Iowa State

Heartbreak#3007.2

Big 12 · Ames, Des Moines, Iowa

RivalriesIowa State–Iowa rivalryvs Iowatwo-way

The Heartbreak Index7.2 · #300

The Tortured · Never won it, waiting since 1908

7.2

Heartbreak

#300

of 1,138 clubs

in CBB

7.2

agony

The clocks

First CBB title since 190813.7
First CBB final appearance since 19082.7

Heaviest wounds

fell one round short, 1944 · playoff run died early, 2000

One formula, every club the site covers. See the whole board →

1512-1418

All-time

0.516

Win %

NCAA titles

Final Fours

Tourney apps

#1 seeds

Weeks at #1

All-Americans

Greatest tournament games

Iowa State’s top NCAA tournament games of all time by Game Score.

Sort by

#10 Iowa State 57-58 Hampton

Boise State University Pavilion, Boise, Idaho

2001 · Mar 15, 2001 · First Round

2.31

Game Score

#18 Iowa State 67-66 #10 Cincinnati

Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan

1997 · Mar 15, 1997 · Second Round

1.92

Game Score

Iowa State 72-69 #5 Michigan

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

1986 · Mar 16, 1986 · Second Round

1.84

Game Score

#9 Iowa State 59-60 UAB

KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Kentucky

2015 · Mar 19, 2015 · First Round

1.75

Game Score

#9 Iowa State 76-81 #21 Connecticut

Madison Square Garden IV, New York, New York

Sweet 16

2014 · Mar 28, 2014 · Regional Semifinals

1.53

Game Score

#6 Iowa State 62-76 #24 Tennessee

United Center, Chicago, Illinois

Sweet 16

2026 · Mar 27, 2026 · Regional Semifinals

1.52

Game Score

#4 Iowa State 69-72 #10 Illinois

TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

Sweet 16

2024 · Mar 28, 2024 · Regional Semifinals

1.49

Game Score

#9 Iowa State 85-83 #19 North Carolina

AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas

2014 · Mar 23, 2014 · Second Round

1.42

Game Score

#24 Iowa State 59-62 Ohio State

BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma

2019 · Mar 22, 2019 · First Round

1.40

Game Score

#17 Iowa State 76-80 #15 Purdue

Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2017 · Mar 18, 2017 · Second Round

1.35

Game Score

#			Round	Match
1	Mar 15, 2001	2001	First Round	#10 Iowa State 57-58 Hampton Boise State University Pavilion, Boise, Idaho	2.31
2	Mar 15, 1997	1997	Second Round	#18 Iowa State 67-66 #10 Cincinnati Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan	1.92
3	Mar 16, 1986	1986	Second Round	Iowa State 72-69 #5 Michigan Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota	1.84
4	Mar 19, 2015	2015	First Round	#9 Iowa State 59-60 UAB KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Kentucky	1.75
5	Mar 28, 2014	2014	Regional Semifinals	#9 Iowa State 76-81 #21 Connecticut Madison Square Garden IV, New York, New York Sweet 16	1.53
6	Mar 27, 2026	2026	Regional Semifinals	#6 Iowa State 62-76 #24 Tennessee United Center, Chicago, Illinois Sweet 16	1.52
7	Mar 28, 2024	2024	Regional Semifinals	#4 Iowa State 69-72 #10 Illinois TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts Sweet 16	1.49
8	Mar 23, 2014	2014	Second Round	#9 Iowa State 85-83 #19 North Carolina AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas	1.42
9	Mar 22, 2019	2019	First Round	#24 Iowa State 59-62 Ohio State BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma	1.40
10	Mar 18, 2017	2017	Second Round	#17 Iowa State 76-80 #15 Purdue Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin	1.35

Season by season

2027 · Iowa State

Big 12

Record

0-0

Conf record

—

SRS

—

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2026 · Iowa State

Big 12

Record

29-8

Conf record

12-6

SRS

Seed

Tournament

Sweet 16

2025 · Iowa State

Big 12

Record

25-10

Conf record

13-7

#15

SRS

#12

Seed

Tournament

NCAA tournament

2024 · Iowa State

Big 12 ◆

Record

29-8

Conf record

13-5

SRS

Seed

Tournament

Sweet 16

2023 · Iowa State

Big 12

Record

19-14

Conf record

9-9

—

SRS

#22

Seed

Tournament

NCAA tournament

2022 · Iowa State

Big 12

Record

22-13

Conf record

7-11

—

SRS

#43

Seed

Tournament

Sweet 16

2021 · Iowa State

Big 12

Record

2-22

Conf record

0-18

—

SRS

#154

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2020 · Iowa State

Big 12

Record

12-20

Conf record

5-13

—

SRS

#74

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2019 · Iowa State

Big 12 ◆

Record

23-12

Conf record

9-9

#24

SRS

#15

Seed

Tournament

NCAA tournament

2018 · Iowa State

Big 12

Record

13-18

Conf record

4-14

—

SRS

#90

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2017 · Iowa State

Big 12 ◆

Record

24-11

Conf record

12-6

#17

SRS

#14

Seed

Tournament

NCAA tournament

2016 · Iowa State

Big 12

Record

23-12

Conf record

10-8

#22

SRS

#22

Seed

Tournament

Sweet 16

Year	School	Record	Conference	Conf	AP	SRS	Seed	Tournament
2027	Iowa State	0-0	Big 12
2026	Iowa State	29-8	Big 12	12-6	#6	#6	2	Sweet 16
2025	Iowa State	25-10	Big 12	13-7	#15	#12	3	NCAA tournament
2024	Iowa State	29-8	Big 12 ◆	13-5	#4	#6	2	Sweet 16
2023	Iowa State	19-14	Big 12	9-9		#22	6	NCAA tournament
2022	Iowa State	22-13	Big 12	7-11		#43	11	Sweet 16
2021	Iowa State	2-22	Big 12	0-18		#154
2020	Iowa State	12-20	Big 12	5-13		#74
2019	Iowa State	23-12	Big 12 ◆	9-9	#24	#15	6	NCAA tournament
2018	Iowa State	13-18	Big 12	4-14		#90
2017	Iowa State	24-11	Big 12 ◆	12-6	#17	#14	5	NCAA tournament
2016	Iowa State	23-12	Big 12	10-8	#22	#22	4	Sweet 16
2015	Iowa State	25-9	Big 12 ◆	12-6	#9	#15	3	NCAA tournament
2014	Iowa State	28-8	Big 12 ◆	11-7	#9	#11	3	Sweet 16
2013	Iowa State	23-12	Big 12	11-7		#24	10	NCAA tournament
2012	Iowa State	23-11	Big 12	12-6		#29	8	NCAA tournament
2011	Iowa State	16-16	Big 12	3-13		#67
2010	Iowa State	15-17	Big 12	4-12		#62
2009	Iowa State	15-17	Big 12	4-12		#101
2008	Iowa State	14-18	Big 12	4-12		#108
2007	Iowa State	15-16	Big 12	6-10		#133
2006	Iowa State	16-14	Big 12	6-10		#61
2005	Iowa State	19-12	Big 12	9-7		#41	9	NCAA tournament
2004	Iowa State	20-13	Big 12	7-9		#55		NIT
2003	Iowa State	17-14	Big 12	5-11		#52		NIT
2002	Iowa State	12-19	Big 12	4-12		#104
2001	Iowa State	25-6	Big 12 ★	13-3	#10	#20	2	NCAA tournament
2000	Iowa State	32-5	Big 12 ★ ◆	14-2	#6	#13	2	Elite Eight
1999	Iowa State	15-15	Big 12	6-10		#95
1998	Iowa State	12-18	Big 12	5-11		#137
1997	Iowa State	22-9	Big 12	10-6	#18	#36	6	Sweet 16
1996	Iowa State	24-9	Big Eight ◆	9-5	#17	#51	5	NCAA tournament
1995	Iowa State	23-11	Big Eight	6-8	#24	#18	7	NCAA tournament
1994	Iowa State	14-13	Big Eight	4-10		#32
1993	Iowa State	20-11	Big Eight	8-6		#12	8	NCAA tournament
1992	Iowa State	21-13	Big Eight	5-9		#29	10	NCAA tournament
1991	Iowa State	12-19	Big Eight	6-8		#72
1990	Iowa State	10-18	Big Eight	4-10		#77
1989	Iowa State	17-12	Big Eight	7-7		#47	10	NCAA tournament
1988	Iowa State	20-12	Big Eight	6-8		#31	12	NCAA tournament
1987	Iowa State	13-15	Big Eight	5-9		#66
1986	Iowa State	22-11	Big Eight	9-5		#26	7	Sweet 16
1985	Iowa State	21-13	Big Eight	7-7		#46	13	NCAA tournament
1984	Iowa State	16-13	Big Eight	6-8		#79		NIT
1983	Iowa State	13-15	Big Eight	5-9		#117
1982	Iowa State	10-17	Big Eight	5-9		#124
1981	Iowa State	9-18	Big Eight	2-12		#127
1980	Iowa State	11-16	Big Eight	5-9		#135
1979	Iowa State	11-16	Big Eight	6-8		#122
1978	Iowa State	14-13	Big Eight	9-5		#84
1977	Iowa State	7-20	Big Eight	3-11		#128
1976	Iowa State	3-24	Big Eight	3-11		#182
1975	Iowa State	10-16	Big Eight	4-10		#98
1974	Iowa State	15-11	Big Eight	6-8		#51
1973	Iowa State	16-10	Big Eight	7-7		#57
1972	Iowa State	12-14	Big Eight	5-9		#81
1971	Iowa State	5-21	Big Eight	2-12		#133
1970	Iowa State	12-14	Big Eight	5-9		#88
1969	Iowa State	14-12	Big Eight	8-6		#90
1968	Iowa State	12-13	Big Eight	8-6		#93
1967	Iowa State	13-12	Big Eight	6-8		#60
1966	Iowa State	11-14	Big Eight	6-8		#65
1965	Iowa State	9-16	Big Eight	6-8		#83
1964	Iowa State	9-16	Big Eight	5-9		#87
1963	Iowa State	14-11	Big Eight	8-6		#47
1962	Iowa State	13-12	Big Eight	8-6		#46
1961	Iowa State	14-11	Big Eight	6-8		#36
1960	Iowa State	15-9	Big Eight	7-7		#34
1959	Iowa State	9-16	Big Eight	4-10		#93
1958	Iowa State	15-8	Big Seven	8-4		#15
1957	Iowa State	16-7	Big Seven	6-6		#8
1956	Iowa State	18-5	Big Seven	8-4		#20
1955	Iowa State	11-10	Big Seven	4-8		#45
1954	Iowa State	6-15	Big Seven	2-10		#100
1953	Iowa State	10-11	Big Seven	5-7		#32
1952	Iowa State	10-11	Big Seven	4-8		#87
1951	Iowa State	9-12	Big Seven	3-9		#68
1950	Iowa State	6-17	Big Seven	2-10		#88
1949	Iowa State	7-14	Big Seven	3-9
1948	Iowa State	15-8	Big Seven	6-6
1947	Iowa State	7-14	Big Six	5-5
1946	Iowa State	8-8	Big Six	5-5
1945	Iowa State	11-5	Big Six ★	8-2
1944	Iowa State	14-4	Big Six ★	9-1				Final Four
1943	Iowa State	7-9	Big Six	2-8
1942	Iowa State	11-6	Big Six	5-5
1941	Iowa State	15-4	Big Six ★	7-3
1940	Iowa State	9-9	Big Six	2-8
1939	Iowa State	8-9	Big Six	5-5
1938	Iowa State	6-9	Big Six	2-8
1937	Iowa State	3-15	Big Six	0-10
1936	Iowa State	8-8	Big Six	3-7
1935	Iowa State	13-3	Big Six ★	8-2
1934	Iowa State	6-11	Big Six	2-8
1933	Iowa State	6-10	Big Six	2-8
1932	Iowa State	9-6	Big Six	4-6
1931	Iowa State	8-8	Big Six	4-6
1930	Iowa State	9-8	Big Six	5-5
1929	Iowa State	8-7	Big Six	4-6
1928	Iowa State	3-15	Missouri Valley	3-15
1927	Iowa State	8-10	Missouri Valley	5-7
1926	Iowa State	4-14	Missouri Valley	3-11
1925	Iowa State	2-15	Missouri Valley	1-15
1924	Iowa State	2-16	Missouri Valley	2-14
1923	Iowa State	11-7	Missouri Valley	9-7
1922	Iowa State	10-8	Missouri Valley	8-8
1921	Iowa State	10-8	Missouri Valley	6-8
1920	Iowa State	6-12	Missouri Valley	2-10
1919	Iowa State	5-11	Missouri Valley	3-8
1918	Iowa State	6-9	Missouri Valley	1-6
1917	Iowa State	12-6	Missouri Valley	6-4
1916	Iowa State	4-12	Missouri Valley	2-8
1915	Iowa State	6-7	Missouri Valley	5-5
1914	Iowa State	4-14	Missouri Valley	4-10
1913	Iowa State	3-13	Missouri Valley	3-9
1912	Iowa State	8-7	Missouri Valley	4-4
1911	Iowa State	6-11	Missouri Valley	6-8
1910	Iowa State	9-7	Missouri Valley	6-2
1909	Iowa State	4-10	Missouri Valley	4-4
1908	Iowa State	1-1	Missouri Valley	1-0

Consensus All-Americans

8 AP All-American selections.

Joshua Jefferson2026

Georges Niang2016

Georges Niang2015

Melvin Ejim2014

Jamaal Tinsley2001

Marcus Fizer2000

Jeff Grayer1988

Gary Thompson1957

Year	Player
2026	Joshua Jefferson
2016	Georges Niang
2015	Georges Niang
2014	Melvin Ejim
2001	Jamaal Tinsley
2000	Marcus Fizer
1988	Jeff Grayer
1957	Gary Thompson

NBA first-round picks

32 first-round NBA draft selections from this program.

Joshua Jefferson2026

Last college yr: 2026

Joshua Jefferson2026

Last college yr: 2025

Tyrese Haliburton2020

Last college yr: 2020

Tyrese Haliburton2020

Last college yr: 2019

Royce White2012

Last college yr: 2012

Craig Brackins2010

Last college yr: 2010

Craig Brackins2010

Last college yr: 2009

Craig Brackins2010

Last college yr: 2008

Wesley Johnson2010

Last college yr: 2008

Wesley Johnson2010

Last college yr: 2007

Jamaal Tinsley2001

Last college yr: 2001

Marcus Fizer2000

Last college yr: 2000

Draft	Player	Last college yr
2026	Joshua Jefferson	2026
2026	Joshua Jefferson	2025
2020	Tyrese Haliburton	2020
2020	Tyrese Haliburton	2019
2012	Royce White	2012
2010	Craig Brackins	2010
2010	Craig Brackins	2009
2010	Craig Brackins	2008
2010	Wesley Johnson	2008
2010	Wesley Johnson	2007
2001	Jamaal Tinsley	2001
2000	Marcus Fizer	2000
2001	Jamaal Tinsley	2000
2000	Marcus Fizer	1999
2000	Marcus Fizer	1998
1997	Kelvin Cato	1997
1997	Kelvin Cato	1996
1995	Loren Meyer	1995
1995	Loren Meyer	1994
1995	Loren Meyer	1993
1995	Loren Meyer	1992
1991	Victor Alexander	1991
1991	Victor Alexander	1990
1991	Victor Alexander	1989
1988	Jeff Grayer	1988
1991	Victor Alexander	1988
1988	Jeff Grayer	1987
1988	Jeff Grayer	1986
1988	Jeff Grayer	1985
1968	Don Smith	1968
1968	Don Smith	1967
1968	Don Smith	1966

The Heartbreak Index7.2 · #300▸

Greatest tournament games

Season by season

Consensus All-Americans

NBA first-round picks

The Heartbreak Index7.2 · #300