21. Iowa (12-2)
Based on recent history, we shouldn’t be surprised to see Iowa thriving under new head coach Ben McCollum. He’s built a habit of quick success and great breakthroughs with these programs and now back in his hometown is trying to build a Big Ten contender. A tough effort against Michigan State a month ago might have spelled that this won’t happen his season, but Iowa is coming and they look strong.
There wasn’t much doubt on Monday, with the Hawkeyes winning 90-62 over UMass Lowell, getting a 22-point, 8-assist effort from Bennett Stirtz in the victory. Iowa started Big Ten play on Saturday and got it going on the right foot, using a strong first half to win 74-61 against UCLA. Stirtz again was unconscious with a 27-point effort while Alvaro Folgueiras added 13 points off the bench in another notable win.
McCollum’s team lost their two big chances before New Year’s to make an impression but they’re still doing that in these latest efforts. Stirtz starred under McCollum at both Northwest Missouri State and Drake and now looks like an All-Big Ten player with the way his season is going in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes will hope to continue this momentum in this dangerous league with a trip to Minnesota in just a couple days.