MBB 2025-26: Where does season rank in ISU history?

[cyclones500]

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.

 

[MeanDean]

#2 after 2000.

The pub from the amazing win at Purdue was amazing. Would have voted number 1 if we'd have made it past the Sweet 16.

The other thing about 2000, it kind of came out of nowhere and built as the season progressed. It was crazy to see the team's performances continue to surprise national press as the year went on. Closest from rags to riches story we've had IMHO. Kind of reminds me of the Purdy rookie year, just missing the perfect Cinderella ending in the Elite 8/Super Bowl.

 

[NENick]

Tied for #2, with last year and Kane year, all derailed from what could've been by injuries. Behind 2000.

 

[drlove]

this could be defined many ways. that said.

2000 and 2001 should be 1 and 2 as they won conference titles.
This years team didn't win the Big12 tourney, Regular season title, and didn't get to the Elite 8.
It was a great year, but we've had a few "great years" with great moments that ended in disappointment/badluck...whatever. This year is tied for 3rd with several teams .

 

[Cyclonepride]

#2 after 2000.

The pub from the amazing win at Purdue was amazing. Would have voted number 1 if we'd have made the Sweet 16.

The other thing about 2000, it kind of came out of nowhere and built as the season progressed. It was crazy to see the team's performances continue to surprise national press as the year went on. Closest from rags to riches story we've had IMHO. Kind of reminds me of the Purdy rookie year, just missing the perfect Cinderella ending in the Elite 8/Super Bowl.

Yep, I think they had a real chance to surpass 2000 for #1 on the list if Jefferson hadn't gotten injured.

 

[BCClone]

#2 after 2000.

The pub from the amazing win at Purdue was amazing. Would have voted number 1 if we'd have made the Sweet 16.

The other thing about 2000, it kind of came out of nowhere and built as the season progressed. It was crazy to see the team's performances continue to surprise national press as the year went on. Closest from rags to riches story we've had IMHO. Kind of reminds me of the Purdy rookie year, just missing the perfect Cinderella ending in the Elite 8/Super Bowl.

We did make the sweet 16, so I’m a little confused

 

[cyclones500]

We did make the sweet 16, so I’m a little confused

I think he meant Elite 8.

 

[Die4Cy]

I reserve the right to lament JJeff's situation as a "what might have been" season along with Georges, but won't rank greatness of any team until it gets to the E8. Getting past the first weekend is a nice deal, but it can also be very matchup based. Iowa State is going to punch through soon.

 

[CyberCy79]

this could be defined many ways. that said.

2000 and 2001 should be 1 and 2 as they won conference titles.
This years team didn't win the Big12 tourney, Regular season title, and didn't get to the Elite 8.
It was a great year, but we've had a few "great years" with great moments that ended in disappointment/badluck...whatever. This year is tied for 3rd with several teams .

The way we finished the 2001 season made it one to forget. My brother bought me a “Back to Back Big 12 Championship” tee shirt that I never wore.

 

[KennyPratt42]

'99-'00 is still the clear number 1

I don't hold the '00-'01 season as highly as some, regular season was really good but if you lose first game of the Big 12s and 1st round of the NCAA it doesn't finish ahead of some of our second weekend teams.

Of the last three years of TJ, this is probably the best one, but an argument can be made for '23-'24.

The last two seasons under Fred were comparable to these last three years. The Kane season feels like a virtual tie with this last season.

The two middle years of Floyd's tenure are also kind of comparable to the last three under TJ and the last two for Fred. Winning the conference tournament and making the sweet 16 were a big deal, but overall the seasons weren't quite as good as TJ and Fred's very best.

'85-'86 under Orr you would also put in a similar category to the best ones under TJ, Fred, and Floyd.

So for me there is a group of about 9 seasons I would put close to each other, that all come behind '99-'00. A reasonable argument can be made this last season falls anywhere from 2 to about 5 overall.

 

[KennyPratt42]

If pressed to rank the top 10 seasons in modern Iowa St. basketball they would be:

1. '99-'00 Eustachy, Fizer, Tinsley
2. '13-'14 Hoiberg, Kane, Ejim, Niang
3. '25-'26 Otzelberger, Jefferson, Lipsey
4. '23-'24 Otzelberger, Gilbert, Lipsey, Jones
5. '00-'01 Eustachy, Tinsley, Shirley, Horton
6. '85-'86 Orr, Hornacek, Virgil
7. '96-'97 Floyd, Willoughby, Cato, Pratt
8. '95-'96 Floyd, Willoughby, Cato, Pratt
9. '14-'15 Hoiberg, Niang, Morris, Long
10. '24-'25 Otzelberger, Gilbert, Jones, Lipsey

 

[Cyhig]

There have been many great seasons at Iowa State. It's sometimes hard to compare between different eras. BUT, I would comfortably say this was overall a top 5 season.

Edit: for instance, do you value the '85-'86 team more because they really put Iowa State on the map for college basketball? Or do you value a straight up "which team was best"? No right answer, just varying opinions. But regardless, I think most of us would still say this was a top 5 season

 

[chuckd4735]

If pressed to rank the top 10 seasons in modern Iowa St. basketball they would be:

1. '99-'00 Eustachy, Fizer, Tinsley
2. '13-'14 Hoiberg, Kane, Ejim, Niang
3. '25-'26 Otzelberger, Jefferson, Lipsey
4. '23-'24 Otzelberger, Gilbert, Lipsey, Jones
5. '00-'01 Eustachy, Tinsley, Shirley, Horton
6. '85-'86 Orr, Hornacek, Virgil
7. '96-'97 Floyd, Willoughby, Cato, Pratt
8. '95-'96 Floyd, Willoughby, Cato, Pratt
9. '14-'15 Hoiberg, Niang, Morris, Long
10. '24-'25 Otzelberger, Gilbert, Jones, Lipsey

I would probably have this year above 13-14, but they are very close. I would definitely have 14-15 ahead of 00-01, mainly because 14-15 they won the Big 12 tourney.

 

[KennyPratt42]

I would probably have this year above 13-14, but they are very close. I would definitely have 14-15 ahead of 00-01, mainly because 14-15 they won the Big 12 tourney.

Winning a regular season conference title is a lot bigger deal than winning a conference tournament. '00-'01 and '14-'15 are the two hardest to find the right spot in the rankings for me.

 

[cyclones500]

If pressed to rank the top 10 seasons in modern Iowa St. basketball they would be:

1. '99-'00 Eustachy, Fizer, Tinsley
2. '13-'14 Hoiberg, Kane, Ejim, Niang
3. '25-'26 Otzelberger, Jefferson, Lipsey
4. '23-'24 Otzelberger, Gilbert, Lipsey, Jones
5. '00-'01 Eustachy, Tinsley, Shirley, Horton
6. '85-'86 Orr, Hornacek, Virgil
7. '96-'97 Floyd, Willoughby, Cato, Pratt
8. '95-'96 Floyd, Willoughby, Cato, Pratt
9. '14-'15 Hoiberg, Niang, Morris, Long
10. '24-'25 Otzelberger, Gilbert, Jones, Lipsey

I think your 10 matches which teams I would include, with some slight variation in order. Top 5 fairly close.

I'll take a stab at a top 10 shortly.

So many variables to assess to compare seasons, and not even trying to determine "would team A defeat team B head-to-head?" thought experiments, and attempting to compare schedule strength.

There are:
* Conference titles / conference placement for regular season
* Overall win% / conference win%
* Tournament seeding / advancement
* AP ranking
* Conference tournament results
*

 

[harimad]

#2 after 2000.

The pub from the amazing win at Purdue was amazing. Would have voted number 1 if we'd have made the Sweet 16.

The other thing about 2000, it kind of came out of nowhere and built as the season progressed. It was crazy to see the team's performances continue to surprise national press as the year went on. Closest from rags to riches story we've had IMHO. Kind of reminds me of the Purdy rookie year, just missing the perfect Cinderella ending in the Elite 8/Super Bowl.

Agree. This is one of the easiest answers to any posted question in the history of this site.

Edit: well I guess there was that one guy who asked if you’d rather have a conference championship or a final four. But still, this one’s pretty easy.

 

[cyclones500]

I’d rank it this way … I’m using only the “modern” era since 64-team tournament, I have no direct gauge for anything prior to about 1980. I could find arguments to swap positions 1 or 2 places almost anywhere after the first 5, and a couple solid seasons just missing the 10 cut.

1. 1999-2000
2. 2025-26
3. 2013-14
4. 2023-24
5. 2000-01
6. 2014-15
7. 2024-25
8. 1996-97
9. 1995-96
10. 1985-86 ... interesting note: this ISU wasn't ranked in top 25 at any time during the season; but finished 2nd in Big 12 (and of course the fun Sweet 16 run)

We have sour memories about how Prohm era devolved, but 2015-16/2016-17 were solid, even if there was some underachievement considering the roster & experience strength.

 

[awd4cy]

I can’t really come up with a reason to have 2013-14 above 2025-26. Overall this years team was a bit better.

 

[chuckd4735]

Winning a regular season conference title is a lot bigger deal than winning a conference tournament. '00-'01 and '14-'15 are the two hardest to find the right spot in the rankings for me.

I agree, but the ending of the 00-01 season was just so bad. Getting stomped by a bad Baylor team, and following that up with the game that shall not be named. I could definitely go either way on that, but I do think the two should be right next to each other in the rankings.

 

[awd4cy]

Winning a regular season conference title is a lot bigger deal than winning a conference tournament. '00-'01 and '14-'15 are the two hardest to find the right spot in the rankings for me.

The conference tournament win was nice, but we don’t beat Kansas is Embiid isn’t injured. About like this years team and Arizona. That would have been amazing to pull that off.