Iowa State Cyclones Ready for March Madness with Healthy Lipsey

0:00On March 19th, Iowa State Cyclones earned the number two seed in the Midwest region for the 2026 NCAA tournament after a strong 27-7 regular season. They head into their first round matchup against the Tennessee State Tigers on March 20th with high hopes for a deep run. The team wrapped up the Big 12 tournament with standout wins, including a massive 49-point blowout over Arizona State and a solid, 75-53 victory against Texas Tech. Things got tough in the semifinals with a buzzer-beater loss to Arizona, where Point Guard Tam and Lipsi picked up an injury. Fans and coaches breathed the sigh of relief this week, with word that Lipsi feels fully healthy and ready to go. He's battled injuries all season, missing time after practice setbacks and a game against St. John's, but he's always bounced back strong as the team's floor leader. Lipsi posted career highs this year, with 13.3 points, five assists, four rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game over 31.5 minutes.

1:03He also snagged all Big 12's second team and defensive team honors for the third straight year. With Lipsi at full strength, Iowa State gains a huge boost in guard play just when March madness demands it most, setting them up nicely to chase, that tournament success.