Making the Grade: UNI vs Iowa State

College basketball is so fickle. One day, a team is all but buried, with flaws that stick out so much that they're hard to see past. The next, those flaws aren't hardly noticed.

Such was the case Sunday morning when anyone who follows Northern Iowa men's basketball woke up after the Panthers (7-3) had beaten then-No. 2 Iowa State, 81-79. Coach Ben Jacobson and his cast of characters pretty quickly turned the tide to its non-conference resume looking pretty great. It was no coincidence this performance was one if UNI's two best this season.

Each week of the season, we'll break down the Panthers' offensive and defensive performance and give them grades, as we'll as highlight each player who contributed significantly and his individual performance. This week's Making the Grade highlights Game 10, at the Big Four Classic against Iowa State.

Schedule/Results

UNI vs No. 2 Iowa State; W, 81-79

Offense

A Why: What UNI did against Iowa State was not complicated – just like what UNI has done all season hasn't really been complicated. The onus on Wes Washpun and the Panthers has changed each time out, though. Depending on how they're defended, they work in motion, swing the ball around the perimeter or (usually) drive and kick initiated by a high ball screen.

On Saturday, that ball screen gave the Cyclones fits. Over and over – no matter who it was setting that screen – Washpun either found space to get into the lane and then find an open shooter, or when a double came, he'd slip it to the screener for an open shot. Paul Jesperson cashed in several times from that play, as did Wyatt Lohaus.

A lot of the discussion headed in was the matchup problem Georges Niang created (hold that thought), but it was the one Jesperson and Washpun made that paid off just as well. Jacobson said after the same he gives these guys freedom on offense, and it showed. Iowa State didn't seem ready or able to adjust to Washpun's pull-up jumpers, and UNI's efficient ball movement kept guys open all night.

Only two Panthers actually grabbed two offensive rebounds (three team offensive boards were balls that went out of bounds off the Cyclones) – but much of that had to do with how well UNI shot. Yes, several shots were tough ones, but many more than that were open and in rhythm. When the Panthers have that kind of efficiency, they make teams – even the best teams – pay.

Defense

B+ Why: OK, so UNI is not going to have an advantage in the paint very often this season. With a small lineup and inexperienced defenders in the front court, teams will find a way to exploit it. What the Panthers have to try – and something they succeeded in against the Cyclones – is deny the ball getting inside in the first place.

What Niang and Jameel McKay did was predictable given the above. They're two of the best – Niang especially – in the country at what they do, and present horrible matchup problems for a team like UNI. Niang is hard for any team in the country to defend, so it's not necessarily an indictment on the Panthers that he finished with 30 points. He drew a number of freedom of movement fouls because the way he moves with the ball makes it easy to get behind and use arms instead of legs to defend.

Ultimately, though, UNI drew Iowa State away from the paint enough to make up for the deficiencies. By denying the ball inside on several possessions, sending help on guards defending the dribble and switching most screens, the Panthers used positioning to at least slow down the Cyclones.

Iowa State had 61 shots in 70 possessions, still held the rebounding edge, 30-25, committed only 10 turnovers and had 52 points in the paint. Those aren't great, but taking Monte Morris and Matt Thomas essentially out of the equation while holding serve defensively in the key moments makes up for it.

Players (in last game)

* To view more data, click here.

Wes Washpun, guard – Much of what can and should be said about this young man has been written already. But for posterity: Washpun being able to cash in on a part of his game not many expected him to was the catalyst for the UNI offense Saturday. Iowa State did not appear ready for him to pull up and shoot as much as he did. He also maneuvered through double-teams and found shooters effectively. He had a Player Efficiency Rating of 35 – which is absurd. His performance would've been near perfect if not for those six turnovers.

Paul Jesperson, guard – It's pretty crazy to think 21 points was a conservative output for Jesperson in this game. Foul trouble had him on the bench for 18 of the 40 minutes, but when he was in, he looked like he had the heat ring from NBA Jam around his feet. So much for wondering if a cold streak would follow him from New Mexico.

Matt Bohannon, guard – Bohannon had a relatively quiet night against the Cyclones, but each of his eight points came in crucial moments. He hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key that fended off one of a few comeback efforts by Iowa State, and defended Georges Niang in one of the Cyclones' final possessions. He pulled the matador trick, and didn't absorb contact Niang expected him to, resulting in Niang stumbling and turning the ball over. Veteran move.

Jeremy Morgan, guard – Another who found himself in foul trouble and didn't make the noise he could or might have otherwise. Morgan, like Jesperson, fouled out, but not before a few key defensive possessions against Abdel Nader, and grabbing several key rebounds. He's as efficient as anyone on the team, and that held up Saturday.

Bennett Koch, forward – Nothing like trial by fire. Koch's struggles defensively in non-conference have to do with his inexperience, yes. But he's also faced extremely talented front court players – most of whom have a ton more minutes, and usually more help on the block. How he uses lessons like what McKay gave him are what will determine how good he can be.

Wyatt Lohaus, guard – This guy still hasn't lost a game in Wells Fargo Arena. He was one of six Panthers who had played and/or won at the Well in both high school and college. He's contributed significantly in every game he's played in that building, and his teams have needed it each time.

Klint Carlson, forward – Easily his best game as a Panther overall – though admittedly the sample size here isn't huge. He took shots in rhythm, was impactful on defense and on a few key rebounds, and finished very well at the rim. Games like that one are what earn more playing time for Ben Jacobson.

Ted Friedman, forward – He wasn't used nearly as much for his defense against Iowa State like he was against North Carolina, but that had more to do with Niang and McKay being more effective in multiple parts of the floor. Koch has a significant edge right now, and he still needs to improve on the boards if he wants to see the floor more.

Upcoming Games

UNI at Hawaii, 12:30 a.m. (CT) Wednesday, Dec. 23 at Stan Sherriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii

UNI vs No. 2 Oklahoma/Washington State, Thursday, Dec. 24 at Stan Sherriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii

*Full disclosure on grades: First things first, that's by subjective view after covering and re-watching games. Second, grades are an aggregate of the week, based on an 11-point scale. A is worth 11, A- 10, and so on through F, which is 0. Offense and defense are given a grade for each game and then averaged for the week.

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com