Iowa State Coach Slams ‘Ludicrous Rumors’ That Cyclones Cheated vs. Kansas State

Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger should have been fielding questions about his team’s 79–75 home upset of No. 7 Kansas on Saturday afternoon. 

Instead, he addressed rumors that his team cheated in a midweek victory over Kansas State. For context, a report from Kellis Robinett of the Wichita Eagle indicated that Wildcats coaches were concerned that Iowa State had staffers sitting behind the Kansas State bench trying to steal plays during Wednesday night’s 78–67 victory. 

Otzelberger slammed the report in Saturday’s postgame press availability.

“It’s incredibly disappointing that after such an awesome game, awesome environment and atmosphere that I even have to begin by addressing something that happened earlier this week,” Otzelberger began. “The ludicrous, ludicrous rumors earlier this week that somehow we were trying to gain an advantage, looking into our opponent’s huddles, is an affront to our players, our fans and to me. It’s not who I am, it’s not who our program is about, and I am angry that someone would even make that suggestion.”

Otzelberger went on to note that “what is factual” is that one of Kansas State’s staffers cursed out one of Iowa State’s student managers who was in charge of mopping the floor under the basket, and that others had to be more careful with their words moving forward.

Iowa State and Kansas State are certainly two schools that have no love lost between one another, and this week’s dustup will certainly add to the intrigue moving forward.