Ben McCollum Postgame Press Conference after Wisconsin Loss (plus Bennett Stirtz & Tate Sage)
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
Out of these young beat writers, Tyler asked the tougher questions. I don't like "Softball Questions". I give him credit.
I like how open & honest Ben is.
The full text of the tweet:
Ben McCollum:
“Obviously, credit Wisconsin. I thought they did a good job offensively. They put you in a lot of binds. I didn’t think we did a very good job defensively. Honestly, I thought we were really poor at executing a lot of the stuff. But part of that had to do with Wisconsin and what they do offensively. I was disappointed in our transition defense, disappointed in our ball screen coverage.”
I think there was one time where they played that "Complete" game, but I can't remember which game it was. I'd have to go back in time to search for it. Ah, what the heck. I'll pass.
Wisconsin shot 54% in the 1st half & 54% in the 2nd half.
Not gonna win when you don't get stops.
Wisconsin First Half Shooting:
6-15 (40%) from 3
9-13 (69%) from inside the arc
.............................................................
15-28 (54%) Overall shooting
...........4-5 (80%) FTs
.............................................................
40 Points Scored
====================
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Wisconsin 2nd Half Shooting:
....4-9 (44%) from 3
9-15 (60%) from inside the arc
.............................................................
13-24 (54%) Overall shooting
14-15 (93%) FTs
.............................................................
44 Points Scored
====================
They couldn't contain Boyd. They'd better contain Thornton. Still wish we had a big that's developed. Guards will have their hands full with Bruce. 
They couldn't contain Boyd. They'd better contain Thornton. Still wish we had a big that's developed. Guards will have their hands full with Bruce.
Ohio State & IOWA are both 9-7.
OSU is gonna come into Carver on Wednesday looking to steal a win & improve their NCAA Tournament chances.
I hope we are ready.
| CONF | GB | OVR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 15-1 | - | 25-2 |
| Illinois | 13-4 | 2.5 | 22-6 |
| Nebraska | 12-4 | 3 | 23-4 |
| Purdue | 12-4 | 3 | 22-5 |
| Michigan State | 12-4 | 3 | 22-5 |
| Wisconsin | 11-5 | 4 | 19-8 |
| UCLA | 10-6 | 5 | 18-9 |
| IOWA | 9-7 | 6 | 19-8 |
| Ohio State | 9-7 | 6 | 17-10 |
| Indiana | 8-8 | 7 | 17-10 |
| USC | 7-9 | 8 | 18-9 |
| Minnesota | 6-10 | 9 | 13-14 |
| Washington | 5-11 | 10 | 13-14 |
| Rutgers | 4-12 | 11 | 11-16 |
| Maryland | 4-12 | 11 | 11-16 |
| Northwestern | 3-13 | 12 | 11-16 |
| Oregon | 3-13 | 12 | 10-17 |
| Penn State | 2-15 | 13.5 | 11-17 |
I truly don’t get why we struggle so bad. I get being out gunned talent wise, that’s going to happen. But McCollum keeps talking about “not executing the game plan”. thats not a talent thing, and it’s very concerning.
I don't make that much of it. We have an entire group except Koch who redshirted who haven't played this level of basketball before. This always seemed destined for a bumpy ride this initial season. Ben has had to learn and make adjustments along the way. If this team makes the tournament they have achieved a significant milestone this first season. Much of the time it just doesn't look very pretty.
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It is a talent thing masked as not executing game plan Wisconsin is pretty talented at all 5 positions especially on offense
You think “setting basketball back 30 years” offensively was part of a complete game?
That makes sense. Disappointing but it makes sense. On the other hand that speaks volumes about McCollums coaching abilities.
Thankfully we pulled out that ugly win. IOWA shot just 33% for that game; Nebbie shot 41%;
Strirtz played all 40 minutes & guarded Sandfort, holding him to 13 pts (5 below his average).
Iowa 57-52 Nebraska (Feb 17, 2026) Box Score - ESPN
Box score for the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers NCAAM game from February 17, 2026 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.
www.espn.com
I was there to witness the difference
.there bigs can make threes,ours struggle
These days 90 + % of the time,best three points shooting %wins the game.
We need more skilled shooters w some size and perimeter quick guards.
IOWA pulled off a miracle vs top 10 ranked Nebraska.
As you can see below, shooting 33% or worse vs a top 10 team gave you LESS THAN A 1% chance of winning (0.81%, to be exact).
It's interesting how Gard has changed from such a deliberate style to the way they play now. They are very very good offensively, and even the announcers said in the 2nd half how much trouble Wisconsin puts you in with Boyd on the high pick and roll and ball screens. Their bigs can all shoot it and he's incredible once he gets a step. We played a really good 1st half offensively but then we kind of went back to the mean in the 2nd half. We just couldn't get enough stops and couldn't keep up on the other end.
Ohio State blew that magnificent Wisconsin team out in Columbus. Wisconsin is 19-8, same as Iowa. Iowa played well in the first half yesterday, especially on offense when players besides Stirtz were being aggressive and looking for their shot and taking the ball to the basket. If the men had played with the intensity on defense that the women displayed in running #6 Michigan outta the arena yesterday, they'd have beaten Wisconsin. That's my biggest disappointment.
Hawkeyes desperately need to put it all together and find a way to beat OSU @ Carver. Biggest game of the year. Lose that one, and it gets really, really dicey.
I was a few rows up behind the Iowa bench yesterday and could hear McCollum. Let’s just say he was not thrilled with the effort defensively during the entire game.
he doesn't go crazy and scream in players' faces, right? for some reason Fran thought that tactic was effective.
I think Wednesday's game is gonna be a dog fight, with both teams playing like it's a must win game (Ohio State, especially). I just hope we don't blow it.
Wisconsin fan here. Iowa got a great coach in McCollum. What a difference from Fran.
He went out the the circle after a foul upset with our guys at one point. I was up in third deck second row and I thought he was going to get a technical for being on the floor .he doesn't go crazy and scream in players' faces, right? for some reason Fran thought that tactic was effective.
Ozzie would have a good idea about Ben's bench behavior..he seems firey and its not all flowery, it appears...which is what coaches do...frans fire never bothered me..better than his pocket posture.
Yes he does. Cooper can tell you about it, it was in one of the post games. BS also had a post game story about the 2 arguing.he doesn't go crazy and scream in players' faces, right? for some reason Fran thought that tactic was effective.
Gard has a BIG roster. Once Ben gets his, we'll be in good stead.
@Ozzie89 , your thoughts?
Ben’s a firey dude and I love his demeanor on the sideline. Those tv timeouts is where he gets his money’s worth if he doesn’t like what he’s seeing