Bohannon status still uncertain

SEATTLE — Northern Iowa junior Matt Bohannon's status remains undetermined for Sunday's NCAA tournament game against Louisville after suffering a broken finger in the second half against Wyoming on Friday.

Bohannon, a red-shirt junior from Marion, had surgery on the finger after the game, but he participated in team workouts Saturday. He believes he'll be able to play.

'I hope so,' Bohannon said. 'I had a good shootaround, and we'll reassess it from there.'

Bohannon has started all 34 games for the Panthers this year and averages 5.7 points a game. He leads the team with 52 3-pointers, and he has only nine baskets inside the arc. Bohannon's broke his left index finger on his non-shooting hand. He declined to describe the surgery or how the injury would limit him.

'They put everything back in place, and that's basically all I can say,' Bohannon said.

UNI Coach Ben Jacobson said the team would start junior Paul Jesperson if Bohannon cannot play. Jesperson averaged 18.1 minutes, 5.7 points and ranked second in 3-pointers with 46. Against Wyoming, Jesperson scored 16 points and was 5 of 8 against Wyoming.

UNI players have confidence in whomever starts against Louisville. But they're rooting for Bohannon to hit the court, and they say his willingness to play hurt is an inspiration.

'I think it shows a ton about Bo's character, how much toughness that takes to do,' UNI guard Wyatt Lohaus said. 'He hasn't been complaining about it at all, hasn't really showed any pain at all. That's really, I admire him for that and it's big for our team that he's showing that much toughness, and he's only worried about the team about not about himself.'

'Bo's one of the toughest guys on our team,' UNI guard Wes Washpun said. 'I know he'll be ready to go.'

PITINO PRAISES PANTHERS

The Panthers earned high praise from Louisville counterpart Rick Pitino on Saturday. The teams played Nov. 26, 2012 at the Battle 4 Atlantis, and the Cardinals won 51-46. Louisville won the NCAA title that year.

'Our players, from film right now, are very, very full of respect for Northern Iowa,' Pitino said. 'We played Duke, we played Virginia twice, we played Kentucky, we played Indiana, Ohio State, we have played some outstanding teams. This team is as good as any team we have played this year with maybe the exception of Kentucky. So, our players know that.'

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