Mike Hlas

Another season has ended, with tragedies galore and more to look forward to in 2026.

Connor Wheeler was on Ben McCollum’s staff in the 2024-25 season, as were two other new Iowa assistants

Banks averaged 10.1 points, 5 rebounds for the Bulldogs and was on MVC’s All-Tournament team.

Fred Hoiberg adds a very useful wing to his 2025-26 lineup in Sandfort, who leaves Iowa after two years

Guard from Council Bluffs averaged 14.5 points for Iowa this season

Howard will be a sophomore next season. He scored 3,001 points in high school.

Traore averaged 5.9 points for Iowa in his sophomore season after transferring from Manhattan.

Cam Manyawu and Kael Combs, both part of McCollum’s rotation on his Missouri Valley Conferece-championship team, are becoming Hawkeyes.

Thanks to portal defections, the Robert Morris team that pushed Alabama hard in the NCAA tournament won’t resemble the one that plays at Iowa in seven months.

Josh Sash, Bryston Williams follow McCollum from Des Moines to Iowa City

It’s a team that was in the NCAA tournament this season and won 26 games. But it won’t bear any resemblance to its 2024-25 version.

Many holes to fill on Ben McCollum’s first Hawkeyes team.

Freshman was in Iowa’s playing rotation until health issues put a premature end to his season after 10 appearances.

Also, Fran McCaffery will get Penn playing better than it has in recent years, and Payton Sandfort dealt with a lot physically yet played every game this season.

Sophomore from Moline, Ill, averaged 8.8 points and 5.3 assists for Iowa this season.