This time, coaches across the country are paying attention to Iowa basketball’s official ascent. The Hawkeyes moved up four spots to No. 19 in the most recent USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, which was released on Monday, January 5, following a successful and self-assured week. As Big Ten play intensifies and the Hawkeyes continue to establish their place in the national conversation, Iowa’s steady momentum is reflected in the jump.
With two victories that demonstrated both strength and tenacity, Iowa has a 12-2 overall record and a 2-1 record in Big Ten play going into the new week. In a thrilling Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Hawkeyes defeated UCLA in a gritty, heartfelt victory after starting the week with a commanding blowout victory over UMass Lowell.
The game against the Bruins on Saturday was undoubtedly one of Iowa’s most pivotal performances of the season thus far and a real rollercoaster. The Hawkeyes jumped out early and looked dominant against a UCLA team that was 2-1 in conference play and 10-4 overall going into the game. With the help of a boisterous home crowd and excellent offensive play, Iowa’s lead grew to as many as 24 points late in the first half.
Senior guard Bennett Stirtz, who consistently produces when Iowa needs him most, was at the center of it all. Stirtz scored 27 points, setting the standard once more with his poise, confidence, and aggressive scoring style. Stirtz remained composed as UCLA rallied in the second half and threatened to overtake the deficit.
Neither he nor the Hawkeyes panicked. Iowa had to fight through the last few minutes due to UCLA’s comeback attempt, but the Hawkeyes persevered and finished with a 74-61 victory that now qualifies as a Quadrant 2 victory the kind of outcome that has significant weight in the eyes of both poll voters and postseason evaluators.
That combination of dominance and composure didn’t go unnoticed.
The Coaches Poll voters rewarded Iowa by moving the Hawkeyes from No. 23 to No. 19, their highest ranking this season, after the Hawkeyes defeated UMass Lowell and UCLA. The four-spot increase is a concrete indication that Iowa’s early-season efforts are earning them recognition across the country. Iowa is now in elite company, and the Big Ten is still well-represented in the poll. After beginning the season 13-0, Michigan continues to be the top-ranked team in the country at No. 1 for the fifth consecutive poll. With 24 first-place votes, the Wolverines are still leading the country.
The conference now has six teams in the top 20, including Michigan, No. 5 Purdue, No. 11 Nebraska, No. 13 Michigan State, No. 16 Illinois, and now No. 19 Iowa. Indiana and USC are also in the “receiving votes” category. Michigan is ranked first in the poll, followed by Arizona at number two, Iowa State at number three, and UConn at number four. Purdue, Duke, Houston, Gonzaga, BYU, and Vanderbilt are also among the top ten. While Michigan State and Illinois are still firmly established despite recent movement, Nebraska’s ascent to No. 11 continues one of the Big Ten’s most remarkable early-season tales.
At number 19, Iowa is just behind Louisville and ahead of a number of established powers, including North Carolina, Kansas, and Tennessee. The Hawkeyes’ standing in that division demonstrates how much people’s opinions of them have changed since the first few weeks of the season.
The sustainability of this increase is especially promising for Iowa. The Hawkeyes aren’t depending on a lucky victory or a single hot shooting night. Rather, they are defending home court, putting on strong performances, and demonstrating their ability to endure pressure when momentum shifts.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena’s atmosphere has also been crucial. The crowd on Saturday was boisterous, attentive, and unrelenting, and it was obviously important. In college basketball, those moments when a team responds to hardship and feeds off its supporters often determine how far a season can go.
The task only gets more difficult now that Big Ten play is underway. Rankings can vanish as fast as they emerge. But for the time being, Iowa has earned its place, and the Hawkeyes are supporting it with tangible on-court accomplishments. Iowa isn’t merely moving up the rankings, if this week is any indication. The Hawkeyes appear prepared to stay for a while.
