No. 5 Iowa State's Mr. Consistency (aka Curtis Jones) excited to start season on Monday – CycloneFanatic.com

Iowa State guard Curtis Jones poses for a portrait during Iowa State men's basketball media day at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in Ames. © Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

AMES – A confused Curtis Jones shook his head and looked at the basket.

The Iowa State guard's 3-point shooting failed early last season after he transferred from Buffalo.

It didn't make any sense. So Jones — who had a 21.4 percent shooting percentage from distance in his first seven games last November — just kept working, trusting that he would shine when it mattered most.

“I was happy it worked out for me because I work hard and I felt like it had to work out at some point,” said Jones, who hopes to showcase his sharpshooting skills in Monday’s season opener against Mississippi Valley at 7 p.m State at Hilton Coliseum. “So it felt really good when things started to change. At the moment I was just trying not to get too depressed and stay positive. I didn’t come this far for no reason.”

Jones shot a sizzling 10-for-19 from distance in the NCAA Tournament – and scored a season-high 26 points in the Cyclones' narrow 72-69 loss in the Sweet Sixteen to Illinois in Boston. The 6-4 senior from Minneapolis ultimately emerged as one of ISU's most consistent players on both ends of the floor last season – despite playing as a sixth man most of the time. So expect more of the same this season as the fifth-ranked Cyclones look to make an even stronger tournament run after the winter months.

“He's probably been the most consistent player in our program day in and day out over the last two years, and even last year when things weren't going well in the games, I saw what was happening in practice and we were confident in that, what he could do,” ISU head coach said TJ Ötzelberger, who led his team to two Sweet Sixteens in his first three seasons. “Even though he didn't shoot the ball particularly well at the start of the season, he found ways to make the win happen. Getting assists, getting steals, making plays for teammates.”

That's the MO for the Cyclones' big three in the backcourt. Tamin Lipsey returns as one of the nation's foremost leaders. Keshon Gilbert will do it He will once again fulfill his role as one of ISU's most dynamic scorers. Add outstanding strikers Milan MomcilovicWith its versatile play and several talented transfers, it's clear that this Cyclone team is built to weather the storms that inevitably arise during a long regular season.

“I think as humans we all learn the most when adversity comes our way,” Otzelberger said. “When things don’t work out, you’re bad. If you're in foul trouble or your shot isn't falling, (or) maybe you're not playing as much as you'd like. How do we come together in these moments? I think that's one of the big differences between teams that have had mediocre years and teams that have had great years. This is something we will continue to build and grow and do, but it takes a lot of hard work and intention every day to do it.”

Jones embodied those qualities last season for the Cyclones and plans to showcase them again in his final season with Hilton.

“I’m looking forward to winning games again,” he said with a smile. “(There’s) really no better feeling than winning big games. College basketball isn’t easy, so I’m most looking forward to just getting out there and competing.”