Bennett Stirtz reflects on his first season with Drake basketball
Hear from Bennett Stirtz on Drake basketball’s loss to Texas Tech, playing in the NCAA Tournament and his final game with his senior teammates.
Basketball fans were wowed by Bennett Stirtz’s performance through the month of March, as the Missouri native recorded more than 20 points and four assists per game during Drake’s postseason run.
What potentially wowed fans and social media users even more was when they got a look at how the 21-year-old eats on his off-days, which was posted on TikTok by his girlfriend in late February.
The post, which has received more than a million views and 100,000 likes, features Stirtz eating donuts, cookies, cheeseburgers and ice cream.
While we don’t know if this is Stirtz’s typical diet or just a one-off cheat day, it should be no surprise that the player who led men’s Division I basketball in minutes per game (39.2) would need an abundance of calories between practice and games.
How many calories does a Division I player need per day?
The average male Division I basketball player typically should consume between 17 to 23 calories per pound of body weight to maintain their weight, according to Dartmouth College’s Atheltic Department.
This can vary depending on activity level and body structure. For instance, someone of Stirtz’s stature (6 feet, 4 inches and 180 pounds) should aim to consume roughly 4,000 calories per day to maintain body weight and energy levels.
The high-calorie count for basketball players is due to the high intensity of the sport and the short turnaround between practices and games. The average boy’s and girl’s high school basketball starter burns between 3,500 and 4,600 calories per day during the season, according to the Gatorade Sports Science Institute — a figure likely higher for Division I athletes.
Supporting the physical demands of the sport is also why the Gatorade Sports Science Institute and team trainers recommend a high-carbohydrate diet during the basketball season. Stirtz’s affinity for donuts and cheeseburgers makes sense, though your doctor might recommend more complex carbs like a banana or a bowl of oatmeal.
Bennett Stirtz enters transfer portal, plans to join Ben McCollum at Iowa
Stirtz told the Register last week he plans to test NBA Draft waters but will maintain his college eligibility with the intent to join former Drake head coach Ben McCollum at Iowa next season.
In his first season of Division I basketball, Stirtz emerged as one of the top point guards in the country. He ranked 31st in assists per game (5.6), 37th in points per game (19.2) and 29th in steals per game (2.12). He is the only player in the NCAA this season to lead his conference in all three categories.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
