In the Coach TJ Otzelberger era, Iowa State Basketball has consistently had one of the best backcourts in all of college basketball. Last season, they were led by the trio of Curtin Jones (17.4 ppg), Keshon Gilbert (13.4 ppg and 4.1 apg) and Tamin Lipsey (10.6 ppg and 3.1 apg). 

The Cyclones lost several guards this offseason, including both Gilbert and Jones. Lipsey is back to run the offseason but there’s a new cast of guards joining him, including UVU transfer Dominick Nelson (14.4 ppg) and Mason Williams, a 6’5 guard and transfer from Eastern Washington who averaged 13.9 ppg and 2.4 apg on 43% shooting from the field and 35% from deep. 

The likely original plan was to have Williams and Nelson start alongside Lipsey to have another strong Big 12 backcourt. Unfortunately for Iowa State, they’ll be without Williams for the 2025-26 season.

It’s a major blow for the Cyclones, who don’t have many other options to get another quality guard for next year. The good news for them is that they have a top-25 incoming recruiting class, including a trio of four-star perimeter players. That includes 6’6 wing Xzavion Mitchell, 6’3 shooting guard Killyan Toure, and Jamarion Batemon, a 6’3 combo guard and top-50 overall prospect in the 2025 class.

With Williams out, Batemon will be getting all of the minutes at point, whenever Lipsey is on the bench. Nelson is a definite starter on the perimeter and the Cyclones bring back a pair of forward starters in Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic. Virginia transfer Blake Buchanan will now have to start at the 5-spot, with Purdue-Fort Wayne transfer forward Eric Mulder getting minutes at either spot.

Losing Williams isn’t a fatal blow but Iowa State’s depth definitely took a major hit. The starting lineup should be fine but the bench is now a potential weakness for them next season. 

Let’s see if it causes the team to take a step back in the Big 12.