Iowa just missed out on going 9-1 in their first 10 games in Ben McCollum's first season after a brutal loss to rival Iowa State on the road.
The Hawkeyes went up by as much as 13, but couldn't hold on in the second half as the Cyclones barely escaped with a 66-62 home victory. Three key players from last season have moved on: Joshua Jefferson (Brooklyn Nets), Milan Momcilovic (transfer to Kentucky), and Tamin Lipsey (graduation), but Iowa State reloaded with talented transfers. However, the Cyclones received some brutal injury news that key returner won't be around for the pivotal Cy-Hawk rivalry game on December 10 in Iowa City.
Toure's shoulder injury will keep him out through the non-conference schedule
Toure had a stellar first year for T.J. Otzelberger and the Cyclones last season, especially on the defensive end. His length and versatility allowed him to guard multiple positions on the floor, and he proved he could be a solid contributor on offense if he ironed out his jump shot. Toure was one of the few returning guards to the roster, and he was easily going to be Iowa State's best player on both ends of the court. Now, he will miss the first few months of the season after an offseason shoulder injury.
No Killyan Toure for Iowa State when the Cyclones come to Iowa City on Dec. 10. https://t.co/ZR8R7gX3dv
— Sean Bock (@SBock247) August 21, 2026
Toure recently underwent successful shoulder surgery, but he is not scheduled to return to the court until January, when the Cyclones are well into Big 12 play. While this is horrible news for the Cyclones, it potentially gives the Hawkeyes an advantage. Iowa has lost four of the last five in the series, with the Cyclones ranked in all but one. While Iowa should have won last season, they now have a golden opportunity to knock off the Cyclones in Iowa City this season, taking advantage of their new backcourt. The Hawkeyes returned Isaia Howard and Kael Combs, while adding Ty'Reek Coleman (transfer), Ethan Harris (2026 class), and Jaidyn Coon (2026 class) to form a solid backcourt.
With Toure out, it will be interesting to see whether the Cyclones take a hit in the early rankings and whether they can handle a tough non-conference schedule.
With Toure out, it could be exactly what the Hawkeyes need to get back on track against ISU
Iowa State has had a massive upward trajectory since Otzelberger took over the program after Fred Hoiberg left for the NBA. They have been consistently near the top of the Big 12 and were a few untimely injuries away from making a deep NCAA Tournament run. Now with multiple key players gone, time will tell if they can continue the run they have been on. For the Hawkeyes, it gives them a slim advantage they didn't expect and could tip the scales in their favor.
Iowa will also be without a key player from last season after Bennett Stirtz headed to the NBA, but they should be more well-rounded in year two under McCollum and have added several key pieces during the offseason. Iowa added more guard depth with Coleman, Coon, and Harris, and plugged a massive hole by adding seven-foot-three big Andrew McKeever from the transfer portal. The Cyclones will always be a tough challenge, and we won't complain about any slim advantage that the Hawkeyes receive.
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