As the Hawkeyes defeat Maryland, Iowa offers an update on rookie forward Trey Thompson. On Saturday afternoon, Iowa returned to Carver-Hawkeye Arena in need of a response, and the Hawkeyes provided just that. Iowa (8-1, 1-1 Big Ten) defeated Maryland (6-4, 0-1 Big Ten) 83-64 in a decisive victory that was never in doubt following a frustrating midweek stumble. It was more than just a comeback; under first-year head coach Ben McCollum, the team was still figuring out who they were.
Additionally, McCollum found personal meaning in the afternoon. His first Big Ten victory was achieved, a milestone that may not have much significance to people outside the program but is deeply felt within it. A coach navigating his first season in the Big Ten doesn’t get many easy nights, so winning that first game at home establishes a foundation for his team.
Long before the final buzzer sounded, senior guard Bennett Stirtz ensured Iowa had the day. The seasoned guard was on point right away, cutting through Maryland’s defense and making rhythmic shots. He demonstrated why he is one of the group’s emotional pillars by scoring a game-high 25 points on 10 of 17 shots. Stirtz always seemed to have an answer ready, whether it was a straight-line drive, a midrange pull-up, or a timely three when Iowa needed a boost.
The team’s comeback performance had many positive aspects, but one plotline persisted despite the victory. On the Big Ten’s required game day availability report, Iowa once again listed freshman forward Trey Thompson as “out.” This was the second straight game that the 6-foot-8 rookie from Greeneville, Tennessee, was unavailable. The program hasn’t revealed much more than the fundamentals, and Thompson hasn’t yet made his Iowa debut. McCollum admitted last month that the staff is still debating whether the talented freshman would benefit from a redshirt year. The clock is undoubtedly running out, but the decision wasn’t final back then and it still isn’t.
Following the win over Maryland, McCollum was asked for an update specifically, how long he expects Thompson to remain sidelined. His answer, while brief, offered a bit of clarity.
“A little while, I think. Yeah. I think he’s got some injury stuff that I’m not supposed to talk about,” McCollum said.
His tone lacks alarm, but it’s clear what he’s trying to say: Thompson and I are not close. He seems to be moving farther away from the prospect of making an early-season debut, if anything. Additionally, this is an uncommon circumstance in the world of college basketball, where freshmen are frequently thrown into the mix quickly. His long-term potential is obviously appreciated by Iowa, but plans for playing time may be moving away from the present and toward the future.
To be clear, nobody on the team has made a redshirt announcement. However, McCollum’s cautious response and Thompson’s ongoing absence indicate that the Hawkeyes are getting ready for the prospect that the rookie might not play this season. The situation is still unclear until Iowa provides more information, and fans who are excited to see what the long, athletic forward can contribute to the rotation won’t be able to do so anytime soon. Meanwhile, Iowa’s attention shifts to the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk game, one of the most emotionally charged dates on its schedule. This year’s matchup, which could be one of the most exciting in recent memory, will take place on FS1 on Thursday, December 11 at 7 p.m.
It may be an understatement to say that Iowa State is extremely hot. On Saturday, the ninth-ranked Cyclones shocked the entire college basketball community by giving No. 1 Purdue their first defeat of the year and in a decisive manner, at that. The 81-58 victory at Mackey Arena was more than just an upset; it was a seismic shock that will be replayed on social media and highlight shows throughout the week. Iowa now faces a formidable obstacle in addition to momentum going into the Cy-Hawk game. Even though rivalry games have a pulse of their own, this one is even more intense. The Hawkeyes are aware of what lies ahead: a self-assured, seasoned Iowa State team that just claimed the biggest victory in the nation.
Iowa demonstrated what it can look like when everything works together on Saturday. We’ll discover something new on Thursday: how this group reacts when the opponent bites back and the spotlight gets brighter. The Trey Thompson situation is still simmering somewhere in the background. Although his story isn’t currently making headlines, it is still a significant subplot in Iowa’s evolving season that might not be resolved for some time.
