Video: Isaia Howard contributes on both ends of floor in Iowa’s win
Isaia Howard meets with media after Iowa basketball’s 77-58 win over Western Illinois.
IOWA CITY — The scoreboard did not necessarily reflect it, but Iowa basketball coach Ben McCollum was prouder of his team in the win over Western Illinois than in the season opener against Robert Morris.
The Hawkeyes jumped Robert Morris from the start, building a 17-2 lead and basically putting the Colonials away before they even had the chance to blink. It resulted in a 101-69 victory for Iowa, making for a successful beginning to the McCollum era
Iowa’s 77-58 win over Western Illinois a few days later was more methodical. The Hawkeyes led by just eight at halftime and weren’t able to run up the margin in a way they did against Robert Morris.
And yet, McCollum was more pleased with his team against Western Illinois than he was against Robert Morris.
Here is McCollum’s rationale.
- “I think it’s more difficult for a team when you’re not totally T’d up,” he said. “I thought we were pretty T’d up but it wasn’t like it was the other day.”
- “And then on top of it, their style of play,” he continued. “They didn’t really pass a whole lot. It was kind of just run the shot clock down, (isolation), get a shot. It kind of sucks the life out of the game because you can’t get a run going. And that was a great game plan by them. And then defensively, they just kind of like guard you, but they sit four or five feet off you, so you’re kind of in between what you’re supposed to do. And that, again, is a great game plan. I thought they had a great game plan. I didn’t think I was the best coach in the world today.”
- “But I was really proud of the fact that we weren’t at our best and we still won the game and we still win it by (19).”
Here are more takeaways as Iowa improves to 2-0 on the season.
Alvaro Folgueiras makes impact in variety of ways
Folgueiras had his fingerprints all over the game, finishing with 13 points, five rebounds, five assists, one block and three steals.
Folgueiras, who scored 11 of his 13 points before halftime, was playing so well that it prompted a lineup change out of the break. Folgueiras was on the bench to begin each of Iowa’s first two games, but replaced Cam Manyawu in the lineup to open the second half against Western Illinois.
McCollum said of the decision: “He was playing really well.”
Video: Alvaro Folgueiras scores 13 points in Iowa’s win over Western Illinois
Alvaro Folgueiras meets with media after Iowa basketball’s 77-58 win over Western Illinois.
It was a bit of a surprise on opening night to see that Folgueiras was not in Iowa’s starting lineup. The Robert Morris transfer was last season’s Horizon League Player of the Year and one of Iowa’s more marquee roster additions.
Folgueiras showed a glimpse of why against Western Illinois.
Folgueiras still needs to prove it against better competition, but his performance against the Leathernecks was undoubtedly a step in the right direction. The game provided a framework for how Folgueiras can be featured as a complementary piece to Bennett Stirtz, who was phenomenal, notching 24 points and seven assists.
“We have high expectations for him,” McCollum said of Folgueiras. “I think his talent says that he could be starting. The cool part about him is that it’s like, I want to earn this and I want to get in there and do that. When you challenge him, just like that, he came out and performed and was excellent. He’s seeing the work that he’s put in, in the weight room, conditioning, on the floor, attitude, all those things. He’s got a good attitude but just getting it redirected. He’s seeing the results of that now. And so, hopefully he continues to grow and get better.”
Tate Sage has been pleasant surprise
The freshman has clearly shown enough behind the scenes to earn a spot in the rotation early in his Iowa career. Though he shot just 1-of-6 from deep against Western Illinois, he still made contributions off the bench, finishing with eight points.
Through two games, Sage is playing an average of 20 minutes.
Sage did not come to Iowa surrounded by a bunch of hype. He was ranked just 364th nationally in the 2025 high school recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite. Sage was signed to play for McCollum at Drake before following the head coach to the Hawkeyes.
But he looks like someone who can help the Hawkeyes as a true freshman.
“We knew he was good,” McCollum said. “But we thought it would take him a year. But he’s got a little edge to him. He’s a 6-7 two-guard. And so, he’s got good length. He only going to get better… He’s got great energy. He’s a good competitor. I think if we’re going to be at our best, he’s going to need to be pretty good.”
Taking stock in Iowa’s offense
The Hawkeyes did not get close to reaching triple digits against Western Illinois like they did against Robert Morris, but it was still an efficient game offensively. Iowa shot 52% from the field and 40% from deep against the Leathernecks while only turning it over seven times.
“I think we were disrupted tonight,” McCollum said. “I didn’t feel good about our flow. I thought our efficiency was really good, though. I thought we scored. I thought the first game we had great rhythm, great flow, we didn’t play with disruption. Tonight, we were fairly unorganized and that’s on me. Didn’t get into our stuff quick enough. Again, on me, and their defense.”
Before Iowa’s season-opening game, McCollum stated that he thought his team was “a ways away offensively.” But through two games, it hasn’t looked that way.
Video: Ben McCollum reacts to Iowa’s 77-58 win over Western Illinois
Ben McCollum meets with media after Iowa basketball’s 77-58 win over Western Illinois.
It’s a very small sample size, but Iowa is shooting 57% from the field and 43% from 3-point range to open the season. The Hawkeyes have assisted on 42 of their 55 made field goals, which speaks to the way the ball is being shared.
The scoring output against Western Illinois was not as prolific as Robert Morris, but the Hawkeyes still delivered 77 points despite Brendan Hausen and Tate Sage going a combined 1-of-10 from deep.
It felt like there was a stigma about Iowa’s offense because of what McCollum’s team looked like at Drake last season. Granted, it’s against lesser competition, but early returns have pushed back on that perception. The Hawkeyes might not have the most explosive offense, but it looks like one with potential, at the very least.
“They go 5-for-10 on wide open and, those guys, 6-for-10 on wide open, now you’re talking a little bit different score,” McCollum said, referring to Hausen and Sage’s 3-point shooting vs. Western Illinois. “So even there, we’d have more efficiency. And that’s what our offense should be eventually. That’s what we had at Northwest (Missouri State). Like everybody compares our Drake offense, and it’s like, our Drake offense wasn’t exactly what we’re trying to get to.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
