Iowa has a lot of momentum after making the Elite Eight, and the emergence of these three players could help it maintain that in 2026-27.
For the first time in the 21st century, Iowa men's basketball has major momentum.
The Hawkeyes experienced plenty of jolts under Steve Alford and Fran McCaffery, but the lack of a postseason run was the primary thing holding back Iowa's fanbase from buying back in to their beloved Hawkeye basketball team.
It only took one season of Ben McCollum to change that. Ninth-seeded Iowa embarked on a Cinderella run to the Elite Eight this past season, defeating No. 1 Florida and rival Nebraska along the way. Not surprisingly, the run generated a wave of excitement throughout the state of Iowa and could result in a major uptick in attendance numbers inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena next season.
There's going to be plenty of familiar faces on this roster next season, but it will still look different, too. Star point guard Bennett Stirtz has graduated and is bound for the NBA, while tournament hero Alvaro Folgueiras transferred to Louisville.
Stirtz was Iowa's leading scorer last season, so it's going to take many players to step up and attempt to fill that scoring void in 2026-27.
Here's some of the men that are likely to do it:
F Cooper Koch
After losing most of his true freshman season due to a medical issue, Koch's redshirt freshman season was mostly a struggle - at least until the end of the regular season. Koch, the son of former Iowa standout J.R. Koch, caught fire at the right time, scoring 18 or more points in three of the Hawkeyes' final five games of the regular season, including a 19-point performance in the Big Ten Tournament opener against Maryland.
Koch didn't reach that plateau in the NCAA tournament, but he was a consistent performer throughout Iowa's run. Koch went 4-of-6 from downtown in the Hawkeyes' upset victory over Florida, and also hit some big shots in Iowa's win over Nebraska in the Sweet 16.
Koch is ridiculously talented, and the biggest thing for him this season will be to find more consistency. He averaged 7.8 points per game last year, so finding this consistency will likely make him a double digit scorer next year. Combine that improved jumper with Koch's already-strong rebounding skills, and McCollum has a dynamic two-way player in his starting lineup.
Big things ahead for Koch in 2026-27.
G Tate Sage
Before the season, few Hawkeye fans had heard of Tate Sage. All they knew was that he was committed to play for McCollum at Drake before making the last-minute switch to Iowa City after McCollum's hiring.
Sage playing a major role as a freshman wasn't expected, but as the season wore on, he became Iowa's most reliable bench player. Sage's first breakout game came against rival Iowa State in Ames, where he tallied eight crucial points to keep the Hawkeyes from falling into a deeper hole.
Sage raised eyebrows with a then-career high of 17 points in Iowa's narrow win over Rutgers, and completely broke out with a remarkable performance in the Sweet 16 triumph over Nebraska. Sage scored 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting in the win, including a late triple to give the Hawkeyes a two-possession cushion. Iowa struggled to score the ball in the second half of its subsequent defeat against Illinois in the next round, but Sage still registered 10 points and made a pair of three pointers.
Like his teammate Koch, the biggest thing for Sage will be finding consistency and managing a much larger role in the offense this season because the roots of his successful game are there. He's a three point threat (38% last year), is great at cutting sharply to the basket, and is also not afraid to play stellar defense, too.
The pride of Weatherford, Oklahoma is in line to be a fantastic player in the Black and Gold.
C Trevin Jirak
Jirak may not classify as as a breakout player in 2026-27, but he's a man the Hawkeyes need to grow into an increased role next season. Iowa's frontcourt problems were addressed with the addition of 7-foot-3 Andrew McKeever, but it wouldn't hurt if the 6-foot-11 Jirak blossomed into a capable backup big man.
McKeever won't be able to play the entire game, and the Hawkeyes need size when he's not on the floor. Enter Jirak, who is already well-known in the state of Iowa after winning the 2025 Mr. Basketball award for Valley High School in West Des Moines.
Jirak posted only 3.4 points and snatched just 0.9 rebounds per game last season, but his raw talent was there. He's a great passer for his size and isn't afraid to let it fly from deep, knocking down a triple against Purdue.
An offseason in McCollum's system will only help Jirak's game evolve. Expect him to see the floor a lot in 2026-27.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]
