AP FILE PHOTO - Drake guard Bennett Stirtz drives to the basket during the second half of a college basketball game against Kansas State on Dec. 17, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo.

IOWA CITY — University of Iowa senior guard Bennett Stirtz has been named to the 10-player preseason All-Big Ten team, it was announced Tuesday by the league office.

The Hawkeyes have been represented on the preseason All-Big Ten team in six of the last seven seasons as voted upon by a selected panel of media. Previous Hawkeye honorees include: Joe Wieskamp (2019), Luka Garza (2020), Keegan Murray (2021), Kris Murray (2022) and Payton Sandfort (2024).

Stirtz has also been named a preseason fourth-team All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.

The Liberty, Mo., native was an All-American by three outlets last season at Drake and he was also tabbed as the Missouri Valley Conference Larry Bird Player of the Year and Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year.

Stirtz led the MVC in scoring (19.2), steals (2.21) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.86), while ranking second in assists (5.7). He also led the NCAA in minutes played, averaging 39:22 per game.

The 2025 Big Ten Media Day will be held on Oct. 9 in Chicago. Complete coverage of the event will be televised on BTN.

Preseason Player of the Year

Braden Smith, Purdue

Preseason All-Big Ten Team

Bennett Stirtz, Iowa

Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

Nick Martinelli, Northwestern

Bruce Thornton, Ohio State

Nate Bittle, Oregon

Jackson Shelstad, Oregon

Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue

Braden Smith, Purdue (unanimous)

Donoven Dent, UCLA

John Blackwell, Wisconsin