Is Ben Still Looking in the Portal?

[Hawkfnntn]

I think Ben can find those points with the pieces he has. Hopefully Thompson is as real as they state and comes on. He's been shooting like 45% in practice. The new guard can get to the rim and create it seems. Sage came on strong and progressed well throughout the year. Koch got it going and became a deep threat by the end of the season. I also think McCombs had a solid year and could have an even more elevated ceiling. I like the makeup.

I agree it'll be a group effort to replace those 20 pts Stirtz put up every night. It wouldn't have to be like Coleman needs to. If he can do 10-13 that'd be great. I think Sage will improve his scoring significantly with more mins. I think Koch should too. Thompson is a huge wildcard that we're all excited to see how he fits in. I think Combs and Hopefully Howard both will be able to do a little more.

Having a group of 6-8 guys that can all go get 12-15 pts every game makes us tough to scout and play against. I'm not sure they'll be one guy that we'll lean on like we did Stirtz next yr. And that's quite alright.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Really? Their names are pronounced way differently. Jacobs is pronounced like Cook.

Since Jacob has never played that I know of, never heard his name called. I am so used to brothers playing basketball at Iowa, I just assumed they were related.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I agree it'll be a group effort to replace those 20 pts Stirtz put up every night. It wouldn't have to be like Coleman needs to. If he can do 10-13 that'd be great. I think Sage will improve his scoring significantly with more mins. I think Koch should too. Thompson is a huge wildcard that we're all excited to see how he fits in. I think Combs and Hopefully Howard both will be able to do a little more.

Having a group of 6-8 guys that can all go get 12-15 pts every game makes us tough to scout and play against. I'm not sure they'll be one guy that we'll lean on like we did Stirtz next yr. And that's quite alright.

Exactly. That is what I was wanting to point out as well. Balanced on offense is good. We know that Iowa will play stout top notch D. That brings consistency. I think Sage being in his 2nd year will play even more loose and not afraid to take more shots. I thought he was a good overall player. Could hit an outside shot as well as cut to the rim if open. I like his game.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Exactly. That is what I was wanting to point out as well. Balanced on offense is good. We know that Iowa will play stout top notch D. That brings consistency. I think Sage being in his 2nd year will play even more loose and not afraid to take more shots. I thought he was a good overall player. Could hit an outside shot as well as cut to the rim if open. I like his game.

If you can get the defense to have to honor 4 players instead of 2, hat is a huge deal. They can't just key on 2. A good D can scout and scheme to cover 2 but it is difficult when you have an entire team that can get 10-15 a night.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Exactly. That is what I was wanting to point out as well. Balanced on offense is good. We know that Iowa will play stout top notch D. That brings consistency. I think Sage being in his 2nd year will play even more loose and not afraid to take more shots. I thought he was a good overall player. Could hit an outside shot as well as cut to the rim if open. I like his game.

I shoulda thrown Banks in there too we'll probably/likely be replacing his 10 pts/gm too He was a yoyo at times too but still came up big alot. Sure wouldn't have beaten FL without him. Yeah Sage could take a monster leap next yr. If he were to average north of 12 pts next yr I don't think I'd be surprised.

 

[ajdwhs87]

I agree it'll be a group effort to replace those 20 pts Stirtz put up every night. It wouldn't have to be like Coleman needs to. If he can do 10-13 that'd be great. I think Sage will improve his scoring significantly with more mins. I think Koch should too. Thompson is a huge wildcard that we're all excited to see how he fits in. I think Combs and Hopefully Howard both will be able to do a little more.

Having a group of 6-8 guys that can all go get 12-15 pts every game makes us tough to scout and play against. I'm not sure they'll be one guy that we'll lean on like we did Stirtz next yr. And that's quite alright.

Just as important is rebounding. Nice to have the big guy though he needs to improve a bit as against the top competition he didn't have any double digit board games vs. the biggest games they played. Banks doesn't come back that was our top rebounder gone. I'm sure they will work on Mckeever's footwork/foot speed a bit. We just need rebounding for more of our own second chance points and to limit possessions on the other end. Some of the points will come cleaning up the boards. So, we need more than just him to come strong on the boards.

Of course getting points from here and there to make up isn't always the answer since you are replacing a go to guy. Who is gonna step up and get us big baskets when we need them? Need big shots and consistent scoring and not like Alvaro disappearing against Illinois. We will see.

Wonder what is going on with the Campbell kid, Johnson. Fits since he is a 6'4" SG and not another forward. Said they were in on him and he is still out there. Never know they might surprise us with one more guy.

 

[haydensly]

good article today on hawkcentral from chad leistikow on Coleman.

Coleman's HS coach calls BM the 'PG Whisperer"! I like that.

I never knew that the PG before Stirtz was a two-time Div II POY, scored 2800 career points.

What I found interesting in that article that I did not know was that he did not have an agent. He relied on his "inner circle" which included his dad and HS coach. Money was not his #1 concern. He seems to be a perfect fit for Ben and his system. On the court and off.

 

[USBHawk]

BTW, I was today years old when I found out that Cooper and Jacob Koch are not brothers. Oops.

Both of their dads did play at Iowa though.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Both of their dads did play at Iowa though.

That makes them brothers then!!

 

[Zstatman]

Aren't they cousins?

 

[BigD]

Aren't they cousins?

In the SEC most life long residents are cousin's or step brothers.

When it comes to people driving their vehicles on roadways in the south I am glad be out of there.

 

[BigD]

Lest I forget, I appreciated all your comments on my who will or whom will fill in for the points that Stirtz brought to the team this past season. Some good thoughts and comments, thank you.

One thing is for sure................................. Ben will maximize the most out of what he has to work with. Hopefully as he rebuilds year after year that will only lead to greater things. He is a great X's and O's coach and brings the heart out of his players and teaches them to put that heart on the court.

 

[thedukeofearl]

Ty'Reek Coleman

Men’s college basketball transfer portal fits: 5 of the best pairings this offseason​

Ty'Reek Coleman in number one for best transfers

Ty’Reek Coleman, Iowa​

2025-26 stats (at Illinois State): 10.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals per game
The Athletic transfer portal rank: unranked



Hawkeyes coach Ben McCollum has an eye for point guards. He found Trevor Hudgins from Manhattan, Kan., and Hudgins was a back-to-back National Player of the Year in Division II and went on to play for the Houston Rockets. He brought Bennett Stirtz to Northwest Missouri State, and Stirtz is about to be a first-round NBA Draft pick after following McCollum to Drake and Iowa, where the Hawkeyes went on an Elite Eight run this year.

Coleman could be next. His counting stats were not spectacular in his freshman season at Illinois State, but he was on a talented team and often deferred to upperclassmen. There is a lot to like when you look beyond the numbers and study the tape.

His effort and instincts defensively jump off the screen. He’s always putting pressure on the ball and is willing to make multiple efforts:

Offensively, McCollum has his point guards working out of a lot of ball screens. The sample size isn’t big, but Coleman was the most efficient player in college hoops of anyone who finished at least 70 pick-and-roll plays, per Synergy.

What Coleman does best is get paint touches and make great paint decisions. He plays under control and makes the right read when he sees traffic, willing to find the open man:

This is going to play great at Iowa, where patience is preached and McCollum will surround Coleman with shooters. The beauty with the Hawkeyes is if you pitch it out and re-space, the ball will often come back to you. Coleman has shown the ability to make 3s (41.6 percent) and does his best work attacking closeouts, which plays like the one below will happen frequently in the Iowa offense.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Coleman’s usage go up in Iowa’s guard-friendly offense. Coleman isn’t likely to get Stirtz-like usage as a sophomore, but McCollum is sure to find ways to utilize his speed and generate as many paint touches as possible.

Sounds Great...

Copied and Pasted from The Athlete

 

[MisterLucky]

Haven't been around much since the season ended for a variety of reasons, the best of which were my Cubs, who were tearing it up until the last three games. Anyway, I heard them talking about McCollum getting a one million dollar raise on the radio this morning and it brought me back. Not sure if we've signed anyone yet. I heard about one getting away to Moo U (my bridesmaid theory), but that's about it. I don't think we should be going into this season without another scorer, preferably at the guard spot. For you recruiting experts, are we in on such a beast? Defense is all well and good and is the most positive change since McCollum arrived here, but can you imagine how some of those games would have gone if Stirtz had not been on the roster? I doubt we will find anyone as talented, but this season looks like one in which a number of players need to improve and adding a scorer would certainly help.