“We’re Not Even Close”: Sends Clear Message After Iowa’s Historic Elite Eight Run
The buzz surrounding hasn’t faded since March, but inside the program, there’s no celebrating for long.
More than a month after leading Iowa to its deepest NCAA Tournament run in nearly four decades, head coach still hasn’t fully allowed himself to soak it all in. Not because the achievement wasn’t massive it absolutely was but because his mind never stops moving toward the next challenge.
And if there’s one thing McCollum made crystal clear this offseason, it’s this: Iowa basketball hasn’t arrived yet.
After a stunning inaugural season that reignited a fan base and transformed expectations in Iowa City, McCollum is already shifting focus toward what comes next. The Hawkeyes’ run to the Elite Eight may have electrified college basketball, but internally, the message remains brutally simple the job isn’t finished.
Iowa’s March Madness Breakthrough Changed Everything
When McCollum took over the program, expectations were high, but few predicted Iowa would become one of the biggest stories of the NCAA Tournament in year one.
Instead, the Hawkeyes delivered a postseason run fans will remember for generations.
Iowa earned:
- Its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2023
- First NCAA Tournament win since 2021
- First Sweet 16 appearance since 1999
- First Elite Eight berth since 1987
That alone would’ve been enough to cement McCollum’s first season as a success. But the way Iowa did it made the run even more unforgettable.
The defining moment came when drilled a dramatic game-winning 3-pointer to shock defending national champion in one of the tournament’s wildest finishes.
Then came another emotional victory over rival in the Sweet 16, pushing Iowa into territory the program hadn’t reached in nearly 40 years.
For a fan base long haunted by March disappointments, the run felt almost surreal.
But for McCollum, there wasn’t much time to admire the moment.
“I think it was pretty cool to make it to the Elite Eight,” McCollum said. “Obviously, we’d like to go further.”
That answer perfectly captures the mentality that has defined his coaching career.
“You’re In The Fight”
While millions of fans watched the NCAA Tournament from their couches, McCollum experienced it from inside the storm.
The chaos. The pressure. The nonstop preparation.
He explained that during the tournament, coaches barely have time to appreciate what’s happening because survival becomes the only focus.
“You’re just in the fight,” McCollum said. “You don’t pay attention to anything. You don’t pay attention to the outside.”
It’s a revealing glimpse into the mindset that helped turn McCollum into one of the most respected coaches in college basketball.
Even after reaching the Elite Eight, he still views the season through the lens of missed opportunities.
Iowa didn’t win the Big Ten.
The Hawkeyes didn’t go as far as they wanted in the conference tournament.
And ultimately, they didn’t win their final game.
To McCollum, those details matter more than the headlines.
The Dangerous Trap McCollum Refuses To Let Iowa Fall Into
One phrase repeatedly surfaces when McCollum talks about team culture: “sense of arrival.”
In his eyes, it’s one of the most dangerous feelings in sports.
Programs that suddenly experience success often relax. Players begin believing they’ve made it. Standards slip. Hunger fades.
McCollum wants none of that near his locker room.
“We’re not even close,” he said bluntly when discussing where the program still needs to go.
That mentality was forged during his dominant run at , where McCollum built a dynasty that included four Division II national championships.
Even there, complacency was never tolerated.
Now he’s bringing that same relentless standard to Iowa.
“We’ll make sure they understand that we’re about it,” McCollum said. “What happened last year is irrelevant for anyone coming back.”
That statement may sound harsh after a historic season, but it reveals exactly why Iowa’s future suddenly feels so promising.
Iowa Basketball Is Relevant Again And McCollum Knows It
One of the biggest storylines surrounding McCollum’s arrival was whether he could restore excitement around the program.
During the later years of the era, fan enthusiasm had started to cool. Attendance dipped. Energy around the program faded.
That changed quickly this past season.
By March, Iowa basketball had become one of the hottest stories in the country.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena was alive again. Social media exploded during the tournament run. Fans who had emotionally checked out suddenly believed again.
And McCollum knows that momentum creates an enormous opportunity.
“We’ve created this enthusiasm,” he explained. “Now what are you going to do with it?”
Rather than viewing last season as the peak, McCollum sees it as the foundation.
That’s the scary part for the rest of the Big Ten.
Replacing Won’t Be Easy
Of course, Iowa’s biggest offseason challenge is obvious.
The Hawkeyes are losing at least two of their top three scorers from last season, and possibly all three depending on the eligibility situation surrounding .
But the largest void belongs to .
Stirtz emerged as one of college basketball’s breakout stars and is now projected as a potential first-round selection in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Replacing that production won’t be simple.
Yet McCollum rejected the idea that Iowa needs another version of Stirtz.
“We’re not trying to replace Bennett Stirtz,” he said. “You’re trying to be what we’re supposed to be next year, not what we were last year.”
That philosophy reflects McCollum’s broader approach to roster building. Every team has its own identity. Trying to recreate the previous season rarely works.
Instead, Iowa appears focused on evolving.
Why Iowa Fans Have Real Reason For Optimism
Even with roster turnover, there’s legitimate excitement surrounding the 2026-27 Hawkeyes.
Iowa is expected to return at least 10 players from its Elite Eight roster, including:
In today’s transfer portal era, retaining that many contributors is a massive win.
Only two players entered the portal:
And even Banks has publicly expressed interest in returning if eligibility issues are resolved.
Meanwhile, Iowa attacked the offseason aggressively.
The Hawkeyes added dynamic guard through the transfer portal, along with towering 7-foot-3 center to address frontcourt needs.
The future pipeline also looks strong.
Four-star recruits and give Iowa additional long-term building blocks.
The roster may look different next season, but the belief around the program remains extremely high.
The Rare Feeling McCollum Hates Most
Despite all the success, one part of last season clearly bothered McCollum.
Losing.
Iowa finished with 13 losses the most McCollum has endured in a single season since 2010-11 during his early years at Northwest Missouri State.
For a coach who built his reputation on dominance, that adjustment wasn’t enjoyable.
“It’s not very fun,” McCollum admitted.
Still, those setbacks may prove valuable long term.
McCollum explained that his first two years at both Drake and Iowa felt like nonstop survival mode constantly hustling to establish culture, recruit players and stabilize programs.
Now, for the first time in years, he believes he’s finally getting settled.
“And now, it feels like we’re starting to get our feet underneath us,” McCollum said.
That statement could be significant for the future of Iowa basketball.
Because if the Hawkeyes just reached the Elite Eight while still “figuring things out,” the rest of the Big Ten may not love what comes next.
