College basketball finally made its return for Iowa, and the Hawkeyes used their final exhibition to shake off the rust in an 88-64 win over Illinois Springfield at Xtream Arena in Coralville.
The result was never really in doubt once Iowa settled in after a sluggish opening stretch, but this game was more about what Ben McCollum could learn than what the scoreboard said. McCollum, who said he HATES open exhibitions, got exactly that kind of evaluation night: lineups in motion, players in different roles, and a chance to see how pieces fit before the regular season begins.
One of the clearest takeaways was that Iowa’s starting five is still very much a work in progress. Isaia Howard, Kael Combs, Tate Sage, Cooper Koch, and Andrew McKeever opened the game, though that group may or may not be the one McCollum settles on once the games count.
The Hawkeyes started 2/8 from the field, but the offense eventually found a rhythm, with 10 players scoring in the first half alone. McCollum said the lineup combinations and substitutions were nowhere near final, and the night showed plenty of experimentation.
There was no shortage of bodies getting run, either. Ty'Reek Coleman and Peyton McCollum were the first two players off the bench, while Cam Manyawu and Trevin Jirak also got early minutes.
Coleman might still be in the mix for a starting role, and he looked comfortable getting downhill. Jaidyn Coon also flashed during his time on the floor, using his athleticism to make an impression even if the shot is still coming along.
Iowa’s approach offensively also told its own story. The Hawkeyes had stretches where the ball stopped going in, but that seemed tied to what they were trying to get done.
They pushed to the rim and hunted free throws, and that paid off in the second half when UIS piled up more than 20 fouls. Even during a 3-4 minute spell without a field goal, Iowa kept stretching the lead.
The Hawkeyes also launched 26 threes, a heavier volume than last season, and McCollum said the team will shoot more from deep this year.
Andrew McKeever looks like a major piece on both ends. The seven-foot-three transfer from Saint Mary’s changed shots around the basket and was a problem for Illinois Springfield simply because of his size.
His most eye-catching work came as a passer. McCollum used him at the top of the key and in pick-and-roll actions to set the offense in motion, and McKeever finished with a team-high seven assists.
McCollum said Iowa could have just pounded the ball inside to him, but that won’t be enough in the Big Ten. Instead, the staff used him in different actions to prepare for the season, and McCollum said he didn’t love how often the Hawkeyes fell into "traps" against UIS.
The Prairie Stars sagged and dared Iowa to shoot, which led to plenty of quick looks. Still, the offense was at its best when McKeever was involved early and the possession started flowing from there.
Peyton McCollum also made a strong case for a bigger role. After dealing with injuries last season, he looked healthier and more involved in his second year with the program.
One of the first reserves in the game, he gave Iowa energy, hit two threes, and finished with 10 points in 10 minutes. He also brought physicality on defense, which fits right in with the program’s emphasis on that end of the floor.
If he keeps defending and spacing the court, he could work his way into the rotation.
Kael Combs added another encouraging note. With Bennett Stirtz gone, Combs is positioned for a much bigger role, and he looked ready for it.
He scored 13 points without missing a shot - 4/4 from the field, 1/1 from three, and 4/4 at the line - while showing more of the scoring confidence Iowa needs from him. Combs has been a distributor in the past, but the Hawkeyes need him to attack more, and this was the kind of night that suggested he can do it.
Trevin Jirak may have been the most striking individual development. Ben McCollum was impressed, and it showed why.
Jirak played with more aggression, pushed the ball up the floor at times, and looked far more willing to hunt his own shot than he did last season. He finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists, and while the frontcourt rotation may be crowded with McKeever and Manyawu back in the mix, Jirak showed he can still help.
He looked more confident, more assertive, and more ready than he did a year ago.
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