Iowa's Offense Falls Flat in First Sellout of McCollum Era as Purdue Rolls
Carver-Hawkeye Arena was rocking on Saturday - a full house, the first sellout of the Ben McCollum era, packed with fans hoping to see Iowa rise to the moment against No. 13 Purdue.
Instead, they watched a team still finding its identity get outplayed in just about every phase of the game. The final score - a 78-57 loss - didn’t just sting, it underscored the growing pains of a program in transition.
McCollum, who’s no stranger to winning from his previous stops, hasn’t had to deal with many blowouts in his coaching career. But this one?
It was humbling. And he didn’t shy away from saying so.
“I don't like it. I haven't had that happen in a lot of years, and to be quite honest, it's humbling and it's good sometimes for the soul,” McCollum said postgame. “I don't want to feel it very often, but we're going to get ourselves there.”
That’s the thing about McCollum - even in the wake of the program’s biggest loss of the season, his focus is already on the long-term climb. He knows this is part of the process. But he also knows the Hawkeyes didn’t bring their best on a day when it mattered most.
Iowa’s offensive issues have been simmering for a while now, and on Saturday, they boiled over. The ball movement stalled.
The rhythm disappeared. For a team that’s scored 80 or more points just twice in its last eight games, this wasn’t a one-off - it’s becoming a trend.
In the last three games, only two players have reached double figures, and one of them is guard Bennett Stirtz, who didn’t mince words after the game.
“I don't think we were ready to play today, and it definitely showed,” Stirtz said. “And we're sorry to our fans who showed out and had to watch that.”
It’s rare to hear such blunt honesty from a player, but it speaks to the accountability McCollum is trying to instill. The fans showed up.
The team didn’t. And everyone in that locker room knew it.
McCollum thought the team was prepared. The game plan was in place. But when the ball doesn’t move and shots don’t fall, preparation only goes so far.
“For some reason, we’re not scoring and we’re not clicking on offense,” McCollum said. “The ball is not moving.”
That lack of offensive flow was glaring against a disciplined Purdue squad that capitalized on nearly every Iowa mistake. The Boilermakers didn’t just win - they controlled the tempo, dictated the pace, and made it clear which team was more in sync. Iowa, meanwhile, looked stuck in neutral.
Still, McCollum isn’t panicking. He’s realistic about where his team is in its development.
The loss may have been a step back, but in his eyes, it’s one of those necessary steps in a longer journey. Learning to play in front of a packed house, learning to respond to adversity - that’s part of building something sustainable.
“They earned the right to play in front of a crowd, which was awesome, and they didn't play their best,” McCollum said. “Sometimes you have to go through those things to try to get what you want, which is ultimately the crown.”
The challenge now? There’s no time to sulk.
No. 7 Nebraska comes to town on Tuesday.
Another ranked opponent, another test, another chance to show growth.
This is what early February looks like for a program under construction. The foundation is being laid, even if the results aren’t pretty right now.
McCollum knew it wouldn’t be easy when he took the job. Saturday’s loss was a reminder of just how tough the road might be - but also how far this team can go if it learns from moments like this.