SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Iowa State senior Curtis Jones has been named a Top 10 candidate for the Jerry West Award. The annual Jerry West Award, named after the late Class of 1980 Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player, celebrates its 11th year by highlighting the top shooting guards in Division I men's college basketball. The leading scorer for the Cyclones, Jones is averaging 17.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
Jones had a streak of 22-straight Big 12 regular season games where he scored in double figures earlier this season, the longest streak in the league in over five years and the 16th longest in league history. He scored a career-high 33 points at Arizona State on Jan. 25, as he was named the Dickie V National Player of the Week.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting for the remaining rounds starting on Friday, February 7, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process. By March, the Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five finalists, who will be presented to West's family and the Hall of Fame's selection committees.
The Selection Committee for the Jerry West Award is composed of top men's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2025 West Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Jerry West Award include RJ Davis of North Carolina and Marcus Sasser of Houston, among others. For more information on the 2025 Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #WestAward, and #MeyersDrysdaleAward on social media.
LAWRENCE, Kan. − It's back to the drawing board for Iowa State men's basketball after suffering its third straight loss on Monday night. The eighth-ranked Cyclones fell to No. 17 Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, 69-52. Iowa State trailed nearly the entire game, with Kansas pushing their lead to as much as 23 points.
Keshon Gilbert, Tamin Lipsey, and Joshua Jefferson each contributed 11 points for Iowa State, but Kansas’s Zeke Mayo dominated with 17 points and eight rebounds. Hunter Dickinson and Dajuan Harris Jr. added solid contributions for the Jayhawks as well.
The loss highlighted significant offensive struggles for the Cyclones, particularly after Milan Momcilovic’s hand injury. Coach T.J. Otzelberger noted the pressing need for solutions against opponents' defensive schematics, which have prevented Iowa State from generating consistent scoring.
"Our offense was probably among the top five in the country and Milan goes out, which shifts our winning formula and throws it off-balance a little bit," said Otzelberger, emphasizing the team’s difficulties since Momcilovic’s absence. Opponents are exploiting the Cyclones’ limited spacing, making it tough for Iowa State to threaten from the perimeter.
After shooting just 30.6% overall against Kansas, including 14.3% from deep, the Cyclones were forced to settle for tough shots as they fell behind early. Curtis Jones acknowledged the challenges the team has faced, saying, "The paint has been very congested. Teams are smart; they scout. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get those shots tonight or really the last few games." Despite the setback, Jones remains optimistic about the team's potential.
An improvement for Iowa State was their ball security; they recorded seven turnovers, matching their season-low. Their rebounding also improved significantly with 17 offensive rebounds led by Dishon Jackson, who claimed nine total rebounds.
With Milan Momcilovic starting to warm up, the Cyclones hope to get back on track. Momcilovic participated in warm-ups after undergoing successful surgery on his left, non-shooting hand. His return would not only help the scoring load but also restore depth to the bench, allowing Jones to revert to his sixth-man role.
"He's continuing to do the things he needs with Vic Miller, our trainer. I think he'll be back in the next few weeks," Otzelberger stated, noting the day-to-day nature of Momcilovic's recovery. With Iowa State set to host TCU on Saturday, they are eager to turn things around and regain their winning formula.
Just last week, the Iowa State men appeared locked in as a No. 1 seed for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, but with their recent losses, projections have shifted downward. ESPN has dropped them to No. 2 seed, still sending them out West, where they'd face Florida Gulf Coast first and potentially meet two-time defending champion Connecticut next.
USA Today also lists the Cyclones as No. 2, with possible matchups against Michigan or Baylor awaiting them. Meanwhile, CBS Sports has Iowa State tumbling down to No. 3 seed, alongside major rivals and challenging first-round matchups against teams like Towson.
This whirlwind of rankings is indicative of the competitive nature of NCAA basketball as the Cyclones seek to reclaim their status as one of the top teams. With their upcoming game against TCU being pivotal, the Cyclones need to reinstate their offensive strategy and find creative ways to score without their leading scorers on the floor.
Looking ahead, the Cyclones remain focused on turning this losing streak around and solidifying their place at the NCAA Tournament. The return of key players and improvements on both offense and defense will be integral to their success.