Bennett Stirtz is finding his rhythm just in time for Iowa, and the Hawkeyes are counting on his March magic to keep rolling. On Wednesday, Stirtz delivered a standout performance with 17 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, including a crucial 13 points in the second half. This effort propelled Iowa (21-11) into a third-round Big Ten tournament clash against eighth-seeded Ohio State (20-11) on Thursday in Chicago.
Stirtz, who finished the regular season as the Big Ten's third-leading scorer with 20.2 points per game, caught fire against Maryland. Freshman Cooper Koch's hot hand from beyond the arc has been a key factor, as he's nailed at least five 3-pointers in three of his last four games.
When Iowa faced Ohio State three weeks ago, Stirtz dropped 22 points in a 74-57 victory. However, the Hawkeyes still finished just below the Buckeyes in the conference standings. Iowa enters the tournament as the No. 9 seed with a 10-10 Big Ten record, while Ohio State holds a 12-8 mark.
Iowa coach Ben McCollum knows the stakes are high. "It's going to be a fight. They're playing for their postseason, so are we," he remarked.
McCollum and Stirtz are no strangers to March battles. They both came to Iowa from Drake after a stellar 31-win season, and before that, they were part of a winning tradition at Northwest Missouri State, capturing consecutive Division II national titles.
On the other side, Ohio State coach Jake Diebler believes his team is peaking at just the right moment. "There's a lot that's going on that's helped us play the way we are lately," Diebler said.
"Getting healthy has been crucial, but the chemistry in this group is the real game-changer. They have each other's back, and it's paying off."
The Buckeyes have been on a roll since their loss to Iowa in February, going 3-0 and even toppling then-No. 8 Purdue. Iowa, who missed the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, isn't taking anything for granted, especially after ending Ohio State's season with a 77-70 win in last year's conference tournament.
This marks the fourth straight year these teams meet in the Big Ten tournament, with Ohio State winning in 2023 and 2024.
Bruce Thornton, a three-time All-Big Ten selection, has become the Buckeyes' all-time leading scorer. Coach Diebler praised Thornton's commitment and joy for the game.
"He was committed to having great joy this season. He has embraced the moment.
He hasn't made it about himself. And a lot of people would.
I wish you guys could follow him around and see what he does. Because he's earned this."
Thornton leads Ohio State with 20.1 points per game, adding 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists. John Mobley Jr. is also a key contributor, averaging 15.9 points and leading the Big Ten in 3-point shooting at 42.9%.
As the stage is set for another classic Big Ten showdown, both teams are ready to leave it all on the court.