Iowa State basketball takes a breath before summer grind begins
Iowa State men’s basketball has made no secret that a significant key to its success is an uncommon work ethic paired with what coach T.J. Otzelberger calls work capacity – the ability to not only work hard but to work a lot.
That daily grind of stacking days of work is a major reason why Iowa State has gone to three straight NCAA Tournaments and a pair of Sweet 16s in the three seasons since Otzelberger took over a program that went 2-22 the year prior.
That day-in, day-out work schedule amounts to essentially 10 straight months of high-stakes, high-intensity preparation or game play without much relief.
Which makes the next month, when the Cyclone players head off-campus for a post-school year hiatus, so valuable and so necessary for a team coming off a long season with a year of preseason top-10 expectations ahead of it.
More: Where Iowa State basketball stands as big offseason begins
“It’s important in May,” Otzelberger said last week in West Des Moines at the first stop of the annual Cyclone Tailgate Tour. “Each guy needs to know what that means for them, whether it’s time away completely, whether it’s non-contact things, whether it’s focusing on their strength or conditioning piece.
“For each guy, it could be something just a little bit different.”
The Cyclones return to their various corners of the world after finishing up finals last week, and they’re due back at the Sukup Basketball Complex in Ames the second week in June.
It’s a chance to take a breath before the work becomes relentless in what will likely be the most anticipated Iowa State men’s basketball season since 2015-16, when Georges Niang and Co. opened the year ranked in the top 10.
“It is important to get out of our gym and go see your family and be away from it,” Otzelberger said, “because it does start again soon.
“People refer to the grind of the season; I think our guys had a lot of fun on that journey, but you need to make sure your body and your mind have the rest necessary to be able to perform at the level we’re going to need those guys to play at.”
More: Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard gives thoughts on the future of NIL and revenue sharing
More: Iowa State's Jamie Pollard says college sports' power players are 'going to eat their own'
Tamin Lipsey on the rehab road
One of the players who will be getting more rest than he probably would otherwise prefer is Tamin Lipsey, who continues on the road to recovery after undergoing off-season shoulder surgery.
“He’s still in a sling for another week or so,” Otzelberger said. “Then he probably has a four-to-six weeks where it’ll be more of a doing the rehab exercises and the muscle strengthening and all those sort of things.
“I wouldn’t anticipate he’ll be ready to be fully cleared at the start of the summer, but also would believe at some point he’ll return before the conclusion.”
More: Ames native Tamin Lipsey living a childhood dream leading Iowa State basketball
Lipsey, an honorable mention All-American as a sophomore, first injured the shoulder in January, and it cost him one game before he returned. The Ames native, though, is known for his ability to play through pain.
“He just kind of has developed the toughness and fortitude to power through that and be what he needs for our team,” Otzelberger said. “He’s as tough as they come, and I think sometimes I’ve got to continue to do the job for him to make sure we’re always checking on him.
“He’s one of those guys that when you ask him how he’s feeling, he’s always ‘fine’ no matter what it is.”
Managing expectations
Iowa State has found itself as a consensus top-10 team in early preseason polls after going 29-8 overall, finishing second in the regular-season Big 12 race, winning the league tournament and advancing to the Sweet 16.
It will create a level of anticipation and expectation that the Cyclones haven’t dealt with in nearly a decade.
“Those things can be detrimental if you get too consumed with it,” Otzelberger said. “Because the things we accomplished last year, although we’re proud of those things, they have something to do with this year but you have to get back to work and re-earn whatever you’re going to accomplish this upcoming season.”
More: The cell phone game that has captivated and connected the Iowa State basketball team
Beyond the expectations, Iowa State has another first under Otzelberger – considerable roster continuity.
After doing near-full-scale resets of the three previous rosters, Otzelberger and his staff will return five of their top eight players from last season.
“It’s great when you have continuity, when there’s guys that return to your program, have had a good season the season prior,” Otzelberger said. “From a coaching standpoint, you have some more known factors in terms of guys and the things they can do. So that’s great.”
It also helps keep the foundational pieces in place in a time when outside expectations can test a team's durability.
“I don’t think with our guys and their mindset, there won’t be a complacency. I don’t fear that at all,” Otzelberger said. “The work habits and the work capacity is really good. I’d think you have to look at knowing that other teams, the higher you're ranked or the more respected your program is, you’re going to get more people’s best shot.
“There will still be enough opportunity for learning and growth, but it’s my job to keep everybody focused on the task at hand every day.”
Travis Hines covers Iowa State University sports for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000. Follow him on X at @TravisHines21.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State basketball gearing up for huge season, expectations
