Iowa City Today

University of Iowa senior Bennett Stirtz has been named to the 2025-26 Oscar Robertson Trophy Preseason Watch List, according to an announcement by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) board on Monday.

The Oscar Robertson Trophy is recognized as the nation's oldest college basketball player award and is unique for being named after a former player.

This recognition marks Stirtz's third preseason Player of the Year nomination. He was previously included on both the NABC Watch List and the Naismith Trophy Watch List. Stirtz has also received several preseason All-American honors: second team selections from CBS Sports, Field of 68, and Jon Rothstein; fourth team from Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook; and honorable mention from Jay Bilas. In addition, he appears on the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Watch List.

Stirtz is entering his first season with Iowa after transferring from Drake University, where he earned All-American honors from three outlets during the 2024-25 season. He was named Missouri Valley Conference Larry Bird Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Last season, he led the MVC in scoring with 19.2 points per game, steals at 2.21 per game, and had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.86. He ranked second in assists with 5.7 per game and led all NCAA players in minutes played, averaging just over 39 minutes per contest.

Stirtz is among 50 players nationwide selected for this year’s Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List.

Finalists for the award will be chosen by USBWA members at the end of the regular season, with the winner announced at the 2026 Men's Final Four in Indianapolis. The formal presentation will take place at USBWA’s annual awards luncheon hosted by Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

Iowa opens its season against Robert Morris on Tuesday at Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 7:30 p.m., with television coverage on BTN.

Tickets are available online at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.