Bennett Stirtz NBA Draft Projection: Where Iowa Star Is Expected to Land Bennett Stirtz, the standout Iowa basketball player, has consistently demonstrated elite performance since his college career began. After starting at Division II Northwest Missouri State, he transferred to Drake, where he gained national recognition during the NCAA Tournament. For his final season of eligibility, he joined the Iowa Hawkeyes under head coach Ben McCollum, marking a significant step in his basketball journey. His standout play during this season has positioned him as a top prospect for the upcoming NBA Draft. Stirtz’s ability to excel across multiple levels of college basketball has drawn attention from NBA scouts. While his exact draft position remains uncertain, several mock drafts project him as a mid-to-late first-round pick. ESPN’s mock draft has him going to the Miami Heat with the 20th overall selection, while Yahoo Sports places him with the Detroit Pistons at pick 23. USA Today and CBS Sports both have him joining the Toronto Raptors, with USA Today projecting him at 16th overall and CBS at 19th. Tankathon, another mock draft site, lists him as a first-round pick for the Charlotte Hornets at 19th. Before the NCAA Tournament, Stirtz had already made a strong case for his NBA readiness. During the 2025-26 season, he played in 33 games, averaging 20 points per game while shooting 49.2% from the field. His long-range accuracy stood at 37.6%, and he maintained an impressive 84.5% free-throw shooting rate. Over his two seasons at the Division I level, he averaged 19.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. His overall field goal percentage of 49.5% and 38.4% from beyond the arc further highlight his scoring versatility. In the NCAA Tournament, Stirtz’s impact was evident.#iowa_hawkeyes #miami_heat #nba_draft #ben_mccollum #bennett_stirtz
Where Iowa basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions IOWA CITY — Selection Sunday is here. The men’s NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed later today. The March Madness Selection Show is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. CT on CBS. Iowa men’s basketball finished the regular season 20-11 overall and 10-10 in Big Ten play under first-year head coach Ben McCollum. The Hawkeyes won their first game in the 2026 Big Ten Tournament, defeating Maryland, but then lost to Ohio State by three points. Iowa is projected to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2023. The Hawkeyes have not won a game in the Big Dance since 2021. While it’s difficult to definitively know where Iowa currently stands in the eyes of the selection committee, here's where experts are predicting the Hawkeyes to land, as of Sunday morning. The men’s NCAA Tournament selection show will start at 5 p.m. CT on CBS. The women’s NCAA Tournament selection show will start at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN. Iowa men’s basketball March Madness projections Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.#big_ten_tournament #ncaa_tournament #iowa_city #iowa_men_s_basketball #ben_mccollum
