The Iowa Men's Basketball squad is off to a hot 5-0 start in Ben McCollum's first season in Iowa City.
The Hawkeyes have used efficient offense and pressure defense to be successful through the first five games, albeit against weaker competition.
Iowa ranks No. 1 overall in college basketball in field goal percentage (57.9) and No. 25 in three-point percentage (40.7).
The Hawkeyes are also outscoring opponents by 24.8 points per game (No. 50 overall), and holding their opponents to 64.8 points per game (No. 27 overall).
McCollum has his guys focused and locked in to start the season, and it helps when you bring the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and 2025 preseason All-Big Ten First-Team selection Bennett Stirtz with you.
Stirtz has been as advertised, leading the Hawkeyes in scoring (17.6) and assists per game (6.2).
Near the end of last season, Stirtz was generating a lot of NBA buzz, with many projecting that he would enter the NBA draft after a stellar season for the Drake Bulldogs.
After testing the NBA waters, Stirtz ultimately decided to follow McCollum to Iowa City for his final year of college eligibility, but the NBA Draft buzz has not stopped.
In ESPN's latest mock NBA Draft, they project the Minnesota Timberwolves to take Stirtz with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
According to ESPN's NBA Draft analyst Jeremy Woo, Stirtz will be a top 20 pick because of his ability to "dictate the flow of the game," and make good decisions.
While his upside as a 22-year-old point guard will be scrutinized, Woo believes he has some "plug and play" ability for a contending team.
The true test will come when the Hawkeyes start their Big Ten schedule, and if Stirtz can hold his own and succeed, his draft stock could continue to rise.