UNI has veteran men’s basketball lineup and depth

CEDAR FALLS — Northern Iowa men’s basketball doesn’t tipoff its 2025-26 season for a month, but it already leads the nation in one category.

Among the more than 350 Division I programs, the Panthers return 72-percent of their minutes played from last season — more than any other team in the country.

“You’re just able to move a little bit quicker in terms of some of the drills that you’re doing (in) practices,” UNI Coach Ben Jacobson said of his experienced roster. “We’ve got seven players now that have played for us and you feel that difference at practice. The three transfers — I think they feel the experience around them. Our three freshmen certainly do.”

Despite returning the most experience of any team, Jacobson’s roster does feature six newcomers — three transfers and three freshmen.

Headlining the list of returnees, though, is the anticipated backcourt trio of seniors Trey Campbell and Ben Schwieger and junior Leon Bond III.

With UNI’s frontcourt set to debut new faces, Campbell, Schwieger and Bond III will be counted on to lead a program coming off a 20-win season that included a third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference and an NIT appearance.

“There were times last year where it happened with all three of them playing pretty good basketball, but, I think we missed out on what was going to be the best in terms of the three of them together because of Leon’s knee injury,” Jacobson said. “In our league for sure — but even outside of our league — their size and length and their ability to cover a lot of ground and do a lot of things is certainly a difference-maker.

“Those guys are really talented, but, man, do they work hard.”

While the Panthers’ frontcourt will feature many new faces, sophomore center Will Hornseth returns and will be looked upon to be the new anchor in the middle. Hornseth appeared in all 33 games as a freshman and shot a team-leading 68-percent from the field.

“He’s a pretty special player,” Jacobson said of Hornseth. “Somebody that we’re awfully excited about. He’s ready to move into that spot.”

Meanwhile, six newcomers on the roster makes for an intriguing battle for bench minutes.

Junior point guard RJ Taylor and senior guard Max Weisbrod appear poised to lead UNI’s bench. Taylor’s season ended early last year, suffering an Achilles injury on Dec. 4 at Illinois-Chicago, but combined with Weisbrod they provided 13.4 points per game.

“He’s going to be a big part of (the team),” Jacobson said of Taylor. “His ability to play fast, but as important or more important, his ability to get his teammates open (is huge).”

Graduate transfer Tristan Smith from NAIA Concordia is anticipated to be most productive among the six newcomers — even drawing light comparisons to graduated all-MVC forward Tytan Anderson.

North Carolina State transfer Ismael Diouf is competing for reserve minutes in the Panthers’ remade frontcourt and Jacobson made it sound as if freshmen Levi Valdo, Jalen Wilson and Geon Hutchins have more work to do before establishing a spot in the rotation.

“(We’ve) got the feel of a team that’s older. Physically when we’re practicing and guys are going at it they’re banging into each other pretty good and you got guys making some pretty impressive plays,” Jacobson said. “And I also think we’ve got some depth. And I like our roster a lot.”

UNI opens its season on Nov. 6 at home against Cal State Northridge. Tipoff at McLeod Center is at 7 p.m.