3 head-turning revelations from Ben McCollum that fans will want to pay attention to

After a spectacular first season under Ben McCollum, the foundation has been laid for success, and now, it is all about pushing forward.

With summer workouts in full swing, Iowa men's basketball is ramping up preparation to meet heightened expectations next season. After an improbable run to the Elite Eight, all eyes will be fixed on Ben McCollum and the program in year two, something he isn't shying away from. The 2026-2027 college basketball season is still several months away, but McCollum went on "Inside College Basketball" to speak with Jon Rothstein about a variety of topics.

McCollum never doubted his team's ability to make a run in the NCAA Tournament

Iowa went from a nine-seed in the NCAA Tournament to bracket busters during a miracle run last season. For most fans, the run came out of nowhere after the Hawkeyes struggled at the conclusion of the regular season into the Big Ten Tournament. McCollum's faith in his team never wavered, and he admitted that he always knew they had the potential to make an NCAA Tournament run.

"I knew our process was right, we just weren't finishing games...Given the right matchups, I thought we could make a run in the NCAA Tournament."

Ben McCollum

"Inside College Basketball" host Jon Rothstein asked McCollum why his team had much more success in the tournament than in the regular season, and he gave a very straightforward answer. McCollum admitted they were better able to "grip" each game individually and treated each game as a win-or-die situation. They proved their resolve in each game, especially during the massive upset over No. 1 seed Florida. The NCAA Tournament is a whole different beast, and McCollum showed once again that he is up to the challenge.

Iowa's tough non-con scheudle is as much about the challenege as it is about fan support

The program scheduled a very tough non-conference schedule next season, including games against Alabama, Creighton, Iowa State, and Virginia Tech. McCollum admitted it was extremely fun when the Hawkeyes traveled to California last season, but it would have been even better with more Iowa fans in attendance.

"Why don't we make sure we can get as many of our fans to games as possible and just play at neutral sites close to the state of Iowa or in the state of Iowa?"

Ben McCollum

Ever since stepping on campus, McCollum has been advocating for fan support, claiming they cannot rebuild the program without fan support. He echoed that statement when Rothstein asked about Iowa's tough non-conference schedule, claiming the program made a concentrated effort to schedule games closer to home. All of the previously mentioned non-conference opponents were scheduled for games within the state, with most of them taking place at the Casey's Center in Des Moines.

McCollum has been true to his word and continues advocating for games closer to Iowa City so they can engage more fans.

McCollum believes that Cooper Koch has made the biggest jump this offseason

After redshirting his true freshman season, Cooper Koch's future was in limbo after he entered the transfer portal following Fran McCaffery's firing. Luckily for the program, McCollum convinced Koch to return to Iowa City, and he became an integral part of the squad last season. As a freshman, Koch started every game for the Hawkeyes and was a stellar three-point shooter and perimeter defender. Before his third season in the program, McCollum has been impressed by what he's seen so far this summer.

"His summer has been awesome. His conditioning, his leadership, he wins or finishes in the top couple of every sprint."

Ben McCollum

Koch was a pleasant surprise for the Hawkeyes last season during McCollum's first year in charge, and he is already taking the necessary steps to improve before next season. He played a vital role during Iowa's Elite Eight run, and it is amazing to see that he isn't resting on that. We all know what Koch can do on the court, but hearing that his leadership skills are improving as well is amazing. If Iowa wants to take the next step, Koch will be critical in that process.

McCollum is already in mid-season form talking to the media, and the excitement for next season is already building.

*All quotes were pulled from the Tuesday, July 14, 2026 podcast episode of "Inside College Basketball"

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