SR 109 (LSB 6395XS (4) 90)

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 109

BY  SINCLAIR, GARRETT, SALMON, COSTELLO, LOFGREN, GREEN, DICKEY, SCHULTZ, DAWSON, DRISCOLL, KOELKER, WESTRICH, REICHMAN, EDLER, COURNOYER, GRUENHAGEN, ROZENBOOM, KRAAYENBRINK, SWEENEY, SHIPLEY, ROWLEY, WEBSTER, BROWN, ALONS, J. TAYLOR, McCLINTOCK, QUIRMBACH, JOCHUM, BOULTON, KNOX, GIDDENS, WINCKLER, CELSI, DONAHUE, DOTZLER, TRONE GARRIOTT, T. TAYLOR, PETERSEN, and WEINER

A Resolution recognizing and congratulating the Iowa State University Cyclones (Cyclones) men’s basketball team for a successful 2023-2024 season.

   WHEREAS, the Cyclones men’s basketball team finished second in the Big 12 conference regular-season standings earning a double-bye in the first two rounds of the conference tournament; and
   WHEREAS, the Cyclones won the Big 12 Conference Tournament championship for the sixth time in school history, having now won every Conference championship game in which the team has competed, by defeating the Houston Cougars, 69-41; and
   WHEREAS, the championship matchup featured a clash between the conference’s best defensive teams, the Cyclones reigned supreme and held the Associated Press Top-25 (AP Poll) number-one team to just 26.8 percent shooting, landing the Cyclones as the fourth-ranked team in the AP Poll; and
   WHEREAS, the victory marked the fourth time the Cyclones have won against the top-ranked team with the 28-point margin of victory becoming the worst loss for a number-one ranked team since 1968; and
   WHEREAS, the Cyclones used a second-half run outscoring the Cougars 18-3, eventually building the lead to 32 points in front of the “Hilton South” crowd in Kansas City before the final whistle; and
   WHEREAS, the Cyclones were led by freshman Milan Momcilovic (18 points), Keshon Gilbert (16 points), and Hason Ward (13 points off the bench) in the championship game, with Milan Momcilovic, Keshon Gilbert, and Tamin Lipsey earning spots on the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team, and Keshon Gilbert being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player; and
   WHEREAS, the Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger, became the program’s fourth coach to win a conference championship tournament and won the second-most games in a single season in school history (29) on his way to being named a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year honors; and
   WHEREAS, following the conference-champion automatic bid into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament, the Cyclones earned a No. 2 seed and claimed victories over South Dakota State and Washington State to reach the “Sweet 16”, eventually falling to Illinois; and
   WHEREAS, sophomore point guard Tamin Lipsey was one of four finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and received an AP All-American honorable mention, in addition to earning National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 8 Honors and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors; and
   WHEREAS, head coach T.J. Otzelberger became the Cyclones’ first coach to lead two teams to the Sweet 16, and joined Tim Floyd as the only coaches in program history to take a team to the NCAA tournament in each of the coach’s respective first three seasons; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate congratulates head coach T.J. Otzelberger, and all the members of the Cyclones men’s basketball team for an outstanding 2023-2024 season, and for representing the state in the second and third rounds of the NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball tournament.