Ben McCollum has put in the work and is now widely considered to be one of the best basketball minds in college basketball.
After guiding Northwest Missouri State to four Division II National Championships, McCollum guided the Drake Bulldogs to their first NCAA Tournament win in 40 years, and now he is making more history with the Hawkeyes.
McCollum joined Tom Davis as the only coach in Iowa program history to have guided their team to a Sweet 16 in their first season. With more history on the line during the Sweet 16 game versus Nebraska on Thursday, March 26, 2026, McCollum is trying to increase his NCAA Tournament win total in year one, something Nebraska would hate to see.
McCollum has as many NCAA Tournament wins a Nebraska does all-time
Iowa's first trip to the Sweet 16 since 1999 is historical for more than one reason.
If the Hawkeyes pull out another upset and move on, it will be the program's first trip to the Elite Eight since 1987 and would give McCollum a special tally to add to his growing resume.
IOWA VS. NEBRASKA IN THE SWEET 16 😱
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) March 23, 2026
MADNESS. pic.twitter.com/G6qHzYgqo0
In just one season, McCollum already has as many NCAA Tournament wins at Iowa as the entire Nebraska program all-time.
If Iowa can do the unthinkable and knock off a hated rival in Nebraska and give McCollum his third win as the head coach, it would be the cherry on top.
Iowa and Nebraska have played twice this season, including an OT thriller to end the regular season, and the tension is just starting to build.
If McCollum can orchestrate another masterpiece, we talking be talking about a statue going up outside of Carver-Hawkeye Arena at the end of his career.