The basketball season is over for the Iowa and Iowa State men after both were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes made it to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987 before falling to Illinois 71-59. Ben McCollum’s turnaround of the Hawkeye program was immediate as they finish the season 24-13.
McCollum credits a small senior class, led by star guard Bennett Stirtz, for setting the foundation for the program.
Stirtz put together numbers that were amongst the best in program history and became an All Big Ten guard in the process.
It was a unique career for Stirtz that began at Division II Northwest Missouri State.
Iowa State’s run ended in the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in five years after a 76-62 loss to Tennessee. The Cyclones played without injured All American forward Joshua Jefferson.
That’s Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger. The Cyclones close the season with a record of 29-8.
It was the final game in the career of senior guard Tamin Lipsey who says he is grateful for the opportunity to be a Cyclone.
