Iowa Falls to Michigan State in Big Ten Opener, McCollum Explains Rotation Decisions
The Big Ten opener didn’t go the way Iowa had hoped. Facing off against No.
8 Michigan State in East Lansing, the No. 25 Hawkeyes ran into a buzzsaw of a Spartan squad that played with poise, balance, and physicality.
The result: a 71-52 loss that exposed some early-season cracks in Iowa’s rotation and interior presence.
Defensively, Iowa had been solid through its first seven games. But Michigan State brought a different level of execution.
The Spartans were deliberate with their possessions, patiently working for high-percentage looks and punishing Iowa in the paint. That slow, methodical breakdown eventually wore down the Hawkeyes, who struggled to match the physicality and tempo.
Postgame, head coach Ben McCollum addressed one of the more noticeable decisions from the night - the absence of senior transfer guard Brendan Hausen in the second half. Hausen had led Iowa in first-half scoring with seven points on 2-for-4 shooting, but didn’t see the floor after halftime.
“I think we needed more driving [to the paint] and we didn't have enough driving,” McCollum said. “So we're trying to get to the paint a little more consistently, but we couldn't get him in the rotation like we wanted to. So again, we just have to do a better job next game.”
That decision speaks to a broader issue Iowa faced all night - a lack of interior aggression and presence. Michigan State dominated the paint, outscoring Iowa 34-18 down low.
On the glass, the Spartans were even more overwhelming, pulling down 37 rebounds to Iowa’s 18. Thirteen of those boards came on the offensive end, giving Michigan State multiple second-chance opportunities that helped stretch the lead and break Iowa’s defensive rhythm.
It’s the kind of physical mismatch that can snowball quickly in Big Ten play, especially on the road. Iowa simply couldn’t match the Spartans’ energy around the rim, and it showed in nearly every key stat.
While Hausen’s absence in the second half might raise some eyebrows, the bigger concern for McCollum and his staff is how to get this team back to its defensive identity - and how to generate more consistent interior offense without sacrificing spacing or ball movement.
They won’t have long to figure it out. Next up is Maryland, who comes into Carver-Hawkeye Arena with a 6-3 record.
That game marks Iowa’s Big Ten home opener and tips off Saturday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. CT on FS1.
It’s an early-season gut check for the Hawkeyes. Bounce back at home, and they’re back on track. But if the same issues show up again - especially in the paint - it could be a long December in Iowa City.