Ben McCollum, the head coach of Iowa, made it apparent that his team still has work to do even in a 40-point rout. Following a devastating defeat to No. 4 Iowa State earlier in the week, the Hawkeyes returned to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday afternoon in search of a response. They achieved precisely that on the scoreboard against Western Michigan, winning 91-51 with a commanding victory that seemed certain from the first tip. However, McCollum’s postgame remarks showed a coach who sees far beyond the margin of victory, even though the final score suggested an almost flawless afternoon.
Iowa was still hurting from Thursday’s Cy-Hawk game, in which Iowa State overcame an eight-point halftime lead to win in Ames. Even after the Hawkeyes returned to their home floor, the emotional loss persisted. Iowa looked sharp against Western Michigan from the outset. The Hawkeyes dominated both ends of the game, set the pace, and gradually increased their lead. They had statistically put on one of their most comprehensive performances of the season by the end of the game.
Iowa made 45.2 percent of its three-point attempts and shot an outstanding 55.9 percent from the field. The Hawkeyes dominated the Broncos on defense, limiting their shooting percentage to just 29.8 percent overall and 25.0 percent from beyond the arc. Western Michigan seldom produced clean looks or second chances because they were unable to establish a rhythm. Each member of the lineup contributed equally to the offensive output. A balanced attack that never depended too much on one player was highlighted by five Hawkeyes scoring in double figures. Tate Sage and Cam Manyawu each scored 11 points, while Bennet Stirtz, Alvaro Folgueiras, and Brendan Hausen finished with 13 points.
On paper, it was exactly the type of bounce-back performance Iowa needed.
Yet McCollum wasn’t fully satisfied.
The first-year head coach cited what he believed to be a lack of elite energy, especially at the start and finish of the game, in an interview with the media following the game. Although he acknowledged that the team performed well, he made it apparent that performance by itself is insufficient to live up to his expectations. Despite the Hawkeyes’ strong performance on both ends, McCollum clarified that the intensity never attained what he believes to be championship-caliber. He even made a joke about how the difference between intensity and execution almost caused him to “pull out what little hair” he still had.
It wasn’t a criticism based on dissatisfaction with the result. Rather, it was a reflection of a coach who feels that regardless of the opponent or score, his team can—and must—play at a higher emotional and competitive level. McCollum speculated that the worry might have resulted from residual feelings following Thursday’s defeat. The Hawkeyes seemed to be still processing what happened against Iowa State despite the decisive victory, especially in the times when their energy declined rather than increased.
That’s what worries him.
Particularly following a resounding victory, McCollum does not want a team that settles for “pretty good.” He wants a team that is unrelentingly intense from beginning to end and that values every possession, even when the result appears certain. These specifics are important for a program attempting to create a new identity. Blowouts can conceal weaknesses, and McCollum appears determined to fix them before they reappear against more formidable opponents. To his credit, he also made it clear that he was happy with the outcome as a whole. It’s never easy to win by 40 points, and Iowa did a lot of things well. It was a locked-in defense. The ball shifted. There were gunshots. Even though it wasn’t flawless, the effort was still powerful enough to defeat the Broncos.
However, McCollum’s message was clear: the score has no bearing on standards. Iowa needs to combine precise execution with persistent, high-level intensity if it hopes to advance, particularly during times when complacency may set in. The victory on Sunday was a positive development. Making sure it becomes a part of a wider trend rather than only a reaction to a terrible loss is now the difficult part. McCollum has a defined objective. It’s fantastic to win big. It’s preferable to play well.
