Iowa’s offseason basketball buzz is starting to turn toward the frontcourt and the backcourt mix for November 3, and Tate Sage stands out as one of the clearest players to watch.
The 6-foot-7, 210-pound guard from Weatherford, Oklahoma, is entering his second year after a freshman season that looked far bigger than his recruiting profile suggested. He played in 37 games and put up 6.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.3% from the field, 38.9% from 3-point range and 71.1% from the free-throw line in 16.1 minutes a night.
Sage’s role early last season was notable right away. He was one of the first players off the bench, which mattered because transfer Brendan Hausen was supposed to be the main reserve. Against Robert Morris, Sage didn’t make much noise, but simply being on the floor carried some weight for a freshman who had come from relative obscurity.
As the season went on, he gave Iowa plenty of useful minutes and avoided many of the usual freshman hiccups. He scored in double figures eight times and had one of his biggest nights against Nebraska, finishing with 19 points as Iowa advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in nearly 40 years.
That game also came with 8 rebounds and 3 assists, and Stan Van Gundy kept praising his game. In Iowa’s Final Four push, Sage again looked like a steady presence next to Stirtz, knocking down 2 of 3 from deep and all 4 of his free throws.
What made Sage so valuable last season was simple: come off the bench, play hard, stay within the offense, take the open looks and make them at a strong rate. He beat expectations by a mile, and it was easy to see why Ben McCollum liked him. He might even have a “player of the year” type of trajectory at Drake.
This year brings a much steeper challenge. The Big Ten is a different animal, and Sage is going from reserve to likely starter, which is a major leap. Iowa also has to replace 50% of its shots and scoring from last season, and Sage will need to help fill that void after ranking eighth on the team in field-goal attempts a year ago.
Without Bennett Stirtz, his responsibilities should expand too. He’ll have to handle more of the secondary ball-handling duties, and Ben McCollum has already indicated in midseason comments that he believes Sage can handle that kind of role.
He didn’t have the same freshman breakthrough that Aaron White did, but Sage could still follow a similar career path. If Iowa wants to build on last season’s success, it will need him to keep climbing.
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Iowa Fans Have A New Name To Watch In The Forward Rotation
The forward rotation in Iowa City is getting a closer look this offseason, and Joey Matteoni is one of the names drawing attention. Assistant coach Bryston Williams pointed to Matteonis high basketball IQ and his ability to help on both ends of the floor, noting that he can contribute without disrupting what the offense is trying to do. After playing sparingly last season, Matteoni now finds himself in a much better spot to matter because the roster has shifted around him.
Bryston Williams also singled out the areas that could keep Matteoni on the court more often, especially his ball-screen coverage and the way he helps maintain offensive flow. For a team that is reworking its forward depth, those little things can carry real weight, and they are part of why Matteoni is being viewed as a player whose role could grow in the upcoming season. The opportunity is there now, and the next step is turning that praise into minutes. [Read more 🡒]
Trey Thompson Gives Iowa A Frontcourt Wild Card Worth Watching
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What makes Thompson interesting is the flexibility he could eventually bring to Iowas frontcourt. He projects as a backup forward whose role can shift depending on what the Hawkeyes need, and his shooting touch plus defensive versatility give him a path to meaningful minutes if he continues to develop. For a team always looking for answers up front, he looks like the kind of wild card worth tracking closely. [Read more 🡒]
Ben McCollum Already Sees What Iowa Must Clean Up Fast
Ben McCollum set up a closed preseason scrimmage against Texas Tech precisely because he wanted Iowa to see some problems before the games count. The matchup gave the Hawkeyes a chance to work under tougher conditions, and McCollum came away focused on the areas that still need cleaning up, especially the turnovers and the offenses sluggish opening stretch.
McCollum did note the ball security improved in the second game, and he also likes what this roster brings compared with last season. Iowa has more depth and more shooting ability, and the scrimmage served as a useful look at different players and combinations while the staff experimented with spots on the floor. [Read more 🡒]