When the NCAA Tournament bracket was revealed, Iowa State found itself in a favorable position. The Cyclones landed a No. 3 seed in the South Region, setting up a first-round matchup against Lipscomb and avoiding a potential clash with top-seeded Auburn until the Elite Eight. However, if fully informed, the selection committee might have given them a different seed.
The Cyclones hid key injury information about star guard Keshon Gilbert and ruled him out for the season after setting the bracket. His absence- given his role as a third-team all-conference player averaging 13.4 points and a team-leading 4.2 assists per game- could have influenced Iowa State’s placement in the field.
Selection Committee Left In The Dark
Gilbert missed four of Iowa State’s final seven games with a groin injury. While many assumed he would return for March Madness, the Cyclones remained silent. The program disclosed that Gilbert would not play again this season only after finalizing the bracket.
CBS Sports analyst Jon Rothstein believes Iowa State would have dropped to a No. 4 seed if the news surfaced earlier. “This type of injury matters in seeding decisions,” Rothstein noted. NCAA selection committee chair Bubba Cunningham had previously justified North Carolina’s inclusion over West Virginia by citing an injury to WVU’s Tucker DeVries, highlighting how player availability affects tournament decisions.
Wisconsin and Iowa state could have switched if the Keshon Gilbert injury was made public @JonRothstein pic.twitter.com/yDBbXTtDj6
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) March 17, 2025
A lower seed would have significantly altered Iowa State’s path. A No. 4 placement could have meant a tougher second-round matchup and an earlier meeting with a top seed rather than the more favorable path they now have.
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While Iowa State wasn’t in danger of missing the tournament, its decision to keep Gilbert’s injury under wraps raises ethical questions. The Cyclones found a loophole that worked in their favor, despite the selection process typically requiring transparency. Now, they’ll see if the advantage translates into a deep tournament run- or if Gilbert’s absence catches up with them on the court.
