All eyes have been on Ben McCollum in his first year in Iowa City, and the veteran head coach has delivered.
After an incredibly successful career with Northwest Missouri State, where he compiled a 395-91 overall record and four Division II National Championships (2017, 2019, 2021,2022), McCollum took his talents to Drake last season and is now at the helm in Iowa City.
The Iowa program was in a dark place after finishing the 2024-2025 season with a 17-16 (7-13 Big Ten) record, and McCollum was brought in to return Iowa to its former glory.
While it is extremely early in his tenure in Iowa City, the Storm Lake, Iowa, native has exceeded expectations and put Iowa on track for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2022-2023 season.
Fox Sports bracketology has Iowa as an 8-seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament
No one should be surprised by Iowa's resurgence in McCollum's first season, but it is surprising how fast he turned the program around.
With Iowa's roster largely comprised of former Division II and Drake Bulldogs players, no one was sure if Iowa would compete this season.
Last season, McCollum took "D2 Drake" to their first NCAA Tournament since the 1970s, and they knocked off Missouri in the first round.
This season, the Hawkeyes are 15-5 (5-4 Big Ten), including a 12-1 record at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, through their first 20 games, and bracketologists are taking notice.
According to Fox Sports' College Basketball Bracket Analyst Michael DeCourcy, the Hawkeyes will be one of the numerous Big Ten representatives who make the NCAA Tournament field this year.
DeCourcy projects Iowa to earn an eight-seed in the South Region, taking on the nine-seed Kentucky Wildcats in the first round.
That means that Iowa would most likely take on ACC powerhouse Duke in the second round if both teams advance.
Iowa's dramatic turnaround can largely be attributed to McCollum's no-nonsense style and a renewed commitment to defense.
All Iowa fans know how bad the Hawkeyes were on defense under Fran McCaffery, and Iowa's defensive intensity is a welcome sight.
The Hawkeyes currently rank No. 5 overall in college basketball in scoring defense, allowing only 62.9 points per game.
With McCollum at the helm and the entire squad buying in, the Hawkeyes have a great chance to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance in three years.