Iowa momentum bombshell — Coach Ben McCollum
IOWA CITY — Nearly a month into summer workouts, Iowa men’s basketball head coach Ben McCollum already has a much clearer picture of what his second Hawkeyes team could become. After guiding Iowa to an Elite Eight appearance in his debut season, McCollum believes this roster has the depth and size to compete with anyone in the Big Ten. The lingering question, however, is whether the Hawkeyes can consistently shoot well enough to unlock their full potential.
McCollum met with reporters following Iowa’s July 15 practice, speaking through a noticeably raspy voice that reflected the intensity he has brought to offseason training. Even though the calendar still reads July, the Hawkeyes have been practicing with the urgency of a team preparing for meaningful games, and the coaching staff has spent the past month evaluating lineups, roles and chemistry.
One area where McCollum appears especially confident is depth. Iowa returns one of the nation’s top guards in Bennett Stirtz while surrounding him with a talented mix of experienced transfers and versatile frontcourt players. That combination gives the Hawkeyes multiple lineup options and enough quality players to withstand the long grind of a Big Ten schedule.
The Hawkeyes also look noticeably bigger than they did a season ago. Players such as 6-foot-10 Alvaro Folgueiras and 6-foot-9 Cam Manyawu give Iowa additional size in the paint, while versatile wings like Tavion Banks provide length without sacrificing athleticism. That added size should improve rebounding, interior defense and physical matchups against some of the conference’s biggest frontcourts.
Still, McCollum understands that size alone won’t determine Iowa’s ceiling.
Perhaps the biggest storyline entering the new season is outside shooting. Last year’s Hawkeyes thrived because they could stretch defenses and create driving lanes, but replacing dependable perimeter shooting isn’t easy. While Iowa added experienced guards, McCollum wants to see consistent three-point production before declaring this group an elite offensive team.
Bennett Stirtz remains the centerpiece of everything Iowa hopes to accomplish. The All-Big Ten guard has already established himself as one of the conference’s premier playmakers, and much of the offense will continue flowing through his ability to create scoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates. His leadership has also become increasingly valuable as new players continue adjusting to McCollum’s system.
Folgueiras gives Iowa another major weapon. The skilled forward proved during last season’s NCAA Tournament run that he can impact games inside and outside the paint. His versatility allows McCollum to experiment with multiple frontcourt combinations while creating difficult matchup problems for opposing defenses.
Depth could become one of Iowa’s biggest competitive advantages. Instead of relying heavily on just six or seven players, the Hawkeyes appear capable of rotating several contributors without a significant drop in production. That flexibility could prove critical during conference play, where injuries, foul trouble and fatigue often separate contenders from everyone else.
McCollum also emphasized that summer practices are about much more than installing offensive sets. The coaching staff is evaluating which players communicate best defensively, who competes consistently every day and which combinations develop the strongest chemistry. Those answers will shape the rotation long before Iowa opens its regular season.
Last season established high expectations. Iowa finished 24-13, reached the Elite Eight and delivered one of the nation’s biggest surprises under a first-year coaching staff. That remarkable run has naturally increased outside expectations, but McCollum continues stressing daily improvement instead of preseason predictions.
The roster overhaul has given Iowa plenty of talent, yet talent alone guarantees nothing in the Big Ten. Every newcomer must adapt to McCollum’s demanding style while developing trust with teammates. Fortunately for the Hawkeyes, early practices suggest the group is embracing that challenge rather than shying away from it.
As summer workouts continue, optimism inside the program is unmistakable. The Hawkeyes have more size, more depth and enough experienced players to believe another NCAA Tournament run is possible. Whether they can build on last season’s breakthrough may ultimately depend on one simple factor: finding the consistent perimeter shooting needed to complement their physical frontcourt and dynamic backcourt.
If Iowa solves that final piece of the puzzle, McCollum’s second season in Iowa City could become even more memorable than his remarkable first.
