How many dominating Centers are there in college basketball in general? The answer is not many. We’ll be fine.Not having a center able to bang with the the bigs in the B1G will be detrimental to this team. Defending the post will be how good this team will be.
How many dominating Centers are there in college basketball in general? The answer is not many. We’ll be fine.
Some things never change.We will be very caucasian
Has Stirtz played his entire career under Ben? Will be exciting to see how McCullum pans out. Did Beth hire our Izzo?Defense, for those who still haven't noticed, is the key to success in any sport. It always has been, and it always will be. But defense alone or offense alone won't get you to the championship level. Good teams play all aspects of the game at a high level. You saw that last night with the defensive tenacity not seen since Lute Olson's days. You saw that with the effort on the boards, unseen in at least the last 18 years in Iowa City. And then you saw about a dozen dunks from multiple players and an offensive system designed to emphasize the skills of the players on this roster.
McCollom didn't win all those games and all those titles with smoke and mirrors. He knows the game. He knows how to get the best out of the players he has. Nobody will outwork him or his teams. Hell, Stirtz was a nobody coming out of high school. But once McCollom identified him, Stirtz has been a star and is now projected to be an All-American and a top ten NBA draft choice. You think that's an accident?
I'm looking forward to Iowa's Big Ten opener @ Michigan State. It's gonna be fun watching Izzo's antics while he dreams of the days of Lickliter and McCafferey and rues the day Iowa hired McCollom.
This Iowa team has the attitude and toughness the Hawkeyes have generally lacked for almost two decades. Combine that with top-level coaching and one of the top five point guards in the country, and then watch out for Iowa. Just IMHO, of course.
Allowing a team to shoot 45% from 3 isn't sustainable. Also, Iowa had one more rebound than RMU so those areas need to be cleaned up.I think last nite's opponent is better than most think. They could really shoot the 3 ball. Or they were shooting out of their heads, like Fran's teams did once in a while.
His teams shoot mostly layups and 3’s. Go look at a shot chart over the years. @MAXIMUSHAWKEYE yes, Stirtz has played for Ben his whole career.Allowing a team to shoot 45% from 3 isn't sustainable. Also, Iowa had one more rebound than RMU so those areas need to be cleaned up.
I have zero expectations and no predictions other than for Iowa to play defense better than what I have seen from Iowa teams from the past.
I do like that Iowa shot 61% from the field and 46% from 3.
The majority of those 3s were given up after we were up by 30. Still not good, but somewhat understandable.Allowing a team to shoot 45% from 3 isn't sustainable. Also, Iowa had one more rebound than RMU so those areas need to be cleaned up.
I have zero expectations and no predictions other than for Iowa to play defense better than what I have seen from Iowa teams from the past.
I do like that Iowa shot 61% from the field and 46% from 3.
I hope Ben can scheme around size discrepancies because a quick check on some rosters of our BIG opponents show the following teams with true huge centers include:How many dominating Centers are there in college basketball in general? The answer is not many. We’ll be fine.
The staff really likes Jirak and I think he will really help us off the bench as the season goes along. Has really good passing skills for a big man. We need more size to go with him and Cam and Ben will address that through recruiting.I hope Ben can scheme around size discrepancies because a quick check on some rosters of our BIG opponents show the following teams with true huge centers include:
Mich,illini,UCLA, PU, Wis, Oregon,OSU...did not check USC,uwash,PSU,RU,or MSU.
Cam is foul-prone so jirak has to get ready.
That's right. Under Lickliter it was like 46-42. And Fran did win at MSU at least once in 15 years. The Pirates also swept the Dodgers last season. And your point is . . . ?
Granted I will send over DocusignLast year's team was 17-15 (7-13)
With very limit data to go off right now I'll predict 20-11 (11-9)
I reserve the right to change my prediction after 6 games![]()
Do you not see a difference between the team from last year and this year ? Even after 1 game?Granted I will send over Docusign
Jay Bilas has the Hawks outside the top 14 in the B1G and nowhere to be found in his top 68 teams.
Does that make Iowa, dare I say it...69?
![]()
The Bilas Index: The best 68 men's basketball teams in 2025-26
It's time for the only NCAA season preview you need. You're welcome.www.espn.com
Yes and he has Xavier at #49 who crushed the Le Moyne Dolphins 74-69. Flipper and his crew must be dawgs!Jay Bilas has the Hawks outside the top 14 in the B1G and nowhere to be found in his top 68 teams.
Does that make Iowa, dare I say it...69?
![]()
The Bilas Index: The best 68 men's basketball teams in 2025-26
It's time for the only NCAA season preview you need. You're welcome.www.espn.com
You were way off on the conference recordLast year's team was 17-15 (7-13)
With very limit data to go off right now I'll predict 20-11 (11-9)
I reserve the right to change my prediction after 6 games![]()
I actually was spot on in my official predictionsYou were way off on the conference record
Well done!Last year's team was 17-15 (7-13)
With very limit data to go off right now I'll predict 20-11 (11-9)
I reserve the right to change my prediction after 6 games![]()
Really looking forward to the season though I'm not really sure what to expect. I think we have some pretty big holes in the ball handling and size dept that I'm hoping good coaching and effort can mask. Good news is that the Hawks will have the best player on the court most nights. I think they'll be playing for a 7-10 seed this year
