BIG 12 CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 12, 2025

T.J. Otzelberger

Dishon Jackson

Joshua Jefferson

T-Mobile Center

Iowa State Cyclones

Postgame Press Conference

Iowa State 76, Cincinnati 56

THE MODERATOR: Joining us on the dais is Iowa State Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger along with Dishon Jackson and Joshua Jefferson. Coach?

T.J. OTZELBERGER: Yeah, first of all, tremendous respect for Coach Miller, for Cincinnati, their program. We knew what a physical game it would be, how well prepared they would be, and we needed to be at our absolute best, and we were fortunate to come out and do that from the opening jump. And we finished strong.

So just proud of our guys for keeping that level of focus.

Q. T.J. big advantage for you guys on the boards. What do you think of the physicality down there?

T.J. OTZELBERGER: I think especially these two guys, they were resilient. Dishon, I felt like he took over parts of the game. It was on the glass. It was in the paint. Defensively he made some really impactful plays.

Joshua has been our best rebounder all year long and does a great job of not only blocking out, but chasing them down. These two guys controlled the paint, both how they attacked offensively, and then how they rebounded on both ends and just their physical presence.

They had a toughness and a physicality to them that really led our team today.

Q. Dishon, to build off that, career high rebounds for you at Iowa State. What got the physicality going for you?

DISHON JACKSON: Just our practice habits. We do the hard work every day, so we just went out and showed what we do every day.

Q. T.J., what can you tell us about Tamin and Keshon?

T.J. OTZELBERGER: As far as Keshon goes, it will be evaluated tonight and in the morning and see what he's able to do. Not sure right now. Just talked to him after.

With Tamin, sounds like something with his groin, he tweaked it but I think for sure he will be fine and good to go tomorrow.

Q. Keshon didn't play in the second half because of the injury?

T.J. OTZELBERGER: Yeah, Keshon didn't play in the second half because he felt like he couldn't get any push or explosion. We will stretch him out and do everything we can to get him ready to play tomorrow if that's a possibility.

Q. You play BYU tomorrow. Obviously the motivation is to win a Big 12 Conference Tournament, but is there any added motivation after the big-time game last week?

T.J. OTZELBERGER: We think very highly of their program. They're playing at an extremely high level. They came into our building and earned a victory. Did a great job. We will prepare for a victory like we play for every opponent and every opportunity and we will aim to control what we can control and be at our absolute best coming out tomorrow.

JOSHUA JEFFERSON: BYU is a good program. They came and smacked us in the mouth in the beginning of the game so just coming out with a good sense of urgency tomorrow will help us get it done.

Q. T.J., I want to ask what Cade Kelderman has done to earn your trust in these moments? And Josh, what do you see from him in practice?

T.J. OTZELBERGER: Cade is a tremendous worker in practice every day. He leaves it on the court. He earns that trust from what he does on a day-to-day basis.

So when he goes in the game, he had a big defensive play today. It really uplifts our guys because they wee the work that he puts in. They have so much respect for him.

Obviously I'm showing my trust and my belief in him by the opportunities we're giving him at key points in our season. We're going to continue to count on him, because we know how much it means to him, how much he loves being a cyclone, how much he cares about our team's success, and how hard he works and dedicates himself every single day.

JOSHUA JEFFERSON: I love Cade, my roommate as well, our chemistry is really good, and he leaves it on the floor in practice and Cade is a really good player but as soon as he gets more opportunities, you guys are going to know.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you very few.