IOWA CITY — Iowa basketball star Bennett Stirtz has been named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week for the second week in a row.
He earned the recognition for the first time on Feb. 2 and then repeated on Feb. 9.
In wins over Washington and Northwestern, Stirtz averaged 29 points, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 60.6% from the field, 57.1% from deep and 83.3% from the free-throw line.
After a road win over Washington, Iowa extended its winning streak to six games with a 76-70 victory over Northwestern on Feb. 8 behind Stirtz’s incredible performance. Stirtz’s previous career-high of 32 points, which he set against Oregon on Feb. 1, did not last long. He set a new career-high of 36 points on 12-of-20 from the field, 4-of-6 from deep and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line against Northwestern.
“Bennett Stirtz was fantastic,” Northwestern coach Chris Collins said after the game. “He really controlled the game. We did a lot of stuff to try to get the ball out of his hands and to try to do some different things. He played like an All-American-type player today and willed his team to win.”
Stirtz has been on a heater recently, scoring at least 20 points in each of the last six games. He has been lethal from long range, shooting 14-of-24 (58.3%) on 3-pointers combined over the last four games.
Remarkably, Stirtz is now averaging more points per game at Iowa (19.9) than he did last season at Drake (19.2), where he was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. Stirtz’s field goal, 3-point and free throw percentage are all currently better, as well. Stirtz has made the transition from the mid-major to the Big Ten levels look incredibly seamless.
His 36-point outburst against Northwestern was the latest example. Iowa coach Ben McCollum said Stirtz’s teammates also deserve credit for that.
“The thing with really good players that people don’t realize is the players around him have to allow him to be great,” McCollum said. “So what I mean by that is a lot of teams have great players. And Bennett’s obviously one of the best, in my mind. But their teammates want some more shine out of it. And so, they won’t allow that player to be great or to shine to a certain level. Everything’s not built just so that Bennett can have big games. But when … his teammates allow him to shoot and to do those things and just want to win. I think at this level, you don’t see a lot of that, where guys aren’t as unselfish.”
Said Tavion Banks: “If he’s on fire, I’ll let him do his thing.”
Stirtz is managing to do this even with a lot at stake. There is more external pressure at this level, and high expectations surrounded Stirtz entering the season. Stirtz’s NBA Draft stock, where he is currently trending to be a first-round pick, is on the line. He is far and away Iowa’s best player, meaning he is constantly facing opponents who are game-planning to contain him.
“Not worry about it too much,” Stirtz said of being the central focus of opposing defenses, which could include facing double-teams. “Trust my teammates and trust the work they’ve put in. So I know that I don’t have to do it alone or go through it alone. It’s a team game. That’s why I play it. So just being around my teammates. It’s just so fun to be out there playing with them.”
Stirtz has helped the Hawkeyes get on a hot streak. After dropping three games in a row in January, the Hawkeyes now have an impressive winning streak — with consecutive victories over Indiana, Rutgers, USC, Oregon, Washington and Northwestern. Three of those six have come on the road.
The Hawkeyes now 18-5 overall and 8-4 in conference play. This week, the Hawkeyes play at Maryland on Feb. 11 and then return home to host No. 13 Purdue on Feb. 14.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Bennett Stirtz continues ascent for Iowa men’s basketball
Reporting by Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
