Iowa's First-Year Coach Takes 9th Seed to Elite Eight

Ben McCollum is proving that sometimes the biggest risks lead to the sweetest rewards.

The first-year Iowa coach, who spent years winning Division II national championships at Northwest Missouri State, just guided his ninth-seeded Hawkeyes to the Elite Eight with a thrilling 77-71 victory over Nebraska. It's Iowa's first regional final appearance since 1987, and the lowest-seeded Big Ten team to reach this stage since tournament seeding began in 1979.

Bennett Stirtz led Iowa with 20 points, while Alvaro Folgueiras added 16 crucial points including a game-sealing three-point play. The dramatic moment came when Nebraska had only four defenders on the floor, leaving Folgueiras wide open for a thunderous dunk that sent Iowa fans into a frenzy.

The Hawkeyes trailed early by 10 points but never stopped believing. Stirtz buried a clutch three-pointer to give Iowa its first lead with just over two minutes remaining, then Sage Tate hit another three to cap a decisive 9-0 run.

This magical run follows Iowa's stunning upset of top-seeded Florida in the second round, won on a last-second three-pointer by Folgueiras. Now they'll face another Big Ten rival, Illinois, on Saturday for a chance to reach the Final Four.

Why This Inspires

McCollum and Stirtz's journey together started at Northwest Missouri State and continued through Drake before landing at Iowa. Their bond runs deeper than basketball.

"He turned me into a great person off the court and a great player on the court," Stirtz said of his coach, fighting back tears. When asked to elaborate, he could barely continue: "I don't want to talk about it that much. I get emotional."

McCollum's humility shines through even in triumph. "Cinderella, whatever they want to call us, just we're in the Elite Eight," he said. "That's what they need to call us."

The coach's four Division II national titles prepared him for this moment, but nothing compares to leading a major program to March Madness glory in his first season. His willingness to take the leap from Division II success to major college basketball shows that believing in yourself can open doors you never imagined.

For Nebraska, the loss doesn't diminish their historic season with the program's first tournament wins and most victories ever. Coach Fred Hoiberg reminded his team they elevated Nebraska basketball forever.

Iowa's improbable run continues Saturday, with a entire state dreaming of the Final Four.