Ben McCollum Postgame Press Conference after Purdue Loss (plus Bennett & Cam)
- Thread starter Franisdaman
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Sometimes its seems that Stirtz is a bit "too cool for school". Frankly "not ready to play" in a key conference home game 25 games into the season is ridiculous..
I thought Stirtz played ok but we're too Stirtz reliant. At some point the others gotta pick up their end of the couch
I'm trying to keep things into perspective, and statements like these help a bit
You doubt WHAT. That 25 games in, a key home game, and a chance for a defining win, we "weren't ready to play? That's inexcusable, and frankly those words should never come out of the leaders mouth. Stirtz made a comment in another post game presser that when things aren't going well, the guys don't get along in the locker room, or something to that effect. That doesn't sound good...
18-7 to this point is a big shock to me. I go to quite a few Drake games and thought this Roster would be at about 17-18 wins for season. I think as Ben gets time to recruit at this level he'll be best coach we've had since Dr. Tom. At this point I just want to try and get 3 more wins and make the tournament
I get that, but its just that even after getting kicked around the floor all day he just seems pretty cool, like hey whatever
Next year could get even uglier.
Ben said recently he is hopeful that a point guard out there would find playing at Iowa attractive
I have developed tremendous respect for how Ben Mc handles the questions after losses and how he always points out to himself as responsible for the players performance and the game’sresult. Good man! And extremely mature for his age.
Playing devil's advocate:
(1) Look at what Curt Cignetti did at Indiana in year 1. He had an 85 scholarship roster to build. Cingetti brought 13 of his James Madison players with him (similar to Ben bringing his Drake players). And Cignetti had way more than 13 new guys overall & yet still led them to an 11-2 record and the CFP.
(2) Ben starts 4 of his Drake guys (Bennett, Cam, Tavion and Kael). Only 3 come off the bench & play significant minutes. So, aren't we talking about 8 guys that Ben plays that have essentially hit a wall?
* 13 players from James Madison University (JMU) transferred to Indiana University to play for head coach Curt Cignetti ahead of the 2024 season. This group of transfers included key contributors like linebacker Aiden Fisher, cornerback D'Angelo Ponds, and wide receiver Elijah Sarratt, who helped anchor the team's rapid turnaround.
After the Maryland loss, Ben said only 3 came ready to play. Bennett was 1 of the 3. Ben didn't name the other 2.
You ever heard of not throwing your teammates under the bus. That how I read it. Take the blame yourself
Would you prefer "we're not that good to beat them"?
Time will tell when the portal opens for players.
And how has DeVries done at the same school with the transfers he brought in?Indiana football is a massive, massive outlier. McCollum is 100% the right man for the job but it is going to take time to get there. It’s going to be one step forward, a couple steps back for awhile
I find Stirtz hard to read just having him this one season. At face value I agree with you. Stirtz has had a rather unique journey in this new portal era with Ben recruiting him as it sounds like an overlooked player into the D2 level. Bennnet maybe hasn't fully adjusted to this level and now he has the rest of the team around him not playing well. He will do well when he moves on to the NBA IMO.
Don’t feed into khawk. He’s obviously trying to explain his first comment which was wrong. Ben’s a good coach. He’ll go as far as the nil money will allow him to though. If he had unlimited resources it’d be scary what he could do. Be happy he’s at Iowa
I respect that as well. I've heard Cronin a few times, and the difference is night and day.
Cronin is going to get run off by ucla fanbase. They hate every coach that doesn’t win a title undefeated every year. Worst job in the country
I understand what you're saying. He's a reflection of the coach, as being the top player. You can tell that many of his comments align with what Ben says. If Ben and Bennett say that the team wasn't ready, they were being truthful. But, in what aspects? I understand from Bennett's standpoint that they weren't ready to come out and compete at a high level, if I'm reading him correctly. And if we try to narrow down to where they came up short, we're probably going to come up with several observations ie: Shooting, Defense, Rebounding, etc. But, it all comes down to execution.
"Not ready to play" is becoming a "Stock Answer" from Bennett, in that it is ambiguous and provokes assumption. One thing we can conclude is that it is ongoing. I agree with you, in that it is frustrating and unacceptable to many of us including myself as to why this is happening with the team collectively here lately. But Bennett can only say so much. I think if folks want particular reasons for the regression, they'll have to defer to coach for those. JMHO.
Indiana beat Purdue at home & has now won 5 of 6.
Their last 6 games:
@
RutgersW 82-59
vs
12PurdueW 72-67
@
UCLAW 98-97
@
USCL 81-75
vs
WisconsinW 78-77
vs
OregonW 92-74
8-6 in conference play just like Iowa, not contending for the conference championship. Rebuilds are hard.Indiana beat Purdue at home & has now won 5 of 6.
Their last 6 games:
@
W 82-59
vs
W 72-67
@
W 98-97
@
L 81-75
vs
W 78-77
vs
W 92-74
3 players showed up for the Maryland game, according to Ben in the radio postgame show.
How many showed up ready to go today vs Purdue in a sold out Carver? The fans showed up and this was their reward?
Do I still have faith in Ben? Of course. However, I just didn't expect players "not showing up" from the coach who loves to preach "impose your will." You actually have to be present in order to do that.
I feel some "Adjustments" will be made.
Bennett said last night he didn't think they were ready to go. I don't understand how in the hell they couldn't be ready to go for a game like that? We heard similar things after the Maryland debacle too.
Cronin is also a douche, so he's got that working against him when he loses, like yesterday.
Purdue was only a 2.5 point favorite leading into the game. Vegas knows!
However, Purdue led by 27 points (58-31) with 12 minutes to go in the game. That performance should be unacceptable to everyone involved.And you are right; in the radio postgame show after the Marlyland loss, Ben said only 3 of his players showed up. He said Stirtz was one of them; he wouldn't name the other 2 because he said he didn't want to get in trouble.
Purdue 78-57 Iowa (Feb 14, 2026) Final Score - ESPN
Game summary of the Purdue Boilermakers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes NCAAM game, final score 78-57, from February 14, 2026 on ESPN.
www.espn.com
I just want to make the tourney this year and hopefully win one. My biggest concern is next year. Who in the f**k is going to be our scoring option? I'm not confident anyone on this team can chip in 15 ppg or more. I hope there's portal options for scorers because I do like our defense and toughness.
The amount of braindead BS on display last night was discouraging. Everyone not named Trevin Jirak should be ashamed of their effort.
Well, if they were not ready to go last night, time is running out to get ready to go if we are to make the dance. Need two win at least two more before BIG tournament and then see where we stand. Get Ready hawks!
Banks injury really limits Iowa on both sides of the court.
LOLOLOL.. Take WHAT blame? Was I there? Refer to his other comment a few games back where he said " when things aren't going well, they don't get along"? What does that mean? Is that "throwing people under the bus? Frankly, I was just making an observation. Its great that he doesn't seem to get upset. But maybe there's times where he should ....
Record wise the Hawks are about where I thought they would be. I figured right at .500 in the conference with a nice non-conference record.
My surprise this year has been playing most games they were dogs in, very close. Disappointments for me have been the last two games. Toughest part of the schedule coming up. I always have thought the post-season talk was “blue sky” and a lot of the “experts” who make predictions are no more “expert” than Dan Hawk or I…honestly.
The Hawks have a chance to make the NCAAs but they have to get healthy quickly (Banks) and the ball has to start going in for them, too. I say this knowing I will be cheering the Hawks and hoping for their best, every step of the way. Altho I refuse to dawn rose tinted lenses to see them through the end of the season.
Agree. Blessing in disguise if it gives Jirak more opportunity to play and develop. This team likely had a ceiling on how far it could go under any circumstances.