Iowa Basketball Locks in Summit League Squad in Non-Conference Action

The Iowa Hawkeyes are entering Ben McCollum's second year and with a reconstructed roster, are going to have a chance to get right against a Summit League squad.

Mar 22, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes forward Cooper Koch (8) celebrates after a play against the Florida Gators in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

How quickly can the Iowa Hawkeyes find cohesion?

That, among many others, is one of the biggest questions facing the Hawkeyes this year as the program enters Ben McCollum's second year.

Can Iowa be another March Madness darling? Making the NCAA Tournament has to be the top priority for this team full of new roster additions via the transfer portal and traditional recruiting.

The non-conference slate is going to be telling for the Iowa Hawkeyes in this regard. Iowa just recently locked in the date for the Cy-Hawk game against Iowa State and has announced another non-conference game against a local program.

Iowa to face South Dakota on December 29

Another non-conference game on the Iowa Hawkeyes' 2026-27 schedule features a matchup against the South Dakota Coyotes, a program hailing from the Summit League.

The Coyotes went 16-16 last season, which saw them stay afloat in the conference with an 8-8 record in league play.

NEW:

Iowa Men's Basketball will face South Dakota on December 29 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena per documents obtained by HawkeyeReport.

The Coyotes went 13-16 last season. pic.twitter.com/GGm9bggtyq

— Kyle Huesmann (@HuesmannKyle) June 16, 2026

The Iowa Hawkeyes and South Dakota Coyotes have met three times in their history, with the Hawkeyes owning a 3-0 record. Each game has been in Iowa City.

The last matchup came during the 2024-25 season, which saw Iowa win 96-77. Josh Dix led the way with 23 points, while Payton Sandfort and Seydou Traore poured in 11.

This matchup continues Iowa's regional tour of non-conference games. Iowa has also locked in a game against the Creighton Bluejays from the Big East, which will be played in Des Moines, Iowa, as a neutral-site contest equally close to both programs.

Iowa's early-season success depends on transfers

Iowa is going to have chances to pick up quality wins and build its resume with early-season opportunities, but it won't come easy. For the second year in a row, Ben McCollum is going to be tasked with getting a shuffling roster to come together.

Ty'Reek Coleman, a point guard from Illinois State, and Andrew McKeever, a big man from Saint Mary's, are meshing with returning Hawkeyes, which consist of Kael Combs, Tate Sage, Cam Manyawu, and Cooper Koch, each of whom played a big part in Iowa's NCAA Tournament success.

Fortunately for Iowa, Ben McCollum could probably coach a roster of me and four of my college buddies to NCAA Tournament bubble discussions.

He did it at Drake, he has done it at Iowa, and he has given no reason to believe the 2026-27 season should be anything short of a return trip to the Big Dance.