McCollum Eyes Des Moines as a Key Piece of Iowa’s Future
IOWA CITY - Ben McCollum has left Des Moines behind, but he’s not ready to let it go. Not entirely.
The first-year Iowa men’s basketball coach is bringing his Hawkeyes back to the state capital this weekend, and if he has his way, it won’t be a one-off. Iowa faces Bucknell at Casey’s Center (formerly Wells Fargo Arena) on Saturday afternoon, and for McCollum, it’s more than just another non-conference matchup. It’s a chance to reconnect with a city-and a fan base-that still holds meaning for him.
“I’d like to do it with a power-five team,” McCollum said this week, pointing to the future. “We would love to do that. We would love to do that with power-five competition.”
This weekend’s game wasn’t originally built that way. The matchup with Bucknell came about through a scheduling shuffle involving one of McCollum’s coaching friends. It wasn’t the ideal opponent, but it kept the door open for Iowa to play in Des Moines-a move McCollum clearly values.
Before McCollum arrived in Iowa City, he was the head coach at Drake, so he knows firsthand the energy Des Moines can bring to a college basketball environment. He also understands the history: Iowa last played at Casey’s Center in 2023, when it rolled past Florida A&M. And while the days of the state’s four Division I programs gathering in Des Moines for a December doubleheader are over, McCollum sees potential in keeping Iowa’s presence alive in the capital.
That vision is easier to sell when your team is winning. And right now, Iowa is doing just that.
At 9-2, the Hawkeyes are off to their best start since the 2020-21 season, when they opened 12-2. Their only losses?
Road games against top-10 teams-No. 4 Iowa State and No.
7 Michigan State. That’s a strong early résumé for a group that entered the year surrounded by question marks.
Let’s not forget: this roster was built from the ground up. Cooper Koch is the lone returner from last season.
Six players followed McCollum from Drake, including freshman Tate Sage, who originally committed to the Bulldogs. McCollum also flipped freshman Trevin Jirak from Northern Iowa and landed transfers Brendan Hausen (Kansas State) and Alvaro Folgueiras (Robert Morris) from the portal.
It’s a patchwork group on paper, but on the court, they’re starting to click.
McCollum isn’t big on predictions or long-term expectations. He’s more of a day-to-day guy-focused on work ethic, process, and growth. That mindset has served him well as he’s navigated a complete roster overhaul in one of the toughest conferences in the country.
“You know, I don't get surprised a lot,” McCollum said. “Only because I don't create expectations, if that makes sense. There are expectations for practice on how hard you're going to work, but the expectation that this result is going to happen, I just don't do that a lot.”
He’s not thinking about Big Ten titles or NCAA Tournament seeds-at least not publicly. Instead, he’s focused on what’s happening in the moment. And right now, that moment includes a team that’s showing toughness, chemistry, and resilience.
“Am I pleased with some things? Yeah,” McCollum said.
“The toughness that they’ve shown, the ability to transition from, for some of them, from Drake to here, and then the ability for those other guys to come in and acclimate themselves quick. It’s a lot harder than you think.”
The Hawkeyes have one more non-conference game after Saturday, hosting Massachusetts-Lowell next weekend. Then it’s full steam ahead into Big Ten play, starting Jan. 3 at home against UCLA. They’ve already split their first two conference matchups-falling at Michigan State and beating Maryland in Iowa City.
McCollum knows the road ahead will only get tougher. But if the early returns are any indication, this team is built to handle it. And if Des Moines becomes a regular part of that journey moving forward, don’t be surprised.
For McCollum, it’s not just about playing in a familiar city. It’s about building something bigger-connecting the program with fans across the state, and showing that Iowa basketball belongs on every stage, in every corner of the Hawkeye State.