Iowa Guard Draws Comparison to NBA Champion

Throughout the course of the Iowa Hawkeyes' 8-1 start to head coach Ben McCollum's inaugural season, many headlining narratives have outlined the team's development in what is essentially a rebuilding phase for the program. Most recently, their 7-0 start being interrupted by a blowout loss, and then subsequently redeemed by a blowout win, has shifted the Hawkeyes' outlook towards an anticipated appearance in the AP Poll.

Among those and other through-lines is the continued dominance of senior guard Bennett Stirtz. Playing nearly 40 minutes a game on a regular basis and averaging 18.8 points per contest, the longtime brainchild of McCollum's brand of basketball has made himself the face of the team.

A Sleeper Secondary Option

While Stirtz continues to serve as Iowa's "poster player", the unit's reliable complementary options are often buried beneath the media attention that the star guard receives. One such example is guard Tate Sage, who, following Iowa's most recent win over the Maryland Terrapins at home, has garnered a heap of well-deserved attention for his specific role in the Hawkeyes' offense.

Despite averaging just six points, two rebounds and one assist per game, the freshman role-player (in the most literal sense) exhibits the recently rarified value of committing to a team's overall vision and executing based on that alone.