Iowa basketball fans, media reactions to Springfield exhibition

Although the 2026-27 Iowa basketball season doesn’t officially begin until Nov. 3, the Hawkeyes still gave the student body and local fans an impressive showing in an 88-64 exhibition win against Illinois Springfield at Coralville’s Xtream Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

While the Prairie Stars were expectedly outmatched by the Hawkeyes, the exhibition gave fans and media a preview of what Iowa will look like in its second season under head coach Ben McCollum.

The Hawkeyes were led by guard Kael Combs’ 13 points. Cooper Koch, Peyton McCollum and Trevin Jirak scored 10 points each. Iowa shot 52.8% from the field, 38.5% from 3-point territory and 64.7% from the free-throw line.

In their first action in the black and gold, transfer additions Ty’Reek Coleman and Andrew McKeever scored nine and two points, respectively. McKeever added a team-leading seven assists and two blocks. Twelve Hawkeyes scored in the win.

With the regular-season opener up next for the Hawkeyes, here’s some of the best social media reactions from fans and media members to Iowa’s win on Tuesday night: