Guard Bennett Stirtz entered the transfer portal and announced his intentions to play with the Iowa Hawkeyes next season. The Hawkeyes hired Drake Bulldogs Head Coach Ben McCollum on Sunday following a Round of 32 appearance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs lost to Texas Tech in the 2nd round of the tournament.
Stirtz had a strong season with the Bulldogs and averaged 22 points per game in the team’s two NCAA Tournament games. The star player said he felt McCollum’s system was a great fit for him. He also wanted to reward McCollum for taking a chance on him coming out of high school. How will Stirtz play will the Hawkeyes next year?
Iowa’s Prognosis With Stirtz
The Hawkeyes hired McCollum after firing Head Coach Fran McCaffrey after 15 years on the job. He took the team to seven NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure. They finished 7-13 in Big Ten play. Stirtz will bring instant scoring to the Hawkeyes. He was 41st in the nation in scoring and 28th in assists. One of the nation’s best mid-major players will get to play in the vaunted Big Ten for his former head coach.
Final Thoughts
Coming off a thrilling season, McCollum will try to bolster Iowa’s roster as the transfer portal is now open. He will try to bring solid players to the team to help the Hawkeyes contend immediately. In a college basketball landscape that has devalued loyalty, it is good to see Stirtz rewarding his head coach and being loyal to him as they embark on a new journey.
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