Ben McCollum's debut season with the Iowa Hawkeyes has been nothing short of extraordinary, propelling the team to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. McCollum, a seasoned coach with four Division II tournament titles under his belt from his time at Northwest Missouri State, made a seamless transition to Division I. After a successful stint at Drake, where he led the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament, McCollum took the reins at Iowa with a clear strategy in mind: leverage the transfer portal.
Upon assuming the Iowa head coach position, McCollum wasted no time in reshaping the roster. He brought in several key players from his former squad at Drake, forming the backbone of this year's Hawkeyes team.
Iowa Basketball Depth Chart 2025-2026
- PG: Bennett Stirtz
- SG: Kael Combs
- SF: Tavion Banks
- PF: Cooper Koch
- C: Cam Manyawu
- Bench: Jacob Koch Isaia Howard Tate Sage Alvaro Folgueiras Trevin Jrak Peyton McCollum (out for season) Brendan Hausen Joey Matteoni Trey Thompson
McCollum's overhaul was comprehensive, with only Cooper and Jacob Koch returning from last year’s roster. Cooper Koch, in particular, has seen his role expand significantly, starting 35 games this season. Meanwhile, Jacob Koch has been utilized sparingly.
The infusion of new talent came through both transfers and fresh recruits. McCollum's freshman class includes Trey Thompson, Trevin Jrak, and Tate Sage, with Jrak and Sage contributing off the bench. Unfortunately, Peyton McCollum, Ben's son, is sidelined with a foot injury.
Iowa Basketball Transfers
- Bennett Stirtz: Senior, from Drake
- Brendan Hausen: Senior, from Kansas State
- Isaia Howard: Sophomore, from Drake
- Kael Combs: Junior, from Drake
- Alvaro Folgueiras: Junior, from Robert Morris
- Cam Manyawu: Junior, from Drake
- Tavion Banks: Senior, from Drake
- Joey Matteoni: Redshirt Freshman, from Drake
McCollum leaned heavily on the transfer portal, bringing in several players from his successful Drake roster. Bennett Stirtz, Isaia Howard, Kael Combs, Cam Manyawu, and Tavion Banks were instrumental in Drake’s NCAA run and have seamlessly transitioned to key roles at Iowa. Stirtz, in particular, has been a linchpin, leading the team with impressive stats and consistency.
Kael Combs has emerged as a significant contributor, stepping up from a bench role at Drake to a starter at Iowa. His increased playing time has been a vital part of Iowa's success. Meanwhile, Joey Matteoni, who redshirted last year, has started to find his footing this season.
The addition of Alvaro Folgueiras from Robert Morris has also paid dividends. His clutch three-pointer to upset No.
1 Florida in the Round of 32 was a highlight of the season. Brendan Hausen, coming from Kansas State, has provided solid backup minutes, adding depth to the guard position.
McCollum's strategic use of the transfer portal and his ability to integrate new players have been key to Iowa's impressive run. With a mix of experienced transfers and promising freshmen, the Hawkeyes are poised to make some noise in the tournament.