The abrupt dismissal of Iowa State senior guard Caleb Grill from the team has sent shockwaves through the Big 12 conference. Grill was a key contributor to the Cyclones this season, averaging 9.5 points and four rebounds in 25 games, including a 31-point performance against then-No. 1 North Carolina in November. He was also shooting a team-best 38.8% from behind the arc this season.
The news of Grill’s dismissal was met with surprise, especially since the season is winding down and the Big 12 tournament was set to kick off this week. The Cyclones made a statement saying that Grill failed to “meet the program’s expectations”, but they did not provide additional details.
Grill has a long history with current Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger. He initially committed to play for Otzelberger at South Dakota State while still in high school, then transferred to UNLV, before returning to Iowa State when Otzelberger was hired before the 2021-22 season.
The dismissal of Grill is especially troublesome for Iowa State, who have struggled in recent weeks, losing four straight and 10 of their last 14. They have dropped from No. 11 in the Associated Press rankings to unranked.
The Cyclones will face No. 7 Baylor on Saturday in their final regular season game, and they’re still widely expected to make the NCAA tournament. They will have to do it without Grill, however, as his removal from the team leaves a big void for the Cyclones.
