It’s a new season but the same mentality for No. 16 Iowa State and coach T.J. Otzelberger.
Make defense the priority, Otzelberger said, and success will follow.
Iowa State will get a chance to show off its tenacity on defense when it opens the season against Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday night in Ames, Iowa.
The Cyclones are coming off a 25-10 season that ended with a second-round exit in the NCAA Tournament. Otzelberger is looking to build upon last season as it braces for another tough year of competition in the Big 12 Conference.
“I think defensively, that’s been our identity, that will continue to be our identity,” Otzelberger said. “I think all successful teams have an identity on the defensive end. For us, establishing that right away is going to be important.
“Offensively, it was great for us to have some struggles and some scoring droughts and learn ways that we can continue to move the ball better (and) play for one another. Great learning opportunity. Certainly we want to win every game and be successful, but I think right now at this point in the season, we want to keep getting better.”
The Cyclones roster features key returners such as Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic. Lipsey averaged 10.6 points and 2.0 steals per game in 34 starts last season, while Jefferson averaged 13 points and a team-high 7.4 rebounds and Momcilovic shot 39.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Lipsey is recovering from a knee injury and his status for Monday’s game is uncertain. Otzelberger said he hoped Lipsey could return in time for the opener.
Otzelberger also said he expected a big season from Nate Heise, a sixth-year redshirt senior who spent four years at Northern Iowa before transferring to Iowa State before last season.
“For us, one guy that’s really key is Nate Heise,” Otzelberger said. “Chip on his shoulder. We talk about him being defensive captain. We talk about him being a guy that can set the tone for us on that end of the floor. When he’s bringing that edge and that rugged toughness to our defense, I think that really helps inspire other guys and get us to play better.
“And then he plays better offensively when he leads with his defense as well.”
Fairleigh Dickinson is hoping for more success in its third season under coach Jack Castleberry. The Knights went 13-20 last season and finished 8-8 in the Northeast Conference.
Several players expect to make their debut with Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday. The list likely will include Cyril Martynov, a transfer from Eastern Kentucky who stands 7 feet tall.
Another big man, freshman Sebastian Haubro, is 6-10 and joins the Knights from Denmark. Taeshaud Jackson gives Fairleigh Dickinson an experienced forward after he transferred to the program from Northern Colorado, where he played last season.
“We had to replace a lot of talented players, and I couldn’t be happier with the young men we have joining the team,” Castleberry said.
