Iowa's Stirtz Pitches Recruits After Elite Eight Loss

Hawkeyes star guard rallies support for program despite NCAA tournament defeat.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:04am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the chaotic energy of a college basketball game, with sharp geometric shapes in deep navy, forest green, and burnt orange overlapping to create a sense of movement and intensity.Stirtz's impassioned recruiting pitch reflects Iowa's growing basketball profile after an unexpected tournament run.Missouri Valley Today

Despite Iowa's heartbreaking loss to Illinois in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, star guard Bennett Stirtz used the postgame press conference as an opportunity to pitch prospective recruits on joining the Hawkeyes program. Stirtz, a transfer from Drake and Northwest Missouri State, emerged as a star this season, averaging 19.7 points per game and helping lead Iowa to its first Elite Eight appearance since 1987.

Why it matters

Stirtz's passionate recruiting pitch after a tough tournament loss demonstrates the program's momentum and the coaching staff's ability to attract top talent, even in the face of defeat. Iowa's surprise tournament run has raised the profile of the Hawkeyes and their new head coach Ben McCollum, who will look to capitalize on this season's success in recruiting the next wave of players.

The details

In his postgame comments, Stirtz told 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's recruiting pitch came after he led the Hawkeyes with 24 points, including four 3-pointers, in the loss to Illinois. Iowa's tournament run included an upset victory over defending national champion Florida to reach the Elite Eight.

  • Iowa's season ended on March 29, 2026 with the loss to Illinois.
  • The Hawkeyes were making their first Elite Eight appearance since the 1986-87 season.

The players

Bennett Stirtz

A transfer guard who emerged as a star for Iowa this season, averaging 19.7 points per game and leading the Hawkeyes to the Elite Eight.

Ben McCollum

Iowa's head coach, who previously coached Stirtz at Drake and Northwest Missouri State, and has built the Hawkeyes into an NCAA tournament contender in his second season.

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What they’re saying

“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?”

— Bennett Stirtz, Guard

What’s next

McCollum and the Iowa coaching staff will look to capitalize on the program's tournament success in recruiting the next wave of talent to join Stirtz and build on this season's accomplishments.

The takeaway

Stirtz's impassioned recruiting pitch after a tough tournament loss demonstrates the momentum and upward trajectory of the Iowa basketball program under McCollum's leadership. The Hawkeyes' surprise Elite Eight run has raised the team's national profile, and they will look to parlay that success into securing top recruits to sustain their success in the years to come.