UNI knows well the task ahead at MVC Tournament

CEDAR FALLS — Ben Jacobson and the Northern Iowa men's basketball team know the task in front of them this week in St. Louis.

The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament is the Panthers' likely only ticket to the NCAA Tournament, even after high profile wins. That much, as Jacobson said Monday at his weekly press luncheon, has been the case since the mid-conference season lull that left UNI the hole it had to win nine of 10 to get out of.

As the No. 4 seed for the MVC Tournament, that road also likely includes a semifinal matchup with Wichita State. But with only one route to another NCAA berth, Jacobson likes his team's chances given how the last few weeks have gone.

'Our record isn't quite where I thought it would be — or our guys. I thought we'd have three or four more wins right now, and our guys the same way,' Jacobson said. 'Minus the two weeks where we were spinning our tires, we would be there from a record standpoint. But at the same time, you still want to be playing like we're playing right now. Our record isn't quite there, three or four games from where we thought it would be, but we're playing as good as we can play. That's the best way we can be.'

The Panthers (19-12, 11-7 MVC) get Southern Illinois in their opener at 2:30 p.m. on Friday at Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis, and Jacobson contended Monday both represent those among the five or six teams that could win the tournament and head to the NCAAs.

The Shockers are clearly the favorites to get the auto-bid, but they were last year as well, and got upset by Illinois State in the semifinals. Crazy things happen in St. Louis, and everyone involved is aware of it.

'Going in, I don't think there's any question (Wichita State is) the favorite,' Jacobson said. 'After that, Illinois State's been good, we've been good, Evansville's been good; Southern Illinois has had a very good year. Those would be the five teams that have had the best years to this point. Indiana State has shown they're capable. Outside of Wichita, there's four other teams that have had really good years. Indiana State is good enough, they've just struggled of late.'

The way the Shockers have played over the course of the conference season, it would be foolish to assume anything other than Jacobson's assessment. But in terms of how those top five or six have played to close the season, the Panthers might have the edge — even over the regular season champs.

UNI won nine of 10 to finish the regular season — a conference best in that span. UNI finished the regular season No. 1 in the country in fewest fouls per game (15.2), and No. 1 in defensive free throw rate on KenPom.com (23.5). UNI ranks No. 9 in the country in fewest turnovers per game (10.0). UNI finished No. 12 in the country and led the MVC in free throw percentage. In the final 10 games of the season, the UNI defense allowed 56.8 points per game, which puts them second only to Wichita State in that span.

So in the fundamental areas that Jacobson has focused so hard on, the Panthers have been at or near the top of those they'll play this weekend.

That certainly is no guarantee of what will happen — especially because recent history (before last season) hasn't been kind to UNI in St. Louis, and because of the likely matchup with Wichita State if the Panthers dispatch the Salukis on Friday.

'The team we're playing on Friday is a very good team. They're just so different than they were a year ago. Their guard play is so much better than it was,' Jacobson said. 'Of course we've got to start with that challenge. Now, if we win that game and get Wichita in the semis, I think our fans are well aware of how good they are and what they bring to the table. That's what you get. If you get to the semifinals of your tournament, you're going to play somebody good. In our case, it would be the favorite in our league if we do get to that point.

'Our guys will have a good week. Friday has a chance to be a heck of a game.'

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