Iowa's Stirtz makes pitch to prospective players

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After Iowa's Elite Eight loss, senior guard Bennett Stirtz made an impassioned plea for prospective players to join the Hawkeyes, praising the coaching staff and the program's bright future under head coach Ben McCollum.

Why it matters

Stirtz's words carry weight as a standout player who transformed his own game under McCollum's tutelage, going from a Division II player to a first-round NBA draft prospect. His endorsement of the Iowa program could sway top recruits to join the Hawkeyes as they look to build on this season's deep NCAA Tournament run.

The details

In the locker room following Iowa's 71-59 loss to Illinois in the Elite Eight, an emotional Stirtz reflected on his journey to Iowa and praised the coaching staff, telling reporters, "If you wanna be a great point guard, you should come to Iowa. If you wanna be a great player, a great big, a great shooter, come play for Iowa. This coaching staff is the best in the country, so, why wouldn't you?" Stirtz, who is expected to be a first-round NBA draft pick, went from playing Division II basketball with McCollum to becoming a first-team All-Big Ten player who helped lead Iowa to its first Elite Eight appearance in nearly 40 years.

• On March 25, 2026, Iowa lost to Illinois 71-59 in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
• Stirtz made his recruiting pitch to prospective players immediately following the loss in the locker room.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Hawkeyes will look to build on this season's success and continue attracting top talent to the program as they aim to make another deep NCAA Tournament run in 2027.