Iowa Basketball Preview: Who’s Ready for Something New?

Iowa Basketball 2025-26 Preview: Who’s Ready for Something New at Carver-Hawkeye?

Revamped Roster

Despite plenty of roster turnover, between graduations and transfers out of the program, Coach McCollum was able to keep the Hawkeyes’ foundation pretty well intact. He even brought six players over from the Drake Bulldogs along with him, headlined by star guard Bennett Stirtz, who seems destined to make a massive impact in the Big Ten.

Sure, there aren’t any brothers left in the program from the McCaffrey family, or the Sandfort family, for that matter. Iowa is still in a good position with its roster makeup. McCollum has been a proven winner as a coach, and has players who want to play for him. Keeping Cooper Koch in the fold might have been a blessing in disguise for Iowa, as he, along with Jacob Koch (no relation), a walk-on, are the two returning players from the 2024-25 team.

Otherwise, the Hawkeyes will be relying on a massive haul of transfers. Luckily, they are very experienced, including Tavion Banks (Drake), who averaged 10.1 points last season. Iowa also snatched 6-foot-9 forward Alvaro Folgueiras from Robert Morris in the portal. He was the Horizon League Player of the Year last season.

Other transfers added to Iowa include Cam Manayawu (Drake), Kael Combs (Drake), Brendan Hausen (Kansas State), Isaia Howard (Drake), and Joey Matteoni (Drake).

Iowa also added two new faces from the high school ranks. Those players are 6-foot-11 center Trevin Jirak from right in their backyard. They are also bringing in small forward Tate Sage from Weatherford, Oklahoma. Peyton McCollum, the coach’s son, has also joined the team in Iowa City.

Schedule Outlook

Iowa basketball kicks off their new era with a home clash with Robert Morris on November 4, along with a home clash against the Big East’s Xavier, before they head out to Palm Springs to take part in the Acruisure Series. Their non-conference schedule gets tougher with a road clash at rival Iowa State in December.

Conference play won’t be an easy feat for the team. Road trips to Madison, East Lansing and Eugene highlight the Hawkeyes road Big Ten games. They get Illinois, Michigan, Ohio State, and both USC and UCLA at Carver-Hawkeye in 2025-26.

Unfortunately, they get home and road games against Purdue, Nebraska, and Maryland.

Year One Could Be Exciting

With all of the new players in Iowa City, it doesn’t mean the 2025-26 season can’t be exciting. Stirtz is already among the best guards in the Big Ten heading into the season. He’s going to be fun to watch. The rest of the team is built nicely as well, especially with how many followed their coach from Drake. That player-coach relationship is going to be very beneficial. Are they going to be hanging a banner in year one? No, but some dramatic games would be great to see at Carver-Hawkeye. Perhaps this time, Iowa basketball will play some defense, instead of being an uncontrollable three-point barrage. Time will tell.