Iowa can fix its size problem by adding one of the biggest players on the market

We are still a week away from the transfer portal officially opening, but that has stopped hundreds of players from planning to hop in once it opens.

The Hawkeyes just wrapped up a solid 24-13 season with a trip to the Elite 8, which was definitely better than most people expected.

Now with a full year of Big Ten play under his belt, Ben McCollum has a better idea of what it will take to compete at a high level next season. McCollum admitted after the loss to Illinois in the Elite 8 that they needed more shooting to make up for their lack of size.

While the lack of shooting is one key issue to address this offseason, in order for Iowa to compete in the Big Ten, having more size won't hurt either.

McCollum should pursue seven-foot-three big Andre McKeever from the portal

Almost every team in the Big Ten has at least one dominant big man, something the Hawkeyes were lacking this season, and it showed.

Iowa used pressure at the point of attack to keep opponents out of the paint, but if McCollum wants more interior defending, he should look no further than seven-foot-three big man Andrew McKeever.

McKeever is coming off a season in which he averaged 8.2 points and 9.2 rebounds for the Saint Mary's Gaels in 23 minutes per game, and he will likely command a steep price when the transfer portal opens.

He does not provide much shooting, but he can clean up rebounds and provide shot-blocking for the Hawkeyes, who desperately lacked it last season.

Pursuing McKeever is not a dig at current Iowa center Cam Manyawu or what he brings to the table, but having more size in the Big Ten is never a bad thing.

If McCollum wants to start Manyawu again next season, McKeever, at a bare minimum, can provide another big body to have on the bench if he gets in foul trouble.

It will be interesting to see who McCollum and company pursue this offseason to keep building a foundation for sustained success.