Sat Mar 21 22:20:00 UTC 2026: # Iowa State Basketball Programs Achieve Unprecedented Success in 2025-26 Season
The Story:
The Iowa State Cyclones men’s and women’s basketball teams have both experienced a stellar 2025-26 season, culminating in NCAA tournament berths. The men’s team secured a No. 2 seed, while the women’s team earned a No. 8 seed. This success is largely attributed to the outstanding performances of their dominant frontcourt players, Joshua Jefferson for the men and Audi Crooks for the women, both of whom were named All-Americans.
Key Points:
* Joshua Jefferson (men’s team) was named to the Second Team All-America, narrowly missing First Team selection.
* Audi Crooks (women’s team) also earned Second Team All-America honors from the Associated Press, The Sporting News, and USBWA. It is her third time receiving AP All-America honors.
* Crooks was named to the All-Big 12 Conference First Team for the third consecutive season.
* She averaged 25.5 points per game on 64.7% shooting from the field and 66.1% on two-point attempts, leading the Big 12 in all three categories for the second straight year.
* Crooks is only the second player in NCAA Division I history (men’s or women’s) to average at least 25.5 points per game while shooting at least 64.7%.
* Crooks improved her free throw shooting to 73.7%, up from 67.2% in previous seasons.
* Her other stats include 7.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 28.8 minutes per game. She recorded 12 double-doubles and has an active streak of 97 double-digit scoring games.
Key Takeaways:
* The Iowa State basketball programs are experiencing a period of significant success, driven by the performance of key players.
* Audi Crooks has established herself as one of the most dominant players in college basketball, drawing comparisons to Megan Gustafson.
* Improved free-throw shooting has been a key factor in Crooks’ increased scoring output.
* The Cyclones’ NCAA tournament success will heavily rely on the continued performance of Jefferson and Crooks.
* The success of both programs elevates the profile of Iowa State University athletics.
First Piper 