Northwestern State didn't use 2006 NCAA win over Iowa as a springboard

Many point to do it as the day University of Iowa men's basketball began its descent into despair.

It was March 17,2006. The site was The Palace of Auburn Hills. The score was Northwestern State 64, Iowa 63.

Jermaine Wallace sank a fallaway corner 3-pointer with a half-second left to give the 14th-seeded Demons of Natchitoches, La., the upset of the tournament.

"I actually saw it go in through the back of the glass," Wallace said. "I can't believe this."

The Hawkeyes had led 54-37 with 8:30 left.

Iowa was seeded third that year. It hasn't been back to the NCAAs since. Who's to say when the Hawkeyes' next appearance will be? Who's to say what would have happened with the Iowa program had the Hawkeyes held on to win that game and gone on to beat sixth-seed West Virginia in the second round?

It wasn't as if its giant-slaying sent Northwestern State to sustained success. The Demons got handled 67-54 by West Virginia in the second round, and haven't been back to the NCAAs since. They went 17-15 in 2007, 15-18 in 2008, 11-20 in 2009, and just finished a 10-19 season.

They've followed Iowa's pattern, you might say.

This year, Northwestern State tied for ninth in the Southland Conference. Iowa tied for ninth in the Big Ten.

The Demons were 7-7 at home. The Hawkeyes were 9-9.

Northwestern State was 0-0 against Top 25 teams. Iowa had the same number of wins against Top 25 squads. It, however, had eight losses.