After fumbling their previous game against Northern Iowa, the Iowa State Cyclones are back on track, and it’s all thanks to sophomore sensation Audi Crooks. Winning five of their six games this season, the Cyclones are holding strong. But looks like, despite the perfect buzzer-beating moment, fans are still divided upon the 6’3 center’s heroics.

Crooks was undeniably the star of the game, putting up a season-high 33 points in the Cyclones’ nail-biting 80-78 win over Drake. She shot an impressive 15-of-25 from the field and added four rebounds to her stat sheet. Most importantly, with the game on the line, she delivered. She shot the winning basketball with just :00.3 seconds left. 

Meanwhile, Emily Ryan posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 assists, while Addy Brown added 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Mackenzie Hare chipped in 10 points, and Arianna Jackson was a defensive force with three steals and no turnovers in nearly 31 minutes of play.

On the other side, Drake’s Katie Dinnebier was electric, scoring a game-high 39 points. But Drake’s 19 turnovers proved costly, with Iowa State taking over to score 24 points off those mistakes. Also, this win marked Iowa State’s 300th non-conference victory under Coach Bill Fennelly.

The 19-year-old’s play this time around felt extra sweet because of her history against Drake. Last year, in just her second collegiate game on November 12, 2023, she led her team with 23 points on 7-of-9 shooting. But that game ended in an 85-73 loss to the Bulldogs. So, this would have felt like redemption.

However, fan reactions are still all over the place. While some are thrilled with her clutch performance, others are still scrutinizing her game. 

Audi Crooks’ game-winner sparks praise, critique, and pro potential buzz

From admiration to criticism, Cyclone Nation has a lot to say about their sophomore standout. One fan proudly pointed out Crooks’ undeniable talent: “She been that.” And they’re not wrong. As a freshman, Crooks etched her name into the history books by dropping 40 points. That performance set the single-game tournament scoring record for freshmen. 

However, this time, as fans put it, “They Barely Beat a 2-3 Team 😬” While the win was exciting, the Cyclones just squeaked past a 2-3 Drake team. Sure, the Bulldogs have talent, they’ve been picked to finish first in the Missouri Valley Conference, but fans clearly expect more, especially since they represent the basketball-crazed Hawkeye State. 

The next matchup against South Carolina, one of the top programs in the country, will be the real test. Others pointed out Crooks’s mistake, saying, “Camping in the Paint… 3 Seconds Over and Over. C’mon,” and “that’s like 5 secs in the key.”

It’s very well known that staying in the lane for longer than the allowed three seconds is not really ideal. Hence, the critics think the Cyclones’ center leans too much on her size, staying planted in the paint to dominate near the rim without much movement. While this is a strategy that works in college, it’s not as viable at the next level, where defenders are quicker and stronger.

Speaking of defender, one commented, “She struggles against taller defenders. She needs to extend her game out to the mid range at the very least. I love her but if she’s planning on going to the WNBA she has to evolve.” They basically want her to expanding her range to include mid-range jumpers.

Another supporter called her “Audi Buckets” to draw comparisons to none other than Paige Bueckers, who’s often called “Buckets” for her incredible scoring ability. While it’s still early to say whether she will follow in her footsteps, and their styles are vastly different, the hype is real. 

But indeed, if Crooks continues delivering game-winning performances, the conversation about her pro potential will only get louder. So, love her or question her; you can’t deny she did change this game and has the potential to make it happen many more times going forward.