No 'messing around' for UNI in Texas, NCAA prep

CEDAR FALLS — Less than 24 hours after Northern Iowa learned it would play Texas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Coach Ben Jacobson had already gone through plenty of film.

A disciple of preparation, Jacobson and his team couldn't get started on it quick enough. In what they were able to watch, Jacobson said there was nothing that jumped out at him or his staff that was unexpected. The Longhorns under Shaka Smart are who the Panthers thought they were.

No, Jacobson didn't go Denny Green at his weekly press luncheon. But he did say now is not the time to expect something crazy when the teams get to Oklahoma City, especially knowing the trademark style Smart's teams usually have.

'That system, his personality, you see it. Even if they don't press as much, everything they do is coming at you. The way they move, it's all his personality,' Jacobson said. 'What's interesting, in thinking about the games we played against each other (when Smart was at VCU), our styles couldn't be more different, right? Having played those games, neither one of us changed. We went into the game and did what we do. We played the way we play, they played the way they play.

'We had great games against each other. But it wasn't like they didn't press us. It wasn't like we didn't attack their press and shoot 3s. So I don't know either team is going to change much.'

So the Panthers are who Smart and Texas (20-12) thought they were, too. When it comes to coaches like Jacobson and Smart, their systems and ways of doing things don't often change — because they've been successful.

Jacobson said last week he liked how his team prepared for the NCAA Tournament in 2015, and modeled the prep this year after that. Lessons learned from six years ago still apply.

That said, both teams have the same amount of days to cram for one another. The benefit, Jacobson said, will be that UNI has had an extra week of rest, in which the Panthers (22-12) could get whatever treatment was needed and recharge both physically and mentally.

Though something can be said for remaining in the rhythm of a routine, Jacobson likes the extra time his team has had.

'(The time off) hasn't really concerned me,' Jacobson said. 'We have learned how to better handle last week. The first couple times we really practiced hard last week, thinking we've got to keep the guys going to make sure they stay in shape; had to keep on them. These last couple of times, we've done some individual workouts, we've gone to the weight room; practiced, but it's been a little shorter. We've gone hard, but it's been a little more relaxed. That's been a better approach for us.

'Outside of that, I'm not real concerned that we've had some time.'

While the schedule might not be the same, the focus on preparation certainly is.

Who the Panthers are has been built on years of the consistent message from Jacobson to not stray from what got them to such a successful position.

It's one the players feed off and benefit from. That's especially true for the younger players, who don't have as many experience examples as the older players might.

'I think it helps us, because you don't put any added pressure on yourself,' said sophomore guard Wyatt Lohaus. 'You're not changing up much, preparing the same way and getting individual work done. Really, looking at it like that, it helps because it's consistent and something you're comfortable with.'

Staying true to itself has paid off for UNI, but that doesn't mean it's been an easy task.

In fact, it's the toughest one of all, Jacobson said. If Texas strays from what's gotten it to this point, UNI could exploit that. If the Panthers overextend themselves, the Longhorns will pounce.

There aren't any surprises coming, but that's a battle in itself.

'I always think the greatest challenge is getting your team to play the way they've played,' Jacobson said. 'Last year, that's all we talked about, and that's all I'm going to talk about this year. Our guys have done a great job of it the last six weeks, and we've found what works.

'Now is not the time to be messing around. The key is your guys playing with a lot of confidence and to play loose. The only way to do that is to do the things you've been doing for a while. … I really like the way our guys go about doing business. Now we've just got to go play our game.'

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