2025-2026 Season
Record: 7-0
AP Rank: 10
Previous 3 Games
11/25: W – 78-60 vs Creighton @ Players Era Championship – Las Vegas
11/25: W – 95 – 64 vs Syracuse @ Players Era Championship – Las Vegas
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11/26: W – 132 – 68 vs Alcorn State @ Home
Iowa State Personnel
Starters
|
Position |
# |
Player |
Class |
Height |
Weight |
Min |
Pts |
Reb |
Ast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Point Guard |
3 |
Tamin Lipsey |
Sr. |
6’1″ |
200 |
31.2 |
18.4 |
3.6 |
5.2 |
|
Shooting Guard |
27 |
Killyan Toure |
Fr. |
6’3″ |
205 |
25.4 |
11.9 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
|
Small Forward |
22 |
Milan Momcilovic |
Jr. |
6’8″ |
225 |
25.9 |
18.1 |
3.1 |
1.4 |
|
Power Forward |
5 |
Joshua Jefferson |
Sr. |
6’9″ |
240 |
30.3 |
18.4 |
7.2 |
5.8 |
|
Center |
23 |
Blake Buchanan |
Jr. |
6’10” |
235 |
23.6 |
8.5 |
5.2 |
1.5 |
Bench
|
Position |
# |
Player |
Class |
Height |
Weight |
Min |
Pts |
Reb |
Ast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Guard/Wing |
0 |
Nate Heise |
Sr. |
6’5″ |
212 |
26.3 |
5.9 |
3.6 |
2.1 |
|
Guard/Wing |
1 |
Jamarion Batemon |
Fr. |
6’3″ |
195 |
13.3 |
7.8 |
1.6 |
0.3 |
|
Guard/Wing |
11 |
Dominick Nelson |
Sr. |
6’5″ |
190 |
14.6 |
7.4 |
1.7 |
0.4 |
|
Forward/Center |
21 |
Dominykas Pleta |
Fr. |
6’11” |
240 |
9.1 |
4.5 |
1.9 |
0.6 |
Key Analytics
(Per KenPom.com – National Rank in ())
KenPom Ranking – 4
Offense
Adjusted Efficiency: 123 (9)
Adjusted Tempo: 70.2 (104)
Average Possession Length: 15.5 (40)
Effective Field Goal%: 62.8 (2)
Offensive Rebound%: 37.5 (37)
Three Point%: 43.3 (3)
Two Point %: 61.6 (15)
Defense
Adjusted Efficiency: 92.7 (6)
Adjusted Tempo: 70.2 (104)
Average Possession Length: 17.4 (229)
Effective Field Goal%: 49.3 (131)
Offensive Rebound%: 28.9 (120)
Three Point%: 34 (210)
Two Point %: 48 (86)
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Purdue Analytic Advantage
Effective Field Goal %
Purdue Offense: 59.3(16)
Iowa State Defense: 49.3(131)
Offensive Rebounding %
Purdue Offensive Rebounding: 41.8(8)
Iowa State Offense Rebounding Allowed: 28.9(102)
Three Point Shooting %
Purdue on Offense: 41.8(6)
Iowa State on Defense: 34(210)
Iowa State Analytic Advantage
Turnover %
Iowa State on Offense: 13.6(20)
Purdue on Defense: 15.1(294)
Steal %
Iowa State on Defense: 16.2(2)
Purdue on Offense: 8.3(72)
Three Point Shooting %
Iowa State on Offense: 43.3(3)
Purdue on Defense: 30.6 (87)
Brief Thoughts
Is Tamin Lipsey playing and healthy? He missed the last two games with a groin injury after missing most of the preseason with a knee injury. If Lipsey is good to go, this is going to be a dog fight between the best offensive point guard in college basketball and the best defensive point guard in college basketball. I expect Brayden to go at Lipsey early and often to make sure his groin is feeling ok. Speaking from experience, it’s one of those injuries that you can try to fake it through during practice, but when you open it up in the game and are forced to make quick, unexpected moves, it can flare up in a hurry.
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If Lipsey is close to 100%, I expect this to be a back-and-forth game between two of the best teams in college basketball. In terms of a “Big 3”, Iowa State’s triumvirate of Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, and Milan Momcilovic is as close as it comes to matching Purdue’s trio of terror. Purdue is going to have to get creative on defense because Jefferson and Momcilovic are both 6’9” wings/forwards. Jefferson and Trey will be a battle all game. I hope the refs keep their whistles in their pockets both ways, because this will be a sight to witness if these two are allowed to play hard. The first team to get the opposing power forward in foul trouble should have a decided advantage.
I have no idea who guards Momcilovic. CJ Cox will pick up the initial assignment, and while CJ is a strong defender, giving up 5 inches and 30 pounds isn’t ideal. Coach Painter is going to have to get creative here because he’s lacking a tall wing defender, and Iowa State has an excellent tall wing. Do Jack Benter and Liam Murphy get more run in this game? I assume the defensive crossmatch for Iowa State is Momcilovic on Loyer, with Toure picking up Cox. There isn’t a good solution for the Boilermakers individually; they’ll have to defend Momcilovic collectively.
If the Boilermakers can figure out a way to slow one of the three stars for Iowa State, I like their chances. If Lipsey isn’t healthy, I like their chances even more.
Predictions
KenPom
Purdue: 79
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Iowa State: 74
Drew
Purdue: 87
Iowa State: 79
I’ve got the Boilermakers pulling away late and putting this one away at the free-throw line. Here’s the deal. If Lipsey plays, I don’t think he’ll be 100%. The Cyclones have their sights set on the top of the Big 12, and they’ll need a healthy Lipsey to reach the summit. I’ll be interested to see if Iowa State risks him in a non-conference game with an injury that’s notoriously prone to reinjury.
If I were certain Lipsey was healthy, I would make this a toss-up. Since I don’t think he is (I have no inside information on this), I’ll take Purdue by eight, because that’s about how many points I would expect a healthy Lispsey to sway the game towards the Cyclones.
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Either way, you should probably prepare a few beverages and your preferred antacid for tomorrow’s game. This one could be a nail-biter.
