PRIMER: No. 2 Iowa State at Kansas

Who: Iowa State (16-0, 3-0 Big 12) at Kansas (11-5, 1-2 Big 12)

Where: Allen Fieldhouse (15,300) – Lawrence, Kan.

When: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026 – 8 p.m. CT

Watch: ESPN // Dan Shulman (PxP) & Jay Bilas (Analyst)

Listen: Cyclone Radio Network // John Walters (PxP) & Eric Heft (Analyst)

Tipping Off: After moving up to second place in the AP Poll on Monday afternoon, Iowa State will open up a two-game week with a trip to Kansas Tuesday night. The Cyclones have now reached as high as second in the AP Poll twice in program history, with both instances coming in the last two seasons.

Last time out, ISU handled Oklahoma State at home, defeating the Cowboys by 12 points. The Cyclones extended both their best start to a season (16-0) and program-best winning streak (16) with the win. ISU is now 3-0 in conference play for the seventh time ever and for the second straight season.

Kansas dropped its second game in its last three contests, losing at West Virginia by 11 points. The setback pushed KU to 1-2 in Big 12 play for the first time since the 2005-06 season. A third conference loss would put the Jayhawks at 1-3 for the first time since the 1987-88 season.

Storylines:

At No. 2 in the AP Top 25 Poll, Iowa State has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 42 straight weeks, the fifth-longest streak in the nation. It is the second-longest streak in the Big 12 behind Houston's 116, which is the longest streak in the country.
- The Cyclones and Cougars are the only two Big 12 schools to have streaks of at least 20 weeks.
The Cyclones had three players named to the Naismith Starting Five Preseason Watch lists. Iowa State was one of nine schools in the country to have at least three players named. Along with three selections on the women's side, ISU was one of just five schools in the country to have at least six combined selections.
- Tamin Lipsey was named to the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Watch List.
  - Lipsey is also on both the Wooden Award and Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch Lists.
    - He was named to the top-25 midseason Wooden Award list on Jan. 7.
  - Lipsey has picked up a pair of weekly conference awards, as he was named to the Big 12 Starting Five on both 11/17 and 11/24.
- Milan Momcilovic was named to the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Watch List.
  - Momcilovic earned his first Big 12 weekly honor on Dec. 8, as he was named Big 12 Player of the Week after scoring a team-high 20 points in ISU's road win at No. 1 Purdue.
  - He earned his second Big 12 weekly honor, being named to the Starting Five on Jan. 5 after pouring in eight triples against WVU.
- Joshua Jefferson was named to the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Watch List. Former Cyclone Georges Niang won the award in 2016.
  - Jefferson, like Lipsey, is also on the Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List.
    - Jefferson joined Lipsey on the top-25 Midseason Watch List for the Wooden Award.
  - Jefferson was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on Dec. 1 for his performance in his home city of Las Vegas, where he averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists across three games.
  - Jefferson became just the third player in the last 30 years to record consecutive 10-plus assist, zero turnover games (Syracuse & Alcorn State).
  - Jefferson was named to the Big 12 Starting Five on 12/30, picking up his second conference weekly award. He was named to the Starting Five again on Jan. 5 after recording the ninth triple-double in school history against WVU.

From the Notes:

As a head coach, Otz is 210-108 overall and has guided the Cyclones to a 111-45 record over the last four years.
- He earned his 100th win at Iowa State against HOF coach Rick Pitino and No. 14 St. John's in the Players Era Championship opener on Nov. 24.
- He then earned his 200th win over his mentor and former head coach Greg McDermott on Nov. 25.
- His 95 wins in his first four years at Iowa State were the most by any coach in program history in their first four years as head coach.
With its road win over No. 1 Purdue, Iowa State now has 27 wins over top 25 teams since Otzelberger took over (2021-22). That is tied for the fourth-most in the nation during that stretch.
Otz has led Iowa State to three 20-plus win seasons, joining Orr (5), Hoiberg (4), Floyd (3) and Prohm (3) as only ISU coaches to do so multiple times.
Coach Otzelberger is the only Iowa State men's basketball coach to take multiple teams to the Sweet 16.
- He was the 51st coach in NCAA Division I history to take a team to the Sweet 16 twice in his first three years on the job.
- In four postseason appearances, Otzelberger has five NCAA Tournament wins – the most by any coach in program history.
Otz currently holds the school's highest winning percentage by a head coach.
The Cyclones are ranked No. 3 in the NET. Iowa State slots in at No. 3 in the KenPom rankings and is No. 5 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Switching Sides:

Kansas and Iowa State will face off for the 261st time this Tuesday night. The Jayhawks hold a 191-69 all-time advantage over ISU but have dropped three of the last five meetings.
- Kansas has lost to ISU at home just 16 times.
- Kansas is ISU's most common opponent.
The Jayhawks are the Big 12's best at blocking shots (6.1 per game) and defending the three-point line (opponents shooting just 28 percent).
- KU is number two in defensive rebounding and eighth nationally, averaging 29.8 per contest.
KU was picked to finish sixth out of 16 in the Big 12 men's basketball preseason poll after finishing tied for sixth last season.
Kansas Head Coach Bill Self is in his 23rd season coaching the Jayhawks and owns a 620-161 record during his time in Lawrence.
- Self holds an 827-266 all-time record in his head coaching career, which started at Oral Roberts (55-54), Tulsa (74-27) and Illinois (78-24).
- Self is 35-13 all-time against the Cyclones as a head coach.
Kansas is ranked No. 22 in the NET. The Jayhawks are No. 23 in KenPom and No. 20 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Joshua Jefferson

Tamin Lipsey

Milan Momcilovic

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics