Iowa Pairs Two Centers in Frontcourt
Andrew McKeever and Trevin Jirak are sharing the floor as head coach Ben McCollum weighs using the two tallest players together.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Basketball
Iowa centers Andrew McKeever and Trevin Jirak are pairing together in the frontcourt, and head coach Ben McCollum is considering using the two tallest players together in the rotation. The pairing was previewed in a recent exhibition game.
Why it matters
Iowa is weighing a lineup built around two traditional big men, a choice that could shape how the Hawkeyes space the floor and distribute the ball this season. For Iowa City fans following the program, the rotation decision is a key early indicator of the team's identity.
In the exhibition, the two shared the floor for just over four minutes in the first half and combined for six points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks. McCollum has not said how often the pairing will be used once games count.
The players
Andrew McKeever
McKeever is a 7-foot-3 Iowa center who posted seven assists in the exhibition game and is described as a team-first player focused on making the right reads.
Trevin Jirak
Jirak is a 6-foot-11 Iowa center who transferred his commitment from Northern Iowa to Iowa and led the team in usage and assist rate last season.
Ben McCollum
McCollum is the head coach of the Iowa men's basketball program who is weighing how to use the two tallest players together in the rotation.
The details
McKeever and Jirak have been playing together in the frontcourt as McCollum considers the pairing. Jirak's perimeter shooting and both players' passing are cited as the reasons Iowa could use two traditional centers without sacrificing offensive spacing. A physical transformation by Jirak during the offseason is said to have made the combination more feasible.
Timeline
Last season: Jirak led Iowa in usage and assist rate while appearing in 17 games.
Offseason before sophomore season: Jirak underwent a physical transformation.
Last week: The exhibition game featured both centers on the floor together.
Roadmap
Iowa's consideration of a two-center frontcourt reflects a broader question for college teams built around spacing and ball movement: whether size can be paired without sacrificing perimeter shooting. How McCollum resolves that tension will show whether the program's offense can absorb traditional bigs.
For fantasy and bracket watchers, the two-center arrangement changes how much usage and assist production is concentrated in the frontcourt. Fans tracking Iowa's rotation will want to watch whether the pairing carries into regular-season minutes.
The takeaway
Lineup experiments like this one often reveal more about a team's offensive identity than its record does. Watching how the two centers share minutes in coming games will show whether Iowa's spacing holds up with size on the floor.
Further reading
For more on the program, explore Basketball coverage from Iowa City.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Courier.
