Bennett Stirtz and Tavion Banks have been on a whirlwind of a journey the last 730 days.
At this time two years ago, Stirtz was a Division II ball player playing for Ben McCollum’s Northwest Missouri State squad. As for Banks, he was down south under the sun at Northwest Florida State – a true JUCO product.
The two teamed up with Ben McCollum last year at Drake and did so again at Iowa for this season. And now, the end of their respective college careers is coming to an end with their last home game in Carver-Hawkeye Arena taking place Thursday against No. 3 Michigan.
Stirtz was a surefire NBA draft prospect following last year’s breakout season at Drake. The biggest reason why he came to Iowa City was because McCollum did so. And as a result, his draft stock rose even higher with team-high averages of 20.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.4 steals.
Despite the hype he’s created for himself, Stirtz has remained even-keeled throughout the season, solely focused on what’s needed from him to win games.
“Taking one game at a time, one practice at a time. I think that’s what it’s all about,” he said.
Banks has been the gritty presence inside for an undersized Hawkeyes squad, averaging a team-high 4.7 rebounds to go along with 10.5 points on 42.4 percent shooting from three. He admitted that the physicality of the Big Ten has been a big adjustment despite being outsized in several matchups.
“I’ve been knocked down a lot, but I still get up,” Banks said. ” [It] really doesn’t bother me because I love the game. I’m literally giving a foot or tooth away for this game.” He’ll surely need that mindset going into its matchup against the Wolverines.
The Hawkeyes have struggled defensively as of late, coming off a game where it allowed Penn State to shoot 64 percent in the 71-69 loss on Saturday. Michigan will arguably be Iowa’s biggest challenge of the season, as it’s currently the Big Ten’s leader with 89 points per game, 31.2 made field goals per game, and 51 percent shooting from the field.
Eight players on the Michigan roster average more than seven points per game, including four double-digit scorers. Star forward Yaxel Lendeborg leads the bunch with 14.3 points per game and is in the National Player of the Year running.
Lendeborg, a 6-foot-9 forward, will be joined in the starting lineup by Morez Johnson Jr., 6-foot-9, and Alex Mara, 7-foot-3. The height has been a major factor in the Wolverines’ 40.7 rebounds per game, and the lack of size for Iowa has created a rebounding disadvantage all season, averaging 29.8 boards a contest.
“They got a lot of hype, very talented, but we have talented players on our team, too,” Banks said. “It’s just the height difference between us… It’s going to be the most physical team, and who’s going to want to win [more]. So I don’t think it would be anything else that’s different from that.”
One of McCollum’s guiders throughout his first year coaching in the Big Ten has been Michigan head coach Dusty May, who is in the running for 2025-26 Big Ten Coach of the Year. The two have a growing relationship through their bond of basketball dating back to May’s Florida Atlantic days, McCollum said.
So when asked about the scouting report on the Wolverines at Tuesday morning’s media availability, the Iowa head coach was reluctant to say anything that’ll give his friend a leg-up.
“They’re really good,” McCollum said. “I’m sure Dusty will watch this. So as long as Dusty stays out of the way, they’ll be fine.”
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT Thursday, March 5, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and can be streamed on Peacock.