Iowa will have gone one week between games once tipoff arrives Friday against Xavier in Iowa City.

One can only imagine the angst roiling inside Hawkeyes point guard Bennett Stirtz.

Stirtz is averaging 38 minutes during Iowa's 2-0 start after leading the nation with 39.4 minutes as a junior at Drake last season. He's also excelling, leading the Hawkeyes with averages of 21.5 points and 6.5 assists and matching second-leading scorer Alvaro Folgueiras with a team-best 3.0 steals.

"When you're a college athlete," Stirtz said, "you might as well be in shape. I didn't like to come out, but my coach took me out."

First-year Hawkeyes coach Ben McCollum, who previously guided Stirtz at Drake, admits he doesn't ask the preseason All-American if he gets fatigued.

"He's used to it. He's done it

See Full Page