the between session options for entertainment in Des Moines far better than what St. louis had to offer. Distance between Enterprise Center and all options for game watches, food and beer real turn off. Lucky that it was a beautiful and walking possible. Can't imagine how miserable it would have been if cold and rainy.
Casey's Center and attached Events Center along with Cowles Commons with the circus tent were outstanding fan gathering points and weather friendly. Des Moines deserves to be a permanent part of the NCAA basketball destinations.

Time to turn the page...

Oweh is the straw that stirs the drink. The matchup between him and Toure will be great.

Aberdeen is a nice combo guard. I suspect Lipsey gets that assignment.

Chandler is their shooter. He and Momcilovic are sure to follow each other around the court.

Garrison is a former McD AA has a ton of length in the frontcourt. Okie State transfer.

They have a clear advantage in size in the frontcourt. Especially w Jefferson likely out. We need to turn them over early and often and turn this thing into an up and down game.

Below is the full interview with Kevin Dresser following tonight's title match.

Login to view embedded media

Let's honor Chuck by posting our favorite Chuck Norris jokes.

Joshua Jefferson is "unlikely" to play tomorrow, per T.J. Otzelberger. With or without Jefferson, Iowa State is determined to play their identity.

Kentucky is well aware of that identity. Jake Brend reports from the Enterprise Center.

Login to view embedded media

Who’s going to be there? I don’t have tickets yet, but it’s only a 2hr drive for me, so count me in. What’s the best move? Buy all sessions for the weekend? Buy for day 1 only once we know our session? Any tips are welcomed.

The recurring problem of a guard court not being able to make a basket contributed to another early out for the Sisters. But the problems went much deeper than horrid shooting.

OSU had 4 freshmen in finals.
3 won national titles.

I don’t feel good about that.
Enjoyed the tournament this weekend and will be Clone to the Bone forever.

Screw iowa, psu, and osu.

Acknowledging that everyone has their own circumstances, yesterday was a great reminder for us Cyclone fans that we should never take anything for granted. I’ve heard of way too many people “waiting for Chicago”.

For most of Central Iowa, it’s an easy drive down and back tomorrow (if you can’t come down and enjoy this beautiful weather today) and there are plenty of tickets at face value are still available.

Find some friends, pack the car, and head south!

Lea Nelson and Jackson Pence react to Iowa State’s first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament, courtesy of Karl Auto Group.

and is as good as all these ads I am seeing online? Do you just invest and AI takes care of the investments? What is the deal. Any sites you would suggest?

2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships
March 19-21 | Cleveland, Ohio (Rocket Arena)
Session 5: March 21, 10:00 a.m. CT

LIVE RESULTS:
TrackWrestling (classic viewer)
FloWrestling (new viewer)

TELEVISION: ESPNU

STREAMING: ESPN+


AUDIO: Varsity App

ROUNDS/BOUTS THIS SESSION:
Conso R6 (581-600)
Placing Matches (601-630)


IOWA STATE MATCHES THIS SESSION:



TEAM SCORES THROUGH SESSION 4:


TEAM SCORING FOR SESSION 5:
Conso R6 win = 3.5 + bonus
Placing win = 1 + bonus

Enjoy.