The Iowa State Cyclones might have seen their 2025-26 season end sooner than they would have liked, but there is reason to believe they can continue to head in the right direction.

This season, the Cyclones got off to a fantastic start with a 16-0 record. The strong start to the campaign saw them reach number two in the country. However, as conference play began in the Big 12, Iowa State struggled on the road.

While there were some struggles heading into the Big 12 tournament in this area, they really turned it on and played some great basketball in the conference tournament, before being eliminated by the Arizona Wildcats on a buzzer-beater.

With some newfound momentum heading into the NCAA tournament, hopes were high for the program. Unfortunately, an injury to Joshua Jefferson in the first minutes of their opening game limited their upset. Ultimately, they were eliminated by the Tennessee Volunteers, ending their season.…