It wasn't always pretty, but the Iowa basketball team opened its 2026-27 season with a win inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Hawkeyes took down the visiting Lipscomb Bisons, 76-54, to open the new season 1-0. They only shot 24% from the 3-point line and didn't have a starter reach double figures. Despite that, Iowa was able to cruise to a victory
thanks to its bench unit. That group led the way for most of Iowa's second-half surge.There's plenty that Ben McCollum will want to clean up after this performance. But it's hard to argue with a 22-point win in the season opener. Especially when Iowa did so without starting center Andrew McKeever, who missed the game as he deals with a back issue. The Hawkeyes will hope to have him back for their next
game on Friday night against Eastern Illinois. The rest of the squad picked him up in his absence.
Here are the biggest takeaways from Iowa's home win over Lipscomb.
Jaidyn Coon will have a big role this season
Welcome to Iowa City Jaidyn Coon🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/O0MMUcnJVi
— Hawkeyes Wire (@HawkeyesWire) November 4, 2026
Make no mistake, Coon was the best player on the court for the Hawkeyes in this game. The first-year guard and forward was excellent in his collegiate debut, leading Iowa in scoring with 12 points. Coon also added six rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench. He looked like he belonged on both ends of the court. At 6-foot-6, he used his length to be a defensive pest. He hit the glass hard and showed his athleticism with a few impressive dunks.
Coon was a big recruiting win for McCollum. But not many anticipated he would have a big role early on. He showed that he's ready for prime time in this game. The Hawkeyes have a good one in Coon. The Storm Lake native is going to play some big minutes this season.
The depth is a strength
Iowa's bench scored 42 of the team's 76 points in the win, accounting for over 50% of the total output. Coon was a big part of that, but he wasn't the only depth player to show up. Second-year big man Trevin Jirak was great. He had six points, seven rebounds, and four assists in 21 minutes. He knocked down a three, was aggressive in the post, and showed off a strong passing game.
Transfer guard Ty'Reek Coleman was also a standout. He finished with 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists in 22 minutes. The former Illinois State Redbird was lightning fast in transition and one of the best athletes on the roster. Even Joey Matteoni made some plays, finishing with six points, four rebounds, and two steals. Iowa's going to rely on its depth a ton this season. They made a good first impression on Tuesday.
This group will take time to gel
It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows for Iowa in this game. They actually trailed at one point late in the first half. The 3-point shot didn't fall despite some good looks. And the offense spent long periods of time searching for a rhythm. The starters were fine, but looked like a group that needs some more reps on the court to iron out the kinks.
Without Bennett Stirtz, it's going to take a whole team effort to score consistently. And that means some growing pains as the offense figures out who to play through. This team is going to have some frustrating stretches early on this season where the offense grinds to a halt.
Luckily for them, the defense should keep them in games. And Iowa showed Tuesday night what they're capable of when they eventually find a rhythm. Be patient with this team in the nonconference.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa basketball tops Lipscomb: Takeaways from season-opening win
