Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger is leaning into a bigger, more physical frontcourt strategy as the Cyclones conclude their eight-week summer program. The focal point of this shift features sophomore Dom Pleta and Blake Buchanan playing alongside one another, a combination that Otzelberger believes mirrors the “formidable size” seen in top-tier programs like Houston and Arizona.
Pleta, who returned to his native Germany this summer to train with professional players, says he is entering his second
season at his physical “peak”. While he is technically a sophomore, his experience in the German pro leagues has put him ahead of a typical second-year player’s developmental curve.
“We just got more physicality… more like bigger bodies on the court,” Pleta said of the pairing with Buchanan. “It’s a lot of new opportunities that open up that we just have to use.”
Otzelberger emphasized that the two big men possess complementary skill sets. Buchanan offers defensive versatility that allows him to guard perimeter players, while Pleta is noted by Otzelberger for his “terrific hands,” interior scoring, and decision-making in the short roll. The coaching staff has specifically challenged Pleta to improve his competitive endurance, providing him with a specialized stamina plan to help him play longer stretches without the foul trouble that hampered him as a freshman.
The Cyclones are also integrating Kansas State transfer Taj Manning, who described the program’s signature “crazy” defense as surprisingly simple in philosophy once he began unlearning his previous habits. Manning, who can guard positions one through five, said the team’s culture is rooted in a “100% effort” buy-in.
“I hated playing against it,” Manning said of the Iowa State defense. “The biggest eye-opener… was how simple the defense actually is when you learn the philosophies.”
A significant storyline heading into the fall is the health of Robert Morris transfer Ryan Prather Jr., who has been limited this summer while recovering from a hip injury. Otzelberger noted that the staff knew Prather had been dealing with hip issues prior to his arrival and is prioritizing his long-term health over immediate practice reps.
“We feel good that he’ll be available for the start of the season,” Otzelberger said. “We don’t want to rush him back, we don’t want to be in a hurry.”
Despite the lack of on-court time this summer, Otzelberger expects Prather to have a “huge impact”, describing him as a “great decision maker” and “great shot maker” whose playmaking ability and skill will stand out once he is fully healthy.
