Takeaways as Iowa basketball survives test vs. Northwestern

The Iowa basketball team is rolling.

The Hawkeyes have won six games in a row in Big Ten play for the first time in a decade after surviving a gritty Northwestern squad on Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. In the 76-70 win over the Wildcats, things weren’t always pretty, but Iowa walked out with a necessary victory.

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Behind a career day from their star point guard and some timely shotmaking, the Hawkeyes advanced to 18-5 on the season, and 8-4 in the Big Ten. Here are the biggest takeaways from Iowa’s Sunday matinee win.

Bennett Stirtz leads the way

Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz (14) reacts during a basketball game against the Northwestern Wildcats Feb. 8, 2026 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

This game is the reason why you go out and get Bennett Stirtz. It was a tough day offensively for many Hawks, as the hoop seemed to have a lid on it for most of the afternoon. Iowa made just 24 shots over the entire course of the game. Stirtz was responsible for half of those makes. He poured in a career-high 36 points against the Wildcats, going 12-20 from the field and 4-6 from three.

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With most of the team struggling to get anything going, they turned to their senior point guard to lead the way. And Stirtz absolutely delivered. He got to the rim, drew fouls, hit big step back threes, and didn’t seem afraid of the moment. This was exactly the performance Iowa needed from Stirtz to survive this test. They needed every single one of his 36 points to win this game, and he delivered.

Offensive lulls could become a big problem

Iowa head coach Ben McCollum reacts during a basketball game against the Northwestern Wildcats Feb. 8, 2026 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

The new system under Ben McCollum has led to a ton of success for the Hawkeyes this season. Prioritizing defense and a slower pace has done wonders for the program. But it’s not all perfect. An unexpected result of that slower pace can be offensive lulls, which have popped up frequently for…

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Publish date : 2026-02-09 15:20:00

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