YouTube Gold: Iowa Rising
Sunday was a night to remember for Iowa basketball fans
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 22: Alvaro Folgueiras #7 of the Iowa Hawkeyes attempts a three point basket against the Florida Gators with under five seconds left during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 22, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images You may have noticed that over the last few years, we really have pushed Ben McCollum. He was the John Wooden of D-II ball, racking up Final Fours and national championships like no one’s business.
Last year, at Drake, he won the MVC regular season championship and the the tournament as well, finishing 31-4. This year, his first at Iowa, he finished the regular season 21-12. Not great by his standards, but no one in Iowa City will care in the slightest about that.
Why? Because Iowa knocked off Florida, defending national champs and the #1 seed in the South, and did it dramatic fashion. Point guard Bennett Stirtz dashed downcourt with 8.
9 on the clock and hit Alvaro Folgueiras in the corner for a perfect three. Florida had 4. 5 left, but Xavian Lee couldn’t get the ball to Thomas Hough, or rather, Hough couldn’t do anything with it.