Bennett Stirtz is on a mission to prove his worth in the highly competitive Big Ten this season—and he’s ready to back it up on the court. Last year, during his freshman season at Drake University, the guard often heard the phrase "D-2 Drake" thrown around as a slight, a reminder that his team was perceived as a lower-tier program. But here’s where it gets interesting: that label actually became a rallying cry for Stirtz and his teammates. When Ben McCollum took over as head coach before the 2024-2025 season and brought along four players from the Division II level, many doubted the team’s potential. Instead, Stirtz and the Bulldogs flipped the script, using the underdog tag as fuel to ignite a remarkable season—winning 31 games and punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, defying all expectations.
Now, Stirtz has followed McCollum once again, this time stepping up to compete in the Big Ten with Iowa. The stakes are higher, the spotlight brighter, and so are the expectations. As a senior guard, he’s already been named to multiple preseason All-Big Ten First Team lists. While honors like these are flattering, Stirtz remains humble, reminding everyone that none of it counts until the game clock starts ticking.
In anticipation of the upcoming season, Stirtz joined fellow Hawkeye Cam Manyawu at the 2025 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Media Days in Chicago, where he shared his mindset and insights into the team’s progress. Speaking with confidence and determination, Stirtz declared he plans to carry a persistent chip on his shoulder throughout the season. His goal? To be ready to play every single minute of every game if needed. The foundation for that stamina? Intense summer workouts that have prepared him physically to be on the court, not sidelined.
What makes this Iowa team intriguing, according to Stirtz, is their evolving offensive identity—especially the presence of multiple players capable of executing "pick and pop" plays, a strategy that not only diversifies scoring options but also stretches defenses thin. Although the team is still ironing out the specifics of their offense, Stirtz is confident their ability to space the floor and create open shots will make them a dangerous force this season.
Above all, Stirtz is buzzing with excitement for the season launch and is eager to perform in front of a full house at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. But here’s the part most people miss: his journey raises a controversial question—does success come from talent alone, or from culturing that relentless drive to prove doubters wrong? What do you think? Can Stirtz’s hunger and resilience redefine what it means to rise through the ranks of college basketball? Share your thoughts below!
