UNI men’s basketball improving, but defense still needs help

CEDAR FALLS — The Northern Iowa men’s basketball team is preparing for its non-conference finale at Northern Illinois on Thursday night having won three of its last four games.

UNI Coach Ben Jacobson said after Sunday’s 100-82 win at home against Alcorn State, his team’s confidence has jumped since dropping its Missouri Valley Conference openers on Nov. 29 and Dec. 2.

Now, with NIU standing between the Panthers (5-7, 0-2) and their return to conference play on Jan. 3 — and running through early March — there’s ample time to make much-needed in-season improvement.

“Usually we’ve got (a) game on the 30th or 31st, so we do have the extra three or four days,” Jacobson said. “Maybe it comes at a good time with where we’re at with a couple of the things we’re talking about defensively — that we’ve got an extra couple days that we can get after some things and keep working to make some improvements on that end.”

The undoubted focus of improvement for the Panthers will be on the defensive end of the floor. UNI is allowing 74.7 points per game, second to last in the MVC.

Along with its subpar numbers, the eye test also displays too much dribble penetration from UNI’s opponents.

“We shored (our defense) up a little bit for the Richmond game at home,” Jacobson said. “I don’t know that there are obstacles to us getting better defensively. (But) if it was easy we’d be a lot better defensively right now.

“I would tell you it’s our mindset, it’s our mentality and it’s our willingness to provide some resistance. As much as it is footwork, or scheme, a blockout or technique.”

Guard Nate Heise said after Sunday’s win “the takeaways from this (game) really are great offense, bad defense, if you want to sum it up like that.”

Asked about the defensive shortcomings after Sunday’s win, guard Bowen Born wondered aloud if recently intense practices have played a role in the team’s struggles to defend without fouling. Jacobson said Born was right to have that thought.

Now, with 12 games under its belt, time is running out for UNI to begin making defensive improvements before re-encountering the rigors of conference play. But, despite MVC games looming, Jacobson said he doesn’t think there’s ever a point in a season where improvements can’t be made.

“You always want to go and figure it out. You always want it going at a high level as soon as you can get it there,” Jacobson said. “But, I’ve never felt like there’s a point where you can’t get it going at either end (offensively or defensively) as a team.”

Thursday night’s non-conference finale at Northern Illinois (5-4) comes with its own set of challenges. The Huskies have four starters averaging double figures, led by point guard David Coit (17.5).

“They’re big up front,” Jacobson said. “Then, their point guard is really good. Had 34 (points) in their game at DePaul. Scores it. Shoots it (from) deep. Fast enough to get by you. His timing is good with his passing.

“They’ve got really good size across the board and their point guard really makes them go.”