Two years ago, Iowa coach Ben McCollum was at Division II Northwest Missouri State and right there with him was current Hawkeyes star Bennett Stirtz. It’s been a whirlwind journey for the pair since then. And on Saturday night, they’ll have a chance to carry Iowa to its first Final Four since 1980 when the Hawkeyes meet No.
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NASA astronaut says his medical scare remains a mysteryA red fox stows away on a cargo ship, traveling from England to the USA Medicaid 'spend down' may get an older person long-term care coverage but isn't a DIY strategyAt Middle Creek, timing and distance shape a photo of migrating geeseThe World in PicturesUganda reintroduces rhinos into a protected area where they have been extinct since 1983Dietary supplement makers push the FDA to allow peptides and other new ingredientsAs demand for GLP-1 pills and shots surges, healthy habits are still keyAI is giving bad advice to flatter its users, says new study on dangers of overly agreeable chatbotsThe future of fish is looking a lot like meatTrump interrumpe reunión del gabinete sobre Irán y el aumento de precios para hablar de plumonesIowa head coach Ben McCollum, left, answers questions during a news conference for the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Austin, Texas. Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz answers questions during a news conference for the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Austin, Texas. Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz races down court after grabbing a loose ball from Nebraska guard Sam Hoiberg, bottom right, during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston. Iowa head coach Ben McCollum directs his players during the first half against Nebraska in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston. Iowa head coach Ben McCollum, left, answers questions during a news conference for the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Austin, Texas. Iowa head coach Ben McCollum, left, answers questions during a news conference for the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Austin, Texas. Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz answers questions during a news conference for the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Austin, Texas. Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz answers questions during a news conference for the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Austin, Texas. Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz races down court after grabbing a loose ball from Nebraska guard Sam Hoiberg, bottom right, during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston. Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz races down court after grabbing a loose ball from Nebraska guard Sam Hoiberg, bottom right, during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston. Iowa head coach Ben McCollum directs his players during the first half against Nebraska in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston. Iowa head coach Ben McCollum directs his players during the first half against Nebraska in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston. HOUSTON — Two years ago, Iowa coach Ben McCollum was at Division II Northwest Missouri State and right there with him was current Hawkeyes star Bennett Stirtz. It’s been a whirlwind journey for the pair since then. And on Saturday night, they’ll have a chance to carry Iowa to its first Final Four since 1980 when “I don’t think either of us would be here without the other,” McCollum said Friday. “So now we’re in the Elite Eight and he’s gone further than he ever has, even at Division II, and hopefully he can keep going further.” McCollum, who is in his first season at Iowa after one year at Drake, won four Division II national titles at Northwest Missouri State. Those came before Stirtz joined the team. Stirtz recalled meeting McCollum for the first time when the coach came to one of his practices when he was a junior in high school. “He won three straight before I got to meet him, so it was obviously pretty cool and I had no other offers,” he said. “So definitely in shock when I first saw him and, yeah, it’s been a crazy journey so far and hopefully keep it rolling.” McCollum remembered Stirtz being homesick early in his career at Northwest Missouri State even though it was only a little over an hour from his hometown of Liberty, Missouri. So, when he started getting interest from other schools, McCollum wanted Stirtz to follow him but was worried he’d say no because he wouldn’t want to stray far from home. “What happens if I go somewhere? What would you want to do? And he is like, ‘I’ll go.’” McCollum said. “And I’m like, OK ... what if it’s Florida or somewhere random? Because he’s kind of a homebody naturally. He said, ‘I’ll go.’” Though he was confident about any move when he spoke with his coach, Stirtz told his dad that he was a bit nervous about where McCollum would end up. Despite that trepidation, he followed the coach to Drake before packing up again just one year later to accompany him to Iowa.“I knew that it was going to be a challenge to go with him, but I thought I would regret it if I didn’t go,” Stirtz said. After McCollum was hired at Iowa this offseason, Stirtz, who had no Division I offers out of high school, had all sorts of teams angling for him. “The way this portal works and the way all this NIL stuff works, some people were illegally recruiting him, offering him a lot more money, and he still chose to come to the University of Iowa,” McCollum said. “I think that’s probably as special as it gets, that he believes in you, and you believe in him.” He credits his growth and a player — and a person — to his longtime coach and the guidance he’s provided. “He just pushes you past your limit,” Stirtz said. “He shoots you straight and never lies to you. Sometimes it sucks because the discipline and everything sucks in the moment, but it makes you stronger mentally, physically, emotionally. It just makes you a stronger person and it makes you think that you can just accomplish anything.”Trump signs executive order to pay TSA workers with other funds after House rejects funding bill
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