Takeaways as Iowa basketball survives test vs. Northwestern

The Iowa basketball team is rolling.

The Hawkeyes have won six games in a row in Big Ten play for the first time in a decade after surviving a gritty Northwestern squad on Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. In the 76-70 win over the Wildcats, things weren't always pretty, but Iowa walked out with a necessary victory.

Behind a career day from their star point guard and some timely shotmaking, the Hawkeyes advanced to 18-5 on the season, and 8-4 in the Big Ten. Here are the biggest takeaways from Iowa's Sunday matinee win.

Bennett Stirtz leads the way

This game is the reason why you go out and get Bennett Stirtz. It was a tough day offensively for many Hawks, as the hoop seemed to have a lid on it for most of the afternoon. Iowa made just 24 shots over the entire course of the game. Stirtz was responsible for half of those makes. He poured in a career-high 36 points against the Wildcats, going 12-20 from the field and 4-6 from three.

With most of the team struggling to get anything going, they turned to their senior point guard to lead the way. And Stirtz absolutely delivered. He got to the rim, drew fouls, hit big step back threes, and didn't seem afraid of the moment. This was exactly the performance Iowa needed from Stirtz to survive this test. They needed every single one of his 36 points to win this game, and he delivered.

Offensive lulls could become a big problem

The new system under Ben McCollum has led to a ton of success for the Hawkeyes this season. Prioritizing defense and a slower pace has done wonders for the program. But it's not all perfect. An unexpected result of that slower pace can be offensive lulls, which have popped up frequently for Iowa. In the first half on Sunday, Iowa went seven minutes without a field goal, turning a four-point lead into a three-point deficit.

Against better teams, that could've been way worse. It seems like Iowa is due for a four or five-minute drought every game, which allows the opponent to climb back into the game or extend a lead. If the Hawkeyes can eliminate these long scoring droughts from their game, they'll be even harder to beat. Finding that consistency will be key as the calendar turns to March.

Iowa's found that winning identity

This type of game is one that Iowa would have lost last season. Shots weren't falling, and Northwestern just wouldn't go away. But not this team. Not this year. Under McCollum, it seems like the Hawkeyes have found their winning identity in these kinds of games. They have their star point guard to shoulder the load, plenty of great defenders, and a bunch of guys who believe in their head coach and his style of play.

That's an impressive feat for McCollum to accomplish in year one. Building a winning brand and identity can take years for some coaches. McCollum has it figured out in his first season and will continue to adapt and change as the years go on. Iowa has its head coach, and fans should have all the confidence in the world that he'll lead the Hawks to great success in the near future.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney

This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Takeaways as Iowa basketball survives test vs. Northwestern