After the spring transfer portal closed, the new-look Iowa Men's Basketball roster has rounded into form. The Hawkeyes' roster was depleted after losing multiple players following the firing of long-time Head Coach Fran McCaffery.
Twelve players left the program through the transfer portal, and three 2025 prospects decommitted.
New Head Coach Ben McCollum has built rosters from scratch, but was faced with a much tougher task rebuilding the roster of a Power Five program.
McCollum added five of his former Drake players from the portal to start the rebuilding process. That included the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Bennett Stirtz, and the Sixth-Man of the Year Tavion Banks.
The Hawkeyes also added sharpshooters Brendan Hausen (Kansas State) and Alvaro Folgueiras (Robert Morris) from the transfer portal.
The Hawkeyes also rounded out the roster with two commitments in the 2025 recruiting class. Trevin Jirak joined Iowa after flipping his commitment from Northern Iowa, and Tate Sage joined after flipping his commitment from Drake.
The Iowa roster sits at 11 before the season begins.
The Hawkeyes have not played a game together, but are garnering attention from sports media outlets.
In a way too early projection for the 2025-2026 season, On3 Sports' Jamie Shaw projects the Hawkeyes to start the season ranked No. 24 in the nation. The Hawkeyes have not been ranked to start the season since they started the 2022-2023 season ranked No. 25.
Iowa failed to gain traction in the final years of the Fran McCaffery era, finishing with a combined 55-45 record. They also missed the NCAA tournament the past two seasons.
McCollum has brought excitement back to a program that was middling in the final few seasons under McCaffery. McCollum is coming off a season where he guided the Drake Bulldogs to a program-record 31 wins and an NCAA tournament berth.
From the minute McCollum stepped on campus, he has implored Hawkeye fans to be a part of the rebuild. He wants fans in the stands to bring the noise back to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Before he suits up in his trademark white shirt and plain tie for Iowa's first game, On3 gave the Hawkeye program some fuel. Ranking Iowa No. 24 to start the season proves people have faith in McCollum and his ability to build a competitve roster.
If his first season at Drake was a clue to what his first season in Iowa City can be, Hawkeye fans should be excited.