Iowa men’s basketball is off to a perfect 3-0 start under brand-new head coach Ben McCollum. The Hawkeyes dominated Xavier on Nov. 14 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa cruised to an 81-62 victory in its first power-conference test. It’s the kind of statement win that signals McCollum’s vision for this program.
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🔥 Quick Facts:
- Bennett Stirtz led all scorers with 21 points and 8 rebounds.
- Iowa outrebounded Xavier 41-24 and dominated the paint 50-26.
- The bench unit proved crucial, outscoring Xavier’s bench 34-11.
- Iowa shot just 27% from three but won by 19 points anyway.
- Nearly 11,678 fans attended the home game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Hawkeyes Dominate First Power-Conference Test
Bennett Stirtz broke a 22-22 tie with a powerful dunk. That basket sparked a decisive run midway through the first half. Iowa’s defense locked in immediately after. The Hawkeyes outscored Xavier 23-6 over the next stretch. By halftime, Iowa had built a commanding 45-29 lead.
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The second half never got interesting. Xavier clawed back briefly in the opening minutes. Jovan Milicevic made two foul shots to get the Musketeers within 9 points. But Cam Manyawu answered with a layup. Iowa led by double digits for the rest of the night.
“There’s a lot of things that go into being a first-place program, and part of it is the crowd, part of it is the enthusiasm there. And then part of it is the way you play and being able to win games like this.”
McCollum’s squad showed the physical toughness he’s demanding from day one. The Hawkeyes crashed the boards with purpose. They held a 41-24 rebound advantage. Iowa also dominated inside, winning the paint battle by an impressive 50-26 margin. That’s not an accident—that’s coaching.
Bench Depth Emerges as Key Strength
All 10 Hawkeyes who entered the game scored. That kind of balanced attack is dangerous in power-conference play. Kael Combs came off the bench and provided immediate impact. He finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Alvaro Folgueiras, the reigning Horizon League Player of the Year, added 8 points and 8 rebounds.
Freshman contributors Tate Sage and Trevin Jirak combined for 12 meaningful points. Through three games, Iowa’s bench now outscores opponents by roughly 19 points per contest. That’s a massive advantage heading into Big Ten conference play.
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bennett Stirtz | 21 | 8 | 3 |
| Tavion Banks | 13 | — | — |
| Kael Combs | 11 | 4 | 4 |
| Cam Manyawu | 9 | 9 | — |
Interior Dominance, Not Three-Point Volume
Iowa attempted just 11 three-pointers and made 3 of them for a 27% clip. That’s a stark shift from the Fran McCaffery era. Last season, the Hawkeyes rarely dipped below 18 attempts per game from deep. McCollum’s system prioritizes rim attacks and physicality instead.
Here’s the thing—it worked perfectly against Xavier. Iowa shot 57% overall on 29-of-51 attempts. The Hawkeyes made 20 free throws and showed no fear taking the ball inside. Stirtz drove constantly. Bennett Stirtz said afterward: “They were forcing me to drive. They weren’t giving me the 3-point shot, so I took what they gave me.”
This approach reduces boom-or-bust performances. If Iowa struggles from deep in future games, it won’t derail the entire game plan. The team can still win by dominating inside consistently.
What’s Next for the Hawkeyes
- Iowa faces Southeast Missouri on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 PM.
- Chicago State visits on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 6:00 PM CT.
- Both games are home contests at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
- Iowa needs to maintain intensity against weaker nonconference opponents.
- Big Ten play begins in December with high-profile matchups.
Is This the Start of Something Special Under McCollum?
A perfect 3-0 start gets everyone excited about possibilities. But McCollum preaches patience. The team still has 14 turnovers that took away from an otherwise stellar defensive showing. Xavier’s early-season struggles (the Musketeers lost badly to Santa Clara) mean this win shouldn’t receive overexaggerated credit.
Yet there’s something undeniably different about this squad’s mentality. The physicality is real. The depth is legitimate. The coach believes in building something sustainable, not just winning now. “They’re a major work in progress,” McCollum said. “They’re a work in progress until the end of the season. But whenever you take over something and you build it from kind of scratch essentially, a lot of people are excited.”
Watch how Iowa responds to the next two nonconference opponents. If the Hawkeyes maintain this intensity and physicality, the foundation McCollum’s building might actually hold up once conference play arrives.
Check out the official reaction:
Sources
- Hawk Central – Iowa basketball’s win over Xavier analysis and game coverage
- Des Moines Register – Ben McCollum coaching style and bench depth breakdown
- CBS Sports/AP – Official game box score and final statistics
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.