Iowa State’s pursuit of success across its major programs has frequently been undermined by ill-timed injuries, a pattern that unfortunately manifested during the previous season and highlights the inherent fragility of competitive depth. Last year, the men’s basketball team saw its potential March Madness run severely hampered when key guard Keshon Gilbert was ruled out for the NCAA tournament with a lingering groin injury, an issue that also affected Tamin Lipsey and contributed to an early exit after losing vital backcourt production in the Big 12 tournament. Similarly, the football team faced continuous attrition throughout the year, challenging depth
