The Iowa State basketball team is safely in the NCAA Tournament field. When the final bracket was unveiled, the Cyclones landed a three-seed in the South Region.
They’ll face Lipscomb in Round 1 before potentially moving on in the lower half of the region. That seeding could play a major role in a March Madness run.
The Cyclones wouldn’t have to face No. 1 overall team Auburn until the Round of Eight given their three-seed status. Their path, instead, will likely run through two-seed Michigan State.
As it turns out, Iowa State’s NCAA Tournament path might’ve looked much different had they not withheld key information on Selection Sunday. The Cyclones very well could’ve been dropped down a seed, putting them on the four-line in the Big Dance.
Iowa State hid a key injury.
Star guard Keshon Gilbert missed four of the team’s final seven games with a groin injury. Most assumed he’d return for the NCAA Tournament. That won’t be the case.
Shortly after the March Madness field was set, Gilbert’s status was made public. He’ll be shut down for the remainder of the year.
That’s major news considering his production. He was a third-team all-conference contributor that averaged 13.4 points per game. He led the team in assists at more four a night. His absence could have a huge impact on the team’s play.
CBS Sports analyst Jon Rothstein believes the injury might’ve impacted seeding had it been announced prior to the selection process.
Wisconsin and Iowa state could have switched if the Keshon Gilbert injury was made public @JonRothstein pic.twitter.com/yDBbXTtDj6
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) March 17, 2025
It’s a valid argument. Committee chair Bubba Cunningham pointed to Tucker DeVries’ injury in his justification of including North Carolina over West Virginia for the final spot. That decision came despite the Mountaineers boasting a better tournament resume.
Iowa State was not in danger of being left out of the Big Dance, but moving down to a four-seed would’ve come with implications. It would fast track a potential meeting with the No. 1 seed. It likely would’ve resulted in a more difficult second-round matchup, too.
The Cyclones exploited the NCAA Tournament committee by keeping information close to the vest. They benefitted by landing the No. 3 seed.
The post Iowa State Basketball Exploited NCAA Tournament By Withholding Key Intel To Earn Better Seed appeared first on BroBible.
Iowa State Basketball Exploited NCAA Tournament By Withholding Key Intel To Earn Better Seed
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