In a dramatic Sweet 16 matchup in Houston, the University of Iowa basketball team staged a remarkable comeback against Nebraska, a victory fueled in large part by the unique dynamic between head coach Ben McCollum and star guard Bennett Stirtz. The duo's intense and complementary relationship has been a key factor in Iowa's surprising run to the Elite Eight, marking the team's deepest tournament advancement since 1980.
The game itself was a tense affair early on, with Iowa trailing Nebraska by 10 points. Frustration boiled over for McCollum, who was visibly furious. During a critical moment, he slammed his whiteboard on the hardwood floor, breaking his marker and splattering ink everywhere. This outburst, described by Stirtz as typical of McCollum's "negative guy" coaching style, was aimed at jolting the team into playing with more intensity and toughness. Stirtz, the Hawkeyes' calm and steady leader on the court, saw the outburst as a necessary spark.
"He was just telling us we sucked and we were soft," Stirtz said after the game. McCollum offered a slightly more measured version of events, saying, "We called the team into the huddle and just said very nicely, 'I would like you to play harder, guys.' And it seemed to work." Stirtz confirmed that was exactly the moment the team turned things around.
This fire-and-ice coaching-and-playing partnership between McCollum and Stirtz has a long history, marked by steady progression through different levels of college basketball. They have followed each other across three programs: starting at Division II's Northwest Missouri State from 2022 to 2024, moving together to Drake University for the 2024-25 season, and now at Iowa in Division I. Each step has seen them advance further in the NCAA tournaments, culminating in this Elite Eight berth.
Their journey began modestly but impressively at Northwest Missouri State. In 2023, the pair reached the second round of the Division II NCAA tournament, where Stirtz contributed seven points in a loss to Southern Nazarene. The following year, they advanced to the Division II Sweet 16. Stirtz scored 12 points in a hard-fought game against Minnesota State but lost on a buzzer-beater to the eventual national champion. Their success at this level showcased their ability to compete and grow together.
That upward trajectory continued when McCollum and Stirtz made the jump to Division I with Drake University in the 2024-25 season. There, Stirtz was a dominant force, earning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year honors and leading the 11-seeded Bulldogs to a first-round upset over sixth-seeded Missouri by scoring 20 points. Their run ended in the second round at the hands of Texas Tech, a team that would go on to reach the Elite Eight.
When Stirtz followed McCollum to Iowa, it was no surprise to those familiar with the pair's history. Stirtz, known for his quiet demeanor and cool-headed play, fits perfectly within McCollum's competitive but sometimes fiery coaching style. This season, Stirtz has been a standout, finishing fifth in Big Ten scoring with an average of 19.7 points per game and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. His clutch performance in the NCAA tournament has been even more impressive, exemplified by the critical three-pointer he hit with just over two minutes remaining in the Nebraska game, which put Iowa ahead for good.
McCollum described their relationship as one of contrasts in personality but similarity in values and competitiveness. "You see him on the floor, and then you see me on the sideline - so polar opposites in personalities, not polar opposites in value," McCollum explained. "He's super competitive. I'm super competitive. I feel like he works with a level of humility. I feel like he's a really tough kid. I feel like he serves others, all those different things."
Stirtz echoed this sentiment, emphasizing McCollum's honesty and high standards. "He shoots it straight. Even when it's tough and even when it's hard. He pushes you past your limit, and I think that's where the trust comes in... he just pushes everyone on this team, and honestly, you can see the benefit from that," said Stirtz.
Their success has not gone unnoticed by opponents and observers. Matt Margenthaler, head coach at Minnesota State, recalled how the duo nearly ended his team's Division II championship hopes in 2023 and praised their continued growth and impact. "You always question, I think, when you go up a level, 'Can he do it at that next level in the Missouri Valley Conference?' And then he proved that in one year. And then, 'Can he do it again in the Big Ten?' And then he just continues to amaze the coaching world with what he can do."
Margenthaler highlighted the significance of their story for Division II basketball. The success of McCollum and Stirtz demonstrates that players and coaches from lower divisions can thrive at the highest levels of college basketball. "His confidence has grown and grown and grown," Margenthaler said of Stirtz. "He is obviously a Division I basketball player, but one that has made himself better each year. I mean, what a story: those two guys together and what they're doing."
Beyond the current season, McCollum and Stirtz view their journey as an extraordinary narrative of perseverance and mutual development. McCollum reflected on the rarity of their achievement: "In 20 years, it will be an insane story. A guy that goes from Division II with his coach and then goes to Drake and then goes to the University of Iowa and actually makes it farther in the tournament in Division I than he did in Division II."
He also emphasized the unique bond they share, one that goes beyond a typical coach-player relationship. "When you're a player-coach [relationship], sometimes, you obviously care for each other and love each other and all of that, but you don't get to connect on [this] kind of level. But it's been a hell of a ride, but it's far from over."
As Iowa prepares to face Illinois in the Elite Eight, the story of Ben McCollum and Bennett Stirtz stands as a testament to the power of trust, hard work, and the special chemistry between a coach and his star player. Their journey from Division II underdogs to Division I contenders has captivated fans and analysts alike, proving that determination and a strong partnership can defy expectations and create lasting success in college basketball.