Iowa Coach Previews Xavier Matchup Amid Roster Changes

Iowa City, Iowa — Iowa basketball head coach met with local media on Wednesday, Nov. 12, to discuss the upcoming game against Xavier set for Friday night. McCollum shared insights on early-season rotations, his team’s progress, and what he looks for in new recruits.

Iowa will face a challenging opponent in Xavier, led by first-year head coach Rick Pitino. Pitino comes to Xavier after a successful stint at New Mexico, where he established the Lobos as a top program. However, he has faced challenges this season due to a almost entirely new roster. The Musketeers have secured narrow home victories against Fordham and Le Moyne but suffered a setback against Santa Clara, losing 87-68. In that game, Xavier struggled offensively, shooting just 36 percent from the field.

Despite the rough start, McCollum acknowledges the talent on Xavier’s roster. Key players like guard Roddie Anderson and forward have shown promise, scoring 29 and 21 points respectively in the loss to Santa Clara. However, new transfers Malik Moore and also struggled to contribute, combining for zero points.

“They’re big, talented, physical, and they’re a lot better than their last score indicated,” McCollum said. He added that Xavier is still figuring out its team dynamics, similar to Iowa. “They just don’t have as many returners as most. They’re good. They’ll make some serious adjustments, I’m assuming, and we’re going to have our hands full.”

As for his own team, McCollum emphasized the ongoing development of rotations. He has utilized newcomers in his starting lineup, including Tavion Banks, while relying on transfers to off the bench. “I think some people overthink the starting lineup,” he stated. “Some people start well, and some people come off the bench well. It all will change game to game.”

McCollum stressed the importance of consistency as the program matures. “We got a ways to go,” he noted. “There are going to be games when you’re completely tuned up and games when you’re at 80 percent.”

In other news, McCollum mentioned the new four-star commitment, who had not yet submitted his financial aid agreement but plans to do so later that day. While he did not comment on the player specifically, he emphasized his desire for recruits with “positional size” and high energy. “We got good positional size, for the most part, and everybody, for the most part, can shoot,” he said.