It's officially official--Walk BMC is coming to Iowa

I expect if we lose players, it is more about NIL $$ than anything else. I could see Freeman doing well in this system, Dix as well......I think Fran's system certainly held attraction for the run and gunner, and those players I do not see doing well under McCollum IMO, unless they would be willing to learn defense. As has been offered in this thread earlier, I think we see something more akin to Bo Ryan, which is a good thing- I dont think anyone in the B1G figured out how to consistently beat Ryan.
 
Ben could end up with Pryce or Koch next season, I am not sure he's used to a shooters like that. He also seems to have a solid PG that might follow him.

I am curious if they try and retain Spurlock, as he was one of the main recruiters and had his hands in a lot of the class that was coming in next season. Gatens makes sense, but he wasn't the main recruiter and I feel like Ben could use one of them.
 
Hawkfnntn said:
The types of players needed to do what he did at Drake this yr will need to be long smart athletic and tough. Versatile is another word I'd use. Guys that can guard multiple positions. It'll be an interesting thing to see how it translates.

Offensively I don't think he wants to do the drastically slow style that he did this yr. I think he did that mostly out of necessity with the types of kids he had. Granted I don't think he'll be a run n gun put 90 up every night kind of coach either. But this yr wasn't indicative of what I expect the O to look like in a couple yrs.
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The important point is that his style of play will only be as fast as can be allowed to 1. get his PG 40 minutes of play each game and 2. mitigate injury risk for that player. That is, if he's still planning on using that general framework here.
 
InGoodCo said:
Ben could end up with Pryce or Koch next season, I am not sure he's used to a shooters like that. He also seems to have a solid PG that might follow him.

I am curious if they try and retain Spurlock, as he was one of the main recruiters and had his hands in a lot of the class that was coming in next season. Gatens makes sense, but he wasn't the main recruiter and I feel like Ben could use one of them.
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Stirtz is more than solid. Hopefully Ben can keep him. From what I have heard, he has big dollar NIL offers from a number of major teams, and is getting drafted, though probably plays his final year of eligibility hoping to become a first round lock.
 
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InGoodCo said:
Ben could end up with Pryce or Koch next season, I am not sure he's used to a shooters like that. He also seems to have a solid PG that might follow him.

I am curious if they try and retain Spurlock, as he was one of the main recruiters and had his hands in a lot of the class that was coming in next season. Gatens makes sense, but he wasn't the main recruiter and I feel like Ben could use one of them.
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If Stirtz comes, he will be the best shooter on the roster, by a large margin. But, I think Ben will certainly build a deeper bench at Iowa than he has ever had.
 
Zstatman said:
One question I've had, and it's not basketball related, is how did he come to be born in Iowa City? The obvious assumption is that his parents were students at the university, which could mean they werer Hawkeye fans and he grew up one.

Or it could have been they needed access to university hospitals for whatever reason. Just curious on this one, I hope it gets answered at some point.
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According to a bio I found online

She (his mom) went to the University of Iowa where she received her undergraduate degree, law degree, and master's degree. She began her professional career as an assistant attorney for Johnson County in 1982. She also worked as an adjunct professor at Buena Vista University in 1993.


I assumed Joey was his brother, but the article did mention him. My CSB is that I coached against Joey in the state baseball tournament. Was curious when I saw that Ben went to SL St. Mary's.
 
Zstatman said:
From X:

BREAKING NEWS:Drake PG Bennett Stirtz will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.

He will enter with a “Do Not Contact” tag.
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Just to be clear he hasn't yet. On3s website keeps the up to date tab on that. And it's gone nuts there's 284 kids in as of now. Some are guys like the Iowa kids who've been in for a few days already but many are just from this morning. It's barely 12 noon central and I'll be surprised if that number doesn't double/triple by tomorrow
 
Seth53 said:
Review my avatar.

Then, remember Alfraud.

Just saying
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Thank you.

Lots of people here I'm imagining googling "2026 Elite 8 sites" which is pretty dumb tbh. We didn't all the sudden jump to the middle of the upper half of the pack in NIL and that's going to be the biggest factor in this thing. Don't take my word for it.

McCollum might work out but as of today it's a total roll of the dice. People forget that Lickliter was hot shit too when he got hired here and the ones saying that McCollum and Lick aren't comparable aren't being real.

I get being pumped up and excited. Honestly. I'm super interested in how this turns out myself. But the hype isn't based on anything real yet.
 
Fryowa said:
Thank you.

Lots of people here I'm imagining googling "2026 Elite 8 sites" which is pretty dumb tbh. We didn't all the sudden jump to the middle of the upper half of the pack in NIL and that's going to be the biggest factor in this thing. Don't take my word for it.

McCollum might work out but as of today it's a total roll of the dice. People forget that Lickliter was hot shit too when he got hired here and the ones saying that McCollum and Lick aren't comparable aren't being real.

I get being pumped up and excited. Honestly. I'm super interested in how this turns out myself. But the hype isn't based on anything real yet.
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I take your point, but I counter that Barta didn't do his homework. If he had, he would've hired Brad Stevens. Of course, Butler may have already had him locked down. They would've been positioned as well as anyone to know that he was the source of their success.
 
JoeyLabasForPresident said:
I take your point, but I counter that Barta didn't do his homework. If he had, he would've hired Brad Stevens.
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I don't think any AD who wasn't a player/coach in a certain sport really knows what to look for at a deep level. Hell yes Barry Alvarez knows what to look for in a P4 football coach, but this isn't a thing where Goetz is out there looking for X's and O's. That's not a knock on BG, it's just what it is. BG is going after the hot hand with input from the donors who give the big money. To expect her to know what to look for would be like me going out and trying to hire the best potential astronaut for a space mission.

I'm not saying he's a bad hire, but he has the exact same chance at being a burnt turd a la Lick as he does at being the next Brad Stevens.

1 D-1 season, and far less resume than Lick.

IMO it's best to keep hope high and expectations low.
 
I was going to be a naysayer, a negative Nancy type, but if you do a little bit of homework, you can see how this could work. Can McCollum have a Fran or a Matt Painter like ability to spot underrated talent and be able to develop it? Yes. It looks like he can do that and also navigate through the 2025 world of college basketball. So yeah, you/we can get excited.
 
Fryowa said:
I don't think any AD who wasn't a player/coach in a certain sport really knows what to look for at a deep level. Hell yes Barry Alvarez knows what to look for in a P4 football coach, but this isn't a thing where Goetz is out there looking for X's and O's. That's not a knock on BG, it's just what it is. BG is going after the hot hand with input from the donors who give the big money. To expect her to know what to look for would be like me going out and trying to hire the best potential astronaut for a space mission.

I'm not saying he's a bad hire, but he has the exact same chance at being a burnt turd a la Lick as he does at being the next Brad Stevens.

1 D-1 season, and far less resume than Lick.

IMO it's best to keep hope high and expectations low.
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Couldn't disagree more. Goetz and Stevens have a very good relationship. He wanted Iowa to promote her, and he wants to see her succeed. I think it is very likely they discussed McCollum when he was still in D2, and Stevens tagged him as one to watch. It was very much about Xs and Os.
 
Fryowa said:
I'm not saying he's a bad hire, but he has the exact same chance at being a burnt turd a la Lick as he does at being the next Brad Stevens.
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You missed your calling, Fry, you should have been a journalist! Or maybe you are one and I just don't know it other than here in HN.
 
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