Move over Dusty May, there's a new top dog in the Big Ten.
The fallout from Dusty May's surprising decision is being felt across the Big Ten and throughout men's college basketball, and Iowa is reaping the benefits. With May headed to the NBA to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, Iowa has the chance to pounce on two top 2027 targets.
Michigan was in the running for 2027 guards Cayden Daughtry and Jaxson Davis, and even though Iowa is the early favorite to win the recruiting battle, his departure definitely helps. Not only can Ben McCollum take advantage on the recruiting trail, but he can also take the title of the conference's top head coach.
Making the case for Ben McCollum as the best coach in the Big Ten
McCollum accomplished things in his first season that we haven't seen since legendary head coach Tom Davis was at the helm of the Hawkeyes from 1986 to 1999. McCollum guided the program to its first Elite Eight since 1987 in Davis' first season, and has the second-most wins by a head coach in Iowa men's basketball history with 24, just shy of Davis' record 30.
After a successful first season in Iowa City and Dusty May on the way out of Ann Arbor, McCollum can take his place as the Big Ten's best coach. Tom Izzo at Michigan State, Greg Gard at Wisconsin, and Brad Underwood at Illinois might have a claim, but only Illinois was as successful as McCollum was last season.
The Fighting Illini are thanking their lucky stars that May is gone, after struggling to beat the Wolverines. While they had a solid season last year, it remains to be seen if they can repeat that success. They have a loaded roster on paper, and with Michigan out of the way, they could easily win the conference, but we aren't betting against McCollum to make some noise.
McCollum took Bennett Stirtz and a bunch of role players to the Elite Eight in his first season, and with a more well-rounded roster, the program is poised to get back there and, with some luck, go even further. McCollum's track record speaks for itself, and if history is any indication, the Hawkeyes will be in the thick of the Big Ten race next season.
McCollum put up a 395-91 overall record and four Division II National Championships during his tenure with Northwest Missouri State. In his first and only season in Des Moines with the Drake Bulldogs, he guided the program to 31 wins and its first NCAA Tournament victory in 30 years.
Michigan State under Tom Izzo is always challenging, especially at home. Wisconsin is feisty, Nebraska had a stellar season last year under Fred Hoiberg, Purdue is always in the top 20 under Matt Painter, and Illinois might be the top team in the league, but look no further than Iowa City for the conference's best coach. If McCollum replicates his success next season, it won't be long before the program becomes a preferred destination in men's college basketball, and the process has already begun.
Add us as a preferred source on Google