Jacobson wants more of the same from UNI as season closes

CEDAR FALLS — A loss like Northern Iowa took last Wednesday to Loyola had a familiar feeling to it, at least initially. It was reminiscent of a few games the Panthers dropped during their losing streak, in which they had a lead they couldn't extend.

But what satisfied UNI Coach Ben Jacobson the most out of it was how his team left the loss in Chicago. Unlike other parts of this season, a frustrating loss didn't linger. UNI came home and took it to Illinois State, and reaffirmed where they stood.

It was a clear sign of the progress the Panthers (17-12, 9-7 Missouri Valley Conference) have made and continue to make.

'We had two or three different chances in that game to stretch it out, and we weren't able to do it,' Jacobson said. 'What I liked most about the week is it didn't impact how we played Saturday. We came out and played Saturday like we'd been playing for six games prior. I thought that part of it was telling.'

Jacobson's message this week was similar to that of what it's been the last few. UNI has won seven of its last eight, dating back to the Jan. 27 win at Bradley.

During the roller-coaster, latter portion of the non-conference, as well as the first half of conference play, the Panthers were affected by how they played in a bigger way than the coaching staff would've liked. Wins got the team a little too high. Losses got the team a little too low.

But through it, and as it showed from the loss at the Ramblers to the win against the Redbirds this week, that characteristic seems to be a thing of the past.

'I just think for this team — going back a month now — this team has hit its stride in terms of everyone being on the same page,' Jacobson said. 'They've earned the kind of confidence you have to play with in order to play well. Right now, it just doesn't feel like within a game, if we have a great stretch or we don't play well for a stretch, that doesn't impact what we do going forward — within a game or after a game.'

UNI certainly is far from the only team to be affected by its results or in-game adversity. Jacobson said this year has played out in a unique way for that reason.

Seemingly every team in the MVC has had both good and bad streaks at one point or another. Every team has had its flaws exploited by multiple Valley foes.

'There's been more of that this year than maybe what I've seen or been used to — at least recently — where you've got a number of teams who have those stretches. The reason for that, I don't know,' Jacobson said. 'Illinois State has eight out of 10, but they had it tough before that. We had our stretch, Indiana State had their stretch both ways, Southern Illinois has had their stretch both ways. It just seems like there's a little more of that this year than what there's been.'

So it's not just UNI. And it's not just the MVC. This year in college basketball has been bizarre on several accounts, and finding consistency in a year of parity has been almost impossible nationwide.

With just two more MVC regular season games — Wednesday at 7 p.m. in McLeod Center against Indiana State and Saturday on the road at 1 p.m. in Evansville — to go before Arch Madness in St. Louis, Jacobson said the excitement about what's ahead will fuel teams whether they're playing well or not.

He just hopes UNI doesn't falter from the team it's become in February.

'(We want to see) more of what they've done and what we've seen of them in the last month. Not only have we played well, but we've gotten better,' Jacobson said. '(Paul) Jesperson is playing great in our last five games, Klint (Carlson) and Wyatt (Lohaus) have played their best in the last three or four. Bennett (Koch) continues to be productive and efficient for us inside. Wes (Washpun) is playing as good as he has, Bo (Matt Bohannon) is doing what he does and Jeremy (Morgan) is back from that wrist injury. That to me is the most important thing. If we can just keep playing the way we've been playing, practicing how we've been practicing, that will allow us to do well Wednesday.'

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