Media Days have come and gone, signaling that college basketball is just around the corner.
The new-look Hawkeyes are in a transition period following a 17-16 (7-13 Big Ten) record last season, and the firing of long-time Head Coach Fran McCaffery.
The Hawkeyes declined all invitations to postseason play, giving them a jump-start on their search for a new head coach.
A week after McCaffery was fired, the program hired Ben McCollum, signaling a new era for Iowa Men's Basketball.
A part of the process for the Hawkeye program was rebuilding their roster, including bringing in five players from McCollum's former Drake Bulldogs squad.
One of those players was the 2024 Missouri Valley Player and Newcomer of the Year, Bennett Stirtz.
It was rumored that Stirtz would forgo his senior season to join the National Basketball Association (NBA), but Stirtz decided to follow McCollum once again.
Stirtz has already be nominated for the Preseason All-Big Ten First Team, and is now adding another award nomination to his shelf before playing a game for the Hawkeyes.
Stacking the honors. 👏@bennett_stirtz has been named a Preseason Second-Team All-American by CBS Sports. pic.twitter.com/VynP3F9LnG
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) October 21, 2025
Stirtz was named a Preseason Second-Team All-American by CBS Sports, giving him three award nominations before his first season with the Hawkeyes program.
During Media Days in Iowa City, Stirtz said he was living a dream when he arrived, stating that he never thought he would get the chance to play Division I basketball.
When asked about the preseason award nominations, Stirtz says they are nice, but he has not played a game for the Hawkeyes yet.
He is solely focused on becoming the best player he can be, and is ready to embrace the bright lights and sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowds this season.