Report: Iowa State PF Omaha Biliew, Former 5-star Recruit, Entering Transfer Portal
Mar 31, 2024
FORT WORTH, TX - JANUARY 20:Iowa State Cyclones forward Omaha Biliew (33) waits to shoot free throws during a college basketball game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the TCU Horned Frogs on January 20th, 2024 at Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, TX. (Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Former five-star recruit forward Omaha Biliew plans to enter the transfer portal after one season with Iowa State, according to The Athletic's Tobias Bass.
Biliew was the No. 13 recruit of the 2023 basketball class, according to 247Sports.
He made 20 appearances off the bench for Iowa State his freshman season, averaging 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in fewer than eight minutes per game.
Other Iowa State reserve players Kayden Fish, Jackson Paveletzke and Jelani Hamilton also plan to enter the transfer portal, per Randy Peterson of the Des Moines Register.
The 6-foot-8 forward was the first five-star prospect to commit to Iowa State since at least 2007, according to ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi.
At the time, Biliew also held offers from Nebraska, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Texas Tech, Western Kentucky, Kentucky, Memphis, Morehead State, South Dakota State and TCU, according to 247Sports, as well as the G-League Ignite, per Borzello and Biancardi.
The decision to commit to Iowa State hinged in part on his desire to play in his home state, Biliew told Borzello and Biancardi.
Biliew previously played at Waukee High School in Waukee, Iowa, where he helped lead his team to the state championship his sophomore year on a court located a 45-minute drive from Iowa State.
Tucker DeVries finds five-star sophomore Omaha Biliew for the big slam. Waukee holds an 11-point lead with 37 seconds to go. pic.twitter.com/heY3COkCcx
Although Biliew averaged more than 22 points and almost 10 rebounds per game his final season of high school basketball, he was never able to find similar success at Iowa State.
After he was held to 5.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while averaging 15 minutes on the court in his first five outings with the Cyclones, Biliew's playing time dropped precipitously. He only played more than 10 minutes in a game twice more that season.
His best outing came on Nov. 19 in his fourth outing with Iowa State, when he recorded 14 points and three rebounds in a 55-point blowout win over Grambling.
Tucker DeVries, who played alongside Biliew at Waukee, entered the transfer portal to leave Drake for West Virginia last week in the footsteps of his father Darian DeVries, who left the head coaching position at Drake to coach at West Virginia a week prior.
Given their high school connection, all eyes will be on Biliew in the transfer portal to see if he follows DeVries to Morgantown.
Iowa State Celebrated by March Madness Fans After Reaching Sweet 16 with Win vs. WSU
Mar 24, 2024
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - MARCH 23: Keshon Gilbert #10 and Hason Ward #24 of the Iowa State Cyclones react with teammates during the second half against the Washington State Cougars in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at CHI Health Center on March 23, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Iowa State Cyclones are hot in March.
After winning the Big-12 conference championship and crushing South Dakota State in the opening round, the second-seeded Cyclones continued the momentum to cruise to a 62-51 second round victory over Washington State.
The win allowed Iowa State to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second time in the last three seasons. The win came despite Washington State getting out to an early lead and the team's being tied at 27 at halftime.
Tamin Lipsey led the Cyclones with 15 points while also adding five rebounds and four assists. Curtis Jones had 12 points, three rebounds and three assists off of the bench and Milan Momcilovic and Keshon Gilbert each had 10 points.
Iowa State is the best defense in the country. Even better than Houston imo. Just a suffocating defense who forces such tough passes and contests everything. Nothing easy facing the Clones', who are 2:03 away from the Sweet 16.
The win sets up a game against the winner of Duquesne and Illinois. The Cyclones did not face either team in the regular season. The Cyclones are 3-12 all-time against the Fighting Illini, with the last matchup coming in 2018. The Cyclones have never faced Duquesne in program history.
No. 1 Houston Puzzles CBB Fans with Blowout Loss to Iowa State in Big 12 Title Game
Mar 17, 2024
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 16: Houston Cougars guard L.J. Cryer (4) and Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) hit the floor for a loose ball in the first half of the Big 12 tournament final between the Iowa State Cyclones and Houston Cougars on Mar 16, 2024 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Houston dominated the Big 12 all season long on its way to a regular season title, but Iowa State spoiled the Cougars' first year in the conference with a 69-41 win in the Big 12 Tournament championship game on Saturday.
The loss was shocking given Houston's recent success. The Cougars cruised through the Big 12 tournament and were coming off an 82-59 win over Texas Tech on Friday. Just a week ago, Houston beat Kansas by 30 points.
On Saturday, the Cougars shot an abysmal 26.8 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from deep. Jamal Shead was the only Cougar in double digits on the night.
The rout from Iowa State stunned college basketball fans. The Cyclones have been great all season, but a dominant win over the No. 1 team in the country wasn't exactly expected.
Guys, Iowa State has outscored Houston 24-5 so far in the second half.
Iowa State getting ready to double up Houston with seven minutes left in the second half.
— Wide Right & Natty Lite (@WideRtNattyLt) March 16, 2024
How about the Iowa State Cyclones. That's as impressive as any performance we've seen from a team this year. I'm serious. NOBODY punks Houston. TJ Otzelberger is outstanding, and so is the team from Ames. Big time!
Iowa State vs Houston is the perfect example of the fact that college basketball may be the most unpredictable sport in the world. Literally anyone can beat literally anyone at any time.
Pretty loud statement being made by Iowa State in taking on #1 ranked Houston in the Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship and nearing outscoring it by 2x.
Luckily for the Cougars, the poor performance came before the NCAA tournament rather than during it. It's likely Houston still gets a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance, and the Cougars will be looking to bounce back quickly.
Iowa State made a statement with the win, putting the nation on notice heading into the tournament. The Cyclones haven't made it past the Sweet 16 since the 1999-2000 season, but they seem well-equipped to have a deep run this year.
Iowa State's T.J. Otzelberger Calls Cheating Allegations vs. Kansas State 'Ludicrous'
Jan 27, 2024
PROVO, UT - JANUARY 16 : Head coach T.J. Otzelberger of the Iowa State Cyclones watches play during the final minute of the second half against the Brigham Young Cougars at the Marriott Center on January 16, 2024 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
Rumors surfaced after the Iowa State men's basketball team's 78-67 home win over Kansas State on Wednesday that KSU was concerned ISU had placed team managers or other Cyclone representatives behind their bench to steal information from their huddles.
On Saturday, Iowa State men's basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger called those accusations against his team "ludicrous" in the opening statement of his press conference after the Cyclones took down No. 7 Kansas 79-75.
T.J. Otzelberger's statement on accusations of cheating during the Kansas State game: pic.twitter.com/sjvztSt7wY
Per Kellis Robinett of the Wichita Eagle, Kansas State coaches were reportedly concerned about ISU observers "quickly passing information to the Iowa State bench via text messages."
During the Kansas State game, Wildcats head coach Jerome Tang was seen angrily pointing at the crowing during the under-eight timeout. Tang then made his way to Otzelberger at midcourt and spoke to him.
Then postgame, the two coaches had an extended talk in the handshake line, with Tang visibly upset during the conversation.
Otzelberger then took the mic on Saturday. He told reporters it was "incredibly disappointing" for him to even be addressing the rumors three days after an ISU win in what he called an "awesome atmosphere."
He called the rumors an "affront to our players, our fans and to me." Otzelberger further added that the rumors don't reflect well on himself or the program and that he was "angry" that someone would even make that suggestion.
Otzelberger did claim that a KSU staff member "cursed out" an ISU student manager who was mopping up below the basket.
"So let's put this to bed here and now. It didn't happen. It won't happen. And others need to be much more careful with their words moving forward."
On Saturday, Seth Davis of CBS Sports offered further insight, to the point where he even suggested Tang would owe ISU an apology if the allegations proved to be unfounded.
"Frankly if it didn't happen, I think Jerome Tang is going to owe them an apology. ... In this environment to suggest something like that, that goes straight to someone's integrity."
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) January 27, 2024
Kansas State ended the week with another tough loss, falling 74-52 at No. 4 Houston.
No. 2 Houston Upset by Unranked Iowa State for 1st Loss of 2023-24 MCBB Season
Jan 10, 2024
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 17: Tamin Lipsey #3 of the Iowa State Cyclones dribbles the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at The Fieldhouse at Greensboro Coliseum on March 17, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
The last unbeaten team in the nation fell on Tuesday night in a surprising upset.
No. 2 Houston suffered a 57-53 loss to unranked Iowa State in a road matchup. The loss dropped the Cougars' record to 14-1 this season.
Iowa State was coming off a 71-63 loss to No. 11 Oklahoma on Saturday, which snapped a six-game win streak. That loss apparently fueled the Cyclones, as they blitzed the Cougars right from the opening tip.
Iowa State opened Tuesday's game with 14 unanswered points and never looked back. The Cyclones led by 12 and took a 31-21 lead into halftime. Houston managed to tie the game at 41 and again at 53, but Iowa State remained poised enough to secure the win. Milan Momcilovic hit the go-ahead jumper with 31 seconds left and then sealed the game with a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining.
Tamin Lipsey led the Cyclones with 14 points while Momcilovic added 11 points. They overcame a 20-point performance by Cougars guard Emanuel Sharp.
Neither team shot the ball particularly well, with Houston shooting 38.0 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from three-point range while Iowa State shot 38.3 percent overall and 20.0 percent from beyond the arc. However, the Cyclones earned 22 attempts from the free-throw line and made 18 of them, while the Cougars got to the line just 12 times.
Houston will look to bounce back on Saturday in a road matchup against TCU. Iowa State will return to action that same day at home against Oklahoma State.
The first round of the 2023 NCAA men's tournament continued Friday, and we had yet another great day of action. It started with No. 7 Michigan State advancing…
Iowa State Declined Warmup Time After Rim Adjustment; Shot 23.3% in Loss to Pitt
Mar 17, 2023
GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 17: Gabe Kalscheur #22 of the Iowa State Cyclones reacts to the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first round of the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Greensboro Coliseum on March 17, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Iowa State basketball decided to forego additional warmup time ahead of its first-round matchup against Pittsburgh in the NCAA Tournament after a slight adjustment was made to one of the rims at the Greensboro Coliseum, the NCAA said in a statement.
It is a decision that the Cyclones may have regretted as they had their worst shooting performance of the entire season en route to a 59-41 loss against the Panthers. They shot just 23.3 percent from the field and 9.5 percent from three-point range.
The statement also said that Iowa State asked the NCAA to check the rim levels.
"It definitely wasn't a factor," Cyclones forward Tre King told reporters after the loss. "One thing we always talk about is we know adversity is coming. We have to deal with it."
While Iowa State hasn't been a great offensive team this season, it was much better than what it showed Friday. The Cyclones shot 44.3 percent from the field and a respectable 33.1 percent from beyond the arc for the year.
It wasn't a particularly sloppy game with just eight turnovers, the offensive struggle were obviously the biggest issue for coach T.J. Otzelberger's team. After going into halftime down just seven points, the Cyclones scored 18 in the final 20 minutes.
Pittsburgh didn't exactly light the world on fire either at 34 percent, but it was more than enough to seal the double-digit win. The Panthers were allowed to continue warming up on the other end of the floor during the rim adjustment.
Iowa State was the six seed and a five-point favorite going into the matchup. Prior to Friday its lowest scoring game came in a loss to Oklahoma on Feb. 25 in which it scored 50 points.
5-Star PF Omaha Biliew Commits to Iowa State over Kansas, Oregon, G League
Jul 26, 2022
Omaha Biliew, a 5-star power forward from the Link Academy in Branson, Missouri, committed to Iowa State on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Jeff Borzello.
He becomes the Cyclones' highest-ranked recruit in the modern recruiting era.
Biliew is considered the No. 12 player in the class of 2023, the No. 5 power forward and the top player from the state of Missouri, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
He has major upside, but on a talented Link Academy team that also has included Jordan Walsh, Julian Phillips and Tarris Reed, Biliew acknowledged in November 2021 that he's had to learn how to play a role and be a solid team player.
"My game is always going up," he told Eric Bossi of 247Sports. "Right now we have a lot of guys on our team so there are certain roles we have to have. My role is being a high motor guy right now. My time will come where I go out on the perimeter and touch the ball more and be more assertive with the ball. All that will come, I just have to be patient."
Iowa State surely respected that level of humility, as Biliew has gone from a state champion to finding his niche on a new squad:
He has all the upside of a future star, but Biliew's versatility and team-first attitude make him an extremely appealing addition for Iowa State as well.
The Cyclones are having one heck of a recruiting cycle.
The team already landed a pair of 4-star players in power forward Milan Momcilovic and shooting guard Jelani Hamilton. Now they've further improved their ranks, adding in Biliew as the headliner in the class. T.J. Otzelberger is building a strong team in Ames.
No. 10 Miami Beats Iowa State, Advances to Face No. 1 Kansas in Elite Eight
Mar 26, 2022
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 25: Sam Waardenburg #21 of the Miami Hurricanes dunks the ball against George Conditt IV #4 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half in the Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at United Center on March 25, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The 10th-seeded Miami Hurricanes defeated the 11th-seeded Iowa State Cyclones 70-56 in the Sweet 16 on Friday at United Center to earn a berth in the Elite Eight for the first time in school history.
Miami entered having won five of its last six games, including wins over the USC Trojans in the first round and second-seeded Auburn Tigers in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
The Hurricanes' win over the Tigers was stunning as Auburn was picked as one of the teams that could win the title. Miami outscored Auburn 46-29 in the second half of that matchup and continued that momentum into the Sweet 16.
Hurricanes' Offense Prevails Against Defensive-Minded Cyclones
The Iowa State defense had impressed through much of the NCAA tournament. And while it played well on Friday against Miami, it wasn't enough to stop an offense that has averaged 74.7 points per game this season, according to Sports Reference.
Miami made 26 of 56 shots from the floor and nine of 26 shots from deep in the win.
Hurricanes guards Jordan Miller and Kameron McGusty were particularly effective against the Cyclones, combining for 43 points, 13 rebounds and three assists in the win.
This should come as little surprise, though, as McGusty entered averaging 17.5 points per game, which leads the team, and Miller entered averaging 10.1 points per game.
After finishing 10-17 last season, head coach Jim Larranaga has completely revamped his team's offense this year. In addition to McGusty and Miller, Isaiah Wong and Charlie Moore averaged double digits this season.
While McGusty and Miller had solid performances against the Cyclones, Sam Waardenburg also had one of his better games of the tournament, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Waardenburg's play down the stretch helped Miami close things out in a tough second half against a Cyclones team that wouldn't be silenced until the final whistle.
Miami's offense is still going to have to be much better in the next round. As the competition gets tougher, players like Wong and Moore need to have better performances than they did on Friday night.
Cyclones' Offensive Struggles On Full Display In Loss
Iowa State has been one of the most impressive teams in college basketball this season. After finishing the 2020-21 campaign with a 2-22 record, the team finishes 22-13 this year under first-year head coach TJ Otzelberger.
But while Otzelberger molded the Cyclones into one of the best defensive teams in college basketball, his squad's offense has been subpar all season.
Iowa State's offensive struggles were on full display against Miami, too, as the team made just 25 of 68 shots from the floor and 4 of 22 shots from deep.
The Cyclones' top scorers were Tyrese Hunter and Gabe Kalscheur, who both finished with 13 points. In comparison, the Hurricanes' leading scorer was McGusty, and he finished with 27 points.
Iowa State averaged 65.9 points per game this season, which is somewhat low, so it's not necessarily surprising that it struggled to score on Friday.
Moving into next season, Otzelberger will likely be looking for more offensive production out of his team and players to pair with Izaiah Brockington and Tyrese Hunter.
What's Next?
Miami will face the No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks in the Elite Eight on Saturday.
