Iowa State, who visits Allen Fieldhouse tonight, was one of the biggest stories in college basketball through the end of 2021. As of New Year’s Eve, they sat at 12-0, something no one in the college basketball world expected. ISU is coming of a 2-22 season (no, that’s not a misprint) in which they ranked 171st in KenPom’s ratings, easily the lowest in the Big 12. They struggled on both sides of the court last season, and then lost a super senior leader in Jalen Coleman-Lands who, obviously, is now with Kansas.
Coach TJ Otzelberger, who is in his first year as Iowa State’s head coach after a two year stint with UNLV, decided to completely revamp the roster upon arriving in Ames.