New Iowa Men's Basketball Head Coach Ben McCollum has not been shy about getting out in the community and doing media interviews ahead of his first season at the helm.
McCollum has stressed the importance of the Iowa community as they try to rebuild the program. A big part of the rebuild is establishing a new culture of accountability and hard work.
McCollum has always been known as a "culture guy," dating back to his days at Northwest Missouri State, and he has emphasized the importance of building a culture that will enable the program to achieve continued success.
In a recent interview with Trent Condon for the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast, McCollum discussed how he is quickly getting the program up and running with the culture he wants to employ, how his former Drake players are setting the standard, and four freshmen who have stood out this summer.
Creating a culture with the assistance of the Drake transfers
McCollum has often been asked about how he achieved a high level of success with the Division II players at Drake last season and how they will fit in this season.
McCollum stated that he is fortunate to have brought high-character individuals with him to Drake who were ready to create success for the long haul.
He also noted that this season, he pulled guys from a 31-win team who know the system and culture he wants to utilize this season at Iowa.
McCollum wanted players with "corporate knowledge" to help him establish a culture in his first season in the Big Ten, and he recruited his former Drake players to accomplish that.
How Bennett Stirtz will adapt to higher competition
McCollum said that it was not hard to convince Bennett Stirtz to follow him when he left Northwest Missouri State for Drake and again when he left Drake for Iowa. He said it took around 10 seconds each time.
McCollum also stated that Stirtz has kept that edge and hunger he has always had and will have no trouble adjusting to the competition in the Big Ten.
He said that Stirtz is probably a better NBA player than a college player because the college game is physical, and the referees do not call as many fouls.
McCollum also stated that Stirtz is a better person than player and he will lead the way for the squad next season.
Four freshmen who have stood out
A large portion of McCollum's interview with Locked On focused on the 2025 recruiting class and how they are adjusting. The discussion centered around four players: Trey Thompson, Trevin Jirak, Tate Sage, and his son, Peyton.
McCollum stated that Thompson can do so many things on the court, including posting up and playing on the perimeter. He can pass, shoot, and move, as well as trigger the offense.
Thompson is a "hybrid" player who is not a big but is also not a point guard. McCollum also mentioned that he is physically and emotionally ready for the rigors of the Big Ten.
Jirak was the next player McCollum spoke about, and said he has had a great summer so far. The program was lucky to get him after Jirak initially committed to Northern Iowa early on.
McCollum said he is a smart kid who works extremely hard and has great size and physicality, along with good passing ability.
Tate Sage was another prospect McCollum discussed during the interview. McCollum said he has been impressed with Sage this summer and he has adapted quickly.
Sage has a high basketball IQ and can play well off the ball, along with good passing ability for his size.
The final prospect McCollum talked about was his son, Peyton. He stated he knows people feel a certain way when coaches recruit their kids, but he was going to join him at Drake and decided to join him at Iowa as well.
McCollum said Peyton is one of the hardest-working players on the team besides Bennett Stirtz, and he is a great culture guy.
He also said Peyton has one of the highest plus-minuses on the team during the summer.
As McCollum and his staff create a new culture in Iowa City, the anticipation for next season continues to grow.