‘We don’t like them’: Iowa basketball star reacts to Nebraska win

After Iowa basketball (19-7, 9-6 Big Ten) upset No. 9 Nebraska (22-4, 11-4 Big Ten) by a 57-52 score from Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Feb. 17, Hawkeyes freshman forward Cooper Koch commented on the heated rivalry against the Cornhuskers and what the win meant to him and the program.

"They're a second to Iowa State. I mean, we don't like them, so it was nice to get a win for them," Koch said in his postgame media availability.

The 6-foot-8, 220-pounder from Peoria, Illinois, is currently averaging 6.8 points per game on 44.0% shooting from the floor and 37.0% from 3-point range, to go along with 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.2 blocks on 22:12 through 26 contests so far this season.

Cooper Koch on the upset win over rival and No. 9 Nebraska:

“They’re second to Iowa State. We don’t like them.” pic.twitter.com/bPECH5dQIU

— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) February 18, 2026

Despite Tuesday night being the highly anticipated Iowa City return of former Hawkeye guard Pryce Sandfort, who transferred to the Cornhuskers following Iowa's offseason coaching change, Koch added that he has no bitterness toward his ex-teammate's decision.

"I know Pryce (Sandfort) grew up a Nebraska fan, I don't blame him at all for that (decision to transfer to Nebraska)."

Iowa and Nebraska will meet again on March 8 from Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., where the Cornhuskers will certainly be seeking vengeance for the loss to the Hawkeyes.

With the win, coupled with No. 25 Wisconsin's 17-point blowout loss at Ohio State on Tuesday night, Iowa now resides in seventh-place in the Big Ten standings and just one game below the Badgers.

Fittingly, Iowa's next game will be at Wisconsin on Feb. 22 from Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes and Badgers tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on FS1.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: ‘We don’t like them’: Iowa basketball star reacts to Nebraska win