The pressure is on in Iowa! New Hawkeyes coach Ben McCollum has been working tirelessly to win over fans, but now, the real test begins: can his players deliver on the court?
Since his hiring in March, McCollum has been on a mission to re-engage the Iowa faithful. He's reported positive results, but as he himself stated, it's now up to the players to perform. "They need to have a chip on their shoulder," McCollum emphasized during Wednesday's media day. "You need to play with a little edge. I think that when you take over a position, there’s naturally a great deal of excitement, and I think if you’re not careful, it can create a sense of arrival.”
Last season was a tough one for Iowa, finishing with a 17-16 record and missing the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. Their 7-13 Big Ten record was their worst since the 2017-18 season, leading to a decline in fan attendance. The Hawkeyes ranked 11th in Big Ten attendance, averaging 9,161 tickets sold per game in the 14,988-seat Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This contributed to the departure of former coach Fran McCaffery.
McCollum, who previously led Drake to a remarkable 31-win season and an NCAA Tournament appearance, understands the importance of fan support. He's been actively engaging with fans at I-Club events and even made appearances at home football games. He understands that Iowa fans crave personal connection.
Before Drake, McCollum achieved significant success at Northwest Missouri State, winning four NCAA Division II national championships. At Drake, he set a single-season wins record. The Bulldogs secured both the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Now, McCollum faces the challenge of rebuilding the Iowa roster. Sophomore forward Cooper Koch is the only returning player. He's brought in six players from Drake, including conference player of the year Bennett Stirtz.
These Drake transfers will be crucial in helping McCollum implement his vision. "They’ve taught them some of the effort that needs to happen," McCollum explained. "I want to challenge them to coach more, to coach the team a little bit more from that effort, from that toughness standpoint.”
McCollum noted the surprisingly small gap in talent between the top Division II teams and those in the Missouri Valley. The jump to the Big Ten, however, will present a greater challenge. "Now, you’re going up another level, and so your bigs are a little bit bigger, your guards a little bit bigger, a little bit more talented, a little more athletic," he observed.
Stirtz, who has played for McCollum at all three of his coaching stops, attests to his consistency. "In a lot of ways, he's the same coach,” Stirtz said. “There’s obviously some things that are different that come with being a Power (Four) coach, but he’s the same coach, ever since the D-II days. Same coach, same guy.”
Having grown up in Iowa City and been a Hawkeye fan himself, McCollum understands the program's significance to the fanbase. His interactions with fans have reinforced their eagerness for winning basketball. "You know, it seems like people are excited to come out to games,” he said. “They’re excited to support the team. My message is we want them to be with us, and we want them to be a part of what we’re trying to do here, not just, ‘Hey, if we have success, then we’re going to go there.’ “It’s ‘No, we want you (to be) a part of the build of the success that we plan to have.’ ”
But here's where it gets controversial... Can McCollum replicate his success at Drake in the more competitive Big Ten?
What do you think? Are you optimistic about the Hawkeyes' future under McCollum? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
