Iowa’s Bennett Stirz accepts the closer role after missing 25 years at Nebraska

ByNBAUSA



Bennett Stirtz had a rough shooting night against No. 9 Nebraska, as he was Iowa basketball overall, but he shined when his teammates needed him the most. 2024-25 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. made several clutch plays in Tuesday’s massive game 57-52 upset win over the Cornhuskersincluding a 3-pointer that gave the Hawkeyes a five-point lead with just under five minutes remaining. Illustrating how important he is to this program’s turnaround, Stirz scored nearly 44 percent of his team’s points.

Considering how rare buckets have been in this Big Ten battle — Iowa and Nebraska shot 33 and 41 percent from the field, respectively, fans will give Stirc some leeway for his 8-of-22 outing. He came through on offense in key spots, and even when he was cold, the 6-foot-4 guard still had an undeniable impact. simply put, Hawkeyes wished to their first ranked win in two years.

Štirc welcomes the responsibility of being closer to this team. “It’s fun, man,” he told Andy Katz. “You have to accept it, and that’s what I do. And I love it.”

Star seniorwho followed head coach Ben McCollum from Division II Northwest Missouri State and mid-major Drake breathes new life into this program. In addition to scoring a game-high 25 points, he had two steals and two blocks. Leading scorers who can stay active on defense are incredibly valuable. Štirc continues to prove that he is more than a top scorer. He approaches the game with infectious energy and admirable determination.

Bennett Stirz led Drake to its first NCAA Tournament win in 54 years last season (minus the top four), and now he’s helping Iowa basketball regain its power. After an embarrassing loss to Maryland and a shellacking by Purdue, the Hawkeyes are stunned by the history-making Huskers in Iowa City.

If No. 14 can continue to improve in time, this group could become a popular pick in March.





2026-02-18 09:14:00

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