The point guard who sparked Iowa’s unexpected victory, leading them into the Sweet 16, shared his aspirations with viewers on Sunday, stating he aims to use his platform to honor God.
Bennett Staats may have faced challenges with his 3-point shooting but still managed to score 13 points and provide five assists. This performance stunned the basketball community as No. 9 seed Iowa triumphed over No. 1 Florida State, 73-72, in the NCAA Tournament’s second round. Analysts anticipated Iowa would fall short by around ten points, yet the Hawkeyes secured their spot in the third round against Nebraska, marking their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999.
Crucially, Staats played a pivotal role in the game-winning play in the last minute, navigating through defenders and passing to Alvaro Folgueiras, who hit a critical 3-pointer just four seconds before the end, leading Iowa to a 72-70 advantage.
“Win or lose, give God the glory. God has given me a platform and I just want to use it for Him.”
– Iowa G. Bennett Staats, after an upset win over defending champion Florida. pic.twitter.com/9VQyqJM3Aj— John Root (@JonnyRoot_) March 23, 2026
“No matter if we win or lose, let’s give glory to God,” Staats told TBS post-game. “He’s given me this platform, and I intend to use it for Him.”
The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 20.2 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, earning a spot on the first-team Big Ten in March. His college journey began at Northwest Missouri State University, where he spent two seasons before transferring to Drake, helping the Bulldogs make an NCAA appearance and clinch a first-round title in 2024-25. He followed Coach Ben McCollum through his coaching career from Northwest Missouri State to Drake, and now to Iowa.
As Staats’s NBA prospects grew, his father remarked that his character and values remained steadfast.
“He’s had one girlfriend and one car in his life,” Roger Staats told the publication. “He’s exceptionally loyal. It might not appear that way given his college transfers, but he’s dedicated to his coaches and the system.”
Staats noted that his faith deepened when he left home to attend Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Missouri.
“That’s really where my faith and relationship with Jesus began to strengthen because I turned to Jesus every day,” he explained. “Back in high school, I honestly didn’t do much of that. I just started immersing myself in the Word daily.”
He also mentioned that he turned down additional NIL deals from other schools to stay at Iowa.
“Money isn’t everything,” he remarked. “Fame won’t bring lasting satisfaction. Ultimately, only God can fill that void.”
teeth. you. Just kidding.
Iowa leads. It’s March. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/sNDHTqaGj1
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2026
Iowa State will face Nebraska on Thursday at 7:30 PM EST on TBS.
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