Ben McCollum’s first year in Iowa City already gave the Hawkeyes something to build on. A trip to the Elite 8 with a roster assembled quickly through transfers is a strong opening act, but the next step is different. With a full offseason to reshape the roster through the portal, recruiting, and more time to get everyone comfortable, Iowa now has to replace the production it lost from last season.
That starts with the biggest departure. Bennett Stirtz was the engine for Iowa a year ago, handling scoring, playmaking, and the late-clock possessions that decide tight games. He’s off to the NBA, and that leaves a major opening for McCollum to patch together with younger returners and new faces.
Tate Sage looks like the most obvious candidate to take on a bigger scoring load. He brings the kind of frame and athleticism that can translate into a breakout wing season in McCollum’s system, and Iowa already saw a glimpse of it when Sage scored 19 against Nebraska in the Sweet 16.
He averaged 6.1 points in just 16 minutes per game last season, and if his role expands the way it could, 15 points per game is well within reach. Runner-up: Cooper Koch
The Hawkeyes also needed more size, and Andrew McKeever gives them plenty of it. At 7-foot-3, the transfer from the portal brings instant interior length and rim protection.
He averaged 9.2 rebounds per game for the Gaels last season, and while Iowa’s tempo could trim that total a bit, the percentage of boards he grabs should stay strong because of how much he impacts the glass. Runner-up: Cam Manyawu
At point guard, Iowa appears set to split the job between Kael Combs and Ty’Reek Coleman. Combs, who returns after finishing second on the team with 2.4 assists per game behind Stirtz, should see the ball in his hands more often and come into the season with a better feel for the group around him.
Coleman, a transfer from Illinois State, is also in the mix. Runner-up: Ty’Reek Coleman
On the perimeter, Cooper Koch stands out as Iowa’s top returning shooter. He knocked down 40.2% of his three-point attempts last season, going 66-for-164, and only Stirtz attempted more threes.
McCollum’s offense needs a reliable threat on the outside, and Koch fits that role as a catch-and-shoot option who can work off screens and punish defenses. Runner-up: Tate Sage
And when it comes to finishing at the rim, McKeever gets the edge again. His size alone should create the most chances for putbacks, layups, and contested finishes around the basket.
Trevin Jirak and Cam Manyawu also give Iowa frontcourt options, but McKeever’s presence in the paint makes him the best bet to lead the team there. Runner-up: Cam Manyawu
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