First of all, I want to say that I don't have any insider information on Ben McCollum possibly coming to Iowa. I have, however, been watching and following his teams for quite a few years.
I haven't seen it mentioned, but if Iowa is lucky enough to hire McCollum, it actually won't be his first time coaching in Carver. His Bearcats played against Iowa in an exhibition game in 2011, losing 79-59. It was his 3rd year coaching. In the media notes, McCollum's history in Iowa City is mentioned, as well as him being named an Outstanding Camper in one of Iowa's first basketball camps. This may reinforce that fact that is is an Iowa fan.
Northwest didn't play many exhibition games against D1 opponents, but I have to wonder if he set up the game against Iowa. McCollum also played two games against Duke as part of a tradition in which the Blue Devils would play an exhibition game against the defending national champion from D2. In the 2nd meeting, Duke held on for a narrow 69-63 win in 2019. Point guard Trevor Hudgins, who most would consider the greatest Bearcat of all time, led all scorers with 27 points, going 7-13 from 3. Following the game, Duke no longer continued the tradition of playing the D2 national championship teams.
I've seen several posts complaining about the slow pace and low scoring from Drake this year. McCollum has said that he always hasn't played this way, and it is true. Bennett Stirtz may obviously improve on this, but he may be considered the 3rd best point guard McCollum has had in the last 9 seasons. He has improved every year under McCollum, just as his predecessors did. Many of McCollum's national championship teams were just so smooth and efficient offensively. He had many teams where nearly every starter shot at least 40% from 3. His teams were about taking open 3's or finding someone open on a layup. Very few midrange shots, and especially no shots just inside the 3-point line. Here is a very good article on the offense during their undefeated run in 2018-2019:
https://statsbywill.com/2019/05/29/building-a-better-basketball-offense-ball-screens/2/
The 2019-20 team recorded the highest offensive efficiency (114.6) in the 16 years of Synergy’s database, which tracks college basketball at all levels. For comparison’s sake, the best Division I offense during that time was Villanova’s 2017-18 national championship team that posted a 110.0 efficiency.
McCollum didn't lose often, but it seems like when he did he could regroup well and just pummel his opponents for revenge. In 2021, Northwest lost the conference tournament to Washburn by 1 point on a 55-foot shot at the end of regulation. Northwest would end of playing Washburn again just 9 days later in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament, winning 85-44. At one point in the game, Northwest led Washburn 72-19! Two nights later Northwest found themselves down 10 points with 2 minutes remaining to host site school Northern State, but Hudgins calmly produced 8 points within 23 seconds and Northwest would later win the game in overtime. Northwest would continue to the Elite 8 and go on to win the National Championship, beating their 3 remaining opponents by an average score of 26 points.
Here is a good article with video on a possession with 12 passes made before finding the open shot in the Final 4 game that year:
https://coachwoodcock.wordpress.com/2021/04/02/northwest-missouri-state-the-possession/
I haven't seen it mentioned, but if Iowa is lucky enough to hire McCollum, it actually won't be his first time coaching in Carver. His Bearcats played against Iowa in an exhibition game in 2011, losing 79-59. It was his 3rd year coaching. In the media notes, McCollum's history in Iowa City is mentioned, as well as him being named an Outstanding Camper in one of Iowa's first basketball camps. This may reinforce that fact that is is an Iowa fan.
Northwest didn't play many exhibition games against D1 opponents, but I have to wonder if he set up the game against Iowa. McCollum also played two games against Duke as part of a tradition in which the Blue Devils would play an exhibition game against the defending national champion from D2. In the 2nd meeting, Duke held on for a narrow 69-63 win in 2019. Point guard Trevor Hudgins, who most would consider the greatest Bearcat of all time, led all scorers with 27 points, going 7-13 from 3. Following the game, Duke no longer continued the tradition of playing the D2 national championship teams.
I've seen several posts complaining about the slow pace and low scoring from Drake this year. McCollum has said that he always hasn't played this way, and it is true. Bennett Stirtz may obviously improve on this, but he may be considered the 3rd best point guard McCollum has had in the last 9 seasons. He has improved every year under McCollum, just as his predecessors did. Many of McCollum's national championship teams were just so smooth and efficient offensively. He had many teams where nearly every starter shot at least 40% from 3. His teams were about taking open 3's or finding someone open on a layup. Very few midrange shots, and especially no shots just inside the 3-point line. Here is a very good article on the offense during their undefeated run in 2018-2019:
https://statsbywill.com/2019/05/29/building-a-better-basketball-offense-ball-screens/2/
The 2019-20 team recorded the highest offensive efficiency (114.6) in the 16 years of Synergy’s database, which tracks college basketball at all levels. For comparison’s sake, the best Division I offense during that time was Villanova’s 2017-18 national championship team that posted a 110.0 efficiency.
McCollum didn't lose often, but it seems like when he did he could regroup well and just pummel his opponents for revenge. In 2021, Northwest lost the conference tournament to Washburn by 1 point on a 55-foot shot at the end of regulation. Northwest would end of playing Washburn again just 9 days later in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament, winning 85-44. At one point in the game, Northwest led Washburn 72-19! Two nights later Northwest found themselves down 10 points with 2 minutes remaining to host site school Northern State, but Hudgins calmly produced 8 points within 23 seconds and Northwest would later win the game in overtime. Northwest would continue to the Elite 8 and go on to win the National Championship, beating their 3 remaining opponents by an average score of 26 points.
Here is a good article with video on a possession with 12 passes made before finding the open shot in the Final 4 game that year:
https://coachwoodcock.wordpress.com/2021/04/02/northwest-missouri-state-the-possession/
