**2026 Iowa Basketball Offseason & Transfer Portal Thread**

[douglasbader]

Howard will be in the regular rotation just like he was last season. He's not pretty but had some big games and McCollum loves the defense

Yeah, he's solidly the #8 guy. It's really just down to matchups for Big Pear and if Harris or Coon can be a surprise they can't keep off the court similar to Sage last year.

Much like conference re-alignment, the Iowa Basketball team will be made up of pods.

Combs / Coleman / Howard in the guard pod.

Sage / Koch / Thompson in the wing forward pod.

McKeever / Manyawu in the post center pod.

Big Pear / Harris / Coons in the "we'll use you as needed or you're here until we figure out how good you are and trust you" pod.

 

[YugoslavianMountainHound]

Pods!

 

[Silky Johnson]

The trio of Koch/Sage/Thompson is Fran’s wet dream.

As for Howard, as said he’ll play plenty because of his defense but if somehow that guy can stop being timid and learn to shoot look out. In his third year I’m not going to hold my breath but stranger things and all that.

 

[CleteyColgate]

It's really just easier to figure out who the 8 guys are that will play significant minutes and maybe the 9th guy that gets some significant minutes in a few games.

Combs, Coleman, Sage, Koch, McKeever, Manyawu and Thompson are your Top 7.

Big Pear, Howard, Harris and Coon battle for the #8/#9 guy.

I'm going to guess that Howard wins a spot on familiarity and as the 3rd ballhandler. Big Pear/Harris split time in that #9 spot based on the matchups. Coon will be the odd man out this year.

Joey, Peyton and Jacob Koch are just practice guys and cheerleaders.

I think Peyton gets a few minutes most games

 

[douglasbader]

As much as Stirtz played nearly every minute, it was encouraging that when he did come out they actually seemed to play better or at least not fall off much. Encouraging and would go along with the McCollum narrative that he (on some level) has a guy like Stirtz that leaves and everyone wonders if they will be as good and he's always found a way to replace them as good or better.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

As good as stirtz was, they too often fell into a trap of him holding the ball too long and taking a terrible shot at the end of the shot clock

 

[hawkeyealum]

I was told the other day that Thompson can score but still a work in progress defensively. I hope that’s not true given he’s had a full year to practice

 

[Talkin' Goat]

As good as stirtz was, they too often fell into a trap of him holding the ball too long and taking a terrible shot at the end of the shot clock

Agree, but a lot of that was due to having no one else who could shoot worth a shit out there. Koch and Sage were great toward the end but pretty mediocre during the bulk of the season. Them being better and more confident plus adding Coleman and Thompson to the rotation should give several solid options this season regardless of the lineup.

 

[douglasbader]

I was told the other day that Thompson can score but still a work in progress defensively. I hope that’s not true given he’s had a full year to practice

Good to remember he was supposed to be a high school senior last year.

 

[YugoslavianMountainHound]

I’m old enough to remember when our whole team was a work in progress defensively for more than a decade.

 

[BBK]

Yeah, he's solidly the #8 guy. It's really just down to matchups for Big Pear and if Harris or Coon can be a surprise they can't keep off the court similar to Sage last year.

Much like conference re-alignment, the Iowa Basketball team will be made up of pods.

Combs / Coleman / Howard in the guard pod.

Sage / Koch / Thompson in the wing forward pod.

McKeever / Manyawu in the post center pod.

Big Pear / Harris / Coons in the "we'll use you as needed or you're here until we figure out how good you are and trust you" pod.

Just to annoy people, here is my projected starting 5:

Combs
Howard
Sage
Koch
Manyawu

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Wut

 

[Hawk&Balls]

 

[The Dad]

The trio of Koch/Sage/Thompson is Fran’s wet dream.

As for Howard, as said he’ll play plenty because of his defense but if somehow that guy can stop being timid and learn to shoot look out. In his third year I’m not going to hold my breath but stranger things and all that.

I wouldn’t say timid was his problem.

 

[ISUFan98]

View attachment 72501

No big changes

They should have brought back this court:

 

[BBK]

View attachment 72514

You watch

 

[Fletch]

I can see Coleman coming off the bench at the start if he’s not yet comfortable with the system but I would be pretty surprised if McKeever didn’t start.

I think they both start though.

 

[CleteyColgate]

Just to annoy people, here is my projected starting 5:

Combs
Howard
Sage
Koch
Manyawu

Pretty close. Howard won't start. Sage at the 2. Probably Coleman in.

 

[douglasbader]

Manyawu sort of sucks and frustrates the hell out of McCollum. Howard is just not a skilled player and seems like he might be a slow adult.

They seem like perfect short burst bench players.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Mccollum has a lot of that Kirk, plays his guys that do things the right way and have put in their time to him. But at least he seems to sense when it's not working.

 

[douglasbader]

I could be WATT, but Manyawu and Howard just scream to me limited players that maximize everything they have but are still Drake level guys that won't really get better. Neither are skilled, just high effort players that make the most of what they do have.

Howard just doesn't seem like a player that suddenly starts shooting 38% from three. He seems like a guy that has a ton of athleticism but a broke shot and not too bright who is exactly what you see and nothing more.

 

[6deuce]

I could be WATT, but Manyawu and Howard just scream to me limited players that maximize everything they have but are still Drake level guys that won't really get better. Neither are skilled, just high effort players that make the most of what they do have.

Howard just doesn't seem like a player that suddenly starts shooting 38% from three. He seems like a guy that has a ton of athleticism but a broke shot and not too bright who is exactly what you see and nothing more.

He’s a red ass and I appreciate that. He also
Doesn’t shy away from bigger players. He is the anti Fran and for that…I salute him.

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

He’s a red ass and I appreciate that. He also
Doesn’t shy away from bigger players. He is the anti Fran and for that…I salute him.

But he is also a wildly inconsistent (mostly bad) shooter playing at the wing. I do like him though, and teams need guys like him.

 

[Silky Johnson]

I wouldn’t say timid was his problem.

I should have worded that better. Afraid to shoot wide open 3s (because he’s not a good shooter) but yes you are correct he did have a tendency to drive in out of control. The physical tools are there but that’s been true of a lot of guys.

 

[The Dad]

I should have worded that better. Afraid to shoot wide open 3s (because he’s not a good shooter) but yes you are correct he did have a tendency to drive in out of control. The physical tools are there but that’s been true of a lot of guys.

I think a rewatch is in order. Dude jacked up the first open 3 presented to him each game. Usually missing terribly and then not attempting any others.

Lather, rinse, repeat game after game.

 

[BBK]

Everyone had Folgers and Hausen starting last year.

In the end Ben went with what he was most comfortable with from a defensive standpoint.

And I'm not sure that changes this year

 

[BBK]

I'm really excited about Koch. Him going from not being able to guard anyone to a lockdown defender at the 4 might be one of the most amazing things I've seen in my life as an Iowa basketball fan

 

[maxinquaye]

I see Coon as a more skilled even more athletic Howard. Howard will have the upper hand this year due to time in the program.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

I'm really excited about Koch.

Bet you are

 

[Revolver]

Trey Thompson Era begins, boyz.

Thompson > Folgueiras

 

[KitKatApples]

I see Coon as a more skilled even more athletic Howard. Howard will have the upper hand this year due to time in the program.

 

[Fletch]

Bet you are

So is @Lee Beevers , but only if he’s big.

 

[26.2]

Thompson > Folgueiras

I sure fucking hope so.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

Manyawu sort of sucks and frustrates the hell out of McCollum. Howard is just not a skilled player and seems like he might be a slow adult.

They seem like perfect short burst bench players.

Gonna be Coleman, Combs, Sage, Koch, McKeever/Manyawu

 

[BBK]

Gonna be Coleman, Combs, Sage, Koch, McKeever/Manyawu

LOL NOPE

 

[Fletch]

Gonna be Coleman, Combs, Sage, Koch, McKeever/Manyawu

My man.

I think McKeever is likely and Coleman might not be at start of season but otherwise I think you are correct.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Da dawg speaks the troof