**2025 Iowa Offseason & Coaching Search Thread***

[douglasbader]

I mean, the main physicality I saw was a awkward kid falling down multiple times.

/HawkandBalls

 

[Gushawk]

I remain……..unsold.

 

[Mysterio]

hes better than mulvey. low bar but riley played non-scrub minutes last year

 

[The Dad]

hes better than mulvey. low bar but riley played non-scrub minutes last year

Based on what?

 

[CleteyColgate]

The kid is a true freshman busting his ass during summer workouts.

 

[KitKatApples]

If you can’t get excited about this then I think you need to find a new team to cheer for.

I don't have to do a fuckin thing you say

 

[Geese]

If you can’t get excited about this then I think you need to find a new team to cheer for.

Lol u got super excited from that video?

 

[brantshawks]

I don't have to do a fuckin thing you say

Tell em Steve Dave.

 

[Gushawk]

When it comes to Iowa hoops, I remain focused on what can be, unburdened by what has been.

 

[The Dad]

The kid is a true freshman busting his ass during summer workouts.

The reach over shoulder poke out of bounds after getting beat to the ball was inspiring levels of grit and hustle.

 

[YugoslavianMountainHound]

I am whelmed.

 

[rodg12]

 

[Hawk&Balls]

I mean, the main physicality I saw was a awkward kid falling down multiple times.

/HawkandBalls

 

[CleteyColgate]

The reach over shoulder poke out of bounds after getting beat to the ball was inspiring levels of grit and hustle.

I bet you can't do that from your couch

 

[AZmessDAWG]

I remain……..unsold.

You’re going to end up very wrong about this.

 

[Gushawk]

I doubt it. Especially if his body composition doesn’t change significantly.

 

[shoot-the-three]

I doubt it. Especially if his body composition doesn’t change significantly.

He is a freshman, his body composition is going to change. Little different weight room atmosphere than Fran had.

 

[Fletch]

I doubt it. Especially if his body composition doesn’t change significantly.

If it doesn’t, I think Ben runs him off.

 

[Fletch]

I don't have to do a fuckin thing you say

@The Dad just got fuckin told.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

I doubt it. Especially if his body composition doesn’t change significantly.

Lmao

 

[AZmessDAWG]

The best part of these are the “happy to be wrong” posts.

 

[Gushawk]

The best part of these are the “happy to be wrong” posts.

I’ll be a little pissed to be wrong, as RATT,AAAR is among the greatest feelings on earth.

So, what are the believers projecting as a historical comp? Big Country? Luka? Woody? Cherokee Parks? I’ve heard Jokic thrown around by Tyler Tachman or some such luminary. Is that too optimistic?

 

[Hawkstrat]

Here's a longer video of practice.

 

[Hawkstrat]

I don't want to be a H&B, but I really hate that McCollum brought his son with him.

 

[BluesHawk]

I do too, but I absolutely won't GAF if we win. I'm not a win at all costs guy, but that's pretty low on the totem pole for excusable actions. We all just have PTSD.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

I’ll be a little pissed to be wrong, as RATT,AAAR is among the greatest feelings on earth.

So, what are the believers projecting as a historical comp? Big Country? Luka? Woody? Cherokee Parks? I’ve heard Jokic thrown around by Tyler Tachman or some such luminary. Is that too optimistic?

It’s just that you’re so aggressively sure he sucks.

 

[Gushawk]

It’s just that you’re so aggressively sure he sucks.

You said I’m almost certainly wrong. Would just like some context as to what that means, specifically? What kinda star/solid contributor we talkin’ ‘bout here?

 

[AZmessDAWG]

You said I’m almost certainly wrong. Would just like some context as to what that means, specifically? What kinda star/solid contributor we talkin’ ‘bout here?

I don’t know man. I can tell by watching him that he’s got potential.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

You said I’m almost certainly wrong. Would just like some context as to what that means, specifically? What kinda star/solid contributor we talkin’ ‘bout here?

You’re the one putting the whole “he’ll never be any good with that body” thing out there. So what does that mean to you? Give me a comparison.

 

[Lee Beevers]

The best part of these are the “happy to be wrong” posts.

I’ll judge them for being wrong. 75 bows at 3:24 in the morning won’t be great to wake up to!!!

 

[Lee Beevers]

I have no idea if he will be good or not, but he moves better than Garza based off that one twitter clip. Lots of non chiseled not super athletic guys end up being pretty good college basketball players.

 

[fuisu98]

You’re the one putting the whole “he’ll never be any good with that body” thing out there. So what does that mean to you? Give me a comparison.

He’s a bit doughy, I guess, but it’s pretty clear he has a good frame that would add muscle very well. He’s a far cry from the 6’10 bean poles Iowa is usually recruiting and not putting any muscle on. He also moves reasonably well for an 18 year of that size. He’s not cooper Flagg but I think he has decent potential as well.

 

[Stomper15]

I don't want to be a H&B, but I really hate that McCollum brought his son with him.

He really got away with a non answer about this during @tcondon’s interview today.

 

[douglasbader]

He really got away with a non answer about this during @tcondon’s interview today.

It wasn't a non-answer at all, he defended his decision. He thinks his kid works hard enough and is good enough to play. He touted his +/- and toughness as a defender.

I don't agree with his decision, but he absolutely answered the question.

 

[douglasbader]

If they win and make Sweet 16's, none of us will give a shit. If he doesn't and the kid is playing, he'll get blasted.

 

[Gushawk]

You’re the one putting the whole “he’ll never be any good with that body” thing out there. So what does that mean to you? Give me a comparison.

I already provided several possibilities for you to respond to. Here’s another - Cougs. Let me know where you think he’ll land on that spectrum, wise one.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Jirak is already likely better than whatever Mulvey was

 

[Lee Beevers]

I already provided several possibilities for you to respond to. Here’s another - Cougs. Let me know where you think he’ll land on that spectrum, wise one.

He’s not close to as horribly fat as Cougs. Jesus Christ, ‘Stang

 

[AZmessDAWG]

I already provided several possibilities for you to respond to. Here’s another - Cougs. Let me know where you think he’ll land on that spectrum, wise one.

I don’t know. I see a freshman with potential.

 

[B19Rob]

I like Jirak too. He has good size, is skilled, and appears to have a good feel for the game. The coaches and players seem to be genuinely praising him thus far. I think he'll be in the rotation this year.

 

[The Dad]

It will be embarrassing if he is and I’ll hate all of you for being so fucking stupid that you couldn’t see it as early as me or Stang.

 

[Stomper15]

It wasn't a non-answer at all, he defended his decision. He thinks his kid works hard enough and is good enough to play. He touted his +/- and toughness as a defender.

I don't agree with his decision, but he absolutely answered the question.

This was the Apple podcast transcript. It’s a bunch of word sauce — saying a lot of without saying anything at all. We are talking about summer practice plus / minus as a justification of getting a roster spot? SMH. I was hoping he would have let out something we didn’t know like multiple high majors wanting him etc. Or addressing why this is different.

“Yeah, you know, I think at this level, and this is the benefit, and I've said this in other interviews, the benefit of me being at Division Two for quite a while is I was able to make decisions, and you would have some repercussions from it, and you'd have some people that were upset. It wouldn't be as shocking as it is at this level. And, you know, so I've gotten pretty good at, you know, paying attention to enough to make sure that we're trending the right direction, but not paying attention to where it impacts your ability to make the decision you need to make.

And so, you know, specific to him, not all instances are the same, and I think as a society, we try to create that where he took his son, and it didn't work out, and he took his son, and it did work out, and whatever it may be. You know, specific to Payton, you know, right now, he's, he's not our hardest worker, he's one of, you know, he's probably close to our hardest worker. Him, maybe Bennett's in there quite a bit.

“And just from a toughness, from a defensive perspective, going against Bennett every day, he's been fantastic. Attitude wise, I already know, he knows, you know, exactly what to expect. I think he's our second leading plus minus guy, meaning, you know, I think Bennett's our best in regards to plus minus and Peyton's our second best right now.

So he's, he's been doing good. You know, going into the decision, he was going to play for us at Drake, you know, and I think, you know, and had some kind of low major stuff, but, you know, ended up, it's like, well, I'll just go play for my dad. And that sounds like a fun deal.

And so, it really helped our culture. It really impacted that in a lot of ways. And, you know, it's just got to keep working, keep fighting and find his niche.”

From Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball: EXCLUSIVE: Ben McCollum INTERVIEW with Revelations About Iowa Basketball | Will His Strategy TRANSFORM the Program?, Jul 15, 2025

EXCLUSIVE: Ben McCollum INTERVIEW with Revelations About Iowa Basketball | Will His Strategy TRANSFORM the Program?

Podcast Episode · Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball · July 15, 2025 · 30m

podcasts.apple.com

This material may be protected by copyright.

 

[fuisu98]

It will be embarrassing if he is and I’ll hate all of you for being so fucking stupid that you couldn’t see it as early as me or Stang.

To be clear, I’m not saying he’s going to contribute this year, I’m simply saying he looks like he could contribute at some point.

 

[CleteyColgate]

Here’s another - Cougs.

LOL

 

[douglasbader]

This was the Apple podcast transcript. It’s a bunch of word sauce — saying a lot of without saying anything at all. We are talking about summer practice plus / minus as a justification of getting a roster spot? SMH. I was hoping he would have let out something we didn’t know like multiple high majors wanting him etc. Or addressing why this is different.

Lol, he answers the question, just not the way you wanted or say what you wanted.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

I don’t know if he’ll be in the rotation or not. I just think it’s silly to have such a strong negative opinion on a kid that definitely has a skill set and has yet to take a college class.

 

[Gushawk]

I’ve said I like his hands and touch. He just desperately needs to receive and comply with some rigid diet and exercise guidelines.

 

[brantshawks]

I’ve said I like his hands and touch.

Mmmmm


Yeah baby

 

[Geese]

Mmmmm


Yeah baby

 

[Lil Scamp]

I don’t know man. I can tell by watching him that he’s got potential.

Doesn't matter. Having your kid on the roster clouds your judgement I don't care if he's Fat Lever