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

[KennyPratt42]

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.

I have a hard time putting the '24-'25 season ahead of the two Floyd years and '85-'86 when they finished 5th in conference, lost in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament, and didn't reach the second weekend of the NCAAs. It was a great first half of the season, but they went 8-8 at the end.

 

[Clone95]

Not sure 2014-15 is ahead of 2016-2017. Both finished 12-6 in conference and won the Big 12 tourney but at least 2016-17 made it to the round of 32.

 

[KennyPratt42]

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

The '13-'14 team won a conference tournament. Otherwise they both finished tied for 3rd in conference, made the sweet 16 with a major injury what if, both had some bad conference road losses, and had some great wins. For me its basically the conference tournament run and title plus Michigan game at Hilton vs the win @Purdue plus Kansas/Houston in 3 days at Hilton.

 

[cyclones500]

I have a hard time putting the '24-'25 season ahead of the two Floyd years and '85-'86 when they finished 5th in conference, lost in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament, and didn't reach the second weekend of the NCAAs. It was a great first half of the season, but they went 8-8 at the end.

Good points, I may have some recency bias with it or wishful thinking, I'm going to leave my ranking as it is as discussion point.

 

[cyclones500]

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

It's close, for sure, this is only scratching the surface (and not in table form, time constraints):

2025-26
Record: 29-8 (12-6, tied for 3rd, 5 seed in B12T)
NCAA Tournament: 2 seed, def 15 & 7 ... Sweet 16, lost to 6 seed
Big 12 regular season: Tied for 3rd (fifth seed in B12 tournament)
Conference tournament: Lost to (1) in semifinal … def 12 and 4
Highest AP rank: #2 … ranked in top 25 entire season
Started season 16-0

2013-14
Record: 28-8 (11-7, tied for 3rd, 4 seed in B12T)
NCAA Tournament: 3 seed, def 14 & 6 ... Sweet 16, lost to 7 seed
Big 12 regular season: Tied for 3rd (4th seed in B12 tournament)
Conference tournament: Champion … def 5, 1, 7
Highest AP rank: #9
Started season 14-0

I wanted to compare each season's #wins vs. NCAA tournament teams and #losses vs. non-NCAAT teams, but it'd be too time-consuming for our discussion here to gather the 2013-14 (if anyone wants to do it, feel free!)

 

[awd4cy]

The '13-'14 team won a conference tournament. Otherwise they both finished tied for 3rd in conference, made the sweet 16 with a major injury what if, both had some bad conference road losses, and had some great wins. For me its basically the conference tournament run and title plus Michigan game at Hilton vs the win @Purdue plus Kansas/Houston in 3 days at Hilton.

Like I said, they don’t get past KU with Embiid healthy. KU was kinda unbeatable like Arizona this year. This year we spent all year basically top 10 and a lot of it in top 5. The Kane year was more 10-16. Both years definitely have a lot of similarities. I think this year was stronger though.

 

[MeanDean]

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

Yeah was supposed to say PAST THE SWEET 16.

 

[cyclones500]

Yeah was supposed to say PAST THE SWEET 16.

When I saw what you posted, that's exactly how I read it (I knew where you were going)

 

[MartyFine]

 

[Chitowncy]

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

That's a pretty darn reasonable list. I think I'd have to go with that as a solid top 10.

Only place I waver is in ranking that '96-97 Floyd, Willoughby, Cato, Pratt team. They were in overtime with UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen to go to the Elite Eight. So darn close, and no other team came as close since other than 99-00. It was also during my childhood so special personal memories, but objectively a really good postseason run that could have easily ended in Elite Eight and that makes me think they should be higher. They didn't win the conference tourney or the regular season tourney though, so I think 7th is about right.

There's a real clear delineation with the number 1 season (99-00 due to conference title, tournament title, then Elite Eight run), then 2 through 7 for me can be pretty jumbled and a reasonable argument made for mixing them up depending on weight given of accomplishments.

 

[kentkel]

Number 2 for me! Fizer's last year when flaming lunatic Izzo bullied the gutless refs into giving Sparty the victory (and hence depriving us of a Natty), is my number one season (again, not based upon the ending of the year - but what our team accomplished - Big 12 season and tourney champs & handily beating our NCAA opponents until we had to play 5 on 8 in Auburn Hills). This year, with a healthy J Jeff, we would have reached the E8. Getting past UM would have been a huge hurdle - but I would have liked that challenge for our guys. Sure, we had a couple of clunkers during this past season - but I really thought we were playing some great ball down the stretch!! Overall, it is my 2nd favorite season.

 

[KennyPratt42]

That's a pretty darn reasonable list. I think I'd have to go with that as a solid top 10.

Only place I waver is in ranking that '96-97 Floyd, Willoughby, Cato, Pratt team. They were in overtime with UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen to go to the Elite Eight. So darn close, and no other team came as close since other than 99-00. It was also during my childhood so special personal memories, but objectively a really good postseason run that could have easily ended in Elite Eight and that makes me think they should be higher. They didn't win the conference tourney or the regular season tourney though, so I think 7th is about right.

There's a real clear delineation with the number 1 season (99-00 due to conference title, tournament title, then Elite Eight run), then 2 through 7 for me can be pretty jumbled and a reasonable argument made for mixing them up depending on weight given of accomplishments.

I'll be the first to admit I have a hard time ranking both the Floyd Big 8 tournament championship team and Sweet 16 team because of my own personal bias. Those are the two teams that made me fall in love with Iowa State basketball and college basketball in general. I could relive those seasons over and over for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy.

 

[CRCySpy]

How can 2021-2022 not be on the list, or at least in front of 2024-2025. A Sweet 16 appearance in TJ's first year, and one year after finishing 2-22. That team totally maxed out and set the foundation for what we have seen with this program to this day.

Loved Brockington too.

 

[cyclones500]

How can 2021-2022 not be on the list, or at least in front of 2024-2025. A Sweet 16 appearance in TJ's first year, and one year after finishing 2-22. That team totally maxed out and set the foundation for what we have seen with this program to this day.

Loved Brockington too.

It just missed my top 10, its unique circumstance + result could bring argument for it to be included.

Surprising opening to the season, and of course the tournament run was fun and unexpected. And, gave a lot of hope for Otz being able to build roster and had some memorable moments. But there were several clunkers in between (OSU at home, TT in conf tournament are a couple of examples) and team could be reeeeally hard to watch sometimes, due to scoring limitation. They did work their a***es off, scratched & clawed & overachieved, so it's probably unfair to point out the flaws, it simply was a reality.

 

[KennyPratt42]

How can 2021-2022 not be on the list, or at least in front of 2024-2025. A Sweet 16 appearance in TJ's first year, and one year after finishing 2-22. That team totally maxed out and set the foundation for what we have seen with this program to this day.

Loved Brockington too.

I get what you're saying, and that team definitely built a foundation for the rest of TJ's tenure, but they went 7-11 in conference and lost first game of the Big 12 tournament. Most of the success of that season revolves around the upset of Wisconsin in the tournament and being competitive enough in the regular season to make the tournament (11 seed). None of the other top 10 seasons were bubble teams. Definitely honorable mention worthy, but they aren't comparable to the last three seasons under TJ unless the only thing that matters is the NCAA tournament.

 

[cyclones500]

I get what you're saying, and that team definitely built a foundation for the rest of TJ's tenure, but they went 7-11 in conference and lost first game of the Big 12 tournament. Most of the success of that season revolves around the upset of Wisconsin in the tournament and being competitive enough in the regular season to make the tournament (11 seed). None of the other top 10 seasons were bubble teams. Definitely honorable mention worthy, but they aren't comparable to the last three seasons under TJ unless the only thing that matters is the NCAA tournament.

You summarized it better than I did, but we're on a similar wavelength.

My initial list contained about 15 seasons, 21-22 was among them, as I was attempting rank, it kept getting pushed lower and lower.

21-22 also benefits at least a little by chronology, since it followed 20-21 sinkhole that followed the fade of 18-19 tournament combined with slide of 19-20.

 

[theshadow]

Only place I waver is in ranking that '96-97 Floyd, Willoughby, Cato, Pratt team. They were in overtime with UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen to go to the Elite Eight.

That game should never have gotten that far. Blew a 16-point lead in the span of 10 minutes in the 2nd half.

 

[CRCySpy]

I get what you're saying, and that team definitely built a foundation for the rest of TJ's tenure, but they went 7-11 in conference and lost first game of the Big 12 tournament. Most of the success of that season revolves around the upset of Wisconsin in the tournament and being competitive enough in the regular season to make the tournament (11 seed). None of the other top 10 seasons were bubble teams. Definitely honorable mention worthy, but they aren't comparable to the last three seasons under TJ unless the only thing that matters is the NCAA tournament.

Understandable. Less than stellar conference season, one of the last byes into the tournament, and Tech blew them out in KC.

But regular season NIT Tournament trophy and just making the tourney was a huge surprise. The season had very little expectations and success came out of nowhere.

 

[CRCySpy]

That game should never have gotten that far. Blew a 16-point lead in the span of 10 minutes in the 2nd half.

I was there in San Antonio. Cameron Dollar with the high kiss over Cato to win it.

There was still like one second left, and Tim Floyd set up a play where the ISU player inbounding the basketball ran the baseline, and the UCLA defender ran along with him and Floyd had one of our players, Clay Edwards maybe???, set a pick along the baseline and intentionally get blown up by the UCLA player to try and get a foul called. The ISU player totally got run over, but of course the refs weren't going to call the foul in that situation, and Floyd was pissed.

Great concept and design when you only have a prayer left. I think Tim Floyd had some amazing strategies.

 

[amishclone]

For all the toughness TJ's teams allegedly possess, they sure are a bunch of pansies at the ft line. I'm going to dock their seasons accordingly .