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How Iowa basketball navigated California trip to win Acrisure Classic

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How Iowa basketball navigated California trip to win Acrisure Classic


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PALM DESERT, Calif. — It’s not just the loud moments from the trip to California that we can learn something about this Iowa basketball team.

Those are much easier to see. Bennett Stirtz’s 29-point outburst against Ole Miss. Cooper Koch’s emergence. Isaia Howard’s 19-point performance against Grand Canyon.

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It’s also possible to learn something about the Hawkeyes in the quieter moments.

Head coach Ben McCollum shed light on one in particular after Iowa’s 59-46 win over Grand Canyon on Nov. 26.

Senior Brendan Hausen’s playing time so far at Iowa (11.1 minutes per game) looks drastically different from what it did at Kansas State last season (27.6 minutes per game). But Hausen, who transferred to Iowa for his last ride in college basketball, willingly gave up time on the court in the Hawkeyes’ first game of the Acrisure Classic.

Hausen was supposed to check into the game against Ole Miss. But Koch was playing so well that Hausen thought it would be better for Koch to stay on the floor.

“Brendan came back and he said, ‘Let’s just leave him in,’” McCollum recalled. “That’s a senior that’s played extended minutes at a high level that did that. I’m thankful for guys like him. We’re blessed to be able to coach guys like him (that) allows us to be great. His ability to sacrifice and everybody on this team’s ability to sacrifice is pretty special.”

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Video: Iowa basketball celebrates Acrisure Classic title in Palm Desert

Iowa basketball defeated Ole Miss and Grand Canyon to capture the Acrisure Classic title.

That Iowa won the Acrisure Classic is not a monumental statement. It was just a four-team field, which required winning two games to be crowned the champion. But in McCollum’s first season as head coach, the trip to California helped peel back some layers back layers about who the Hawkeyes are.

After handling the first five games on their schedule with relative ease, the Hawkeyes faced some real adversity for the first time this season.

Ole Miss was the most formidable opponent that Iowa has faced to date. After a tie score at halftime, the Hawkeyes made the necessary plays down the stretch of the game to come away with the most notable win of the McCollum era so far.

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Iowa played Grand Canyon the very next evening, which presented a challenge unique to Ole Miss. The Lopes had a strong contingent of fans, band and cheerleaders present. It was not the type of atmosphere that Iowa will face on Dec. 2 at Michigan State, but it was the closest the Hawkeyes have been to playing a road game this season.

Grand Canyon was the aggressor to start the game, building a 10-4 lead. But the Hawkeyes turned the tide, using a 9-0 run to seize momentum and never gave up the lead from there.

“They had a great crowd here,” McCollum said. “That’s what we said, hey, we’re going to treat this like it’s a Big Ten road game. And they jumped on us quick, just like could happen in the Big Ten. But how do you respond to that? How do you survive that? I thought our kids did a good job of surviving it.”

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Video: Ben McCollum reacts to Iowa basketball’s win over Grand Canyon

Ben McCollum meets with media after Iowa basketball’s 59-46 win over Grand Canyon.

Iowa’s shooting during this two-game stint was almost as dry as the air in Palm Desert. The Hawkeyes went a combined 42% from the field and 34% from deep against Ole Miss and Grand Canyon. 

And yet, the Hawkeyes still won both games. 

They did so by taking care of the less glamorous, but just as important areas: Defense, rebounding and energy. Those are the types of things that are much more reliable to carry in March, rather than banking on shooting the lights out.

“Part of winning basketball is it’s not going to always look like it did the first game,” McCollum said. “Sometimes, it’s going to look ugly, and you’ve got to win ugly. That’s the best part about this team. Who can’t win when everything is going your way offensively? Who can’t win? Can you win when things aren’t going your way offensively? Can you survive with other ways? And our kids can.”

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The Hawkeyes did it two time zones away from Iowa, playing games on back-to-back days.

“Most teams are like, ‘Ah, we’ve got to play back-to-back. Ah, my body’s hurting,’” said Bennett Stirtz, who played all 80 of the possible 80 minutes in Iowa’s two games in Palm Desert. “But not us. We kind of embraced the challenge. We’re like, hey, this is what we’re going to do. It’s here and we’ve got to play as hard as we can. Who cares about our body. We get rest the next couple of days. So we were just attacking it.”

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Video: Iowa basketball’s Bennett Stirtz was named Acrisure Class MVP

Bennett Stirtz meets with media after Iowa basketball’s 59-46 win over Grand Canyon.

The trip to California gave the team time to spend with each other off the court, which included an unexpected celebrity cameo.

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Brad Floy, the program’s athletic trainer, texted forward Alvaro Folgueiras after seeing golfer Jon Rahm at a restaurant. Rahm, who has won The Masters and U.S. Open, is a native of Spain, like Folgueiras.

“We talked a little bit about our Spanish roots, about our hometowns and life pretty much,” said Folgueiras, who is a notoriously bad golfer. “It was a short conversation. But I took advantage (to) ask him about some golf tips. So Iowa City better be ready now.”

Iowa’s successful outing in Palm Desert is not the end-all be-all — there is still so much season still left. But it was valuable for a team that is growing into what it wants to become.

“We definitely matured on this road trip, and I think we have a lot to learn from,” Kael Combs said. “It was definitely a good experience.”

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com

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Chicago Cubs’ Matt Shaw expected to begin rehab assignment with Iowa

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Chicago Cubs’ Matt Shaw expected to begin rehab assignment with Iowa


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When the Iowa Cubs return to Principal Park in Des Moines on June 2, the Triple-A team will likely be bringing back a familiar face.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsel told reporters in St. Louis, Mo., on May 29 that super utilityman Matt Shaw would likely join Iowa when the team opens a six-game series against Toledo that Tuesday.

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“Matts doing super well,” Counsell said during a pregame meeting with scribes. “The plan kind of remains intact that we think he’s going to be able to start a rehab assignment on Tuesday in Iowa. So, assuming everything progresses like it progresses, he’s going to have basically a full weekend of kind of normal pregame stuff. He should be good to go on Tuesday in Iowa.”

Shaw was placed on the injured list back on May 22 with mild back tightness, retroactive to May 20. He was replaced on the big-league roster by prized Cubs prospect Pedro Ramrirez, who tore apart opposing pitching during his first stint in Triple-A in 2026.

Shaw, 24, was hitting .242 (23-for-95) with six doubles, three home runs, three stolen bases and a .291 on base percentage to go along with a .400 slugging percentage in 42 games with Chicago this season. He’s bounced around the field this season and provided an important option off the bench for the Cubs.

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Shaw remains one of the organization’s top young players. The Cubs selected in the first round of the 2023 draft. Shaw rapidly rose through the minor leagues and made his big-league debut with Chicago in 2025. After some early-season struggles, Shaw was briefly demoted to Iowa in 2024 before eventually making a return to the big leagues.

While the hitting wasn’t great, the defense was exceptional. Shaw found a home at third base and played so well he became a Gold Glove finalist in 2025.

Iowa starts the series on Tuesday at 6:38 p.m.

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2025 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.

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Iowa Supreme court affirms eviction order for Short’s Burger & Shine

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Iowa Supreme court affirms eviction order for Short’s Burger & Shine


Following a years-long legal saga, the Iowa Supreme Court recently upheld a decision to evict Short’s Burger and Shine from its South Clinton Street building.

The May 22 decision, delivered by Chief Justice Susan Christensen, agreed with the Johnson County District Court’s decision to evict the downtown burger restaurant after finding that it did not notify the building’s owner — a trust operated by Midwest One Bank — of its intent to extend the lease.

The decision concludes one part of the Short’s legal saga. The now-closed restaurant is also in litigation for a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit Short’s owner, Kevin Perez filed in 2024 against Midwest One Bank, the trust of late building owner Haywood Belle, Belle’s widow, a bank employee, and the City of Iowa City

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Iowa City’s Short’s Burgers and Shine closed in 2024

Short’s closed in early 2024 after the court determined Perez hadn’t renewed the business’s lease on time.

Short’s opened at 18 S. Clinton Street in 2008 with the goal of honoring the legacy and story of former building owner H.D. Short, who shined shoes for 50 years, beginning in 1920. The original ownership group included Perez, Dan Ouverson, and former Hawkeye and NFL player Nate Kaeding, who now runs the Gold Cap Hospitality ownership group.

Eviction proceedings started when Short’s temporarily closed in April 2022 “to fix poor building conditions” without notifying Midwest One Bank, the executor of Belle’s trust.

The closure breached a part of the lease agreement that said the restaurant would default on its lease if it “failed to engage” in normal business for more than 15 consecutive business days, the court found. The renovations also violated a provision that forbade structural changes or improvements without prior written approval.

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Midwest One Bank sent notice on May 10, 2022, that Short’s would default on its lease if it did not reopen for regular business and cease renovations within 10 days, according to court documents. Shorts responded, claiming it could not reopen for business until renovations were complete because the gas could not be turned back on until repairs were finished.

Midwest One Bank “terminated” the lease and started eviction proceedings in May 2022. Shorts was allowed to continue operating and occupying the building while the case was litigated.

Midwest One Bank filed two eviction claims and delivered notice that Short’s needed to vacate the building by the end of the lease on April 30. Short’s did not vacate, and Midwest One Bank pursued a third eviction claim, accusing the owners of failing to provide notice of renewal.

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Short’s argued that because they continued renovations, disputed eviction, and secured insurance, it was evidence of their intent to renew.

The restaurant owners also argued that pending eviction proceedings prevented them from renewal. The court argued that Short’s simply did not declare intent to renew for “whatever reason.”

“Mere forgetfulness does not entitle a party to equitable relief,” the decision reads.

Liam Halawith covers Johnson County local government and public safety for the Press-Citizen. Reach him by email at lhalawith@registermedia.com. Follow him on X at @liam_halawith.   

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Fired Iowa nurse aide wins jobless benefits after numerous resident-care complaints

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Fired Iowa nurse aide wins jobless benefits after numerous resident-care complaints


WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – An Iowa nursing home worker fired after being accused of repeatedly neglecting residents’ needs is entitled to unemployment benefits, a judge has ruled.

State records indicate certified nurse aide Abigail Kromah worked for Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Care Center in West Des Moines from May 2024 through December 2025, when she was fired. She subsequently applied for unemployment benefits, which led to a recent hearing before an administrative law judge.

The hearing records indicate Kromah testified that when she was fired on Dec. 19, 2025, the employer informed her that the discharge was due to “numerous resident complaints” regarding the care she had been providing.

According to the judge’s findings in the case, Kromah had received multiple disciplinary warnings related to resident care. In August 2024, she allegedly received verbal and written warnings for failing to answer residents’ call-lights in a timely manner, failing to properly assist residents with their personal care, and for complaining about the residents in common areas of the workplace.

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Her employer testified Kromah was also given warnings for refusing work instructions from the nursing staff, and for telling a resident who needed to be toileted to go the bathroom in their briefs.

In August 2025, it was alleged that Kromah failed to check on a resident throughout the entire night. During that shift, a nurse had neglected to unclamp a feeding tube, which caused the tube to leak. When another nurse checked on the resident at 5 a.m., the resident was “drenched in feeding solution from head to toe,” according to the judge’s findings.

‘I can’t live this way… She’s horrible.’

Days later, the home alleged, a resident of the facility entered the hallway in his wheelchair at about 6 a.m., loudly complaining, “I can’t do this anymore,” and, “I can’t live this way.” The man allegedly refused to go back to his room, explaining that Kromah was there and “she’s horrible.”

The man reportedly stated had had switched on his call-light to have his urinal emptied, but Kromah never came to assist him, which meant the urinal overflowed and spilled on him. When Kromah eventually came to the room, the man allegedly said, she changed him into dry clothing but did not clean him.

The home alleged Kromah was given additional warnings in October 2025 for reportedly failing to answer residents’ call lights and failing to complete her rounds every two hours. One resident of the home had allegedly became so frustrated by the lack of response to his call-light that he contacted the police on one occasion, according to the judge’s findings.

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State inspection reports indicate Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Care Center was cited for insufficient staff in January 2026, with one resident complaining the issue with call-lights had been a longstanding problem. According to the inspectors, the man said that on one occasion, he couldn’t get help to clear his airway and was afraid he was going to die unless he managed to clear it himself, which he did.

In ruling that Kromah was entitled to jobless benefits, Administrative Law Judge Michael Lunn noted that while she had clearly been warned about deficiencies in resident care, she appeared to have been fired for a separate issue — attendance — for which she had received no such warnings.

A discharge for misconduct cannot be based on past acts such as the resident-care issues, Lunn ruled, but must instead be based on a current act. With no current act of disqualifying misconduct, Lunn stated, Kromah was entitled to collect unemployment benefits.

Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to locate Kromah to seek comment for this article.

Copyright 2026 IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH. All rights reserved.

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