Iowa Men’s basketball to focus on seniors after Penn State loss

It was business as usual for Iowa men’s basketball head coach Ben McCollum on Tuesday morning. Two cups of black coffee, just like one of his mentors, no cream, no sugar. One would not know the week ahead for Iowa’s first year head coach could define the season. Two ranked opponents lie ahead of the Hawkeyes, including the Big Ten regular season champion Michigan Wolverines.

Of course, each game holds a little more weight after the Iowa loss to Penn State on Saturday. The loss to the team at the bottom of the conference has dropped Iowa to ninth in the Big Ten. Meaning if the season ended today, Iowa would not be in position for the ever-valuable double bye.

“It is a part of the process,” said McCollum. “It’s not acceptable. It’s not something we say, oh yeah, it’s ok.”

McCollum thought the team-wide effort in the Saturday morning matchup was about 95%.

“Our level of talent doesn’t allow us to do that,” said McCollum.

The Hawks rarely sprinted back on defense to stop the Nittany Lions in transition. And left their hands down when guarding a shooter. With the lack of effort, a win slipped through Iowa’s fingers.

At times this season, the defense has looked elite. They held one of the most potent offenses in the Big Ten to only 52 points when they knocked off 9th-ranked Nebraska in Carver-Hawkeye arena. It is something the team has leaned on all season. Especially during the cold stretches the Iowa offense sees far too often.

That’s where McCollum needs his star to step up.

“If we’re not scoring or the offense is kind of dragging out there, I need to get going, shoot some shots, be more aggressive, get my teammates involved,” said Bennett Stirtz. “I’ve got to realize it quicker.”

If there is someone McCollum knows he can trust to do that, it’s Stirtz. Their relationship started during the coach’s recruitment of Stirtz. Handwritten notes and calls every week from McCollum made the decision easy to follow him. All the way from Division-II Northwestern State to a rebuilding Big Ten team in the Iowa Hawkeyes.

“That’s what it’s all about, it’s the journey,” said Stirtz. “Not just the goals at the end of the season.”

The two have grown close despite being opposites on the court. Stirtz is even-keeled, not just on the court, but all matters of life. McCollum is more high energy, wearing emotions on his sleeve while commanding the Hawkeyes from the sideline. A sideline where there typically isn’t a chair for him to sit down. McCollum spends his time squatting, kneeling, pacing, and constantly talking – or yelling – to his five guys on the court.

But the one goal of winning each game is where the two have found common ground since they met.

“That similarity, that competitiveness is what brings us together and brings us so close,” said Stirtz.

Close enough to follow McCollum to Iowa after winning the Missouri Valley Conference at Drake. Even though this season at Iowa has been more about building a culture, rather than a championship run.

“We could build something special here, I know Mac’s going to,” said Stirtz.

Though, the senior guard is not throwing in the towel on this season. With tournament hopes on the line over the next 10 days, and a looming senior day, Stirtz wants the team to finish the job playing at the top of their game.

“Our best days are ahead of us this season,” said Stirtz.

Bouts against a two top ten teams await McCollum, Stirtz and the rest of the Hawkeyes. Their final home game against Michigan will tip-off at 7 p.m. Thursday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. That game will be broadcasted on Peacock.

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