THAT AND MORE FROM MEDIA DAY DURING IOWA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA DAY, I ASKED HEAD COACH T.J. OTZELBERGER HOW HE’S GOING TO REPLACE THAT BACKCOURT OF KEYSHAWN GILBERT AND CURTIS JONES. HE TOLD ME, NOBODY HAS TO BE THOSE GUYS. THEY JUST HAVE TO BE THEM. IF YOU SAY WHO HAS TO BE ON THE COURT BECAUSE EVERYTHING HE DOES LOOKS LIKE WINNING. NATE HEISEY AND I FEEL THAT WAY RIGHT NOW. AND SO WE’LL SEE HOW THAT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE. BUT WE HAVE WE HAVE SOME OTHER GREAT OPTIONS. AND I THINK SPECIFICALLY WITH THOSE FRESHMEN, I’VE GOT A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THOSE GUYS. THE MOST TALKED ABOUT FRESHMEN WERE KILLIAN, TORY AND JAMARION BATEMAN. BOTH GUYS, ALONG WITH CADE KELDERMAN, ARE PLAYING BEHIND TAMIN LIPSEY, WHO WAS OUT WITH THAT MCL SPRAIN. NOW, KILLIAN TELLS ME THAT THE ON COURT ADJUSTMENTS HAVEN’T BEEN VERY DIFFICULT. THE HARDEST PART HAS BEEN OFF THE COURT. I MEAN, IT’S NORMAL, LIKE IF PEOPLE DON’T REALLY UNDERSTAND US SOMETIMES BECAUSE OF THE ACCENT. KILLIAN IS THE FIRST EVER CYCLONE FROM FRANCE. YEAH, SOMETIMES IT’S HARD, HONESTLY, BECAUSE I HAVE TO ACTIVATE, LIKE, THE ENGLISH MODE. BUT IT’S DEFINITELY SOME FUNNY TIMES WHERE HE MAY NOT KNOW WHAT YOU SAID BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, EVEN HOW GOOD HE IS NOW WITH HIS ENGLISH, IT’S STILL SOMETHING HE CAN LEARN EVERY DAY. THERE’S CREDIBILITY BEHIND BATEMAN’S STATEMENT. I HAD A 4.0 AND GRADUATED VALEDICTORIAN FROM THE MILWAUKEE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. WE’VE HAD SOME REALLY TERRIFIC FRESHMEN THAT HAVE COME IN WITH GREAT HABITS, WHETHER IT’S BEEN TYRESE, HUNTER, TAMING LIPSY, MILAN AND NOW I WOULD SAY AT THE TOP OF THAT IS JAMARI AND BATEMAN. EVERYTHING THAT HE DOES LINES UP WITH WINNING. KILLIAN TORRES ALSO SHOWN THOSE SAME SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES. THE CYCLONES OPENED THEIR NON-CONFERENCE SEASON RIGHT HERE AT HOME ON NOVEMBER 3RD AGAINST FDU FROM HILTON COLISEUM.
Players Era Festival: What to know about Iowa State’s upcoming basketball tournament
Updated: 10:36 AM CST Nov 24, 2025
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The Iowa State men’s basketball team hasn’t yet faced much resistance en route to a perfect 4-0 record. Its closest game was a 16-point win over Mississippi State in which the Cyclones led by 25 with 6 minutes to go before coasting to the finish line.That could change in a hurry.The Cyclones will be part of a loaded field of teams at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. The event runs from Monday, Nov. 24 through Thanksgiving Day, with all 18 teams in the field scheduled to play three games.Here’s what to know about the event.2025 Players Era Festival fieldAlabamaAuburnBaylorCreightonGonzaga HoustonIowa StateKansasMarylandMichiganNotre DameOregon — 2024 Players Era winnerRutgersSan Diego StateSt. John’sSyracuseTennesseeUNLVPlayers Era Festival format, scheduleEach team in the field will play one game Monday and another game Tuesday. Those games have already been announced. (You can find Iowa State’s games in the section below.)After that, however, it’s a bit of an unknown.Each team will play a third game either Wednesday or Thursday. The pairings for that third game are dependent upon multiple factors: team record, point differential, points scored and points allowed. In other words, Iowa State, and every other team in the field, won’t know the time or opponent for its third game until after the conclusion of the final game Tuesday night (Alabama vs. UNLV at 11 p.m. CT).There is a third-place game and a championship game, which are scheduled for 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, respectively. The schedule for the other games is still to be announced.Games are played at two Las Vegas locations: the MGM Grand Garden Arena at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, and the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.Iowa State’s schedule during the Players Era FestivalMonday, Nov. 24No. 16 Iowa State vs. No. 14 St. John’sWhen: 3:30 p.m. CTWhere: Michelob ULTRA ArenaTV: TruTVLivestream: HBO MaxTuesday, Nov. 25Iowa State vs. CreightonWhen: 1 p.m. CTWhere: Michelob ULTRA ArenaTV: TruTVLivestream: HBO MaxPlayers Era Festival scheduleBelow are the game times and TV pairings for each game over the first two days. All games are listed in central time.Monday, Nov. 24Tennessee vs. Rutgers, 12 p.m. | TNTBaylor vs. Creighton, 1 p.m. | truTVKansas vs. Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. | TNT St. John’s vs. Iowa State, 3:30 p.m. | truTV Houston vs. Syracuse, 5 p.m. | TNT Oregon vs. Auburn, 7 p.m. | truTV Alabama vs. Gonzaga, 8:30 p.m. | TNT Michigan vs. San Diego State, 9:30 p.m. | truTVMaryland vs. UNLV, 11 p.m. | TNTTuesday, Nov. 25Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, 12 p.m. | TNTIowa State vs. Creighton, 1 p.m. | truTVKansas vs. Syracuse, 2:30 p.m. | TNT St. John’s vs. Baylor, 3:30 p.m. | truTV Houston vs. Tennessee, 5 p.m. | TNT Michigan vs. Auburn, 7:30 p.m. | TNTGonzaga vs. Maryland, 8:30 p.m. | truTVOregon vs. San Diego State, 10 p.m. | TNT Alabama vs. UNLV, 11 p.m. | truTV Players Era Festival ticketsTickets are available for each session, meaning you will have seats for at least two games. In Iowa State’s case, a ticket to Monday’s game will also get you into the Baylor vs. Creighton game tipping off earlier in the day.You can find tickets to Iowa State’s first session here and Iowa State’s second session here.Players Era NIL payoutsThe Players Era Festival launched last season with eight teams. The field has grown to 18 this year, and it’s filled with some of the best programs in college hoops.One of the main reasons for the event’s popularity among top teams: big payouts to every player involved.The tournament paid out $9 million in NIL funds spread among the eight teams last year, according to On3, and is expected to dole out more than $24 million this season. ESPN reported each team will receive at least $1 million.More money will go to teams that finish higher, but exact payouts are not yet known.Iowa State’s history vs. St. John’s, CreightonIowa State has recent history with both of its upcoming opponents.The Cyclones defeated St. John’s 71-60 at Hilton Coliseum back in the 2022-23 season. Then-freshman Tamin Lipsey started the game at point guard for Iowa State and played 24 minutes, scoring 7 points. The only other game between Iowa State and St. John’s was in December 1948, a matchup St. John’s won 71-47.Meanwhile, Iowa State and Creighton last met… a month ago. The Cyclones went to Omaha for an exhibition game on Oct. 17. Creighton won 71-58 with both teams operating without key players.The last regular season game between Iowa State and Creighton came in December 2021 during T.J. Otzelberger’s first season as the ISU head coach. ISU won that game 64-58. The all-time series stands at 17-15 in favor of Iowa State.» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
The Iowa State men’s basketball team hasn’t yet faced much resistance en route to a perfect 4-0 record. Its closest game was a 16-point win over Mississippi State in which the Cyclones led by 25 with 6 minutes to go before coasting to the finish line.
That could change in a hurry.
The Cyclones will be part of a loaded field of teams at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. The event runs from Monday, Nov. 24 through Thanksgiving Day, with all 18 teams in the field scheduled to play three games.
Here’s what to know about the event.
2025 Players Era Festival field
- Alabama
- Auburn
- Baylor
- Creighton
- Gonzaga
- Houston
- Iowa State
- Kansas
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Notre Dame
- Oregon — 2024 Players Era winner
- Rutgers
- San Diego State
- St. John’s
- Syracuse
- Tennessee
- UNLV
Players Era Festival format, schedule
Each team in the field will play one game Monday and another game Tuesday. Those games have already been announced. (You can find Iowa State’s games in the section below.)
After that, however, it’s a bit of an unknown.
Each team will play a third game either Wednesday or Thursday. The pairings for that third game are dependent upon multiple factors: team record, point differential, points scored and points allowed. In other words, Iowa State, and every other team in the field, won’t know the time or opponent for its third game until after the conclusion of the final game Tuesday night (Alabama vs. UNLV at 11 p.m. CT).
There is a third-place game and a championship game, which are scheduled for 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, respectively. The schedule for the other games is still to be announced.
Games are played at two Las Vegas locations: the MGM Grand Garden Arena at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, and the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
Iowa State’s schedule during the Players Era Festival
Monday, Nov. 24
No. 16 Iowa State vs. No. 14 St. John’s
- When: 3:30 p.m. CT
- Where: Michelob ULTRA Arena
- TV: TruTV
- Livestream: HBO Max
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Iowa State vs. Creighton
- When: 1 p.m. CT
- Where: Michelob ULTRA Arena
- TV: TruTV
- Livestream: HBO Max
Players Era Festival schedule
Below are the game times and TV pairings for each game over the first two days. All games are listed in central time.
Monday, Nov. 24
- Tennessee vs. Rutgers, 12 p.m. | TNT
- Baylor vs. Creighton, 1 p.m. | truTV
- Kansas vs. Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. | TNT
- St. John’s vs. Iowa State, 3:30 p.m. | truTV
- Houston vs. Syracuse, 5 p.m. | TNT
- Oregon vs. Auburn, 7 p.m. | truTV
- Alabama vs. Gonzaga, 8:30 p.m. | TNT
- Michigan vs. San Diego State, 9:30 p.m. | truTV
- Maryland vs. UNLV, 11 p.m. | TNT
Tuesday, Nov. 25
- Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, 12 p.m. | TNT
- Iowa State vs. Creighton, 1 p.m. | truTV
- Kansas vs. Syracuse, 2:30 p.m. | TNT
- St. John’s vs. Baylor, 3:30 p.m. | truTV
- Houston vs. Tennessee, 5 p.m. | TNT
- Michigan vs. Auburn, 7:30 p.m. | TNT
- Gonzaga vs. Maryland, 8:30 p.m. | truTV
- Oregon vs. San Diego State, 10 p.m. | TNT
- Alabama vs. UNLV, 11 p.m. | truTV
Players Era Festival tickets
Tickets are available for each session, meaning you will have seats for at least two games. In Iowa State’s case, a ticket to Monday’s game will also get you into the Baylor vs. Creighton game tipping off earlier in the day.
You can find tickets to Iowa State’s first session here and Iowa State’s second session here.
Players Era NIL payouts
The Players Era Festival launched last season with eight teams. The field has grown to 18 this year, and it’s filled with some of the best programs in college hoops.
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One of the main reasons for the event’s popularity among top teams: big payouts to every player involved.
The tournament paid out $9 million in NIL funds spread among the eight teams last year, according to On3, and is expected to dole out more than $24 million this season. ESPN reported each team will receive at least $1 million.
More money will go to teams that finish higher, but exact payouts are not yet known.
Iowa State’s history vs. St. John’s, Creighton
Iowa State has recent history with both of its upcoming opponents.
The Cyclones defeated St. John’s 71-60 at Hilton Coliseum back in the 2022-23 season. Then-freshman Tamin Lipsey started the game at point guard for Iowa State and played 24 minutes, scoring 7 points. The only other game between Iowa State and St. John’s was in December 1948, a matchup St. John’s won 71-47.
Meanwhile, Iowa State and Creighton last met… a month ago. The Cyclones went to Omaha for an exhibition game on Oct. 17. Creighton won 71-58 with both teams operating without key players.
The last regular season game between Iowa State and Creighton came in December 2021 during T.J. Otzelberger’s first season as the ISU head coach. ISU won that game 64-58. The all-time series stands at 17-15 in favor of Iowa State.
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